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Bintü Atelier

4.7 (83 reviews)
Closed • Closed
Updated a few days ago

Bintü Atelier Photos

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BINTÜ ATELIER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Bintü Atelier

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Outside
Steven M.

Bintü Atelier is an absolute MUST. If you're looking for authentic African cuisine, this is the place to be. Reservations are highly recommended, as seating is fairly limited. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted and advised that our table wasn't ready, and asked to wait outside - unusual, but understandable since this is a quaint space. Upon being seated and perusing the menu, we decided on Yassa (braised lamb), Dieun/Poisson Frit (fried snapper), and a side of plantain. Each dish was served hot and prepared to perfection. The lamb was tender and flavorful, no need to a knife. The snapper was flaky and as flavorful. For drinks, we chose the Soursop and Pineapple Ginger juice. All in all, this was a dining experience, not just a meal. You can feel the TLC. Bintü is off the beaten path, but just a short distance from King Street. Definitely make the trip if you're in the area!

More.decor
Chanel L.

This small Husband and Wife restaurant brings heritage to the bellies of their guests. This eatery was recommended by a local that we happened to have the pleasure of meeting as he had explained the Gullah history. As we were visiting Charleston for business, we wanted some food that was not chain and local. We were recommended this eatery. The African heritage was felt once we entered as the walls were deeply lined. The menu changes as we were told but there was definitely great choices on their for us to choose from. We ordered Snapper and Lamb meals, side of plantain, FRESH PRESSED pineapple ginger and soursop beverages. All came out hot and the portions especially the snapper was enough for 2; meaning the portions are large. This eatery is definitely unique with the set up and if we were not recommended this place, we would have NEVER had the experience to eat here. The food was beyond tasty and great. I would definitely recommend this heritage driven eatery of complete stomach joy.

Pineapple ginger fresh juice.
Tarsha A.

I have been meaning to dine here for sometime now. On this particular Friday I thought I was heading to another of my favorite restaurants and decided to go here instead since it was right before they opened and hoped they would be able to accommodate. I was lucky to be the first there and they were able to accommodate me, party of 1. The waitress that seated and guided me through the menu was very informative and patient with me. I decided on the pineapple ginger fresh juice, which came in an individual sized bottle for you to poor over ice. It was so refreshing and tasty. I find myself wanting to go by just to get some. After asking that she ensure that I not order anything spicy, I decided on the Red-Red Ndambe dip which reminded me of a a black eyed pea chili, served with Naan. It was amazing. I felt like I was eating a vegetable bowl of chili, it was so comforting and flavorful. I would definitely order it again. I could not decide between the Thieboudieun (Grouper fish with jollof)or the Green Gumbo Okra (which can come with either broken rice or fufu), as they both were tempting. I asked her to pick for me, letting her know either would be fine with me. She decided on the Thieboudieun and I was not disappointed. The flavors were plentiful and great!! When I was asked by some patrons and anyone else that inquired, all i can say is THE FLAVORS!! I cannot fully describe them, but they were plentiful and delicious!! My only regret was I wish I had others with me so we could all try various items off of the menu. Everything was delish!! The atmosphere is very laid back and cool. My only negative, which is SO MINOR, but I feel I have to mention for hearty eaters, is that the piece of grouper was very small (in my opinion). I would say it was about 3-4 ounces of grouper, which is small for an entree protein, but it was delicious! With that being said, bcz I had the appetizer I ended up taking half of my food home for lunch the next day and that red jollof sauce rice was even better the next day! I cannot wait to go back and try something else on the menu!!

Cozy Inside
Paradise T.

Here's the thing: good food is cooked with intention. Intimate space with jazz vinyl records filling the air. Fresh juice pressed and stored in individual glass bottles. A bright scotch bonnet hot sauce served by Anita with the thoughtful cautionary caveat "a little goes a long way". The shito from the crab rice inspired by Ghana while the general jollof flavors coming from Senegal. Notes of Nigeria and the Ivory Coast weave throughout. I will be back to fill my stomach and heart soon.

April P.

Everything was delicious! I loved everything I tried!! My favorite drink was the passion fruit juice! I loved the egusi with goat!!! Everything they offer here is amazing! The decor is beautiful, all of the art speaks to the culture of the place! It really feels like you're at an aunt's house having dinner! The service is a bit slow but we'll worth it for what you are going to get! I will definitely be back!

AMAZING SKEWERS!!!!
Muz D.

OK.....OK!!!! THIS IS CRAZY!!!! Yall just gonna turn a random house on the Eastside into a holy ground for foodies?? I LOVE IT!!! I told folks about this place and my Uber driving cousin said he has dropped off so many people here. He was like yall came all the way to Charleston for this lil house. Lol. We sat under the tent, but I had to go inside to use the restroom when I went inside, there were 8 females at the table and 4 people at the smaller tables. We overheard the woman leaving after their meal saying it was the best food they've had in years , which made us super excited about our ordering. Saw a lot of pictures of the crab rice on Yelp, so I was getting that for sure. It was so damn Good and just dropping a perfectly fried soft Shell crab on top of it was DIABOLICAL!!!!! They have some beef skewers on the appetizer that are to die for when you combine the beef with crab rice, your eyes are going to roll back in your head.The edges of the beef are so crispy and perfect its ridiculous. There were also 4 other females sitting next to us in the tent and we were so amazed when their food came. It seems they ordered everything on the menu, everything came out, smelling so good. looking great, I cannot wait to get back in this place. Everything was so perfect.

Al N.

Went here with my girlfriend last weekend and had an awesome time. I live right around the corner from Bintu and had been meaning to check it out for a while and I am glad I finally did. The menu is full of authentic dishes and the lamb I had was incredible. They have both indoor and tent covered outdoor seating and the whole place has a really cozy vibe. Just a heads up they do not serve alcohol but it is BYOB with a five dollar corkage fee. Definitely recommend if you are looking for something a little different in downtown Charleston.

Egusi
Malerie P.

This was a really interesting and new dining experience, and unique from any other place I've been to in Charleston. It is a small venue and reservations are recommended. We started with the beef skewers, which were so tender and tasty. I liked the peanut topping. The marinade was very savory. Then we split the Egusi (goat dish) and Sapa Supa Kanja with the shrimp and chose the fufu. Wow, what an experience of texture and flavor. The sauce over the smooth fufu was delightful. But above all, the beverages were the show stealer in my opinion. I got the Soursop, which was again, a new unique amazing flavor. My friend got the ginger-pineapple juice. Both just really nice accompaniment to the meal. It was a nice intimate contrast to the typical dining scene in Charleston.

Grouper
Lisa C.

The food was so good! We got a reservation for here in advance. I would highly recommend as this is a small restaurant. We (a group of 3) arrived 15 min early and they still seated us but warned us they weren't ready for us to order yet, which was perfectly fine. We were just happy to get a seat, especially since we arrived that early. We got the passionfruit juice and the soursop juice to drink. Both were good but we all agreed the soursop was the crowd pleaser. Highly recommend! For food, I got the braised grouper, and there's a lot of stuff in there I normally don't like, such as mushrooms but the way it was cooked, hot dang, I loved them! The grouper was perfect and the rice + veggies were phenomenal. It was unique but so, so good. To top it off, the staff was super friendly. Definitely our favorite restaurant in Charleston! :)

Shrimp Egusi with fufu
Tatiana D.

Bintu Atelier is an absolute gem! I ordered the shrimp egusi with fufu and it far exceeded my expectations--so full of flavor and such a huge portion that I could barely finish it (though I gave it my best shot!). The restaurant itself is small, cozy, and beautifully decorated. It's super welcoming, with both indoor and outdoor seating, but definitely make a reservation because it fills up fast!! Annie took care of us, she was so kind and gave fantastic menu suggestions. I'll definitely be back to try more dishes, especially the Thiéboudieun (fried flounder with jollof rice and vegetables) they serve on Fridays and Saturdays. I caught a whiff of it on my way out and it literally made my mouth water, even after my huge meal. This place is a must-try--I'm already planning to come back tomorrow and bringing friends with me next time!

Crab rice with a softshell crab on top
Lisa Y.

10 10 10 across the board!! I've not experienced such unique, fresh tantalizing flavors in awhile. The Gaarba salad woke my palette and taste buds up with the coconut lime ginger dressing and pickled cucumbers. I also had the crab rice and asked for a spicy sauce and the heat complimented the dish perfectly. The soursop juice was soooo good. Tasted like a creamy pina colada. This place is unique, homegrown, small, but intimate. It's now my favorite restaurant. I'm bringing everyone I know here.

Anne O.

What an adorable spot with great good...We tried several dishes as we had no knowledge of African food. Like Indian or Mexican food, there are regions and flavors, and this spot like to offer from several countries. We started with the Suya Beef Skewer and Garba Salad. The beef was flavorful, juicy and tender. The salad was so beautiful and bright, I think I let out a gasp of pleasure when it was put on the table. It was as delicious as it looked, with Argentina shrimp, yucca grain, gorgeous greens and a bright coconut ginger dressing! For our mains we ordered the spicy crab rice and the fish and rice fish. We were ignorant that the crab rice is a whole soft shell on top...and we don't do soft shell. However, we tried it, each of us eating a claw and we were surprised how tasty it was, but mostly because of the way it was seasoned. But, the rice ended up being too spicy, back of the throat burn, and couldn't finish it. We love spicy food, but this was another level, however the flavors were excellent. The second main Fish and Rice (grouper) was what I imagine in a comfort food. The jollof rice was warmed with spices, and a hint of heat. The rice was surrounded by beautiful vegetables, topped with a large grouper fillet and a drizzle of a delightful green sauce. We were so full, we ended up bringing this home for lunch!!! So, this spot is tiny, each dish cooked as ordered, and a small staff. It's made to be a leisurely time to enjoy your food...but, it was soooo worth it!!

Jeffery B.

If you plan to attend, make sure you use Resy to make a reservation. Walk-ins are not guaranteed to get a table quickly, and we knew that in advance, so I am not holding this against them! In fact they treated us well and got us a table within 20 minutes. I ordered the Yassa Lamb and my partner ordered the Shito Spicy Crab Rice. This was my first time having African food, and the spices and tastes were very different than anything I was used to. I enjoyed my meal (and the tea I ordered as well), my partner, who had more experience than me with African food, was lukewarm with her choice of the crab rice. Nothing was wrong with it, in her opinion it just didn't wow her. The Katie if the place is interesting, his they covered homes into a restaurant. The cooking is done on the left side building, tables are on the right, some in a building and some in a strong tent that looks like it will stay warm even on chillly Charleston evenings. I know the review sounds mixed, but Bintu is really worth a try for something really different in Charleston.

Cumin Smoky Wings

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2 months ago

Excellent service and the food is so good , well seasoned not overly seasoned and the food is so fresh

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Great hidden gem in Charleston and the owner was amazing. She was very kind to come out and talk to us

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Ask the Community - Bintü Atelier

We were excited to try this restaurant but could not find parking. Any advice?

We do not have private parking. Sorry for the unconvenience. We usually find parking in the neighborhood maybe not in front of the location but close enough.

Do you have wine, beer and mixed drinks?

Not yet but in the process

View All 5 Questions

Okan - Breakfast potato

Okan

4.7(138 reviews)
66.5 mi

This was my third time coming here, and overall it was decent, but not quite what I've come to…read moreexpect. When I come back to a spot I love, I want the same dish prepared the same way every time -- that's literally why I keep coming back for it. It was pretty crowded, so I get that things get hectic, but that's not really an excuse for some of what happened service-wise. We ordered the corn fritters and oysters to start, and both came out cold. I'm not the type to send food back or make a scene about it, so I just ate it and moved on. For entrees, I got the Escovitch fish and my lady got the oxtails. The oxtails were way too fatty with barely any actual meat on them. My Escovitch -- flavor was there, it's always been good, that's not the issue. The issue was the portion of the sautéed onions and carrots that come with it. Last time I got this dish, that came with a solid, generous serving of those veggies to eat alongside the fish. This time I got what looked like the very last scoop from the pan -- barely enough to go with a couple bites of fish, let alone the whole plate. If that was intentional, like it's just supposed to be a garnish amount, fine, I'd understand that. But that's not what I got last time, so it felt more like I just got the bottom of the pot instead of an actual full serving. The BBQ mac and cheese also threw me off a bit -- noodles seemed unusually thick. But the GM actually came by to check on us, and when I mentioned it he explained it's gluten-free, which made total sense. Still tasted good, just personally not a fan of how big the noodles are. Drinks were subpar too, which surprised me because they're usually on point. Might've been a newer bartender, not sure. I didn't ask for anything off the bill or comped -- I ordered it, I paid for it, even with the hiccups. I just really hope whoever's in the kitchen tightens up on consistency, because the flavor foundation here is genuinely good. This isn't a bad-place review -- it's a "y'all had an off night" review. I'll be back.

After reading some reviews I don't want to be repetitive. But this place is a gem in Bluffton…read more The place is super nice, you feel relaxed as soon as you come in. Decoration is amazing. I had the Crispy Shrooms. Really good. Jollof rice is definitely a different and unexpected texture and flavor, very good. For the main dish was the Lobster Cashew curry. Absolutely beautifully presented and delicious. I should've follow my server advice about the rice. jollof rice must pair really good with meat. Not that much with seafood. I think the prices are very reasonable even for the wine. Service is impecable. Music Level perfect. Definitely coming back to try all the menu.

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Okan - Beautiful and clean dining room

Beautiful and clean dining room

Okan - Red red stew

Red red stew

Okan - A seasonal special cocktail, based on corn whiskey and espresso

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A seasonal special cocktail, based on corn whiskey and espresso

Bintü Atelier - african - Updated November 2026

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