Take a stroll down Church Street in the heart of Stellenbosch and you’ll find yourself automatically gravitating towards the enticing aroma of GOOD coffee. Before you know it you’ll have stopped outside of Basic, an intimate and inviting bistro where you’ll be met by one of their friendly servers.

The first question to ask yourself is inside or outside?

Sitting outside you can watch the world go by as you enjoy a meal or a few drinks with friends. Open, but slightly sheltered, there’s no need to worry if it gets a bit chilly as Basic has an array of fluffy blankets to keep you toasty; making it a perfect spot for day or night.

Filled with an eclectic mix of people, inside lends itself to a more intimate setting. Looking for a place for your book club to meet? Do some work? Or have a study session? You’ll feel right at home here; surrounded by beautiful wine and artwork, with the smell of coffee to keep you going.

The music adds an ambiance of intimacy, loud enough to keep you inspired but soft enough so you can get your work done or have a lively debate with your company without having to raise your voice. Making it the perfect spot for first dates too.

The service definitely deserves a mention. Attentive, knowledgeable and friendly they really go above and beyond to make their customers feel at home. Whether you’re looking for hands on service or just a quiet nook to read a book Basic has it all.

Open from breakfast to dinner, 7 days a week, there is something on the menu for every occasion.

Their drink options range from coffee, tea, juices, shakes, smoothies, beer, gin and wine; with a bubbly by the glass option as well. They’ve kept their wine list simple, stocking classic local wines, but do charge a minimal corkage fee, R45, for those extra special events.

Their food menu ranges from gourmet burgers, bountiful pasta dishes, curries, noodles dishes and melted Italian wraps, not to mention their breakfast options.

Basic focuses on using quality ingredients to prepare all their meals; and you can taste it. That bacon.. we’re still dreaming about it!

My partner ordered the Boksom Bende Burger, winner of Woordfees “Burger War”, while I went for the Dhukka Chicken Pasta; both recommended by Chelsea, our server for the evening.

I have one test when it comes to restaurant food, do I take the leftovers home and eat them the same night. Yes and yes in this case. I just wish I had another glass of the Niel Joubert Blanc de Noir to finish it with! Both mains were good value, honest food with a slight twist. I will definitely be attempting to recreate my pasta dish at home.

What is food without dessert? A tragedy! Both my partner and I being huge cheesecake fans just had to order one to end the evening with. That and another cup of coffee. The baked cheesecake with blueberries & lemon ganache was the perfect way to end the evening; light, fluffy and not too sweet.

All in all it was a very pleasant experience and we would definitely recommend Basic Bistro to all our friends living in Stellenbosch”.

Words and images by Abigail Kathryn Finney