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    Basic Kitchen

    4.3 (646 reviews)
    ModerateNew American, Bars
    Open • 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    BASIC KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Basic Kitchen

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    Cauli wings (I think?)
    Alexis S.

    Was visiting and went here based on a recommendation. Great service and super cute place. Loved the buffalo cauliflower - nicely fried and almost fluffy. I had the coconut chicken bowl - beware because it is SPICY. Great flavors, good portions, and spicy. Did not really like the tomato salad. Tomatoes were not firm and it was watery overall. Still, I'd recommend it overall! Btw: if you have mobility issues, you'll want to dine inside as there are stairs required to the patio. We didn't know that and there is no hand rail either.

    Vegan Caesar
    Parul V.

    Came here for dinner. Great vegetarian and vegan options. No meat/seafood is fried so no cross contamination of vegetarian fried items. Got the sweet potato fries with the vegan ranch dressing. That dressing deserves a 10. So good. I also got the vegan Caesar salad. It was good, nothing special. My friend got the basic bowl and said it was good. Our server was sweet and friendly. Inside was open and airy. Would come back to try other things if I was visiting longer.

    Menu
    Sagarika G.

    We had a wonderful dinner at Basic Kitchen, located just a short walk from King Street. The restaurant has a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that feels very community-driven and intimate, making it a great spot for a relaxed dinner. When we visited on a weekday evening, we were seated quickly with no wait! We started with the corn ribs, which were honestly one of the BEST appetizers we've ever had! They had the texture and flavor of ribs but were made from corn and served with an incredible chipotle dipping sauce that brought everything together perfectly! For our main dish, we ordered the spinach and feta pita, which was warm, gooey, and packed with flavor. The pita was stuffed with spinach and feta, making it rich and comforting--almost like a warm hug. It also came with a fresh side salad that was tangy and refreshing, which balanced the richness of the pita really well! I do wish that the pita was a bit more flavorful on the inside, not just the outside. My husband also ordered an Old Fashioned and said it was excellent. Overall, the food felt incredibly fresh and thoughtfully prepared. If you're looking for a cozy spot in Charleston with fresh ingredients and great flavors, this place is definitely worth visiting!

    Sweet potato fries with vegan ranch
    Alexandra M.

    I would 10/10 recommend Basic Kitchen to anyone visiting Charleston! Perfect for brunch or lunch after walking on King Street. It's a sit down brunch spot with a warm atmosphere. I'd make a reservation. Staff was very respectful of food allergies. Good vegan options. Very inclusive menu. I highly recommend the sweet potato fries. My boyfriend and I still talk about how good they are!

    Falafel sandwich with sweet potato fries
    Cat H.

    A wonderful Mother's Day lunch! All of our food was fantastic. The sweet potato fries MELT in your mouth. As someone who has to avoid gluten, shellfish, and dairy, this place is so wonderful for all food restrictions and they have many safe options for me to eat. I also highly recommend their mocktails! Our service was great, staff were friendly. Sitting near the front window was such a treat with the beautiful flowers behind us in the flower box.

    Golden Latte w/ espresso and coconut milk
    Kristina K.

    My mom and I came in on a Friday afternoon and were able to be seated right away. The outside of the restaurant looks like something you would walk right by, but the inside was bustling. It is decorated beautifully and has high ceilings. Just from looking at people's food as we were being seated I could tell this was going to be a fantastic and fresh meal. Our server greeted us and first asked if we had any allergies she should know about. While neither of us do, I thought this was a kind gesture. I was also able to observe all the servers and the hostess working together to make the whole restaurant run smoothly, with everyone helping out where they could. I ordered the Shawarma Bowl and my mom ordered the Good Burger with a Golden Latte with espresso and coconut milk. When asked if my mom wanted avocado on her burger she said no, but it still came with avocado and we were charged for it. She was not too upset though because she agreed the avocado should have been on the burger. Overall the food was incredibly flavorful, fresh, and creative. If I ever have the chance to dine in Charleston again I would definitely come back here, as the whole menu looks enticing!

    Negroni
    Nikki M.

    What a cute place, and I didn't even see the section that is outdoors! The food is simple, delicious, and cohesive. Our server was in the final weeks of her pregnancy and feeling it, but was so sweet and attentive. I do wish they had more options on the food menu. The beet margarita was interesting and the Negroni was incredibly strong. It was reasonably priced. I'd eat here again.

    Menu
    Sasha P.

    This was such a fun brunch for our party of four! We were seated on the patio and had perfect weather in Charleston in November. Our server was very sweet and friendly and took great care of us. We had a few different folks come check on us/bring food over/clear the table, and I always appreciate those table touches. The beet margartia was really tasty and not too sweet, and it's just such a beautiful color - you can't beet it ;) Breakfast was delicious and we were all very happy with what we ordered. Both the veggie (good) and regular (naughty) burgers were tasty and the sweet potato fries were just AMAZING. I had the "conscious cowboy" plate and it was super unique and tasty. The corn ribs were such a good treat - you have to try them. Easy to eat, perfectly cooked and season, great to share with the table. We hung out and took our time enjoying the meal, and everything was awesome.

    Cauli Wings
    Srinanda G.

    This place was giving almond mom, in the sense that it was healthy and had well-balanced meals. Plus, there were options that could accommodate everyone's dietary needs. The Cauli Wings didn't quite meet my expectations, felt like we've had better. Unfortunately, the chicken in the shawarma bowl was way too dry to eat. However, the rest of the bowl with its sauce pairings was pretty good.

    Jessica H.

    The vibe and atmosphere were trendy and dark. It was romantic, in that respect. I'd heard great things about the mocktails, so I was disappointed to be served one that came prepackaged in a bottle. Don't get me wrong- the phony Negroni was delicious but not exactly the gastronomical delight I'd been expecting. We shared the cauliflower wings, which were great. Then I had the veggie burger and sweet potato fries, which were also tasty. My husband enjoyed the burger, but didn't think it was as good as it should have been for that price. The server was very kind, but I think he was a bit overextended because service was very slow. We'd finished our drinks and wings when he finally turned up to ask if we wanted entrees. Considering how exhausted we were from a day of sightseeing, we wished we'd been in and out a little quicker. Although I can't fault him for considering the possibility that we wanted to linger. All that to say, it was fine.

    COOL
    Cheryl G.

    Different & VERY GOOD! Good crowd but not at all noisy. Most excellent service by Bryan! Nice beverages, Banana Bread, Corn Ribs to start. Smoked Salmon toast YUMZ. Amazing tastes of Veggie Bowl and Chicken Sausage. And now for the Chocolate Tahini Tart!! If you've never been, STOP, DROP and ROLL IN!!

    Sweet Potato Fries
    Lynn B.

    Sweet potato fries were offered on the house when the kitchen notepad an extra ordered. Very nice start, and they were good - thick, soft and lightly seasoned. Fattoush salad with grilled salmon - a reasonable size portion. Did not finish, due to filling up on the fries.

    Salmon bowl

    We had been looking forward to trying Basic Kitchen because we'd heard such great things about the food, and overall it lived up to the hype--but the service unfortunately fell short. We had a reservation, were seated promptly, and received water right away. After that, though, we waited about 15 minutes without anyone checking on us and eventually had to wave someone down just to place our food and drink order. When our server came over, I asked whether the strawberry matcha had any added sugar in the strawberry purée. Instead of answering the question, she responded with, "Well yeah, it's strawberries," in a noticeably dismissive tone. I clarified that I was asking whether there was added sugar, and while she eventually answered, the interaction felt unnecessarily curt. Unfortunately, that attitude continued throughout the meal. The disappointing part is that the food and drinks were excellent. The salmon bowl was our favorite dish--absolutely fantastic. We also loved the kombucha, the fresh juice and coconut water drinks, and the matcha. The kitchen clearly knows what it's doing, which made the service experience even more unfortunate. I'd absolutely come back for the food, but I hope the service is warmer next time because it didn't match the quality of everything coming out of the kitchen.

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    Page 1 of 17

    Ask the Community - Basic Kitchen

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    The Rooftop at the Vendue

    The Rooftop at the Vendue

    3.5(800 reviews)
    0.5 mi•French Quarter
    •$$

    I stopped by The Rooftop at The Vendue one night after being out, and I was starving. They were…read morejust about to close the kitchen, but the bartender was kind enough to squeeze in an order of chicken nuggets for me, and I'm so glad they did. I know it sounds funny to rave about chicken nuggets, but these were honestly some of the best I've ever had. They reminded me so much of McDonald's chicken nuggets in the best possible way. I stayed for a drink and ended up getting treated to an incredible thunder and lightning show over the city. It wasn't even raining, which made it even cooler to watch from the rooftop. Between the amazing views, the friendly bartender who saved me from going to bed hungry, and unexpectedly fantastic chicken nuggets, this ended up being one of my favorite stops in Charleston. I'll definitely be back for another drink...and another order of chicken nuggets.

    This place has so much potential that it doesn't live up to. Starting off strong it's right beneath…read morea beautiful art gallery, which created an exciting aesthetic before going up to the rooftop. The roof top however gives off more of a college/dive bar vibe despite having a great view of the city. When we went on Monday only one bar, the downstairs one was open. Despite there being servers it didn't seem that anyone wanted to take tables so the solution was for guests to order drinks/food at the downstairs bar and bring it up to the deck themselves. While the bartender was nice, fast, and good at her job everyone else around her just didn't seem to care to provide service. The chips on the trio platter were beyond stale and since servers didn't care to serve the top deck tables were left unbussed and dirty. Not sure if this experience was a case of severe understaffing or just negligence on the management. I'd recommend going to literally any other rooftop bar for a more elevated experience where the staff actually wants to serve the guests.

    Photos
    The Rooftop at the Vendue
    The Rooftop at the Vendue
    The Rooftop at the Vendue

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    The Gin Joint - Another delicious cocktail

    The Gin Joint

    3.9(937 reviews)
    0.5 mi•French Quarter
    •$$

    One of the most creative and memorable cocktail bars I have ever been to. If you are in Charleston,…read moreplease don't miss this place. Don't let the name deter you if you are not a gin person because they have many options with different types of liquors. One tip: sit at the bar if you can, the set up is stunning especially for taking photos! The cocktail menu was moderately extensive with two full pages of complex and simple cocktails. Honestly, it was so difficult to choose what drink to get because I wanted to get everything on the menu. The bartenders were so attentive and talented - their implementation of each cocktail was even better than the menu descriptions. Not only were the drinks delicious but also beautifully presented. They have some bar bites as well as quite a few small and large plates, we got the pretzels which to my absolute surprise were so good! If I ever go back to Charleston, I will definitely be hitting this place up.

    The Gin Joint absolutely lived up to the hype. The cocktails were outstanding, creative without…read morebeing pretentious, and every drink felt thoughtfully crafted. You can tell the bartenders know exactly what they're doing. The surprise star of the night, though, was the grilled cheese. Calling it a grilled cheese almost feels unfair because this thing was next-level. Perfectly crisp on the outside, rich and gooey on the inside, and paired with the cocktails so well that we were talking about it long after we left. Sometimes the simplest thing on a menu ends up stealing the show. The atmosphere strikes that perfect Charleston balance of classy, cozy, and effortlessly cool. Great service, great drinks, and one of the most memorable grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever had. If you're in Charleston and appreciate a serious cocktail program, The Gin Joint is a must-visit. Come for the drinks, stay because the grilled cheese will ruin lesser grilled cheeses for the rest of your life

    Photos
    The Gin Joint
    The Gin Joint - Outside

    Outside

    The Gin Joint - Charcuterie

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    Charcuterie

    Church and Union - Avocado Toast

    Church and Union

    4.1(2.2k reviews)
    0.4 mi•French Quarter
    •$$

    You will actually be dining in a church environment here-- large dining room with lots of seating,…read morebeautiful stain glass windows and a superbly large bar. The bar alone spans the length of the dining room. Make sure to order the coffee ~ it's a roaster called Mozza ~ based In Spartanburg SC. They serve in a large mug of coffee so you will be good for awhile -- just sit and savor. For large oarty groups there are several community tables. Church and Union is in a wonderful location as welll~ just across from the open air city market and steps from the waterfront. Servers are friendly and efficient. Note* be prepared when your bill is delivered ~ the kitchen tacks on a kitchen fee....in my case : $41.00 bill+ $1.80 KF.

    We went to Church and Union for lunch after a morning horse and carriage tour. I was starved after…read morea small breakfast and was glad that this was right around the corner. The inside is beautiful. I'm glad we got sit on the side with the huge ceilings and enormous stained glass. Our bartender was fantastic and very friendly. We sat at the bar because we had no reservations. We both ordered the fried chicken sandwich - it was a brunch menu for the Labor Day holiday. I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture of the food, but it was good. The chicken was a boneless chicken thigh, the batter was good, and the home fries were even better. I also had a mimosa (because it was 5'o clock somewhere) and my partner had a latte which was tasty and came with a small pirouline cookie. Beautiful surroundings right across from the Market.

    Photos
    Church and Union - Table setting

    Table setting

    Church and Union - Chicken Sandwich

    Chicken Sandwich

    Church and Union - Lamb Burger

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    Lamb Burger

    The Peacock - Fried Chicken Sandwich

    The Peacock

    4.5(233 reviews)
    0.5 mi•French Quarter
    •$$$

    Excellent food. Killer cocktails. And an awesome staff that is always courteous, attentive, and…read morefun. If you're getting food, definitely try the blistered green beans, poutine, and the farmer's salad (which is like a Cobb salad/bowl, it's amazing) *but* my all-time fave is the fried chicken sandwich - it's honestly one of the best l've ever had in Charleston. Also, this place is huge so they were able to accommodate my friend's post-wedding party (about 20 people) at the last minute and we had a blast. Everywhere else we tried to go either didn't have the space for us or were closing so it totally made our night! We just made sure to call ahead to check and they were more than happy to have us - the bride was happy so you know it was good :) Bottom line, the Peacock is a local gem hidden in plain sight on East Bay and, as a local, it's become one of my top go-to's in Charleston. You can't beat the prices (seriously), ambience, quality, and awesome staff. They also have live music every week so they know how to keep it classy and lively at the same time. I highly recommend checking it out!

    For a Sunday Brunch experience I was expecting more. Online reviews, videos and word of mouth have…read moredone nothing but rave how amazing this restaurant was. To be honest, I found it all to be underwhelming and overpriced. My friend and I sat at the bar for a cocktail and two lite bites (the salmon app and chicken tenders) and while it was good- there was nothing outstanding about the food. The roof was closed so we weren't able to check out that. The staff was friendly albeit a bit out of it for being as dead as they were. I was at the bar for maybe 10 minutes or so before anyone ever walked over to me (there was also no hostess at the door for when I was trying to check in for my reservation.) I'm not sure if it was just an off day but the experience didn't leave me wanting to go back. The interior is nice, seats are comfortable etc and it all was very clean.

    Photos
    The Peacock - Downstairs bar

    Downstairs bar

    The Peacock - Truffle Fries

    Truffle Fries

    The Peacock - Upstairs bar

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    Upstairs bar

    Basic Kitchen - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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