River Street Sweets is a classic stop in Savannah, Georgia -- part candy shop, part Southern tradition.



The minute you walk in, the smell of warm pralines hits you, and staff are usually handing out free samples hot off the marble slab.



Their World Famous Pralines are buttery, nutty, and melt-in-your-mouth good. "Made with butter, sugar, cream, and Georgia-grown pecans, they deliver the perfect balance of crunch and sweetness in every bite," reads the website.



The bear claw -- which others may call turtles -- is smooth chocolate and sumptuous homemade caramel combined atop a bed of crunchy pecan pieces. Bear Claws are the #1 chocolate confection in the shop.



Milk Chocolate Bear Claws® were the very first chocolate product sold in the original River Street Sweets® store; the white chocolate ones are just as tasty.



Grade: A

Lizard’s Thicket is a classic Southern meat-and-three chain rooted in Columbia, South Carolina, known for comforting, down-home cooking served with no frills.



The mac & cheese is creamy and comforting, with elbow noodles nestled in a thick, cheesy sauce that leans more homestyle than sharp or gourmet - think baked casserole-style with a slightly firm top. The candied yams are soft and syrupy, almost dessert-like, coated in a brown sugar glaze that soaks through each bite. Together, they make the kind of sweet-and-savory pairing that feels like Sunday dinner at someone’s church-going aunt’s house.



Grade: B