The Basics

I lived in Wilmington back in the ’90s and recently came back for a visit from London. I was really impressed with Basics for brunch—delicious food, friendly and attentive service, and an overall warm, welcoming atmosphere. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel right at home. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for a great brunch spot. I only wish I had more time to try their dinner menu—hopefully next time!

I accidentally found my way to the Basics while here in a work trip. From the moment I walked in I knew I made a good choice. Easy relaxed and comfortable. From my server Kindell being so welcoming and knowledgeable about the menu to the house wine selection I was already impressed. Then the menu was solid. I had a hard time deciding but settled on the nightly specials. It was one of the best meals I have had in a very long time. Fresh local ingredients and thoughtful presentation and preparation. Can’t wait to return. Do yourself a favor and check it out!

Came in for lunch on a weekday and they weren’t busy at all… it was right after they switched to lunchtime that I arrived, but by the time I left, they were getting busy. I sat at the bar and started with a cup of Brunswick Stew. The stew was very flavorful, but was so thick, it didn’t resemble a soup nor strew, it was more like a casserole. I then went with their chicken salad sandwich on sourdough bread. The chicken salad was just ok. I bit into something hard, maybe a bone and the overall flavor of it was more on the bland side. The potato cake that came with it was the best thing I ate there. It was very tasty. Overall, I wasn’t as impressed based on what I expected from all the positive reviews I read.

My wife and I had lunch here last week. The service was great and the food awesome! I had an oyster po boy and the bread was great and the sauce and oysters very tasty! also had the Brunswick stew. Would good back if we were in town again.

The Basics, located in the Cotton Exchange is a popular restaurant with excellent food and service. The chefs come up with many unique dishes. The wait staff are attentive. The Basics offers inside and outdoor dining. Their Sunday brunch is popular.

I love this place. It is my go-to for breakfast downtown, and I go at least once a week. Lunch and dinner are amazing too, but I don’t get to enjoy those as often. The food is high quality, fairly priced, and consistently delicious. The staff is friendly and efficient, and genuinely want you to enjoy your experience. It’s one of few scratch kitchens around, meaning they make everything on their menu that they can from scratch. No heat and eat from Sysco here! If you want to go for brunch on the weekend, make a reservation or be prepared for a small wait. Love this place and these folks! Show this long-standing local business some love!

It's hard to find a restaurant in the city that serves good that's like a home-cooked meal. But this was it! The collards and fried okra were really good. The smoked half bird was extremely tender. It was just a bit too smoky for my liking but it was falling off the bones good. My husband got the meatloaf and mashed potatoes with mac and cheese. The servers were extremely friendly and took really good care of us. The place is small but cozy and we had a really good experience. It's a bit pricey compared to other restaurants in the area but the food was good and cooked fresh.

Bloody Mary's were awesome. But the Southern Benedict with the potato cake was excellent. Y'all must try it. Service and decor was wonderful. Gotta be the best breakfast restaurant in Wilmington

We ended up frequenting this spot so much during our stay in NC that we practically became part of the crew. The staff started recognizing us as we casually strolled around Wilmington, greeting us like old friends. Talk about feeling like locals! This place lives up to its name with a laid back vibe that oozes Southern charm. The ambiance is relaxed and welcoming, making it the perfect spot to kick back and enjoy a meal. We kicked things off with a little bit of everything: coffee, sangria, apple juice, egg scramble with peppers and onions, pancakes, egg scramble with cheese, turkey bacon, chicken BLT sandwich sans the bacon, a potato croquette. The homemade mayo on the fried chicken BLT? I can't even describe how good it was. I mean, mayo shouldn't taste that amazing, but here we are. I literally begged my husband to take me there every morning just for that fried chicken BLT sandwich. The rest of the family loved their meals too. If you're ever in Wilmington, this place is a must. Comfortable, delicious, and a place where you'll feel like part of the family.

Some of the worst food I've ever tasted, I don't understand how one can completely ruin such simple recipes. Our group tried the fried green tomatoes, spinach dip, biscuits, smoked chicken, Brunswick stew, Carolina Cobb, shrimp & grits, fried okra, grilled chicken, asparagus, and key lime pie, and none of it was appetizing or edible. A mind-boggling culinary disappointment, and even more bizarre is all of the positive reviews...

This was a very nice place just a short walk from our stay on the riverfront. We (4 of us) didn't have reservations on this early fall weekend Saturday, but managed to be seated anyway after about a 20 minute wait outside. So in other words this place is popular. We were seated in the window so we had a great view of everything going on both inside and outside. Our food took a while but was pretty good when it arrived. They were very busy and we had a great spot to people watch, so we didn't care too much. Service was ok ... but it's the ambiance that helps make this place a hit.

Dropped in on a whim after a night out and "The Basics" did not disappointment. We were seated immediately at 10 am, brought waters before we were even in our seats. The menu was impressive and I absolutely love that they have chef specials! My hsuand and I tried the biscuits and the cinnamon roll to start, both of which were good. We each had the smoked salmon omelet special which was out of this world. Each ingredient was pure perfection and tasted like it had been hand picked seconds before cooking it. The potato cake was phenomenal as well. Our service was fast, waitress was helpful and the entire vibe was spot on. 5 stars for sure!

What a great little breakfast spot! This place is small and cute with very friendly staff who are quick with the coffee and a Bloody Mary! Portions are pretty large, so be prepared. Food is so delicious; everything we tried was awesome. My husband had the 2 eggs with a side of biscuits and gravy and an oatmeal blueberry pancake with walnut butter (wow!). I snuck bites of everything because it was so good. For my breakfast, I had the frittata and potato cake. The frittata was absolutely delicious but that potato cake...it just plain rocked. Try it if you stop in! Both my husband and I ended up sharing that because it was so unexpectedly delicious. Great breakfast choice!

Nice menu, good southern cooking in a nice atmosphere.I had the Shrimp n Grits and it was very good. The service was good. I didn't love the fact that they left the tails on the shrimp but I suppose it's part of the presentation (just not very practical). I also thought it was weird that the host station to request a table was on the sidewalk, fortunately the weather was good that night. Overall a very nice experience.

FINALLY made it to brunch here after hearing so many great reviews, and this place is definitely amazing! With my college bestie in town for a weekend visit, the pleasant hostess snagged us an outside patio table on a Saturday morning. The outdoor patio has a relaxing, neighborhood vibe to it, like you're hangin out with chill friends while enjoying delicious food. I ordered the Mediterranean scramble and my buddy ordered the French Toast dish. Our waitress was fun and informative as we asked about possible choices before ordering. My choice seamed like a perfectly seasoned egg scramble with spinach, tomatoes, feta cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette based light sauce. My buddy gobbled up her French Toast pretty quickly with a smile. And I HAD to order a homemade strawberry pop tart to go. The Basics is anything but basic.

Great breakfast. The town is preparing for the azalea festival so we walked over to the Basics for breakfast. I had the server order for me and I was impressed! Mexican style breakfast scramble with home made salsa on top. The true star was the Potato cake. Yum! Great Mashed potatoes breaded and fried. On top of crème fraîche and topped with sour cream and scallions. Great meal! We had 15 people and sat upstairs. Lots of Vets getting together. Our server, Michael, took great care of us and was on top of everything!

Selected The Basics for proximity to ALoft hotel. Turns out it was one of my top 10 breakfasts ever! Fantastic service people (due to our host's supportive, upbeat attitude toward the staff). I selected the fruit as the side with no expectations. Crazy but they had the best fruit plate imagineable. Fruit was beautifully placed, fresh, with amazing variety. I had the Southern Benedict as a main dish which was amazing! Thtow your diet away for that one! Very tasty with a Cajun seasoningn bit not spicy. Yes, they have real hot sauce (forgive me I'm a northerner).

Started off with an excellent greeting from our waitress. Was brought out a mimosa with lemon vodka, champagne, and fresh squeezed watermelon juice. The feeling in the air was great and you could tell people were enjoying the morning. The food was incredible and made me want more. I will 100% be back to enjoy this lovely establishment.

Found this restaurant via Yelp plus our realtor suggested it. Wow, lunch was amazing. THE BIRD special - smoked half chicken, rubbed with sugar and spice, with hoppin john & your choice of one side $15.75 was excellent. Chicken portion large and moist. Spinach was prepared perfectly. Spouse had their chicken salad in a sandwich and that was also amazing. Service was responsive and friendly. Prices are reasonable for portion size. Restaurant is set up nicely with men women rest rooms. On street paid parking was

We love eating here!! Every meal is so so tasty and really just perfect! Also want to do a special shoutout about your earth friendly compostable leftovers boxes. Thank you!!!

The restaurant was on a list shared by the hotel so we decided to check it out. Our group was seated outside in the Cotton Exchange mall, which was charming, Service was great! I had the chicken salad sandwich and would've liked more chicken salad on the sandwich. I was surprised to find it was smoked Chicken salad. I wonder if I'd have liked it better on different bread because there was too much bread compared to the chicken salad. The Mac and cheese was good. If I return, I'll try brunch.

I discovered The Basics as it was close to the hotel and had great reviews and the menu appealed to me. The restaurant has a casual vibe. I went with the Grateful Bread sandwich and fruit for the side as I wanted a lighter side. They were out of fresh mozzarella but substituted goat cheese. I like goat cheese but wasn't sure about it but it worked great in the sandwich. I hope there is mozzarella next time to try the original. The fruit was plentiful and a great variety of fresh fruits. Service was excellent as well, Noelle was my waitress and very friendly and helpful. I'd eat here again next time I am in town.

I haven't been to Basics in probably 5 years. Have to say I was disappointed. The service was extremely slow at first. He was busy so no big deal. But then he never checked on us after we ordered our food. Talked to all the tables around us but not us. My Bloody Mary was very thick even after I added some water to it to thin in out. And there were two singular slices of zucchini in my sandwich. Not ideal when that is supposed to be one of the main ingredients in this sandwich. I probably won't rush to go back anytime soon.

My wife and I were looking for a nice breakfast/brunch spot for our anniversary, and The Basics, a five-minute walk from where we were staying, seemed to fit the bill. It's got exposed brick and vintage stools that exude retro charm. Add to that an amiable server and Led Zeppelin in the background, and The Basics provided a great atmosphere. The menu offered plenty to choose from, and we ultimately went with migas (potato cake as the side) and the daily omelet (blueberry pancake on the side). Ultimately, the food rated as good, not great. The omelet (sausage, potato, vegetables) was hearty and satisfying. The pancake was tasty (good blueberry flavor) as well albeit dense and crisp rather than light and fluffy. The potato pcake was more akin to a mashed potato puff, definitely not bad in its own right but perplexing for anyone expecting anything latke-esque. Accompanying biscuits were small and dry. While we weren't wowed by The Basics, we're still glad that we gave the restaurant a try. The food doesn't reach the level of the atmosphere and service (or its price point, for that matter), but it isn't a liability, either.

The food has always been delicious at The Basics! My husband loved the blueberry oatmeal pancakes and I ordered a classic breakfast. I was thrilled that they make and serve homemade apple butter- divine! Service is super friendly with a smile and our server was very kind and patient! We love the ambiance of the brick walls which gives it a unique coziness! We will definitely be back!

Loved eating breakfast at The Basics! Immediately was greeted by friendly servers and staff. I was on vacation, so started the day with a Bloody Mary cocktail. It was delicious! Next I ordered the Shrimp and Grits , it was popping with flavor. The shrimps were huge and the serving size was perfect . The grits were perfectly seasoned. I also had the two eggs and bacon with toast. The bacon was so perfectly crispy! It was such a wonderful way to start the day. Inside decor is fun and welcoming. I love the setup of the restaurant, the bar area is super nice and the dining area spacious. I loved starting my day by eating breakfast at The Basics! Awesome time!

Whenever I'm in Wilmington, I try to make time for this bistro by the Cotton Exchange downtown. Fresh ingredients and hospitable service. For something sweet and "melt in your mouth" good, order the Coca-Cola cake. The Basics is always on point.

A terrific spot in freshly refurbished downtown Wilmington. I tried their brunch items a few times, and all were great. Omelet and french toast were terrific. Service is great. I wanted to try a crab cake, but they're ginger-spiced (!?), so I reluctantly avoided them. Some of the clientele, especially during the weekend brunch, seems pretty upscale -- I felt like an old hobo, by comparison to the bright young things. But the background music was classic Broadway showtunes -- so I didn't feel entirely out-of-place.

Good service, pricing is good to, not expensive. I had the meatloaf, reminded me of my own meatloaf, would have been better if it was grilled after being sliced. My mashed potatoes were.good but not hot. Husband got a steak with mashed and greenbeans and said it was tasty. It's an older restaurant that has been around for a long time. So the decor was just average nothing fancy.

Delicious food and nice people. The menu is not cookie cutter and unique...Highly recommend

Wow! If you are looking for a small, locally owned restaurant, THIS IS THE PLACE!! Janae, our server, was absolutely fabulous. She was so kind and helpful. The Pesto Crusted Salmon with Risotto and asparagus had so much flavor! Delicious! You might be full, but don't pass on the dessert. We had the special, Devils Food Cake with Raspberry and buttercream icing! The easiest 5 Stars I have ever given!!!!

I have to say this is one of the best places that I've ever been in Wilmington. When arriving I was immediately greeted by the friendliest person I've spoken with in months! He was super chatty and made the menu explanation and choosing breakfast easy. I had the blueberry pancake, apple butter with a biscuit, fruit & two eggs over easy... I am stuffed! 10/10. Place is the best I've eaten in a long time. Almost forgot... the decor is great. The people are fun and the spacious but comfortable restaurant is right up my alley.

Came for breakfast with my wife. Very comfortable place with great food right on Front street. We had eggs with avocado and toast. Service was outstanding - everyone who engaged with us was kind and attentive. I recommend for sure!

I had the pesto encrusted salmon with the risotto and asparagus to go. It was sooo delicious and the servers were super kind! I also had the gluten-free brownie with ice cream and it was super rich and decadent. Highly recommend!

This is the place to have Breakfast in town, no ifs and's or but's. This trip we were Served by Katelynn and what a bright and colorful, friendly and on top of it young lady. This is our 3 rd time here and we just have never had a bad experience. I did find out on this visit they do take reservations, so if you are going make sure to do that or you could be waiting a while. This is our place to go in downtown, and will always continue to be, if they continue the exceptional standard they have set for all restaurants.

Excellent service excellent food. They put a fresh spin on some traditional dishes and it is abundantly flavorful. Well done.

Good service. Inventive food nice kitsch interior. We went for Some nearby brunch and stood outside in a long line. To my surprise everyone in front of t if us were seated. We were a large party and had to wait some additional time but after 10 minutes we were seated. I recommend reservations. My dish was the Southern Benedict which had Coca Cola house smoked ham.

Good pulled barbecue, love the hopping John side. Favorite part was hummingbird cake! Everything is made in house from scratch. Great place, and really friendly service.

Food is always delicious and love the upbeat atmosphere! The staff is always so friendly and brunch is our favorite here!

Great experience sitting at the bar. Lovely food and great seafood. Would recommend. We came during the middle of the week and they wondered if we had a reservation, so if you're coming during peak time, I would take them seriously about getting one. Lovely humans!

We love eating at The Basics every time we are downtown. Food is fresh. Service is on point. Outdoor space is dog friendly. I always order something off the daily specials menu. Hubby sticks with a burger- he's addicted. Cocktails fun. One of our favorite Ms for lunch or dinner.

When in Wilmington check out this spot. It's got a hip vibe. Chic decoration and incredibly wonderful waiters. Food was good, although I think the BL fried green T should have mayo not mustard.

I felt misled by the many raving reviews. It's a cute place. They seem very popular and there was a line on a midsummer Saturday afternoon. Our service was poor. It seemed like after we were seated they basically ignored us. It took a while to bring us water. Took a long time to take our order, and we were hard to miss since we right up front and our menus were closed for a long time waiting on someone to take our orders. Then, it took an even longer time for the food to come out. We were getting hangry! Food was pricey. My meal was inadequate in quantity and flavor. I ordered the Mediterranean Scramble with a side of sausages. The scramble seemed to be a 2 egg portion and a half shot amount of diced tomatoes and spinach. I chose the sausages as my side and they were puny. I was still hungry. There was an upcharge for most of the sides choices.

Loved the atmosphere and food! Highly recommend. Excellent customer service. The Carolina Cobb Salad was paired well with the Honey Dijon and Blue Cheese Vinagrette. I also enjoyed the house made Hummingbird Cake. Overall, a great lunch experience. I'm glad this restaurant was recommended to us by one of the locals. My husband enjoyed the Meatloaf. The meatloaf and mashed potatoes were both moist and flavorful and a good portion.

I heard a lot of great things about this place especially for breakfast and brunch. Everybody that seems to work downtown loves it and there's always a wait. It was busy when I went however I was able to get in fairly quickly. They have QR code menus, which makes it easy. We were seated right by the door next to a bar seating area which faces the kitchen. If you have children, it's a place you could bring them. I think you can fit a stroller by the table. I didn't really see high chairs, but the place is a lot bigger than just the front area so I'm not really sure. The food was pretty basic you know eggs Benedict regular scrambled eggs, eggs, toast, etc. etc. I was nothing to write home about but was good nonetheless. The staff was super nice. The staff was excellent. The seating was quick very accommodating and flexible, especially when you have a little one until. Pricing was OK. It was decent. You do get a lot of food. I wasn't very impressed with my omelette to be honest. It was some sort of omelette with a salsa on top and then a bunch of chips mixed in it and I'm not sure I can really enjoy an omelette with a bunch of corn tortilla chips lol. But they did remake it for me right away. No questions asked when they saw that I wasn't interested in eating it which I thought was very attentive. They were very good about refilling the drinks and very attentive to the table to check in. Overall, I definitely will go back but it's not something that would be my first choice over other places in the area for the same type of food.

My wife and I went here for dinner last night and had an amazing experience! I really appreciate a simple menu with fewer options. They had a list of about 5-6 specials and then a few more standard entrees. Food was simple but amazing! I got the meatloaf and Mac and my wife had the salmon dish! Simple but great food! The staff was also amazing and so friendly. Loved everything about it

Fantastic brunch and service. Great menu, elevated southern food with an upbeat vibe. We will be back! My husband said "best food so far" on our visit to Wilmington. Highly recommended!

Food was good! Had brunch with family on Mother's Day and it was busy! Our waiter was great and the food was amazing! Would definitely recommend!!

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!

Trendy little place in downtown Wilmington. The burger was very good and the fried mashed potato ball was ridiculously good. The burger was 8oz of angus on a very fresh bun. Topped with a thick slice of fresh mozzarella! Chunky red onions and bacon made for a beautiful creation. The fried potato cake was other worldly. Chilled, rolled in spices and fries to crunchy perfection. So good in going to try and perfect this at home. The staff was great and the decor very urban. If you were thinking about eating here the answer is yes. Since it's small I can imagine it getting quite busy.

The best end to a long day! After traveling all day here from Southern California and walking around trying to find a place to eat, we were just so happy to be sat at a table right away. Let me tell you, this place is everything. The service: phenomenal, the vibe: immaculate, the food: every single dish was delicious. I had the Jamaican pork chop and honestly, 10/10 would order again and again. Everyone in our party loved every bit of food. We had the special meatloaf, bbq pork plate, the bird with collard greens (make sure to add the peppered vinegar on the table), and the Dijon crusted lamb chops. Finished the night off with coca-cola cake. I wish we lived closer because I'd come back all the time!

Great place!! Great vibe, brick walls, rock n roll & great memorabilia artwork . Casual place. Bloody Mary's made with homemade house batch, specialty mimosas, different each day. Waitress Noel was great!! Very personable and great service. We had, avocado toast, breakfast scramble and blueberry pancakes and 2 eggs with 2 sides. Watermelon mimosa, everything was delicious. I think I found one of my new favorite hangouts. I look forward to coming back hanging w/friends and locals.

Short distance from the riverwalk, quiet and cozy in the evening around downtown Wilmington. Friendly service and skilled chefs. Some favorites do run out later in the day, we'll have to come back and try again in future! Ordered the Pesto Salmon with Asparagus and a side of mushroom risotto. For desserts, we tried the famous Coca-Cola cake. Delicious and highly recommended!

Came here because the restaurant I originally wanted to visit was closed. We were seated quickly and customer service was great. The food came out quickly, but there wasn't anything particularly amazing about my meal. It satisfied my hunger, just didn't blow my mind. I would probably come again when I'm back in Wilmington, but I'd grab something different.

We just flew in from vacation, it was early enough for brunch. We went downtown to see if we could get a seat for 4. Success! I hadn't eaten at basics yet, it was a twenty min wait. We took a walk to the river to kill time. Luckily it was a beautiful day! The place is bustling, staff was super sweet. Kiddo had PB&J and PB&J yogurt ( interesting). Bread ratio to filling was a bit much for me but he loved it. Hubby had the pork belly bowl with an egg added to the top, I had it omelette style. I felt like the veggies overpowered the meat. I did not really taste the pork, however the veggies were really good. ( love Brussels, just think coped might have been better) My side was fried green tomatoes, never had them before and I loved them. We had blueberry sangria and it was perfect.

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.

It makes sense why you need a reservation for this place on the weekend... the food is amazing. My friend got us a table right when it opened on a Saturday morning. People were already in line before 10 a.m., but it only took us about 5 or so minutes to get a table. They're only letting one party check in at a time so folks aren't standing around due to COVID-19. Our waitress was super friendly and they appear to have a good team in place. Another waitress (possibly manager?) noticed our person was busy and hasn't taken our order so she came over to help us. Despite it being cold I ordered a Bloody Mary and my friend chose coffee with Jameson's. We both enjoyed our drinks. Our food arrived in about 10 or 15 minutes. The menu is pretty extensive and I wanted to try everything. In the end, I went with their omelette special of the day which had a lot in it...sausage, cauliflower, little potatoes, cheese and other things I can't remember because I was like Buddy the Elf with his syrup spaghetti breakfast. Instead of the usual egg omelette, I got the grits bowl instead . Game changer! It comes with one side and I enjoyed the blueberry oatmeal pancake (extra .50...they charge extra for a lot of small items so be aware). You could not taste the blueberry at all so it was basically a normal pancake, but still good. I will definitely be retuning.