By Vanessa Lantos Daly (Spicy Melon)
Sept. 2, 2024 – It is no secret that this city loves French food.
From the ever-longing quest for perfectly buttery pastries by patrons to the city’s best chefs following classic French methods to create their most decadent creations, French cuisine is the epitome of buttery comfort food, often boasting back-to-roots complexity and elegance.
I should know. Having spent months in France as an exchange student and a decade later during my honeymoon, my love for all things French has never wavered. So where can I satisfy that fervent urge in this city, if only to, for a brief moment, awaken the pleasure and bliss those memories bring?
Sheesh, such dramatics.
What can I say? I’m passionate about this subject.
It’s amazing how a flavor or a scent can travel so deeply within your memory, bringing those memories back and allowing you to feel them on your skin again.
What comes to mind when French food is mentioned? Croissants, crème brûlée, duck confit, beef tartare, bouillabaisse, lemon beurre blanc, pain au chocolat—a dream filled with the textures and flavors of luxurious decadence.
The more butter, the better.
Here are some great local picks. Let’s explore:
If you casually search “French Restaurants in Savannah” on Google, this restaurant is the first result you’ll find. Interestingly, the rest of the search results include all sorts of other non-French restaurants. As I said, French cuisine is sprinkled among all the great chefs and restaurants in Savannah.
Circa 1875 is unique, offering both a formal dining space and a more libertine, richly decorated bistro pub space. These two spaces are separated by a wall but are easily accessible to each other through the restroom corridor in the back or via separate front doors located next to each other.
You choose your space and experience upon arrival.
Circa 1875 is dear to many, and close to my heart. I’ve been coming here for years, and even bartended at this iconic bar sometime during 2020.
It became the only properly called French restaurant option in Savannah after “39 Rue de Jean” became a casualty of the pandemic. Circa 1875 has also been around for over 25 years. It has a loyal following, and the owners, Donald and Jeffrey, are loved by the locals.
Here, you can find your classics prepared with care: steak tartare, French onion soup, and (unless I am mistaken) this is the only place in Savannah with amazing, buttery escargot. It’s impossible not to dip the warm bread with its perfect crust into the escargot butter after you’ve enjoyed them.
If you’re in the mood for bouillabaisse or duck confit, this is the place for you.
Even more intriguing, their menu offers French-inspired cocktails and a table-side absinthe fountain service—very Belle Époque, mysterious and ornamental.
*An absinthe fountain is a large bowl connected to three or four long taps; this bowl is filled with ice-cold water and used to dilute the spirit to the user’s custom taste. Unlike traditional dilution methods, absinthe fountains allow precise dilution, thus unveiling a full spectrum of flavors embedded in high-quality absinthe. [Source: Boss Magazine]
Also, try their specialty, the French 1875 cocktail: basil brandy, St Germain, fresh lemon juice, and sparkling wine. It’s refreshingly delicious yet dangerous, like a sensual glance across the bar.
Le Café Gourmet
This little hidden gem offers French-style pastries baked in-house daily, using imported French flour, butter, and chocolate for an authentic French experience.
They also offer sweet and savory crêpes. This is a great option for lunch—my favorite is the smoked salmon crêpe with spinach, goat cheese, mixed cheese, dill, and sour cream. So yum.
An array of sandwich options is also available, like the Versailles: prosciutto, brie cheese, fig jam, spinach, and butter.
If you have a weakness for authentic crêpes filled with Nutella, this place makes great ones. They also bake unique pastries on rotation, like a “crème brûlée” croissant and a layered chocolate croissant.
This might be one of the most interesting gift shops in the city, where you can find specialty items ranging from home décor to jewelry and European sweets.
Owned by Paula and Taras Danyluk, the shop was inspired by the magical open-air markets of France.
Prices range from affordable little hidden gems to very expensive items; there’s something for everyone and every budget here, but the overall theme is luxury French chic.
Insider tip: One of my favorite finds here is the satchels of lavender. They’re perfect for placing in a drawer, a stationery box, or inside a bag, filling those spaces with a floral and calming aroma. It’s a little treasure for under $5.
They also offer luxury gourmet items and specialty chocolates. Whenever I celebrate a big win, I like to come here and get a box of Louis Sherry chocolates, savoring one with a glass of champagne—definitely a decadent splurge. This ritual motivates me to work hard for that win.
The spotlighted beauty of The Paris Market is its little café:
Recently named “The Most Beautiful Coffee Shop in Georgia” by Architectural Digest, the café features plush velvet banquettes, marble bistro tables, and a tall wooden bar that overlooks a bustling Broughton Street. – Source
This spot is fantastic for people-watching on Broughton Street while sipping one-of-a-kind drinks like a lavender-spiced mocha or a Nutella latte.
The café also offers a beautiful tea service, pastries with a full coffee menu, and a wonderful selection of sandwiches, including Le Saucisson: salami, Swiss cheese, butter, and cornichons on a baguette. They also have a perfectly curated wine and champagne list. Click here to see the full Paris Market Café Menu.
I highly recommend a visit, if only to have a latte and peruse the little treasures in every nook.
Eleven years ago, I went on a honeymoon rendezvous with my brand-new and shiny husband around Europe. (I speak like I’ve had all these husbands when I’ve only had the one, haha). We had lots of energy and not a lot of money, but we were determined to see and taste everything we could. This included a four-day stay in a little Airbnb on the outskirts of Paris, just a couple of blocks from the Père Lachaise Cemetery, where we briefly visited Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde.
On our last day, after walking five miles all day to save on metro tickets, I urgently searched for the Pierre Hermé shop to buy macarons, having read that they were some of the best in the world. I made it just before closing and bought a box of seven macarons, named “Le Jardin.” The cost? Nearly 30 euros.
My husband looked at me in disbelief, as if to say, “Have you lost your mind?!”
Who spends that much money on what are basically cookies?
I grabbed his hand and took him to a nearby bench overlooking the Louvre. I opened the box like a delicate treasure of immeasurable value, handed him a perfect passionfruit and olive oil macaron, and said, “Try it.”
His face lit up with bliss and surprise as he tasted the delicate texture and burst of intense flavors.
I asked, “Worth it?” He nodded quietly, then asked for another.
To relive fragments of this experience, sometimes I visit Le Marché de Macarons.
Compared to other macaron offerings in the city, these are top-tier: delicious and delicate, yet richly flavored. I highly recommend the Turtle macaron or the chocolate covered strawberry macaron. Getting a box of these delicacies also makes a perfect gift.
These macarons are also sold at The Paris Market, so you know their quality is vouched for.
Café Taureau
At first glance, I thought the Paris Market owners had opened a coffee shop in Ardsley Park because of the French bistro chairs and effortlessly French chic décor. But the owners are Russ Goeken and Anissa Manzo, who also own Urban Poppy, located next door. They were inspired by lazy afternoons along the Seine and have created a lovely space.
This place is beautiful. A bit away from downtown, so there’s no worry of running into groups of dazzled visitors. However, don’t be fooled—this spot gets busy with neighborhood locals.
They serve a bistro-style lunch every day except Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Very popular items include the croque monsieur sandwich and the smoked salmon tartine.
They also offer a full wine menu, which is mandatory if you’re feeling in a French mood. Oui?
I particularly love the latte options, which are unique compared to any other café in the city. My favorite is the Golden Turmeric Latte. It’s not your basic chai or matcha latte, which I still love, but this is something special.
Pair it with a quiche, croissant, or perfectly flaky pastry.
This spot also opens at 7:30 a.m., with a quiet glow and peaceful vibe. Watching the neighborhood wake up and hum peacefully from the window, this is a great place to work remotely in the early hours before the brunching crowds arrive to soak up last night’s exploits in French buttery flavors.
I hope you enjoy these treats, one for every time of the day.
Bon appétit!
Love always,
Vanessa
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