Off the Beaten Path
Nestled on a side street in downtown Savannah is a restaurant the size of your closet, with special sauces you would knock your momma over to get your hands on. No kidding.
Zunzi’s Takeout and Catering has been voted Best Takeout in Savannah by Savannah Magazine & Connect Savannah for five years in a row. You can tell on the first approach that Zunzi’s is popular, especially among the locals. The environment is laid back and casual, which is made abundantly clear by Zunzi’s slogan and response to pretty much any question, “Shit, yeah!” The food isn’t fussy or pretentious; it’s just plain good eats. And did I mention the portions are giant?
The interior is small and the line often extends down the block, but it’s worth the wait. There’s no indoor seating, but they provide some outdoor umbrella tables and the restaurant is located just a few steps away from a beautiful downtown square with several benches.
Owners, Johnny and Gabby Dabeer, pulled from their different cultural backgrounds (Dutch, Italian, Swiss, and South African) to create a menu that is as extensive as it is eclectic. The Dabeers have all the bases covered, and it can feel overwhelming if it’s your first time ordering. The staff is quick-moving but helpful and they haven’t steered me wrong yet! The menu has seven sections: Salads, Sides, Appetizers, Sandwiches, Vegetarian, Entrees, and Drinks. It’s hard for me to tell you what the best item on the menu is, because I’ve had it all… and it’s all good. Here are a few of my favorites:
Oliver’s Lunch ($15.00) comes with a choice of rice or mashed potatoes (I get half and half) topped with sliced chicken breast and a choice of smoked or homemade sausage (I recommend the homemade), a spinach salad, a piece of French bread, and Zunzi’s special sauce (I recommend both the red and white sauces). If you’re not a pork-lover, a slight variation is the Baked Chicken Breast, it’s the same as Oliver’s Lunch, minus the sausage.
If you’re a sandwich person, you’re in luck. I recommend the Conquistador ($14.00). It’s a French bread loaf topped with sliced, baked chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, and loads of special sauce. The Godfather is similar to the Conquistador, with the addition of sausage, marinara sauce, and melted cheese. Yum!
Make sure you don’t leave without a 24 ounce ($2.00) peach-infused rooibos tea! It’s like no other sweet tea I’ve had… and I’m from Savannah, so I’ve had a lot of sweet tea.
And don’t worry, if you get hooked on their special sauces (as I’m sure you will) they’re available by the bottle for those unlucky patrons who don’t have daily access.
