Needed a quick lunch takeout and this was the perfect spot. Great selection of sandwiches, salads, soups, and multiple options for vegetarians. I'm new to Charleston and staying in the French Quarter which is a pretty posh area It was a breath of fresh air to go into Fast & French with their very friendly, relaxed staff. Even though I just got takeout, it was clear that the place has a cozy, welcoming vibe. read more

The food was not very good at all . Me and the wife had the chicken ponzu. It came with rice and veggies. It had absolutely no flavor, the veggies were steamed but had no taste. My wife told the waitress she didn't like it because it had no flavor and the waitress said that's the French way. From my experience in Paris that is not true. She didn't even offer to comp it even tho it was obvious my wife hated it. I forced myself to eat about half of mine and that's all I could take. read more

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A regular stop for us in Charleston--good food in an eclectic environment. 10 o'clock breakfast (salmon and cream cheese) is a win.

We stopped in on a Sunday night, which I believe is not their usual lunch crowd. We were seated right away, take note that the place is very small for seating, probably can only hold maybe 15 people. Most of us went with their special, the bouillabaisse, and we were all pleased with that choice. Definitely recommended for the seafood lovers. read more

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The food was goodish and the prices were not bad. However the service is horrible. They are simply not friendly. It feels like they are not happy to be there and not happy you are there! I would not go back read more

On one of the side streets behind the Charleston strip of shops, we came across this little French gem. The darling servers welcomed us with a smile and we sat outside under the umbrellas shading us from the hot, midsummer sun. Our party of 4 ordered the special of the day -- either potato and mushroom or broccoli soup that came with a toasted baguette topped with two types of cheeses and thinly sliced seasoned yellow squash, a slice of honeydew and a glass of French house wine or an iced/regular coffee/tea. The specials and beer were low compared to today's prices. I found the interior cozy on the way to the restroom which was small, but clean and tidy. Definitely a place to visit when looking for a quick place to eat delicious food in Charleston, SC ;) read more

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Went here for a light dinner today. Despite it was very full we were lucky in getting a nice place in the rear of the restaurant. This place was really cool, as it was not so loud and we were able to have a good conversation. The staff was really nice and brought immediately cold water and took our order. We had for drinks ginger beer, root beer and a Kronenbourg 1664 beer. For the main course we had O' Salmon, O' RYE, Vegan Provençal, ans Sandwich Provençal. Everything was very tasty. In total we paired $82.30 plus tip. If I come again to Charleston, I will definitely come again. read more

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Gaulart & Maliclet (AKA Fast & French Charleston) is a fast casual French restaurant. You enter through plastic door strips (what you would expect in a Costco freezer) and you sit at a communal table for your meal surrounded by multicolored strings decorating the roof. We ordered the special for the day: a ham and Swiss cheese melt with cherry dijon mustard on a baguette--very tasty! The meal also came with a cup of your choice of soup (French onion, broccoli and raclette, gaspacho, or cucumber cream yogurt). We opted for the French onion soup, which was tres bonne! Our dish also came with a slice of melon. Overall, definitely a random pairing. Was it good? Yes. Could it have been better? Yes--I wish the baguette was more authentic. It seemed a bit soft and less crispy on the outside. The french onion soup was also not as thick as expected. Still a filling and tasty meal. The price definitely cannot be beat! The special with a glass of lemonade came out to $26.09 with tax and tip). This is a perfect place to go if you need a quick bite to eat, French-style. read more

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Amazing experience! We came here on a whim. Our server was super nice, attentive and very knowledgeable. We had a couple cheese fondues, the ginger chicken and a bunch of soups. Everything was super yummy. The restaurant is small but quant and we just loved it. read more

A Charleston treat, 100%! Whether you are local or visiting, make a point to pop in to Fast & French (i.e., Gaulart & Maliclet) for a meal, a glass of wine, or both! :) This local spot is a long-standing standard in good food, good drinks, and a good vibe. Nestled in a narrow space on Broad Street, we are never disappointed at Fast and French. The cucumber soup is spot on. The hot dog - divine! The wine and the cocktails - equally excellent. Oh, did I mention that the service is always lovely and that the prices are so reasonable you wonder whether the menu has a typo? :) Every time we visit, we say, we should come here more often than we do! Enjoy your visit! read more

Oh my Lord! Please don't eat here! It's not worthy of 1 star! Food was horrible, service was terrible. I have been living in Charleston since 2010 and have been looking for a French restaurant for years. One day while walking around the French Quarter I noticed a quaint lil French bistro and put it on my "gotta try" list. So I came to see what all the 5 star reviews were about and boy was I disappointed from the get go. I try my best not to judge a book by its cover and lemme tell you I'm not scared of whole in the walls and the gems in different hodgepodge places, if it's got good eats, I'm there. I usually will try a restaurant 3 times before writing a review but helllllll no. The food and experience was so bad y'all! I have to tell you about my experience NOW while the bad taste is still in my mouth! I ordered the soup of the day which was she crab soup and a baguette. I thought cool French baguette is my fave and how could you go wrong with soup. No, I got 2 small slices of stale baguette top with some kind of cheese like a lunchable you can get at the grocery store and soup that was too salty to eat! So I said let me try something that you can't mess up. A croissant! A chocolate one well they messed that up too! How can you get a croissant wrong, and it was store bought croissants! Yuck! From a FRENCH restaurant, not made in house but if I'm wrong then those were the worst croissants ever!!!!!! Please people don't eat here! The serve staff did not greet us, ignored us and asked a white patron about his party of guests even though we were there 10 minutes before and the host knew he did wrong for asking to seat the other guy before acknowledging us because he caught my stare and we locked eyes and I did not back down or break the eye contact to let him know, yea fellow you totally ignored me for 10 minutes and asked the other guy how many in his party 1st! Even after the poor service I was dealt with in the beginning I still wanted to give it a chance, but after hearing how the wait staff addressed other patrons about how short staff they were and how horrible they had to do so many things I about had it. I was looking forward to a hot fresh French press coffee and was let down again. Weakest French press coffee just take my advice and walk swiftly past this whole in the wall. I can't believe this place is still open after so many years. Really Charlestonians!?! Really? I know we have more restaurants per square capita but this one has got to go. We ate some food because we were shopping and so hungry, but after that we paid and left fast read more

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Nice find for a lighter lunch and on this day, a pleasant sidewalk table with umbrella cover. We opted to share the cheese and pate' plate which included fresh baguette and a piece of ripe honeydew, and I had to try the cold coconut & banana soup which was interesting and refreshing. Great selection of French wines, priced reasonably by the glass The bargain here is the daily special, on this day a serving of coq a vin, side salad, and glass of wine for $15. Look for special weekend menus as well. Inside is quaint, but tight seating. Service was good. read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - Pate', cheese, baguette and a coconut banana soup - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We had breakfast at Gaulart & Maliclet French Cafe ("Fast and French") this past Saturday when we were in Charleston for a weekend, and I couldn't have loved it more. It's been open since 1984, and it's easy to see why. Gaulart & Maliclet has retro charm in spades: shared tables that are bar height, an opening into a diner-like kitchen, quirky decor. There are French flags outside and French music playing inside. They're open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but I highly recommend it as a spot for breakfast. We had a reservation (they take reservations!!!) for 8:30 on a Saturday morning. We were greeted right away and taken to a table, where we were handed menus and offered coffees. I love their breakfast menu - it's both simple and different from most breakfast menus in the states - and so, so French. They have toasted croissants with various fillings; plates of bread, cheese, and meat; yogurt and fruit; toasts; and more. I had the "12 O'clock" - sweet blue cheese and currants on toasted rye with fruit salad. My husband had their Enfant Terrible - maple syrup, ham, and melted cheese on toasted sourdough with fruit salad. We also shared a "10 O'clock" - smoked salmon and cream cheese on toasted rye with cold soup (the choices that day were yogurt/cucumber or gazpacho). We also enjoyed several cups of fresh-brewed French Press coffee. The food was all simple and delicious. The service was great throughout. And I loved the ambiance (the music, the casual environment, the vintage feel to the bar stools...). They sell t-shirts, and I loved Gaulart & Maliclet so much I thought about buying one. I adored my breakfast at Fast and French. I'd love to return the next time I'm in Savannah. Francophiles, run don't walk. read more

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Came here for lunch and was immediately greeted. The place has a cozy, cool vibe. Everything on the menu sounded amazing, it was so hard to choose! I ordered the Open-Faced Sandwich Provençal, and it was absolutely delicious! The salad with vinaigrette was outstanding, I'll most definitely be back! read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - Open-Faced Sandwich Provençal - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Went here on a Monday night and sat outside. It was so cool to eat at the table outside- good people watching. The menu was not too big which made ordering easier. I got the vegetable plate with Swiss cheese and cucumber soup which was great. The other people at my table got beef and escargot . The service was excellent. read more

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I had the O'Salmon and it was a true delight. The chèvre was tasty, the salmon had a good flavor and wasn't oily, and the rye was good. The French onion soup wasn't quite the way I like it, I like it with a deeper, richer flavor and the crusty cheese on top, but that could just be a Montreal-specific version that I am used to. I enjoyed it so much that I had a chocolate fondue with pound cake as a dessert and it just blew my mind. This is a great little cafe, food was quick, extremely well-priced, and service was friendly. Cozy little interior, it's a nice little place. J.Ja read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - O'Salmon - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Great spot for a chilly day to enjoy soup options that are served with crispy baguettes. We had visited the Nathaniel Russell home and this was close by for a break before walking around and shopping at local galleries and art places. We sat at the communal bar, split pea was tasty although the roasted garlic kept us company all afternoon. Hubby enjoyed the tuna salad, canned tuna on a bed of greens. I enjoyed my 1/2 sandwich of olive pate on baguette along with a cup of soup. Fun merchandise, indoor and outdoor seating. Fast and Fresh is appropriate, merci! read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - Merchandise galore - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I visited here over the weekend as my first time experience. It was also my dog's last weekend with us so my friend and I were driving him around dt on the golf cart and knew THIS was where we had to stop for lunch. we remained outside so I cannot speak on the interior of the restaurant but outside is nice and clean and of course, dog friendly. My friend and I got a glass of wine each and some yummy treats. Our server was nice but to be honest, did not act like he wanted to be there lol we all have those days so I get it. His could care less attitude I found to be more genuine than half of the falsities you normally experience downtown. Highly recommend for an affordable lite bite. In fact, this would be the perfect place to stop on Charleston's monthly artwalks! read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I love this place SO much. I moved away from Charleston 10 years ago, but prior to that, I frequented it during lunch hours and on the weekends when I wanted to treat myself. My husband took me here today, making an hour and a half drive, just so he could cure me of a little bit of homesickness. I am delighted to report that G&M has not caved to the ridiculousness that Charleston has become. They haven't changed and I hope they never do. The service was perfect, as always, the food was exquisite. C'était parfait!!! My husband and I shared the "Rendezvous for Two," an assortment of cheese, bread, pâtè, fruit, saucssion and it was all delicious. Our stomachs were full, but our mouths kept wanting more! The serving was very generous. Definitely a full meal for two or appetizer for four, as the menu suggested. My husband also had the chilled cucumber soup and said it was the perfect balance of creamy and vegetal freshness. (I have had their gazpacho in years past and recall it to also be delicious.) I had Kir Royal and the waitstaff helped play "Lager roulette" with my husband! Out of the three he tried, the Kronenbourg 1664 was his favorite! Again, we'd eaten our fill, but since it was a special trip for me, we did have a slice of cheesecake with a slathering of cassis syrup. HEAVENLY! The ambiance here has always been sort of special to me. I often dined alone and the very European "community bar/table" set up always made me feel as if I were somewhere else. It's still that way. I've read some reviews wherein people complain about the "tight seating," but I rather like it. You'll often meet interesting people if you're in the mood for such a thing, and if not feeling chatty, you don't have to! You can just enjoy your cozy space! This has always been and, as evidenced by today's lunch, remains one of my favorite places to dine in Charleston. Simple, delicious, exquisite food, affordable wine, and excellent service! read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - Kir Royal! Yum! - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I ate here on an extremely hot day and sat outside, but between the ice cold wine and the most amazing gazpacho, I had an amazing experience. I also had the most delicious sandwich recommended by my amazing waitress ! read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - Gazpacho and sandwich - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Stopped in today for their Stew special. My oh my how great it was. All these years coming here, never disappointed. Clean, Johnny-on-the-spot with help, service, etc. parking is a challenge but worth it. Wife had Salmon and cheese on a baguette, wonderful. They are constant in what they do and do it well. Frank G read more

Oh such a disappointment. Smells weird. Odd service. It's like USA Kraft did French. All very bland and French like but not very French. Oh and marrying bottles of wine is really not a good look. Not sure why this place has the reputation it does. read more

Fast and French has a fabulous menu. So many unique items, all cooked to French perfection. Thursday nights are fondue nights- be sure to make a reservation. I highly recommend the beef fondue. Succulent beef cubes you get to cook in a light broth. It comes with an assortment of dips: harissa, garlic and cheese. Absolute spectacular. There is also a chocolate fondue option. Fresh fruit cubed to dip in European chocolate. Scrumptious. A flair of Europe in downtown Charleston is not to be missed read more

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A great place for a French experience. The food was great and well as the service. Bistro vibe with shared bar seating. read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - Salad with Ginger dressing. - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

One of my fav spots for a lunch- the bread is outstanding and I am always so happy to have a soup option that's vegetarian. There gazpachos, when available, are always great. Service is fast and smart- no frills. This matches the counter style/communal dining that requires some neighbor snuggling. Come here for melty cheese goodness and fresh menu options. read more

Such a delightful experience! The servers hustle. Interesting food choices. Highly recommend! Something for everyone!

I've loved this place for a LONG time. They have great soups, bread, cheeses. Over the yrs, It took a SHARP turn into being centered around wokeness - so much so, it now defines their entire M.O. The vibe has gone from upbeat and refreshing to judgy and weird. I mean, I don't expect them to not celebrate their thing - but absolutely everything in F&F is now ABOUT lgbtq, & seems to be THE defining atmosphere. It's being shoved up your nose the min you walk in and comes off insulting to LGBTQ as if se*uality is all that defines people - accompanied with the now moody, almost entitled attitude & demeanor of the staff, thumbs down for now. **And folks, remember, this is supposed to be about food, service and atmosphere. It feels heavy with a tone/attitude toward anything NOT in the rainbow. Beyond. Disappointed. The old owners, whom I knew, would be devastated. To note, gay friends find this place to be contrived & off-putting now. read more

Small space nicely located near the beautiful residential area in Charleston. After a bit of walking, wanted something sweet before dinner and we stopped by the closest place we could, and glad we had done so. We offered the chocolate mousse cake and the fruit cheesecake. The cheesecake had strawberry raspberry blackberry and red currant, and it was what a smile tasted like. The chocolate was a beautifully rich slice. Both very different and impossible to pick a favorite. read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - Chocolate mousse cake. - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I admit it's unusual to include pictures of the bathroom with a review, but so was this bathroom - and very pretty too. As was the rest of the space, with painted murals covering some walls, festive colors on the others, art installations on the ceiling. I was just looking for a snack and a glass of wine and this fit perfectly. I had the Cheese & Pâté Du Jour: a cheese, pâté, deli meats, bread, and fruit platter and a Pinot Noir. It was an ample size for a light lunch and everything was good. Even the fruit (honeydew), which tends to be relegated to a garnish or afterthought elsewhere. (And none of those commonly used horrid dried apricots!) Enough bread so I didn't run out before the meats and cheeses were gone. I do think $24 is on the high side but maybe I just haven't adjusted to the new normal yet. There is a small menu of French-inspired dishes, simple things like sandwiches (hot and cold), soups, and salads. Not much else. And they have a daily special for $15 which includes a glass of the house wine. I don't recall what it was that day. So I do consider it more of a place for a quick lunch than for an evening meal but there was plenty to choose from. My sole complaint is only one red wine was available by the glass besides the house wine. My pinot noir was good but I would have liked a choice. This is a busy place so I'm sure they would have no trouble keeping a few bottles open and used up before they could go bad. I don't know why this showed up in my google search for a wine bar because that's not what it is. All complaining aside it's a very nice place. A bit on the cozy side (the bar where I sat is along the narrow aisle where people squeeze by to get to the few tables in back) but it's still a comfortable place to relax and sit for a 1/2 hour or so. The bartender/server was easy to talk to and gave me some suggestions for things to do in the area. I just wish I had had more time to do them. Helpful tip: I called ahead and asked if they had room or took reservations and they said they're completely full right now and can't take any reservations. I stopped by later anyway and was seated immediately! Guess they had a noontime rush. So don't be discouraged - you may get lucky too. read more

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Food is below average. Croque Monsieur was spars to say the least. Broccoli cheese soup had no broccoli, Peruvian chicken soup had no flavor. The $6.00 glass of wine is worth it. We won't be back. read more

I wasn't sure whether to leave 4 or 5 stars. The inside of the place was sort of narrow and not really my style BUT the service was superb and the food was delish. We had two fondue dishes with bread & fresh veggies, and a small side salad. I also tried the cocktail BIÈRE PANACHÉ and was delightfully surprised! I'm not a beer drinker but the blood orange syrup totally changed the game. Yum. read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - Pesto & Swiss fondues, crusty bread - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Food always fantastic at a good price, wait staff service awesome even though we ate outside with short staffing. Outside ambiance very French and cool. Can't miss this place whenever you are in Charleston. read more

Yeah...this place rocks. The food is out of this world, the price point is unmatched and the service is top tier. Further...the atmosphere is dangerous...I could sit out there for hours on end and lose track of time a little too easily! Margarita took impeccable service to the next level. Will be coming back again and again. Thank you all!!! read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - Good vibes - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

This place saved me, the further down south you go in Charleston, the less places there are to eat and drink. It was a very sweltering day when we walked in here. I tried the croissant with apple butter which is worth getting. The croissant itself was very soft and fresh. The apple butter was very tasty with the bread. Service was good, they made sure my water was refilled. Prices are very fair for the quality of food. read more

Gaulart & Maliclet - French Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Dined at Gaulart and Maliclet last night with friends. This place is small and have long tables so it isn't good for large groups. I ordered the cucumber soup and Moroccan lamb curry and my friends ordered the Maple and bean soup and potato leek soup seafood boullibase. They give you a bread basket with lots of different kinds of bread. I was in a store earlier in the day and the shop owner recommended the cucumber soup. I liked it but at the end, it got to be salty. I am happy to have tried it. The menu is extensive and would love to try this place for breakfast or lunch next time. Since this place was small, there were a lot of people and we understood if the server couldn't get to us right away. My only complaint is they charged my friend extra for the rice when it was a substitution and for server didn't let us know that. Just let us know that there is an up charge so she doesn't have to be surprised when the check comes. read more

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A favorite downtown spot on Broad Street near the Four Corners of Law ~ Fast and French has been a longtime favorite of mine. The "counter service" only cafe serves up wonderful soups salads and sandwiches all day. It's also a nice stop when on the way to your evening dinner reservation~ stop in for glass of wine/ cheese plate/pate'. You'll love the crispy French bread that accompanies! The dessert crepes and croissants are out of this world and today had a craving for something with cinnamon-- so I paired a cinnamon sugar croissant with a nice pot of French press style coffee and sat outside at one of the hightop tables on Broad Street. Good people watching, dog watching and historic buildings surround you. read more

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Well another walk right up and get seated win for us! We were seated at the bar inside ( out of the sun which was a win for me). The lunch combos were a pleasant surprise! $15 for a good pour of house wine and about 6 choices!!! I selected the spicy tomato ( big pieces of tomato & carrot yummmm) with side salad. It came with a big chunk of fabulous bread and sweet slice of pineapple. The place is packed but SO worth it!! Highly recommend read more

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Stopped for an early lunch, and sat at the bar. Hostess was very informative regarding the specials. And so many to choose from. Hubby had the curry chicken stew and I had the O'rye with tomato bisque and squid. Both were delicious and we would order again. The blue cheese was buttery and melted in your mouth. Quick service and the perfect amount of food for lunch. Will return read more

This place is like eating food out of the pantry. The staff was not attentive and were not very friendly. Maybe it was an off day but I definitely will not be back. Food is not good. read more

Back again and just as great! We loved the blueberry/Brie special and so many soup options! There was a parade so they were busier than they expected but the waitress was super friendly and helpful. That was the first I sat outside and it was lovely read more

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