What's on the Menu: Week of March. 18*
Recovering from St. Paddy's, big love for Little James, Strange Bird stays fly, birthday cake for Flannery O'Connor, and Farace's Finest soft opens on Tybee
*Thanks for your patience! This newsletter is a day late as the city of Savannah (myself included) is recovering from St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
The parade crowds generally felt more tame than in recent years, maybe because the holiday fell on a Monday, or maybe because people just aren’t feeling as celebratory these days. Understandably.
My husband and I kept it pretty mild ourselves. We enjoyed sleeping in and didn’t head down to the parade route until noon, with our dog in tow for the first time. Still, we enjoyed our traditions of friendly conversation with strangers and sipping Bloody Marys in to-go cups while the marching bands, floats, and Irish families passed.
Even with St. Paddy’s aside, there was lots of good food and drinks last week. Here are the dining moments I’m still thinking about—perhaps especially impressive amid my post-holiday hangover and brain fog.
1. Last Friday, the weather was perfect for a chill night out at Starland Yard. My real motivation for going, however, was to support Strange Bird’s Flown the Coop Tour: a series of ongoing pop-ups to help rebuild the restaurant after a devasting fire last month. After a bite of the smoked chicken with adobo rub and crispy potatoes, it’s clear that Strange Bird’s Co-Chefs de Cuisine Daniel Aranza and Felipe Vera stay fly—regardless of where they are cooking.
Look out for more dates and locations until their brick-and-mortar home base is back up and running. Next up: Strange Bird lands at Lone Wolf Lounge on Saturday afternoon (2-6 p.m.) for Orval Day—a global celebration of Orval beer—that promises knockout Belgian fare.
2. On Saturday morning, I also popped into Baby’s General Store—one of the places I included in the list of Savannah’s most-anticipated 2025 openings for The Atlanta-Journal Constitution earlier this year.
Located at the corner of E. 37th and Prices streets, the circa-1920s, abandoned filling station is now looking as cute as can be, thanks in part to the Historic Savannah Foundation for its help in restoring the original wood windows, transoms, and doors.
Inside, the top shelves are lined with canisters of their own branded coffee from Athens-based roastery, Jittery Joe’s. Behind the counter, kind staffers made chit-chat and cappuccinos. I love that Baby’s is stocking baked goods from Baker’s Pride, a staple on DeRenne Avenue since 1982. The donuts and chewies—locally famous chocolate cookies—are a perfect fit for the retro feel inside Baby’s, which also stocks retro cans of Gatorade, packs of cigarettes, and a jar of lollipops. There is a curated selection of modern conveniences, of course, too—Fishwife’s colorful tins of seafood, Tate’s Bake Shop chocolate-chip cookies, and Tony’s Chocoloney bars—and local delicacies, like bottles of Greg’s Famous Hot Sauce.
While the petite, historic building can’t hold more than a few people at a time, there are several picnic tables and chairs in the shade of the portico (complete with multiple ceiling fans).
Truly, I am thrilled that this corridor has a fresh and affordable gathering place. Before my husband and I moved to Savannah a few years ago, we stayed a couple of times at an Airbnb carriage house just around the corner on 34th. We would have loved to stroll over to Baby’s for morning coffee. I felt a small twinge of jealousy at a group of athleisure-clad women doing just that. Within the 20 minutes that we were there, a pair of cyclists also stopped off for refreshments. I have no doubt Baby’s will quickly become a regular part of locals’ weekend routines.
3. In case you missed it: Little James is now open inside The Ann Savannah, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy. The apartment-style hotel rooms—some two levels with four beds/bathrooms, fully stocked kitchens, and a modern, industrial vibe—are a pretty rad option for groups looking to stay together within walking distance of downtown. (Imagine having The Grey for a next-door neighbor!)
The best amenity within The Ann might be its new all-day restaurant, Little James—named after the state’s visionary founder, James Oglethorpe. I can’t get over the adorable logo: an illustration of Chippewa Square’s Oglethorpe statue, modified to include a baguette tucked under one arm and a glass of wine in the other hand.
During the opening party last week, I got a taste of the modern bites and cocktails in store at Little James, and look forward to returning for a more complete experience soon. Open to hotel guests and the public from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the restaurant’s double-height windows and chic cafe curtains let in plenty of sunlight for enjoying bright breakfasts or afternoon snacks.
The windows also overlook the future site of The Malin, a work-focused members’ club founded/designed by SCAD alumni Ciarán McGuigan with locations already in Nashville, New York City, and Austin. Savannah’s Malin is expected to open later this summer—adding to the recent investments on the city’s Westside.
4. Beginning with lunch service today, Farace’s Finest softly opened at 1605 Inlet Ave. (formerly the home of Fin’s Corner Pizza and Hibachi) on Tybee Island. While I haven’t been by for a pizza, sandwich, or sandwich yet, this fresh addition to the island’s South End caught my eye for a few reasons. There’s the eye-catching branding and menu (Mod Bird Creative) and the hand-painted sign (Sky Benson Art). The Instagram page also promises housemade dough and marina, served on the South End’s chillest patio.
But most intriguing however may be Farace himself, as in Steve Farace, former VP of Atlanta’s SweetWater Brewing Co. According to his LinkedIn page, Farace held several leadership roles over 20 years at the brewery (which is perhaps best known for its 420 Pale Ale and eponymous music festival every April) before going on a sabbatical journey that seemed to lead him to open a hip pizza joint. Right on.
While I may hold off on trekking over until the formal grand opening—to be announced after the alcohol permits have been secured—I am excited to visit and hear more about Farace’s story firsthand.
5. Looking ahead to this weekend, I’m also saving room for a free slice of birthday cake to celebrate the 100th birthday of Flannery O’Connor. Her childhood home museum has created a robust calendar of events, including educational tours, socials, and a fundraiser concert with Colin Cutler at Service Brewing, in honor of the influential author.
On Sunday, April 23 (a couple of days before her real birthday), readers are invited to dress in Flannery-inspired attire for a look-alike contest. The winner blows out the birthday candles and leads the band on a promenade around Lafayette Square.
