Bluffton, South Carolina & Savannah, Georgia
USA
Owned and operated by a tight-knit group of highly dedicated farm-to-table aficionados, the FARM Hospitality Group serves up some of the best food in Bluffton and Savannah. Together they have created a culinary tale of two cities.
Although the town of Bluffton, South Carolina, and the city of Savannah, Georgia are a mere 25 miles apart they could not be more different.
While Bluffton is growing at a rapid pace, it has managed to retain its intimate, small-town charm, thanks to a strong sense of community and deep farming roots that shine through in its hyper-local dining scene. With numerous galleries, artist studios, and nurseries ranging from boutique to massive, Bluffton offers a perfect way to spend a day, or a weekend. For lovers of a good farmers market, shoppers can visit the Bluffton Farmers Market on Thursdays at Martin Family Park.
Just south of Bluffton lies Savannah, with its considerably larger population and cosmopolitan yet genuinely Southern vibe. Serving as a crossroads for travelers from both the North and South, Savannah welcomes a steady stream of visitors year-round. The city’s around-the-clock energy is fueled in part by thousands of talented students attending the world-renowned Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). With its rich cultural history, charming parks, scenic riverfront, and vibrant arts and culinary scene, it’s easy to see why Savannah is regarded as one of the South’s greatest cities.
FARM
Located in the heart of Old Town Bluffton, FARM is perfectly situated within the Bluffton Historic District, known for its late 19th and early 20th-century architecture. Though rustic in appearance, the restaurant exudes a quiet sophistication that offers both indoor and outdoor dining.
There is also a large open room on the second floor, designed to host up to 50 guests for private parties, wedding dinners, and corporate events. There, you’ll find an amusing large tarpaper triptych of a herd of white-faced cows by Chattanooga, Tennessee–based artist Carylon Cooper.
In addition to generous amounts of reclaimed wood and exposed HVAC ducts, both spaces are warmly lit with wall sconces and Edison bulbs, creating a relaxed and intimate mood. The main dining area features an artfully curated bar and an open kitchen that serves as the room’s focal point.
On par with previous dinners, our recent visit did not disappoint. We dined on roasted May River oysters, steak tartare, yellowfin tuna, beet salad with goat cheese and a steaming bowl of saffron rice. Our menu choices were skillfully prepared and presented in FARM’s signature, unpretentious style, and their close ties with local farms, purveyors and fishmongers was evident in the freshness of every dish. Thanks to a menu that is driven by seasonality, dining at FARM always feels like the first time, no matter how often we visit.
The quality of the food at FARM is consistently complemented by the congenial, yet professional, staff. From the front of the house to the wait staff and the talented team in the kitchen every person seems to genuinely enjoy what they do.
Common Thread
Savannah is no stranger to fine dining, having long attracted renowned culinary talent who have showcased their skills in kitchens across the city. Yet in a place traditionally known for Southern comfort food, a growing number of chefs are reshaping the culinary landscape, steering it in a more focused and innovative direction.
Although still in its early stages by big-city standards, Savannah’s emergence as a fine dining destination has firmly placed it on the culinary map of the Coastal region. In just 15 years, the city has evolved from one of the most popular travel destinations in the Southeast into a place people visit specifically in search of exceptional food.
A clear sign of this growing trend is a question hotel concierges hear often- “Where are the best restaurants in Savannah?” Fortunately for adventurous diners, and for the city’s expanding roster of standout restaurants, Savannah’s culinary scene now offers a wide array of options.
At the forefront of this growing culinary movement is Common Thread which, like FARM, is part of the Bluffton-based FARM Hospitality Group.
Located in the vibrant, walkable Historic District of Thomas Square, Common Thread opened in January 2021 following a yearlong restoration of an elegant 19th-century Victorian residence. The restoration created a refined yet cozy atmosphere, with former bedrooms and parlors transformed into elegantly appointed dining areas, complemented by an intimate upstairs bar and an open kitchen. Considering the house was built in 1897, it doesn’t feel like an “older” home. While many original architectural features have been preserved, the house feels alive and much younger than its years.
Soon after the restoration was complete, word quickly spread, and Common Thread became a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Today, it’s common to see hotel shuttle vans dropping off enthusiastic diners who followed the recommendations of concierges familiar with the city’s culinary landscape.
Our first visit to Common Thread lived up to expectations, with a friendly, knowledgeable wait staff and a menu that, like FARM, highlighted the freshest seasonal produce, seafood, chicken and beef.
We were seated in one of four corner booths in a light-filled parlor downstairs, where the generous spacing between booths and the thoughtfully curated music lent the room a quiet sophistication which made conversation effortless.
Our dinner choices included roasted oysters, beef tartare, saffron rice, and one of the best chicken dishes I’ve ever had at any restaurant. Another standout was the tuna crudo, served with microgreens and palm-sized pieces of nori for making small handrolls. It was an artful presentation and a delight to share.
One of the toughest challenges in any kitchen, especially during the busiest times, is coordinating the timing of multiple dishes arriving at the table. To their credit, the team at Common Thread manages this with impressive precision and expertise.
Several weeks later, we returned, this time with friends, and enjoyed another memorable evening. Much like our first visit, the night stood out for its exceptional food and impeccable service. As luck would have it, Mother Nature decided to join the party with an epic midsummer storm, adding her own touch of magic to an already special evening as hard rain pelted the windows of the dining room.
Since settling in Coastal Georgia four years ago, we have explored a wide range of the region’s restaurants—from dockside tiki bars and rooftop hangouts to taco, burger, and pizza joints, as well as some of Savannah’s most talked-about establishments. With our growing experience in Savannah’s fine dining scene, I can confidently say that Common Thread ranks among the city’s finest restaurants.
The phrase “it takes a village” resonates through every aspect of FARM Hospitality Group’s business model. Their close partnerships with local suppliers, combined with a genuine farm-and-sea-to-table ethos, are helping to redefine and elevate the restaurant scene in both the Lowcountry and Savannah.
