Huey's On the River
River Street Inn, 115 E River St, Savannah, GA 31401
So if you haven't gathered from earlier posts, I am not a huge breakfast person. However, my husband is. So this leads to the perfect compromise...BRUNCH!
Huey's was recommended to us, and it is also a well known brunch spot: A Savannah type cafe serving up New Orleans style cuisine. Now let me preface this with saying I have been to New Orleans a couple of times, and have never been over the moon about their food choices. *GASP. Blasphemy. How could I could I say such a thing!? I maybe be alone with this opinion** But I am always down to give something a second chance. So off we went. Being less than a 5 minute walk from our hotel, it seemed most ideal.
There was a short wait, so we went to the bar where my husband ordered a bloody mary. Loaded with fruits and veggies, he said it had a spicy bite to it, which started off the morning just right. In a few minutes our table was ready.
I always ask the server what they would recommend..but I prefaced it this time with the fact that I don't eat a lot of seafood. I know, I know...I am sure there are a lot of seafood lovers out there not understanding how such a thing could be true. And apparently this waitress was a one of them. She sort of shook her head and claimed, "Well we are known for our seafood dishes so..." and sort of trailed off there.
Was I in the wrong spot? Was there nothing else that we could order that this server could vouch for? I had been eyeing up the french toast, and my husband was looking at some of the po boy sandwiches on the menu. He mentioned the roast beef po boy to which she replied, "Oh that is a staff favorite. It is slow roasted in our ovens for 14 hours" Umm Hello?? Where was this advice before?? So we decided to order the two above and split them. My husband also ordered a side of parmesan garlic grits to try.
We then saw homemade beignets highlighted in yellow. When pondering this, a couple sitting next to us said that we must try them. So we did.
First came the beignets. We ordered three of them for $3.95. These were like pockets of light, airy dough doused in powdered sugar. They weren't too flaky, or too sweet. They were the perfect balance of substance with enough sugar to satisfy your sweet tooth. You also have the option to order a pecan praline sauce to dip them in. This will definitely amp up the sweet flavor profile.
Then came our brunch items. First was the Pain Perdue: N'walins style french toast with powdered sugar and pecan butter for $9.95. The french toast came in three long strips. It was crunchy on the outside, and warm and doughy on the inside. The butter added a subtle hint of pecan flavor, but wasn't overpowering by any means. A solid french toast dish. You also have the option to add chicken tenders and a siracha syrup to the french toast. This is a creative take on chicken and waffles...sweet, spicy, and salty. I just couldn't handle the intense flavor combination this morning.
Next was the Roast Beef Po Boy: House roasted beef with provolone cheese and a creole mayo on french bread for $10.95. We got it served with french fries. OH MY GOD. How does this waitress not immediately recommend this sandwich to anyone who sits down at her table?? You know when something is put down in front of you, and you just know it's going to be good. My husband cut it in half, and we got even more excited because you could see the thick pieces of roast beef falling apart with the melted cheese covering it all. Don't think cold cut roast beef here, think more along the lines of a slow cooked brisket steak.
One bite, and we were in heaven. The was, without a doubt, one of, if not THE best roast beef sandwich I have ever had. The bread was warm, firm enough on the outside, but soft on the inside. The creole mayo gave just a slight hint of extra flavor, and the juices of the roast beef melted into the bread. Combined with the sharpness of the provolone cheese this made it the winner of the day.
When the waitress came back to ask us how everything was I looked at her like are you kidding me??? This is the most amazing sandwich ever! She proceeded to tell us a story of how her husband came back to the restaurant for 6 days in a row to have the sandwich. Yea, no kidding! I am tempted to do the same thing.
The parmesan garlic grits were really tasty too. Sprinkled with fresh parmesan cheese, they were decadent and salty, and added a nice harmony to the sweet french toast that we were sharing.
Huey's gives great credit to New Orlean's style food. They bring the highlights of NOLA cuisine and make it even better. Whether brunch, lunch, or dinner, please make your way over to Huey's. You won't regret it!
<3 P.S. They have outdoor seating as well, so if the weather is permitting, take a drink outside, and enjoy the food while people watching. It always makes for a good time!