Savannah is known for its historic charm, its rich Southern cuisine, and — of course — its ghosts. So for food lovers who like a side of the supernatural with dinner, why not bring the city’s haunted history right to your table?
These three eerie-but-delicious dishes are each inspired by one of Savannah’s most famous ghost stories, making them perfect for a haunted dinner night. Whether you’re planning a date night with a spooky twist or just looking for something fun to cook, serve them up before or after a Savannah ghost tour for a night you won’t forget.
1. Gracie’s Ghostly Shrimp & Grits
Inspired by Little Gracie Watson of Bonaventure Cemetery
One of the most beloved spirits in Savannah is Little Gracie Watson, the child whose lifelike statue watches over her grave in Bonaventure Cemetery. Born in 1883, Gracie was adored across the city before her tragic death at just six years old, and visitors still claim to glimpse her spirit near her grave — or to hear a child’s laughter on the wind. Her gentle story is the perfect inspiration for a comforting Southern classic: creamy white-cheddar grits and smoky shrimp, evoking the misty beauty of Bonaventure at dawn.
Serves 4
Ingredients
For the grits
- 1 cup stone-ground grits
- 4 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup andouille sausage, diced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the grits: Bring the water (or broth) to a boil, then slowly whisk in the grits. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes until creamy. Stir in the butter, cheese, and heavy cream, and season with salt and pepper.
- Start the shrimp: In a skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the andouille sausage and cook until browned, then add the garlic, paprika, and cayenne and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the shrimp: Cook 2–3 minutes per side, then deglaze the pan with the chicken broth and lemon juice. Stir well and let simmer another 2 minutes.
- Assemble: Spoon the grits onto plates, top with the shrimp and sauce, garnish with green onions, and serve immediately.
This dish captures the comforting warmth of Savannah’s cuisine while paying homage to one of its most beloved ghosts.
2. The Lady in Grey’s Midnight Bisque
Inspired by the ghost of the Marshall House
The Marshall House, one of Savannah’s most haunted hotels, is famous for its Lady in Grey — a spectral figure who roams the halls at night. Guests have reported seeing her standing near their beds or gliding through doorways, and some believe she’s the spirit of a Civil War nurse, still tending to the soldiers who once filled the building when it served as a wartime hospital. For a dish as eerie and elegant as the Lady herself, we’re making a midnight-colored crab bisque, tinted a haunting smoky-black with a touch of squid ink.
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups seafood stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1 lb lump crab meat
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp squid ink (optional, for color)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped chives, for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté the aromatics: In a pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent.
- Make the roux: Stir in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes, then slowly add the seafood stock while whisking.
- Add flavor: Stir in the white wine, heavy cream, smoked paprika, and squid ink. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the crab: Gently fold in the crab meat, season with salt and pepper, and simmer 5 minutes more.
- Serve: Ladle into bowls and garnish with chives.
This ghostly bisque is rich, mysterious, and unforgettable — just like a night at the Marshall House.
3. Anna’s Haunted Honey Cake
Inspired by Anna of the 17Hundred90 Inn
The 17Hundred90 Inn is home to Anna, a ghostly young woman said to have died of heartbreak. As the legend goes, she fell from an upper-floor window after her lover left her, and guests staying in Room 204 often report mysterious sensations — the feeling of someone brushing their hair, or gently tucking them in at night. Anna’s story calls for a dessert both sweet and sorrowful: a dark honey cake with warm spices, rich and dense and perfect for a night of telling ghost stories.
Serves 8
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup strong black tea, cooled
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set to 350°F (175°C) and grease a loaf pan.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Combine the wet ingredients: In another bowl, mix the honey, cooled tea, brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla.
- Combine and bake: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, stirring until smooth. Pour into the pan and bake for 45–50 minutes.
- Cool and serve: Let cool completely, then dust with powdered sugar.
This cake is sweet, spiced, and just a little dark — much like Anna’s lingering presence at the 17Hundred90 Inn.
Bringing Savannah’s Haunted History to Your Table
A haunted-themed dinner inspired by the city’s ghost stories makes for one of the most memorable date nights around. Prepare these dishes before heading out on a ghost tour, or enjoy them after a spooky night at one of Savannah’s haunted inns — either way, they bring the city’s supernatural charm straight to your kitchen.
In Savannah, the ghosts aren’t just in the stories — they might just be joining you for dinner.
Taste the Legends, Then Live Them
Want to meet these haunted legends firsthand? Book a walk through haunted Savannah with Destination Ghost Tours — then go home and cook the menu.
Book a Savannah Ghost Tour