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Caviar & Bananas
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Food Coffee & Tea Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
51 George StCharleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-7757
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 9 pm
Sat 8 am - 9 pm
Sun 9 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for Caviar & Bananas
Review Highlights
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"Off the beaten path of King Street, but not too far." In 3 reviews -
"Everything is fresh and made to order." In 3 reviews -
"I definitely give this place five stars." In 3 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Vim I.
2/27/2012
Caviar & Bananas is tucked away on a side street but it's definitely worth scoping out. I came here for a quick breakfast but was pleasantly surprised by the fact that it was also a gourmet market for specialty food items. I could have spent a good hour there just exploring the various foods on display. I could definitely tell that it is a favorite of the college crowd. I must have seen at least 10 students in line for coffee/breakfast.
Back to the breakfast...I had the breakfast sandwich on a croissant...it was very well made. When i get croissant sandwiches at other places, the bun's always greasy or there's usually not enough eggs/meat. But this sandwich struck the perfect balance to make a really hearty start to the day. The Everyday bagel is also delicious! -
Review from Girl B.
San Jose, CA
4/28/2012
3.75 stars
Coffee was adequate. Tea selection was good. Breakfast sandwich was tasty and lamb/mushroom quiche was clever, fluffy, and well-executed
Service was professional and efficient.
Cute shop. Eclectic selection. Although wish the place wasn't so cold for those of use who have our meal "here" instead of "to go." -
Review from Steven H.
Awesome breakfast sandwiches and iced coffee served In a very clean, modern and roomy space next to the College of Charleston. Free wifi and comfortable seating. Great people watching, too. The lunch stuff on display looked really appealing.
My kind of place! -
Review from Jennifer D.
Cupertino, CA
5/21/2012
Come on, where else can you pick up a split of champagne and a duck confit grilled cheese?
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Review from Robert P.
5/5/2012
Website lies. They don't open until 930, an eternity when in need of caffeine.
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Review from cameron w.
Folly Beach, SC
4/14/2012
Whats happening with your customer service? I've been a loyal customer since day one but I've been experiencing horrible, horrible customer service the past month. At the coffee bar, checking out, ordering sandwiches, store as a whole. Congratulations for staying busy and I'm not seeking a 'Welcome to Caviar and Bananas' each time I enter but don't be an asshole.
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Review from Lucas K.
San Diego, CA
2/22/2012
Pros:
* Taste: best lunch I've had in ages, hands down. Everything I put in my mouth was amazing.
* Healthy/Organic--some seriously nutritious selections here.
* Variety--tried three things I'd never had before and each was the perfect combination of ingredients that made me wonder why I'd never heard of or thought of it before.
Cons: Price. I'd make this five stars, but at the price I paid for lunch it's more on the order of a high end restaurant than a deli style cafe. It's worth the price, but at the higher price point, you also expect and demand more, so it's hard to give five stars.
Bottom line: if you'r'e not strapped for cash, it's a must-go. -
Review from Iris N.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
12/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I feel like this should be enough of a review:
It is the best food that I have had in Charleston when taking into account price.
Just amazing. -
Review from Leeanne M.
Charlotte, NC
10/19/2011
Well-curated gourmet deli and food shop
Bright and clean, well-planned interior.
Ample seating. Nice wine selection.
And the deli-case items are as pleasantly creative as delish.
Fava bean paella? YES.
Meatloaf cupcakes?
ALSO, YES.
Pending what you order you could rack up quite a bill here fairly quickly.
But you can also grab a sandwich or some soup and stay within reason.
Everything is fresh and made to order.
We ordered the cheese plate and the vegetable plate - lots of lovely pickled and roasted yummies.
And it served two for lunch with PLENTY of leftovers for snacking later.
On one hand, I want a Caviar and Bananas EVERYWHERE I GO.
On the other, I completely do not want to share the C&B love outside of Charleston.
They seem to go quite well together. -
Review from Sarah I.
Mt Pleasant, SC
2/23/2012
Absolutely love this place. The best thing is you can eat very well and healthily too. Their salads are amazing. Price is high for a lunch delicatessen so not sure if this would qualify for daily fare but well worth the visit for a treat
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Review from Sean M.
Tulsa, OK
11/21/2011
God I wish I had a place like this in Tulsa.
My breakfast sandwich was delicious! So was the coffee.
Lots of random crazy food items throughout. Chocolate covered bacon! Too cool. -
Review from Jessica H.
Jacksonville, FL
2/22/2012
Not that great but if it were gone I'd miss it.
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Review from Louis p.
Charleston, SC
1/29/2012
Suggest they get equal pricing for two locations. .50 for butter when you buy a bagel?? Just charge more for the bagel like everybody else...it set a bad tone.
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Review from Chelsea L.
Stewartsville, NJ
4/18/2012
Good eats! Cafe, deli, gourmet grocery. Loved the different parts of the space: sandwich station, cafe, salad station, grocery. We stopped in for lunch and had shrimp Cesar salad and B.E.L.T sandwich. Amazing! The coffee and gourmet chocolates didn't disappoint either! Stopped in another day for sushi and was surprised how good it was. Great deli, premade items as well. Mixed crowd, super casual, parking may be a challenge, but it's worth circling the block a few times for!
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Review from Linda S.
Kiawah Island, SC
1/14/2012
Just had the worst breakfast ever there. Strata had one piece of sausage, advertised as a main ingredient. Arugula salad on top was a couple of pieces of wilted arugula. Potato and onion hash was cold and greasy. Husband had cheese chive biscuits that were cold and cheese on top was unmelted. Same yucky potatoes. $20 and 20 minute wait.
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Review from Marissa H.
San Francisco, CA
7/19/2011
A bit pricey for Charleston - their prices are more on pair w/ a city like San Francisco or LA.
We stopped in just to take a look. My friend got an herbal tea but they made the wrong flavor. She took/drank it anyway & like it.
I ordered the nonfat chai latte - $3.25 for a small - which was decent. I've had better. Also bought the house-made chocolate chip cookie - $2.50 each - which was very large, had chunks of chocate laced thru, but it was also too dense. The parts without the chocolate tasted like flour & I would have liked to heat it up a bit. Maybe next time.
The sushi looked fresh & all other sandwiches/salads are made to order. It's a great shop for buying specialty gifts or higher end products. Across from 1 of CofC's theaters on George St. (ps...the diner beside this place is bangin' good!) -
Review from Hana M.
Charleston, SC
7/20/2011
Caviar and bananas has good food, and an amazing cheese board (what I always order) and random things to browse while you wait that you'd only buy if you have so much money to piss away (6 dollar 2-pack chocolates) and things you realize cost only 4 cents to make (12.95 for lemongrass herb tea thats just lemongrass).
The frou frou stuff has nothing to do with my rating of 3 stars, but because I like to go for tapioca pearls in my tea and they are always out. Also they always over brew my iced tea (you know when you drink iced tea and it is bitter and makes you thirstier) even after I said I like a light brew and even when I told the guy "you can stop brewing it now!" and he insisted it was a white tea so it needs to brew longer :/ -
Review from Sara N.
Granger, IN
10/29/2011
I hit this place every time I go to Charleston...I love the atmosphere and the variety of lunch items available...
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Review from David G.
5/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lovely, tasty, quaint, and local: some of my favorite qualities of a breakfast/lunchbrunch nook in the heart of the College of Charleston's area near King Street on George.
You won't find a thing on the menu that you won't enjoy and everything is made fresh. So, if you're expecting "fast food", then you are going to be disappointed as everything has to be cooked from scratch - so, you're going to wait on it to be cooked (avg. 10 - 15 minutes). They serve some fun juice drinks that are more typical of a shop in Europe, and they of course have several champagne drinks...
All and all, I think you'll enjoy and you shouldn't pass it up. -
Review from John E.
Seattle, WA
6/6/2011
Are you kidding me????
Caviar and Bananas is awesome. I had the breakfast sandwich with the grits. MMMMMMMmmmmm.
I love the Tom Douglas breakfast sandwich, but C&B's takes the top price.
I'm heading back tomorrow for round 2... -
Review from Thomas W.
Charleston, SC
7/3/2011
Don't get grossed out by the name: it's a little out there like the food.
One of the best things about this cafe/grocery store/sweet shop is the sheer variety, and anyone working there will say you could eat there daily and never repeat your choices.
It's similar to a Dean and Deluca (the owner used to manage one), but as a long-time fan, there's something unmistakably Charlestonian about it. There's a respect for the ingredients that you're consuming, whether it's a jar of pesto to a customized roll of sushi.
The service is quick and may be the fanciest way to have fast food. I enjoy their sushi rolling station (try the Southern roll with candied pecans and tempura shrimp) as well as the sandwich building portion: it's all top-notch ingredients that you (and not some over-ambitious chef) can experiment with. As a cook, I love the variety, and as a student at CofC, I love the location.
Their second location on Market Street has all of the best things about the George Street location minus the prepared foods (ie: pasta salads, twice baked potatoes, stuffed portabellas).
If you want eating to be an adventure, Caviar's unpredictable offerings are a way to go. -
Review from James S.
Macon, GA
10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Iced mocha was really good but get it with a little simple syrup added to sweeten it up since it doesn't use the normal sweet chocolate syrup you are used too! They use real chocolate that's kept in a semi melted state. I returned here twice while visiting and it's located in the market!
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Review from Patrick M.
Boone, NC
4/4/2011 3 Check-ins Here
To be honest, I judged this place by it's name--assuming a boring experience catering to high-end tourists--and steered clear for far too long. How sorely was I mistaken! I ride my bike past here everyday, and regret not trying it sooner.
Although my expectations of pricing were about right (not the cheapest lunch in town), the atmosphere was so much warmer & rewarding than I had anticipated. A modest buzz fills this market/cafe around meal times, and you can find CofC students meeting for work or relaxation just about anytime the doors are open.
Ample seating indoors, a few table outside.
Small but diverse selection of wine & craft beer.
Deli counter for gourmet sandwiches, high-end imported meats & cheeses.
Local sweets from the chocolatier just north on King St.
Various other teas, spices, candies, sauces.
Attentive, friendly staff.
The only place I've found Nutella in downtown, thus far!
With it's amazing location right off King St, in the heart of College of Charleston's beautiful campus, I will surely find myself back at C&B! -
Review from Chris L.
Cary, NC
10/10/2010
I'm couldn't find any reason to not give this place 5 Stars. The only problem is that it's 4 hours away from my house. But if they open up a Cavier and Bananas near me, it's game on. The wife and I were looking for a quick, but good, bite for lunch on our recent weekend in Charleston. After doing some yelpwork, I had it narrowed down to this place. We were not disappointed.
You walk in and they have a bunch of food in cases for you to order - lasagnas, seared ahi, beef tenderloin slices, all types of salads, pre-made and made to order sushi, deli sandwiches, cheeses, and a lot more I can't remember. We split a caprese sandwich and the bumblebee roll - both of them were made to order. The portions were not huge, but reasonable. The freshness and overall quality was top-notch. And the prices were not steals, but given the quality of the product it was a good value. They also had some mighty tempting desserts. We got a mega chocolate chip cookie and it was only $2.50. The thing must have weighed a pound. So good.
There is indoor and outdoor seating. You order at one of the three areas (sushi, deli, everything else) and they call out your name when your food is up. A lot of the stuff is made or reheated by the dudes behind the counters. But they have a lot of people working so it doesn't take long for your food to get prepared.
The also have a big cooler with all different types of beverages - alcoholic and non. One slight complaint (but not enough to deduct even half a star) is that they didn't carry a non-HFCS soda. But they had some good beers by the bottle and I think some wine too. If I lived in Charleston I'd go here all the time. Check out their 30 second video on their website. -
Review from Stacey O.
Anchorage, AK
11/22/2011
The Mac & cheese with bacon is to die for!!
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Review from Jennifer R.
Greensboro, NC
9/26/2010
Excellent! This place is a quick solution to healthy, clean, organic, tasty food. From entrees to desserts to snacks, Caviar and Bananas will surely have something to more than satisfy your taste buds.
I didn't give this five stars due to the higher cost. My lunch, which consisted of a salad with shrimp, raw granola bar, and a bottle of water, came close to $20. However, it was delicious and healthy!
I highly recommend Caviar & Bananas. -
Review from Roger S.
Sunset Beach, NC
3/25/2009
You need to go find this place! Off the beaten path of King Street, but not too far.
A superb place for lunch. Very reasonably priced. Wide selection - I didn't even know what some of the items were, but I ate them anyway like any self respecting male would. (I don't watch the cooking network unless I can't avoid it).
Young crowd near College of Charleston but not a frat party atmosphere by any means. These college kids are well behaved.Listed in: Best Casual Lunches
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Review from Jimmy M.
Boston, MA
7/20/2011
A nice little cafe/grocery store/bakery that has a nice touch of everything. We stopped here for a quick lunch after walking around King Street and were not disappointed.
There's a nice selection so that everybody can find something, and there are plenty of healthy options. We shared a steak sandwich, some sushi, and a salad, and everything was good (though nothing spectacular).
The cafe also has plenty of seating and has a very nice setting. All in all, a pretty decent little place to grab a quick bite to eat. -
Review from Nancy M.
Denver, CO
6/12/2010
Great market that you can take out or eat in for something light and quick. It is right off of King so it's a great place to stop while you are shopping.
The wraps and lobster salad are great! You can order whatever they have and they will make something wonderful out of it.
They have sushi and even little trays of nuts, fruit and cheese which will include some freshly toasted baguettes.
I topped it off with a taste of chocolate cake but there are many wonderful deserts to choose from. -
Review from Ella L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/8/2010 3 photos
Seven minute wait for a Chai Latte but well worth the wait because Caviar and Bananas know what they're doing when it comes to coffee and tea. Our barista Chris McHale (spelling?) is so good he's headed to the Barista southeastern finals and we're expecting he'll nab a blue ribbon for sure! Good luck Chris!!
As for food, their gourmet Items are plentiful and the cheese selection alone will make anyone a happy camper indeed! I definitely give this place five stars!
Get here before 11am so you don't miss breakfast! -
Review from Morgan S.
Charleston, SC
2/27/2010
Loved Caviar & Bananas. There's nothing else like it in Charleston. We went for lunch and had a great experience. Both sandwiches were good, staff was friendly, and the wait wasn't anything to complain about.
Lots of great groumet items to browse and purchase. Would be a great place to buy a thank you or hostess gift as well.
I couldn't leave without getting a chocolate croissant. Their baked goods all look too good to pass up! -
Review from C R.
Charlotte, NC
11/22/2011
really cool place..kind of like a Dean and Delucca but better in my opinion.
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Review from Christina C.
Charlotte, NC
5/7/2011
This place is as good as it gets for me in Charleston. They can solve all your hunger needs and wants for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The selection ranges from sandwiches, salads, sushi, baked goods (like s'mores!) and fresh cooked food that changes with the seasons. The food is organic and fresh and the staff is always helpful and pleasant. There is a great atmosphere and seating available both inside and out. It is a little pricey but you get what you pay for with good and consistent quality food.
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Review from Kristen B.
Charleston, SC
10/23/2011
Although it's a bit pricey, the Duck Confit sandwich is Ahhhh-mazing!
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Review from Mark L.
Charleston, SC
5/23/2010
The vegetable lasagna is heavenly. This may be the most quaint and indulgent restaurant/gourmet shop on King Street. With selections from organic food to wines to coffee and steamers, this is your one stop shop for a quick bite to eat or the supplies for a great picnic. If you are in Charleston, you need to stop in for a taste of something wonderful.
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Review from Haley W.
Charleston, SC
12/9/2009
The Dean & Deluca of Charleston - in fact, rumor has it that the owners used to work/run a Dean & Deluca in New York.
They have a sampler deal on their prepared food - 3 items priced under 12.99/lb at 10.99/lb, but the salads are the way to go. You can pick your bowl of greens (small and large, spinach or romaine or mixed greens), then pick four items, ranging from the basics (cucumber, onions) to the fancy. I got candied pecans, artichoke hearts, feta cheese, edamame and grilled shrimp on a small bowl of spinach for $7.50.
My friends had a to-die-for kobe beef meatloaf and eggplant parmesan, which was also yummy. A table away, someone had the cheese & fruit board which looked amazing - I am definitely going back for that.
I was there on a weekend and it wasn't too crowded - not sure what their weekday lunch crowd is like, but I suspect it's busy. -
Review from suzanne p.
Marysville, WA
8/22/2010
We are from the Seattle area and you know how crazy we are about coffee. We had a wonderful latte, really yummy bagels and egg crossaint. I will definitely go back.
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Review from K T.
Charleston, SC
11/11/2010
Huge selection. Well-crafted food.
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Review from Kevin M.
Atlanta, GA
5/25/2011
Great place for food and coffee especially if your looking for something fast and of good quality. The scottish salmon is my favorite and I also like adding it to one of their salads. Their coffee is great, the tea....everything I've had I would recommend to others.
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Review from Jane B.
Newburyport, MA
3/6/2011
Lovely, clean, tasty, friendly. I was stuck without adequate internet access and spent several full days here using their sevice. They leave you alone and you can work there for hours. They solved a major problem for me. Wonderful salads. Thank you.
