Review Basic Bistro - Stellenbosch

Took my wife here for a date night. Nice spot. Ideal for a more intimate setting. They weren’t too busy and the music isn’t too loud so you can actually have conversations without raising your voice. The service was good and the food excellent. Very tasty and well prepared. I had the Boksombende burger and my wife the Thai green curry. They’re slap Chips are amazing and the burger was very good although overpriced in my opinion. My wife really enjoyed her curry. It was flavourful and not too strong. We’ll be back.

Food was very tasty and well prepared. Warm Cajun chicken salad was just the right amount of spice level. Steak was prepared as ordered. The wafer chips could have been a bit more crispy though. The wraps can be shared, but if you hungry I suggest you don't share. Service was very good.

Cute little bistro. The menu has good vegan and vegetarian options. We enjoyed avocado and mushroom toast. The staff was a friendly blond lady (I don't know her name sorry), very attentive and welcoming. I'd recommend this place, located in the centre of Stellenbosch.

Provided you can get a table this place serves a great meal. Beautiful setting with a view on a typical Stellenbosch street. A real treat. We did however failed to get service on the second visit (for a coffee) even though there were open tables as the waiters was frantically busy preparing for a large group later. Ended up leaving to avoid a patron offering his table!

Visited for a hearty lunch with a group of 7. One of the group had visited many times previously and recommended the Dukkah pasta. Everyone was happy with their meals, but our request for additional side seasoning never arrived so we had to do without.

Asian Thai and vegan/vegetarian options available 🌟🌟🌟 The food is really delicious, the staff is friendly and ready to satisfy your demands. Big variety of choice like steaks, burgers, pasta, noodles, curry, wraps and salads 🥗 The portions are very generous and the only negative thing about the Basic bistro is that they’re fully booked most of the time and you need to book in advance to try their scrumptious food 🥘

Such a vibe! They serve tasty meals (especially their signature potato crisps with balsamic glaze). My wrap was massive - it can easily be shared between 2 people. My husband had delicious cajun chicken pasta with a lovely creamy sauce. We ended it off by sharing a massive piece of chocolate cake, drenched in chocolate sauce and served with ice cream. The service was very good, and the owner himself came around to chat to us.

Thank you for a delicious meal. Homely and very welcoming. Efficient and friendly service. Will definitely visit again on our next visit. Great breakfast special

I went there this weekend. The place has seating inside and outside. The menu has quite a bit of variety. I’m not sure if I chose the wrong things on the menu but I was not extremely impressed. It was more basic. I was impressed though they did have an vegan menu and would change things up if you are vegetarian which was a bonus. We order the veggie burger with waffle chip. The veggie burger was suppose to be on a brioche, debatable if it was. It said waffle chips but was just regular round slices of chip but at least it tasted good. It had a nice sauce with a bit of kick which was so nice. I ordered a pasta but it was between okay and good but not amazing. The sauce was nice, pasta Al denta as it should be. Would I order it again maybe not. The fresh blueberry milkshake was amazing and the peach ice tea. I would try it again, because I did get many recommendations to go but maybe I just ordered the wrong things and had different expectations. Mixed reviews but I won’t write them off.

While imperfect, this cozy gem in the heart of Stellenbosch, is unique in the warmth of its human connection. You are almost guaranteed to recieve a friendly and sincere greeting and check in from the owner, who makes sure to keep the customer at the center of his team's attention. I was recently served by an absolutely lovely waitress, Lisa, who deserves to be mentioned by name. Their coffee is really good and though it doesn't come in the most exciting teaware - the basic white cup my warm flatwhite arrived in suited their down to earth energy well. I had a truly delicious chicken salad with tender and flavorsome strips of chicken complimented by fresh greens, warm vegetables, crunchy cashew nuts and soft feta with a balsamic glaze. I highly recommend you try this local classic, that has been tried and tested over years. Enjoy this warm and intimate atmosphere, with a craft beer, good wine or a coffee. Inside it feels like the warm and jazzy living room of a music loving friend and outside it feels like a European street scene. A must try for a authentic taste of Stellenbosch.

Had the pancetta pasta and it was amazing! Such a treat on a rainy day and definitely get your monies worth. Would definitely recommend!

This was my first time at Basic Bistro and I will definitely be going there again as well as recommending it to friends. <br/>It was quite busy as I think everyone else had the same idea of a Sunday brunch. But despite that we sat outside where they had heaters so we didn’t get cold and the service was quick. With the exception of getting the bill which took quite a long time. <br/>I ordered the “For the Love of Avo”, the avo was fresh and the egg was perfectly poached. It could also easily be turned into a #vegan dish by having it without the egg. The food is simple yet delicious. <br/>We didn’t go inside so I can’t comment on the decor, but the outside is nice and subtly decorated.

i had a really great burger here and the atmosphere was great! The staff are super friendly too. Just wish the inside setting wasn’t as cramped up as it is.

I read about it as a "hidden CPT Gem"_ And yes, it's easy to overlook it because of its vintage look and feel. At the same time, that's what makes it special!!!! <br/><br/>When you're in there, the aura is of "a good old time"_<br/><br/>The FOOOOD!!!!! NOTHING SHORT OF DELICIOUS! It bursts with flavour and love mh! I could almost swear they cook from grandma's old recipe books, with the perfect hit! <br/><br/>One of the few places that do not use paperstraws, and not non-biodegradeable either, but made their straws from PASTA!!!!! OOOOOH!!!! I was impressed! 👌🏾🙌🏾<br/><br/>Wow!!!!! Loved it, and would recommend it to EVERYONE! <br/>Just remember to make a reservation, it can get really packed 😅

I had an order for breakfast that was not straight from the menu. It was executed without hassle and with perfection. Very switched on waitress. Thumbs up.

We stopped here on our way home from Paarl. It was a great vibe and the outdoor seating was pretty cool<br/><br/>The food took quite a while to arrive but it was worth the wait!

By far the best burger I’ve had in a long time. Great ambience and great service. Variety of good wines as well. Definitely worth a visit 👍🏻😁

Lovely little date night spot in the heart of beautiful Stellenbosch. Definitely recommended their wine cocktails - so fruity and refreshing. I ordered the Greek burger which was really good, but the favorite of the evening was the seafood pasta. It was so creamy and more-ish.

I had a friend visiting from Namibia and on a cold, windy day in Stellenbosch, we decided to head here for breakfast. Upon entry, the single waitress present ignored us and continued making chit-chat with already seated customers. So we seated ourselves and waited...and waited....and waited until she was finished with her conversation. She then came over and gave us one drinks menu to share between the two of us...did they really have so few menus?! After placing our orders, the food took a seriously long time to come. So all in all, a very long wait to eat. The food however was delicious - I had the “for the love of avo” and my friend the joan of arc croissant. The portions are small, really makes me question the price, BUT the food was delicious. I also had the latte rouge which arrived at the perfect drinking temperature and tasted great. These are the few redeeming factors hence the score of 3.

Found the little gem on the Zomato app. It's really worth it with well priced items. I had the wrap which tasted like a pizza rolled with the freshest ingredients. They will definitely see me again.

Wonderful little restaurant with amazing food. Portion sizes are great and the food itself is super tasty and fresh. The staff were friendly but a bit slow. Overall a real gem.

My absolute favorite breakfast and meeting spot with friends! Food and coffee is always perfectly delicious and the service is always friendly!

Basic Bistro is not Halaal so I cannot comment on the food, however they make quite a good Cheesecake and Ice Coffee. I would definitely go there again for a dessert.

Tequilla chicken pasta is a must! Friendly staff who can recommend their favourite dishes. Decor is unique and the atmosphere is vibrant. A very popular place and reservations are a must.

Many interesting and diverse breakfast options. Nice unpretentious feel to restaurant. Great coffee, generous portion sizes. Loved my omelette and bacon royal was good too.

Had the "lazy Roberto wrap" and it was certainly delicious - and well paired with the fresh orange juice! Menu is simple and everything still looks so good (makes the simple menu quick and easy to scan through!)<br/>Just had to take off 0.5 due to the heat of the day (the air con didn't do much justice inside). However, it wasn't a real bother and I still thoroughly enjoyed the lunch. <br/>Would definitely recommend and will be back ASAP!

Very average to disappointing food. Wilted salad, over cooked burger, soggy crisps. Menu is all over the place. The outside seating is what drew us in, but everything else was subpar.

Burgers. The patio. Wine selection. Great ambience!<br/>Recommend for date nights or a get together with family and friends. A bit cramped when full, but the food is worth this slight inconvenience.

We had a delicious brunch this morning.<br/><br/>It's always such a pleasure to eat at Basic Bistro. The photos do the food justice - everything we had was warm, perfectly seasoned and tasty. Service was lovely as usual and ambiance has improved since they lifted the roof on the patio! Still quite cramped, but I would argue that the lack of space is what gives Basic its Italian street charm. <br/><br/>The iced coffees are so refreshing and milky, and my friend had the pomegranate tea which had us all constantly sniffing the teapot 😂<br/><br/>Side note: all the poached eggs were perfect! (Something that seems very underrated nowadays).<br/><br/>Pictures are of the creamy mushroom toast, low carb breakfast with tomato and avo, rustic ciabatta with caramelized onion, feta and mustard mayo with an extra poached egg and the salmon and crushed avo toast. All delicious.

Nice little place with good food and antique decor. Had a good time with friends here. Pricing was reasonable as well. Just a small place, however, and can get a bit cramped. Overall a nice visit, though.

Beautiful little restaurant in the heart of Stellenbosch in Church street.<br/><br/>Lovely breakfast and pretty well-priced. I thought the service was excellent. Ask for David - he really does a good job.

I used to love this place. I was so disappointed today - partly because i'm now a vegetarian and they have exactly one vegetarian meal on their lunch menu. Their menu has been severely condensed and everything fresh and veg-based has been left off. I finally ordered a caprese salad off their dinner menu, which hardly had any mozzarella and was completely overpriced.<br/>The wine list and service is still good.

Food came really quickly, was good quality and tasty. Waitress was friendly and attentive. Restaurant has limited seating space so I felt like other people could hear my conversations and they could hear mine.

Very good ambiance, very good good. <br/>Difficult choice is deciding which meal to have, because they all sound good and are affordable. <br/>The bacon royal is the healthy option but oh does it taste good and the French mustache is a much have when you feel like a French toast and a block of cheese on the side. It just hits the spot. <br/>Only critic of the place is that the service is sometimes slow but that's due to the high demand of attention and not enough staff

Stepped into the restaurant and loved all the wine display & ambience. The food here is lovely and well priced, also had very attentive waitresses. <br/>It was my first time and definitely not my last.

Favorite restaurant in Stellenbosch. Great atmosphere, good service, delicious food! I'm a sucker for the pancetta pasta. Make sure you book in advance. 🎉

I often eat at Basic Bistro, the staff are friendly, professional, and obviously enjoy working there. The food is delicious and the portion sizes are generous. It has a great atmosphere to it, and so far they're the only restaurant that has made me a pot of loose leaf green tea without burning the leaves.

My go to restaurant be it for a quick bite or to unwind. The Basil chicken pasta is my favorite, wonderful vibe and the Service is always good.

Been here a few times for breakfast and I've never been disappointed. The menu has a big variety to choose from and everything I have ordered from French toast to the bacon royale has been great. Will keep on coming back.

Quick Lunch in Stellenbosch<br/>Friendly service, yummy food and great atmosphere. <br/>On a chilly, winters day, the Italian Melts went down great. Paired with the perfect mug of cappuccino - perfection.<br/>Potato lovers - opt for one of the meals served with chips - you won't be disappointed.

I was really looking forward to eating at basic bistro I've only heard great things about this place! But my experience was very disappointing!!! It took the waitress who was VERY rude with us the whole night 5 min to come and take our drink orders!? Then we ordered our food I got the calamari salad and my friends got the pure beef burger, that took about 1hr just to make my salad and serve our burgers the waiter could tell we were getting annoyed and kept apologizing for the late food.Finally when our food arrived I was seriously disappointed! A huge pile of green leaves lots of feta, butternut and 5 slices of calamari!!! The burgers were alright with soggy chips. We decided to give the restaurant one last chance to redeem itself !We tried out their desserts all my friends desserts arrived but mine took 10min to arrive! That made me very annoyed and what topped it off was how rude the waitress was! I had to move a side for her to pass where she is the one meant to be moving aside for the customers! <br/>I'm very disappointed and angry 😡 NEVER going back or recommending this to any of my friends and family that come!!!<br/>To summarize- extremely bad service, average food and okay decor and vibe.

We wanted to try something new in stellenbosch, and found ourselves here. Lovely little restaurant very comfortable, the food was delicious! Had the pure beef burger, with the most amazing chips and balsamic vinegar and Malva pudding..to die for! Although took a very long wait and waitress was not the friendliest. Overall had a wonderful evening with friends and enjoyed the food! Will be back.

This spot was an old favourite when I lived in Stellenbosch. Their menu is small enough to promise fresh produce but varied enough to satisfy someone in search of a healthy meal or some good old comfort food. A personal favourite is their Dukkah Chicken Pasta cooked in a creamy blue cheese sauce.

I recently started Banting and my biggest fear is always eating out because of my dietary requirements but Basic Bistro caters to all sorts of diets and the food is very filling. I will defos be coming back here soon.

Best atmosphere. Best breakfast, lunch, dinner or even just cake and coffee. My favourite place in Stellenbosch. Highly recommend it to anyone.

Tiny restaurant that I keep wanting to try but it's always full so we got lucky this time! I had a beautiful salad and they kindly replaced the cheese with avocado for a non dairy option 🍂 the chips with the burger were so good, like just like crisps, with a light drizzle of sweet balsamic glaze!

Good food. Small establishment, Jazz and bottles of wine at every available corner on the walls. I have never been to a place and saw the manager and staff enjoy the food they made themselves, this only makes me feel reasured about their quality (we all have heard rumours about how some of the food in restuarants is prepared). They have a long list of options on the menu, I had the Mario brother wrap.It was amazing and came with these thinly slices crispy chips. Their drinks menu was also excellent, there stock all the famous wines drom in and around Stellenbosch. If Ididnt have plans lined up, I would come here everyday.

Love this place. The burgers and pastas are fantastic and are good value. I've had the tequila pasta and the Boksombende Burger and can highly recommend both!<br/><br/>The location and atmosphere is also great. Dining outside is perfect on a hot Stellenbosch evening while inside is nice and cozy during winter.<br/><br/>Also great for dates!

After taking a quick flight at a local winery we decided to stick around for lunch. We called Basic Bistro to see if they would indulge, and they certainly would, but only at the very end of lunch service. We arrived 30 minutes before our booking time, and there were 5 tables open. The waiter rushed us into ordering lunch, and then we waited very, very long for our mains. The Luigi Wrap and Santorini Burger. The wrap was average, nothing wrong. The burger was terrible- chicken way over cooked. I have never had a more stale price of bread than the top burger bun. I suspect they burnt it to hide the staleness. We did however quite enjoy the crisps with sweet balsamic glaze.<br/>Overall, ticked off the list, and may not be back. Pity, as this is an incredible location in the cultural heart of Stellies. <br/>A real bad taste was left at the end of the meal when the lunch kitchen staff were leaving and our waiter was empowered to check all the kitchen staff's bags prior to leaving, on the restaurant floor.

Quaint little bistro with hearty good food. Portion sizes are great to share for women like me.. The seafood pasta was delicious but had a slight spicy tang. The curry looked great and everyone at my table loved it. Wine flowed and so did great conversation, making for a well spent evening. Waiters were attentive and had good knowledge of the food and the best options.

Great meal had by all except my wife which leads to unhappy wife unhappy life. She had the Thai curry which was awful. I had the burger which was good, the Malay curry was very tasty and the seafood pasta looked good. Service was great. Wine was priced well. Nice place.

After two visits I'm becoming a huge fan! It's one of my favourite restaurants in Stellenbosch. The waiters are friendly and attentive and the atmosphere is really great. It's cozy and comfortable. The burgers are good and generous in size. Ive also had seafood dish and it was superb. It's definite must for all those who like good, tasty food.

I love this place. Your food has always been tasty and plentiful, and well presented. The atmosphere is welcoming, but seclusive, which makes for an enjoyable date or dinner party

Always pumping! It has a homely, feel-good faire in the heart of Stellenbosch. The side dish of hand-cut home-made crisps topped my meal of a delicious, bun-less chicken burger. The waiters are extremely friendly. I'd happily return!

Really a great place in the buzzing church street. The burgers are amazing and full of flavours. The chips is a gold, I have never tasted such amazing chips any where else. Then lastly their italian mince pasta and seafood pasta is amazing and good on a cold day.

So disappointing. Lovely cozy little restaurant but our whole tables food was terrible. Very bland and no flavor, from the burgers to the curry.

Funky and cozy ambience with simple food made with extra flair. I tried the Bruce Lee Burger which was spicy and truly interesting. Service was quick and warm. Will be back. <br/><br/>14 April 2017: We've been back. Experienced four different meals. Every single one was awesome. Eat here.

Great cosy location with so much potential, I have only heard great things but both my experiences were disappointing. Very slow, inattentive service and overcooked mushy pasta the one evening...perhaps will be better on the third try?

Basic Bistro is a gem. Warm and cosy for a early morning breakfast. Food is definitely made with love and the service is good. They also have great coffee.<br/><br/>We visit them every time we are in Stellenbosch and they never disappoint

The home made ice teas and coffee are fantastic and the butternut soup is a firm regular favorite. <br/>We eat here often and are always satisfied

We had a wonderful lunch on Sunday. We ordered from the lunch menu. The wrap was filled to the max, burgers were done to perfection with lot of sauce and the Pesto Pasta was the best I've ever tasted. I didn't see a kiddies menu (we weren't offered one) but if your children are older the burgers are a great option. The homemade ice tea is lovely and so are the milkshakes. We sat outside and experienced the Stellenbosch atmosphere. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. We were lucky to get a table as a walk in so I would recommend booking.

It was a gold night outside so we chose tons it inside an the nice cosy interior. The restaurant us really small but very cosy with red and orange walls. You can also sit outside which I think would've fantastic in summer as you can sit right on the pavement and enjoy people watching.<br/><br/>We ordered the Cape Malay chicken curry which turned out to be totally Devine, just unbelievable, probably the best I've ever had. It was so full of flavour,<br/><br/>We also had the Le fillet supreme / chicken fillets with Camembert and green peppercorn sauce and the Johnny Coltrane burger. All great and generous portions.

A quaint little place in Stellenbosch, with some really good breakfasts and some homely feel. We enjoy going here when breaking away from some of the more mainstream places, as it is quiet and their service is great. Nice place to relax, enjoy it.

We had such a lovely lunch here on Friday. It was a miserable day in Stellies and even though inside looked super cosy, we opted to sit outside as there were outside heaters, it was under cover and they provided blankets. We were perfectly warm. The food was delicious, I had the creamy seafood pasta which was perfectly cooked, but I would have liked to be warned beforehand that it was going to be a bit spicy, it doesn't state that on the menu. That being said, it was still really yummy and I would definitely recommend it! We had great service and I commend the waiter for popping outside so often, despite the cold, to make sure we had everything we needed!

Basic Bistro is the cutest bistro I have come across in Stellenbosch and it's nice to sit outside by the road. The food here is awesome!..I have never had such delicious french toasts before..The French Moustache with bacon, cheddar and generous amount of golden syrup was heavenly. I must mention that the coffee here is great too..Had their Macchiato which was made to perfection!..

Very cosy little restaurant with a great atmosphere, service and tasty food with a delicious combination of flavours. Will definitely visit again.

Although Basic Bistro has a well-established reputation as one of the top dining spots in Stellenbosch, my expectations were still exceeded by far when I tried it for myself recently. The ambiance is lovely; although it is quirky, vibrant, and buzzing with activity, it manages to not feel overcrowded or claustrophobic. Whilst perusing the menu, I noted that it was diverse, yet offered contemporary classics--nothing particularly unusual. However, when the meals arrived, I was amazed at how incredibly something as simple as a toasted sandwich or wrap could be presented. The portions were enormous, bursting with fresh and unique flavours, and artfully presented. I've never experienced anything quite like it before. Although I had bargained on a light lunch, I left feeling more than satisfied, and with some leftovers to finish for dinner. I understand why they have managed to stand out from their competitors in the dorp, and now consider myself a loyal customer.

Lovely little place and a great atmosphere but we had a late lunch yesterday and the food and service was really not great, we waited a while for our food. I had the chicken burger that was a plain chicken breat with a LOTS of sauce and my chips was over power with a heavy hand of mix Italian spice all i could taste was spices. My husband had a sandwich and it was very dry..... luckily his chips had less spices on.

Lovely cozy atmosphere and a very unique menu that makes it hard to choose! The place tends to be surprisingly busy, so make sure you arrive early or call to hear if they have tables. Great for wine and catching up over a light meal.

We had a pleasant experience here. We shared the cape Malay chicken and the Oceans Leaven. It was flavorful and the portion sizes are just right. The Oceans Leaven is a definite winner though. A spicy bite at the end and so creamy. I did not enjoy the wine they recommended, but it did not detract from the food. It's a busy little place and it's nice to sit outside at the roadside.

Went for lunch yesterday and I never have a bad thing to say about this place. Tasted the tequila chicken pasta which is divine and the wafer chips are such a great accompaniment to their dishes. Such a lovely bistro for an everyday meal.

Decided to try this place for breakfast this morning and was not disappointed .Yummy food and great service. Great breakfast menu with lots of options and reasonably priced. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Awesome little place with character and delicious food. Friendly service. Thai Veg curry was amazing and all the pastas looked awesome. Good solid option.

Great cappuccino at the Basic Bistro earlier today. The service was fast and friendly. The price of the coffee here is on par with other cafés in Stellenbosch

This remains one of my favourite restaurants in Stellenbosch. It’s a quaint little European style café, tucked away in picturesque Church Street, and if you haven’t been there yet, I urge you to go. <br/><br/>I went there a few years ago for dinner and it was great. The food was delicious, the ambience and atmosphere was soft, relaxed, and the service was good.<br/><br/>Recently we went for breakfast and the food was once again delicious, the ambience wasn’t quite as fitting for a morning meal, and the service was ok.<br/><br/>We were quite a big group (8 people) so understandably, that makes things a little trickier. My one friend was skipped out on the round of drinks and had to ask for it long after we’ve received ours. Two of my other friends’ drinks were also a little problematic, as they ordered iced coffee, only to find out that the ingredients in the coffee (milo and sugar) weren’t listed on the menu. But, the waiter quickly replaced the drinks without a hassle and then everything was fine.<br/><br/>We did wait quite a while for our food, but in the end, it was delicious. I had two lattes and The Salmon Royale with extra tomatoes and I was thoroughly impressed. The prices are on par with the quality and the breakfast as well as the coffee was incredible. <br/><br/>Although the breakfast was delicious, Basic Bistro really comes into its own at dinner time, and that’s when I’ll be back once again.

We had the Cape Malay chicken curry and the prawn pasta. After reading the reviews, we really wanted to try the food. Unfortunately, the entire experience was very disappointing. We expected the Cape Malay curry to be sweet, but not the prawn pasta. The prawns were way undercooked- less then al dente. I asked for the prawns to be cooked more and it came back exactly the same. We left feeling disappointed with the lack of flavor in both dishes as well as hungry.

Loved so much I came twice in one day. Went to Basic Bistro this Sunday morning for brunch with my friends. It was busy but the friendly staff went out of their way to build us a table outside. The service was so lovely. <br/>I had the Salmon Royal. They did not have avocado as it is no longer seasonal but they happily substituted it with mushrooms. My egg was perfectly done. <br/>My one friend had the French Mustache which she loved, it was fresh and tasteful. <br/>My other friend had the Belgian Waffles and he says it is the only place in South Africa to go too for Belgian Waffles. So all in all a wonderful breakfast. I had such a good brunch I went back for a late lunch. I had the seafood rice called the Ocean Leaven that was so amazing. A lovely bistro I will always come back to!

The service is on an extreme go slow but this place makes really great food :) Make sure that you go hungry because the portion sizes are made for the hungry! :) If you are around go pop in and see what they have to offer.

The food is definitely worth the fact that you mostly need a reservation . You can order a glass of wine no need for a whole bottle. Service is great.

Awesome melted Italian wraps:) and super friendly service. <br/><br/><br/>That is all:)

Lovely little spot in the heart of Stellenbosch! Their Basic Blanc cocktails are delicious, as is the pesto pasta. The portions are hearty, and filling. Definitely recommend!

Went here for breakfast and their omelette was really amazing. Definitely a place to go if you looking for a sit down brekkie in Stellenbosch.

Basic Bistro never disappoints and you can be sure to receive great service and a delicious meal!<br/><br/>The servings are generous and the range of the menu will suit any foodie requests. Popular choices are the burgers and my personal favourite, tequila chicken!<br/><br/>Be sure to book a table because this may be the most popular restaurant in stellies!

Lovely little spot on a great location, the food is great and the vibe is cool. Definitely going back for the pasta and to try out the salad it looked quite delicious.

A great find in the centre of Stellenbosch - a good contender for one of the best burgers in Cape Town. We were a table of 8 and were luckily enougb to have our booking accommodated at short notice. It is a cozy restaurant that offers indoor and outdoor seating which comes complete with blankets for the cooler spring evening air. We were served by Jonathan who was just brilliant. Be sure to book as it fills up quickly for dinner.

Had a lovely breakfast for 2 at this quaint spot - we sat outside on the front covered porch. They have a wide selection of breakfasts! The French toast is quite sweet, according to Grant so make sure you have a sweet tooth for that one! I had the Full Breakfast (minus the bacon) and it was very tasty ( the boerewors is some of the tastiest I have tried). Would love to go back and try their lunch menu too!

One of the best spots in Stellenbosch. The food and service is always good. Great burgers and pastas. To avoid the crowds go for a later lunch, as when it's fully it gets fairly noisy.

I have always enjoyed Basic Bistro, as the vibe is local and casual, with above average music. If you like hearty, full of flavour meals, this is the place for you. If you are watching your weight, the rich (yet delicious) dishes might be a slight problem. <br/><br/>I have hardly ever been disappointed with a meal here. Personally I think they make the best italian mince in town, especially when paired with a fresh croissant (the Napoleon) or if you are feeling slightly braver- have it on a waffle. The wraps and burgers are juicier than juicy, and they have even managed to make a normal cajun salad something to look forward to. Conveniently located in Church street, this is the perfect place for an intimate dinner over a glass of red wine.

One of our 2 family favourite restaurants in Stellenbosch. Tasty food and good value. Homely atmosphere. Unpretentious. One of the best coffees in town. <br/>

Was date night on Friday past and wanted to try something new - ended up making reservations at Basic Bistro in Church Street Stellenbosch - we had been recommended by close friends who frequently go and the place did not disappoint - cosy, warm, friendly staff - from the supervisor on duty right through to the kitchen staff - the food was presented well, served warm and with a smile and tasted good.<br/>The servings are huge and the prices very reasonable.<br/>I will definately be returning and have already spread the word to family to try it out.<br/>Thank you Basic Bistro for a lovely evening - SEE YOU SOON...

I love going to Basic Bistro. The breakfast options are great and the coffee some of the best you will find anywhere in Stellenbosch. Some of the staff members are like friends to me and are always courteous and friendly. For a homely vibe with great background music and superb, well-priced food, Basic is the place to go to. Be sure to try their delicious burgers for lunch and my favourite, the dukkah chicken pasta, for dinner. In fact, just go for all three meals of the day and enjoy some proper local food and hospitality!

After deciding where to go for a scrumptious brekkie and looking at the rating and all the reviews, we decided the basic bistro. Unfortunately we were very disappointed with the not so friendly service and the waitress brought us the wrong toast so it took a while to bring the correct toast and by that time the food was cold. Food was very average, other than that it was an ok place to go.

Great impromptu dinner. Very pleasantly surprised. The steak and chips were very good, but the oceans leaven was the definite winner of the evening.

Wow I really love this place. If I'm looking for something healthy and very reasonable this is the place to go! I love the cuteness of this small restaurant and the vibe is amazing, you just feel so welcome. The waiters are all very experienced and very friendly and helpful. Food is served quickly and super scrumptious. I will keep on going there regularly and would recommend anyone to go too. Bookings are essential - Stellies is always booked out!

Not once have I had a slight let-down here. Very consistent food, service and what an atmosphere! Truly one of the leaders in Stellenbosch area!

Can't think of a better breakfast/brunch joint than this right here! Bananas and french toast and bacon - come on!!! Best ever. It's small and cozy, and have had a consistently lovely experience each and every time.

Nice sidewalk cafe. Coffee chocolate milkshake very good. Not too sweet and good balance between coffee and chocolate. Scrumptiously light malva pud with caramalised apple and homemade vanilla ice cream.

This time of year Stellenbosch is nice and quiet. Glass of bubbly and gooye chocolate brownie cake perfect for a lazy afternoon. Good service. The potato chips sprinkled with rosemary and balsamic are very moreish.

Flipping amazing mushroom burger. I think this place is definitely in contention for the best burger in Stellenbosch. There is indoor and outdoor seating and the bistro is advantageously located on beautiful Church Street.

Brilliant cappuccino and free wifi all wrapped up in the cosiest of settings. What's not to like? Great little find on a cold and rainy winter's morning.

Another great Stellenbosch dining place that you HAVE to make a reservation for, unless you are prepared to sit at a teeny tiny table way out on the sidewalk.. Basic Bistro's good food is proven by their popularity. The menu is quite varied and the pasta dishes are especially tasty - my brother's favorite in fact, and we have learned the hard way that you had better make a reservation to enjoy a meal there!