On the whole, we try our best to keep up with every restaurant either opening or planning to open. A couple of times a year, I empty the ol’ reporters notebook and share what we know with you. Do some get by us? Of course. On the whole, with as fast as Savannah (downtown Savannah in particular) is growing/being developed, then it is not at all hard to believe that this is-by far-the largest such list I’ve ever written about restaurants on tap for Savannah’s food scene. Also keep in mind that for as many as we are sharing here, there are always a few that we aren’t allowed to talk about yet and a handful that we don’t know about.

*We’ll start at the Eastern Wharf development on the Eastern end of River Street. Bowdie’s Chophouse is a small Michigan-based steakhouse chain with a current location on Hilton Head Island. They will be taking a space at the Eastern Wharf development. Originally, we heard they’d be open this Fall (2024) but that doesn’t look like it is going to happen. But it’s coming.

*Also at Eastern Wharf will be Coop de Ville, a Pittsburgh-based chain. According to their website, “Coop De Ville is a southern table, fast-casual restaurant, bar and entertainment space. You’ll see fried chicken as the headlining ingredient along with classic southern side dishes, fresh baked pies, and pastries.”

*We’ve also been told that Eastern Wharf has resumed a push to get another hotel or 2 in that development that already features The Thompson Hotel. Undoubtedly, those hotels will have restaurants. Obviously, that part is years away.

*For those of you who are fans of the brand new Wexford Pub at City Market, you will be happy to know that the same ownership group will be rolling up their sleeves again here in the next month or so to build out the First City Tavern in the building formerly occupied by Kevin Barry’s on River Street. It will not be a pub in a traditional sense. The menu and the vibe will be different than not only Wexford, but what was there on River Street before. Why not just rebuild an Irish pub in the KB space first? “We didn’t want any comparisons between Wexford and Kevin Barry’s.” is what we were told. First City Tavern will be a clean break and a fresh concept on River Street. Look for that next Summer.

*Southern Cross Hospitality (The Collins Quarter, Fitzroy, The Deck on Tybee, et al) continues work on an upscale Italian concept on Broughton Street near Bull.

*An Italian restaurant to be named later is also planned for the Starland District. Still another is planned for the Victorian District.

*Meanwhile, back on Broughton Street, Paris Baguette, a national chain featuring pre-made french pastries and coffees has posted their plans to occupy the space at 24 East Broughton Street. Yes, that’s a big footprint, the former home of 24e Furniture. Paris Baguette is incredibly popular nationwide. They’ve had one on Hilton Head Island for a couple of years now.

*Also on Broughton near Whitaker are plans for a small plates concept featuring a raw bar. We should be hearing more about that one fairly soon.

*Around the corner from there, we mentioned it here last week, but E-Tang Noodle Bar and Ramen has almost completed their build out on Whitaker Street in the space formerly occupied by Persopolis. We’ve seen the remodel and it is beautiful. That should be ready in about 6 weeks.

*At the corner of Houston and Oglethorpe, the space has been cleared to make way for a brand new construction restaurant called Marbled and Fin. That restaurant is part of the Neighborhood Dining Group, owners of the Husk brand another other restaurants in Charleston. If you’d like to kick the tires on this one, Marbled and Fin is now open in Charleston.

*On the 500 Block of MLK, (just South of the flyover) A few restaurants are works in progress. The build out on 2 of them is underway, the 3rd will likely open first. More on that soon.

*On the Waters Street corridor, soon means a couple of weeks. The highly anticipated 3rd location for 520 Wings is a few weeks away from opening their doors on Waters Avenue near 37th Street. Once he gets things rolling there, owner Gary Gordon tells me he’s planning weekend Brunch service there as well.

*Meanwhile, a block and a half away from this new 520 Wings, Savannah’s best BBQ, Slowfire BBQ, has build out plans for a lot they already own on Waters. Their food truck is already parked there a couple of days a week, but the plan is to build out the building on the lot already and become the permanent home of Slow Fire BBQ in Savannah.

*Erica Davis Low Country is in the process of building out a catering kitchen on Rowland Avenue in Thunderbolt. We are told that will be primarily used for their catering operations, but you will be able to pick up catering platters there as well.

Outside of Savannah worthy of mentions:

*Mexicali Fresh – A small concept owned by the people behind Cilantro’s Mexican Restaurant has plans for a location in Hinesville. The currently are open in Savannah’s Berwick area and in Bluffton.

*Bluffton has a brand new (as of this week) restaurant called Kung Fu Cantina. Latin and Asian flavors are featured in the Moss Creek section of town. You can read more here.

*Also in Bluffton, look for our friends at Nom Nom Poke Shop to open a 2nd space in Bluffton in the New Riverside development. May River Road and Highway 170, roughly 15 minutes from the top of the Talmadge Bridge.

*And last but certainly not least, Big Bon Bodega, fresh off of their expansion to Pooler a few months ago, has eyes on a space in downtown Lyons, Georgia. In fact, we are told that project is underway and you can expect them to roll that out soon.

Know of any we didn’t mention? Give us a shout. We are always listening. tips@eatitandlikeit.com. And yes, you will remain anonymous.

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