Me, my friend and my brother all went here on our last morning in Charleston and it was amazing. If you're visiting town and want some breakfast I highly recommend it.
(5)
Marc M.
This restaurant is OK - it gets solid marks for good service (Thanks Casey!) and food. I had the Filet Mignon sandwich (labelled as The Best Sandwich in Charleston on the menu). The sandwich was served on caibatta bread with a good amount of melted gruyere cheese. I doubt it was filet mignon, but it was tasty. My wife had crab cake sandwich and daughter had a grilled cheese. They don't have a soda fountain - your choices are water or iced tea. Overall minus stars for ambiance - there really is none. This was a quick, easy meal. The place was filled with locals. I'd go back if in the area, but it is not a destination for me to must-visit again.
(3)
E S.
3 stars because the service was good, the facility was okay, but the food wasn't very good. My review doesn't really match what the others are saying, but we aren't feeling so good after having breakfast. I've never complained about a breakfast before but here's how we feel: Food was comparable to a frozen microwave breakfast. The potatoes/sausage were burned and tasted microwaved, bacon was rare, the pancakes and grits were tasteless (and odd tasting) and the biscuit was very dry. Still a nice little spot. Maybe the cook was off today?
(3)
Shayla J.
My Husband and I want to try a different restaurant. He was like, this Charleston it has to be more choices than Alex's Restaurant. Which brought us to this fine establishment. This restaurant is exactly what we wanted. Good home feel, with "Southern Hospitality". The food had fresh ingredients. He ordered Mignon Omelette, and I ordered ham omelette. Their both were delicious. And seriously the BEST GREEN TOMATOES, EVEN BETTER THAN CHARLESTON 'S CAFE!!! So, my friends when you have a moment... Stop by Sunflowers. We SURE Glad We Did ;-)
(5)
Cara J.
We had the sweet potato pancakes, breakfast club special (eggs, bacon, potatoes and biscuit), and corn and crab chowder. The sweet potato pancakes were delicious and definitely worth ordering again! The soup was alright, but it didn't taste very flavorful to me. My husband also ordered coffee, which smelled burnt to me.. I'm guessing this was just a fluke though. He was also the one who ordered the special, which he liked, and I thought the biscuit was really good (better than Early Bird's for sure). We will probably come back and had a pretty good meal overall, somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. All the sunflower decor is really cute, too!
(4)
Christy M.
This time I went with a friend, and we split meals. I got the fried green tomato and crab cakes Benedict, she got the shrimp, bacon and Brie omelet. The Omelette was mediocre, I didn't really taste the Brie and shrimp that are not deveined gross me out a bit. So, if shrimp with the poop vein bothers you also, I'd stay away from that, if not, go for it. The bacon in the omelette was smokey and good. The grits are ok, nothing amazing.
(3)
Amy Lauren S.
I've been to Sunflower Cafe a few times and am surprised I hadn't reviewed it before! It is definitely a hidden gem of the West Ashley area, with a big local following but a great place for anyone traveling through to visit. There's plenty of parking and the decor kind of reminds you of eating at grandma's house. It's not fancy, but the food is delicious and service is great. Our server kept our drinks full and made sure we were taken care of, and our food came out quickly. I have never had to wait longer than 10 minutes or so when I've come here, and you can wait indoors. I had some friends in town for the Cooper River Bridge Run, and we wanted to go out for brunch on Sunday. With the influx of Bridge Run visitors, most of the usual brunch recommendations were packed, so I suggested Sunflower Cafe. They loved it- one friend had pancakes and the other had one of the benedicts. The portions are huge and we had leftovers. We've also taken my in-laws here and they loved the sweet potato pancakes. Warning, the pancakes take up the whole plate- so make sure you're hungry or prepare to split a few dishes between everyone to try it all. They post some mouthwatering daily specials on Facebook, so follow them there. The only drawback of Sunflower Cafe is that on Sunday, it is breakfast menu only, even though they are open until 2 PM. On other days, they service breakfast up until 2 PM but add lunch foods.
(4)
Rebecca Q.
This place has great food and a very friendly environment. Will definitely come back..
(5)
Margaret J.
Great place for brunch! Our server was fantastic and had a lot of good suggestions. Her name was Kirsty I think. I got the crab and fried green tomato Benedict which came with potatoes. Very good. I was so stuffed afterwards. Had a good amount of crab and the tomato was cooked perfectly.
(5)
Keith H.
Hmmm.... long wait for below average food, dirty floors and old-fashioned (NOT in a charming way) decor... I won't be going back. I guess the nature of the Charleston beast on Sunday is waiting in line for Breakfast/Brunch, but to be assured, this does NOT reflect the quality of the food or overall dining experience at a restaurant. All-in-all, waiting in line for the Sunflower was not worth our time. The two fried eggs we ordered were over salted/over oily and over cooked and the plain waffles were mediocre at best. The decor is truly odd and the place has an old and grimy feel to it. The chairs, tables, door handles, bathroom all have lots of miles on them and seem a little used and abused. This is not a design feature - it is not rustic - it is just a little worn down. I would NOT recommend this place.
(2)
Megan R.
While it doesn't look like much (inside or out), the food was pretty good and the wait wasn't too long for a Sunday at 11. Our waitress obviously knew the customers at the table next to us, so she gave us "extra time" to check out the menus while she chatted with them, which I wasn't overly impressed with since she saw us sitting there. The price was excellent and I'm definitely planning on going back to try the pancakes which are huge, from my observation.
(4)
Chelsea S.
Stopped in for breakfast before visiting the Dray ton Plantation it was a fun experience. Nice little cafe. Everything on the menu looked delicious.
(5)
Zainab A.
The girls who waited on me were great! The food was mediocre. I might have caught them on a really crazy day because they were definitely busy. I waited about 5 minutes to order drinks and a few more for the food. The food came out pretty quickly, but unfortunately was pretty bad. Had a patty sausage which was very very hard and some blueberry pancakes. Those were good but more blueberry than cake. I was there in a Friday morning right before July 4th and they were visibly busy but nothing really makes up for poorly cooked and rushed food.
(3)
Zaida J.
My friend and I tried Sunflower Cafe out on Sunday after logging a few miles on the West Ashley Greenway. We were about 15 minutes away, but I knew from Yelp reviews this place was packed on the weekend so I went ahead and called to get on the list. I can see why some consider it easy to miss but my GPS took me straight there so it easy cheesy. Good thing we called ahead. We arrived and the waiting area was full, with others waiting outside. We were seated within 5 minutes which was awesome because we'd worked up quite an appetite! I'll keep this short and sweet because this review will echo a lot of what others are saying. Food was excellent, service was friendly and on point, price was excellent! We both had coffee & water, split an order of beignets, and both selected the crab and fried green tomato eggs Benedict with a side of cheese grits. Everything was SO GOOD!!!!!!!!! Seasoned well, cooked perfectly, yummy, yummy, yummy! Our total bill was just over $30.
(5)
Kylaine K.
The service staff was nice enough but we had to wait a bit to be seated despite the fact that there were tables open. When we were seated our table was sticky. I ordered scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese but 10 minutes later was told they couldn't put spinach in scrambled eggs, not sure why since I have orderd them that way at many places and never had a problem, it's really not complicated. Lastly, I was highly disappointed with the benets. I was expecting a delicious french doughnut but what I got was a blob of fried funnel cake dough sprinkled with powdered sugar. Not impressed, I couldn't even eat them. We will not be returning.
(2)
Frank G.
I think their breakfast menu changed. Only one egg choice on Sunday, outside of the omelets. Don't understand, must be me. Frank G
Long Wait Time with open tables available. Utensils/Cupware/dishes are old, stained and look dirty tables and chairs are old office furniture with a lot of miles on them. Floors, walls in the entire place are grimy, dirty and doesn't look like they clean very often. for as busy as this place seems to be it definitely doesn't seem to reinvest any money back into the business.
(1)
Lanny G.
I had the pecan Waffle with banana syrup. It was so good. I also got 2 eggs and sausage. The look of the restaurant is plain Jane but the food is very good.
(4)
Christopher H.
I love the food here. Those sweat potato pancakes are just heavenly. The eggs and bacon are quite good as well. Three slaps to my mom for not making me food this good. I can't wait for my family to come back into town so I can take them here. Yum to e is what I say. There is so much food on their menu that I want to try and I plan too.
(5)
Mimi N.
Try their crab cake, fried green tomato, egg benedict and grits! I also go bacon (which We're really crispy! Yum!) on the side since I love it with grits.
(5)
Phoebe H.
I think my husband and I were the only people there without blue or grey hair on a Saturday at 8 am. We thought we would have to wait for a table by the looks of the full paling lot, but the cafe is surprisingly spacious inside with plenty of room to sit. All of the waitresses we're very courteous, sweet and attentive. They all seemed very happy and genuine. I had the waffles which were two huge, warm, soft, and scrumptious Belgian-style cakes. The bacon side was plentiful for $2 but wasn't anything special. They had a daily special for breakfast as well. My husband had the spicy eggs Benedict which had a tangy sausage that tasted more like chorizo. He said it was the best he has ever had. I tried his home fried potatoes and the flavor was perfection. This family atmosphere makes you feel like you've just plopped down at grandmas for a holiday morning feast. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Brandi S.
I had the eggs benedict with ham. It was great and reasonably priced. Our server was friendly and attentive. The cook even came out to ask how our food was. I recommend!!
(5)
Colleen J.
I go to Sunflower Cafe for the beignets and coffee. They were delicious and the sugar induced coma that followed shortly after was divine. As far as food, lunch wasn't my fave -- I think I need to stop by for breakfast to give it another shot. Service was good... place could use some cleaning up, but nothing bad. Solid three stars unless you get the beignets - then it's 4 stars.
(3)
Tara C.
The pancakes, oh my goodness, the pancakes! It's 10:00 pm on a Monday night, and those pancakes sound amazing.. even right now. Quaint, family-owned and operated. I've had the sweet potato pancakes and chocolate covered cherry pancakes, both were delicious!
(5)
Jim B.
Looking for a place for breakfast on a Sunday morning - not very many to chose from that aren't big-box boring. Helpers gave this place high marks so we took a ride. Got there just after they opened and the crowd was already rolling in - we were quickly seated and the place filled up within minutes - our timing was just right. Typical diner layout with exceptional menu choices. In spite of the crush, our servers kept us well supplied with water and tea until our breakfast got to our table. Wifey had feta, sun-dried tomato omelet. She said it was very good. Yours truly had the spicey sausage and pepper Benedict - excellent! Grits were obviously not instant and they were a credit to gritdom. Inexpensive, clean, fast, well-executed comfort food - exactly what you should expect from a diner in Charleston. We will return anytime we are in town.
(5)
Marcy Z.
Best pancakes I've ever had! I set some kind of speed record eating them...no syrup btw. Hubby had sausage peppers Benedict and said they were perfect. Two coffees, side of bacon (deep fried ) and beignets; $25.
(5)
Rachel C.
Great service. Small breakfast diner atmosphere with local color and sunflower decor. I ordered the breakfast special with eggs, grits, bacon and a biscuit. They kept the refills coming on my coffee, food came out hot and tasty. Staff was super kid friendly, greeted regulars like family with hugs, and great idea to have children's books on a shelf to keep the littles busy. I would go back for sure.
(4)
Mari B.
OH GOSH-AMAZING! This place is so underrated its ridiculous! BEST QUALITY BREAKFAST FOOD IN Charleston! I am a foodie so I've been to countless of restaurants in the area and this really is the best breakfast I've had! Yes, the outside looks like it needs some love and care and it is not in downtown but really now, the QUALITY matters! And this food is GOOOOOD! PS: do not leave without trying the sweet potato pancakes with the pecan butter. HEAVEN!
(5)
Carolyn S.
From the outside it doesn't look much but the food is SO good! Beignets, "best sandwhich in charleston", and feta cheese omlette w spinach and tomatoes were all exceptional! Side note: I loved the fries! The food is very well prepared!
(5)
Ross H.
I had the eggs Benedict with country ham and our was great! The saltiness of the ham cuts through the hollandaise sauce nicely and the grits act as a great absorber of all the flavors. Also got the beignets to cut the abundance of salty with sweet. They were great.
(4)
Gloria C.
What a cozy diner! We went based on the Yelp reviews and were not disappointed. The staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. Our food came out surprisingly fast and was delicious! We all had pancakes with side orders of eggs (scrambled and fried). The fried eggs were a little crusty around the edges, which I don't care for, but the scrambled eggs were fluffy and perfect. The breakfast menu offers variations of eggs benedict, different flavors of pancakes, french toast, and omelettes. The coffee was good as well, so that's always a plus!
(4)
Laura M.
This is quite the popular place for Sunday brunch. The sweet potato pancakes with pecan butter were really good (and sweet!)... And that butter was the star of the plate. Everything else we had was just okay. I would recommend saying how you like your eggs cooked... Mine were a bit overcooked but they are very friendly and make everything to order so I'm sure they will tailor your dish to your needs!
(3)
Andrea C.
Sunflower Cafe is as good as a breakfast place gets! 15 minutes from the airport and up the road from and between Drayton Hall and Charles Towne Landing. It was our first stop after arrival, and we liked it so much we made it our last before catching our plane. Inexpensive, kids menu. I had the poached eggs with fried green tomatoes, crab and hollandaise sauce. I don't like too heavy food but wanted to try this super southern dish. The crab compote was light and I had the sauce on the side- it was great. Second time around I tried the sweet potato pancakes, also great. My husband had the omlettes, also very good. Very nice people and waitress, felt like a real local place. Fast service, we arrived at 9 on Sunday when they opened and they were immediately half-full!
(5)
Tracy B.
We were on vacation from California and wanted a good breakfast. This place fit the bill perfectly. Great prices, great food, and great service. What more could we ask for.
(5)
David H.
This is one of those breakfast and lunch spots that really is a hidden gem. We were thrilled to trip across it and judging from our fellow diners, this place is popular with a cross section of folks and it's easy to see why. There's nothing fancy about the place, but what it lacks in style it makes up for in charm. The service was truly fantastic and everyone on the staff was amazingly friendly, even by Southern standards. Our party of four had a mixture of lunch and breakfast items. The portions were generous and the pricing was very reasonable. The sandwiches were creative and could easily have been found in a hipster establishment downtown, plus they were as delicious as they sounded. My kids loved their blueberry pancakes so much that my wife and I just had to steal a few bites and we were glad we did. The food came out quickly and, in fact, our only complaint was that our fries and scrambled eggs (different orders, of course), could have been cooked a teeny bit more for our tastes. Still, we can't recommend the place enough. If we're ever in the area again, we'll make a point of swinging by.
(4)
Emily G.
This place is very good for the price you pay! You get a nice yummy meal that is not overpriced. Definitely try their potatoes if you like peppers and onions if not don't worry they have naked potatoes as well! We will definitely be coming back here regularly!
(5)
Megan S.
Very cute place. Had the sweet potato pancakes w/ pecan butter and they were soooo good! My sis had the pecan waffles w/ banana syrup. So delicious!
(4)
Damian T.
The service here is wonderful. That cannot be stressed enough and I love the sunflower decorations. The only reason I cannot give a rating of more than three stars is because of the food quality. Don't get me wrong, it is not terrible but it's not great. It is on par (sadly) with the areas diners. The price point should be about 2$ cheaper than where it is at for the quality. That being said they have excellent choices for brunch. I ordered their namesake breakfast and my companions ordered a pecan waffle with warm banana syrup and sprinkle pancakes (kid menu). I love that they have sprinkle pancakes (or chocolate chips) but they charged a dollar for literally a handful of sprinkles dropped on top of the pancakes. The waffle was delish and paired awesomely with the banana syrup! My eggs were cooked perfectly to order and the bacon was cooked exactly how I like, not too crispy. The potatoes left something to be desired but the endless coffee was better than expected. I wasn't disappointed with my visit but I wish that there were more quality options or at least more reasonable prices. 3 stars; average.
(3)
Meagan T.
Stopped in here after leaving the airport on our first day in Charleston. Found it via yelp and we're not disappointed! This is a small town, home cooking type of restaurant. I imagine it's one of those places where all the locals go and everyone knows your name. There were a few people there when we came in around 10:30a. There was one guy working and he was very friendly. We started with waters and a coffee for me. Loved that they don't use uniform coffee mugs, makes you feel at home. My husband had the ham omelet with potatoes and I had the grab and fried green tomato Benedict with potatoes and a side of bacon. Everything was delicious!
(4)
Larry Y.
Wife ordered the Fresh Crab & Fried Green Tomatoes, I ordered the Salt Cured Country Ham & Eggs, and the kids ordered the Sunflower Cafe' Breakfast Club Special. The food was good, especially the Fresh Crab entree. Gave them a 3 since the service was next to none.
(3)
Elle E.
We had two benedicts: the crab cake fried green tomato as well as the spicy sausage and peppers. Both were cooked perfectly and the flavors of each dish really complimented each other quite well. I was so impressed by how on top of everything the server was, we had Shannon and she never let my coffee go unattended. I had a side of cheese grits as well and they were the best I've ever had. Thank you for such a delicious breakfast Sunflower Cafe!
(5)
Lily G.
We come here every year we are in Charleston.....great food and service. Christy, our waitress, could not have been nicer, she even recommended a barber for great women's haircuts. Fabulous. LOVE the crab, fried green tomato eggs Benedict. The best hollandaise I've ever had including some very fancy New York restaurants! We always go during the week because I'm sure the weekends are mobbed and rightly so.
(5)
Endo M.
Salt cured eggs Benedict was absolutely delicious. Grits were good. Staff very friendly. Ample parking & tables spaced out inside nicely. Decor dated but clean.
(4)
Jen S.
Was looking for a place to have Sunday brunch, but didn't want to wait til 11, when most places open. Found this little gem hidden off Ashley River Road. Delicious! Lots of options, great prices and extremely friendly staff. Really enjoyed the biscuits. Did have to wait for about 20 minutes, so will call ahead next time. Will definitely be back for brunch and probably dinner too!
(4)
Travis F.
This is one of my go to spots. They make me feel like extended family (the kind you actually enjoy when they visit). The food is good, feels like home and the people are even better. It's a treat to be greeted by name instead of them getting my name off my card at the end. Attention to detail people.
(4)
Jessica B.
First thing's first- make a reservation!! They accept any size party reservations. The restaurant is small and a little outdated, but the service and food were excellent. At our table of three, the special omlette of the day (taco omlette), plain waffle with banana syrup and the special pancakes of the day (oatmeal raisin) were ordered. The food came out quickly, hot and delicious. The portions are quite large for breakfast and worth every penny. The plates are reasonably priced right where they should be. The sides- the sausage are patties, which is a plus in my book! The grits were some of the best I have ever had. The biscuit tasted like it had just been made not long before it came to my table.
(4)
Cary C.
Very nice little diner with good food, fair prices, and friendly staff. It filled up on the Sunday morning we came in, but most places do. It would be nice if there was a bit more room to wait, everyone huddled by the front door, which was uncomfortable and must have bothered the folks eating at the counter. Small complaint though and overall this was a great deal for a nice brunch!
(4)
Rob T.
Wait for Breakfast it was good I have been there for Lunch was good I do go Occasionally Servers need more help Peak Breakfast and Peak Lunch Otherwise Nice
(3)
Nicholas J.
Great casual cafe off HWY 61. Friendly service and good food for a reasonable price. Be sure to try their grits. They are amazing.
(4)
Selphyne B.
Very friendly, little joint with ok food. We were welcomed and seated right away. The menu on Sunday is only breakfast items and any running specials. We went for breakfast this morning and tried a fair variety between my husband and me. My husband ordered the crab and fried green tomato Benedict with classic hollandaise sauce, with a side of home fries and beignets. I ordered À la carte: order of eggs over medium, a toasted English muffin and a side of their chipotle hollandaise. The beignets were lovely and unexpectedly dense like a fried biscuit rather than a traditionally light and airy beignet. My husband enjoyed his Benedict that seemed to be smothered under giant lumps of crab. His potatoes were very dark and greasy but didn't taste awful, just too heavy to eat more than a bite or so. My eggs weren't cooked over medium, they were over easy and still had a dark spot that at first glance had me worried that the yolk was over cooked! I think the cook had then on high heat and then removed them. Again, not bad tasted, just lacking in technique. I assembled them on the English muffin with the chipotle hollandaise for my own vegetarian Benedict and it was great with their sauce! I really loved the chipotle seasoning infused in this hollandaise and will be recreating it at home. I will note that they only offer strawberry and grape jelly which is a no no for me. And their establishment isn't comfortable: old school bingo chairs and card tables of some sort. I think the theme was supposed to match the name but they gave up and used a Porsche flag to cover a window partially. This is a very run down low budget place and it was very apparent that someone woke up and decided to open an eatery on little to no budget. We didn't hate it and would probably return if we were still in the area as it still offers better food than most restaurants in the area with a low price.
(3)
Bernadette K.
The food is horrible. The ambiance is horrible . Not kidding you. Why did we stop here? Because of all the people before us giving 4 stars. What are.these people used to eating that they would give this place more than 1 star ??And it shows the owners have not put one penny back into this place to make it appealing. We were brought to eat in some back room with 1970's tile on the floor and office furniture table and chairs. Im not recommending and im not coming back.
(1)
Mike B.
So we had a breakfast meet up, only one outta four was happy with the goods. The eggs Benedict was a success but the omelettes were not satisfying. I had the basic two eggs grits and bacon, wasn't bad but not great. 51 bucks for breakfast that wasn't super, will probably be the last.
(2)
Harold W.
This place always has a line for breakfast especially on weekends. We have been wanting yo eat here for awhile. Staff is very friendly. By the looks of this place there are a lot of regulars. I had the Breakfast Special which was good but not outstanding. Danny had the Spicy Sausage Eggs Benedict which he said was good but not outstanding.
(3)
Marina K.
This place was horrible. From slimy oil on top coffee to coffee stained coffee cups. I was so disappointed. We just left. And the service was terrible too.
(1)
Landon B.
Went here with my wife and our parents for Sunday brunch a couple weeks ago. Only been in Charleston for a couple months. Haven't had a chance to try Early Bird Diner because of the really long waits on Sunday and may never get to because of a diamond in the rough like Sunflower Cafe. It's opens earlier than most on Sunday around 8 or 9 am, can't remember which. Call ahead and you will be sat promptly, otherwise expect a little wait especially as it gets closer to noon. The staff is very friendly and the food is great! The best part is the price. All 6 of us had filling meals and coffee and my wife and I paid a little less than $70!!! Must try for breakfast/brunch. Place is larger than it looks. Friendly folks. Will be going again.
(4)
Marica M.
Everything was good especially the crab fried green tomato Benedict.I got potatoes as my side and it was okay, I would get cheesy grits next time like what my brother got. I don't eat too much grits but this one I really liked. I would definitely bring my family next time here to have some breakfast ;) so much food to try that looks good.. The beignet is a must! Such a classic! Everyone was very friendly and nice.
(4)
Lisa A.
I stopped into the Sunflower Cafe for lunch today. I've wanted to try it for some time and as I had to be in West Ashley today, it was convenient. The restaurant is larger than it would seem from the outside but still a cozy, neighborhood feeling to it. Most of the patrons seemed to be regulars, known by the staff which is often a good sign. The Cafe also had a private gathering going on in their back dining room, which made me wonder if service would be affected but it was not an issue; the servers were still very attentive to all customers. My drink order was taken as soon as I was seated and my iced tea was kept full the entire time I was eating. I started with a cup of the soup of the day, Crab and Corn Chowder. It was served in a good sized coffee mug. I was pleased with the portion size. The soup was delicious; creamy and just the proper thickness. The crab tasted fresh and I didn't encounter any shells, which is often an issue with crab chowder/stew. Not here! Continuing the crab theme, I had the crabmeat and fried green tomato sandwich, served on sourdough bread which was drizzled with an herb aioli. While very tasty, the aioli was presented on the outside of the sandwich, which makes for a sloppy eating experience. When I return to Sunflower Cafe--and I definitely will!--I'll ask for the aioli on the side. The sandwich was very tasty. While the sandwiches on the menu come with either fries, potato salad or cole slaw, I had substituted/added the chowder as my side dish so I can't comment on sides. All in all, a very pleasant lunch experience which I definitely recommend.
(4)
Jon T.
Best value for breakfast in Charleston. The food does not disappoint. Get there early for Sunday breakfast/brunch.
(5)
Ajay Y.
Truly a Hidden Gem! Great service. Amazing cheese grits and BLT. And don't forgot the beignets - by far better than the ones in New Orleans!
(5)
Delia L.
Unassuming decor, prompt service and AMAZING food. Next time I'm in Charleston I'll be back! The crab and fried green tomato Benedict is beyond delicious!
(4)
M C.
Between the staff, the ambiance, and the grits, you have to come here. I stopped in on my way out of town, and was so happy I did! Everyone was so friendly, and the food was awesome! I had the eggs benedict and grits, I will forever hold everyone else's grits to the standard of what I ate here. Delicious!
(5)
Robert C.
Best place I've ever eaten!! The filet omelette is the best thing I've ever had! Sweet potato pancakes are out of this world!! Grits are the best I've ever had!
(5)
Grant S.
Finishing up our omelets with biscuits and grits, the nice woman running the place said "See you tomorrow!" to another woman paying for her breakfast. Does this lady seriously eat breakfast here two days in a row on a consistent basis? Though I envy her eating out budget, I can't say I blame her. The grits are really stand-outs. I thought I hated grits until I had them here. They're really soft and flavorful. Biscuits were soft and clearly homemade, probably in-house and probably with love. We got the Sauteed Spinach, Oven Dried Tomatoes, & Feta Cheese omelets because there weren't many other vegetarian options, and it was pretty good, too. The eggs were a little on the dry side, but not a deal-breaker. Lastly, potatoes are great -- caramelized and full of flavor. Add some hot sauce and you're set.
(4)
Jenny S.
My favorite breakfast spot. I love their crab benedict so much that I can't order anything else. The restaurant looks a little dusty and outdated, but has a great charm. This is a unique little place off the beaten path. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The only reason I gave them a four and not five is during my last visit my potatoes were burned. I do wish they continued to serve breakfast throughout the day for those who have a hard time getting there by 11:00. I sometimes enjoy getting out for a late breakfast. Every time I have been, I have left happy.
(4)
Katie B.
Had a great lunch here on a recent Saturday. Tried my first fried green tomatoes which were very good with a delicious remoulade. I also enjoyed the salmon salad I ordered very much. Highly recommended.
(4)
Meredith S.
Breakfast is only served until 11:00am!! It says differently on here though. I've never had a bad experience with a restaurant in Charleston until we decided to try this place. My boyfriend and I are locals but this place was not among the many locally friendly restaurants. When we sat down we found out that we could only get 3 breakfast items. The waiter was rude to begin with and when we told him that we decided to go somewhere that we could get breakfast, he rudely grabbed out menus and basically yelled at us that they only serve breakfast until 11:00am. We left and were very glad that we did not give him our business!
(1)
J F.
Hidden Gem One of those only-the-locals-know-about kind of place. nothing fancy. just great sandwiches. if you come here for the first time, then you must get the filet mingon and the fried green tomato sandwiches. 2 sandwiches + 1 tea = $22 not bad. definitely coming back here when I'm in Charleston.
(4)
Randi B.
Special Salmon & grits - delish; Sausage Benedict - yum & Sweet Potato Pancakes - the BOMB!
(5)
Deb B.
What a great find! I have driven past the place for years and just never knew what I was missing. We ordered the left side of the menu and the food was outstanding! This is going to be my new fav breakfast spot. The prices are very good and the food was just what I was craving. Thanks Sunflower Cafe!!
(4)
Kelly B.
Terrible breakfast.. eggs Benedict.. ham was WAY too salty, eggs were WAY too runny, sauce was the only thing good. Side of bacon... tasted like the meat had gone bad, worst bacon I've ever had. Crab omelet... excessive bits of shell in the crab meat. Wasn't cheap enough to warrant leniency in expectations for the food. Not impressed and will never go there again.
(1)
Andre M.
Great place. Loved the potatoes. My eggs benadict could have been a little bit more runny but they were still great.
(4)
Evan S.
This is definitely a local joint and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way. The staff is very friendly and the service was great, but that's about where the compliments end. The restaurant is a bit dated and marginally clean. And the food is just average. People were ordering some sandwiches which looked huge, so I'd say that the value is definitely there. I had the salmon spinach salad which had huge chunks of red onion in it and slightly too much dressing. The salmon was a little overcooked. This is definitely a locals spot so if you want to see what they like go for it! It's not a terrible spot, just not my cup of sweet tea...
(3)
Samuel J.
"Charleston's Best Sandwich" lived up to its name! The gingerbread pancakes were awesome too!
(4)
Matthew C.
Visiting from out of town and was looking for a good breakfast joint. Food was great and the service was even better. The decor is a bit blah but it doesn't take away from how great everything else was. Will make it a point to stop here for breakfast whenever I am in Charleston!
(5)
Amy Yvonne H.
Diamond in the rough. You may not even notice this little family owned restaurant when your driving down hwy 61 but its worth stopping for!! This is my second visit & I had: Breakfast club special with two eggs, bacon, biscuit, cheese grits A+ Appetizer of beignets A+ The good: food came out quick server was on point bacon was cooked just right crispy yet soft grits were fancy and fresh cheese was melted on them in a mini baking pan The bad: eggs were not cooked fully the way I asked. (no runny yoke) biscuit was said to be very good but comparatively to Early Bird Diner in West Ashley, it was not that good. Server was robert *Asked to give togo drinks *Had up to 5 plates at a time *very friendly & always a pleasure having him serve us VERDICT: Its an amazing small place that has amazing food. Be specific with how you want things cooked, & emphasize things that matter. Bring a big appetite, no matter what you order, it seems you can't go wrong with there fresh, hot ingredients for a low price!
(4)
Kathleen M.
Love this place for breakfast. They will omit things if needed. Example: Potatoes with breakfast I don't eat the seasoning mix. They made them plain. Also the spinach egg white omelette is good. If looking for super sized servings this isn't the place. Only 4 stars because my companions steak had a "old" taste to it.
(3)
Samantha R.
Amazing!! Read the reviews on yelp and decided to make this our first stop after the airport and we were NOT disappointed. Everyone that works here is so polite and friendly. Very home-y atmosphere. The omlettes were really good and the beignets were to die for!!!
(5)
Jennifer M.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!! It is family owned and operated and you can tell! They take great pride in everything they do. I've been dining her for the eight years they have been open and have NEVER been disappointed. The food is fresh, fast, and delicious. The decor is nothing fancy but the atmosphere is like being at an old family friend's house. Enjoying a great lunch and great conversation.
(5)
Steven H.
Unassuming local yokel type joint with Southern character and delicious breakfast offerings. Our group of four had a variety of things, all freshly prepared, and some memorably unique. Sweet potato pancakes with brown sugar pecan butter = better plan on burning some more calories later on. Decor diner-spartan, service adequate and friendly, food delicious.
(5)
felicity b.
We didn't try any of their specialty dishes, and just stuck to the egg classics. What I liked: -Well cooked eggs -Friendly service -Great tea -Prices were very fair -Food was hot and fresh Everyone in my group enjoyed their breakfast. Our server, a nice young lady with a short hair cut, was very friendly. The building is a little run down, and they could use a little sprucing up in the restaurant.
(4)
Leslie K.
The grits are the best I have ever had, however the potatoes were not good and the omelet was oily.
(3)
Sandra L.
We were visiting charleston last week and had the chance to enjoy a delicious breakfast at Sunflower. I had the sweet potato pancakes. yummy! They were served with pecan sugar butter. No need for syrup. Can't wait to go back and try an omelette.
(5)
Randy H.
First time there and it was great. Crab Benedict with green tomatoes was fresh, just tart enough and very tasty.
(5)
meme a.
Hubby and I stopped in for brunch after church. It was very busy but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table to be set up. The decor was not trendy at all but the word "cute" came to mind. A kind of homey, family atmosphere. I ordered the crab and green tomato eggs benedict. Yum Yum. The egg was perfectly poached. My husband ordered a filet and eggs....med. rare. And it actually came out medium rare. It was nice and juicy. We also had an order of beignets. =) The food was yum and the service was attentive. On the way out, we were greeted by a nice older lady (possibly the owner). Our experience was very good. 4.5
LOVE their potatoes and biscuits. One of our favorite spots in West Ashley for breakfast! Limited menu but what is on there is awesome!
(4)
Debbie B.
One of our FAVORITE places to eat in West Ashley! This place has some of the BEST entrees around. Their sweet potato pancakes and their crab omelets and their eggs Benedict are the bomb!!! Highly recommend dining here for breakfast or lunch. Great staff, very friendly and knowledgeable.
(5)
Jason S.
Breakfast at the Sunflower Cafe was our first meal in Charleston and we were not disappointed. I had the crab and fried green tomatoes eggs benedict and my wife the sweet potato pancakes. Both were fantastic. Our server was very personable. The interior is typical diner, which isn't a bad thing. I highly recommend.
(4)
Aaron R.
We stopped by Sunflower Cafe for a Sunday brunch and were very impressed. Clearly a family-owned busines, this local gem puts a lot of effort into creating an amazing menu with constantly changing specials and top quality food. All of the omelets look great - I had a filet and boursin cheese which blew me away. Amazing array of benedicts and lots of other classics such as pancakes and beignets. The prices blew me away for the size of the portions and the quality of the food. Sunday brunch is pretty busy but not a bad wait for the experience. They also serve lunch during the week which our friends told us is equally delicious.
(5)
S Y.
Great breakfast food with a little bit of a twist. The crab benedict was very good, and the carrot cake pancakes were delicious.
(5)
Samantha J.
Definitely a long wait, which wasn't a big deal. However, we had looked at the menu while waiting and we're ready to order once we sat Down. When the waitress came over we let her know we were ready to order. She said she cannot take our order because we can only order drinks first. Once we were finally able to place our food order I requested the spinach, tomato and feta but wanted it as a scramble instead of an omelette. The waitress said she wasn't sure that was possible and had to get the manager. The manager came over and acted like it was a crazy request and that they have a special pan for omlettes and the scramble wouldn't work. I asked if they make scrambled eggs and that I just wanted to add the ingredients to the scrambled eggs. She said the vegetables wouldn't cook then. So they made a huge deal out of me requesting scrambled eggs and instead completely changed my order to plain scrambled eggs. The food was sub par. However the grits were delicious. Overall, the service and the food was not worth the wait and the lack of customer service in requesting alterations to food orders was obnoxious.
(2)
Chami D.
Excellent food and excellent service... We had a great breakfast here. The beignet was to die for and the spicy sausage Benedict was amazing....
(5)
Kai K.
We were driving our Trolley Pub up to Raleigh from Savannah and decided to stop here for breakfast. Unfortunately, our friends were going to be late. Breakfast ends at 11 so I asked the server whether or not they could wait a half hour so we could still order breakfast. The guy seemed really stressed out by the request and at one point said "this isn't a waffle house- we have to change the kitchen over." While I completely understand that, he could of just said "I'm so sorry, but your welcome to order from the lunch menu." The server was friendly after we sat down, though. Sirloin sandwich was delicious. The cuts were perfectly medium rare and the horseradish sauce blended superbly with the...bread. I made noises the whole time I ate it. The decor leaves much to be desired. 5/5 for the food, 3/5 service/decor.
(4)
Genessa W.
Excellent lunch! We went at first for the breakfast, but the rest of our party arrived too late to order. While my boyfriend and I waited, we ordered some grits, which were home-cooked and amazing. I have to say for a girl from California with NO experience of grits, my mouth was definitely watering for more. Then we ordered a few sandwiches- my boyfriend and his friend ordered the steak sandwich and I had the BL and Fried Green Tomatoes sandwich. SO GOOD! I ate the entire sandwich in about 10 minutes (which is a lot for me) and my boyfriend nearly licked his plate clean. Not only was the lunch great, but then we ordered the Fritters for dessert, which were hot, sugary, and delicious. If I'm ever in that neck of the woods, I'm definitely going back!
(5)
Jennifer A.
This place was dirty, the food was awful and the service was terrible. Go somewhere, anywhere else!
(1)
Karen S.
Great food, nice price and super friendly staff-they easily accommodated our group of 15. I would go back for sure!!! Try the fried green tomatoes!
(4)
Greg K.
While most of the reviews gush with lavish compliments, the 5 star on 9/2013 "Jennifer" is actually Jen and is the head COOK with her mother "Miss Jenny" the owner. This type of self promotion is truly not fair play and misleading! The food is actually quite good true, but nothing extraordinary. The interior borders on shabby especially looking at the stained ceiling and dislodged panels. While The servers were pleasant and friendly, a keen ear could detect dissatisfaction and I witnessed the owner chastising employees in a condescending manner. This made the cozy atmosphere truly uncomfortable! Overall average to good, I have found genuinely finer examples in cozy atmosphere elsewhere!
(3)
Roger O.
Breakfast is what I enjoy and Sunflower delivers. My family enjoys the grits, omelets, and crab cake Benedict. Healthy portions for sure. The seating is close and the place is dated , but we still go back for good food in a clean setting. Please keep up the good service!
(4)
Amy L.
Cute little small-towny cafe with very tasty sandwiches. It's a convenient place to stop for lunch on the way to or from the plantations, and you're definitely not paying tourist prices here.
(4)
Paul C.
Great place and value for the dollar! The best sandwich in charleston really is. Portions were generous and service was prompt and friendly
(5)
Will B.
The fam & I have been eating here for years. The simplistic decor belies the sophisticated recipes and delicious, fresh food. Case & point: crabs Benedict (lump crab meet & fried green tomatoes).
(5)
Laurie A.
Mediocre. Got 1 small sausage with eggs and sausage breakfast (normally 2), had to ask for coffee when cups empty, below average service, average food.
(2)
Benjamin A.
After waiting for nearly 15 minutes and seeing the crowd of people eating, my expectations were high. However upon receiving my meal, it was nothing short of atrocious. The potatoes were so soggy they were dripping, the bacon was flaccid and cold when it was served, and apparently the cooks don't understand how to cook eggs. Just go somewhere else. Total waste of time and money. The coffee was good.
(1)
Evan T.
Me and my family have become weekly regulars. The food is some of the best breakfast food I have ever had (you have to try the sweet potato pancakes). The staff is personable and if you go in once, seem to remember you the next time you go back. Honestly with the decor and service, you feel like you in a relatives home as opposed to a place of business. One of my top 5 in Charleston hands down.
(5)
Santos M.
Smelled mildewy upon entering. Coffee was mediocre. Eggs were cold and potatoes were soggy. Better off going to McDonalds
(1)
Michael C.
This is my wife's favorite spot for lunch. They are good people serving good food - not fast food, but cooked fresh in the kitchen. Plus, in addition to large portions of good meals, they also support the community. And man, excellent grilled cheese!
(5)
Cheryl F.
Delicious food with wonderful service! The perfect combination of homestyle cooking with a gourmet twist.
(5)
Liliana C.
Me, my friend and my brother all went here on our last morning in Charleston and it was amazing. If you're visiting town and want some breakfast I highly recommend it.
(5)
Marc M.
This restaurant is OK - it gets solid marks for good service (Thanks Casey!) and food. I had the Filet Mignon sandwich (labelled as The Best Sandwich in Charleston on the menu). The sandwich was served on caibatta bread with a good amount of melted gruyere cheese. I doubt it was filet mignon, but it was tasty. My wife had crab cake sandwich and daughter had a grilled cheese. They don't have a soda fountain - your choices are water or iced tea. Overall minus stars for ambiance - there really is none. This was a quick, easy meal. The place was filled with locals. I'd go back if in the area, but it is not a destination for me to must-visit again.
(3)
E S.
3 stars because the service was good, the facility was okay, but the food wasn't very good. My review doesn't really match what the others are saying, but we aren't feeling so good after having breakfast. I've never complained about a breakfast before but here's how we feel: Food was comparable to a frozen microwave breakfast. The potatoes/sausage were burned and tasted microwaved, bacon was rare, the pancakes and grits were tasteless (and odd tasting) and the biscuit was very dry. Still a nice little spot. Maybe the cook was off today?
(3)
Shayla J.
My Husband and I want to try a different restaurant. He was like, this Charleston it has to be more choices than Alex's Restaurant. Which brought us to this fine establishment. This restaurant is exactly what we wanted. Good home feel, with "Southern Hospitality". The food had fresh ingredients. He ordered Mignon Omelette, and I ordered ham omelette. Their both were delicious. And seriously the BEST GREEN TOMATOES, EVEN BETTER THAN CHARLESTON 'S CAFE!!! So, my friends when you have a moment... Stop by Sunflowers. We SURE Glad We Did ;-)
(5)
Christy M.
This time I went with a friend, and we split meals. I got the fried green tomato and crab cakes Benedict, she got the shrimp, bacon and Brie omelet. The Omelette was mediocre, I didn't really taste the Brie and shrimp that are not deveined gross me out a bit. So, if shrimp with the poop vein bothers you also, I'd stay away from that, if not, go for it. The bacon in the omelette was smokey and good. The grits are ok, nothing amazing.
(3)
Zainab A.
The girls who waited on me were great! The food was mediocre. I might have caught them on a really crazy day because they were definitely busy. I waited about 5 minutes to order drinks and a few more for the food. The food came out pretty quickly, but unfortunately was pretty bad. Had a patty sausage which was very very hard and some blueberry pancakes. Those were good but more blueberry than cake. I was there in a Friday morning right before July 4th and they were visibly busy but nothing really makes up for poorly cooked and rushed food.
(3)
Amy Lauren S.
I've been to Sunflower Cafe a few times and am surprised I hadn't reviewed it before! It is definitely a hidden gem of the West Ashley area, with a big local following but a great place for anyone traveling through to visit. There's plenty of parking and the decor kind of reminds you of eating at grandma's house. It's not fancy, but the food is delicious and service is great. Our server kept our drinks full and made sure we were taken care of, and our food came out quickly. I have never had to wait longer than 10 minutes or so when I've come here, and you can wait indoors. I had some friends in town for the Cooper River Bridge Run, and we wanted to go out for brunch on Sunday. With the influx of Bridge Run visitors, most of the usual brunch recommendations were packed, so I suggested Sunflower Cafe. They loved it- one friend had pancakes and the other had one of the benedicts. The portions are huge and we had leftovers. We've also taken my in-laws here and they loved the sweet potato pancakes. Warning, the pancakes take up the whole plate- so make sure you're hungry or prepare to split a few dishes between everyone to try it all. They post some mouthwatering daily specials on Facebook, so follow them there. The only drawback of Sunflower Cafe is that on Sunday, it is breakfast menu only, even though they are open until 2 PM. On other days, they service breakfast up until 2 PM but add lunch foods.
(4)
Margaret J.
Great place for brunch! Our server was fantastic and had a lot of good suggestions. Her name was Kirsty I think. I got the crab and fried green tomato Benedict which came with potatoes. Very good. I was so stuffed afterwards. Had a good amount of crab and the tomato was cooked perfectly.
(5)
Rebecca Q.
This place has great food and a very friendly environment. Will definitely come back..
(5)
Cara J.
We had the sweet potato pancakes, breakfast club special (eggs, bacon, potatoes and biscuit), and corn and crab chowder. The sweet potato pancakes were delicious and definitely worth ordering again! The soup was alright, but it didn't taste very flavorful to me. My husband also ordered coffee, which smelled burnt to me.. I'm guessing this was just a fluke though. He was also the one who ordered the special, which he liked, and I thought the biscuit was really good (better than Early Bird's for sure). We will probably come back and had a pretty good meal overall, somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. All the sunflower decor is really cute, too!
(4)
Keith H.
Hmmm.... long wait for below average food, dirty floors and old-fashioned (NOT in a charming way) decor... I won't be going back. I guess the nature of the Charleston beast on Sunday is waiting in line for Breakfast/Brunch, but to be assured, this does NOT reflect the quality of the food or overall dining experience at a restaurant. All-in-all, waiting in line for the Sunflower was not worth our time. The two fried eggs we ordered were over salted/over oily and over cooked and the plain waffles were mediocre at best. The decor is truly odd and the place has an old and grimy feel to it. The chairs, tables, door handles, bathroom all have lots of miles on them and seem a little used and abused. This is not a design feature - it is not rustic - it is just a little worn down. I would NOT recommend this place.
(2)
Megan R.
While it doesn't look like much (inside or out), the food was pretty good and the wait wasn't too long for a Sunday at 11. Our waitress obviously knew the customers at the table next to us, so she gave us "extra time" to check out the menus while she chatted with them, which I wasn't overly impressed with since she saw us sitting there. The price was excellent and I'm definitely planning on going back to try the pancakes which are huge, from my observation.
(4)
Chelsea S.
Stopped in for breakfast before visiting the Dray ton Plantation it was a fun experience. Nice little cafe. Everything on the menu looked delicious.
(5)
Zaida J.
My friend and I tried Sunflower Cafe out on Sunday after logging a few miles on the West Ashley Greenway. We were about 15 minutes away, but I knew from Yelp reviews this place was packed on the weekend so I went ahead and called to get on the list. I can see why some consider it easy to miss but my GPS took me straight there so it easy cheesy. Good thing we called ahead. We arrived and the waiting area was full, with others waiting outside. We were seated within 5 minutes which was awesome because we'd worked up quite an appetite! I'll keep this short and sweet because this review will echo a lot of what others are saying. Food was excellent, service was friendly and on point, price was excellent! We both had coffee & water, split an order of beignets, and both selected the crab and fried green tomato eggs Benedict with a side of cheese grits. Everything was SO GOOD!!!!!!!!! Seasoned well, cooked perfectly, yummy, yummy, yummy! Our total bill was just over $30.
(5)
Chrissy C.
Great customer service although my eggs were runny and had to send back. Other than that good experience
(3)
Kylaine K.
The service staff was nice enough but we had to wait a bit to be seated despite the fact that there were tables open. When we were seated our table was sticky. I ordered scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese but 10 minutes later was told they couldn't put spinach in scrambled eggs, not sure why since I have orderd them that way at many places and never had a problem, it's really not complicated. Lastly, I was highly disappointed with the benets. I was expecting a delicious french doughnut but what I got was a blob of fried funnel cake dough sprinkled with powdered sugar. Not impressed, I couldn't even eat them. We will not be returning.
(2)
Frank G.
I think their breakfast menu changed. Only one egg choice on Sunday, outside of the omelets. Don't understand, must be me. Frank G
(3)
Colleen J.
I go to Sunflower Cafe for the beignets and coffee. They were delicious and the sugar induced coma that followed shortly after was divine. As far as food, lunch wasn't my fave -- I think I need to stop by for breakfast to give it another shot. Service was good... place could use some cleaning up, but nothing bad. Solid three stars unless you get the beignets - then it's 4 stars.
(3)
Brandi S.
I had the eggs benedict with ham. It was great and reasonably priced. Our server was friendly and attentive. The cook even came out to ask how our food was. I recommend!!
Long Wait Time with open tables available. Utensils/Cupware/dishes are old, stained and look dirty tables and chairs are old office furniture with a lot of miles on them. Floors, walls in the entire place are grimy, dirty and doesn't look like they clean very often. for as busy as this place seems to be it definitely doesn't seem to reinvest any money back into the business.
(1)
Christopher H.
I love the food here. Those sweat potato pancakes are just heavenly. The eggs and bacon are quite good as well. Three slaps to my mom for not making me food this good. I can't wait for my family to come back into town so I can take them here. Yum to e is what I say. There is so much food on their menu that I want to try and I plan too.
(5)
Phoebe H.
I think my husband and I were the only people there without blue or grey hair on a Saturday at 8 am. We thought we would have to wait for a table by the looks of the full paling lot, but the cafe is surprisingly spacious inside with plenty of room to sit. All of the waitresses we're very courteous, sweet and attentive. They all seemed very happy and genuine. I had the waffles which were two huge, warm, soft, and scrumptious Belgian-style cakes. The bacon side was plentiful for $2 but wasn't anything special. They had a daily special for breakfast as well. My husband had the spicy eggs Benedict which had a tangy sausage that tasted more like chorizo. He said it was the best he has ever had. I tried his home fried potatoes and the flavor was perfection. This family atmosphere makes you feel like you've just plopped down at grandmas for a holiday morning feast. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Mimi N.
Try their crab cake, fried green tomato, egg benedict and grits! I also go bacon (which We're really crispy! Yum!) on the side since I love it with grits.
(5)
Lanny G.
I had the pecan Waffle with banana syrup. It was so good. I also got 2 eggs and sausage. The look of the restaurant is plain Jane but the food is very good.
(4)
Tara C.
The pancakes, oh my goodness, the pancakes! It's 10:00 pm on a Monday night, and those pancakes sound amazing.. even right now. Quaint, family-owned and operated. I've had the sweet potato pancakes and chocolate covered cherry pancakes, both were delicious!
(5)
Rachel C.
Great service. Small breakfast diner atmosphere with local color and sunflower decor. I ordered the breakfast special with eggs, grits, bacon and a biscuit. They kept the refills coming on my coffee, food came out hot and tasty. Staff was super kid friendly, greeted regulars like family with hugs, and great idea to have children's books on a shelf to keep the littles busy. I would go back for sure.
(4)
Jim B.
Looking for a place for breakfast on a Sunday morning - not very many to chose from that aren't big-box boring. Helpers gave this place high marks so we took a ride. Got there just after they opened and the crowd was already rolling in - we were quickly seated and the place filled up within minutes - our timing was just right. Typical diner layout with exceptional menu choices. In spite of the crush, our servers kept us well supplied with water and tea until our breakfast got to our table. Wifey had feta, sun-dried tomato omelet. She said it was very good. Yours truly had the spicey sausage and pepper Benedict - excellent! Grits were obviously not instant and they were a credit to gritdom. Inexpensive, clean, fast, well-executed comfort food - exactly what you should expect from a diner in Charleston. We will return anytime we are in town.
(5)
Marcy Z.
Best pancakes I've ever had! I set some kind of speed record eating them...no syrup btw. Hubby had sausage peppers Benedict and said they were perfect. Two coffees, side of bacon (deep fried ) and beignets; $25.
(5)
Mari B.
OH GOSH-AMAZING! This place is so underrated its ridiculous! BEST QUALITY BREAKFAST FOOD IN Charleston! I am a foodie so I've been to countless of restaurants in the area and this really is the best breakfast I've had! Yes, the outside looks like it needs some love and care and it is not in downtown but really now, the QUALITY matters! And this food is GOOOOOD! PS: do not leave without trying the sweet potato pancakes with the pecan butter. HEAVEN!
(5)
Carolyn S.
From the outside it doesn't look much but the food is SO good! Beignets, "best sandwhich in charleston", and feta cheese omlette w spinach and tomatoes were all exceptional! Side note: I loved the fries! The food is very well prepared!
(5)
Ross H.
I had the eggs Benedict with country ham and our was great! The saltiness of the ham cuts through the hollandaise sauce nicely and the grits act as a great absorber of all the flavors. Also got the beignets to cut the abundance of salty with sweet. They were great.
(4)
Gloria C.
What a cozy diner! We went based on the Yelp reviews and were not disappointed. The staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. Our food came out surprisingly fast and was delicious! We all had pancakes with side orders of eggs (scrambled and fried). The fried eggs were a little crusty around the edges, which I don't care for, but the scrambled eggs were fluffy and perfect. The breakfast menu offers variations of eggs benedict, different flavors of pancakes, french toast, and omelettes. The coffee was good as well, so that's always a plus!
(4)
Laura M.
This is quite the popular place for Sunday brunch. The sweet potato pancakes with pecan butter were really good (and sweet!)... And that butter was the star of the plate. Everything else we had was just okay. I would recommend saying how you like your eggs cooked... Mine were a bit overcooked but they are very friendly and make everything to order so I'm sure they will tailor your dish to your needs!
(3)
Andrea C.
Sunflower Cafe is as good as a breakfast place gets! 15 minutes from the airport and up the road from and between Drayton Hall and Charles Towne Landing. It was our first stop after arrival, and we liked it so much we made it our last before catching our plane. Inexpensive, kids menu. I had the poached eggs with fried green tomatoes, crab and hollandaise sauce. I don't like too heavy food but wanted to try this super southern dish. The crab compote was light and I had the sauce on the side- it was great. Second time around I tried the sweet potato pancakes, also great. My husband had the omlettes, also very good. Very nice people and waitress, felt like a real local place. Fast service, we arrived at 9 on Sunday when they opened and they were immediately half-full!
(5)
David H.
This is one of those breakfast and lunch spots that really is a hidden gem. We were thrilled to trip across it and judging from our fellow diners, this place is popular with a cross section of folks and it's easy to see why. There's nothing fancy about the place, but what it lacks in style it makes up for in charm. The service was truly fantastic and everyone on the staff was amazingly friendly, even by Southern standards. Our party of four had a mixture of lunch and breakfast items. The portions were generous and the pricing was very reasonable. The sandwiches were creative and could easily have been found in a hipster establishment downtown, plus they were as delicious as they sounded. My kids loved their blueberry pancakes so much that my wife and I just had to steal a few bites and we were glad we did. The food came out quickly and, in fact, our only complaint was that our fries and scrambled eggs (different orders, of course), could have been cooked a teeny bit more for our tastes. Still, we can't recommend the place enough. If we're ever in the area again, we'll make a point of swinging by.
(4)
Tracy B.
We were on vacation from California and wanted a good breakfast. This place fit the bill perfectly. Great prices, great food, and great service. What more could we ask for.
(5)
Emily G.
This place is very good for the price you pay! You get a nice yummy meal that is not overpriced. Definitely try their potatoes if you like peppers and onions if not don't worry they have naked potatoes as well! We will definitely be coming back here regularly!
(5)
Megan S.
Very cute place. Had the sweet potato pancakes w/ pecan butter and they were soooo good! My sis had the pecan waffles w/ banana syrup. So delicious!
(4)
Damian T.
The service here is wonderful. That cannot be stressed enough and I love the sunflower decorations. The only reason I cannot give a rating of more than three stars is because of the food quality. Don't get me wrong, it is not terrible but it's not great. It is on par (sadly) with the areas diners. The price point should be about 2$ cheaper than where it is at for the quality. That being said they have excellent choices for brunch. I ordered their namesake breakfast and my companions ordered a pecan waffle with warm banana syrup and sprinkle pancakes (kid menu). I love that they have sprinkle pancakes (or chocolate chips) but they charged a dollar for literally a handful of sprinkles dropped on top of the pancakes. The waffle was delish and paired awesomely with the banana syrup! My eggs were cooked perfectly to order and the bacon was cooked exactly how I like, not too crispy. The potatoes left something to be desired but the endless coffee was better than expected. I wasn't disappointed with my visit but I wish that there were more quality options or at least more reasonable prices. 3 stars; average.
(3)
Meagan T.
Stopped in here after leaving the airport on our first day in Charleston. Found it via yelp and we're not disappointed! This is a small town, home cooking type of restaurant. I imagine it's one of those places where all the locals go and everyone knows your name. There were a few people there when we came in around 10:30a. There was one guy working and he was very friendly. We started with waters and a coffee for me. Loved that they don't use uniform coffee mugs, makes you feel at home. My husband had the ham omelet with potatoes and I had the grab and fried green tomato Benedict with potatoes and a side of bacon. Everything was delicious!
(4)
Larry Y.
Wife ordered the Fresh Crab & Fried Green Tomatoes, I ordered the Salt Cured Country Ham & Eggs, and the kids ordered the Sunflower Cafe' Breakfast Club Special. The food was good, especially the Fresh Crab entree. Gave them a 3 since the service was next to none.
(3)
Elle E.
We had two benedicts: the crab cake fried green tomato as well as the spicy sausage and peppers. Both were cooked perfectly and the flavors of each dish really complimented each other quite well. I was so impressed by how on top of everything the server was, we had Shannon and she never let my coffee go unattended. I had a side of cheese grits as well and they were the best I've ever had. Thank you for such a delicious breakfast Sunflower Cafe!
(5)
Lily G.
We come here every year we are in Charleston.....great food and service. Christy, our waitress, could not have been nicer, she even recommended a barber for great women's haircuts. Fabulous. LOVE the crab, fried green tomato eggs Benedict. The best hollandaise I've ever had including some very fancy New York restaurants! We always go during the week because I'm sure the weekends are mobbed and rightly so.
(5)
Endo M.
Salt cured eggs Benedict was absolutely delicious. Grits were good. Staff very friendly. Ample parking & tables spaced out inside nicely. Decor dated but clean.
(4)
Jen S.
Was looking for a place to have Sunday brunch, but didn't want to wait til 11, when most places open. Found this little gem hidden off Ashley River Road. Delicious! Lots of options, great prices and extremely friendly staff. Really enjoyed the biscuits. Did have to wait for about 20 minutes, so will call ahead next time. Will definitely be back for brunch and probably dinner too!
(4)
Travis F.
This is one of my go to spots. They make me feel like extended family (the kind you actually enjoy when they visit). The food is good, feels like home and the people are even better. It's a treat to be greeted by name instead of them getting my name off my card at the end. Attention to detail people.
(4)
Jessica B.
First thing's first- make a reservation!! They accept any size party reservations. The restaurant is small and a little outdated, but the service and food were excellent. At our table of three, the special omlette of the day (taco omlette), plain waffle with banana syrup and the special pancakes of the day (oatmeal raisin) were ordered. The food came out quickly, hot and delicious. The portions are quite large for breakfast and worth every penny. The plates are reasonably priced right where they should be. The sides- the sausage are patties, which is a plus in my book! The grits were some of the best I have ever had. The biscuit tasted like it had just been made not long before it came to my table.
(4)
Cary C.
Very nice little diner with good food, fair prices, and friendly staff. It filled up on the Sunday morning we came in, but most places do. It would be nice if there was a bit more room to wait, everyone huddled by the front door, which was uncomfortable and must have bothered the folks eating at the counter. Small complaint though and overall this was a great deal for a nice brunch!
(4)
Rob T.
Wait for Breakfast it was good I have been there for Lunch was good I do go Occasionally Servers need more help Peak Breakfast and Peak Lunch Otherwise Nice
(3)
Nicholas J.
Great casual cafe off HWY 61. Friendly service and good food for a reasonable price. Be sure to try their grits. They are amazing.
(4)
M C.
Between the staff, the ambiance, and the grits, you have to come here. I stopped in on my way out of town, and was so happy I did! Everyone was so friendly, and the food was awesome! I had the eggs benedict and grits, I will forever hold everyone else's grits to the standard of what I ate here. Delicious!
(5)
Robert C.
Best place I've ever eaten!! The filet omelette is the best thing I've ever had! Sweet potato pancakes are out of this world!! Grits are the best I've ever had!
(5)
Selphyne B.
Very friendly, little joint with ok food. We were welcomed and seated right away. The menu on Sunday is only breakfast items and any running specials. We went for breakfast this morning and tried a fair variety between my husband and me. My husband ordered the crab and fried green tomato Benedict with classic hollandaise sauce, with a side of home fries and beignets. I ordered À la carte: order of eggs over medium, a toasted English muffin and a side of their chipotle hollandaise. The beignets were lovely and unexpectedly dense like a fried biscuit rather than a traditionally light and airy beignet. My husband enjoyed his Benedict that seemed to be smothered under giant lumps of crab. His potatoes were very dark and greasy but didn't taste awful, just too heavy to eat more than a bite or so. My eggs weren't cooked over medium, they were over easy and still had a dark spot that at first glance had me worried that the yolk was over cooked! I think the cook had then on high heat and then removed them. Again, not bad tasted, just lacking in technique. I assembled them on the English muffin with the chipotle hollandaise for my own vegetarian Benedict and it was great with their sauce! I really loved the chipotle seasoning infused in this hollandaise and will be recreating it at home. I will note that they only offer strawberry and grape jelly which is a no no for me. And their establishment isn't comfortable: old school bingo chairs and card tables of some sort. I think the theme was supposed to match the name but they gave up and used a Porsche flag to cover a window partially. This is a very run down low budget place and it was very apparent that someone woke up and decided to open an eatery on little to no budget. We didn't hate it and would probably return if we were still in the area as it still offers better food than most restaurants in the area with a low price.
(3)
Mike B.
So we had a breakfast meet up, only one outta four was happy with the goods. The eggs Benedict was a success but the omelettes were not satisfying. I had the basic two eggs grits and bacon, wasn't bad but not great. 51 bucks for breakfast that wasn't super, will probably be the last.
(2)
Harold W.
This place always has a line for breakfast especially on weekends. We have been wanting yo eat here for awhile. Staff is very friendly. By the looks of this place there are a lot of regulars. I had the Breakfast Special which was good but not outstanding. Danny had the Spicy Sausage Eggs Benedict which he said was good but not outstanding.
(3)
Bernadette K.
The food is horrible. The ambiance is horrible . Not kidding you. Why did we stop here? Because of all the people before us giving 4 stars. What are.these people used to eating that they would give this place more than 1 star ??And it shows the owners have not put one penny back into this place to make it appealing. We were brought to eat in some back room with 1970's tile on the floor and office furniture table and chairs. Im not recommending and im not coming back.
(1)
Marina K.
This place was horrible. From slimy oil on top coffee to coffee stained coffee cups. I was so disappointed. We just left. And the service was terrible too.
(1)
Landon B.
Went here with my wife and our parents for Sunday brunch a couple weeks ago. Only been in Charleston for a couple months. Haven't had a chance to try Early Bird Diner because of the really long waits on Sunday and may never get to because of a diamond in the rough like Sunflower Cafe. It's opens earlier than most on Sunday around 8 or 9 am, can't remember which. Call ahead and you will be sat promptly, otherwise expect a little wait especially as it gets closer to noon. The staff is very friendly and the food is great! The best part is the price. All 6 of us had filling meals and coffee and my wife and I paid a little less than $70!!! Must try for breakfast/brunch. Place is larger than it looks. Friendly folks. Will be going again.
(4)
Marica M.
Everything was good especially the crab fried green tomato Benedict.I got potatoes as my side and it was okay, I would get cheesy grits next time like what my brother got. I don't eat too much grits but this one I really liked. I would definitely bring my family next time here to have some breakfast ;) so much food to try that looks good.. The beignet is a must! Such a classic! Everyone was very friendly and nice.
(4)
Lisa A.
I stopped into the Sunflower Cafe for lunch today. I've wanted to try it for some time and as I had to be in West Ashley today, it was convenient. The restaurant is larger than it would seem from the outside but still a cozy, neighborhood feeling to it. Most of the patrons seemed to be regulars, known by the staff which is often a good sign. The Cafe also had a private gathering going on in their back dining room, which made me wonder if service would be affected but it was not an issue; the servers were still very attentive to all customers. My drink order was taken as soon as I was seated and my iced tea was kept full the entire time I was eating. I started with a cup of the soup of the day, Crab and Corn Chowder. It was served in a good sized coffee mug. I was pleased with the portion size. The soup was delicious; creamy and just the proper thickness. The crab tasted fresh and I didn't encounter any shells, which is often an issue with crab chowder/stew. Not here! Continuing the crab theme, I had the crabmeat and fried green tomato sandwich, served on sourdough bread which was drizzled with an herb aioli. While very tasty, the aioli was presented on the outside of the sandwich, which makes for a sloppy eating experience. When I return to Sunflower Cafe--and I definitely will!--I'll ask for the aioli on the side. The sandwich was very tasty. While the sandwiches on the menu come with either fries, potato salad or cole slaw, I had substituted/added the chowder as my side dish so I can't comment on sides. All in all, a very pleasant lunch experience which I definitely recommend.
(4)
Jon T.
Best value for breakfast in Charleston. The food does not disappoint. Get there early for Sunday breakfast/brunch.
(5)
Ajay Y.
Truly a Hidden Gem! Great service. Amazing cheese grits and BLT. And don't forgot the beignets - by far better than the ones in New Orleans!
(5)
Delia L.
Unassuming decor, prompt service and AMAZING food. Next time I'm in Charleston I'll be back! The crab and fried green tomato Benedict is beyond delicious!
(4)
Grant S.
Finishing up our omelets with biscuits and grits, the nice woman running the place said "See you tomorrow!" to another woman paying for her breakfast. Does this lady seriously eat breakfast here two days in a row on a consistent basis? Though I envy her eating out budget, I can't say I blame her. The grits are really stand-outs. I thought I hated grits until I had them here. They're really soft and flavorful. Biscuits were soft and clearly homemade, probably in-house and probably with love. We got the Sauteed Spinach, Oven Dried Tomatoes, & Feta Cheese omelets because there weren't many other vegetarian options, and it was pretty good, too. The eggs were a little on the dry side, but not a deal-breaker. Lastly, potatoes are great -- caramelized and full of flavor. Add some hot sauce and you're set.
(4)
Jenny S.
My favorite breakfast spot. I love their crab benedict so much that I can't order anything else. The restaurant looks a little dusty and outdated, but has a great charm. This is a unique little place off the beaten path. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The only reason I gave them a four and not five is during my last visit my potatoes were burned. I do wish they continued to serve breakfast throughout the day for those who have a hard time getting there by 11:00. I sometimes enjoy getting out for a late breakfast. Every time I have been, I have left happy.
(4)
Katie B.
Had a great lunch here on a recent Saturday. Tried my first fried green tomatoes which were very good with a delicious remoulade. I also enjoyed the salmon salad I ordered very much. Highly recommended.
(4)
Meredith S.
Breakfast is only served until 11:00am!! It says differently on here though. I've never had a bad experience with a restaurant in Charleston until we decided to try this place. My boyfriend and I are locals but this place was not among the many locally friendly restaurants. When we sat down we found out that we could only get 3 breakfast items. The waiter was rude to begin with and when we told him that we decided to go somewhere that we could get breakfast, he rudely grabbed out menus and basically yelled at us that they only serve breakfast until 11:00am. We left and were very glad that we did not give him our business!
(1)
J F.
Hidden Gem One of those only-the-locals-know-about kind of place. nothing fancy. just great sandwiches. if you come here for the first time, then you must get the filet mingon and the fried green tomato sandwiches. 2 sandwiches + 1 tea = $22 not bad. definitely coming back here when I'm in Charleston.
(4)
Deb B.
What a great find! I have driven past the place for years and just never knew what I was missing. We ordered the left side of the menu and the food was outstanding! This is going to be my new fav breakfast spot. The prices are very good and the food was just what I was craving. Thanks Sunflower Cafe!!
(4)
Randi B.
Special Salmon & grits - delish; Sausage Benedict - yum & Sweet Potato Pancakes - the BOMB!
(5)
Kelly B.
Terrible breakfast.. eggs Benedict.. ham was WAY too salty, eggs were WAY too runny, sauce was the only thing good. Side of bacon... tasted like the meat had gone bad, worst bacon I've ever had. Crab omelet... excessive bits of shell in the crab meat. Wasn't cheap enough to warrant leniency in expectations for the food. Not impressed and will never go there again.
(1)
Andre M.
Great place. Loved the potatoes. My eggs benadict could have been a little bit more runny but they were still great.
(4)
Evan S.
This is definitely a local joint and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way. The staff is very friendly and the service was great, but that's about where the compliments end. The restaurant is a bit dated and marginally clean. And the food is just average. People were ordering some sandwiches which looked huge, so I'd say that the value is definitely there. I had the salmon spinach salad which had huge chunks of red onion in it and slightly too much dressing. The salmon was a little overcooked. This is definitely a locals spot so if you want to see what they like go for it! It's not a terrible spot, just not my cup of sweet tea...
(3)
Samuel J.
"Charleston's Best Sandwich" lived up to its name! The gingerbread pancakes were awesome too!
(4)
Matthew C.
Visiting from out of town and was looking for a good breakfast joint. Food was great and the service was even better. The decor is a bit blah but it doesn't take away from how great everything else was. Will make it a point to stop here for breakfast whenever I am in Charleston!
(5)
meme a.
Hubby and I stopped in for brunch after church. It was very busy but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table to be set up. The decor was not trendy at all but the word "cute" came to mind. A kind of homey, family atmosphere. I ordered the crab and green tomato eggs benedict. Yum Yum. The egg was perfectly poached. My husband ordered a filet and eggs....med. rare. And it actually came out medium rare. It was nice and juicy. We also had an order of beignets. =) The food was yum and the service was attentive. On the way out, we were greeted by a nice older lady (possibly the owner). Our experience was very good. 4.5
(4)
Amy Yvonne H.
Diamond in the rough. You may not even notice this little family owned restaurant when your driving down hwy 61 but its worth stopping for!! This is my second visit & I had: Breakfast club special with two eggs, bacon, biscuit, cheese grits A+ Appetizer of beignets A+ The good: food came out quick server was on point bacon was cooked just right crispy yet soft grits were fancy and fresh cheese was melted on them in a mini baking pan The bad: eggs were not cooked fully the way I asked. (no runny yoke) biscuit was said to be very good but comparatively to Early Bird Diner in West Ashley, it was not that good. Server was robert *Asked to give togo drinks *Had up to 5 plates at a time *very friendly & always a pleasure having him serve us VERDICT: Its an amazing small place that has amazing food. Be specific with how you want things cooked, & emphasize things that matter. Bring a big appetite, no matter what you order, it seems you can't go wrong with there fresh, hot ingredients for a low price!
(4)
Kathleen M.
Love this place for breakfast. They will omit things if needed. Example: Potatoes with breakfast I don't eat the seasoning mix. They made them plain. Also the spinach egg white omelette is good. If looking for super sized servings this isn't the place. Only 4 stars because my companions steak had a "old" taste to it.
(3)
Samantha R.
Amazing!! Read the reviews on yelp and decided to make this our first stop after the airport and we were NOT disappointed. Everyone that works here is so polite and friendly. Very home-y atmosphere. The omlettes were really good and the beignets were to die for!!!
(5)
Jennifer M.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!! It is family owned and operated and you can tell! They take great pride in everything they do. I've been dining her for the eight years they have been open and have NEVER been disappointed. The food is fresh, fast, and delicious. The decor is nothing fancy but the atmosphere is like being at an old family friend's house. Enjoying a great lunch and great conversation.
(5)
Steven H.
Unassuming local yokel type joint with Southern character and delicious breakfast offerings. Our group of four had a variety of things, all freshly prepared, and some memorably unique. Sweet potato pancakes with brown sugar pecan butter = better plan on burning some more calories later on. Decor diner-spartan, service adequate and friendly, food delicious.
(5)
felicity b.
We didn't try any of their specialty dishes, and just stuck to the egg classics. What I liked: -Well cooked eggs -Friendly service -Great tea -Prices were very fair -Food was hot and fresh Everyone in my group enjoyed their breakfast. Our server, a nice young lady with a short hair cut, was very friendly. The building is a little run down, and they could use a little sprucing up in the restaurant.
(4)
Leslie K.
The grits are the best I have ever had, however the potatoes were not good and the omelet was oily.
LOVE their potatoes and biscuits. One of our favorite spots in West Ashley for breakfast! Limited menu but what is on there is awesome!
(4)
Debbie B.
One of our FAVORITE places to eat in West Ashley! This place has some of the BEST entrees around. Their sweet potato pancakes and their crab omelets and their eggs Benedict are the bomb!!! Highly recommend dining here for breakfast or lunch. Great staff, very friendly and knowledgeable.
(5)
Jason S.
Breakfast at the Sunflower Cafe was our first meal in Charleston and we were not disappointed. I had the crab and fried green tomatoes eggs benedict and my wife the sweet potato pancakes. Both were fantastic. Our server was very personable. The interior is typical diner, which isn't a bad thing. I highly recommend.
(4)
Sandra L.
We were visiting charleston last week and had the chance to enjoy a delicious breakfast at Sunflower. I had the sweet potato pancakes. yummy! They were served with pecan sugar butter. No need for syrup. Can't wait to go back and try an omelette.
(5)
Randy H.
First time there and it was great. Crab Benedict with green tomatoes was fresh, just tart enough and very tasty.
(5)
Samantha J.
Definitely a long wait, which wasn't a big deal. However, we had looked at the menu while waiting and we're ready to order once we sat Down. When the waitress came over we let her know we were ready to order. She said she cannot take our order because we can only order drinks first. Once we were finally able to place our food order I requested the spinach, tomato and feta but wanted it as a scramble instead of an omelette. The waitress said she wasn't sure that was possible and had to get the manager. The manager came over and acted like it was a crazy request and that they have a special pan for omlettes and the scramble wouldn't work. I asked if they make scrambled eggs and that I just wanted to add the ingredients to the scrambled eggs. She said the vegetables wouldn't cook then. So they made a huge deal out of me requesting scrambled eggs and instead completely changed my order to plain scrambled eggs. The food was sub par. However the grits were delicious. Overall, the service and the food was not worth the wait and the lack of customer service in requesting alterations to food orders was obnoxious.
(2)
Chami D.
Excellent food and excellent service... We had a great breakfast here. The beignet was to die for and the spicy sausage Benedict was amazing....
(5)
Kai K.
We were driving our Trolley Pub up to Raleigh from Savannah and decided to stop here for breakfast. Unfortunately, our friends were going to be late. Breakfast ends at 11 so I asked the server whether or not they could wait a half hour so we could still order breakfast. The guy seemed really stressed out by the request and at one point said "this isn't a waffle house- we have to change the kitchen over." While I completely understand that, he could of just said "I'm so sorry, but your welcome to order from the lunch menu." The server was friendly after we sat down, though. Sirloin sandwich was delicious. The cuts were perfectly medium rare and the horseradish sauce blended superbly with the...bread. I made noises the whole time I ate it. The decor leaves much to be desired. 5/5 for the food, 3/5 service/decor.
(4)
Genessa W.
Excellent lunch! We went at first for the breakfast, but the rest of our party arrived too late to order. While my boyfriend and I waited, we ordered some grits, which were home-cooked and amazing. I have to say for a girl from California with NO experience of grits, my mouth was definitely watering for more. Then we ordered a few sandwiches- my boyfriend and his friend ordered the steak sandwich and I had the BL and Fried Green Tomatoes sandwich. SO GOOD! I ate the entire sandwich in about 10 minutes (which is a lot for me) and my boyfriend nearly licked his plate clean. Not only was the lunch great, but then we ordered the Fritters for dessert, which were hot, sugary, and delicious. If I'm ever in that neck of the woods, I'm definitely going back!
(5)
Jennifer A.
This place was dirty, the food was awful and the service was terrible. Go somewhere, anywhere else!
(1)
Karen S.
Great food, nice price and super friendly staff-they easily accommodated our group of 15. I would go back for sure!!! Try the fried green tomatoes!
(4)
Greg K.
While most of the reviews gush with lavish compliments, the 5 star on 9/2013 "Jennifer" is actually Jen and is the head COOK with her mother "Miss Jenny" the owner. This type of self promotion is truly not fair play and misleading! The food is actually quite good true, but nothing extraordinary. The interior borders on shabby especially looking at the stained ceiling and dislodged panels. While The servers were pleasant and friendly, a keen ear could detect dissatisfaction and I witnessed the owner chastising employees in a condescending manner. This made the cozy atmosphere truly uncomfortable! Overall average to good, I have found genuinely finer examples in cozy atmosphere elsewhere!
(3)
Roger O.
Breakfast is what I enjoy and Sunflower delivers. My family enjoys the grits, omelets, and crab cake Benedict. Healthy portions for sure. The seating is close and the place is dated , but we still go back for good food in a clean setting. Please keep up the good service!
(4)
Amy L.
Cute little small-towny cafe with very tasty sandwiches. It's a convenient place to stop for lunch on the way to or from the plantations, and you're definitely not paying tourist prices here.
(4)
Paul C.
Great place and value for the dollar! The best sandwich in charleston really is. Portions were generous and service was prompt and friendly
(5)
Will B.
The fam & I have been eating here for years. The simplistic decor belies the sophisticated recipes and delicious, fresh food. Case & point: crabs Benedict (lump crab meet & fried green tomatoes).
(5)
Laurie A.
Mediocre. Got 1 small sausage with eggs and sausage breakfast (normally 2), had to ask for coffee when cups empty, below average service, average food.
(2)
Benjamin A.
After waiting for nearly 15 minutes and seeing the crowd of people eating, my expectations were high. However upon receiving my meal, it was nothing short of atrocious. The potatoes were so soggy they were dripping, the bacon was flaccid and cold when it was served, and apparently the cooks don't understand how to cook eggs. Just go somewhere else. Total waste of time and money. The coffee was good.
(1)
Evan T.
Me and my family have become weekly regulars. The food is some of the best breakfast food I have ever had (you have to try the sweet potato pancakes). The staff is personable and if you go in once, seem to remember you the next time you go back. Honestly with the decor and service, you feel like you in a relatives home as opposed to a place of business. One of my top 5 in Charleston hands down.
(5)
Santos M.
Smelled mildewy upon entering. Coffee was mediocre. Eggs were cold and potatoes were soggy. Better off going to McDonalds
(1)
Aaron R.
We stopped by Sunflower Cafe for a Sunday brunch and were very impressed. Clearly a family-owned busines, this local gem puts a lot of effort into creating an amazing menu with constantly changing specials and top quality food. All of the omelets look great - I had a filet and boursin cheese which blew me away. Amazing array of benedicts and lots of other classics such as pancakes and beignets. The prices blew me away for the size of the portions and the quality of the food. Sunday brunch is pretty busy but not a bad wait for the experience. They also serve lunch during the week which our friends told us is equally delicious.
(5)
S Y.
Great breakfast food with a little bit of a twist. The crab benedict was very good, and the carrot cake pancakes were delicious.
(5)
Michael C.
This is my wife's favorite spot for lunch. They are good people serving good food - not fast food, but cooked fresh in the kitchen. Plus, in addition to large portions of good meals, they also support the community. And man, excellent grilled cheese!
(5)
Cheryl F.
Delicious food with wonderful service! The perfect combination of homestyle cooking with a gourmet twist.
(5)
Gloria C.
What a cozy diner! We went based on the Yelp reviews and were not disappointed. The staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. Our food came out surprisingly fast and was delicious! We all had pancakes with side orders of eggs (scrambled and fried). The fried eggs were a little crusty around the edges, which I don't care for, but the scrambled eggs were fluffy and perfect. The breakfast menu offers variations of eggs benedict, different flavors of pancakes, french toast, and omelettes. The coffee was good as well, so that's always a plus!
(4)
Laura M.
This is quite the popular place for Sunday brunch. The sweet potato pancakes with pecan butter were really good (and sweet!)... And that butter was the star of the plate. Everything else we had was just okay. I would recommend saying how you like your eggs cooked... Mine were a bit overcooked but they are very friendly and make everything to order so I'm sure they will tailor your dish to your needs!
(3)
Andrea C.
Sunflower Cafe is as good as a breakfast place gets! 15 minutes from the airport and up the road from and between Drayton Hall and Charles Towne Landing. It was our first stop after arrival, and we liked it so much we made it our last before catching our plane. Inexpensive, kids menu. I had the poached eggs with fried green tomatoes, crab and hollandaise sauce. I don't like too heavy food but wanted to try this super southern dish. The crab compote was light and I had the sauce on the side- it was great. Second time around I tried the sweet potato pancakes, also great. My husband had the omlettes, also very good. Very nice people and waitress, felt like a real local place. Fast service, we arrived at 9 on Sunday when they opened and they were immediately half-full!
(5)
Liliana C.
Me, my friend and my brother all went here on our last morning in Charleston and it was amazing. If you're visiting town and want some breakfast I highly recommend it.
(5)
Marc M.
This restaurant is OK - it gets solid marks for good service (Thanks Casey!) and food. I had the Filet Mignon sandwich (labelled as The Best Sandwich in Charleston on the menu). The sandwich was served on caibatta bread with a good amount of melted gruyere cheese. I doubt it was filet mignon, but it was tasty. My wife had crab cake sandwich and daughter had a grilled cheese. They don't have a soda fountain - your choices are water or iced tea. Overall minus stars for ambiance - there really is none. This was a quick, easy meal. The place was filled with locals. I'd go back if in the area, but it is not a destination for me to must-visit again.
(3)
E S.
3 stars because the service was good, the facility was okay, but the food wasn't very good. My review doesn't really match what the others are saying, but we aren't feeling so good after having breakfast. I've never complained about a breakfast before but here's how we feel: Food was comparable to a frozen microwave breakfast. The potatoes/sausage were burned and tasted microwaved, bacon was rare, the pancakes and grits were tasteless (and odd tasting) and the biscuit was very dry. Still a nice little spot. Maybe the cook was off today?
(3)
Shayla J.
My Husband and I want to try a different restaurant. He was like, this Charleston it has to be more choices than Alex's Restaurant. Which brought us to this fine establishment. This restaurant is exactly what we wanted. Good home feel, with "Southern Hospitality". The food had fresh ingredients. He ordered Mignon Omelette, and I ordered ham omelette. Their both were delicious. And seriously the BEST GREEN TOMATOES, EVEN BETTER THAN CHARLESTON 'S CAFE!!! So, my friends when you have a moment... Stop by Sunflowers. We SURE Glad We Did ;-)
(5)
Christy M.
This time I went with a friend, and we split meals. I got the fried green tomato and crab cakes Benedict, she got the shrimp, bacon and Brie omelet. The Omelette was mediocre, I didn't really taste the Brie and shrimp that are not deveined gross me out a bit. So, if shrimp with the poop vein bothers you also, I'd stay away from that, if not, go for it. The bacon in the omelette was smokey and good. The grits are ok, nothing amazing.
(3)
Zainab A.
The girls who waited on me were great! The food was mediocre. I might have caught them on a really crazy day because they were definitely busy. I waited about 5 minutes to order drinks and a few more for the food. The food came out pretty quickly, but unfortunately was pretty bad. Had a patty sausage which was very very hard and some blueberry pancakes. Those were good but more blueberry than cake. I was there in a Friday morning right before July 4th and they were visibly busy but nothing really makes up for poorly cooked and rushed food.
(3)
Megan R.
While it doesn't look like much (inside or out), the food was pretty good and the wait wasn't too long for a Sunday at 11. Our waitress obviously knew the customers at the table next to us, so she gave us "extra time" to check out the menus while she chatted with them, which I wasn't overly impressed with since she saw us sitting there. The price was excellent and I'm definitely planning on going back to try the pancakes which are huge, from my observation.
(4)
Chelsea S.
Stopped in for breakfast before visiting the Dray ton Plantation it was a fun experience. Nice little cafe. Everything on the menu looked delicious.
(5)
Amy Lauren S.
I've been to Sunflower Cafe a few times and am surprised I hadn't reviewed it before! It is definitely a hidden gem of the West Ashley area, with a big local following but a great place for anyone traveling through to visit. There's plenty of parking and the decor kind of reminds you of eating at grandma's house. It's not fancy, but the food is delicious and service is great. Our server kept our drinks full and made sure we were taken care of, and our food came out quickly. I have never had to wait longer than 10 minutes or so when I've come here, and you can wait indoors. I had some friends in town for the Cooper River Bridge Run, and we wanted to go out for brunch on Sunday. With the influx of Bridge Run visitors, most of the usual brunch recommendations were packed, so I suggested Sunflower Cafe. They loved it- one friend had pancakes and the other had one of the benedicts. The portions are huge and we had leftovers. We've also taken my in-laws here and they loved the sweet potato pancakes. Warning, the pancakes take up the whole plate- so make sure you're hungry or prepare to split a few dishes between everyone to try it all. They post some mouthwatering daily specials on Facebook, so follow them there. The only drawback of Sunflower Cafe is that on Sunday, it is breakfast menu only, even though they are open until 2 PM. On other days, they service breakfast up until 2 PM but add lunch foods.
(4)
Margaret J.
Great place for brunch! Our server was fantastic and had a lot of good suggestions. Her name was Kirsty I think. I got the crab and fried green tomato Benedict which came with potatoes. Very good. I was so stuffed afterwards. Had a good amount of crab and the tomato was cooked perfectly.
(5)
Rebecca Q.
This place has great food and a very friendly environment. Will definitely come back..
(5)
Cara J.
We had the sweet potato pancakes, breakfast club special (eggs, bacon, potatoes and biscuit), and corn and crab chowder. The sweet potato pancakes were delicious and definitely worth ordering again! The soup was alright, but it didn't taste very flavorful to me. My husband also ordered coffee, which smelled burnt to me.. I'm guessing this was just a fluke though. He was also the one who ordered the special, which he liked, and I thought the biscuit was really good (better than Early Bird's for sure). We will probably come back and had a pretty good meal overall, somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. All the sunflower decor is really cute, too!
(4)
Keith H.
Hmmm.... long wait for below average food, dirty floors and old-fashioned (NOT in a charming way) decor... I won't be going back. I guess the nature of the Charleston beast on Sunday is waiting in line for Breakfast/Brunch, but to be assured, this does NOT reflect the quality of the food or overall dining experience at a restaurant. All-in-all, waiting in line for the Sunflower was not worth our time. The two fried eggs we ordered were over salted/over oily and over cooked and the plain waffles were mediocre at best. The decor is truly odd and the place has an old and grimy feel to it. The chairs, tables, door handles, bathroom all have lots of miles on them and seem a little used and abused. This is not a design feature - it is not rustic - it is just a little worn down. I would NOT recommend this place.
(2)
Zaida J.
My friend and I tried Sunflower Cafe out on Sunday after logging a few miles on the West Ashley Greenway. We were about 15 minutes away, but I knew from Yelp reviews this place was packed on the weekend so I went ahead and called to get on the list. I can see why some consider it easy to miss but my GPS took me straight there so it easy cheesy. Good thing we called ahead. We arrived and the waiting area was full, with others waiting outside. We were seated within 5 minutes which was awesome because we'd worked up quite an appetite! I'll keep this short and sweet because this review will echo a lot of what others are saying. Food was excellent, service was friendly and on point, price was excellent! We both had coffee & water, split an order of beignets, and both selected the crab and fried green tomato eggs Benedict with a side of cheese grits. Everything was SO GOOD!!!!!!!!! Seasoned well, cooked perfectly, yummy, yummy, yummy! Our total bill was just over $30.
(5)
Chrissy C.
Great customer service although my eggs were runny and had to send back. Other than that good experience
(3)
Kylaine K.
The service staff was nice enough but we had to wait a bit to be seated despite the fact that there were tables open. When we were seated our table was sticky. I ordered scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese but 10 minutes later was told they couldn't put spinach in scrambled eggs, not sure why since I have orderd them that way at many places and never had a problem, it's really not complicated. Lastly, I was highly disappointed with the benets. I was expecting a delicious french doughnut but what I got was a blob of fried funnel cake dough sprinkled with powdered sugar. Not impressed, I couldn't even eat them. We will not be returning.
(2)
Frank G.
I think their breakfast menu changed. Only one egg choice on Sunday, outside of the omelets. Don't understand, must be me. Frank G
Long Wait Time with open tables available. Utensils/Cupware/dishes are old, stained and look dirty tables and chairs are old office furniture with a lot of miles on them. Floors, walls in the entire place are grimy, dirty and doesn't look like they clean very often. for as busy as this place seems to be it definitely doesn't seem to reinvest any money back into the business.
(1)
Christopher H.
I love the food here. Those sweat potato pancakes are just heavenly. The eggs and bacon are quite good as well. Three slaps to my mom for not making me food this good. I can't wait for my family to come back into town so I can take them here. Yum to e is what I say. There is so much food on their menu that I want to try and I plan too.
(5)
Phoebe H.
I think my husband and I were the only people there without blue or grey hair on a Saturday at 8 am. We thought we would have to wait for a table by the looks of the full paling lot, but the cafe is surprisingly spacious inside with plenty of room to sit. All of the waitresses we're very courteous, sweet and attentive. They all seemed very happy and genuine. I had the waffles which were two huge, warm, soft, and scrumptious Belgian-style cakes. The bacon side was plentiful for $2 but wasn't anything special. They had a daily special for breakfast as well. My husband had the spicy eggs Benedict which had a tangy sausage that tasted more like chorizo. He said it was the best he has ever had. I tried his home fried potatoes and the flavor was perfection. This family atmosphere makes you feel like you've just plopped down at grandmas for a holiday morning feast. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Mimi N.
Try their crab cake, fried green tomato, egg benedict and grits! I also go bacon (which We're really crispy! Yum!) on the side since I love it with grits.
(5)
Lanny G.
I had the pecan Waffle with banana syrup. It was so good. I also got 2 eggs and sausage. The look of the restaurant is plain Jane but the food is very good.
(4)
Colleen J.
I go to Sunflower Cafe for the beignets and coffee. They were delicious and the sugar induced coma that followed shortly after was divine. As far as food, lunch wasn't my fave -- I think I need to stop by for breakfast to give it another shot. Service was good... place could use some cleaning up, but nothing bad. Solid three stars unless you get the beignets - then it's 4 stars.
(3)
Brandi S.
I had the eggs benedict with ham. It was great and reasonably priced. Our server was friendly and attentive. The cook even came out to ask how our food was. I recommend!!
(5)
Tara C.
The pancakes, oh my goodness, the pancakes! It's 10:00 pm on a Monday night, and those pancakes sound amazing.. even right now. Quaint, family-owned and operated. I've had the sweet potato pancakes and chocolate covered cherry pancakes, both were delicious!
(5)
Rachel C.
Great service. Small breakfast diner atmosphere with local color and sunflower decor. I ordered the breakfast special with eggs, grits, bacon and a biscuit. They kept the refills coming on my coffee, food came out hot and tasty. Staff was super kid friendly, greeted regulars like family with hugs, and great idea to have children's books on a shelf to keep the littles busy. I would go back for sure.
(4)
Jim B.
Looking for a place for breakfast on a Sunday morning - not very many to chose from that aren't big-box boring. Helpers gave this place high marks so we took a ride. Got there just after they opened and the crowd was already rolling in - we were quickly seated and the place filled up within minutes - our timing was just right. Typical diner layout with exceptional menu choices. In spite of the crush, our servers kept us well supplied with water and tea until our breakfast got to our table. Wifey had feta, sun-dried tomato omelet. She said it was very good. Yours truly had the spicey sausage and pepper Benedict - excellent! Grits were obviously not instant and they were a credit to gritdom. Inexpensive, clean, fast, well-executed comfort food - exactly what you should expect from a diner in Charleston. We will return anytime we are in town.
(5)
Marcy Z.
Best pancakes I've ever had! I set some kind of speed record eating them...no syrup btw. Hubby had sausage peppers Benedict and said they were perfect. Two coffees, side of bacon (deep fried ) and beignets; $25.
(5)
Mari B.
OH GOSH-AMAZING! This place is so underrated its ridiculous! BEST QUALITY BREAKFAST FOOD IN Charleston! I am a foodie so I've been to countless of restaurants in the area and this really is the best breakfast I've had! Yes, the outside looks like it needs some love and care and it is not in downtown but really now, the QUALITY matters! And this food is GOOOOOD! PS: do not leave without trying the sweet potato pancakes with the pecan butter. HEAVEN!
(5)
Carolyn S.
From the outside it doesn't look much but the food is SO good! Beignets, "best sandwhich in charleston", and feta cheese omlette w spinach and tomatoes were all exceptional! Side note: I loved the fries! The food is very well prepared!
(5)
Ross H.
I had the eggs Benedict with country ham and our was great! The saltiness of the ham cuts through the hollandaise sauce nicely and the grits act as a great absorber of all the flavors. Also got the beignets to cut the abundance of salty with sweet. They were great.
(4)
David H.
This is one of those breakfast and lunch spots that really is a hidden gem. We were thrilled to trip across it and judging from our fellow diners, this place is popular with a cross section of folks and it's easy to see why. There's nothing fancy about the place, but what it lacks in style it makes up for in charm. The service was truly fantastic and everyone on the staff was amazingly friendly, even by Southern standards. Our party of four had a mixture of lunch and breakfast items. The portions were generous and the pricing was very reasonable. The sandwiches were creative and could easily have been found in a hipster establishment downtown, plus they were as delicious as they sounded. My kids loved their blueberry pancakes so much that my wife and I just had to steal a few bites and we were glad we did. The food came out quickly and, in fact, our only complaint was that our fries and scrambled eggs (different orders, of course), could have been cooked a teeny bit more for our tastes. Still, we can't recommend the place enough. If we're ever in the area again, we'll make a point of swinging by.
(4)
Tracy B.
We were on vacation from California and wanted a good breakfast. This place fit the bill perfectly. Great prices, great food, and great service. What more could we ask for.
(5)
Emily G.
This place is very good for the price you pay! You get a nice yummy meal that is not overpriced. Definitely try their potatoes if you like peppers and onions if not don't worry they have naked potatoes as well! We will definitely be coming back here regularly!
(5)
Megan S.
Very cute place. Had the sweet potato pancakes w/ pecan butter and they were soooo good! My sis had the pecan waffles w/ banana syrup. So delicious!
(4)
Damian T.
The service here is wonderful. That cannot be stressed enough and I love the sunflower decorations. The only reason I cannot give a rating of more than three stars is because of the food quality. Don't get me wrong, it is not terrible but it's not great. It is on par (sadly) with the areas diners. The price point should be about 2$ cheaper than where it is at for the quality. That being said they have excellent choices for brunch. I ordered their namesake breakfast and my companions ordered a pecan waffle with warm banana syrup and sprinkle pancakes (kid menu). I love that they have sprinkle pancakes (or chocolate chips) but they charged a dollar for literally a handful of sprinkles dropped on top of the pancakes. The waffle was delish and paired awesomely with the banana syrup! My eggs were cooked perfectly to order and the bacon was cooked exactly how I like, not too crispy. The potatoes left something to be desired but the endless coffee was better than expected. I wasn't disappointed with my visit but I wish that there were more quality options or at least more reasonable prices. 3 stars; average.
(3)
Meagan T.
Stopped in here after leaving the airport on our first day in Charleston. Found it via yelp and we're not disappointed! This is a small town, home cooking type of restaurant. I imagine it's one of those places where all the locals go and everyone knows your name. There were a few people there when we came in around 10:30a. There was one guy working and he was very friendly. We started with waters and a coffee for me. Loved that they don't use uniform coffee mugs, makes you feel at home. My husband had the ham omelet with potatoes and I had the grab and fried green tomato Benedict with potatoes and a side of bacon. Everything was delicious!
(4)
Larry Y.
Wife ordered the Fresh Crab & Fried Green Tomatoes, I ordered the Salt Cured Country Ham & Eggs, and the kids ordered the Sunflower Cafe' Breakfast Club Special. The food was good, especially the Fresh Crab entree. Gave them a 3 since the service was next to none.
(3)
Elle E.
We had two benedicts: the crab cake fried green tomato as well as the spicy sausage and peppers. Both were cooked perfectly and the flavors of each dish really complimented each other quite well. I was so impressed by how on top of everything the server was, we had Shannon and she never let my coffee go unattended. I had a side of cheese grits as well and they were the best I've ever had. Thank you for such a delicious breakfast Sunflower Cafe!
(5)
Lily G.
We come here every year we are in Charleston.....great food and service. Christy, our waitress, could not have been nicer, she even recommended a barber for great women's haircuts. Fabulous. LOVE the crab, fried green tomato eggs Benedict. The best hollandaise I've ever had including some very fancy New York restaurants! We always go during the week because I'm sure the weekends are mobbed and rightly so.
(5)
Endo M.
Salt cured eggs Benedict was absolutely delicious. Grits were good. Staff very friendly. Ample parking & tables spaced out inside nicely. Decor dated but clean.
(4)
Jen S.
Was looking for a place to have Sunday brunch, but didn't want to wait til 11, when most places open. Found this little gem hidden off Ashley River Road. Delicious! Lots of options, great prices and extremely friendly staff. Really enjoyed the biscuits. Did have to wait for about 20 minutes, so will call ahead next time. Will definitely be back for brunch and probably dinner too!
(4)
Travis F.
This is one of my go to spots. They make me feel like extended family (the kind you actually enjoy when they visit). The food is good, feels like home and the people are even better. It's a treat to be greeted by name instead of them getting my name off my card at the end. Attention to detail people.
(4)
Jessica B.
First thing's first- make a reservation!! They accept any size party reservations. The restaurant is small and a little outdated, but the service and food were excellent. At our table of three, the special omlette of the day (taco omlette), plain waffle with banana syrup and the special pancakes of the day (oatmeal raisin) were ordered. The food came out quickly, hot and delicious. The portions are quite large for breakfast and worth every penny. The plates are reasonably priced right where they should be. The sides- the sausage are patties, which is a plus in my book! The grits were some of the best I have ever had. The biscuit tasted like it had just been made not long before it came to my table.
(4)
Cary C.
Very nice little diner with good food, fair prices, and friendly staff. It filled up on the Sunday morning we came in, but most places do. It would be nice if there was a bit more room to wait, everyone huddled by the front door, which was uncomfortable and must have bothered the folks eating at the counter. Small complaint though and overall this was a great deal for a nice brunch!
(4)
Rob T.
Wait for Breakfast it was good I have been there for Lunch was good I do go Occasionally Servers need more help Peak Breakfast and Peak Lunch Otherwise Nice
(3)
Nicholas J.
Great casual cafe off HWY 61. Friendly service and good food for a reasonable price. Be sure to try their grits. They are amazing.
(4)
M C.
Between the staff, the ambiance, and the grits, you have to come here. I stopped in on my way out of town, and was so happy I did! Everyone was so friendly, and the food was awesome! I had the eggs benedict and grits, I will forever hold everyone else's grits to the standard of what I ate here. Delicious!
(5)
Robert C.
Best place I've ever eaten!! The filet omelette is the best thing I've ever had! Sweet potato pancakes are out of this world!! Grits are the best I've ever had!
(5)
Kelly B.
Terrible breakfast.. eggs Benedict.. ham was WAY too salty, eggs were WAY too runny, sauce was the only thing good. Side of bacon... tasted like the meat had gone bad, worst bacon I've ever had. Crab omelet... excessive bits of shell in the crab meat. Wasn't cheap enough to warrant leniency in expectations for the food. Not impressed and will never go there again.
(1)
Andre M.
Great place. Loved the potatoes. My eggs benadict could have been a little bit more runny but they were still great.
(4)
Evan S.
This is definitely a local joint and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way. The staff is very friendly and the service was great, but that's about where the compliments end. The restaurant is a bit dated and marginally clean. And the food is just average. People were ordering some sandwiches which looked huge, so I'd say that the value is definitely there. I had the salmon spinach salad which had huge chunks of red onion in it and slightly too much dressing. The salmon was a little overcooked. This is definitely a locals spot so if you want to see what they like go for it! It's not a terrible spot, just not my cup of sweet tea...
(3)
Selphyne B.
Very friendly, little joint with ok food. We were welcomed and seated right away. The menu on Sunday is only breakfast items and any running specials. We went for breakfast this morning and tried a fair variety between my husband and me. My husband ordered the crab and fried green tomato Benedict with classic hollandaise sauce, with a side of home fries and beignets. I ordered À la carte: order of eggs over medium, a toasted English muffin and a side of their chipotle hollandaise. The beignets were lovely and unexpectedly dense like a fried biscuit rather than a traditionally light and airy beignet. My husband enjoyed his Benedict that seemed to be smothered under giant lumps of crab. His potatoes were very dark and greasy but didn't taste awful, just too heavy to eat more than a bite or so. My eggs weren't cooked over medium, they were over easy and still had a dark spot that at first glance had me worried that the yolk was over cooked! I think the cook had then on high heat and then removed them. Again, not bad tasted, just lacking in technique. I assembled them on the English muffin with the chipotle hollandaise for my own vegetarian Benedict and it was great with their sauce! I really loved the chipotle seasoning infused in this hollandaise and will be recreating it at home. I will note that they only offer strawberry and grape jelly which is a no no for me. And their establishment isn't comfortable: old school bingo chairs and card tables of some sort. I think the theme was supposed to match the name but they gave up and used a Porsche flag to cover a window partially. This is a very run down low budget place and it was very apparent that someone woke up and decided to open an eatery on little to no budget. We didn't hate it and would probably return if we were still in the area as it still offers better food than most restaurants in the area with a low price.
(3)
Mike B.
So we had a breakfast meet up, only one outta four was happy with the goods. The eggs Benedict was a success but the omelettes were not satisfying. I had the basic two eggs grits and bacon, wasn't bad but not great. 51 bucks for breakfast that wasn't super, will probably be the last.
(2)
Harold W.
This place always has a line for breakfast especially on weekends. We have been wanting yo eat here for awhile. Staff is very friendly. By the looks of this place there are a lot of regulars. I had the Breakfast Special which was good but not outstanding. Danny had the Spicy Sausage Eggs Benedict which he said was good but not outstanding.
(3)
Bernadette K.
The food is horrible. The ambiance is horrible . Not kidding you. Why did we stop here? Because of all the people before us giving 4 stars. What are.these people used to eating that they would give this place more than 1 star ??And it shows the owners have not put one penny back into this place to make it appealing. We were brought to eat in some back room with 1970's tile on the floor and office furniture table and chairs. Im not recommending and im not coming back.
(1)
Marina K.
This place was horrible. From slimy oil on top coffee to coffee stained coffee cups. I was so disappointed. We just left. And the service was terrible too.
(1)
Landon B.
Went here with my wife and our parents for Sunday brunch a couple weeks ago. Only been in Charleston for a couple months. Haven't had a chance to try Early Bird Diner because of the really long waits on Sunday and may never get to because of a diamond in the rough like Sunflower Cafe. It's opens earlier than most on Sunday around 8 or 9 am, can't remember which. Call ahead and you will be sat promptly, otherwise expect a little wait especially as it gets closer to noon. The staff is very friendly and the food is great! The best part is the price. All 6 of us had filling meals and coffee and my wife and I paid a little less than $70!!! Must try for breakfast/brunch. Place is larger than it looks. Friendly folks. Will be going again.
(4)
Marica M.
Everything was good especially the crab fried green tomato Benedict.I got potatoes as my side and it was okay, I would get cheesy grits next time like what my brother got. I don't eat too much grits but this one I really liked. I would definitely bring my family next time here to have some breakfast ;) so much food to try that looks good.. The beignet is a must! Such a classic! Everyone was very friendly and nice.
(4)
Lisa A.
I stopped into the Sunflower Cafe for lunch today. I've wanted to try it for some time and as I had to be in West Ashley today, it was convenient. The restaurant is larger than it would seem from the outside but still a cozy, neighborhood feeling to it. Most of the patrons seemed to be regulars, known by the staff which is often a good sign. The Cafe also had a private gathering going on in their back dining room, which made me wonder if service would be affected but it was not an issue; the servers were still very attentive to all customers. My drink order was taken as soon as I was seated and my iced tea was kept full the entire time I was eating. I started with a cup of the soup of the day, Crab and Corn Chowder. It was served in a good sized coffee mug. I was pleased with the portion size. The soup was delicious; creamy and just the proper thickness. The crab tasted fresh and I didn't encounter any shells, which is often an issue with crab chowder/stew. Not here! Continuing the crab theme, I had the crabmeat and fried green tomato sandwich, served on sourdough bread which was drizzled with an herb aioli. While very tasty, the aioli was presented on the outside of the sandwich, which makes for a sloppy eating experience. When I return to Sunflower Cafe--and I definitely will!--I'll ask for the aioli on the side. The sandwich was very tasty. While the sandwiches on the menu come with either fries, potato salad or cole slaw, I had substituted/added the chowder as my side dish so I can't comment on sides. All in all, a very pleasant lunch experience which I definitely recommend.
(4)
Jon T.
Best value for breakfast in Charleston. The food does not disappoint. Get there early for Sunday breakfast/brunch.
(5)
Ajay Y.
Truly a Hidden Gem! Great service. Amazing cheese grits and BLT. And don't forgot the beignets - by far better than the ones in New Orleans!
(5)
Delia L.
Unassuming decor, prompt service and AMAZING food. Next time I'm in Charleston I'll be back! The crab and fried green tomato Benedict is beyond delicious!
(4)
Grant S.
Finishing up our omelets with biscuits and grits, the nice woman running the place said "See you tomorrow!" to another woman paying for her breakfast. Does this lady seriously eat breakfast here two days in a row on a consistent basis? Though I envy her eating out budget, I can't say I blame her. The grits are really stand-outs. I thought I hated grits until I had them here. They're really soft and flavorful. Biscuits were soft and clearly homemade, probably in-house and probably with love. We got the Sauteed Spinach, Oven Dried Tomatoes, & Feta Cheese omelets because there weren't many other vegetarian options, and it was pretty good, too. The eggs were a little on the dry side, but not a deal-breaker. Lastly, potatoes are great -- caramelized and full of flavor. Add some hot sauce and you're set.
(4)
Jenny S.
My favorite breakfast spot. I love their crab benedict so much that I can't order anything else. The restaurant looks a little dusty and outdated, but has a great charm. This is a unique little place off the beaten path. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The only reason I gave them a four and not five is during my last visit my potatoes were burned. I do wish they continued to serve breakfast throughout the day for those who have a hard time getting there by 11:00. I sometimes enjoy getting out for a late breakfast. Every time I have been, I have left happy.
(4)
Katie B.
Had a great lunch here on a recent Saturday. Tried my first fried green tomatoes which were very good with a delicious remoulade. I also enjoyed the salmon salad I ordered very much. Highly recommended.
(4)
Meredith S.
Breakfast is only served until 11:00am!! It says differently on here though. I've never had a bad experience with a restaurant in Charleston until we decided to try this place. My boyfriend and I are locals but this place was not among the many locally friendly restaurants. When we sat down we found out that we could only get 3 breakfast items. The waiter was rude to begin with and when we told him that we decided to go somewhere that we could get breakfast, he rudely grabbed out menus and basically yelled at us that they only serve breakfast until 11:00am. We left and were very glad that we did not give him our business!
(1)
J F.
Hidden Gem One of those only-the-locals-know-about kind of place. nothing fancy. just great sandwiches. if you come here for the first time, then you must get the filet mingon and the fried green tomato sandwiches. 2 sandwiches + 1 tea = $22 not bad. definitely coming back here when I'm in Charleston.
(4)
Deb B.
What a great find! I have driven past the place for years and just never knew what I was missing. We ordered the left side of the menu and the food was outstanding! This is going to be my new fav breakfast spot. The prices are very good and the food was just what I was craving. Thanks Sunflower Cafe!!
(4)
Randi B.
Special Salmon & grits - delish; Sausage Benedict - yum & Sweet Potato Pancakes - the BOMB!
(5)
Samuel J.
"Charleston's Best Sandwich" lived up to its name! The gingerbread pancakes were awesome too!
(4)
Matthew C.
Visiting from out of town and was looking for a good breakfast joint. Food was great and the service was even better. The decor is a bit blah but it doesn't take away from how great everything else was. Will make it a point to stop here for breakfast whenever I am in Charleston!
(5)
Amy Yvonne H.
Diamond in the rough. You may not even notice this little family owned restaurant when your driving down hwy 61 but its worth stopping for!! This is my second visit & I had: Breakfast club special with two eggs, bacon, biscuit, cheese grits A+ Appetizer of beignets A+ The good: food came out quick server was on point bacon was cooked just right crispy yet soft grits were fancy and fresh cheese was melted on them in a mini baking pan The bad: eggs were not cooked fully the way I asked. (no runny yoke) biscuit was said to be very good but comparatively to Early Bird Diner in West Ashley, it was not that good. Server was robert *Asked to give togo drinks *Had up to 5 plates at a time *very friendly & always a pleasure having him serve us VERDICT: Its an amazing small place that has amazing food. Be specific with how you want things cooked, & emphasize things that matter. Bring a big appetite, no matter what you order, it seems you can't go wrong with there fresh, hot ingredients for a low price!
(4)
Kathleen M.
Love this place for breakfast. They will omit things if needed. Example: Potatoes with breakfast I don't eat the seasoning mix. They made them plain. Also the spinach egg white omelette is good. If looking for super sized servings this isn't the place. Only 4 stars because my companions steak had a "old" taste to it.
(3)
Samantha R.
Amazing!! Read the reviews on yelp and decided to make this our first stop after the airport and we were NOT disappointed. Everyone that works here is so polite and friendly. Very home-y atmosphere. The omlettes were really good and the beignets were to die for!!!
(5)
Jennifer M.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!! It is family owned and operated and you can tell! They take great pride in everything they do. I've been dining her for the eight years they have been open and have NEVER been disappointed. The food is fresh, fast, and delicious. The decor is nothing fancy but the atmosphere is like being at an old family friend's house. Enjoying a great lunch and great conversation.
(5)
Steven H.
Unassuming local yokel type joint with Southern character and delicious breakfast offerings. Our group of four had a variety of things, all freshly prepared, and some memorably unique. Sweet potato pancakes with brown sugar pecan butter = better plan on burning some more calories later on. Decor diner-spartan, service adequate and friendly, food delicious.
(5)
felicity b.
We didn't try any of their specialty dishes, and just stuck to the egg classics. What I liked: -Well cooked eggs -Friendly service -Great tea -Prices were very fair -Food was hot and fresh Everyone in my group enjoyed their breakfast. Our server, a nice young lady with a short hair cut, was very friendly. The building is a little run down, and they could use a little sprucing up in the restaurant.
(4)
Leslie K.
The grits are the best I have ever had, however the potatoes were not good and the omelet was oily.
LOVE their potatoes and biscuits. One of our favorite spots in West Ashley for breakfast! Limited menu but what is on there is awesome!
(4)
Debbie B.
One of our FAVORITE places to eat in West Ashley! This place has some of the BEST entrees around. Their sweet potato pancakes and their crab omelets and their eggs Benedict are the bomb!!! Highly recommend dining here for breakfast or lunch. Great staff, very friendly and knowledgeable.
(5)
Jason S.
Breakfast at the Sunflower Cafe was our first meal in Charleston and we were not disappointed. I had the crab and fried green tomatoes eggs benedict and my wife the sweet potato pancakes. Both were fantastic. Our server was very personable. The interior is typical diner, which isn't a bad thing. I highly recommend.
(4)
Samantha J.
Definitely a long wait, which wasn't a big deal. However, we had looked at the menu while waiting and we're ready to order once we sat Down. When the waitress came over we let her know we were ready to order. She said she cannot take our order because we can only order drinks first. Once we were finally able to place our food order I requested the spinach, tomato and feta but wanted it as a scramble instead of an omelette. The waitress said she wasn't sure that was possible and had to get the manager. The manager came over and acted like it was a crazy request and that they have a special pan for omlettes and the scramble wouldn't work. I asked if they make scrambled eggs and that I just wanted to add the ingredients to the scrambled eggs. She said the vegetables wouldn't cook then. So they made a huge deal out of me requesting scrambled eggs and instead completely changed my order to plain scrambled eggs. The food was sub par. However the grits were delicious. Overall, the service and the food was not worth the wait and the lack of customer service in requesting alterations to food orders was obnoxious.
(2)
Chami D.
Excellent food and excellent service... We had a great breakfast here. The beignet was to die for and the spicy sausage Benedict was amazing....
(5)
Kai K.
We were driving our Trolley Pub up to Raleigh from Savannah and decided to stop here for breakfast. Unfortunately, our friends were going to be late. Breakfast ends at 11 so I asked the server whether or not they could wait a half hour so we could still order breakfast. The guy seemed really stressed out by the request and at one point said "this isn't a waffle house- we have to change the kitchen over." While I completely understand that, he could of just said "I'm so sorry, but your welcome to order from the lunch menu." The server was friendly after we sat down, though. Sirloin sandwich was delicious. The cuts were perfectly medium rare and the horseradish sauce blended superbly with the...bread. I made noises the whole time I ate it. The decor leaves much to be desired. 5/5 for the food, 3/5 service/decor.
(4)
Genessa W.
Excellent lunch! We went at first for the breakfast, but the rest of our party arrived too late to order. While my boyfriend and I waited, we ordered some grits, which were home-cooked and amazing. I have to say for a girl from California with NO experience of grits, my mouth was definitely watering for more. Then we ordered a few sandwiches- my boyfriend and his friend ordered the steak sandwich and I had the BL and Fried Green Tomatoes sandwich. SO GOOD! I ate the entire sandwich in about 10 minutes (which is a lot for me) and my boyfriend nearly licked his plate clean. Not only was the lunch great, but then we ordered the Fritters for dessert, which were hot, sugary, and delicious. If I'm ever in that neck of the woods, I'm definitely going back!
(5)
Jennifer A.
This place was dirty, the food was awful and the service was terrible. Go somewhere, anywhere else!
(1)
Karen S.
Great food, nice price and super friendly staff-they easily accommodated our group of 15. I would go back for sure!!! Try the fried green tomatoes!
(4)
Sandra L.
We were visiting charleston last week and had the chance to enjoy a delicious breakfast at Sunflower. I had the sweet potato pancakes. yummy! They were served with pecan sugar butter. No need for syrup. Can't wait to go back and try an omelette.
(5)
Randy H.
First time there and it was great. Crab Benedict with green tomatoes was fresh, just tart enough and very tasty.
(5)
meme a.
Hubby and I stopped in for brunch after church. It was very busy but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table to be set up. The decor was not trendy at all but the word "cute" came to mind. A kind of homey, family atmosphere. I ordered the crab and green tomato eggs benedict. Yum Yum. The egg was perfectly poached. My husband ordered a filet and eggs....med. rare. And it actually came out medium rare. It was nice and juicy. We also had an order of beignets. =) The food was yum and the service was attentive. On the way out, we were greeted by a nice older lady (possibly the owner). Our experience was very good. 4.5
(4)
Greg K.
While most of the reviews gush with lavish compliments, the 5 star on 9/2013 "Jennifer" is actually Jen and is the head COOK with her mother "Miss Jenny" the owner. This type of self promotion is truly not fair play and misleading! The food is actually quite good true, but nothing extraordinary. The interior borders on shabby especially looking at the stained ceiling and dislodged panels. While The servers were pleasant and friendly, a keen ear could detect dissatisfaction and I witnessed the owner chastising employees in a condescending manner. This made the cozy atmosphere truly uncomfortable! Overall average to good, I have found genuinely finer examples in cozy atmosphere elsewhere!
(3)
Roger O.
Breakfast is what I enjoy and Sunflower delivers. My family enjoys the grits, omelets, and crab cake Benedict. Healthy portions for sure. The seating is close and the place is dated , but we still go back for good food in a clean setting. Please keep up the good service!
(4)
Amy L.
Cute little small-towny cafe with very tasty sandwiches. It's a convenient place to stop for lunch on the way to or from the plantations, and you're definitely not paying tourist prices here.
(4)
Paul C.
Great place and value for the dollar! The best sandwich in charleston really is. Portions were generous and service was prompt and friendly
(5)
Will B.
The fam & I have been eating here for years. The simplistic decor belies the sophisticated recipes and delicious, fresh food. Case & point: crabs Benedict (lump crab meet & fried green tomatoes).
(5)
Laurie A.
Mediocre. Got 1 small sausage with eggs and sausage breakfast (normally 2), had to ask for coffee when cups empty, below average service, average food.
(2)
Benjamin A.
After waiting for nearly 15 minutes and seeing the crowd of people eating, my expectations were high. However upon receiving my meal, it was nothing short of atrocious. The potatoes were so soggy they were dripping, the bacon was flaccid and cold when it was served, and apparently the cooks don't understand how to cook eggs. Just go somewhere else. Total waste of time and money. The coffee was good.
(1)
Evan T.
Me and my family have become weekly regulars. The food is some of the best breakfast food I have ever had (you have to try the sweet potato pancakes). The staff is personable and if you go in once, seem to remember you the next time you go back. Honestly with the decor and service, you feel like you in a relatives home as opposed to a place of business. One of my top 5 in Charleston hands down.
(5)
Santos M.
Smelled mildewy upon entering. Coffee was mediocre. Eggs were cold and potatoes were soggy. Better off going to McDonalds
(1)
Aaron R.
We stopped by Sunflower Cafe for a Sunday brunch and were very impressed. Clearly a family-owned busines, this local gem puts a lot of effort into creating an amazing menu with constantly changing specials and top quality food. All of the omelets look great - I had a filet and boursin cheese which blew me away. Amazing array of benedicts and lots of other classics such as pancakes and beignets. The prices blew me away for the size of the portions and the quality of the food. Sunday brunch is pretty busy but not a bad wait for the experience. They also serve lunch during the week which our friends told us is equally delicious.
(5)
S Y.
Great breakfast food with a little bit of a twist. The crab benedict was very good, and the carrot cake pancakes were delicious.
(5)
Michael C.
This is my wife's favorite spot for lunch. They are good people serving good food - not fast food, but cooked fresh in the kitchen. Plus, in addition to large portions of good meals, they also support the community. And man, excellent grilled cheese!
(5)
Cheryl F.
Delicious food with wonderful service! The perfect combination of homestyle cooking with a gourmet twist.
(5)
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Address :2366 Ashley River Rd
Charleston, SC, 29414
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Breakfast Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Liliana C.
Me, my friend and my brother all went here on our last morning in Charleston and it was amazing. If you're visiting town and want some breakfast I highly recommend it.
(5)Marc M.
This restaurant is OK - it gets solid marks for good service (Thanks Casey!) and food. I had the Filet Mignon sandwich (labelled as The Best Sandwich in Charleston on the menu). The sandwich was served on caibatta bread with a good amount of melted gruyere cheese. I doubt it was filet mignon, but it was tasty. My wife had crab cake sandwich and daughter had a grilled cheese. They don't have a soda fountain - your choices are water or iced tea. Overall minus stars for ambiance - there really is none. This was a quick, easy meal. The place was filled with locals. I'd go back if in the area, but it is not a destination for me to must-visit again.
(3)E S.
3 stars because the service was good, the facility was okay, but the food wasn't very good. My review doesn't really match what the others are saying, but we aren't feeling so good after having breakfast. I've never complained about a breakfast before but here's how we feel: Food was comparable to a frozen microwave breakfast. The potatoes/sausage were burned and tasted microwaved, bacon was rare, the pancakes and grits were tasteless (and odd tasting) and the biscuit was very dry. Still a nice little spot. Maybe the cook was off today?
(3)Shayla J.
My Husband and I want to try a different restaurant. He was like, this Charleston it has to be more choices than Alex's Restaurant. Which brought us to this fine establishment. This restaurant is exactly what we wanted. Good home feel, with "Southern Hospitality". The food had fresh ingredients. He ordered Mignon Omelette, and I ordered ham omelette. Their both were delicious. And seriously the BEST GREEN TOMATOES, EVEN BETTER THAN CHARLESTON 'S CAFE!!! So, my friends when you have a moment... Stop by Sunflowers. We SURE Glad We Did ;-)
(5)Cara J.
We had the sweet potato pancakes, breakfast club special (eggs, bacon, potatoes and biscuit), and corn and crab chowder. The sweet potato pancakes were delicious and definitely worth ordering again! The soup was alright, but it didn't taste very flavorful to me. My husband also ordered coffee, which smelled burnt to me.. I'm guessing this was just a fluke though. He was also the one who ordered the special, which he liked, and I thought the biscuit was really good (better than Early Bird's for sure). We will probably come back and had a pretty good meal overall, somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. All the sunflower decor is really cute, too!
(4)Christy M.
This time I went with a friend, and we split meals. I got the fried green tomato and crab cakes Benedict, she got the shrimp, bacon and Brie omelet. The Omelette was mediocre, I didn't really taste the Brie and shrimp that are not deveined gross me out a bit. So, if shrimp with the poop vein bothers you also, I'd stay away from that, if not, go for it. The bacon in the omelette was smokey and good. The grits are ok, nothing amazing.
(3)Amy Lauren S.
I've been to Sunflower Cafe a few times and am surprised I hadn't reviewed it before! It is definitely a hidden gem of the West Ashley area, with a big local following but a great place for anyone traveling through to visit. There's plenty of parking and the decor kind of reminds you of eating at grandma's house. It's not fancy, but the food is delicious and service is great. Our server kept our drinks full and made sure we were taken care of, and our food came out quickly. I have never had to wait longer than 10 minutes or so when I've come here, and you can wait indoors. I had some friends in town for the Cooper River Bridge Run, and we wanted to go out for brunch on Sunday. With the influx of Bridge Run visitors, most of the usual brunch recommendations were packed, so I suggested Sunflower Cafe. They loved it- one friend had pancakes and the other had one of the benedicts. The portions are huge and we had leftovers. We've also taken my in-laws here and they loved the sweet potato pancakes. Warning, the pancakes take up the whole plate- so make sure you're hungry or prepare to split a few dishes between everyone to try it all. They post some mouthwatering daily specials on Facebook, so follow them there. The only drawback of Sunflower Cafe is that on Sunday, it is breakfast menu only, even though they are open until 2 PM. On other days, they service breakfast up until 2 PM but add lunch foods.
(4)Rebecca Q.
This place has great food and a very friendly environment. Will definitely come back..
(5)Margaret J.
Great place for brunch! Our server was fantastic and had a lot of good suggestions. Her name was Kirsty I think. I got the crab and fried green tomato Benedict which came with potatoes. Very good. I was so stuffed afterwards. Had a good amount of crab and the tomato was cooked perfectly.
(5)Keith H.
Hmmm.... long wait for below average food, dirty floors and old-fashioned (NOT in a charming way) decor... I won't be going back. I guess the nature of the Charleston beast on Sunday is waiting in line for Breakfast/Brunch, but to be assured, this does NOT reflect the quality of the food or overall dining experience at a restaurant. All-in-all, waiting in line for the Sunflower was not worth our time. The two fried eggs we ordered were over salted/over oily and over cooked and the plain waffles were mediocre at best. The decor is truly odd and the place has an old and grimy feel to it. The chairs, tables, door handles, bathroom all have lots of miles on them and seem a little used and abused. This is not a design feature - it is not rustic - it is just a little worn down. I would NOT recommend this place.
(2)Megan R.
While it doesn't look like much (inside or out), the food was pretty good and the wait wasn't too long for a Sunday at 11. Our waitress obviously knew the customers at the table next to us, so she gave us "extra time" to check out the menus while she chatted with them, which I wasn't overly impressed with since she saw us sitting there. The price was excellent and I'm definitely planning on going back to try the pancakes which are huge, from my observation.
(4)Chelsea S.
Stopped in for breakfast before visiting the Dray ton Plantation it was a fun experience. Nice little cafe. Everything on the menu looked delicious.
(5)Zainab A.
The girls who waited on me were great! The food was mediocre. I might have caught them on a really crazy day because they were definitely busy. I waited about 5 minutes to order drinks and a few more for the food. The food came out pretty quickly, but unfortunately was pretty bad. Had a patty sausage which was very very hard and some blueberry pancakes. Those were good but more blueberry than cake. I was there in a Friday morning right before July 4th and they were visibly busy but nothing really makes up for poorly cooked and rushed food.
(3)Zaida J.
My friend and I tried Sunflower Cafe out on Sunday after logging a few miles on the West Ashley Greenway. We were about 15 minutes away, but I knew from Yelp reviews this place was packed on the weekend so I went ahead and called to get on the list. I can see why some consider it easy to miss but my GPS took me straight there so it easy cheesy. Good thing we called ahead. We arrived and the waiting area was full, with others waiting outside. We were seated within 5 minutes which was awesome because we'd worked up quite an appetite! I'll keep this short and sweet because this review will echo a lot of what others are saying. Food was excellent, service was friendly and on point, price was excellent! We both had coffee & water, split an order of beignets, and both selected the crab and fried green tomato eggs Benedict with a side of cheese grits. Everything was SO GOOD!!!!!!!!! Seasoned well, cooked perfectly, yummy, yummy, yummy! Our total bill was just over $30.
(5)Kylaine K.
The service staff was nice enough but we had to wait a bit to be seated despite the fact that there were tables open. When we were seated our table was sticky. I ordered scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese but 10 minutes later was told they couldn't put spinach in scrambled eggs, not sure why since I have orderd them that way at many places and never had a problem, it's really not complicated. Lastly, I was highly disappointed with the benets. I was expecting a delicious french doughnut but what I got was a blob of fried funnel cake dough sprinkled with powdered sugar. Not impressed, I couldn't even eat them. We will not be returning.
(2)Frank G.
I think their breakfast menu changed. Only one egg choice on Sunday, outside of the omelets. Don't understand, must be me. Frank G
(3)Mark L.
Cozy and delicious are the best way to describe this little unsuspecting cafe. Open only for breakfast and lunch from 8 AM to 2 PM, so don't be late. The tables are adorned with tiny American flags and sunflowers and the walls have sunflower decor all around. The menu is simple with two sides lamented. It is perfect for the indecisive ones. First, start with the beignets. I know, you can't start with dessert, but why not. Warm, soft and not lacking in powdered sugar. Three very large pieces for $3.95. A must have. The omelette choices are diverse and the portions are large. A little heavy on the egg and less on ingredients but nothing earth shattering. The potatoes mixed with onions and peppers and sautéed are an excellent side. Do try the sausage or ham Benedict. You will not be disappointed. Warning: The restaurant is on Ashley River Road. Traffic can be a bear. Excellent way to start your day.
(4)Jesse D.
Long Wait Time with open tables available. Utensils/Cupware/dishes are old, stained and look dirty tables and chairs are old office furniture with a lot of miles on them. Floors, walls in the entire place are grimy, dirty and doesn't look like they clean very often. for as busy as this place seems to be it definitely doesn't seem to reinvest any money back into the business.
(1)Lanny G.
I had the pecan Waffle with banana syrup. It was so good. I also got 2 eggs and sausage. The look of the restaurant is plain Jane but the food is very good.
(4)Christopher H.
I love the food here. Those sweat potato pancakes are just heavenly. The eggs and bacon are quite good as well. Three slaps to my mom for not making me food this good. I can't wait for my family to come back into town so I can take them here. Yum to e is what I say. There is so much food on their menu that I want to try and I plan too.
(5)Mimi N.
Try their crab cake, fried green tomato, egg benedict and grits! I also go bacon (which We're really crispy! Yum!) on the side since I love it with grits.
(5)Phoebe H.
I think my husband and I were the only people there without blue or grey hair on a Saturday at 8 am. We thought we would have to wait for a table by the looks of the full paling lot, but the cafe is surprisingly spacious inside with plenty of room to sit. All of the waitresses we're very courteous, sweet and attentive. They all seemed very happy and genuine. I had the waffles which were two huge, warm, soft, and scrumptious Belgian-style cakes. The bacon side was plentiful for $2 but wasn't anything special. They had a daily special for breakfast as well. My husband had the spicy eggs Benedict which had a tangy sausage that tasted more like chorizo. He said it was the best he has ever had. I tried his home fried potatoes and the flavor was perfection. This family atmosphere makes you feel like you've just plopped down at grandmas for a holiday morning feast. I will definitely be back.
(5)Brandi S.
I had the eggs benedict with ham. It was great and reasonably priced. Our server was friendly and attentive. The cook even came out to ask how our food was. I recommend!!
(5)Colleen J.
I go to Sunflower Cafe for the beignets and coffee. They were delicious and the sugar induced coma that followed shortly after was divine. As far as food, lunch wasn't my fave -- I think I need to stop by for breakfast to give it another shot. Service was good... place could use some cleaning up, but nothing bad. Solid three stars unless you get the beignets - then it's 4 stars.
(3)Tara C.
The pancakes, oh my goodness, the pancakes! It's 10:00 pm on a Monday night, and those pancakes sound amazing.. even right now. Quaint, family-owned and operated. I've had the sweet potato pancakes and chocolate covered cherry pancakes, both were delicious!
(5)Jim B.
Looking for a place for breakfast on a Sunday morning - not very many to chose from that aren't big-box boring. Helpers gave this place high marks so we took a ride. Got there just after they opened and the crowd was already rolling in - we were quickly seated and the place filled up within minutes - our timing was just right. Typical diner layout with exceptional menu choices. In spite of the crush, our servers kept us well supplied with water and tea until our breakfast got to our table. Wifey had feta, sun-dried tomato omelet. She said it was very good. Yours truly had the spicey sausage and pepper Benedict - excellent! Grits were obviously not instant and they were a credit to gritdom. Inexpensive, clean, fast, well-executed comfort food - exactly what you should expect from a diner in Charleston. We will return anytime we are in town.
(5)Marcy Z.
Best pancakes I've ever had! I set some kind of speed record eating them...no syrup btw. Hubby had sausage peppers Benedict and said they were perfect. Two coffees, side of bacon (deep fried ) and beignets; $25.
(5)Rachel C.
Great service. Small breakfast diner atmosphere with local color and sunflower decor. I ordered the breakfast special with eggs, grits, bacon and a biscuit. They kept the refills coming on my coffee, food came out hot and tasty. Staff was super kid friendly, greeted regulars like family with hugs, and great idea to have children's books on a shelf to keep the littles busy. I would go back for sure.
(4)Mari B.
OH GOSH-AMAZING! This place is so underrated its ridiculous! BEST QUALITY BREAKFAST FOOD IN Charleston! I am a foodie so I've been to countless of restaurants in the area and this really is the best breakfast I've had! Yes, the outside looks like it needs some love and care and it is not in downtown but really now, the QUALITY matters! And this food is GOOOOOD! PS: do not leave without trying the sweet potato pancakes with the pecan butter. HEAVEN!
(5)Carolyn S.
From the outside it doesn't look much but the food is SO good! Beignets, "best sandwhich in charleston", and feta cheese omlette w spinach and tomatoes were all exceptional! Side note: I loved the fries! The food is very well prepared!
(5)Ross H.
I had the eggs Benedict with country ham and our was great! The saltiness of the ham cuts through the hollandaise sauce nicely and the grits act as a great absorber of all the flavors. Also got the beignets to cut the abundance of salty with sweet. They were great.
(4)Gloria C.
What a cozy diner! We went based on the Yelp reviews and were not disappointed. The staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. Our food came out surprisingly fast and was delicious! We all had pancakes with side orders of eggs (scrambled and fried). The fried eggs were a little crusty around the edges, which I don't care for, but the scrambled eggs were fluffy and perfect. The breakfast menu offers variations of eggs benedict, different flavors of pancakes, french toast, and omelettes. The coffee was good as well, so that's always a plus!
(4)Laura M.
This is quite the popular place for Sunday brunch. The sweet potato pancakes with pecan butter were really good (and sweet!)... And that butter was the star of the plate. Everything else we had was just okay. I would recommend saying how you like your eggs cooked... Mine were a bit overcooked but they are very friendly and make everything to order so I'm sure they will tailor your dish to your needs!
(3)Andrea C.
Sunflower Cafe is as good as a breakfast place gets! 15 minutes from the airport and up the road from and between Drayton Hall and Charles Towne Landing. It was our first stop after arrival, and we liked it so much we made it our last before catching our plane. Inexpensive, kids menu. I had the poached eggs with fried green tomatoes, crab and hollandaise sauce. I don't like too heavy food but wanted to try this super southern dish. The crab compote was light and I had the sauce on the side- it was great. Second time around I tried the sweet potato pancakes, also great. My husband had the omlettes, also very good. Very nice people and waitress, felt like a real local place. Fast service, we arrived at 9 on Sunday when they opened and they were immediately half-full!
(5)Tracy B.
We were on vacation from California and wanted a good breakfast. This place fit the bill perfectly. Great prices, great food, and great service. What more could we ask for.
(5)David H.
This is one of those breakfast and lunch spots that really is a hidden gem. We were thrilled to trip across it and judging from our fellow diners, this place is popular with a cross section of folks and it's easy to see why. There's nothing fancy about the place, but what it lacks in style it makes up for in charm. The service was truly fantastic and everyone on the staff was amazingly friendly, even by Southern standards. Our party of four had a mixture of lunch and breakfast items. The portions were generous and the pricing was very reasonable. The sandwiches were creative and could easily have been found in a hipster establishment downtown, plus they were as delicious as they sounded. My kids loved their blueberry pancakes so much that my wife and I just had to steal a few bites and we were glad we did. The food came out quickly and, in fact, our only complaint was that our fries and scrambled eggs (different orders, of course), could have been cooked a teeny bit more for our tastes. Still, we can't recommend the place enough. If we're ever in the area again, we'll make a point of swinging by.
(4)Emily G.
This place is very good for the price you pay! You get a nice yummy meal that is not overpriced. Definitely try their potatoes if you like peppers and onions if not don't worry they have naked potatoes as well! We will definitely be coming back here regularly!
(5)Megan S.
Very cute place. Had the sweet potato pancakes w/ pecan butter and they were soooo good! My sis had the pecan waffles w/ banana syrup. So delicious!
(4)Damian T.
The service here is wonderful. That cannot be stressed enough and I love the sunflower decorations. The only reason I cannot give a rating of more than three stars is because of the food quality. Don't get me wrong, it is not terrible but it's not great. It is on par (sadly) with the areas diners. The price point should be about 2$ cheaper than where it is at for the quality. That being said they have excellent choices for brunch. I ordered their namesake breakfast and my companions ordered a pecan waffle with warm banana syrup and sprinkle pancakes (kid menu). I love that they have sprinkle pancakes (or chocolate chips) but they charged a dollar for literally a handful of sprinkles dropped on top of the pancakes. The waffle was delish and paired awesomely with the banana syrup! My eggs were cooked perfectly to order and the bacon was cooked exactly how I like, not too crispy. The potatoes left something to be desired but the endless coffee was better than expected. I wasn't disappointed with my visit but I wish that there were more quality options or at least more reasonable prices. 3 stars; average.
(3)Meagan T.
Stopped in here after leaving the airport on our first day in Charleston. Found it via yelp and we're not disappointed! This is a small town, home cooking type of restaurant. I imagine it's one of those places where all the locals go and everyone knows your name. There were a few people there when we came in around 10:30a. There was one guy working and he was very friendly. We started with waters and a coffee for me. Loved that they don't use uniform coffee mugs, makes you feel at home. My husband had the ham omelet with potatoes and I had the grab and fried green tomato Benedict with potatoes and a side of bacon. Everything was delicious!
(4)Larry Y.
Wife ordered the Fresh Crab & Fried Green Tomatoes, I ordered the Salt Cured Country Ham & Eggs, and the kids ordered the Sunflower Cafe' Breakfast Club Special. The food was good, especially the Fresh Crab entree. Gave them a 3 since the service was next to none.
(3)Elle E.
We had two benedicts: the crab cake fried green tomato as well as the spicy sausage and peppers. Both were cooked perfectly and the flavors of each dish really complimented each other quite well. I was so impressed by how on top of everything the server was, we had Shannon and she never let my coffee go unattended. I had a side of cheese grits as well and they were the best I've ever had. Thank you for such a delicious breakfast Sunflower Cafe!
(5)Lily G.
We come here every year we are in Charleston.....great food and service. Christy, our waitress, could not have been nicer, she even recommended a barber for great women's haircuts. Fabulous. LOVE the crab, fried green tomato eggs Benedict. The best hollandaise I've ever had including some very fancy New York restaurants! We always go during the week because I'm sure the weekends are mobbed and rightly so.
(5)Endo M.
Salt cured eggs Benedict was absolutely delicious. Grits were good. Staff very friendly. Ample parking & tables spaced out inside nicely. Decor dated but clean.
(4)Jen S.
Was looking for a place to have Sunday brunch, but didn't want to wait til 11, when most places open. Found this little gem hidden off Ashley River Road. Delicious! Lots of options, great prices and extremely friendly staff. Really enjoyed the biscuits. Did have to wait for about 20 minutes, so will call ahead next time. Will definitely be back for brunch and probably dinner too!
(4)Travis F.
This is one of my go to spots. They make me feel like extended family (the kind you actually enjoy when they visit). The food is good, feels like home and the people are even better. It's a treat to be greeted by name instead of them getting my name off my card at the end. Attention to detail people.
(4)Jessica B.
First thing's first- make a reservation!! They accept any size party reservations. The restaurant is small and a little outdated, but the service and food were excellent. At our table of three, the special omlette of the day (taco omlette), plain waffle with banana syrup and the special pancakes of the day (oatmeal raisin) were ordered. The food came out quickly, hot and delicious. The portions are quite large for breakfast and worth every penny. The plates are reasonably priced right where they should be. The sides- the sausage are patties, which is a plus in my book! The grits were some of the best I have ever had. The biscuit tasted like it had just been made not long before it came to my table.
(4)Cary C.
Very nice little diner with good food, fair prices, and friendly staff. It filled up on the Sunday morning we came in, but most places do. It would be nice if there was a bit more room to wait, everyone huddled by the front door, which was uncomfortable and must have bothered the folks eating at the counter. Small complaint though and overall this was a great deal for a nice brunch!
(4)Rob T.
Wait for Breakfast it was good I have been there for Lunch was good I do go Occasionally Servers need more help Peak Breakfast and Peak Lunch Otherwise Nice
(3)Nicholas J.
Great casual cafe off HWY 61. Friendly service and good food for a reasonable price. Be sure to try their grits. They are amazing.
(4)Selphyne B.
Very friendly, little joint with ok food. We were welcomed and seated right away. The menu on Sunday is only breakfast items and any running specials. We went for breakfast this morning and tried a fair variety between my husband and me. My husband ordered the crab and fried green tomato Benedict with classic hollandaise sauce, with a side of home fries and beignets. I ordered À la carte: order of eggs over medium, a toasted English muffin and a side of their chipotle hollandaise. The beignets were lovely and unexpectedly dense like a fried biscuit rather than a traditionally light and airy beignet. My husband enjoyed his Benedict that seemed to be smothered under giant lumps of crab. His potatoes were very dark and greasy but didn't taste awful, just too heavy to eat more than a bite or so. My eggs weren't cooked over medium, they were over easy and still had a dark spot that at first glance had me worried that the yolk was over cooked! I think the cook had then on high heat and then removed them. Again, not bad tasted, just lacking in technique. I assembled them on the English muffin with the chipotle hollandaise for my own vegetarian Benedict and it was great with their sauce! I really loved the chipotle seasoning infused in this hollandaise and will be recreating it at home. I will note that they only offer strawberry and grape jelly which is a no no for me. And their establishment isn't comfortable: old school bingo chairs and card tables of some sort. I think the theme was supposed to match the name but they gave up and used a Porsche flag to cover a window partially. This is a very run down low budget place and it was very apparent that someone woke up and decided to open an eatery on little to no budget. We didn't hate it and would probably return if we were still in the area as it still offers better food than most restaurants in the area with a low price.
(3)Bernadette K.
The food is horrible. The ambiance is horrible . Not kidding you. Why did we stop here? Because of all the people before us giving 4 stars. What are.these people used to eating that they would give this place more than 1 star ??And it shows the owners have not put one penny back into this place to make it appealing. We were brought to eat in some back room with 1970's tile on the floor and office furniture table and chairs. Im not recommending and im not coming back.
(1)Mike B.
So we had a breakfast meet up, only one outta four was happy with the goods. The eggs Benedict was a success but the omelettes were not satisfying. I had the basic two eggs grits and bacon, wasn't bad but not great. 51 bucks for breakfast that wasn't super, will probably be the last.
(2)Harold W.
This place always has a line for breakfast especially on weekends. We have been wanting yo eat here for awhile. Staff is very friendly. By the looks of this place there are a lot of regulars. I had the Breakfast Special which was good but not outstanding. Danny had the Spicy Sausage Eggs Benedict which he said was good but not outstanding.
(3)Marina K.
This place was horrible. From slimy oil on top coffee to coffee stained coffee cups. I was so disappointed. We just left. And the service was terrible too.
(1)Landon B.
Went here with my wife and our parents for Sunday brunch a couple weeks ago. Only been in Charleston for a couple months. Haven't had a chance to try Early Bird Diner because of the really long waits on Sunday and may never get to because of a diamond in the rough like Sunflower Cafe. It's opens earlier than most on Sunday around 8 or 9 am, can't remember which. Call ahead and you will be sat promptly, otherwise expect a little wait especially as it gets closer to noon. The staff is very friendly and the food is great! The best part is the price. All 6 of us had filling meals and coffee and my wife and I paid a little less than $70!!! Must try for breakfast/brunch. Place is larger than it looks. Friendly folks. Will be going again.
(4)Marica M.
Everything was good especially the crab fried green tomato Benedict.I got potatoes as my side and it was okay, I would get cheesy grits next time like what my brother got. I don't eat too much grits but this one I really liked. I would definitely bring my family next time here to have some breakfast ;) so much food to try that looks good.. The beignet is a must! Such a classic! Everyone was very friendly and nice.
(4)Lisa A.
I stopped into the Sunflower Cafe for lunch today. I've wanted to try it for some time and as I had to be in West Ashley today, it was convenient. The restaurant is larger than it would seem from the outside but still a cozy, neighborhood feeling to it. Most of the patrons seemed to be regulars, known by the staff which is often a good sign. The Cafe also had a private gathering going on in their back dining room, which made me wonder if service would be affected but it was not an issue; the servers were still very attentive to all customers. My drink order was taken as soon as I was seated and my iced tea was kept full the entire time I was eating. I started with a cup of the soup of the day, Crab and Corn Chowder. It was served in a good sized coffee mug. I was pleased with the portion size. The soup was delicious; creamy and just the proper thickness. The crab tasted fresh and I didn't encounter any shells, which is often an issue with crab chowder/stew. Not here! Continuing the crab theme, I had the crabmeat and fried green tomato sandwich, served on sourdough bread which was drizzled with an herb aioli. While very tasty, the aioli was presented on the outside of the sandwich, which makes for a sloppy eating experience. When I return to Sunflower Cafe--and I definitely will!--I'll ask for the aioli on the side. The sandwich was very tasty. While the sandwiches on the menu come with either fries, potato salad or cole slaw, I had substituted/added the chowder as my side dish so I can't comment on sides. All in all, a very pleasant lunch experience which I definitely recommend.
(4)Jon T.
Best value for breakfast in Charleston. The food does not disappoint. Get there early for Sunday breakfast/brunch.
(5)Ajay Y.
Truly a Hidden Gem! Great service. Amazing cheese grits and BLT. And don't forgot the beignets - by far better than the ones in New Orleans!
(5)Delia L.
Unassuming decor, prompt service and AMAZING food. Next time I'm in Charleston I'll be back! The crab and fried green tomato Benedict is beyond delicious!
(4)M C.
Between the staff, the ambiance, and the grits, you have to come here. I stopped in on my way out of town, and was so happy I did! Everyone was so friendly, and the food was awesome! I had the eggs benedict and grits, I will forever hold everyone else's grits to the standard of what I ate here. Delicious!
(5)Robert C.
Best place I've ever eaten!! The filet omelette is the best thing I've ever had! Sweet potato pancakes are out of this world!! Grits are the best I've ever had!
(5)Grant S.
Finishing up our omelets with biscuits and grits, the nice woman running the place said "See you tomorrow!" to another woman paying for her breakfast. Does this lady seriously eat breakfast here two days in a row on a consistent basis? Though I envy her eating out budget, I can't say I blame her. The grits are really stand-outs. I thought I hated grits until I had them here. They're really soft and flavorful. Biscuits were soft and clearly homemade, probably in-house and probably with love. We got the Sauteed Spinach, Oven Dried Tomatoes, & Feta Cheese omelets because there weren't many other vegetarian options, and it was pretty good, too. The eggs were a little on the dry side, but not a deal-breaker. Lastly, potatoes are great -- caramelized and full of flavor. Add some hot sauce and you're set.
(4)Jenny S.
My favorite breakfast spot. I love their crab benedict so much that I can't order anything else. The restaurant looks a little dusty and outdated, but has a great charm. This is a unique little place off the beaten path. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The only reason I gave them a four and not five is during my last visit my potatoes were burned. I do wish they continued to serve breakfast throughout the day for those who have a hard time getting there by 11:00. I sometimes enjoy getting out for a late breakfast. Every time I have been, I have left happy.
(4)Katie B.
Had a great lunch here on a recent Saturday. Tried my first fried green tomatoes which were very good with a delicious remoulade. I also enjoyed the salmon salad I ordered very much. Highly recommended.
(4)Meredith S.
Breakfast is only served until 11:00am!! It says differently on here though. I've never had a bad experience with a restaurant in Charleston until we decided to try this place. My boyfriend and I are locals but this place was not among the many locally friendly restaurants. When we sat down we found out that we could only get 3 breakfast items. The waiter was rude to begin with and when we told him that we decided to go somewhere that we could get breakfast, he rudely grabbed out menus and basically yelled at us that they only serve breakfast until 11:00am. We left and were very glad that we did not give him our business!
(1)J F.
Hidden Gem One of those only-the-locals-know-about kind of place. nothing fancy. just great sandwiches. if you come here for the first time, then you must get the filet mingon and the fried green tomato sandwiches. 2 sandwiches + 1 tea = $22 not bad. definitely coming back here when I'm in Charleston.
(4)Randi B.
Special Salmon & grits - delish; Sausage Benedict - yum & Sweet Potato Pancakes - the BOMB!
(5)Deb B.
What a great find! I have driven past the place for years and just never knew what I was missing. We ordered the left side of the menu and the food was outstanding! This is going to be my new fav breakfast spot. The prices are very good and the food was just what I was craving. Thanks Sunflower Cafe!!
(4)Kelly B.
Terrible breakfast.. eggs Benedict.. ham was WAY too salty, eggs were WAY too runny, sauce was the only thing good. Side of bacon... tasted like the meat had gone bad, worst bacon I've ever had. Crab omelet... excessive bits of shell in the crab meat. Wasn't cheap enough to warrant leniency in expectations for the food. Not impressed and will never go there again.
(1)Andre M.
Great place. Loved the potatoes. My eggs benadict could have been a little bit more runny but they were still great.
(4)Evan S.
This is definitely a local joint and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way. The staff is very friendly and the service was great, but that's about where the compliments end. The restaurant is a bit dated and marginally clean. And the food is just average. People were ordering some sandwiches which looked huge, so I'd say that the value is definitely there. I had the salmon spinach salad which had huge chunks of red onion in it and slightly too much dressing. The salmon was a little overcooked. This is definitely a locals spot so if you want to see what they like go for it! It's not a terrible spot, just not my cup of sweet tea...
(3)Samuel J.
"Charleston's Best Sandwich" lived up to its name! The gingerbread pancakes were awesome too!
(4)Matthew C.
Visiting from out of town and was looking for a good breakfast joint. Food was great and the service was even better. The decor is a bit blah but it doesn't take away from how great everything else was. Will make it a point to stop here for breakfast whenever I am in Charleston!
(5)Amy Yvonne H.
Diamond in the rough. You may not even notice this little family owned restaurant when your driving down hwy 61 but its worth stopping for!! This is my second visit & I had: Breakfast club special with two eggs, bacon, biscuit, cheese grits A+ Appetizer of beignets A+ The good: food came out quick server was on point bacon was cooked just right crispy yet soft grits were fancy and fresh cheese was melted on them in a mini baking pan The bad: eggs were not cooked fully the way I asked. (no runny yoke) biscuit was said to be very good but comparatively to Early Bird Diner in West Ashley, it was not that good. Server was robert *Asked to give togo drinks *Had up to 5 plates at a time *very friendly & always a pleasure having him serve us VERDICT: Its an amazing small place that has amazing food. Be specific with how you want things cooked, & emphasize things that matter. Bring a big appetite, no matter what you order, it seems you can't go wrong with there fresh, hot ingredients for a low price!
(4)Kathleen M.
Love this place for breakfast. They will omit things if needed. Example: Potatoes with breakfast I don't eat the seasoning mix. They made them plain. Also the spinach egg white omelette is good. If looking for super sized servings this isn't the place. Only 4 stars because my companions steak had a "old" taste to it.
(3)Samantha R.
Amazing!! Read the reviews on yelp and decided to make this our first stop after the airport and we were NOT disappointed. Everyone that works here is so polite and friendly. Very home-y atmosphere. The omlettes were really good and the beignets were to die for!!!
(5)Jennifer M.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!! It is family owned and operated and you can tell! They take great pride in everything they do. I've been dining her for the eight years they have been open and have NEVER been disappointed. The food is fresh, fast, and delicious. The decor is nothing fancy but the atmosphere is like being at an old family friend's house. Enjoying a great lunch and great conversation.
(5)Steven H.
Unassuming local yokel type joint with Southern character and delicious breakfast offerings. Our group of four had a variety of things, all freshly prepared, and some memorably unique. Sweet potato pancakes with brown sugar pecan butter = better plan on burning some more calories later on. Decor diner-spartan, service adequate and friendly, food delicious.
(5)felicity b.
We didn't try any of their specialty dishes, and just stuck to the egg classics. What I liked: -Well cooked eggs -Friendly service -Great tea -Prices were very fair -Food was hot and fresh Everyone in my group enjoyed their breakfast. Our server, a nice young lady with a short hair cut, was very friendly. The building is a little run down, and they could use a little sprucing up in the restaurant.
(4)Leslie K.
The grits are the best I have ever had, however the potatoes were not good and the omelet was oily.
(3)Sandra L.
We were visiting charleston last week and had the chance to enjoy a delicious breakfast at Sunflower. I had the sweet potato pancakes. yummy! They were served with pecan sugar butter. No need for syrup. Can't wait to go back and try an omelette.
(5)Randy H.
First time there and it was great. Crab Benedict with green tomatoes was fresh, just tart enough and very tasty.
(5)meme a.
Hubby and I stopped in for brunch after church. It was very busy but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table to be set up. The decor was not trendy at all but the word "cute" came to mind. A kind of homey, family atmosphere. I ordered the crab and green tomato eggs benedict. Yum Yum. The egg was perfectly poached. My husband ordered a filet and eggs....med. rare. And it actually came out medium rare. It was nice and juicy. We also had an order of beignets. =) The food was yum and the service was attentive. On the way out, we were greeted by a nice older lady (possibly the owner). Our experience was very good. 4.5
(4)Stephanie B.
Today, we went to The Sunflower Café on Ashley River Road for breakfast. I found the restaurant on Yelp - thank you folks. It is a pretty large neighborhood diner with plenty of regulars. They open at 8:00 AM, and we were there at 8:30 am. At that hour, there was only one waiter and two workers in the kitchen. Because they were short-staffed, the service was a little slow. By the time we left, there were two more waitresses. You would be better off coming later in the morning. For breakfast, DH ordered the Sweet Potato Pancakes with brown sugar pecan butter. I ordered the crab benedict with grits. The pancakes were huge - each was the size of a dinner plate - and two were served in an order. There was not nearly enough butter, but we managed to spread it around the pancakes. The pancakes were delicious. They would have been even better with 100% maple syrup rather than colored corn syrup (a.k.a. log cabin, aunt jemima, etc.). They were dense without being dry and had crunchy ends with a tender interior. The sweet potato flavor really came through and was complimented by the brown sugar pecan butter. The benedict was a split English muffin which was toasted. Each was topped with a fried green tomato and topped with pulled crab meat a perfectly poached egg and homemade hollandaise sauce. The crab meat was a little fishy, but the hollandaise was obviously very fresh and very good. The tomatoes were sweet and perfectly crisp. The grits were very good - buttery and thick. I recommend getting them on the side. Otherwise, they run into everything. I would definitely go to Sunflower Cafe again, if I were in the area.
(4)Brandy B.
LOVE their potatoes and biscuits. One of our favorite spots in West Ashley for breakfast! Limited menu but what is on there is awesome!
(4)Debbie B.
One of our FAVORITE places to eat in West Ashley! This place has some of the BEST entrees around. Their sweet potato pancakes and their crab omelets and their eggs Benedict are the bomb!!! Highly recommend dining here for breakfast or lunch. Great staff, very friendly and knowledgeable.
(5)Jason S.
Breakfast at the Sunflower Cafe was our first meal in Charleston and we were not disappointed. I had the crab and fried green tomatoes eggs benedict and my wife the sweet potato pancakes. Both were fantastic. Our server was very personable. The interior is typical diner, which isn't a bad thing. I highly recommend.
(4)Aaron R.
We stopped by Sunflower Cafe for a Sunday brunch and were very impressed. Clearly a family-owned busines, this local gem puts a lot of effort into creating an amazing menu with constantly changing specials and top quality food. All of the omelets look great - I had a filet and boursin cheese which blew me away. Amazing array of benedicts and lots of other classics such as pancakes and beignets. The prices blew me away for the size of the portions and the quality of the food. Sunday brunch is pretty busy but not a bad wait for the experience. They also serve lunch during the week which our friends told us is equally delicious.
(5)S Y.
Great breakfast food with a little bit of a twist. The crab benedict was very good, and the carrot cake pancakes were delicious.
(5)Samantha J.
Definitely a long wait, which wasn't a big deal. However, we had looked at the menu while waiting and we're ready to order once we sat Down. When the waitress came over we let her know we were ready to order. She said she cannot take our order because we can only order drinks first. Once we were finally able to place our food order I requested the spinach, tomato and feta but wanted it as a scramble instead of an omelette. The waitress said she wasn't sure that was possible and had to get the manager. The manager came over and acted like it was a crazy request and that they have a special pan for omlettes and the scramble wouldn't work. I asked if they make scrambled eggs and that I just wanted to add the ingredients to the scrambled eggs. She said the vegetables wouldn't cook then. So they made a huge deal out of me requesting scrambled eggs and instead completely changed my order to plain scrambled eggs. The food was sub par. However the grits were delicious. Overall, the service and the food was not worth the wait and the lack of customer service in requesting alterations to food orders was obnoxious.
(2)Chami D.
Excellent food and excellent service... We had a great breakfast here. The beignet was to die for and the spicy sausage Benedict was amazing....
(5)Kai K.
We were driving our Trolley Pub up to Raleigh from Savannah and decided to stop here for breakfast. Unfortunately, our friends were going to be late. Breakfast ends at 11 so I asked the server whether or not they could wait a half hour so we could still order breakfast. The guy seemed really stressed out by the request and at one point said "this isn't a waffle house- we have to change the kitchen over." While I completely understand that, he could of just said "I'm so sorry, but your welcome to order from the lunch menu." The server was friendly after we sat down, though. Sirloin sandwich was delicious. The cuts were perfectly medium rare and the horseradish sauce blended superbly with the...bread. I made noises the whole time I ate it. The decor leaves much to be desired. 5/5 for the food, 3/5 service/decor.
(4)Genessa W.
Excellent lunch! We went at first for the breakfast, but the rest of our party arrived too late to order. While my boyfriend and I waited, we ordered some grits, which were home-cooked and amazing. I have to say for a girl from California with NO experience of grits, my mouth was definitely watering for more. Then we ordered a few sandwiches- my boyfriend and his friend ordered the steak sandwich and I had the BL and Fried Green Tomatoes sandwich. SO GOOD! I ate the entire sandwich in about 10 minutes (which is a lot for me) and my boyfriend nearly licked his plate clean. Not only was the lunch great, but then we ordered the Fritters for dessert, which were hot, sugary, and delicious. If I'm ever in that neck of the woods, I'm definitely going back!
(5)Jennifer A.
This place was dirty, the food was awful and the service was terrible. Go somewhere, anywhere else!
(1)Karen S.
Great food, nice price and super friendly staff-they easily accommodated our group of 15. I would go back for sure!!! Try the fried green tomatoes!
(4)Greg K.
While most of the reviews gush with lavish compliments, the 5 star on 9/2013 "Jennifer" is actually Jen and is the head COOK with her mother "Miss Jenny" the owner. This type of self promotion is truly not fair play and misleading! The food is actually quite good true, but nothing extraordinary. The interior borders on shabby especially looking at the stained ceiling and dislodged panels. While The servers were pleasant and friendly, a keen ear could detect dissatisfaction and I witnessed the owner chastising employees in a condescending manner. This made the cozy atmosphere truly uncomfortable! Overall average to good, I have found genuinely finer examples in cozy atmosphere elsewhere!
(3)Roger O.
Breakfast is what I enjoy and Sunflower delivers. My family enjoys the grits, omelets, and crab cake Benedict. Healthy portions for sure. The seating is close and the place is dated , but we still go back for good food in a clean setting. Please keep up the good service!
(4)Amy L.
Cute little small-towny cafe with very tasty sandwiches. It's a convenient place to stop for lunch on the way to or from the plantations, and you're definitely not paying tourist prices here.
(4)Paul C.
Great place and value for the dollar! The best sandwich in charleston really is. Portions were generous and service was prompt and friendly
(5)Will B.
The fam & I have been eating here for years. The simplistic decor belies the sophisticated recipes and delicious, fresh food. Case & point: crabs Benedict (lump crab meet & fried green tomatoes).
(5)Laurie A.
Mediocre. Got 1 small sausage with eggs and sausage breakfast (normally 2), had to ask for coffee when cups empty, below average service, average food.
(2)Benjamin A.
After waiting for nearly 15 minutes and seeing the crowd of people eating, my expectations were high. However upon receiving my meal, it was nothing short of atrocious. The potatoes were so soggy they were dripping, the bacon was flaccid and cold when it was served, and apparently the cooks don't understand how to cook eggs. Just go somewhere else. Total waste of time and money. The coffee was good.
(1)Evan T.
Me and my family have become weekly regulars. The food is some of the best breakfast food I have ever had (you have to try the sweet potato pancakes). The staff is personable and if you go in once, seem to remember you the next time you go back. Honestly with the decor and service, you feel like you in a relatives home as opposed to a place of business. One of my top 5 in Charleston hands down.
(5)Santos M.
Smelled mildewy upon entering. Coffee was mediocre. Eggs were cold and potatoes were soggy. Better off going to McDonalds
(1)Michael C.
This is my wife's favorite spot for lunch. They are good people serving good food - not fast food, but cooked fresh in the kitchen. Plus, in addition to large portions of good meals, they also support the community. And man, excellent grilled cheese!
(5)Cheryl F.
Delicious food with wonderful service! The perfect combination of homestyle cooking with a gourmet twist.
(5)Liliana C.
Me, my friend and my brother all went here on our last morning in Charleston and it was amazing. If you're visiting town and want some breakfast I highly recommend it.
(5)Marc M.
This restaurant is OK - it gets solid marks for good service (Thanks Casey!) and food. I had the Filet Mignon sandwich (labelled as The Best Sandwich in Charleston on the menu). The sandwich was served on caibatta bread with a good amount of melted gruyere cheese. I doubt it was filet mignon, but it was tasty. My wife had crab cake sandwich and daughter had a grilled cheese. They don't have a soda fountain - your choices are water or iced tea. Overall minus stars for ambiance - there really is none. This was a quick, easy meal. The place was filled with locals. I'd go back if in the area, but it is not a destination for me to must-visit again.
(3)E S.
3 stars because the service was good, the facility was okay, but the food wasn't very good. My review doesn't really match what the others are saying, but we aren't feeling so good after having breakfast. I've never complained about a breakfast before but here's how we feel: Food was comparable to a frozen microwave breakfast. The potatoes/sausage were burned and tasted microwaved, bacon was rare, the pancakes and grits were tasteless (and odd tasting) and the biscuit was very dry. Still a nice little spot. Maybe the cook was off today?
(3)Shayla J.
My Husband and I want to try a different restaurant. He was like, this Charleston it has to be more choices than Alex's Restaurant. Which brought us to this fine establishment. This restaurant is exactly what we wanted. Good home feel, with "Southern Hospitality". The food had fresh ingredients. He ordered Mignon Omelette, and I ordered ham omelette. Their both were delicious. And seriously the BEST GREEN TOMATOES, EVEN BETTER THAN CHARLESTON 'S CAFE!!! So, my friends when you have a moment... Stop by Sunflowers. We SURE Glad We Did ;-)
(5)Christy M.
This time I went with a friend, and we split meals. I got the fried green tomato and crab cakes Benedict, she got the shrimp, bacon and Brie omelet. The Omelette was mediocre, I didn't really taste the Brie and shrimp that are not deveined gross me out a bit. So, if shrimp with the poop vein bothers you also, I'd stay away from that, if not, go for it. The bacon in the omelette was smokey and good. The grits are ok, nothing amazing.
(3)Zainab A.
The girls who waited on me were great! The food was mediocre. I might have caught them on a really crazy day because they were definitely busy. I waited about 5 minutes to order drinks and a few more for the food. The food came out pretty quickly, but unfortunately was pretty bad. Had a patty sausage which was very very hard and some blueberry pancakes. Those were good but more blueberry than cake. I was there in a Friday morning right before July 4th and they were visibly busy but nothing really makes up for poorly cooked and rushed food.
(3)Amy Lauren S.
I've been to Sunflower Cafe a few times and am surprised I hadn't reviewed it before! It is definitely a hidden gem of the West Ashley area, with a big local following but a great place for anyone traveling through to visit. There's plenty of parking and the decor kind of reminds you of eating at grandma's house. It's not fancy, but the food is delicious and service is great. Our server kept our drinks full and made sure we were taken care of, and our food came out quickly. I have never had to wait longer than 10 minutes or so when I've come here, and you can wait indoors. I had some friends in town for the Cooper River Bridge Run, and we wanted to go out for brunch on Sunday. With the influx of Bridge Run visitors, most of the usual brunch recommendations were packed, so I suggested Sunflower Cafe. They loved it- one friend had pancakes and the other had one of the benedicts. The portions are huge and we had leftovers. We've also taken my in-laws here and they loved the sweet potato pancakes. Warning, the pancakes take up the whole plate- so make sure you're hungry or prepare to split a few dishes between everyone to try it all. They post some mouthwatering daily specials on Facebook, so follow them there. The only drawback of Sunflower Cafe is that on Sunday, it is breakfast menu only, even though they are open until 2 PM. On other days, they service breakfast up until 2 PM but add lunch foods.
(4)Margaret J.
Great place for brunch! Our server was fantastic and had a lot of good suggestions. Her name was Kirsty I think. I got the crab and fried green tomato Benedict which came with potatoes. Very good. I was so stuffed afterwards. Had a good amount of crab and the tomato was cooked perfectly.
(5)Rebecca Q.
This place has great food and a very friendly environment. Will definitely come back..
(5)Cara J.
We had the sweet potato pancakes, breakfast club special (eggs, bacon, potatoes and biscuit), and corn and crab chowder. The sweet potato pancakes were delicious and definitely worth ordering again! The soup was alright, but it didn't taste very flavorful to me. My husband also ordered coffee, which smelled burnt to me.. I'm guessing this was just a fluke though. He was also the one who ordered the special, which he liked, and I thought the biscuit was really good (better than Early Bird's for sure). We will probably come back and had a pretty good meal overall, somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. All the sunflower decor is really cute, too!
(4)Keith H.
Hmmm.... long wait for below average food, dirty floors and old-fashioned (NOT in a charming way) decor... I won't be going back. I guess the nature of the Charleston beast on Sunday is waiting in line for Breakfast/Brunch, but to be assured, this does NOT reflect the quality of the food or overall dining experience at a restaurant. All-in-all, waiting in line for the Sunflower was not worth our time. The two fried eggs we ordered were over salted/over oily and over cooked and the plain waffles were mediocre at best. The decor is truly odd and the place has an old and grimy feel to it. The chairs, tables, door handles, bathroom all have lots of miles on them and seem a little used and abused. This is not a design feature - it is not rustic - it is just a little worn down. I would NOT recommend this place.
(2)Megan R.
While it doesn't look like much (inside or out), the food was pretty good and the wait wasn't too long for a Sunday at 11. Our waitress obviously knew the customers at the table next to us, so she gave us "extra time" to check out the menus while she chatted with them, which I wasn't overly impressed with since she saw us sitting there. The price was excellent and I'm definitely planning on going back to try the pancakes which are huge, from my observation.
(4)Chelsea S.
Stopped in for breakfast before visiting the Dray ton Plantation it was a fun experience. Nice little cafe. Everything on the menu looked delicious.
(5)Zaida J.
My friend and I tried Sunflower Cafe out on Sunday after logging a few miles on the West Ashley Greenway. We were about 15 minutes away, but I knew from Yelp reviews this place was packed on the weekend so I went ahead and called to get on the list. I can see why some consider it easy to miss but my GPS took me straight there so it easy cheesy. Good thing we called ahead. We arrived and the waiting area was full, with others waiting outside. We were seated within 5 minutes which was awesome because we'd worked up quite an appetite! I'll keep this short and sweet because this review will echo a lot of what others are saying. Food was excellent, service was friendly and on point, price was excellent! We both had coffee & water, split an order of beignets, and both selected the crab and fried green tomato eggs Benedict with a side of cheese grits. Everything was SO GOOD!!!!!!!!! Seasoned well, cooked perfectly, yummy, yummy, yummy! Our total bill was just over $30.
(5)Chrissy C.
Great customer service although my eggs were runny and had to send back. Other than that good experience
(3)Kylaine K.
The service staff was nice enough but we had to wait a bit to be seated despite the fact that there were tables open. When we were seated our table was sticky. I ordered scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese but 10 minutes later was told they couldn't put spinach in scrambled eggs, not sure why since I have orderd them that way at many places and never had a problem, it's really not complicated. Lastly, I was highly disappointed with the benets. I was expecting a delicious french doughnut but what I got was a blob of fried funnel cake dough sprinkled with powdered sugar. Not impressed, I couldn't even eat them. We will not be returning.
(2)Frank G.
I think their breakfast menu changed. Only one egg choice on Sunday, outside of the omelets. Don't understand, must be me. Frank G
(3)Colleen J.
I go to Sunflower Cafe for the beignets and coffee. They were delicious and the sugar induced coma that followed shortly after was divine. As far as food, lunch wasn't my fave -- I think I need to stop by for breakfast to give it another shot. Service was good... place could use some cleaning up, but nothing bad. Solid three stars unless you get the beignets - then it's 4 stars.
(3)Brandi S.
I had the eggs benedict with ham. It was great and reasonably priced. Our server was friendly and attentive. The cook even came out to ask how our food was. I recommend!!
(5)Mark L.
Cozy and delicious are the best way to describe this little unsuspecting cafe. Open only for breakfast and lunch from 8 AM to 2 PM, so don't be late. The tables are adorned with tiny American flags and sunflowers and the walls have sunflower decor all around. The menu is simple with two sides lamented. It is perfect for the indecisive ones. First, start with the beignets. I know, you can't start with dessert, but why not. Warm, soft and not lacking in powdered sugar. Three very large pieces for $3.95. A must have. The omelette choices are diverse and the portions are large. A little heavy on the egg and less on ingredients but nothing earth shattering. The potatoes mixed with onions and peppers and sautéed are an excellent side. Do try the sausage or ham Benedict. You will not be disappointed. Warning: The restaurant is on Ashley River Road. Traffic can be a bear. Excellent way to start your day.
(4)Jesse D.
Long Wait Time with open tables available. Utensils/Cupware/dishes are old, stained and look dirty tables and chairs are old office furniture with a lot of miles on them. Floors, walls in the entire place are grimy, dirty and doesn't look like they clean very often. for as busy as this place seems to be it definitely doesn't seem to reinvest any money back into the business.
(1)Christopher H.
I love the food here. Those sweat potato pancakes are just heavenly. The eggs and bacon are quite good as well. Three slaps to my mom for not making me food this good. I can't wait for my family to come back into town so I can take them here. Yum to e is what I say. There is so much food on their menu that I want to try and I plan too.
(5)Phoebe H.
I think my husband and I were the only people there without blue or grey hair on a Saturday at 8 am. We thought we would have to wait for a table by the looks of the full paling lot, but the cafe is surprisingly spacious inside with plenty of room to sit. All of the waitresses we're very courteous, sweet and attentive. They all seemed very happy and genuine. I had the waffles which were two huge, warm, soft, and scrumptious Belgian-style cakes. The bacon side was plentiful for $2 but wasn't anything special. They had a daily special for breakfast as well. My husband had the spicy eggs Benedict which had a tangy sausage that tasted more like chorizo. He said it was the best he has ever had. I tried his home fried potatoes and the flavor was perfection. This family atmosphere makes you feel like you've just plopped down at grandmas for a holiday morning feast. I will definitely be back.
(5)Mimi N.
Try their crab cake, fried green tomato, egg benedict and grits! I also go bacon (which We're really crispy! Yum!) on the side since I love it with grits.
(5)Lanny G.
I had the pecan Waffle with banana syrup. It was so good. I also got 2 eggs and sausage. The look of the restaurant is plain Jane but the food is very good.
(4)Tara C.
The pancakes, oh my goodness, the pancakes! It's 10:00 pm on a Monday night, and those pancakes sound amazing.. even right now. Quaint, family-owned and operated. I've had the sweet potato pancakes and chocolate covered cherry pancakes, both were delicious!
(5)Rachel C.
Great service. Small breakfast diner atmosphere with local color and sunflower decor. I ordered the breakfast special with eggs, grits, bacon and a biscuit. They kept the refills coming on my coffee, food came out hot and tasty. Staff was super kid friendly, greeted regulars like family with hugs, and great idea to have children's books on a shelf to keep the littles busy. I would go back for sure.
(4)Jim B.
Looking for a place for breakfast on a Sunday morning - not very many to chose from that aren't big-box boring. Helpers gave this place high marks so we took a ride. Got there just after they opened and the crowd was already rolling in - we were quickly seated and the place filled up within minutes - our timing was just right. Typical diner layout with exceptional menu choices. In spite of the crush, our servers kept us well supplied with water and tea until our breakfast got to our table. Wifey had feta, sun-dried tomato omelet. She said it was very good. Yours truly had the spicey sausage and pepper Benedict - excellent! Grits were obviously not instant and they were a credit to gritdom. Inexpensive, clean, fast, well-executed comfort food - exactly what you should expect from a diner in Charleston. We will return anytime we are in town.
(5)Marcy Z.
Best pancakes I've ever had! I set some kind of speed record eating them...no syrup btw. Hubby had sausage peppers Benedict and said they were perfect. Two coffees, side of bacon (deep fried ) and beignets; $25.
(5)Mari B.
OH GOSH-AMAZING! This place is so underrated its ridiculous! BEST QUALITY BREAKFAST FOOD IN Charleston! I am a foodie so I've been to countless of restaurants in the area and this really is the best breakfast I've had! Yes, the outside looks like it needs some love and care and it is not in downtown but really now, the QUALITY matters! And this food is GOOOOOD! PS: do not leave without trying the sweet potato pancakes with the pecan butter. HEAVEN!
(5)Carolyn S.
From the outside it doesn't look much but the food is SO good! Beignets, "best sandwhich in charleston", and feta cheese omlette w spinach and tomatoes were all exceptional! Side note: I loved the fries! The food is very well prepared!
(5)Ross H.
I had the eggs Benedict with country ham and our was great! The saltiness of the ham cuts through the hollandaise sauce nicely and the grits act as a great absorber of all the flavors. Also got the beignets to cut the abundance of salty with sweet. They were great.
(4)Gloria C.
What a cozy diner! We went based on the Yelp reviews and were not disappointed. The staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. Our food came out surprisingly fast and was delicious! We all had pancakes with side orders of eggs (scrambled and fried). The fried eggs were a little crusty around the edges, which I don't care for, but the scrambled eggs were fluffy and perfect. The breakfast menu offers variations of eggs benedict, different flavors of pancakes, french toast, and omelettes. The coffee was good as well, so that's always a plus!
(4)Laura M.
This is quite the popular place for Sunday brunch. The sweet potato pancakes with pecan butter were really good (and sweet!)... And that butter was the star of the plate. Everything else we had was just okay. I would recommend saying how you like your eggs cooked... Mine were a bit overcooked but they are very friendly and make everything to order so I'm sure they will tailor your dish to your needs!
(3)Andrea C.
Sunflower Cafe is as good as a breakfast place gets! 15 minutes from the airport and up the road from and between Drayton Hall and Charles Towne Landing. It was our first stop after arrival, and we liked it so much we made it our last before catching our plane. Inexpensive, kids menu. I had the poached eggs with fried green tomatoes, crab and hollandaise sauce. I don't like too heavy food but wanted to try this super southern dish. The crab compote was light and I had the sauce on the side- it was great. Second time around I tried the sweet potato pancakes, also great. My husband had the omlettes, also very good. Very nice people and waitress, felt like a real local place. Fast service, we arrived at 9 on Sunday when they opened and they were immediately half-full!
(5)David H.
This is one of those breakfast and lunch spots that really is a hidden gem. We were thrilled to trip across it and judging from our fellow diners, this place is popular with a cross section of folks and it's easy to see why. There's nothing fancy about the place, but what it lacks in style it makes up for in charm. The service was truly fantastic and everyone on the staff was amazingly friendly, even by Southern standards. Our party of four had a mixture of lunch and breakfast items. The portions were generous and the pricing was very reasonable. The sandwiches were creative and could easily have been found in a hipster establishment downtown, plus they were as delicious as they sounded. My kids loved their blueberry pancakes so much that my wife and I just had to steal a few bites and we were glad we did. The food came out quickly and, in fact, our only complaint was that our fries and scrambled eggs (different orders, of course), could have been cooked a teeny bit more for our tastes. Still, we can't recommend the place enough. If we're ever in the area again, we'll make a point of swinging by.
(4)Tracy B.
We were on vacation from California and wanted a good breakfast. This place fit the bill perfectly. Great prices, great food, and great service. What more could we ask for.
(5)Emily G.
This place is very good for the price you pay! You get a nice yummy meal that is not overpriced. Definitely try their potatoes if you like peppers and onions if not don't worry they have naked potatoes as well! We will definitely be coming back here regularly!
(5)Megan S.
Very cute place. Had the sweet potato pancakes w/ pecan butter and they were soooo good! My sis had the pecan waffles w/ banana syrup. So delicious!
(4)Damian T.
The service here is wonderful. That cannot be stressed enough and I love the sunflower decorations. The only reason I cannot give a rating of more than three stars is because of the food quality. Don't get me wrong, it is not terrible but it's not great. It is on par (sadly) with the areas diners. The price point should be about 2$ cheaper than where it is at for the quality. That being said they have excellent choices for brunch. I ordered their namesake breakfast and my companions ordered a pecan waffle with warm banana syrup and sprinkle pancakes (kid menu). I love that they have sprinkle pancakes (or chocolate chips) but they charged a dollar for literally a handful of sprinkles dropped on top of the pancakes. The waffle was delish and paired awesomely with the banana syrup! My eggs were cooked perfectly to order and the bacon was cooked exactly how I like, not too crispy. The potatoes left something to be desired but the endless coffee was better than expected. I wasn't disappointed with my visit but I wish that there were more quality options or at least more reasonable prices. 3 stars; average.
(3)Meagan T.
Stopped in here after leaving the airport on our first day in Charleston. Found it via yelp and we're not disappointed! This is a small town, home cooking type of restaurant. I imagine it's one of those places where all the locals go and everyone knows your name. There were a few people there when we came in around 10:30a. There was one guy working and he was very friendly. We started with waters and a coffee for me. Loved that they don't use uniform coffee mugs, makes you feel at home. My husband had the ham omelet with potatoes and I had the grab and fried green tomato Benedict with potatoes and a side of bacon. Everything was delicious!
(4)Larry Y.
Wife ordered the Fresh Crab & Fried Green Tomatoes, I ordered the Salt Cured Country Ham & Eggs, and the kids ordered the Sunflower Cafe' Breakfast Club Special. The food was good, especially the Fresh Crab entree. Gave them a 3 since the service was next to none.
(3)Elle E.
We had two benedicts: the crab cake fried green tomato as well as the spicy sausage and peppers. Both were cooked perfectly and the flavors of each dish really complimented each other quite well. I was so impressed by how on top of everything the server was, we had Shannon and she never let my coffee go unattended. I had a side of cheese grits as well and they were the best I've ever had. Thank you for such a delicious breakfast Sunflower Cafe!
(5)Lily G.
We come here every year we are in Charleston.....great food and service. Christy, our waitress, could not have been nicer, she even recommended a barber for great women's haircuts. Fabulous. LOVE the crab, fried green tomato eggs Benedict. The best hollandaise I've ever had including some very fancy New York restaurants! We always go during the week because I'm sure the weekends are mobbed and rightly so.
(5)Endo M.
Salt cured eggs Benedict was absolutely delicious. Grits were good. Staff very friendly. Ample parking & tables spaced out inside nicely. Decor dated but clean.
(4)Jen S.
Was looking for a place to have Sunday brunch, but didn't want to wait til 11, when most places open. Found this little gem hidden off Ashley River Road. Delicious! Lots of options, great prices and extremely friendly staff. Really enjoyed the biscuits. Did have to wait for about 20 minutes, so will call ahead next time. Will definitely be back for brunch and probably dinner too!
(4)Travis F.
This is one of my go to spots. They make me feel like extended family (the kind you actually enjoy when they visit). The food is good, feels like home and the people are even better. It's a treat to be greeted by name instead of them getting my name off my card at the end. Attention to detail people.
(4)Jessica B.
First thing's first- make a reservation!! They accept any size party reservations. The restaurant is small and a little outdated, but the service and food were excellent. At our table of three, the special omlette of the day (taco omlette), plain waffle with banana syrup and the special pancakes of the day (oatmeal raisin) were ordered. The food came out quickly, hot and delicious. The portions are quite large for breakfast and worth every penny. The plates are reasonably priced right where they should be. The sides- the sausage are patties, which is a plus in my book! The grits were some of the best I have ever had. The biscuit tasted like it had just been made not long before it came to my table.
(4)Cary C.
Very nice little diner with good food, fair prices, and friendly staff. It filled up on the Sunday morning we came in, but most places do. It would be nice if there was a bit more room to wait, everyone huddled by the front door, which was uncomfortable and must have bothered the folks eating at the counter. Small complaint though and overall this was a great deal for a nice brunch!
(4)Rob T.
Wait for Breakfast it was good I have been there for Lunch was good I do go Occasionally Servers need more help Peak Breakfast and Peak Lunch Otherwise Nice
(3)Nicholas J.
Great casual cafe off HWY 61. Friendly service and good food for a reasonable price. Be sure to try their grits. They are amazing.
(4)M C.
Between the staff, the ambiance, and the grits, you have to come here. I stopped in on my way out of town, and was so happy I did! Everyone was so friendly, and the food was awesome! I had the eggs benedict and grits, I will forever hold everyone else's grits to the standard of what I ate here. Delicious!
(5)Robert C.
Best place I've ever eaten!! The filet omelette is the best thing I've ever had! Sweet potato pancakes are out of this world!! Grits are the best I've ever had!
(5)Selphyne B.
Very friendly, little joint with ok food. We were welcomed and seated right away. The menu on Sunday is only breakfast items and any running specials. We went for breakfast this morning and tried a fair variety between my husband and me. My husband ordered the crab and fried green tomato Benedict with classic hollandaise sauce, with a side of home fries and beignets. I ordered À la carte: order of eggs over medium, a toasted English muffin and a side of their chipotle hollandaise. The beignets were lovely and unexpectedly dense like a fried biscuit rather than a traditionally light and airy beignet. My husband enjoyed his Benedict that seemed to be smothered under giant lumps of crab. His potatoes were very dark and greasy but didn't taste awful, just too heavy to eat more than a bite or so. My eggs weren't cooked over medium, they were over easy and still had a dark spot that at first glance had me worried that the yolk was over cooked! I think the cook had then on high heat and then removed them. Again, not bad tasted, just lacking in technique. I assembled them on the English muffin with the chipotle hollandaise for my own vegetarian Benedict and it was great with their sauce! I really loved the chipotle seasoning infused in this hollandaise and will be recreating it at home. I will note that they only offer strawberry and grape jelly which is a no no for me. And their establishment isn't comfortable: old school bingo chairs and card tables of some sort. I think the theme was supposed to match the name but they gave up and used a Porsche flag to cover a window partially. This is a very run down low budget place and it was very apparent that someone woke up and decided to open an eatery on little to no budget. We didn't hate it and would probably return if we were still in the area as it still offers better food than most restaurants in the area with a low price.
(3)Mike B.
So we had a breakfast meet up, only one outta four was happy with the goods. The eggs Benedict was a success but the omelettes were not satisfying. I had the basic two eggs grits and bacon, wasn't bad but not great. 51 bucks for breakfast that wasn't super, will probably be the last.
(2)Harold W.
This place always has a line for breakfast especially on weekends. We have been wanting yo eat here for awhile. Staff is very friendly. By the looks of this place there are a lot of regulars. I had the Breakfast Special which was good but not outstanding. Danny had the Spicy Sausage Eggs Benedict which he said was good but not outstanding.
(3)Bernadette K.
The food is horrible. The ambiance is horrible . Not kidding you. Why did we stop here? Because of all the people before us giving 4 stars. What are.these people used to eating that they would give this place more than 1 star ??And it shows the owners have not put one penny back into this place to make it appealing. We were brought to eat in some back room with 1970's tile on the floor and office furniture table and chairs. Im not recommending and im not coming back.
(1)Marina K.
This place was horrible. From slimy oil on top coffee to coffee stained coffee cups. I was so disappointed. We just left. And the service was terrible too.
(1)Landon B.
Went here with my wife and our parents for Sunday brunch a couple weeks ago. Only been in Charleston for a couple months. Haven't had a chance to try Early Bird Diner because of the really long waits on Sunday and may never get to because of a diamond in the rough like Sunflower Cafe. It's opens earlier than most on Sunday around 8 or 9 am, can't remember which. Call ahead and you will be sat promptly, otherwise expect a little wait especially as it gets closer to noon. The staff is very friendly and the food is great! The best part is the price. All 6 of us had filling meals and coffee and my wife and I paid a little less than $70!!! Must try for breakfast/brunch. Place is larger than it looks. Friendly folks. Will be going again.
(4)Marica M.
Everything was good especially the crab fried green tomato Benedict.I got potatoes as my side and it was okay, I would get cheesy grits next time like what my brother got. I don't eat too much grits but this one I really liked. I would definitely bring my family next time here to have some breakfast ;) so much food to try that looks good.. The beignet is a must! Such a classic! Everyone was very friendly and nice.
(4)Lisa A.
I stopped into the Sunflower Cafe for lunch today. I've wanted to try it for some time and as I had to be in West Ashley today, it was convenient. The restaurant is larger than it would seem from the outside but still a cozy, neighborhood feeling to it. Most of the patrons seemed to be regulars, known by the staff which is often a good sign. The Cafe also had a private gathering going on in their back dining room, which made me wonder if service would be affected but it was not an issue; the servers were still very attentive to all customers. My drink order was taken as soon as I was seated and my iced tea was kept full the entire time I was eating. I started with a cup of the soup of the day, Crab and Corn Chowder. It was served in a good sized coffee mug. I was pleased with the portion size. The soup was delicious; creamy and just the proper thickness. The crab tasted fresh and I didn't encounter any shells, which is often an issue with crab chowder/stew. Not here! Continuing the crab theme, I had the crabmeat and fried green tomato sandwich, served on sourdough bread which was drizzled with an herb aioli. While very tasty, the aioli was presented on the outside of the sandwich, which makes for a sloppy eating experience. When I return to Sunflower Cafe--and I definitely will!--I'll ask for the aioli on the side. The sandwich was very tasty. While the sandwiches on the menu come with either fries, potato salad or cole slaw, I had substituted/added the chowder as my side dish so I can't comment on sides. All in all, a very pleasant lunch experience which I definitely recommend.
(4)Jon T.
Best value for breakfast in Charleston. The food does not disappoint. Get there early for Sunday breakfast/brunch.
(5)Ajay Y.
Truly a Hidden Gem! Great service. Amazing cheese grits and BLT. And don't forgot the beignets - by far better than the ones in New Orleans!
(5)Delia L.
Unassuming decor, prompt service and AMAZING food. Next time I'm in Charleston I'll be back! The crab and fried green tomato Benedict is beyond delicious!
(4)Grant S.
Finishing up our omelets with biscuits and grits, the nice woman running the place said "See you tomorrow!" to another woman paying for her breakfast. Does this lady seriously eat breakfast here two days in a row on a consistent basis? Though I envy her eating out budget, I can't say I blame her. The grits are really stand-outs. I thought I hated grits until I had them here. They're really soft and flavorful. Biscuits were soft and clearly homemade, probably in-house and probably with love. We got the Sauteed Spinach, Oven Dried Tomatoes, & Feta Cheese omelets because there weren't many other vegetarian options, and it was pretty good, too. The eggs were a little on the dry side, but not a deal-breaker. Lastly, potatoes are great -- caramelized and full of flavor. Add some hot sauce and you're set.
(4)Jenny S.
My favorite breakfast spot. I love their crab benedict so much that I can't order anything else. The restaurant looks a little dusty and outdated, but has a great charm. This is a unique little place off the beaten path. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The only reason I gave them a four and not five is during my last visit my potatoes were burned. I do wish they continued to serve breakfast throughout the day for those who have a hard time getting there by 11:00. I sometimes enjoy getting out for a late breakfast. Every time I have been, I have left happy.
(4)Katie B.
Had a great lunch here on a recent Saturday. Tried my first fried green tomatoes which were very good with a delicious remoulade. I also enjoyed the salmon salad I ordered very much. Highly recommended.
(4)Meredith S.
Breakfast is only served until 11:00am!! It says differently on here though. I've never had a bad experience with a restaurant in Charleston until we decided to try this place. My boyfriend and I are locals but this place was not among the many locally friendly restaurants. When we sat down we found out that we could only get 3 breakfast items. The waiter was rude to begin with and when we told him that we decided to go somewhere that we could get breakfast, he rudely grabbed out menus and basically yelled at us that they only serve breakfast until 11:00am. We left and were very glad that we did not give him our business!
(1)J F.
Hidden Gem One of those only-the-locals-know-about kind of place. nothing fancy. just great sandwiches. if you come here for the first time, then you must get the filet mingon and the fried green tomato sandwiches. 2 sandwiches + 1 tea = $22 not bad. definitely coming back here when I'm in Charleston.
(4)Deb B.
What a great find! I have driven past the place for years and just never knew what I was missing. We ordered the left side of the menu and the food was outstanding! This is going to be my new fav breakfast spot. The prices are very good and the food was just what I was craving. Thanks Sunflower Cafe!!
(4)Randi B.
Special Salmon & grits - delish; Sausage Benedict - yum & Sweet Potato Pancakes - the BOMB!
(5)Kelly B.
Terrible breakfast.. eggs Benedict.. ham was WAY too salty, eggs were WAY too runny, sauce was the only thing good. Side of bacon... tasted like the meat had gone bad, worst bacon I've ever had. Crab omelet... excessive bits of shell in the crab meat. Wasn't cheap enough to warrant leniency in expectations for the food. Not impressed and will never go there again.
(1)Andre M.
Great place. Loved the potatoes. My eggs benadict could have been a little bit more runny but they were still great.
(4)Evan S.
This is definitely a local joint and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way. The staff is very friendly and the service was great, but that's about where the compliments end. The restaurant is a bit dated and marginally clean. And the food is just average. People were ordering some sandwiches which looked huge, so I'd say that the value is definitely there. I had the salmon spinach salad which had huge chunks of red onion in it and slightly too much dressing. The salmon was a little overcooked. This is definitely a locals spot so if you want to see what they like go for it! It's not a terrible spot, just not my cup of sweet tea...
(3)Samuel J.
"Charleston's Best Sandwich" lived up to its name! The gingerbread pancakes were awesome too!
(4)Matthew C.
Visiting from out of town and was looking for a good breakfast joint. Food was great and the service was even better. The decor is a bit blah but it doesn't take away from how great everything else was. Will make it a point to stop here for breakfast whenever I am in Charleston!
(5)meme a.
Hubby and I stopped in for brunch after church. It was very busy but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table to be set up. The decor was not trendy at all but the word "cute" came to mind. A kind of homey, family atmosphere. I ordered the crab and green tomato eggs benedict. Yum Yum. The egg was perfectly poached. My husband ordered a filet and eggs....med. rare. And it actually came out medium rare. It was nice and juicy. We also had an order of beignets. =) The food was yum and the service was attentive. On the way out, we were greeted by a nice older lady (possibly the owner). Our experience was very good. 4.5
(4)Amy Yvonne H.
Diamond in the rough. You may not even notice this little family owned restaurant when your driving down hwy 61 but its worth stopping for!! This is my second visit & I had: Breakfast club special with two eggs, bacon, biscuit, cheese grits A+ Appetizer of beignets A+ The good: food came out quick server was on point bacon was cooked just right crispy yet soft grits were fancy and fresh cheese was melted on them in a mini baking pan The bad: eggs were not cooked fully the way I asked. (no runny yoke) biscuit was said to be very good but comparatively to Early Bird Diner in West Ashley, it was not that good. Server was robert *Asked to give togo drinks *Had up to 5 plates at a time *very friendly & always a pleasure having him serve us VERDICT: Its an amazing small place that has amazing food. Be specific with how you want things cooked, & emphasize things that matter. Bring a big appetite, no matter what you order, it seems you can't go wrong with there fresh, hot ingredients for a low price!
(4)Kathleen M.
Love this place for breakfast. They will omit things if needed. Example: Potatoes with breakfast I don't eat the seasoning mix. They made them plain. Also the spinach egg white omelette is good. If looking for super sized servings this isn't the place. Only 4 stars because my companions steak had a "old" taste to it.
(3)Samantha R.
Amazing!! Read the reviews on yelp and decided to make this our first stop after the airport and we were NOT disappointed. Everyone that works here is so polite and friendly. Very home-y atmosphere. The omlettes were really good and the beignets were to die for!!!
(5)Jennifer M.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!! It is family owned and operated and you can tell! They take great pride in everything they do. I've been dining her for the eight years they have been open and have NEVER been disappointed. The food is fresh, fast, and delicious. The decor is nothing fancy but the atmosphere is like being at an old family friend's house. Enjoying a great lunch and great conversation.
(5)Steven H.
Unassuming local yokel type joint with Southern character and delicious breakfast offerings. Our group of four had a variety of things, all freshly prepared, and some memorably unique. Sweet potato pancakes with brown sugar pecan butter = better plan on burning some more calories later on. Decor diner-spartan, service adequate and friendly, food delicious.
(5)felicity b.
We didn't try any of their specialty dishes, and just stuck to the egg classics. What I liked: -Well cooked eggs -Friendly service -Great tea -Prices were very fair -Food was hot and fresh Everyone in my group enjoyed their breakfast. Our server, a nice young lady with a short hair cut, was very friendly. The building is a little run down, and they could use a little sprucing up in the restaurant.
(4)Leslie K.
The grits are the best I have ever had, however the potatoes were not good and the omelet was oily.
(3)Stephanie B.
Today, we went to The Sunflower Café on Ashley River Road for breakfast. I found the restaurant on Yelp - thank you folks. It is a pretty large neighborhood diner with plenty of regulars. They open at 8:00 AM, and we were there at 8:30 am. At that hour, there was only one waiter and two workers in the kitchen. Because they were short-staffed, the service was a little slow. By the time we left, there were two more waitresses. You would be better off coming later in the morning. For breakfast, DH ordered the Sweet Potato Pancakes with brown sugar pecan butter. I ordered the crab benedict with grits. The pancakes were huge - each was the size of a dinner plate - and two were served in an order. There was not nearly enough butter, but we managed to spread it around the pancakes. The pancakes were delicious. They would have been even better with 100% maple syrup rather than colored corn syrup (a.k.a. log cabin, aunt jemima, etc.). They were dense without being dry and had crunchy ends with a tender interior. The sweet potato flavor really came through and was complimented by the brown sugar pecan butter. The benedict was a split English muffin which was toasted. Each was topped with a fried green tomato and topped with pulled crab meat a perfectly poached egg and homemade hollandaise sauce. The crab meat was a little fishy, but the hollandaise was obviously very fresh and very good. The tomatoes were sweet and perfectly crisp. The grits were very good - buttery and thick. I recommend getting them on the side. Otherwise, they run into everything. I would definitely go to Sunflower Cafe again, if I were in the area.
(4)Brandy B.
LOVE their potatoes and biscuits. One of our favorite spots in West Ashley for breakfast! Limited menu but what is on there is awesome!
(4)Debbie B.
One of our FAVORITE places to eat in West Ashley! This place has some of the BEST entrees around. Their sweet potato pancakes and their crab omelets and their eggs Benedict are the bomb!!! Highly recommend dining here for breakfast or lunch. Great staff, very friendly and knowledgeable.
(5)Jason S.
Breakfast at the Sunflower Cafe was our first meal in Charleston and we were not disappointed. I had the crab and fried green tomatoes eggs benedict and my wife the sweet potato pancakes. Both were fantastic. Our server was very personable. The interior is typical diner, which isn't a bad thing. I highly recommend.
(4)Sandra L.
We were visiting charleston last week and had the chance to enjoy a delicious breakfast at Sunflower. I had the sweet potato pancakes. yummy! They were served with pecan sugar butter. No need for syrup. Can't wait to go back and try an omelette.
(5)Randy H.
First time there and it was great. Crab Benedict with green tomatoes was fresh, just tart enough and very tasty.
(5)Samantha J.
Definitely a long wait, which wasn't a big deal. However, we had looked at the menu while waiting and we're ready to order once we sat Down. When the waitress came over we let her know we were ready to order. She said she cannot take our order because we can only order drinks first. Once we were finally able to place our food order I requested the spinach, tomato and feta but wanted it as a scramble instead of an omelette. The waitress said she wasn't sure that was possible and had to get the manager. The manager came over and acted like it was a crazy request and that they have a special pan for omlettes and the scramble wouldn't work. I asked if they make scrambled eggs and that I just wanted to add the ingredients to the scrambled eggs. She said the vegetables wouldn't cook then. So they made a huge deal out of me requesting scrambled eggs and instead completely changed my order to plain scrambled eggs. The food was sub par. However the grits were delicious. Overall, the service and the food was not worth the wait and the lack of customer service in requesting alterations to food orders was obnoxious.
(2)Chami D.
Excellent food and excellent service... We had a great breakfast here. The beignet was to die for and the spicy sausage Benedict was amazing....
(5)Kai K.
We were driving our Trolley Pub up to Raleigh from Savannah and decided to stop here for breakfast. Unfortunately, our friends were going to be late. Breakfast ends at 11 so I asked the server whether or not they could wait a half hour so we could still order breakfast. The guy seemed really stressed out by the request and at one point said "this isn't a waffle house- we have to change the kitchen over." While I completely understand that, he could of just said "I'm so sorry, but your welcome to order from the lunch menu." The server was friendly after we sat down, though. Sirloin sandwich was delicious. The cuts were perfectly medium rare and the horseradish sauce blended superbly with the...bread. I made noises the whole time I ate it. The decor leaves much to be desired. 5/5 for the food, 3/5 service/decor.
(4)Genessa W.
Excellent lunch! We went at first for the breakfast, but the rest of our party arrived too late to order. While my boyfriend and I waited, we ordered some grits, which were home-cooked and amazing. I have to say for a girl from California with NO experience of grits, my mouth was definitely watering for more. Then we ordered a few sandwiches- my boyfriend and his friend ordered the steak sandwich and I had the BL and Fried Green Tomatoes sandwich. SO GOOD! I ate the entire sandwich in about 10 minutes (which is a lot for me) and my boyfriend nearly licked his plate clean. Not only was the lunch great, but then we ordered the Fritters for dessert, which were hot, sugary, and delicious. If I'm ever in that neck of the woods, I'm definitely going back!
(5)Jennifer A.
This place was dirty, the food was awful and the service was terrible. Go somewhere, anywhere else!
(1)Karen S.
Great food, nice price and super friendly staff-they easily accommodated our group of 15. I would go back for sure!!! Try the fried green tomatoes!
(4)Greg K.
While most of the reviews gush with lavish compliments, the 5 star on 9/2013 "Jennifer" is actually Jen and is the head COOK with her mother "Miss Jenny" the owner. This type of self promotion is truly not fair play and misleading! The food is actually quite good true, but nothing extraordinary. The interior borders on shabby especially looking at the stained ceiling and dislodged panels. While The servers were pleasant and friendly, a keen ear could detect dissatisfaction and I witnessed the owner chastising employees in a condescending manner. This made the cozy atmosphere truly uncomfortable! Overall average to good, I have found genuinely finer examples in cozy atmosphere elsewhere!
(3)Roger O.
Breakfast is what I enjoy and Sunflower delivers. My family enjoys the grits, omelets, and crab cake Benedict. Healthy portions for sure. The seating is close and the place is dated , but we still go back for good food in a clean setting. Please keep up the good service!
(4)Amy L.
Cute little small-towny cafe with very tasty sandwiches. It's a convenient place to stop for lunch on the way to or from the plantations, and you're definitely not paying tourist prices here.
(4)Paul C.
Great place and value for the dollar! The best sandwich in charleston really is. Portions were generous and service was prompt and friendly
(5)Will B.
The fam & I have been eating here for years. The simplistic decor belies the sophisticated recipes and delicious, fresh food. Case & point: crabs Benedict (lump crab meet & fried green tomatoes).
(5)Laurie A.
Mediocre. Got 1 small sausage with eggs and sausage breakfast (normally 2), had to ask for coffee when cups empty, below average service, average food.
(2)Benjamin A.
After waiting for nearly 15 minutes and seeing the crowd of people eating, my expectations were high. However upon receiving my meal, it was nothing short of atrocious. The potatoes were so soggy they were dripping, the bacon was flaccid and cold when it was served, and apparently the cooks don't understand how to cook eggs. Just go somewhere else. Total waste of time and money. The coffee was good.
(1)Evan T.
Me and my family have become weekly regulars. The food is some of the best breakfast food I have ever had (you have to try the sweet potato pancakes). The staff is personable and if you go in once, seem to remember you the next time you go back. Honestly with the decor and service, you feel like you in a relatives home as opposed to a place of business. One of my top 5 in Charleston hands down.
(5)Santos M.
Smelled mildewy upon entering. Coffee was mediocre. Eggs were cold and potatoes were soggy. Better off going to McDonalds
(1)Aaron R.
We stopped by Sunflower Cafe for a Sunday brunch and were very impressed. Clearly a family-owned busines, this local gem puts a lot of effort into creating an amazing menu with constantly changing specials and top quality food. All of the omelets look great - I had a filet and boursin cheese which blew me away. Amazing array of benedicts and lots of other classics such as pancakes and beignets. The prices blew me away for the size of the portions and the quality of the food. Sunday brunch is pretty busy but not a bad wait for the experience. They also serve lunch during the week which our friends told us is equally delicious.
(5)S Y.
Great breakfast food with a little bit of a twist. The crab benedict was very good, and the carrot cake pancakes were delicious.
(5)Michael C.
This is my wife's favorite spot for lunch. They are good people serving good food - not fast food, but cooked fresh in the kitchen. Plus, in addition to large portions of good meals, they also support the community. And man, excellent grilled cheese!
(5)Cheryl F.
Delicious food with wonderful service! The perfect combination of homestyle cooking with a gourmet twist.
(5)Gloria C.
What a cozy diner! We went based on the Yelp reviews and were not disappointed. The staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. Our food came out surprisingly fast and was delicious! We all had pancakes with side orders of eggs (scrambled and fried). The fried eggs were a little crusty around the edges, which I don't care for, but the scrambled eggs were fluffy and perfect. The breakfast menu offers variations of eggs benedict, different flavors of pancakes, french toast, and omelettes. The coffee was good as well, so that's always a plus!
(4)Laura M.
This is quite the popular place for Sunday brunch. The sweet potato pancakes with pecan butter were really good (and sweet!)... And that butter was the star of the plate. Everything else we had was just okay. I would recommend saying how you like your eggs cooked... Mine were a bit overcooked but they are very friendly and make everything to order so I'm sure they will tailor your dish to your needs!
(3)Andrea C.
Sunflower Cafe is as good as a breakfast place gets! 15 minutes from the airport and up the road from and between Drayton Hall and Charles Towne Landing. It was our first stop after arrival, and we liked it so much we made it our last before catching our plane. Inexpensive, kids menu. I had the poached eggs with fried green tomatoes, crab and hollandaise sauce. I don't like too heavy food but wanted to try this super southern dish. The crab compote was light and I had the sauce on the side- it was great. Second time around I tried the sweet potato pancakes, also great. My husband had the omlettes, also very good. Very nice people and waitress, felt like a real local place. Fast service, we arrived at 9 on Sunday when they opened and they were immediately half-full!
(5)Liliana C.
Me, my friend and my brother all went here on our last morning in Charleston and it was amazing. If you're visiting town and want some breakfast I highly recommend it.
(5)Marc M.
This restaurant is OK - it gets solid marks for good service (Thanks Casey!) and food. I had the Filet Mignon sandwich (labelled as The Best Sandwich in Charleston on the menu). The sandwich was served on caibatta bread with a good amount of melted gruyere cheese. I doubt it was filet mignon, but it was tasty. My wife had crab cake sandwich and daughter had a grilled cheese. They don't have a soda fountain - your choices are water or iced tea. Overall minus stars for ambiance - there really is none. This was a quick, easy meal. The place was filled with locals. I'd go back if in the area, but it is not a destination for me to must-visit again.
(3)E S.
3 stars because the service was good, the facility was okay, but the food wasn't very good. My review doesn't really match what the others are saying, but we aren't feeling so good after having breakfast. I've never complained about a breakfast before but here's how we feel: Food was comparable to a frozen microwave breakfast. The potatoes/sausage were burned and tasted microwaved, bacon was rare, the pancakes and grits were tasteless (and odd tasting) and the biscuit was very dry. Still a nice little spot. Maybe the cook was off today?
(3)Shayla J.
My Husband and I want to try a different restaurant. He was like, this Charleston it has to be more choices than Alex's Restaurant. Which brought us to this fine establishment. This restaurant is exactly what we wanted. Good home feel, with "Southern Hospitality". The food had fresh ingredients. He ordered Mignon Omelette, and I ordered ham omelette. Their both were delicious. And seriously the BEST GREEN TOMATOES, EVEN BETTER THAN CHARLESTON 'S CAFE!!! So, my friends when you have a moment... Stop by Sunflowers. We SURE Glad We Did ;-)
(5)Christy M.
This time I went with a friend, and we split meals. I got the fried green tomato and crab cakes Benedict, she got the shrimp, bacon and Brie omelet. The Omelette was mediocre, I didn't really taste the Brie and shrimp that are not deveined gross me out a bit. So, if shrimp with the poop vein bothers you also, I'd stay away from that, if not, go for it. The bacon in the omelette was smokey and good. The grits are ok, nothing amazing.
(3)Zainab A.
The girls who waited on me were great! The food was mediocre. I might have caught them on a really crazy day because they were definitely busy. I waited about 5 minutes to order drinks and a few more for the food. The food came out pretty quickly, but unfortunately was pretty bad. Had a patty sausage which was very very hard and some blueberry pancakes. Those were good but more blueberry than cake. I was there in a Friday morning right before July 4th and they were visibly busy but nothing really makes up for poorly cooked and rushed food.
(3)Megan R.
While it doesn't look like much (inside or out), the food was pretty good and the wait wasn't too long for a Sunday at 11. Our waitress obviously knew the customers at the table next to us, so she gave us "extra time" to check out the menus while she chatted with them, which I wasn't overly impressed with since she saw us sitting there. The price was excellent and I'm definitely planning on going back to try the pancakes which are huge, from my observation.
(4)Chelsea S.
Stopped in for breakfast before visiting the Dray ton Plantation it was a fun experience. Nice little cafe. Everything on the menu looked delicious.
(5)Amy Lauren S.
I've been to Sunflower Cafe a few times and am surprised I hadn't reviewed it before! It is definitely a hidden gem of the West Ashley area, with a big local following but a great place for anyone traveling through to visit. There's plenty of parking and the decor kind of reminds you of eating at grandma's house. It's not fancy, but the food is delicious and service is great. Our server kept our drinks full and made sure we were taken care of, and our food came out quickly. I have never had to wait longer than 10 minutes or so when I've come here, and you can wait indoors. I had some friends in town for the Cooper River Bridge Run, and we wanted to go out for brunch on Sunday. With the influx of Bridge Run visitors, most of the usual brunch recommendations were packed, so I suggested Sunflower Cafe. They loved it- one friend had pancakes and the other had one of the benedicts. The portions are huge and we had leftovers. We've also taken my in-laws here and they loved the sweet potato pancakes. Warning, the pancakes take up the whole plate- so make sure you're hungry or prepare to split a few dishes between everyone to try it all. They post some mouthwatering daily specials on Facebook, so follow them there. The only drawback of Sunflower Cafe is that on Sunday, it is breakfast menu only, even though they are open until 2 PM. On other days, they service breakfast up until 2 PM but add lunch foods.
(4)Margaret J.
Great place for brunch! Our server was fantastic and had a lot of good suggestions. Her name was Kirsty I think. I got the crab and fried green tomato Benedict which came with potatoes. Very good. I was so stuffed afterwards. Had a good amount of crab and the tomato was cooked perfectly.
(5)Rebecca Q.
This place has great food and a very friendly environment. Will definitely come back..
(5)Cara J.
We had the sweet potato pancakes, breakfast club special (eggs, bacon, potatoes and biscuit), and corn and crab chowder. The sweet potato pancakes were delicious and definitely worth ordering again! The soup was alright, but it didn't taste very flavorful to me. My husband also ordered coffee, which smelled burnt to me.. I'm guessing this was just a fluke though. He was also the one who ordered the special, which he liked, and I thought the biscuit was really good (better than Early Bird's for sure). We will probably come back and had a pretty good meal overall, somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. All the sunflower decor is really cute, too!
(4)Keith H.
Hmmm.... long wait for below average food, dirty floors and old-fashioned (NOT in a charming way) decor... I won't be going back. I guess the nature of the Charleston beast on Sunday is waiting in line for Breakfast/Brunch, but to be assured, this does NOT reflect the quality of the food or overall dining experience at a restaurant. All-in-all, waiting in line for the Sunflower was not worth our time. The two fried eggs we ordered were over salted/over oily and over cooked and the plain waffles were mediocre at best. The decor is truly odd and the place has an old and grimy feel to it. The chairs, tables, door handles, bathroom all have lots of miles on them and seem a little used and abused. This is not a design feature - it is not rustic - it is just a little worn down. I would NOT recommend this place.
(2)Zaida J.
My friend and I tried Sunflower Cafe out on Sunday after logging a few miles on the West Ashley Greenway. We were about 15 minutes away, but I knew from Yelp reviews this place was packed on the weekend so I went ahead and called to get on the list. I can see why some consider it easy to miss but my GPS took me straight there so it easy cheesy. Good thing we called ahead. We arrived and the waiting area was full, with others waiting outside. We were seated within 5 minutes which was awesome because we'd worked up quite an appetite! I'll keep this short and sweet because this review will echo a lot of what others are saying. Food was excellent, service was friendly and on point, price was excellent! We both had coffee & water, split an order of beignets, and both selected the crab and fried green tomato eggs Benedict with a side of cheese grits. Everything was SO GOOD!!!!!!!!! Seasoned well, cooked perfectly, yummy, yummy, yummy! Our total bill was just over $30.
(5)Chrissy C.
Great customer service although my eggs were runny and had to send back. Other than that good experience
(3)Kylaine K.
The service staff was nice enough but we had to wait a bit to be seated despite the fact that there were tables open. When we were seated our table was sticky. I ordered scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese but 10 minutes later was told they couldn't put spinach in scrambled eggs, not sure why since I have orderd them that way at many places and never had a problem, it's really not complicated. Lastly, I was highly disappointed with the benets. I was expecting a delicious french doughnut but what I got was a blob of fried funnel cake dough sprinkled with powdered sugar. Not impressed, I couldn't even eat them. We will not be returning.
(2)Frank G.
I think their breakfast menu changed. Only one egg choice on Sunday, outside of the omelets. Don't understand, must be me. Frank G
(3)Mark L.
Cozy and delicious are the best way to describe this little unsuspecting cafe. Open only for breakfast and lunch from 8 AM to 2 PM, so don't be late. The tables are adorned with tiny American flags and sunflowers and the walls have sunflower decor all around. The menu is simple with two sides lamented. It is perfect for the indecisive ones. First, start with the beignets. I know, you can't start with dessert, but why not. Warm, soft and not lacking in powdered sugar. Three very large pieces for $3.95. A must have. The omelette choices are diverse and the portions are large. A little heavy on the egg and less on ingredients but nothing earth shattering. The potatoes mixed with onions and peppers and sautéed are an excellent side. Do try the sausage or ham Benedict. You will not be disappointed. Warning: The restaurant is on Ashley River Road. Traffic can be a bear. Excellent way to start your day.
(4)Jesse D.
Long Wait Time with open tables available. Utensils/Cupware/dishes are old, stained and look dirty tables and chairs are old office furniture with a lot of miles on them. Floors, walls in the entire place are grimy, dirty and doesn't look like they clean very often. for as busy as this place seems to be it definitely doesn't seem to reinvest any money back into the business.
(1)Christopher H.
I love the food here. Those sweat potato pancakes are just heavenly. The eggs and bacon are quite good as well. Three slaps to my mom for not making me food this good. I can't wait for my family to come back into town so I can take them here. Yum to e is what I say. There is so much food on their menu that I want to try and I plan too.
(5)Phoebe H.
I think my husband and I were the only people there without blue or grey hair on a Saturday at 8 am. We thought we would have to wait for a table by the looks of the full paling lot, but the cafe is surprisingly spacious inside with plenty of room to sit. All of the waitresses we're very courteous, sweet and attentive. They all seemed very happy and genuine. I had the waffles which were two huge, warm, soft, and scrumptious Belgian-style cakes. The bacon side was plentiful for $2 but wasn't anything special. They had a daily special for breakfast as well. My husband had the spicy eggs Benedict which had a tangy sausage that tasted more like chorizo. He said it was the best he has ever had. I tried his home fried potatoes and the flavor was perfection. This family atmosphere makes you feel like you've just plopped down at grandmas for a holiday morning feast. I will definitely be back.
(5)Mimi N.
Try their crab cake, fried green tomato, egg benedict and grits! I also go bacon (which We're really crispy! Yum!) on the side since I love it with grits.
(5)Lanny G.
I had the pecan Waffle with banana syrup. It was so good. I also got 2 eggs and sausage. The look of the restaurant is plain Jane but the food is very good.
(4)Colleen J.
I go to Sunflower Cafe for the beignets and coffee. They were delicious and the sugar induced coma that followed shortly after was divine. As far as food, lunch wasn't my fave -- I think I need to stop by for breakfast to give it another shot. Service was good... place could use some cleaning up, but nothing bad. Solid three stars unless you get the beignets - then it's 4 stars.
(3)Brandi S.
I had the eggs benedict with ham. It was great and reasonably priced. Our server was friendly and attentive. The cook even came out to ask how our food was. I recommend!!
(5)Tara C.
The pancakes, oh my goodness, the pancakes! It's 10:00 pm on a Monday night, and those pancakes sound amazing.. even right now. Quaint, family-owned and operated. I've had the sweet potato pancakes and chocolate covered cherry pancakes, both were delicious!
(5)Rachel C.
Great service. Small breakfast diner atmosphere with local color and sunflower decor. I ordered the breakfast special with eggs, grits, bacon and a biscuit. They kept the refills coming on my coffee, food came out hot and tasty. Staff was super kid friendly, greeted regulars like family with hugs, and great idea to have children's books on a shelf to keep the littles busy. I would go back for sure.
(4)Jim B.
Looking for a place for breakfast on a Sunday morning - not very many to chose from that aren't big-box boring. Helpers gave this place high marks so we took a ride. Got there just after they opened and the crowd was already rolling in - we were quickly seated and the place filled up within minutes - our timing was just right. Typical diner layout with exceptional menu choices. In spite of the crush, our servers kept us well supplied with water and tea until our breakfast got to our table. Wifey had feta, sun-dried tomato omelet. She said it was very good. Yours truly had the spicey sausage and pepper Benedict - excellent! Grits were obviously not instant and they were a credit to gritdom. Inexpensive, clean, fast, well-executed comfort food - exactly what you should expect from a diner in Charleston. We will return anytime we are in town.
(5)Marcy Z.
Best pancakes I've ever had! I set some kind of speed record eating them...no syrup btw. Hubby had sausage peppers Benedict and said they were perfect. Two coffees, side of bacon (deep fried ) and beignets; $25.
(5)Mari B.
OH GOSH-AMAZING! This place is so underrated its ridiculous! BEST QUALITY BREAKFAST FOOD IN Charleston! I am a foodie so I've been to countless of restaurants in the area and this really is the best breakfast I've had! Yes, the outside looks like it needs some love and care and it is not in downtown but really now, the QUALITY matters! And this food is GOOOOOD! PS: do not leave without trying the sweet potato pancakes with the pecan butter. HEAVEN!
(5)Carolyn S.
From the outside it doesn't look much but the food is SO good! Beignets, "best sandwhich in charleston", and feta cheese omlette w spinach and tomatoes were all exceptional! Side note: I loved the fries! The food is very well prepared!
(5)Ross H.
I had the eggs Benedict with country ham and our was great! The saltiness of the ham cuts through the hollandaise sauce nicely and the grits act as a great absorber of all the flavors. Also got the beignets to cut the abundance of salty with sweet. They were great.
(4)David H.
This is one of those breakfast and lunch spots that really is a hidden gem. We were thrilled to trip across it and judging from our fellow diners, this place is popular with a cross section of folks and it's easy to see why. There's nothing fancy about the place, but what it lacks in style it makes up for in charm. The service was truly fantastic and everyone on the staff was amazingly friendly, even by Southern standards. Our party of four had a mixture of lunch and breakfast items. The portions were generous and the pricing was very reasonable. The sandwiches were creative and could easily have been found in a hipster establishment downtown, plus they were as delicious as they sounded. My kids loved their blueberry pancakes so much that my wife and I just had to steal a few bites and we were glad we did. The food came out quickly and, in fact, our only complaint was that our fries and scrambled eggs (different orders, of course), could have been cooked a teeny bit more for our tastes. Still, we can't recommend the place enough. If we're ever in the area again, we'll make a point of swinging by.
(4)Tracy B.
We were on vacation from California and wanted a good breakfast. This place fit the bill perfectly. Great prices, great food, and great service. What more could we ask for.
(5)Emily G.
This place is very good for the price you pay! You get a nice yummy meal that is not overpriced. Definitely try their potatoes if you like peppers and onions if not don't worry they have naked potatoes as well! We will definitely be coming back here regularly!
(5)Megan S.
Very cute place. Had the sweet potato pancakes w/ pecan butter and they were soooo good! My sis had the pecan waffles w/ banana syrup. So delicious!
(4)Damian T.
The service here is wonderful. That cannot be stressed enough and I love the sunflower decorations. The only reason I cannot give a rating of more than three stars is because of the food quality. Don't get me wrong, it is not terrible but it's not great. It is on par (sadly) with the areas diners. The price point should be about 2$ cheaper than where it is at for the quality. That being said they have excellent choices for brunch. I ordered their namesake breakfast and my companions ordered a pecan waffle with warm banana syrup and sprinkle pancakes (kid menu). I love that they have sprinkle pancakes (or chocolate chips) but they charged a dollar for literally a handful of sprinkles dropped on top of the pancakes. The waffle was delish and paired awesomely with the banana syrup! My eggs were cooked perfectly to order and the bacon was cooked exactly how I like, not too crispy. The potatoes left something to be desired but the endless coffee was better than expected. I wasn't disappointed with my visit but I wish that there were more quality options or at least more reasonable prices. 3 stars; average.
(3)Meagan T.
Stopped in here after leaving the airport on our first day in Charleston. Found it via yelp and we're not disappointed! This is a small town, home cooking type of restaurant. I imagine it's one of those places where all the locals go and everyone knows your name. There were a few people there when we came in around 10:30a. There was one guy working and he was very friendly. We started with waters and a coffee for me. Loved that they don't use uniform coffee mugs, makes you feel at home. My husband had the ham omelet with potatoes and I had the grab and fried green tomato Benedict with potatoes and a side of bacon. Everything was delicious!
(4)Larry Y.
Wife ordered the Fresh Crab & Fried Green Tomatoes, I ordered the Salt Cured Country Ham & Eggs, and the kids ordered the Sunflower Cafe' Breakfast Club Special. The food was good, especially the Fresh Crab entree. Gave them a 3 since the service was next to none.
(3)Elle E.
We had two benedicts: the crab cake fried green tomato as well as the spicy sausage and peppers. Both were cooked perfectly and the flavors of each dish really complimented each other quite well. I was so impressed by how on top of everything the server was, we had Shannon and she never let my coffee go unattended. I had a side of cheese grits as well and they were the best I've ever had. Thank you for such a delicious breakfast Sunflower Cafe!
(5)Lily G.
We come here every year we are in Charleston.....great food and service. Christy, our waitress, could not have been nicer, she even recommended a barber for great women's haircuts. Fabulous. LOVE the crab, fried green tomato eggs Benedict. The best hollandaise I've ever had including some very fancy New York restaurants! We always go during the week because I'm sure the weekends are mobbed and rightly so.
(5)Endo M.
Salt cured eggs Benedict was absolutely delicious. Grits were good. Staff very friendly. Ample parking & tables spaced out inside nicely. Decor dated but clean.
(4)Jen S.
Was looking for a place to have Sunday brunch, but didn't want to wait til 11, when most places open. Found this little gem hidden off Ashley River Road. Delicious! Lots of options, great prices and extremely friendly staff. Really enjoyed the biscuits. Did have to wait for about 20 minutes, so will call ahead next time. Will definitely be back for brunch and probably dinner too!
(4)Travis F.
This is one of my go to spots. They make me feel like extended family (the kind you actually enjoy when they visit). The food is good, feels like home and the people are even better. It's a treat to be greeted by name instead of them getting my name off my card at the end. Attention to detail people.
(4)Jessica B.
First thing's first- make a reservation!! They accept any size party reservations. The restaurant is small and a little outdated, but the service and food were excellent. At our table of three, the special omlette of the day (taco omlette), plain waffle with banana syrup and the special pancakes of the day (oatmeal raisin) were ordered. The food came out quickly, hot and delicious. The portions are quite large for breakfast and worth every penny. The plates are reasonably priced right where they should be. The sides- the sausage are patties, which is a plus in my book! The grits were some of the best I have ever had. The biscuit tasted like it had just been made not long before it came to my table.
(4)Cary C.
Very nice little diner with good food, fair prices, and friendly staff. It filled up on the Sunday morning we came in, but most places do. It would be nice if there was a bit more room to wait, everyone huddled by the front door, which was uncomfortable and must have bothered the folks eating at the counter. Small complaint though and overall this was a great deal for a nice brunch!
(4)Rob T.
Wait for Breakfast it was good I have been there for Lunch was good I do go Occasionally Servers need more help Peak Breakfast and Peak Lunch Otherwise Nice
(3)Nicholas J.
Great casual cafe off HWY 61. Friendly service and good food for a reasonable price. Be sure to try their grits. They are amazing.
(4)M C.
Between the staff, the ambiance, and the grits, you have to come here. I stopped in on my way out of town, and was so happy I did! Everyone was so friendly, and the food was awesome! I had the eggs benedict and grits, I will forever hold everyone else's grits to the standard of what I ate here. Delicious!
(5)Robert C.
Best place I've ever eaten!! The filet omelette is the best thing I've ever had! Sweet potato pancakes are out of this world!! Grits are the best I've ever had!
(5)Kelly B.
Terrible breakfast.. eggs Benedict.. ham was WAY too salty, eggs were WAY too runny, sauce was the only thing good. Side of bacon... tasted like the meat had gone bad, worst bacon I've ever had. Crab omelet... excessive bits of shell in the crab meat. Wasn't cheap enough to warrant leniency in expectations for the food. Not impressed and will never go there again.
(1)Andre M.
Great place. Loved the potatoes. My eggs benadict could have been a little bit more runny but they were still great.
(4)Evan S.
This is definitely a local joint and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way. The staff is very friendly and the service was great, but that's about where the compliments end. The restaurant is a bit dated and marginally clean. And the food is just average. People were ordering some sandwiches which looked huge, so I'd say that the value is definitely there. I had the salmon spinach salad which had huge chunks of red onion in it and slightly too much dressing. The salmon was a little overcooked. This is definitely a locals spot so if you want to see what they like go for it! It's not a terrible spot, just not my cup of sweet tea...
(3)Selphyne B.
Very friendly, little joint with ok food. We were welcomed and seated right away. The menu on Sunday is only breakfast items and any running specials. We went for breakfast this morning and tried a fair variety between my husband and me. My husband ordered the crab and fried green tomato Benedict with classic hollandaise sauce, with a side of home fries and beignets. I ordered À la carte: order of eggs over medium, a toasted English muffin and a side of their chipotle hollandaise. The beignets were lovely and unexpectedly dense like a fried biscuit rather than a traditionally light and airy beignet. My husband enjoyed his Benedict that seemed to be smothered under giant lumps of crab. His potatoes were very dark and greasy but didn't taste awful, just too heavy to eat more than a bite or so. My eggs weren't cooked over medium, they were over easy and still had a dark spot that at first glance had me worried that the yolk was over cooked! I think the cook had then on high heat and then removed them. Again, not bad tasted, just lacking in technique. I assembled them on the English muffin with the chipotle hollandaise for my own vegetarian Benedict and it was great with their sauce! I really loved the chipotle seasoning infused in this hollandaise and will be recreating it at home. I will note that they only offer strawberry and grape jelly which is a no no for me. And their establishment isn't comfortable: old school bingo chairs and card tables of some sort. I think the theme was supposed to match the name but they gave up and used a Porsche flag to cover a window partially. This is a very run down low budget place and it was very apparent that someone woke up and decided to open an eatery on little to no budget. We didn't hate it and would probably return if we were still in the area as it still offers better food than most restaurants in the area with a low price.
(3)Mike B.
So we had a breakfast meet up, only one outta four was happy with the goods. The eggs Benedict was a success but the omelettes were not satisfying. I had the basic two eggs grits and bacon, wasn't bad but not great. 51 bucks for breakfast that wasn't super, will probably be the last.
(2)Harold W.
This place always has a line for breakfast especially on weekends. We have been wanting yo eat here for awhile. Staff is very friendly. By the looks of this place there are a lot of regulars. I had the Breakfast Special which was good but not outstanding. Danny had the Spicy Sausage Eggs Benedict which he said was good but not outstanding.
(3)Bernadette K.
The food is horrible. The ambiance is horrible . Not kidding you. Why did we stop here? Because of all the people before us giving 4 stars. What are.these people used to eating that they would give this place more than 1 star ??And it shows the owners have not put one penny back into this place to make it appealing. We were brought to eat in some back room with 1970's tile on the floor and office furniture table and chairs. Im not recommending and im not coming back.
(1)Marina K.
This place was horrible. From slimy oil on top coffee to coffee stained coffee cups. I was so disappointed. We just left. And the service was terrible too.
(1)Landon B.
Went here with my wife and our parents for Sunday brunch a couple weeks ago. Only been in Charleston for a couple months. Haven't had a chance to try Early Bird Diner because of the really long waits on Sunday and may never get to because of a diamond in the rough like Sunflower Cafe. It's opens earlier than most on Sunday around 8 or 9 am, can't remember which. Call ahead and you will be sat promptly, otherwise expect a little wait especially as it gets closer to noon. The staff is very friendly and the food is great! The best part is the price. All 6 of us had filling meals and coffee and my wife and I paid a little less than $70!!! Must try for breakfast/brunch. Place is larger than it looks. Friendly folks. Will be going again.
(4)Marica M.
Everything was good especially the crab fried green tomato Benedict.I got potatoes as my side and it was okay, I would get cheesy grits next time like what my brother got. I don't eat too much grits but this one I really liked. I would definitely bring my family next time here to have some breakfast ;) so much food to try that looks good.. The beignet is a must! Such a classic! Everyone was very friendly and nice.
(4)Lisa A.
I stopped into the Sunflower Cafe for lunch today. I've wanted to try it for some time and as I had to be in West Ashley today, it was convenient. The restaurant is larger than it would seem from the outside but still a cozy, neighborhood feeling to it. Most of the patrons seemed to be regulars, known by the staff which is often a good sign. The Cafe also had a private gathering going on in their back dining room, which made me wonder if service would be affected but it was not an issue; the servers were still very attentive to all customers. My drink order was taken as soon as I was seated and my iced tea was kept full the entire time I was eating. I started with a cup of the soup of the day, Crab and Corn Chowder. It was served in a good sized coffee mug. I was pleased with the portion size. The soup was delicious; creamy and just the proper thickness. The crab tasted fresh and I didn't encounter any shells, which is often an issue with crab chowder/stew. Not here! Continuing the crab theme, I had the crabmeat and fried green tomato sandwich, served on sourdough bread which was drizzled with an herb aioli. While very tasty, the aioli was presented on the outside of the sandwich, which makes for a sloppy eating experience. When I return to Sunflower Cafe--and I definitely will!--I'll ask for the aioli on the side. The sandwich was very tasty. While the sandwiches on the menu come with either fries, potato salad or cole slaw, I had substituted/added the chowder as my side dish so I can't comment on sides. All in all, a very pleasant lunch experience which I definitely recommend.
(4)Jon T.
Best value for breakfast in Charleston. The food does not disappoint. Get there early for Sunday breakfast/brunch.
(5)Ajay Y.
Truly a Hidden Gem! Great service. Amazing cheese grits and BLT. And don't forgot the beignets - by far better than the ones in New Orleans!
(5)Delia L.
Unassuming decor, prompt service and AMAZING food. Next time I'm in Charleston I'll be back! The crab and fried green tomato Benedict is beyond delicious!
(4)Grant S.
Finishing up our omelets with biscuits and grits, the nice woman running the place said "See you tomorrow!" to another woman paying for her breakfast. Does this lady seriously eat breakfast here two days in a row on a consistent basis? Though I envy her eating out budget, I can't say I blame her. The grits are really stand-outs. I thought I hated grits until I had them here. They're really soft and flavorful. Biscuits were soft and clearly homemade, probably in-house and probably with love. We got the Sauteed Spinach, Oven Dried Tomatoes, & Feta Cheese omelets because there weren't many other vegetarian options, and it was pretty good, too. The eggs were a little on the dry side, but not a deal-breaker. Lastly, potatoes are great -- caramelized and full of flavor. Add some hot sauce and you're set.
(4)Jenny S.
My favorite breakfast spot. I love their crab benedict so much that I can't order anything else. The restaurant looks a little dusty and outdated, but has a great charm. This is a unique little place off the beaten path. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The only reason I gave them a four and not five is during my last visit my potatoes were burned. I do wish they continued to serve breakfast throughout the day for those who have a hard time getting there by 11:00. I sometimes enjoy getting out for a late breakfast. Every time I have been, I have left happy.
(4)Katie B.
Had a great lunch here on a recent Saturday. Tried my first fried green tomatoes which were very good with a delicious remoulade. I also enjoyed the salmon salad I ordered very much. Highly recommended.
(4)Meredith S.
Breakfast is only served until 11:00am!! It says differently on here though. I've never had a bad experience with a restaurant in Charleston until we decided to try this place. My boyfriend and I are locals but this place was not among the many locally friendly restaurants. When we sat down we found out that we could only get 3 breakfast items. The waiter was rude to begin with and when we told him that we decided to go somewhere that we could get breakfast, he rudely grabbed out menus and basically yelled at us that they only serve breakfast until 11:00am. We left and were very glad that we did not give him our business!
(1)J F.
Hidden Gem One of those only-the-locals-know-about kind of place. nothing fancy. just great sandwiches. if you come here for the first time, then you must get the filet mingon and the fried green tomato sandwiches. 2 sandwiches + 1 tea = $22 not bad. definitely coming back here when I'm in Charleston.
(4)Deb B.
What a great find! I have driven past the place for years and just never knew what I was missing. We ordered the left side of the menu and the food was outstanding! This is going to be my new fav breakfast spot. The prices are very good and the food was just what I was craving. Thanks Sunflower Cafe!!
(4)Randi B.
Special Salmon & grits - delish; Sausage Benedict - yum & Sweet Potato Pancakes - the BOMB!
(5)Samuel J.
"Charleston's Best Sandwich" lived up to its name! The gingerbread pancakes were awesome too!
(4)Matthew C.
Visiting from out of town and was looking for a good breakfast joint. Food was great and the service was even better. The decor is a bit blah but it doesn't take away from how great everything else was. Will make it a point to stop here for breakfast whenever I am in Charleston!
(5)Amy Yvonne H.
Diamond in the rough. You may not even notice this little family owned restaurant when your driving down hwy 61 but its worth stopping for!! This is my second visit & I had: Breakfast club special with two eggs, bacon, biscuit, cheese grits A+ Appetizer of beignets A+ The good: food came out quick server was on point bacon was cooked just right crispy yet soft grits were fancy and fresh cheese was melted on them in a mini baking pan The bad: eggs were not cooked fully the way I asked. (no runny yoke) biscuit was said to be very good but comparatively to Early Bird Diner in West Ashley, it was not that good. Server was robert *Asked to give togo drinks *Had up to 5 plates at a time *very friendly & always a pleasure having him serve us VERDICT: Its an amazing small place that has amazing food. Be specific with how you want things cooked, & emphasize things that matter. Bring a big appetite, no matter what you order, it seems you can't go wrong with there fresh, hot ingredients for a low price!
(4)Kathleen M.
Love this place for breakfast. They will omit things if needed. Example: Potatoes with breakfast I don't eat the seasoning mix. They made them plain. Also the spinach egg white omelette is good. If looking for super sized servings this isn't the place. Only 4 stars because my companions steak had a "old" taste to it.
(3)Samantha R.
Amazing!! Read the reviews on yelp and decided to make this our first stop after the airport and we were NOT disappointed. Everyone that works here is so polite and friendly. Very home-y atmosphere. The omlettes were really good and the beignets were to die for!!!
(5)Jennifer M.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!! It is family owned and operated and you can tell! They take great pride in everything they do. I've been dining her for the eight years they have been open and have NEVER been disappointed. The food is fresh, fast, and delicious. The decor is nothing fancy but the atmosphere is like being at an old family friend's house. Enjoying a great lunch and great conversation.
(5)Steven H.
Unassuming local yokel type joint with Southern character and delicious breakfast offerings. Our group of four had a variety of things, all freshly prepared, and some memorably unique. Sweet potato pancakes with brown sugar pecan butter = better plan on burning some more calories later on. Decor diner-spartan, service adequate and friendly, food delicious.
(5)felicity b.
We didn't try any of their specialty dishes, and just stuck to the egg classics. What I liked: -Well cooked eggs -Friendly service -Great tea -Prices were very fair -Food was hot and fresh Everyone in my group enjoyed their breakfast. Our server, a nice young lady with a short hair cut, was very friendly. The building is a little run down, and they could use a little sprucing up in the restaurant.
(4)Leslie K.
The grits are the best I have ever had, however the potatoes were not good and the omelet was oily.
(3)Stephanie B.
Today, we went to The Sunflower Café on Ashley River Road for breakfast. I found the restaurant on Yelp - thank you folks. It is a pretty large neighborhood diner with plenty of regulars. They open at 8:00 AM, and we were there at 8:30 am. At that hour, there was only one waiter and two workers in the kitchen. Because they were short-staffed, the service was a little slow. By the time we left, there were two more waitresses. You would be better off coming later in the morning. For breakfast, DH ordered the Sweet Potato Pancakes with brown sugar pecan butter. I ordered the crab benedict with grits. The pancakes were huge - each was the size of a dinner plate - and two were served in an order. There was not nearly enough butter, but we managed to spread it around the pancakes. The pancakes were delicious. They would have been even better with 100% maple syrup rather than colored corn syrup (a.k.a. log cabin, aunt jemima, etc.). They were dense without being dry and had crunchy ends with a tender interior. The sweet potato flavor really came through and was complimented by the brown sugar pecan butter. The benedict was a split English muffin which was toasted. Each was topped with a fried green tomato and topped with pulled crab meat a perfectly poached egg and homemade hollandaise sauce. The crab meat was a little fishy, but the hollandaise was obviously very fresh and very good. The tomatoes were sweet and perfectly crisp. The grits were very good - buttery and thick. I recommend getting them on the side. Otherwise, they run into everything. I would definitely go to Sunflower Cafe again, if I were in the area.
(4)Brandy B.
LOVE their potatoes and biscuits. One of our favorite spots in West Ashley for breakfast! Limited menu but what is on there is awesome!
(4)Debbie B.
One of our FAVORITE places to eat in West Ashley! This place has some of the BEST entrees around. Their sweet potato pancakes and their crab omelets and their eggs Benedict are the bomb!!! Highly recommend dining here for breakfast or lunch. Great staff, very friendly and knowledgeable.
(5)Jason S.
Breakfast at the Sunflower Cafe was our first meal in Charleston and we were not disappointed. I had the crab and fried green tomatoes eggs benedict and my wife the sweet potato pancakes. Both were fantastic. Our server was very personable. The interior is typical diner, which isn't a bad thing. I highly recommend.
(4)Samantha J.
Definitely a long wait, which wasn't a big deal. However, we had looked at the menu while waiting and we're ready to order once we sat Down. When the waitress came over we let her know we were ready to order. She said she cannot take our order because we can only order drinks first. Once we were finally able to place our food order I requested the spinach, tomato and feta but wanted it as a scramble instead of an omelette. The waitress said she wasn't sure that was possible and had to get the manager. The manager came over and acted like it was a crazy request and that they have a special pan for omlettes and the scramble wouldn't work. I asked if they make scrambled eggs and that I just wanted to add the ingredients to the scrambled eggs. She said the vegetables wouldn't cook then. So they made a huge deal out of me requesting scrambled eggs and instead completely changed my order to plain scrambled eggs. The food was sub par. However the grits were delicious. Overall, the service and the food was not worth the wait and the lack of customer service in requesting alterations to food orders was obnoxious.
(2)Chami D.
Excellent food and excellent service... We had a great breakfast here. The beignet was to die for and the spicy sausage Benedict was amazing....
(5)Kai K.
We were driving our Trolley Pub up to Raleigh from Savannah and decided to stop here for breakfast. Unfortunately, our friends were going to be late. Breakfast ends at 11 so I asked the server whether or not they could wait a half hour so we could still order breakfast. The guy seemed really stressed out by the request and at one point said "this isn't a waffle house- we have to change the kitchen over." While I completely understand that, he could of just said "I'm so sorry, but your welcome to order from the lunch menu." The server was friendly after we sat down, though. Sirloin sandwich was delicious. The cuts were perfectly medium rare and the horseradish sauce blended superbly with the...bread. I made noises the whole time I ate it. The decor leaves much to be desired. 5/5 for the food, 3/5 service/decor.
(4)Genessa W.
Excellent lunch! We went at first for the breakfast, but the rest of our party arrived too late to order. While my boyfriend and I waited, we ordered some grits, which were home-cooked and amazing. I have to say for a girl from California with NO experience of grits, my mouth was definitely watering for more. Then we ordered a few sandwiches- my boyfriend and his friend ordered the steak sandwich and I had the BL and Fried Green Tomatoes sandwich. SO GOOD! I ate the entire sandwich in about 10 minutes (which is a lot for me) and my boyfriend nearly licked his plate clean. Not only was the lunch great, but then we ordered the Fritters for dessert, which were hot, sugary, and delicious. If I'm ever in that neck of the woods, I'm definitely going back!
(5)Jennifer A.
This place was dirty, the food was awful and the service was terrible. Go somewhere, anywhere else!
(1)Karen S.
Great food, nice price and super friendly staff-they easily accommodated our group of 15. I would go back for sure!!! Try the fried green tomatoes!
(4)Sandra L.
We were visiting charleston last week and had the chance to enjoy a delicious breakfast at Sunflower. I had the sweet potato pancakes. yummy! They were served with pecan sugar butter. No need for syrup. Can't wait to go back and try an omelette.
(5)Randy H.
First time there and it was great. Crab Benedict with green tomatoes was fresh, just tart enough and very tasty.
(5)meme a.
Hubby and I stopped in for brunch after church. It was very busy but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table to be set up. The decor was not trendy at all but the word "cute" came to mind. A kind of homey, family atmosphere. I ordered the crab and green tomato eggs benedict. Yum Yum. The egg was perfectly poached. My husband ordered a filet and eggs....med. rare. And it actually came out medium rare. It was nice and juicy. We also had an order of beignets. =) The food was yum and the service was attentive. On the way out, we were greeted by a nice older lady (possibly the owner). Our experience was very good. 4.5
(4)Greg K.
While most of the reviews gush with lavish compliments, the 5 star on 9/2013 "Jennifer" is actually Jen and is the head COOK with her mother "Miss Jenny" the owner. This type of self promotion is truly not fair play and misleading! The food is actually quite good true, but nothing extraordinary. The interior borders on shabby especially looking at the stained ceiling and dislodged panels. While The servers were pleasant and friendly, a keen ear could detect dissatisfaction and I witnessed the owner chastising employees in a condescending manner. This made the cozy atmosphere truly uncomfortable! Overall average to good, I have found genuinely finer examples in cozy atmosphere elsewhere!
(3)Roger O.
Breakfast is what I enjoy and Sunflower delivers. My family enjoys the grits, omelets, and crab cake Benedict. Healthy portions for sure. The seating is close and the place is dated , but we still go back for good food in a clean setting. Please keep up the good service!
(4)Amy L.
Cute little small-towny cafe with very tasty sandwiches. It's a convenient place to stop for lunch on the way to or from the plantations, and you're definitely not paying tourist prices here.
(4)Paul C.
Great place and value for the dollar! The best sandwich in charleston really is. Portions were generous and service was prompt and friendly
(5)Will B.
The fam & I have been eating here for years. The simplistic decor belies the sophisticated recipes and delicious, fresh food. Case & point: crabs Benedict (lump crab meet & fried green tomatoes).
(5)Laurie A.
Mediocre. Got 1 small sausage with eggs and sausage breakfast (normally 2), had to ask for coffee when cups empty, below average service, average food.
(2)Benjamin A.
After waiting for nearly 15 minutes and seeing the crowd of people eating, my expectations were high. However upon receiving my meal, it was nothing short of atrocious. The potatoes were so soggy they were dripping, the bacon was flaccid and cold when it was served, and apparently the cooks don't understand how to cook eggs. Just go somewhere else. Total waste of time and money. The coffee was good.
(1)Evan T.
Me and my family have become weekly regulars. The food is some of the best breakfast food I have ever had (you have to try the sweet potato pancakes). The staff is personable and if you go in once, seem to remember you the next time you go back. Honestly with the decor and service, you feel like you in a relatives home as opposed to a place of business. One of my top 5 in Charleston hands down.
(5)Santos M.
Smelled mildewy upon entering. Coffee was mediocre. Eggs were cold and potatoes were soggy. Better off going to McDonalds
(1)Aaron R.
We stopped by Sunflower Cafe for a Sunday brunch and were very impressed. Clearly a family-owned busines, this local gem puts a lot of effort into creating an amazing menu with constantly changing specials and top quality food. All of the omelets look great - I had a filet and boursin cheese which blew me away. Amazing array of benedicts and lots of other classics such as pancakes and beignets. The prices blew me away for the size of the portions and the quality of the food. Sunday brunch is pretty busy but not a bad wait for the experience. They also serve lunch during the week which our friends told us is equally delicious.
(5)S Y.
Great breakfast food with a little bit of a twist. The crab benedict was very good, and the carrot cake pancakes were delicious.
(5)Michael C.
This is my wife's favorite spot for lunch. They are good people serving good food - not fast food, but cooked fresh in the kitchen. Plus, in addition to large portions of good meals, they also support the community. And man, excellent grilled cheese!
(5)Cheryl F.
Delicious food with wonderful service! The perfect combination of homestyle cooking with a gourmet twist.
(5)