True South Lunch Tour

Start your Savannah morning with a sweet bite and a plan. The True South Lunch Tour is built around Southern food plus the stories behind it, served across multiple spots in the historic northern part of town. I love the fast, friendly flow of the walk-to-lunch format, and I love the menu variety that mixes classics like beignets with unmistakably Lowcountry favorites. The one real catch: the tour cannot accommodate allergies to peppers, onions, garlic, or vegan diets.

You’ll meet your guide at the Riverfront, near Huey’s, then spend about 3.5 hours with a guided route, samples at each stop, and a relaxed pace that includes a drink (cocktail or mocktail). It’s a great fit if you want a practical way to eat well and understand what you’re looking at in Savannah, without spending your whole vacation in research mode.

Key highlights I’d plan around

• Small group (max 10 people) so the guide can keep things moving without losing the personal touch
• About 2 miles of walking through Savannah’s historic northern section, with food breaks built in
• A true Southern sampler that can include coffee and beignets, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, She-Crab soup, and pecan pie
• A guide-led history angle that connects what you taste to the region’s food culture
• A built-in drink moment with a cocktail or mocktail to ease into vacation time

Meeting at the Riverfront: Rousakis Plaza, coffee, and the right vibe

The tour kicks off at Rousakis Riverfront Plaza, near Huey’s. Look for a guide wearing a GA peach-colored shirt with the Flavors Food Tours logo. This matters more than you’d think: in a city like Savannah, a clear starting point makes the whole morning feel calm instead of chaotic.

Right away, you’ll start with coffee and warm, powdered-sugar beignets. That first stop does two jobs. First, it gets your energy up before the walking starts. Second, it sets the tone: this isn’t a sit-down restaurant tour that feels like a parade of plates. It’s structured like a stroll through Savannah’s food culture, with each bite tied back to where and why it developed.

You’ll also use a mobile ticket. If you like to travel light and keep your phone handy, that’s a simple win.

The route: a guided 2-mile walk through Savannah’s historic north

You’re walking about 2 miles through Savannah’s historic northern section. The pace is meant to feel like a lunch stroll, not an all-day hike. Still, the tour asks for moderate physical fitness, so plan on steady walking between stops.

Here’s what I like about this approach. Savannah’s charm is easy to love from a street map, but it’s even better when you’re moving. You see squares, streets, and local landmarks in the order a guide intends—and you’re not stuck trying to figure out what to read while you’re hungry.

The route also has a practical payoff: you’ll cover enough ground to understand the layout of central Savannah without needing a second walking day. The tour ends near City Market at Jefferson and W Saint Julian Street, and the guide can help you get oriented back to the start if you want to return there later.

The menu you’re likely to try: coffee, beignets, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, She-Crab soup, pecan pie

This is a tasting tour, so the best way to think about it is as a sampler of Southern and Savannah staples—served in a sequence that makes sense for a guided lunch.

The sweet start: coffee and beignets

Beignets show up right at the beginning, along with coffee. Expect warm, soft dough and powdered sugar that’s impossible to eat gracefully—so embrace the mess. This opening stop is a strong “time-travel” moment too, because it gives you something familiar and portable before you move into more distinctly regional flavors.

The savory turn: fried green tomatoes

Fried green tomatoes are one of those dishes that people either love immediately or never forget after the first bite. They’re crunchy, tangy, and very Southern in feel—perfect for a middle stop when your appetite is fully awake.

Lowcountry comfort: shrimp n grits and other main dishes

Shrimp and grits is listed as a main dish option, and the tour may include it depending on the day’s menu and planning. This is a big part of why this tour works: it pushes beyond the tourist-sweet stuff into classic Lowcountry comfort.

If you’re the type who likes to eat like locals do, this is one of your key moments. Grits (in this context) help you understand the texture side of Southern cooking, while shrimp gives it that coastal connection.

A signature Savannah bowl: She-Crab soup

She-Crab soup is another standout item on the list. It’s richer and more specific to the region than a generic soup stop would be, and it’s the kind of dish that makes a food tour feel like more than just sampling fried appetizers.

The finish: pecan pie

You’ll end with dessert options that can include pecan pie. It’s a fitting closing note—sweet, nutty, and strongly associated with Southern tables.

The exact mix of mains can vary, but the tour’s overall promise stays the same: you’ll leave with a clear sense of what “Southern” means in Savannah, not just a random collection of snacks.

Drink included: cocktail or mocktail as your pace-setter

A cocktail (or mocktail) is included. I like that the drink isn’t an afterthought. It’s built into the tour flow, which helps you slow down between stops and actually enjoy what you’re tasting instead of rushing from one place to the next.

If you don’t drink alcohol, you’ll still get a mocktail option. That keeps the vibe consistent across the group, and it means everyone gets the same “vacation switch” moment.

Why the history part matters (and why it doesn’t feel like homework)

This tour isn’t only about food. The guide ties what you eat to the history and culture behind Southern cuisine and Savannah’s origins.

In plain terms, that means you’ll hear explanations that help you interpret what’s around you while you walk: why certain dishes show up here, how regional ingredients shaped cooking styles, and how Savannah’s identity connects to the broader South.

This is also where the guide can make or break a tour. The experience is small-group, and the best moments come when the guide is clearly enjoying the stories. Guides who have led this tour include people like Jessica, Vanessa, Bridget, Pamela, and Leslie, and they’re consistently described as fun, personable, and able to connect the dots between food and place.

I’d expect lots of practical context, plus the kind of extra pointers that save you time later—like where to go next once you’ve got your bearings.

Value check: does $99.99 feel fair for 3.5 hours of eating?

At $99.99 per person, this isn’t a cheap bite-and-bye food stop. But when you break it down, it can feel worth it—especially compared with trying to replicate the same experience on your own.

Here’s why the value calculation tends to work:

• You’re getting multiple tastings across several locations rather than one meal
• The walk is guided, so you pay for both food and context
• A drink is included, which adds real value for lunch-season costs
• The group size is limited to 10 travelers, so you aren’t lost in a crowd

Also, timing matters. If you only have a short window in Savannah, a tour like this can function like a shortcut: you sample several dishes you’d likely want anyway, and you learn what they mean so you’re not just eating blindly.

If you’re a picky eater or someone who wants only one specific dish, you might feel the price more. But if you’re open to variety and want a guided start to your food planning, $99.99 is easier to swallow.

Who should book—and who should sit this one out

This tour is ideal if you:

• Want a food-and-walking intro to Savannah’s northern historic area
• Like getting context for what you’re eating
• Prefer a small group setting where you can ask questions
• Are excited by Southern staples like fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, She-Crab soup, and pecan pie

It may be a poor fit if you:

• Need the tour to accommodate peppers, onions, garlic allergies, or you’re vegan (not supported)
• Want zero walking (it’s about 2 miles)
• Are traveling with very specific dietary needs not listed as supported

One more practical point: the tour is dependent on good weather, so if you’re visiting during a stormy stretch, keep that in mind when you lock in plans.

Timing and logistics that affect your day

Plan on about 3 hours 30 minutes total, give or take. The tour is structured so you’re eating and walking on a schedule, not stopping whenever you feel like it.

The start location is on the Riverfront at Rousakis Riverfront Plaza, and you’ll finish near City Market. That ending spot is convenient because City Market is a natural place to continue wandering, grabbing photos, or lining up your next meal.

Also note the tour uses a mobile ticket, and you’ll get confirmation at booking time.

If you like a clear plan for your first day, this kind of timed tour tends to reduce stress fast.

Should you book the True South Lunch Tour?

I’d book it if your priority is a guided, small-group way to eat a slice of Savannah and understand what you’re tasting. The standout value is the pairing of Southern food variety with a real walking route and food-history explanations. I also like that it’s guided by people who have a reputation for being friendly and energetic, which makes a tasting tour feel personal instead of mechanical.

I wouldn’t book it if your food needs are tight—especially if you require avoiding peppers, onions, garlic or you follow a vegan diet. And if you hate walking, the 2-mile requirement will likely be annoying.

FAQ

How long is the True South Lunch Tour?

It runs for about 3 hours 30 minutes (approximately).

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $99.99 per person.

Where do I meet the guide?

The tour meets at Rousakis Riverfront Plaza in Savannah, near Huey’s.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends near City Market at Jefferson at W Saint Julian Street. The guide can escort you back to the starting point or help you get your bearings.

About how much walking will I do?

You’ll walk about 2 miles through the historic northern section of Savannah.

What food and drinks are included?

The tour includes tastings such as coffee, beignets, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits and/or other main dishes of the South, She-Crab soup, and pecan pie. A cocktail or mocktail is also included.

Is the tour able to handle allergies or vegan diets?

The tour cannot accommodate allergies to peppers, onions, garlic, or vegan diets.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers.