A Safari in Gulf Shores: Savanna Restaurant & Wine Bar

I went on a Safari in Gulf Shores to discover a new restaurant. On the way to a beach getaway, some girlfriends and I stopped at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo to find a much-talked-about restaurant, Savanna. As a zoo visiting mother and grandmother, I can say I have never enjoyed a restaurant at a zoo, until now.

Formally called the Safari Room, the decor is tastefully African, with wooden walls adorned with animal sculptures, masks, and rock art. Wall-to-wall windows overlook the zoo property with an outside deck that allows visitors to be a part of the natural world. The huge bar is set in front of the windows and focuses on the beautiful view. Since it was a winter’s day, we walked to look outside and all agreed that this would be a fabulous place to be on a warm sunny day.

John Davis, owner and chef, was gracious to leave his kitchen duties and give a quick backstory of his journey to Gulf Shores. John grew up on the West Coast, and proclaims himself to be a “beach guy”. It was evident that the coastal scene was important to him because it seems beaches are a theme of his, geographically and mentally. 

Starting in Charleston, SC for Culinary School, he worked as the catering director at Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, where he met his wife, who is also in the hospitality industry. They did a stint in Atlanta, where John worked in many hotels and restaurants and eventually opened a Hawaiian restaurant, Ron John’s Beach Cafe. 

Islamorada, in the Florida Keys, was his next destination, where he helped a friend start a hotel company, followed by Starkville, Mississippi where his position was in catering and business dining for Mississippi State University. The pandemic changed his trajectory, (we’ve heard this before, haven't we?) He was unemployed and wondered what would come next when his wife took a job as manager of the Springhill Suites at the Wharf in Orange Beach. His unemployment was short-lived because within a week he found a position as chef at the Sunset Cork Room in Gulf Shores.

After three years, the owner retired and gifted the Cork Room to John. When the building sold, he spent months looking for a new location and finally found the perfect fit at the Zoo. Because of the Safari Room’s African theme, John couldn't call it the Cork Room. The new name, Savanna, was a clear choice, because of its proximity to Wildlife, an ode to one of the South’s oldest cities, and a tribute to his daughter named Savanna. 

Opening on Labor Day in 2023, John named his private dining room and event space, Sunset Cork Room, so now, he has it all! Chef John and the Sunset Cork Room won numerous Awards of Excellence from Wine Spectator and they are proudly displayed at the entrance to this beautiful establishment.

About our lunch, Fried Goat Cheese with arugula and a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette was our first selection and we enjoyed the flavor pairing with a nice cold chardonnay. French Onion Soup with gruyere and croutons was the second course and it had the gooey cheese and savory broth that we all loved. Lastly, we had Chef John’s recommendation, Blue Waldorf Salad, with granny smith apples, blue cheese, blueberries, walnuts, arugula, and iceberg lettuce. It was fresh and delicious; a perfect lunch! 

Savanna, 20499 Oak Rd E, is just off Highway 59 and is open for lunch 7 days a week, and dinner, Tuesday through Saturday with Saturday and Sunday Brunch, as well. Make a reservation for the  Specialty Valentine’s dinner or check out the other special events on their website. 

I’m glad John found his way to the Scenic 98 Coastal area and recommend this hidden gem. It’s a great place to escape the typical beach fare and step into a sophisticated, personal atmosphere.