Basic Kitchen, celebrated for its produce-driven dishes and vibrant atmosphere, is entering a new chapter with longtime employees taking the lead.
Eva Suarez and Executive Chef Charlie Layton are assuming roles as operating partners, taking on partial ownership and overseeing the restaurant’s daily operations, according to a press release.
This transition occurs as founders Ben and Kate Towill prepare to return to England, where Ben was born and launched his culinary career, The Post and Courier reported.
“I am so excited to see my great friends, Eva and Charlie, become partners in Basic Kitchen, as they have been so instrumental in its success, and I look forward to seeing Basic Kitchen’s next chapter under their leadership,” Ben Towill said in a statement.
Both Suarez and Layton have already been key to Basic Kitchen’s success. Suarez, who helped open the restaurant in 2017, brings extensive experience in hospitality operations, business and community engagement. Layton, also from England, creates seasonal dishes showcasing fresh produce, whole grains and globally inspired flavors, all with his own playful flair.
Menu highlights include the Fattoush salad with romaine, cucumber, pickled red onion, pomegranate, feta, za’atar, croutons and roasted garlic tahini; the Shawarma bowl with marinated chicken, caraway cabbage, pumpkin seed tabbouleh, pickled onion, hummus, zhug and pita; and the Naughty Burger with Hunter Cattle grass-fed beef, double smash patty, aged white cheddar, griddled onions, dijonnaise, bread-and-butter pickles and sweet potato fries.
The two plan to introduce new experiences emphasizing the restaurant’s creativity and its ties to Charleston’s food scene. They also plan to participate in The January Reset and Cookbook Dinners.
“Basic Kitchen has always been about creating honest food that makes people feel good,” Suarez said in a statement. “Charlie and I are excited to carry this mission forward into the next chapter and feel very lucky to be doing so with such a passionate team, both front and back of house.”
Basic Kitchen is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. For updates, visit the restaurant’s website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.
