I wanted to love it here, but the food was just ok. But the staff was super nice! We started with the spinach dip and it was a little watery, not as creamy as I am used to. I had the Cobb salad with a very good homemade honey mustard dressing and it was very good. But my mom had the BLT and the bacon was hard and cold. read more

The Basics - Spinach dip - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Good food and great service. Loved the Cobb salads and they offered extra dressing with out question or extra charge. Their desserts are made in-house and absolutely delicious read more

The Basics - Cobb no bacon - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

This is what a diner should be! Check out their dailies as there are some truly delicious and special offerings. MUST save room for dessert! I literally wanted one of each. The service was friendly, food was terrific, really can't find fault other than the line. read more

The energetic music and overall vibe of this place is perfect! Brunch is fantastic, in and out in 35 minutes and wonderful waitstaff. read more

The Basics - Mediterranean Scramble, Blueberry Pancake and Cheese Grits - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Great quality and really tasty! I was in town for the Wilmington half-marathon and met my run group for dinner upstairs. We had a table of eight and our server was fantastic with the group. I decided on the pesto encrusted salmon on top of grilled asparagus and risotto. Everything about my meal was just perfect and I can't think of any suggestions for improvement. The pesto on top was so flavorful and I tried to include a little in each bite. The risotto was creamy and savory. The salmon was cooked medium and tasted very fresh. Everyone else at my table was very pleased with their dinner selection. Another favorite was the meatloaf-it looked delicious. Overall, it was a perfect meal in preparation for a long run the next morning. I highly recommend The Basics Restaurant! read more

The Basics - Pesto encrusted salmon with grilled asparagus and risotto - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

A great place for your classic breakfast items! We went on a Sunday morning & the place was very busy so I would recommend making a reservation if possible. However, it does also seem that they accommodate walk ins fairly easily. We got the cinnamon roll to share at the table and it was delicious. All the entrees were also great, but the sides (biscuit & grist) were SO good!! It's a very cute breakfast/brunch spot and I would definitely go back. read more

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Food & service are always amazing! Whenever I visit Wilmington I look for an opportunity to visit The Basics.

Great for Sunday breakfast / brunch. Had to wait for about 35 min but around the corner in the breeze way is Plan B where you can sit, wait and have a coffee. Breakfast was very nice, crab cake egg Benedict hit the spot and so did the blue berry pancakes. Will be back. read more

The basics was awesome! We went there for brunch on a Saturday at 10:30 and the wait was about 20 min and worth every minute. We had mango mimosas and a Bloody Mary. I had the crab cake Benedict that was insanely delicious! My bf had the migas which was a take on huevo rancheros, and so good. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good breakfast/brunch spot!! read more

The Basics - Crab Cake Benedict: insanely delicious!! - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Outstanding food. We came for a brunch, stayed for 3.5 hours Great mimosas and excellent service. Seems there are limited options for brunch downtown, especially on weekdays... if you can get a table here (in the past their waits have been very long - no surprise) this place is a must try! read more

The Basics - Avocado Toast, added egg and bacon...side of the Potato Cake - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Always great food and service. On the weekends get there early because they get extremely busy. Highly recommend.

Been here a few times, great service and terrific food. Location is convenient and easy to get to.

Really solid food and service, generous portions, and great service! If you want a great breakfast to fill you up for a long day ahead, you can't go wrong here! read more

If you do not go to The Basics for breakfast during your visit , you are missing something special. I think this might have been the beat restaurant breakfast I have ever had and it was also healthy! The also have pancakes, biscuit Benedict, shrimp and grits and sausage biscuits for those looking for something hearty. The Basics is the best! read more

The Basics - Mediterranean scramble with fruit! Yummy and healthy! - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

I went twice on a 3-day trip. The food and service was excellent. I went with the burger one day & meatloaf another. The grits as a side were lick-the-bowl good. Also the sangria is truly perfect. So fruity and delicious. I'm not sure I'll make it back to this area, but if I do there's no doubt I'd go multiple times to this place! read more

Caroline was so sweet and one of the best servers I've had! We came to Wilmington for a girls trip and we recommend the mimosa du jour with the crab cake benny - so so good! Will definitely be coming back here and asking for Caroline on our next visit. read more

2nd Time to dine at this wonderful restaurant. Southern Benedict is the bomb! I don't usually eat Benedict's due to hollandaise sauce. This is made with sausage gravy! WoW! This was really really good. Surprisingly not too heavy. Split homemade Biscuit was the base. Moist even by itself. The coca-cola house smoked ham is devious. This dish is worthy of 5 stars in every bite. For my side, they have an option for blueberry oatmeal pancake. Damn good. Ate the whole thing! The coffee is solid and hot. The servers seem to maybe also the owners. As they are really good and seem highly motivated. I will return when back in Wilmington. Y'all give this place a whirl. It's been dynamite on my 2 visits. read more

Cute place in the Cotton Exchange. Fried oysters were delicious. Cobb salad with smoked chicken was good and the blue cheese vinaigrette was unexpectedly nice. Hummingbird cake was definitely the star of the meal! Great, friendly service! read more

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We went for brunch on a Saturday. Got right in. Sat outside and enjoyed their home made jam. The mimosa dujour which included blueberry vodka. Wonderful customer service. Highly recommend read more

The Basics - Mimosa dujour - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Loved our breakfast! I was so hungry and it looked so good I forgot to take a picture of the food. We waited outside to be let in (covid life!) and someone came to the door immediately. They were super friendly, welcoming and casual. Service was prompt, food was delicious. We had coffee and water (NO STRAWS! $1.50 to buy a stainless steel one, the cost they pay for them. Good deal, but we opted out). We had the Mediterranean scramble, blueberry pancake, and the special of the day - pork belly omelet. All was awesome!! I didn't get the guy's name with the black bandana mask - maybe the manager? But he was awesome, and our server Katelyn was as well. I wish we could get this level of food and service in Jacksonville! :) read more

The Basics - Dining room - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The Basics is a charming little place downtown Wilmington that we had a special brunch at in December 2023. Its an amazing location with plenty of parking, cute decor and ambiance on the inside, servers were very friendly and the food was pretty good. TBH, the dish I chose was not great BUT, everyone else in our group raved about their choices and also returned a couple of days later because they like it so much. This is a no-brainer if you need a place for a great experience. read more

Having brunch here. Arrived at opening. Service is excellent, with thoughtful crowd control and steady seating. My Oatmeal Blueberry pancakes and bacon were cold. Saddened me. Mate's grits and Mediterranean omelet were hot and satisfactory. Covered, outdoor seating was nice, if chilly, in February. Outdoor space heaters would be great additions, regulations permitting. read more

Absolutely incredible brunch! I had "grit bowl" featuring a brunch salmon special and it was delicious. As a side I had the sweet potato casserole and it was really unique and tasty. My co-worker had the Mediterranean grill - and he loved it. Throw in great service and a cool decor, and you've got a great experience! read more

The Basics - Salmon Omelette Grit Bowl - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Older atmosphere. Multiple seating areas including outside for dinner. Steak and egg was perfect. Get the fried mashed potato ball. Avocado toast vinaigrette dressing was just right. And good hot coffee in perfect old diner cups. Good service. read more

The Basics - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The service is amazing. The staff are so sweet, the food was absolutely incredible! So much comfort food, my sister and I are just not used to tasting food with such heart read more

The Basics - My sister had the Fried Chicken Biscuit and I had the Blueberry Oatmeal Pancakes with a side of the Potato Cake! So good! - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Two friends and I decided to meet here for breakfast. We got lucky- it was a quiet morning, so we were seated immediately and had fantastic service the entire time! We were seated upstairs and had Katelyn as our server. She was great! We had some questions about different menu items which she answered completely. I ordered the special burger- a burger with Gruyere cheese, fried green tomatoes, bacon jam, spring mix, and shallots. It was incredible and super filling! I ended up taking half of it home! As my side, I ordered the fresh fruit which was delicious as well. One friend ordered the shrimp and grits which was HUGE! It's a bit spicy so if you're a total wimp like me, stick with something else. Our last Musketeer ordered the Spinach Feta Grill which was delicious as well! Overall we had a great experience and all left happily full and smiling! read more

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We were looking for some southern comfort and gave the Basics a try. The staff is super friendly and the food is delicious. Casual environment at the north end of Front Street. It gets busy and they can sell out of some items later in the evening. My shrimp and grits were very creamy and hearty. My wife had the "Hook" and wants it again ASAP. The cola cake is a great dessert option though our guests enjoyed their peaches and cream cheesecake. We'll worth a visit. read more

This has become my Omgoodness place to eat I can only have certain foods which can become so frustrating.. The food is always fresh, No junk in their foods.. To me it's like going to mom's for a great meal with a twist of elegance, I have yet to find anything I have not loved also save some room for dessert they are all beyond .. Also if you choose take out you will receive the same experience if you're eating there.. you cannot go wrong with breakfast lunch or dinner ... The Bon appétit of southern food read more

Had their pulled pork for dinner and it was dry and chewy. The barbecue (only kind they had) was basically vinegar with a touch of sauce in it. The grilled asparagus was good but I left half the pork. Can't recommend. read more

Great place for late breakfast/brunch. First time here we sat at the counter with no wait time. Got drinks right away but sat there waiting to order where I had to ask a waitress who wasn't working the counter but was nice and offered to take our order. Sitting at the counter you saw all the food coming out non stop and looked so delicious !! The food was amazing!! Had blueberry oatmeal pancakes and a Southern Benedict and grits. Would definitely come back ! read more

Best breakfast in Wilmington. I've eaten here at least 4 times. The waitstaff is friendly and efficient. I have yet to eat something I didn't enjoy. The crab cake Benedict is AMAZING and I'm very picky! read more

My favorite go-to breakfast restaurant when vacationing in Wilmington..Great location and always good!

I can't say enough nice things about this little gem, but I am going to try. We visited on a busy Sunday morning before heading back home to Raleigh. We were hungover, probably still a little drunk from the previous evenings Halloween festivities and this happy place fixed us mentally/physically and I wish I could pick it up and take it back home with me. There was an expected wait when we arrived, but it was a beautiful morning so we took a leisurely stroll in front of the Riverwalk and they got us in before the quoted time. The Service: KATELYN was awesome! I mean, she should write a book on her profession. She was knowledgeable, Kind and Helpful. I wanted to be her friend by the time we left. THE FOOOOOOOOD: We ordered BLUEBERRY OATMEAL PANCAKES and the MEATLOAF. "MAAAA THE MEATLOAF!" (hehe). Not all pancakes are created equal, but these are perfect. Not too sweet, not too big, not too fluffy, not too much anything but just right (Que Goldilocks). The meatloaf was everything you'd expect from your grandma's cooking. Delicious, savory, classic and made with love. Order either of these (Or both) and you will be happy. This brunch wins. Please open a location in Raleigh KThxILY read more

Very friendly service, nice vibe, decent coffee. We ordered Migas, egg/cheese/ham biscuit sandwich and oatmeal blueberry pancakes with walnut butter. You could get real maple syrup for an additional charge. Sandwich was really good. Ham is smoked for 6 hrs in house and more like shredded pork. Pancakes were delish. Migas were just ok, underwhelmed. read more

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Food was excellent! Our server was knowledgeable and very nice. The ambiance was wonderful wandering about the years of history in the building!! Great experience! read more

The Basics - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Great food, drinks and staff! The Bloody Mary was amazing!! Mediterranean scramble is a must have !

Went here last week at lunch time around 1 pm. I've been away many years, but this used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Their crab cakes were outstanding and they used to bring u homemade pickles. So they were out of all the food I would have liked to order, so I ordered a barbecue sandwich and some collards, neither of which I could recommend. First of all, the sauce that came with the sandwich was like no barbecue sauce I had ever tasted. Second, the collards were not chopped which made it extremely difficult to eat. I think I had to pour it out of the serving cup and onto the plate to cut it into bite size pieces. The sauce for it was a spicy vinegar, no chopped onion and no taste of bacon in the collards. I was so desperate, I put the barbecue sauce on the collards and the spicy vinegar on the sandwich to see if that would improve the taste and vice versa. It didn't. The only thing that improved anything was the thimble full of slaw they gave me to put on the sandwich. Normally, I would give a restaurant a second try, but the servers were indifferent and not attentive as well. Next time I go to the cotton exchange, I'll probably try the German cafe. read more

Was strolling downtown and decided to try out the basics for lunch! I have heard great things about brunch here as well! There was no wait and we were sat down promptly. They are doing the QR code's for the menu but it was all easy to view online. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable about the menu. I got the spinach dip to start and it was a bit different but delicious. I love the tiny bread bites they serve with it. I got the fried chicken blt sandwich and added pimento cheese ! Absolutely delicious. Definitely recommend the basics for a quick tasty lunch if you're downtown. I will definitely be back to try out brunch! read more

The Basics - Fried Chicken Blt Sandwich with Pimento Cheese - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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The biscuits had no salt and were bland. The sausage was just the same; it was just basic, like the restaurant's name. I would not go back. The wait staff was very friendly. read more

Delicious local breakfast spot in Wilmington. Highly recommend their omelets and blueberry oatmeal pancakes Superb staff and environment, highly recommend!!! read more

The Basics - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina