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    Bintü Atelier

    4.7 (83 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    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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    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.

    Jollof rice
    John G.

    When I first arrived I wasnt sure I was at the right place. Located in a small, unassuming building, it felt like we were parked outside of someone's house. As we're walking up, a woman just happened to be walking outside and asked if we had reservations. Once we confirmed, she led us into a small dining room which looked as if it was in someone's dining room. Little did we know that played into the meal as well: it felt like we we were being fed someone's favorite home-cooked meals, and they were divine! All meat we had was tender and well seasoned. All sauces we had were complex yet simple, and done to perfection. I honestly cant think of a complaint I had with any part of the meal (not that I'm necessarily TRYING to come up with something) and I cant wait to go back. The highlights of our meal include perfectly cooked fish in a curry sauce expertly seasoned; chicken wings so tender they were falling off the bone, with a sauce that was just the right combo of sweet and heat; jollof rice that was so good I ate the entire side dish by myself - if my friend wanted some he should have fought me; chicken mafe which might be the best peanut stew I've had in years. I'm upset it took me so long to come here as a Charlestonian. Places like this are what make Charleston special: small spaces, food made with love and precision, offering unique experiences to tourists and locals alike completely different than most fare you'd find in other cities of comparable size. If you're visiting Charleston, please make it a priority to make a reservation here. If you're local to Charleston, please make it a priority to make a reservation here. Note: they do not have a liquor license and do not sell alcohol. Just a heads up if you were wanting some wine or beer with your food. I believe they have a corkage fee but off the top of my head I cant remember.

    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.

    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!

    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!

    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
    Sarah O.

    I'll preface by saying I've had Senegalese food several times and therefore had high expectations for spice and flavor. It's clear that while the menu sounds delicious and unique, this fusion of Senegalese and low country cuisine is made for an American audience. The flavors were not bursting in the yassa(used goat since they were out) and sane with the broken rice of the crab dish (tho crab was cooked to perfection). Even the cumin wings were missing a special flare with the cumin though the smoky flavor was generally fine. If this is ur first venture into Senegalese food, you'll likely hv a good experience but if you're a vet, just know what to expect. Also customer service could be better.

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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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    1 year ago

    Very chill. Just went today with my family, including my mother who is allergic to gluten. Amazing service. I would recommend the yassa.

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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

    Okan

    4.7
    (132 reviews)
    66.5 mi

    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.

    We have been hearing great things from friends about how outstanding Okan is. So, we finally got…read morearound to trying it out. We made a reservation and when we arrived, were seated immediately. The hostess was very friendly and welcoming. The restaurant was beautiful and very comfy. We liked the vibe very much. So far, we are thinking this is going to be a 5 star experience. Unfortunately the wine we ordered is no longer being served so we had to pivot to a different one. Which was fine. So, onto the food. My hubby is not as adventurous as I am in terms of trying new foods. He decided to play it safe. We started with the cornbread. It was served in a small cast iron skillet with butter and jam. The cornbread & jam was good. The butter was a bit odd. It was a whipped/fluffy consistency but the flavor was lacking. Honestly, it sort of reminded me more of old school Crisco from a can than a nice whipped butter. Hubs decided to get the ceaser with cabbage and the Mac & cheese. I ordered the cashew curry & Carolina Gold rice. Hubs absolutely loved his salad. He said it was the most flavorful salad he ever had. I am not a fan of cabbage but I tasted it and he is right, the flavor was unbelievably good. This was the best thing we tasted on our visit. I also tried a bite of his Mac & cheese and it was not something I would order here. I got an overwhelming taste of onion, which is not my favorite thing. Hubs thought it was ok, but not the best he's tasted. I was very excited to try the cashew curry. Unfortunately, it fell flat of my expectations. I expected a complex flavor profile with lots of layers. I got the earthiness & umami. But not much else. The veggies were good. But the lobster was chewy/rubbery in texture. I added Carolina Gold rice and it was ok, but sort of consistency of day old rice without a lot of flavor. It was very filling though, so we skipped dessert. Overall, service was 4 or 5 stars but the food (other than the salad) just fell a little flat for us. Not sure if we caught them on an off night food-wise.

    Photos
    Beautiful and clean dining room
    Beautiful and clean dining room
    Oxtails with tomato gravy
    Oxtails with tomato gravy
    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 July 2026

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