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We had a larger party, so waited for some time but this was expected on a Saturday. Sat outside, shaded at high tops. Mixture of food from shrimp and grits to salads to blts. I had a Bloody Mary, well made. Some sodas and beers for all as well. I had the Cobb salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette- good, fresh veggies (great cucumbers). I do wish there was more roasted chicken/protein. Had a deviled egg on it, but flavor was a bit off on that so didn't eat it. Shrimp and grits x4 were good- grits a little thin, but flavor good. Only turn off was the tails being left on. On grits (and pasta) that is a pet peeve for me as you lose some of the shrimp and t makes it difficult to eat. BLT- good, fresh veggies and thick bread. French toast x2 - really good with a great variety of fresh fruit. Service was good.
A rainy Saturday found us changing our plans from geocaching to shopping. Afrer finding our 1st choice with a line out the door, we shopped & then chose this spot. We didn't have a wait & were seated rather quickly in the bar. That was pretty much the highlight. We felt ignored by our server with a couple who came in after us being tended to 1st, it took an incredibly long time for our food to arrive, at least 30 minutes and when it did arrive, it was not hot. I had the omelet du jour, which was chicken sausage with a blueberry Jalapeño sauce. The cheese wasn't melted & my sausage was cold. Not lukewarm, cold. I wonder how long did our food wait for someone to bring it to us? Usually we are blown away by food in the ILM but this is one place that we won't return to. Entirely too many missteps.
I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this place. The service was lacking to say the least, with others being taken care of before us that came in after us. It was almost like we were an afterthought, and after waiting 10 mins to place our order we almost walked out. Then waiting another 30 minutes for our meal. I ordered the Southern Benedict and it was eh kinda odd. When I read coca-cola smoked ham I thought ham, not weird looking pork chunks. I even forgot what they were supposed to be after I tasted them, and had to go back to the menu to figure out what type of meat it was! The gravy was also odd, some kind of greasy flavored gravy that turned my taste buds completely off. The egg was not poached as you can tell from the picture it was some dried out looking fried concoction. The biscuit would've been ok if it hadn't gotten the flavoring from the rest of the dish soaked into it. Main thing, if you don't like pork loin or some kind of meat that is supposed to be pork do not order this. The only reason this review gets a 3 is because the blueberry pancake with walnut butter was very delicious, had lots of blueberries and granola mixed into the batter. But considering the service and the remainder of the meal, I won't be back.
It's far from gourmet but what it is is good, easy, reasonably priced, with nice service, lots of options for everyone and a vegetarian friendly menu. We were looking for a quick, casual lunch on our way to some other plans and this fit the bill perfectly. Ambiance was, you know, a chill casual sandwich place. This is not somewhere to go on a sexy first date but that isn't what it claims to be. If I lived in the area I could easily see this being a go to spot when I need good food quickly and without ceremony.
Came here on the recommendation of a friend, she said sit at the bar! - talk to the locals, and I did. I was not disappointed. Food was beautiful and tasty. Had a signature morning special: hash bowl with steak and added eggs. Sliced ripe tomatoes with salt n peppa rounded out my meal. All while chatting up a local college professor on his way in to teach. What a great start to my day. Highly recommend stopping here for breakfast/brunch if near downtown. Also great quality and quantity to cost ratio, in your favor. Street side parking available.
Came here for brunch and the wait is LONG. Be prepared!! Cute shops around to pass time by. Service was a little slow but it was busy-ish. I ordered the southern Benedict.
I went to The Basics a while back. I loved the small town diner vibes. Great meal, fast and great service, and the overall cost was budget conscious. When I'm in the Wilmington area again I'll definitely be back.
I went to The Basics around 10:30am on a Friday and was seated right away--no wait, which was a nice start to the morning. The restaurant has a rustic, open atmosphere that feels very 'Wilmington'. I ordered the Southern Benedict with grits. The sausage gravy had incredible flavor, though it was a little cooler than I'd hoped. The biscuits were absolutely ginormous, with great texture that really stood out. But the star of the meal was definitely the grits--phenomenal, easily some of the best I've ever had. On top of the food, the staff were friendly and made the experience warm and enjoyable. Overall, The Basics is a charming spot with standout Southern flavors--I would love to try again for lunch or dinner.
The pancakes are the best ones I have ever tasted. The service was great and the servers were so nice. And there is some nice art in the building.
Came in for lunch on a weekday and they weren't busy at all... it was right after they switched to lunchtime that I arrived, but by the time I left, they were getting busy. I sat at the bar and started with a cup of Brunswick Stew. The stew was very flavorful, but was so thick, it didn't resemble a soup nor strew, it was more like a casserole. I then went with their chicken salad sandwich on sourdough bread. The chicken salad was just ok. I bit into something hard, maybe a bone and the overall flavor of it was more on the bland side. The potato cake that came with it was the best thing I ate there. It was very tasty. Overall, I wasn't as impressed based on what I expected from all the positive reviews I read.
We ended up frequenting this spot so much during our stay in NC that we practically became part of the crew. The staff started recognizing us as we casually strolled around Wilmington, greeting us like old friends. Talk about feeling like locals! This place lives up to its name with a laid back vibe that oozes Southern charm. The ambiance is relaxed and welcoming, making it the perfect spot to kick back and enjoy a meal. We kicked things off with a little bit of everything: coffee, sangria, apple juice, egg scramble with peppers and onions, pancakes, egg scramble with cheese, turkey bacon, chicken BLT sandwich sans the bacon, a potato croquette. The homemade mayo on the fried chicken BLT? I can't even describe how good it was. I mean, mayo shouldn't taste that amazing, but here we are. I literally begged my husband to take me there every morning just for that fried chicken BLT sandwich. The rest of the family loved their meals too. If you're ever in Wilmington, this place is a must. Comfortable, delicious, and a place where you'll feel like part of the family.
Good Southern food in a rustic setting. Service was friendly, but the kitchen was slow. The Carolina Cobb is different using mixed greens.
I had the chicken spinach salad, which was easily made dairy free. It was a delicious, bright salad and I especially loved the spiced nuts with it. The interior is cute and you're right in the cotton district to pop around a bit after you eat.
2 months ago
A Good Breakfast at The Basics! My wife and I really enjoyed our breakfast at The Basics in Wilmington. She ordered the plain oatmeal pancakes with bacon and fresh fruit, and I had the blueberry oatmeal pancakes with scrambled eggs and cheese. Everything was delicious! The pancakes were flavorful, filling, and cooked just right. We both really enjoyed our meals, and the combination of good food, a comfortable atmosphere, and good service made for a good experience. We visited Wilmington and we are glad that we decided to stop at The Basics. It's the kind of place that makes you want to come back and try something else on the menu. Good food, good atmosphere, and a good breakfast! We definitely recommend The Basics. read more
We had a larger party, so waited for some time but this was expected on a Saturday. Sat outside, shaded at high tops. Mixture of food from shrimp and grits to salads to blts. I had a Bloody Mary, well made. Some sodas and beers for all as well. I had the Cobb salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette- good, fresh veggies (great cucumbers). I do wish there was more roasted chicken/protein. Had a deviled egg on it, but flavor was a bit off on that so didn't eat it. Shrimp and grits x4 were good- grits a little thin, but flavor good. Only turn off was the tails being left on. On grits (and pasta) that is a pet peeve for me as you lose some of the shrimp and t makes it difficult to eat. BLT- good, fresh veggies and thick bread. French toast x2 - really good with a great variety of fresh fruit. Service was good. read more
A rainy Saturday found us changing our plans from geocaching to shopping. Afrer finding our 1st choice with a line out the door, we shopped & then chose this spot. We didn't have a wait & were seated rather quickly in the bar. That was pretty much the highlight. We felt ignored by our server with a couple who came in after us being tended to 1st, it took an incredibly long time for our food to arrive, at least 30 minutes and when it did arrive, it was not hot. I had the omelet du jour, which was chicken sausage with a blueberry Jalapeño sauce. The cheese wasn't melted & my sausage was cold. Not lukewarm, cold. I wonder how long did our food wait for someone to bring it to us? Usually we are blown away by food in the ILM but this is one place that we won't return to. Entirely too many missteps. read more
10 days ago
I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this place. The service was lacking to say the least, with others being taken care of before us that came in after us. It was almost like we were an afterthought, and after waiting 10 mins to place our order we almost walked out. Then waiting another 30 minutes for our meal. I ordered the Southern Benedict and it was eh kinda odd. When I read coca-cola smoked ham I thought ham, not weird looking pork chunks. I even forgot what they were supposed to be after I tasted them, and had to go back to the menu to figure out what type of meat it was! The gravy was also odd, some kind of greasy flavored gravy that turned my taste buds completely off. The egg was not poached as you can tell from the picture it was some dried out looking fried concoction. The biscuit would've been ok if it hadn't gotten the flavoring from the rest of the dish soaked into it. Main thing, if you don't like pork loin or some kind of meat that is supposed to be pork do not order this. The only reason this review gets a 3 is because the blueberry pancake with walnut butter was very delicious, had lots of blueberries and granola mixed into the batter. But considering the service and the remainder of the meal, I won't be back. read more
It's far from gourmet but what it is is good, easy, reasonably priced, with nice service, lots of options for everyone and a vegetarian friendly menu. We were looking for a quick, casual lunch on our way to some other plans and this fit the bill perfectly. Ambiance was, you know, a chill casual sandwich place. This is not somewhere to go on a sexy first date but that isn't what it claims to be. If I lived in the area I could easily see this being a go to spot when I need good food quickly and without ceremony. read more
Came here on the recommendation of a friend, she said sit at the bar! - talk to the locals, and I did. I was not disappointed. Food was beautiful and tasty. Had a signature morning special: hash bowl with steak and added eggs. Sliced ripe tomatoes with salt n peppa rounded out my meal. All while chatting up a local college professor on his way in to teach. What a great start to my day. Highly recommend stopping here for breakfast/brunch if near downtown. Also great quality and quantity to cost ratio, in your favor. Street side parking available. read more
1 month ago
Came here for brunch and the wait is LONG. Be prepared!! Cute shops around to pass time by. Service was a little slow but it was busy-ish. I ordered the southern Benedict. read more
6 months ago
I went to The Basics a while back. I loved the small town diner vibes. Great meal, fast and great service, and the overall cost was budget conscious. When I'm in the Wilmington area again I'll definitely be back. read more
I went to The Basics around 10:30am on a Friday and was seated right away--no wait, which was a nice start to the morning. The restaurant has a rustic, open atmosphere that feels very 'Wilmington'. I ordered the Southern Benedict with grits. The sausage gravy had incredible flavor, though it was a little cooler than I'd hoped. The biscuits were absolutely ginormous, with great texture that really stood out. But the star of the meal was definitely the grits--phenomenal, easily some of the best I've ever had. On top of the food, the staff were friendly and made the experience warm and enjoyable. Overall, The Basics is a charming spot with standout Southern flavors--I would love to try again for lunch or dinner. read more
3 months ago
The pancakes are the best ones I have ever tasted. The service was great and the servers were so nice. And there is some nice art in the building. read more
29 days ago
6 months ago
1 year ago
Came in for lunch on a weekday and they weren't busy at all... it was right after they switched to lunchtime that I arrived, but by the time I left, they were getting busy. I sat at the bar and started with a cup of Brunswick Stew. The stew was very flavorful, but was so thick, it didn't resemble a soup nor strew, it was more like a casserole. I then went with their chicken salad sandwich on sourdough bread. The chicken salad was just ok. I bit into something hard, maybe a bone and the overall flavor of it was more on the bland side. The potato cake that came with it was the best thing I ate there. It was very tasty. Overall, I wasn't as impressed based on what I expected from all the positive reviews I read. read more
We ended up frequenting this spot so much during our stay in NC that we practically became part of the crew. The staff started recognizing us as we casually strolled around Wilmington, greeting us like old friends. Talk about feeling like locals! This place lives up to its name with a laid back vibe that oozes Southern charm. The ambiance is relaxed and welcoming, making it the perfect spot to kick back and enjoy a meal. We kicked things off with a little bit of everything: coffee, sangria, apple juice, egg scramble with peppers and onions, pancakes, egg scramble with cheese, turkey bacon, chicken BLT sandwich sans the bacon, a potato croquette. The homemade mayo on the fried chicken BLT? I can't even describe how good it was. I mean, mayo shouldn't taste that amazing, but here we are. I literally begged my husband to take me there every morning just for that fried chicken BLT sandwich. The rest of the family loved their meals too. If you're ever in Wilmington, this place is a must. Comfortable, delicious, and a place where you'll feel like part of the family. read more
7 months ago
I had the chicken spinach salad, which was easily made dairy free. It was a delicious, bright salad and I especially loved the spiced nuts with it. The interior is cute and you're right in the cotton district to pop around a bit after you eat. read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
1 year ago
4 out of 5 stars I went to The Basic for lunch today with a party of eight, and overall it was a great experience. The atmosphere is cozy with a stylish, almost fedora-type vibe that makes it a really comfortable place to enjoy a meal. The menu had a wide selection of dishes that all sounded delicious. I ordered one of the special burgers with brie and bacon. I had asked for medium-rare, but it came out well done, which was a little disappointing. Our server was quick to respond and brought out a second burger cooked perfectly and was delicious. On the bright side, others at my table ordered the zucchini sandwich and salad, which were phenomenal. For the child in our group, we got chicken fingers and mac & cheese, and those were a hit as well. The service was attentive and friendly, which made the experience even better. While I was a little let down by my burger, everything else at the table was solid, and I would definitely come back again to try more of the menu. read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
Wilmington didn't let me down again. Stopped inside for a breakfast on my last day in town, was greeted by an extremely friendly staff and sat at the bar. I got the Mexican scramble (can't remember what it was called) and it was delicious. Nice bright storefront with a nice view of the Main Street. I'll come back! read more
5 months ago
FINALLY made it to brunch here after hearing so many great reviews, and this place is definitely amazing! With my college bestie in town for a weekend visit, the pleasant hostess snagged us an outside patio table on a Saturday morning. The outdoor patio has a relaxing, neighborhood vibe to it, like you're hangin out with chill friends while enjoying delicious food. I ordered the Mediterranean scramble and my buddy ordered the French Toast dish. Our waitress was fun and informative as we asked about possible choices before ordering. My choice seamed like a perfectly seasoned egg scramble with spinach, tomatoes, feta cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette based light sauce. My buddy gobbled up her French Toast pretty quickly with a smile. And I HAD to order a homemade strawberry pop tart to go. The Basics is anything but basic. read more
Dropped in on a whim after a night out and "The Basics" did not disappointment. We were seated immediately at 10 am, brought waters before we were even in our seats. The menu was impressive and I absolutely love that they have chef specials! My hsuand and I tried the biscuits and the cinnamon roll to start, both of which were good. We each had the smoked salmon omelet special which was out of this world. Each ingredient was pure perfection and tasted like it had been hand picked seconds before cooking it. The potato cake was phenomenal as well. Our service was fast, waitress was helpful and the entire vibe was spot on. 5 stars for sure! read more
What a great little breakfast spot! This place is small and cute with very friendly staff who are quick with the coffee and a Bloody Mary! Portions are pretty large, so be prepared. Food is so delicious; everything we tried was awesome. My husband had the 2 eggs with a side of biscuits and gravy and an oatmeal blueberry pancake with walnut butter (wow!). I snuck bites of everything because it was so good. For my breakfast, I had the frittata and potato cake. The frittata was absolutely delicious but that potato cake...it just plain rocked. Try it if you stop in! Both my husband and I ended up sharing that because it was so unexpectedly delicious. Great breakfast choice! read more
Great breakfast. The town is preparing for the azalea festival so we walked over to the Basics for breakfast. I had the server order for me and I was impressed! Mexican style breakfast scramble with home made salsa on top. The true star was the Potato cake. Yum! Great Mashed potatoes breaded and fried. On top of crème fraîche and topped with sour cream and scallions. Great meal! We had 15 people and sat upstairs. Lots of Vets getting together. Our server, Michael, took great care of us and was on top of everything! read more
7 months ago
11 months ago
We stopped into The Basics for dinner after reading such positive Yelp reviews and we weren't disappointed. We were greeted by smiling and friendly servers and were told to choose any table we'd like (we arrived fairly early at 5:30). We chose a window table that looked out on Front Street. Our server promptly brought menus and took our drink orders. We started with the fried oyster appetizer, served on a bed of romaine lettuce. Dinner choices were another appetizer, the crab cakes complemented with a spicy remoulade sauce and diced peppers for me, and a HUGE cobb salad for my husband. Everything was freshly prepared and beautifully presented. We were both full but decided to order a slice of the hummingbird cake "to go." We enjoyed it for afternoon snack the next day. read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
1 year ago
Yes all the way! Charming little place on Front Street. Friendly service as well as delicious smoked chicken salad. read more
This was a very nice place just a short walk from our stay on the riverfront. We (4 of us) didn't have reservations on this early fall weekend Saturday, but managed to be seated anyway after about a 20 minute wait outside. So in other words this place is popular. We were seated in the window so we had a great view of everything going on both inside and outside. Our food took a while but was pretty good when it arrived. They were very busy and we had a great spot to people watch, so we didn't care too much. Service was ok ... but it's the ambiance that helps make this place a hit. read more
8 months ago
4 months ago
1 year ago
Need gluten free and love that the menu was clearly marked with options. From scratch kitchen! Went here for lunch with a friend. We both had the Cobb salad with the smoked chicken in it and blue cheese crumbles and guacamole. It was excellent very fresh tasting. Generous portion. Like the vibe ... some classic rock 'n' roll playing. I hear they serve a great brunch on Saturdays and Sundays so need to come back and try the shrimp and grits...also gf! read more
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More info about The Basics
319 N Front St
Wilmington, NC 28401
Directions
(910) 343-1050
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http://www.thebasicswilmington.com/
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Ask the Community - The Basics
Are there any gluten free options?
They offer gluten free bread for sandwiches and some menu items are gluten free.
Do they have bottomless mimosas?
Nope no bottomless mimosas! But they have a sweet bar and make some great drinks!
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42 reviews that are not currently recommended
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