Serves meat, vegan options available. Upmarket setting. Offers different menus for breakfast, brunch/lunch, dinner plus drinks both alcoholic and non. Ingredients for dishes are listed. Example of choices for vegans include cauliflower wings, sweet potato fries, and grain bowl with veggies. Vegan ranch dip available. Note that the veggie burger is vegan but the bread contains butter. Open Mon 10:00am-3:00pm, Mon-Sun 5:00pm-9:00pm, Tue-Fri 11:00am-3:00pm, Sat-Sun 10:00am-3:00pm.
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82 Wentworth St, Charleston, South Carolina, USA, 29401
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Last update on 08 Jul 2023 by Tiffany-G
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Added by jhns on 24 Jan 2018
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48 Reviews
First Review by cdoll
TheVeganAbroad
Points +67
Expensive but yummy! - Edit
Recommended by the hotel we stayed at, Basic Kitchen is clean, cute, and delicious! Loved the corn ribs, vegan Caesar salad, and the yellow coconut curry. Staff was super knowledgeable about vegan options and what was popular. Pricey but worth it while on vacation!
Read moreGuest
robinsse
Points +20
Excellent vegetarian options. Great service. - Edit
Visited twice during recent visit to Charleston. Great veg options.
Read morePros: Delicious, healthy vegetarian and vegan options., Sensitivity to allergies , Excellent service. Lovely outside patio.
Guest
gcs
Points +66
Overrated - Edit
I've had ~5 meals from here. 1 was good (a beet burger), 3 were disappointing (salads, a simple rice dish), 1 was very bad (a curry dish).
Read moreThis place is too expensive to not consistently serve good food and what they serve is usually too small.
Pros: Atmosphere
Cons: Expensive, Hit or miss, Small portions
Guest
TiaStreeterHutchins
Points +3139
Great vegan friendly restaurant - Edit
Many delicious vegan options. Great location and excellent fresh ingredients. #Veganuary
Read moreGuest
MollyManriquez
Points +1928
Thoroughly impressed - Edit
Accidentally stumbled upon this place and I’m so glad we did! The vegan ranch is the best I’ve ever had. I ordered the good burger and shared the vegan cauliflower wings. Everything was hot and fresh. The drinks were alls fantastic, and service was great.
Read moreGuest
oraxia
Points +205
Not All That Basic After All, But Pricey - Edit
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), someone on a gluten-free diet, and small children and there were easy options to satisfy all of us.
Read moreWe 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 and something that I hope catches on at places closer to home, and the cauliflower tempura is exactly the tasty fried food you expect from the title (again with the really good vegan ranch).
For my entree, I got the Basic Bowl with 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 (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 we 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.)
Pros: Great Vegan Options, Grown-Up Mocktails (Not Sugary)
Cons: Pricey for What It Is
Guest
ChelseaJonea
Points +80
Good but pricey - Edit
Went to Basic Kitchen during a bachelorette weekend. Great service, good food! I ordered the crispy cauliflower which was good, but I really don’t know why it cost $30. It was essentially a fried cauliflower steak with cabbage and greens with 4 small potatoes. Good, but not $30 good IMO.
Read morePros: Food, Vibe
Cons: Price
Guest
jcmfitfood
Points +60
Amazing vegan food! - Edit
The Caesar salad was by far one of the best I’ve ever had.
Read moreThe whole place is vegan aware and many items are vegan already or can be.
Mocktails too!
Pros: Service , Food, Variety in food choices
Guest
Veganmouse
Points +1235
Very good food - Edit
Got the tempura cauliflower - good portion, nice batter, good sauces
Read moreBasic bowl with grilled tofu - pricey, but a huge portion.
Veggie burger - fries in particular were delicious
Coconut rice pudding - one of the best desserts I've ever had. Coconut rice, lime, mint, pears
Updated from previous review on 2023-06-22
Guest
DarcyDavis
Points +451
Good brunch spot for friends - Edit
Ran in for a mimosa on a Sunday morning, ending up checking out the brunch menu and decided to get some cauliflower wings. Interesting take on a fan favorite- they used a tempura breading, added pickled celery, and vegan ranch- but good! I could see myself coming back and bringing my Omni friends for a nice morning on the town.
Read morePros: Knowledgeable staff
Guest
Emm817
Points +42
Great Veganuary Menu - Edit
Very clean and cozy place! They are only offering a plant-based menu for the entire month of January. Locally sourced ingredients. Solid offerings. Bit pricey but worth it if you are vegan in Charleston as the town doesn’t have a lot of options
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-01-15
Pros: Only offered plant-based menu for all of January, Friendly staff, Clean and hip dining area
Cons: Somewhat pricey
Guest
MattLongabaugh
Points +16
Great selection - Edit
Good food, great atmosphere and service #Veganuary
Read morePros: Vegan Nachos, Vegan Burgers, Bowls are fantastic
Cons: Expensive, Could stand to be generous w just egg
Guest
Kevbromley
Points +562
Excellent vegan options - Edit
We had great food here - it is clearly marked and staff are knowledgeable and friendly. We had the cauliflower wings and sweet potato fries for starter and then the Caesar salad and curry bowl for mains. The vegan Caesar was especially good. Ate on the lovely patio.
Read morePros: Good vegan options, Great staff, Wonderful ambiance
Guest
PerrinneKelley
Points +24
Awesome Vegan options! - Edit
The good burgers and cauliflower wings were amazing! Vegan cashew ranch was the perfect addition to the meal. There was a dessert as well ( we didn’t get it but it sounded delicious!)
Read morePros: Great vegan options , Great service
Guest
dashle
Points +40
Perfect for date night or solo dining - Edit
Their vegan Cesar salad is to DIE for!! So many options you can’t go wrong. Really delicious hot drinks and cocktails too. I had the Matcha latte with oat milk for dessert and it was so good!! Staff is awesome as well. Dined there by myself and did not feel uncomfortable in the slightest. Going back with the bf soon!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-07-25
Pros: Lots of vegan options , Friendly staff , Outdoor dining
Cons: Need to make a reservation because it’s small
Guest
ColleenJoy
Points +74
Good but too expensive - Edit
I got the cauliflower wings, corn wings, and white bean soup. The soup was ~$15 and it was a very small quantity. The cauliflower wings were pretty big and you get a decent number of them, but they’re nothing special.
Read morePros: Several good items on the menu
Cons: Expensive, Small quantities
Guest
KellyHudson
Points +523
Unique Corn Ribs - Edit
A few yummy vegan options. I had the corn ribs and curry bowl. The corn ribs were unique & had a very tasty spice. I might try to make at home it was so good! The curry bowl was decent.
Read moreMy hubby is not vegan and he enjoyed his food as well. The atmosphere was fun & exciting.
“Be groovy” sign above the bar. Its located within walking distance to downtown and has a large parking garage across the street.
Updated from previous review on 2022-05-08
Pros: Unique corn ribs , Hip locals , Nice employees
Cons: Longer wait during peak time, Want more vegan options
Guest
AvocStac
Points +132
Unique, Retro, Tasty! - Edit
Lots of unique, innovative vegan options. Both the Cauli Wings and the Corn Ribs were so flavorful and fun to eat. The sweet potato fries were also delish.
Read moreFor my main meal I had the Basic Bowl. Veggies were cooked nicely and the chimichuri sauce was scrumptious! My dining partners were not vegan, but they also were quite pleased with their meals. If ever I am in Charleston again, I will definitely drop in.
Pros: Very friendly staff, Mostly vegan & vegetarian menu
Cons: Only 1 vegan dessert the day I visited
Guest
Plant Powered Eater
Points +515
Fabulous Meal - Edit
I was thrilled to find this gem right across the street from
Read moreour lively Charleston hotel! Although the restaurant was not fully plant based, there were TONS of options, all of which were delicious.
All appetizer offerings were either vegan or had a vegan option. We tried the butternut squash soup, the buffalo cauliflower florets, and the corn nibs. All were delicious. I think the corn kay have been my favorite simply because it was so tasty & unique—also, because it was something I cannot envision replicating at home. Almost returned a second time, lured in by thoughts of this item.
The kale Caesar salad was delicious, but HUGE. Consider sharing with a friend or two. All salad options on the menu were vegan.
We stuffed ourselves so much on appetizers and salad that we didn’t save room for an entree. About half of the entrees on the menu either were vegan or had a vegan option, and several were really tempting had we not been greedy with starters.
Several vegan dessert options also were available. We passed on dessert to walk to a nearby ice cream shop offering vegan ice cream.
On my next visit to Charleston, Basic Kitchen will absolutely be on our must-visit list! Also, we were slightly late for our reserved table due to difficulties with our transportation, and the host was very cooperative.
Pros: Multiple vegan options for each menu section, Friendly, accommodating staff, Knowledgeable staff
Cons: None
Guest
Jarrod_UK
Points +54
Excellent vegan options 🌱 - Edit
I thought that most of the menu was vegan/veggie.
Read moreIf you are in town definitely make a visit. Not lunch time there maybe a wait. I went shortly after 1pm and we got a table quickly.
Pros: Basic bowl add falafel (sooooo good), Corn ribs as a starter (really good), Cauliflower wings
Guest
Heather507
Points +169
Fine - Edit
The vegan options aren’t the most filling or special. We spent a fortune and left hungry.
Read moreGuest
BobbyCrawford
Points +16
5 stars - Edit
Awesome experience. 5 stars even though they do offer some meat options, Basic bowl is the BOMB! Loved everything. Best to make a reservation if you can.
Read morePros: Many many vegan options
Cons: Wait time, make reservation
Guest
TaylorLorentzen
Points +223
Tasty! - Edit
Plenty of vegan menu items and all delicious. Our waiter brought us a free glass of wine to taste. The inside is dimly lit and perfect for a night of catching up.
Read morePros: Many vegan appetizers
Guest
moenet
Points +61
Good vegan eats - Edit
Great location very close to Off Track Ice-cream if you want vegan ice-cream after your meal.
Read morePros: More vegan options than most dining in Charleston, Good quality easily shareable portions
Cons: Limited menu, hence “basic kitchen”? ;)
Guest
AlexandraDoyle
Points +39
Soooo good - Edit
Ordered the cauliflower wings and the basic bowl. Very good. Menu is limited but there’s definitely vegan options and the cocktails are killer. A little pricy but you pay for a great vibe.
Read moreGuest
StefaniaClerici
Points +29
Lovely! - Edit
The menu has plenty of vegan options and the are willing to modify it to make other dishes vegan
Read moreGuest
ewalke04
Points +75
Meh - Edit
Good food, but on the pricier end for what you receive. I had the special which was Harissa Roasted Fairytale Eggplant. It was delicious, but I would have appreciated some grain/bread/sweet potato with it as it made for a very light meal. Personally didn’t feel that they had a huge number of vegan options.
Read morePros: Cute interior , Seated immediately (without reservations)
Cons: Pricey for amount of food , Basic flavors
Guest
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