About Sweet Spice

Born in Westmoreland, Jamaica to a family of five, Donavon Smith learned to cook the traditional dishes of his mother's kitchen by the time he was 12. His path, however, took many turns before arriving in Savannah.

After a stint on the police force and as a bodyguard for Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, Smith moved to New York in 1997 chasing the American dream. He spent eight years as a logistics agent in the U.S. Army, stationed in Japan, Korea, and Texas — experiences that sharpened his leadership and his vision.

When he visited Savannah with his wife Ingrid, he noticed something missing: authentic Jamaican food. "I took for granted that Jamaican food was everywhere," he says. "How can anyone live without Jamaican food?"

He set to work making and selling beef patties, then opened Sweet Spice Restaurant on Waters Avenue in 2011. The gold, green, and black walls reflect the colors of his homeland, and the tables have been packed ever since.

Today, Sweet Spice is ranked #2 of 579 restaurants in Savannah on TripAdvisor and has been voted Best of Savannah — a testament to the authentic flavors and warm hospitality that define every visit.