By Kenneth Rosen
I’m so sick, I thought to myself. Four times in four months and I was certain this would be the last time I could stomach it.
I’m talking about the Elvis at Clary’s: a $6.99 dish of peanut butter and bananas squeezed between halves of sourdough bread, topped with whipped cream and powdered sugar.
The prep time is fast, arriving within five minutes of ordering which also depends on how crowded it is—on the weekend or peaks in the tourist season it could be a lot longer. But the atmosphere that Clary’s has maintained over the years is one of Southern hospitality, making a wait no more of a burden than sipping a hot cup of Joe.
Clary’s has been in Savannah for more than 100 years. Featured in films and visited regularly by local celebrities, Clary’s is a landmark diner where tourists and locals enjoy Southern favorites.
So, I figured why not and sat down to try the Elvis again. The bread is soft but quickly turns soggy as it sponges up the whipped cream. The peanut butter tastes generic although it does not take away from its magical combination with bananas.
The one complaint I’ve always had about the bananas on this sandwich is that the bananas aren’t mixed in with the peanut butter. Laying dormant atop the peanut butter, they are sometimes diced into round bits or sliced long ways and cut to fit, but mixing the two together would take this sandwich to the next level of culinary genius.
Had I not taken my time and instead wolfed it down within minutes of it being placed in front of me, I might have had a better experience (like the others times). Even if you never get a chance to taste Clary’s Elvis, it is a necessity to try at home.
I’m not sure an Elvis qualifies as a Southern favorite, but I enjoyed it up until the last bite; vowing to swear it off for a few months before revisiting this old favorite of mine.
Clary’s Restaurant
404 Abercorn Street
912-233-0402
