Nestled in a little strip mall in southside Savannah, you’ll find one of the best restaurants in town, offering some of the most delicious Filipino food we’ve ever had. The Narra Tree, opening early 2022, is a women-owned business that is already on the way to becoming a local favorite with its stellar reviews and food. If this wasn’t reason enough to cover the restaurant, their customer service is totally on brand with the “hostess city.”
The Food
We started our meal off with Lumpia, one of the most popular appetizers in the Philippines. These Filipino style spring rolls are made with thin crepe-like wrappers and stuffed with a mixture of veggies and meat. It is best enjoyed with a side of sweet and tangy dipping sauce. The menu offers three different versions. Our favorite is the Narra Tree Special lumpia which is filled with stir fried ground pork and vegetables. This time around, we opted for the chicken lumpia, which was a solid contender.
For my main entrée, I chose the Lechon Kawali. Lechon Kawali is cubed pork belly fried to a golden crisp served with a side of homemade liver sauce. Don’t let the simple looks of this dish fool you. The perfectly prepared fat melts in your mouth, while the fried outer layer is satisfyingly crunchy and packed with flavor. The dipping vinegar-based liver sauce makes this dish even more savory. If you can handle an extra kick, I would recommend adding the spicy vinegar dip.
My husband got the coconut stew with fried pork belly. This was a beautiful dish that was as rich as Elon Musk with flavor. While the lechon kawali had a savory zing, this dish was sweet and creamy, which paired well with the fried pork belly. This was a total winner and worthy of ordering again in the future. It was great seeing the pork belly used in two totally different tasting dishes, both just as good as the other.
Drinks
I decided on a strawberry, pineapple Bellini cocktail. This was a pleasant drink that was sweet but not too sugary. The flavors were well-balanced and paired well with my meal.
As for the beers, my husband was happy to find the one Filipino beer he expects any self-respecting Filipino restaurant to have, Red Horse. Other than that, they had a good selection of other Asian imports.
Ambiance
Although the outside may seem unsuspecting, the inside of the restaurant is clean, stylish and welcoming. I love that the addition of a photo-friendly accent wall that says “mabuhay” meaning long live or cheers in Tagalog. Towards the back of the restaurant there’s also an area with a TV and seating for Friday and Saturday night karaoke. This is a great place to enjoy a good meal, relax and meet new friends.
Bottom Line
Eisenhower Plaza is one of the best kept secrets in Savannah, adding yet another amazing place to eat and drink. If you’ve never had Filipino food, this is the place to get your feet wet. Not only will you get to experience some amazing traditional dishes like homemade lumpia and chicken adobo, but you’ll also get some of that world famous Filipino hospitality. This is a Savannah Secret Society favorite.