This is my third time going to basic kitchen and I can honestly say they're consistency with food is what I always rely on! I usually go for lunch. This is my first time for a dinner service and it was a lovely experience. Got to sit outside on the patio and, the overall ambience was wonderful. They even turned on the heat lamps which helped to create a comfortable experience as well. Sweet potato fries are truly the best that I've ever had! The cauliflower wings were also cooked to perfection just enough I have a crunch on the outside, but not deep fried. Both main entrées were good! The steak I will say that it was a bit full of liquid in the bottom of the dish, which watered it a little more than I would've liked, but it was still good. The bowl that my friend had said the salmon was amazing, and lots of good spices! read more

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As Chucktown locals, we're inclined to dine out more during the week, enjoy a slower pace, and (we hope) a better (overall) experience. We made our way over to Basic on a school night and we're so glad we did. We were pleasantly surprised when we turned the corner off King and saw that Basic is in the old Andolini's building. WOW! BK has done a tremendous job updating this (once cramped) space. As soon as you walk in, you just feel cool. Service was perky, prompt, and knowledgeable. We asked for the spiel and got a great one. Basic stays on brand with the space, drinks, and food menu. There are just a few *quality drink and food choices. We started out with the beet margarita. Great flavor, unique without being too "out there." The Cauli Wings were the big hit at the table in that they were crunchy, flavorful, and well complimented by the cashew ranch. We love traditional buffalo wings and loved the Cauli Wings just as much. All were satisfied with their entrees, the market fish, asian salad, and (me with) the "naughty" burger. While a burger may not be too adventurous, sometimes you just want a perfectly prepared burger and fries. An added bonus at BK is that they keep it basic for kids too. Our two tiny travellers had a simple pasta dish while they enjoyed their screen time and enjoyed it. Again, we were pleasantly surprised by BK all the way around. We look forward to our next BK visit, "good FOR you" margaritas, and Cauli Wings! read more

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Using simple and basic ingredients Basic Kitchen is a wonderful alternative if you are in the mood for some healthier eating! The "wizards" in the kitchen whip up delicious and nourishing plates and you can be assured local produce and ingredients are brought in and used so you are actually having a positive affect on your body and respecting your health as well as enjoying some delicious food. Think: Local, Clean & Healthy! The setting is relaxed, casual and friendly. The restaurant is housed in a historic home with windows galore and has an outdoor covered rear courtyard for open air dining. On my next visit to Basic Kitchen I will try the Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings...they look yummy! The Vegan Caesar looks interesting also and includes kale, cabbage, crispy chickpeas finished with a seabean dressing. Seabean adds a great taste profile to plant based cuisine. For the beef lover the "Naughty Burger" is on the Menu ~ featuring Brasstown Farm grass- fed beef, and actually is a smashed burger topped with aged white cheddar, grilled onions, Dijonnaise, bread and butter pickles and a side of sweet potato fries. Hubby enjoyed it! The Market Fish changes daily and tonight it was swordfish. Worth a try and will take a chance next time! Open for lunch and dinner and brunch is served on weekends. read more

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BK has been on my radar for a while now. Finally got to try it this weekend. From a culinary perspective, there were a lot of technical details that were really difficult to overlook. Overall, most of the food was super lackluster, however the service was OK. The bad: 1. The cauliflower florets in the buffalo cauliflower are cut too large. Because of this, they don't cook quickly enough when fried. To counter this, BK steams/blanches the florets prior to dredging. This resulted in tempura batter seeping down into the crevices of the waterlogged cauliflower, and creating a spongy soggy texture on the inner channels of the floret. Cauliflour AND Tempura batter are virtually tasteless, so when you have a floret the size of an apricot with only a drizzle of buffalo sauce on it, this is not ideal. I'd suggest cutting the florets into smaller pieces, and dredging raw, then frying. Smaller florets will also have a more appropriate sauce to floret ratio. 2. The sweet potato fries were drizzled with a 1/3 cup of THICK aioli that was not complimentary to their taste. I would have preferred a ramekin of something honey/cinnamon or something spicy like gochujang glaze. I had to wipe each fry on the side of the bowl in order to remove 75% of the aioli. The fries themselves were good, though. 3. The basic bowl was probably one of the most confused dishes I've eaten since being in Charleston. The chickpeas were tossed in some sort of creamy tomato sauce. The broccolini tips were charred to the point I felt like I had a mouth full of sand, and while we were expecting a pulsed chimichurri what we received was a ramekin of a blended herbed dressing. Regardless of the improper technique, it probably would have been good, but because of the tomato sauce was incapable of being used. Since we only ate about half of the bowl, the bartender should have considered just removing it from the bill all together. The good: 1. The short hostess found a spot at the bar for us, despite being on a 30+min wait. 2. The inside is cozy, and likely would have felt comfortable sitting anywhere in the restaurant. Verdict: A look around the room will yield that Basic Kitchen's patrons likely don't have much/any food and beverage or culinary experience. (mostly basic B's out for brunch, or crunchy granola's). It's easy to see why this less than mediocre cafe is rated so high. read more

This is a very cute, trendy spot that is vegetarian friendly. We came for brunch, so the menu was different than the main menu I presume. The drinks are excellent - we got the Green Goddess, Beet Margarita, and the Spicy Pineapple Marg. I also got the matcha latte and it was one of the best I have had. The food was decent, but honestly a bit bland. My salmon toast was yummy but lacked seasoning. Same thoughts about the veggie hash and the seasonal pumpkin toast. The veggie burger with sweet potato fries was excellent, as was the vegan caesar salad. The service was great (our waitress was so lovely) and the ambiance was great too. read more

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The apps were incredible. The buffalo cauliflower was the perfect texture. The homemade ranch was soooo creamy, herby, and delicious. Ask for extra buffalo sauce. The corn ribs were Smokey and spicy. Very flavorful. The Alabama bbq sauce was the best part. Ask for extra Alabama bbq sauce too !!! read more

Based on the recommendation, we gave Basic Kitchen a try since my friend is a vegetarian and I am a carnivore. First of all, the service was great and the restaurant is clean and cute. This is really a review geared towards the food and if I would recommend it or add it to my go to list. My friend gave it 2 stars based on the flavor of the food, but I thought it was not bad. I ordered the Huevos Ranchero steak with eggs. The steak was small pieces similar to what you would find in a fajita. My friend had the Basic bowl with tofu. The presentation of the bowl was nice and was a large portion. She found it lacking flavor, very bland and did not enjoy it. Overall food wise it was okay. The setting and staff were both nice. read more

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I went with my dad and grandmother from out of town and the food was perfect. We all have allergies and the staff was super accommodating- fining us options that still let us experience the menu and atmosphere! read more

Vegan in Charleston is a precious thing. The veggie and basic bowls + tofu were outstanding. The Cauliflower wings starter was some of the best I've had. There is no parking anywhere, make reservations or prepare to wait outside in line but once inside the ambiance was comfortable and the service was spot on. Would eat at the Basic Kitchen EVERY TIME I'm in Charleston. read more

5 stars in a couple of different ways menu offerings are so solid don't you all want to just be groovy super healthy service spot on ambiance is cool, relaxed, and relaxing (don't be afraid to sit out back) priced well (please don't raise your prices) after 6-7 visits it is so consistent gotta gvie it a try and you won't be disappointed read more

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Basic Kitchen has really yummy healthy foods with a ton of vegan options. It can be quite expensive, but the food is worth it for the quality. The drinks are really good too. The restaurant has a an inviting atmosphere, and lots of colorful art on the walls. The Good Burger, the Basic Bowl, and the Cauli Wings are highlights. read more

Great space, service, and food. Everyone in our party got a different dish and every one of them was delicious. Vegan and vegetarian options- the cauliflower app was great. The burger and beet Campanella were also favorites. Would definitely dine here again and put it up high on our list of good Charleston eats! read more

The food was healthy and flavorful, with great service! All of us enjoyed our cocktails, and not one person left unhappy (or hungry). If you have anyone with gluten free requirements, this is also an accommodating spot. The inside is also thoughtfully decorated to give the perfect chill dinner vibe. Our favorite dinner of vacation! read more

Wow! Just treated myself to a Caesar salad with Tofu! Almost cried in a crowded restaurant it tasted so good. Love the vibe and Bryan my server was an absolute gem. I'll be back!!! read more

Basic Kitchen - Caesar salad and tofu. - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Basic Kitchen was our last dinner in Charleston and we couldn't have been happier with the delicious vegetarian food they served in their welcoming atmosphere. There is PLENTY to choose from for vegetarians, in fact, most of their menu is vegetarian or has a vegetarian version...so that's pretty good for a place that isn't actually a vegetarian restaurant. We started with the corn ribs which were raved about in other reviews and although I'm sure they didn't taste anything like ribs, the messy experience of eating them, how they were cut, and the BBQ sauce applied, made it a rib-like enough experience for us. We loved them. We got to talking to nearby diners who had come back a second night in a row to this restaurant because they loved it so much...They actually didn't like the corn ribs at all which just goes to show you all of these reviews are subjective and one person's food of the gods is another person's unwanted scraps. So as always, read these with a grain of salt. (umm, if you even like salt...) We loved the Corn Ribs. We also got the Cauliflower Schnitzel dish which was GIANT and tasted great...toasted and coated cauliflower...fried but not overcooked (ie the cauliflower was still al dente.) The greens and potatoes on top made it a perfect southern dish for our vegetarian palettes. We also got, in the spirit of "too much but when are we ever going to be back in Charleston?", the sweet potato fries...another big portion which my wife, the sweet potato aficionado, and somewhat of a sweet potato herself, really enjoyed. There was so much more we could have tried. It's perfect for vegetarians. If we lived in Charleston we'd be back often. P.S. Their drinks looked amazing too and I loved how their specials were written on a scroll of butcher paper hanging on the wall. read more

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3.5 stars Stick to the apps. The cauli wings and sweet potato fries were excellent - great crispness and buffalo flavor to the cauliflower and just the right softness to outer crispy-ness for the sweet potato fries. My surfer's light was okay. The sweet potato was way undercooked - it was almost crunchy still, missing all the sweetness that you get when you cook a sweet potato more thoroughly. The avocados were also not ripe, which makes them so much less enjoyable. The eggs and citrus kale were good - standard brunch affairs but just what I needed. The beet marg is pretty unique and honestly doesn't taste much like beet - the citrusy elements dominate - but it does have a nice pink color from the beet. It's a popular spot so make a reservation if you're coming for brunch. read more

You felt fortunate to be seated during a business lunch hour on weekday with no wait. But it was 54° outside and windy. The hostess assured us the heaters were working on the patio and that they had immediate seating there. We froze with our jackets on because the heaters apparently much do I just may very much later we're not turned up high enough. The ambience of the patio was lovely otherwise and we would have loved to dine there on a normal South Carolina 70° day. Service was perfunctory not special but sufficient. We did not order drinks so is not to linger in the cold. But I had to try the appetizer that everyone on yelped raved about. It exceeded expectations and even husband (who's not a big fan of sweet potato) ate the sweet potato fries with vegan ranch. Wow! I would never have guessed this was a vegan dip! If only it weren't all over the entire dish so i couldn't take home the leftovers without it being soggy! On the side is always preferred. But yum! Husband ordered the sword fish tacos, and found them excellent. Per menu they had BAHARAT SWORDFISH TACOS crunchy cilantro slaw, garlic mint yogurt, roasted red pepper + walnut salsa w/ side salad. He really liked the corn tortilla which was artisan grainy and had great texture. I ordered the SALMON Bowl with grilled salmon, carolina gold rice, marinated cabbage, carrot ginger salad, cucumber, seaweed, orange miso sauce. This was a gorgeous brightly colored bowl with many healthy and complimentary savory ingredients. I loved it all but didn't finish. Things I learned : Carolina Gold Rice is pretty much white. Seaweed salad is squeaky and sesame flavored here too. Love the variety of textures and flavors in the carrots, cabbage, etc. And the salmon way perfectly cooked. Could not finish! I Also was impressed by the "BUY THE KITCHEN A BURGER" option for only $5 You can buy a lunch for the team in the kitchen. And I had to walk by them several times to walk in and out and use the ladies room and they are all hard at work garnishing and sprinkling and filling bowls. Tiny hardworking kitchen. Sorry I did not sample drinks or dessert, given the temperature and time of day we had lunch and skidaddled. But I like the concept here and if I am back in the area will try them for dinner! read more

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Food: incredible! I got the curry bowl, it was the perfect portion, it was loaded with flavor and so comforting especially on a cold night! Decor/ambiance: farm to table chic. Smaller table, giving a light café vibe. The lighting was very low making it perfect for a date night or just a calm relaxing evening. I would highly recommend! read more

Basic Kitchen - Curry bowl - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Such a perfect spot for brunch! The natural light and beautiful decor really makes for such a great ambiance. The food is equally as inviting and it's so hard to choose from the many options so recommend going with a group so you can order a bunch and try everything ;) Out of the many vegan vegetarian options, my favorites were the corn ribs and sweet potato fries, corn ribs come with about 8 and the fries are very shareable. In fact most people ordered burgers that came with fries so we had fries galore! The veggie hash is very unique, including okra and a delicious flavorful chimichurri sauce. Lots of sliced potatoes , it's not like hash browns or thinly cut potatoes. One of my friends ordered the breakfast Sammie, the egg soufflé looked nice and light but it was served on a bun, not English muffin like the menu says. They also have great drinks, I got a beet margarita that was earthy and refreshing. Overall highly recommend for Charleston brunch, lots of indoor and outdoor patio seating but definitely recommend making a reservation. read more

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Decided to try to walk in Basic Kitchen around 6:30pm on a Sunday. My friend called to ask about current wait time for walk ins and were given a very vague, run-around response but offered an 8pm reservation. We took our chances anyway. In person, we had a more successful experience. Someone was leaving the bar so we snagged two seats. Bartender was friendly, drinks were tasty and thoughtful. Chicken schnitzel was good but a bit overpriced for chicken & potatoes. My friend enjoyed her Naughty Burger, but again, fairly basic. The sweet potato fries were crispy and well seasoned. Overall, I would try again for brunch but am not rushing back! read more

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I came back for the first time in awhile and realize I really love those buffalo cauliflower bites. They are some of the yummiest things around. I wasn't sure exactly what I was in the mood for, so I asked for a recommendation from our server and got the Rainbow Bowl and it was on spot. Learning more and more what to get and what not to get, I guess. I'll be back. read more

I ate at Basic Kitchen, Charleston, on a Tuesday evening and was seated (party of two) immediately although the restaurant looked full of people. I ordered the Chicken Shawarma. It came out of the kitchen quickly and was delicious. The waitress was amicable and efficient, making sure I had everything I needed. I wouldn't hesitate to patronize Basic Kitchen again next time I'm in Charleston. read more

Stumbled across this gem and added our name for a short wait on a Saturday morning. We had the beet margarita and a few different drinks which were ok but not what we expected. The ambiance was great and food was okay, more of an eclectic menu with many vegetarian options. I enjoyed the appetizer of cauliflower buffalo bites more than my entree, the breakfast Sammie with egg soufflé, specifically the texture which looked like a block of cheddar cheese and really didn't like the combination. My friends enjoyed their meal but nothing impressive. read more

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Pretty good place, the food was ok, but the staff were really nice! I loved the vibe of the place, and probably would go again! read more

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I had a reservation for 3 people at 8pm on a Friday night in August. I def recommend making a reservation because the place was full all night! The restaurant is light and airy with high ceilings, and it gets a bit loud later in the night towards closing. Seemed like a popular place to go to dinner before going out (but it's a classy / not rowdy place), especially since it's right by King Street. My group of 3 ordered the following to share: Sweet Potato Fries, Corn Ribs, Chilled Cucumber Soup, Cauli Wings, and Caesar Salad. I loved them all! No complaints and all of the dishes tasty. Heads up: they do not serve any soda. Only club soda and juices read more

I am completely obsessed with this restaurant! It's in a prime spot by king street and the quality of ingredients and meals are top tier. I love how the menu constantly changes with the season. I have not had anything I didn't like. My favorite has to be the beet dip and the yellow curry. The portions are filling and the staff is very accommodating to help find vegan options ! Anytime someone visits me I always take them here! read more

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Great healthy food throughout. You must try the corn ribs to start. The rest is all excellent read more

Basic Kitchen - The Corn ribs are excellent along with the service and upbeat atmosphere . - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Stopped in on our way to do some shopping. Got the naughty burger. Food was good, but the burger was bland. It could use some tomato's or lettuce maybe. They also brought out the wrong order to our table. Service was nice. Waiter was friendly and apologized for the inconvenience. The outdoor patio is much nicer than the inside. It's a bit on the overpriced side in my opinion. read more

Good drinks and atmosphere. The salmon bowl left a bit to be desired. The burgers and fries were incredible.

I came with a group of friends on a vacation, and we were delighted to find this place--our group included two vegetarians (including myself, and I also have an egg allergy), a gluten-free person, a hardcore meat fan, and small children and there were easy options to satisfy all of us. For the table, we got the sweet potato fries (with vegan ranch), the corn ribs, and the tempura cauliflower, and I probably expected the least from the sweet potato fries and was simply blown away by the flavor combo with the ranch! I don't even usually like ranch, and I would legit buy bottles of that ranch sauce. Heck, I normally don't even care that much for sweet potato fries, that's more my husband's thing! The corn ribs were something I'd never seen before, and were also delicious (although perhaps may be a little easier to eat as a whole chunk of cob), and the cauliflower tempura is exactly the wonderful fried food you expect from the title (again with the really good vegan ranch--the buffalo sauce was okay, but I'm also not a buffalo sauce person). For my entree, I got the Basic Bowl with added tofu (yes, even at the exorbitant add fee for the tofu). I'm not sure the tofu was worth the additional cost, because while it was a good quality tofu with a nice firm texture, it was minimally seasoned and really seemed like it was just warmed up rather than cooked--it was honestly the most "basic" part of the bowl. The rest of the bowl seemed like a nice sampler of some of their other vegetarian items/sides (like the curry). I also got the Go Green mocktail, and as a tee-totaler, I appreciate that they had interesting non-alcoholic drinks that weren't essentially sweet smoothies; it was pretty decent. The rest of the group really liked what they had gotten as well. My main complaint is that a lot of the menu feels pretty overpriced for what it is. For context, I am currently living in California, where food costs are already pretty ridiculous, and this still felt pricey. However, when you're on vacation, it's nice to have vegan and vegetarian options that are of good quality, so I'm okay with the splurge. Had it not been so pricey, I think the group would have been back for a second meal here while on the trip. (I would have swung by again for the sweet potato fries if given the chance, too.) read more

Food, service, available GF options all great. They were considerate of my dietary needs and explained the menu well. We will be back.

Took my GF friend here while she was in town. Had a mocktail which was tasty and some vegan items. She also enjoyed the place and her cocktail. Even better service abd food than last time I dined here. read more

Basic Kitchen - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

One of our favorite meals in Charleston! Starting off with our host from France who was the sweetest. Everything from start to finish here was superb. We ordered the Cauli Wings, corn ribs, sweet potato fries, and the salted chocolate tahini tart. We weren't hungry for full meals so we snacked on starters and it was just the perfect amount to feel great. Definitely stopping in here on a future visit. read more

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I think the name is meant to be somewhat ironic, as this is a rather upscale restaurant. It is one of those that is mostly by reservation, and when I did see some empty seats and walk in for lunch, they stuck me at the end of the bar despite a wealth of tables small and large that remained unoccupied for the duration of my stay. This sort of thing irks me, and if I were to come back, I'd hope that it would be with a reservation and a group. They have a variety of local cuisine with a lot of plant-based offerings (when I visited, they were gearing up for an even more vegan-ish promotion for the new year). I sampled a chai with oat milk and got the same quality brand of oat milk I've found in local markets, as well as an invigorating spice blend. I perused a variety of options but landed on a vegan caesar salad, which came with what they called "pine nut parmesan" and a dressing based on local seaweed (the Charleston sea beans are the reason I chose it; I'm all about the sea beans). Whatever was in there, it was delicious. However, already down twenty bucks plus tax and tip for a snack, I was not entirely persuaded to go any further. I could definitely see coming back some day, but while it was quality food, they didn't quite treat me well enough to get me to hang around. read more

Basic Kitchen - Chai - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Basic kitchen is a very cool and unique place to get a nice lunch after a long morning of shopping. They are very allergy friendly, which also makes it a good place to go with allergies. Not the biggest menu but definitely a variety of different items to choose from. Also daily specials cocktails are pretty good and decently priced. read more

Had a good experience. Service was good. Food was good. Nothing exceptional but a cute little place for date night or drinks with a group of friends. read more

Basic the best way to describe Basic Kitchen. We had a reservation for 12 of us, understandable that they had to seat us at 2 separate tables but put us on opposite sides of the restaurant. We wanted an additional 25 minutes to be seated even though we had a reservation. Server was friendly. Food came fast. Drinks were good. The food was good but very average. Tastes like food I can easily make at home. If you're looking for a healthier option in Charleston to eat this is a great option. read more

Basic Kitchen - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I've been here a few times by now. I do believe the food is super good and fresh. We got the sweet potato fries and the Ceasar salad add salmon. I love how healthy the menu is. The chickpeas on my salad I would've liked to be more crispy. The salad itself was super yummy. I know they pride themselves on really great ingredients but I think it is still slightly over priced. Idk how sweet potato fries are $12, and a couple of their lunch bowls are $30. They are def in a great location so rent is probably expensive but I would hope they could show the community that it's not expensive to eat healthy. With these prices, I could go to magnolias for lunch and have the same bill for a fine dining dish on a popular area of town. My service hasn't always been the nicest staff especially around Covid time, but it seems those people may have been weeded out because I had a nice waitress this week. The ambiance is very bright and fresh looking. read more

Basic Kitchen - Ceasar salad with salmon - New American Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Between a three and a four star Basic Bowl - I personally thought it was like bunny food / Earthy / granola and I didn't care for it. It was edible. The cilantro sauce made it. Otherwise, it would have been a 1-2 star. The noodle shrimp special was the saving Grace. read more

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The food here is delicious and I love how clean the ingredients are, but the pricing seems a bit outrageous considering what you're getting and the service, which is good but definitely not a luxury experience. Nevertheless, I would stop by here again next time I'm in Charleston. I definitely want to have more of their corn ribs with the Alabama white sauce! read more