The South has a reputation for loving biscuits and gravy, grits, and fried chicken. Since moving to Savannah from Chicago in 2014, I have become quite familiar with the food scene in town. The number of new and healthy restaurants that have opened in those four years continues to amaze me. It seems that more and more restaurant owners and head chefs are realizing that the food industry is heading in a healthier direction.
The best part about this city is that you really don't have to travel far to get anywhere. Most places are within walking or biking distance, making all of the cafes and restaurants easily accessible.
I have to admit, I wrote a long list of amazing restaurants in Savannah, but I thought it would be best to keep this short and sweet. I have created a small, in-depth list in order to give you as much detail about these health foodie hot spots as possible.
We all know that everyone has different feelings about what they like and dislike in a restaurant. We choose where we want to eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner based on past experiences, Instagram, word of mouth, where our friends go, or simply looking up the menu. The following choices are some of the most popular spots in Savannah. Ranging from old to new, each place has become very well known to locals.
Now, the moment you have all been waiting for. The best spots for health foodies in Savannah are: Brighter Day, Fox and Fig, and Sentient Bean.
Brighter Day is easily a fan favorite. It is half health food store and half deli that has been around since 1978. It was started by a wonderful couple, Janie and Peter, who had a mission to promote healthy living, serve their community, and sustain the planet. Everything you could ever need to nourish yourself is within the walls of Brighter Day. It is usually the first place I take hungry out of towners, big groups of people, and to be honest, myself.
The deli is located in the back of the store, which consists of a Grab 'n Go window and the famous healthy deli. They make at least 10 fresh, organic dishes daily ranging from salads, pasta, pizzas, burgers, cakes, soups, etc., as well as making the best organic sandwiches, smoothies, and juices. Every morning, the deli team is in the back of the store cooking up a storm preparing that day’s fresh dishes. Not only is the quality of the food outstanding, but customers never have to question what they are eating. Each and every ingredient used in the deli or the products they purchase is authentic, healthy, and honest.
The Brighter Day Deli is one of Savannah’s veggie havens for vegetarians and vegans. An easy crowd pleaser to say the least. No matter what random diet you have, Brighter Day will be able to feed your soul. One of the greatest parts of the deli is its location across from Forsyth Park. A perfect place to buy delicious food and go picnic in the park! Many locals drop by to grab a sandwich before they go off to work, a smoothie after a run, or a detoxifying, fresh juice to start their week off right.
Suggestions:
The Goji Dream Smoothi
The Tempeh Salad Sandwich
The Peter Rabbit Juice
Fox and Fig one of the newest additions to Savannah is this wonderful, plant-based cafe that sits on a quiet corner in town. As Foxy Loxy’s fourth branch, the cafe has created yet another unique space for Savannah locals and tourists to come enjoy a plant-based meal and delicious vegan coffee. The cafe collaborates with numerous businesses and people in Savannah such as Auspicious Baking Co., PERC Coffee, Leopold’s Ice Cream, Adam Turoni Chocolates, and Seaport Mushrooms to name a few. I try to go once a week with a different friend to taste something new on their creative, fully vegan menu.
Their coffee is outstanding and the cafe offers a handful of alternatives milks. Fox and Fig was the first cafe in Savannah to start serving Oat Milk by Oatly (the best alternative milk on the market)! The space is very light and open, making it the perfect place to start your day with a delicious croissant and steaming earl gray lavender latte. Whether you go in the morning for a fresh cup of coffee or enjoy a beautiful dinner, you can never go wrong with their mouthwatering tastes.
The co-owner, Clay Ehmke says that the safest and strongest way to fully experience something is through our tastes buds and scent is the strongest sense to memory and moments. If you smell an aroma it can bring you back to your memories and tasting is very similar to that. Fox and Fig believes that if they can capture people in that manner, it is the strongest way to encourage good, healthy food.
Suggestions:
Breakfast Hash with Cashew Hollandaise
The Fox Burger
Auspicious Baking Co. Croissant with Hibiscus Jam
Earl Grey + Lavender Latte with Oat Milk
The Sentient Bean is a veggie and coffee landmark for many locals in Savannah. The cafe has always been an inviting environment welcoming everyone in the community. The cafe is constantly hosting open mic events, comedy acts, and movie nights. Offering only plant-forward food, their menu always changes depending on the season and the fresh ingredients that are made available to them. Their menu ranges from breakfast burritos to hearty soups, fresh salads to thick smoothies
The Bean also does an amazing collaboration with the Forsyth Farmers’ Market and other farmers who vend there. Every Sunday, they offer a brunch special where they create a full menu based on the ingredients and produce sold at the farmers’ market from the previous day. Similar to their regular menu, the brunch options are always changing due to the season. It is always a great time to be out at Forsyth Park on Saturday mornings when the community comes together to purchase their fresh produce at the farmers’ market and then grab a bite at the Bean. Almost every Saturday and Sunday, you will find a line of people out the door. The lines may be long, but the chefs and baristas are incredibly fast, so, you never have to wait long for your food or coffee. The cafe is always packed with hungry foodies waiting to eat their delicious plant-based meals. Luckily, the space has plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors.
Suggestions:
The Vegan Breakfast Burrito
Zesto Pesto Panini
Farmers' Market Brunch
No matter what you're in the mood for, you can never go wrong with one of these three hot spots! The food is always consistent, the servers are always friendly, and the spaces are comfortable and inviting. Each of these locations have the most positive vibes from the moment you walk through the door. But of course, healthy food creates a happy mind and body!