In this episode we talk about the major differences (and advantages) that each side of the Savannah River offer us in this area. There are things to love about all of it, and we do. Like what? Give us a listen.

This transcript has been edited for brevity. You will find more detail on the podcast:

hey, hey, hey everybody. Welcome to the Eat It and Like It podcast. My name is Jesse Blanco, host of not only this podcast, but all kinds of things we do with eatitandlikeit.com.

Television—did you know we have a television show? Few do. We don’t promote it a whole lot.

We document the food scene on both sides of the Savannah River and down into Florida like few others can or will. Very proud of that. Fifteen, sixteen years we’ve been doing our thing. And as of late, we’ve been engaging in a heavy, heavy presence on YouTube. So if you cut the cord a while back—understandable, lots of people are—but you can find a lot of what we do, not all of what we do, on YouTube. 

That channel is @eatitandlikeit1 

As I said, we’ve been documenting the food scene on both sides of the Savannah River for a long, long time, going back to before Savannah had much of a food scene. And quite frankly, Hilton Head has had a food scene for a hot minute. It’s different. We’re going to talk about those differences here today.

But Bluffton—there was a time when we first started all this, I’ve got to mention this. This was, oh man, 2010, 2011. We actually did an episode on Bluffton’s food scene. This goes back, like I said, 2011—15 years. We did an entire episode on Bluffton’s food scene.

Those of you who are familiar with Bluffton—Corner Perk, Josh and Corner Perk had just opened at the corner there in the Promenade. The Promenade was just a twinkle in a lot of people’s eyes. It was just being built. I think The Bluffton Room was on the way. And I could rabbit hole that whole thing for a while.

But the whole point for doing that episode was because—and this might seem laughable now—but at the time I stood up on my soapbox and I said that Bluffton’s food scene, per capita—that was the key term there—Bluffton’s food scene per capita was better than Savannah’s.

Yeah. I did say that.

And I didn’t catch any heat. I didn’t catch any heat, I think, because a lot of people weren’t really paying attention to the food scenes in either place like they are now. They have both grown so much—and obviously Hilton Head as well—but especially Savannah.

We were in our infancy. There wasn’t much of a food scene to speak of, so it didn’t really offend anybody. But it’s true. Back then, we had better restaurants in Bluffton than we did in Savannah. Top to bottom, soup to nuts—the selections were better over there.

Before we get going here, my topic for the day—have to issue a quick reminder that Eat It and Like It is brought to you in part by our friends at Java Burrito. We have two locations to enjoy here in this area: one on Hilton Head Island at the Village of Wexford, the other downtown Savannah, Broughton Street at Price.

If you’re an old-school Savannah person, then you remember that’s where a lot of things used to be—most notably Juarez Mexican Restaurant, then East End Provisions, the Five Spot, and all kinds of things. But the last bunch of years, it’s been Java Burrito.

I love going down there. They have great food, but I love the fact that you can enjoy—there’s a little bit of something for everybody. Their margaritas, for me, for five bucks, are the best in town. Five bucks at happy hour between four and six.

And we even had a laugh the other day—we popped into Java Burrito on Hilton Head Island, because you can wash down your burrito with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot if you’d like, or even Dom. They’ll sell it to you—if you’re fired up, which I can be sometimes.

I don’t know if I’m fired up for burrito and Veuve, but you never know.

Anyway, two locations for you to enjoy. So please pay them a visit and help us support those who support us. 

Well, this episode is kind of a tale of the tape on the food scenes. I’m calling it “tale of the tape” because I’ve been engaged in a few conversations of late comparing the food scenes in Savannah and Hilton Head—casual conversations with friends.

I live in Savannah, but I’m in Hilton Head all the time—in Bluffton, in the Lowcountry all the time. I call it home as well. It’s my neighborhood. I’m there, I’m here, I’m everywhere.

I thought you were going to Hilton Head today. Yeah, I just got back.

Or my favorite one: “Why didn’t you tell me you were in town?” What do you mean in town? For me, it’s the same as going down the street to Publix.

I’m always in both, but I find it amusing how many of my friends have what I call “bridge phobia.”

I’ve been calling it bridge phobia for a long time, because people in Hilton Head and Bluffton stay over there. “No, I don’t go to Savannah.” Some do—but largely, they don’t.

Same thing goes the other way. I get asked all the time: “Hey, I’m looking for something different. Where should I go?” And eight times out of ten I say, “Have you been to Bluffton?” No.

And I’ll say, “You should go. It’s 25–30 minutes from the top of the Talmadge Bridge.”

And inevitably, the next time I see them: “Oh, we went to Tybee.” Or somewhere else that’s just as far—but they didn’t cross the bridge.

Bridge phobia.

So I started thinking about the differences between the food scenes in Hilton Head/Bluffton and Savannah. And that’s what this episode is.

The “tale of the tape”—what each does better.

Let’s start with water views and sunsets.

No contest. None.

Hilton Head wins. By a mile.

The scenery in the Lowcountry is a hundred times more scenic and beautiful than it is over here in Savannah. Waterfront restaurants, sunsets—I mean, Skull Creek, Hudson’s (PHOTO ABOVE), Dockside, Boathouse, Benny’s, Coast, Quarterdeck…

For me, the prettiest sunset dining is at the Quarterdeck—looking over Calibogue Sound, the yachts, the lighthouse. It’s tough to beat.

Savannah? We’ve got the river, which is great. I love watching the ships go by. But it’s more industrial. There’s no comparison.

Edge: Hilton Head.

Steakhouses?

Edge: Savannah.

Stone & Webster Chop House at Plant Riverside is exceptional. Marbled & Fin—big city steakhouse vibes. And The Steakhouse on Whitemarsh—no frills, but always done right.

Hilton Head has some good ones, but top to bottom, Savannah wins.

Italian food?

Not even close.

Edge: Hilton Head.

Pomodori, Ombra, Nunzio, Michael Anthony’s—there’s just more, and it’s been around longer.

Savannah has Lucia Pasta Bar—which is fantastic—but otherwise, Hilton Head has depth.

Seafood?

This one’s close—but I’m giving the edge to Savannah.

Fish Bar Savannah is exceptional. Common Thread, Castaways, The Darling, Flying Fish—top to bottom, strong lineup.

Hilton Head has great options, no doubt—but Savannah gets the nod.

Finally—the scene.

This matters.

Someone once told me they went to River Street at night, thought it was dirty and loud, and said they’d never come back to Savannah again.

That’s unfair.

River Street at night isn’t Savannah—it’s just one part of it.

If you want beautiful? Walk Bull Street. The squares, the churches, the cafes—it’s charming, picturesque, and completely different.

Savannah has that layered experience.

So there you have it.

There’s a little bit of something for everybody on both sides of the Savannah River.

For me, it’s the best of both worlds. I live in Savannah, but I’m over there all the time. I treat it like my front yard.

Sometimes we just go to Hilton Head, sit by the water, have oysters and cocktails—and come home.

I wish more people would do that.

If you need recommendations, shoot us a note: tips@eatitandlikeit.com. Those emails come into world headquarters—Sarah’s got you covered, and anything that needs to get to me will.

We’ll be dropping these podcasts twice a week going forward. Got some great guests lined up.

Thanks for hanging out—we’ll catch you next time right here on the Eat It and Like It podcast.