Basic Food & Beverage

Decent place — only one I could find in the area that was open on Sunday. The prices are on the higher end though and they only take cash. I got an Italian sub and it was about average. I saw some people inside just drinking coffee — I didn’t try the drinks or burgers, so maybe those are better than what I got.

Basic is a good local place for those that live around Hamilton Park in JC. The udon is good, a nice warm treat on those colder days! I’ve also eaten the bulgogi sandwich which was nice, while not being spectacular. The service is a little underwhelming, although it’s not the sort of place you’d expect someone running around after your every need.
Overall, a good, convenient option for reasonably healthy food!

Somewhat overpriced, but reliable place by Hamilton Park.
Decent breakfasts and nice coffee. Don’t ever think of trying their Korean dishes; disappointment is not the right word. For the ramen, they use the hot water from the coffee maker, which, if you are unlucky, had just been descaled. And, the residuals of the descaling solution is not a nice complementary taste that enhances the subtleties of pre-​packaged ramen purchased at the nearest Asian warehouse club.
And, avoid at all costs during the weekend. It is busy as the stroller army attacks Hamilton Park, and momagers need caffeine. They are a nasty bunch, and they love to stand in line with their little snowflake (s) educating them about the wider world …
During the week, it’s an office. At night or the evenings, it’s quiet.

Good find on the corner of a quiet neighbourhood! Delicious udon! Was a great surprise to find this place!

Great little restaurant here had a Cuban sandwich was great with lobster bisque soup.
The staff was very helpful and it is a place I would recommend to others to stop bye and have some great food.
Very friendly place to come with friends!

I really wish I liked Basic because it is so convenient, but every time I try, I end up more disappointed than before. Their coffee isn’t terrible, but it definitely isn’t good. Their bagels somehow always seem old and their cream cheese is like a rubbery putty. I haven’t tried many other items because the place doesn’t seem particularly clean. Perhaps my biggest problem with Basic is that they are cash only, but are far happy to offer you their ATM…

Meh. I generally hate coffee, but even I think the coffee here is way too weak. The sandwiches look tiny for the prices – breakfast burrito about the size of my fist for $ 5? No specific complaints, because it’s an easy in and out if you need something quick. But it just seems like there are better coffee/​sandwich shops nearby.

Shared the bagel and salmon, plus a mango smoothie with my sweetie. It hit the spot on a hot summer day.

Pumpkin latte all year round? AND I can ask for it iced?
Chicken pot pie made fresh for $ 7, with real white meat chicken and tasty vegetables and a perfectly cooked pastry crust?
Fresh baked brownies and fresh smoothies?
AND vegan and veg options for the majority of days when I’m not in the mood to eat meat?
The best part about Basic is that it’s anything but. Sure it’s on the pricey side for my budget, but the convenience of it being located right downstairs from my office make it a go to nonetheless.
I recommend the turkey club, the pot pie and the bean burrito.

Great spot with good food. Tons of different options from Korean food to burgers.. Everything I get seems healthy here. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ would eat there any time.

Disregard this review if you want to know how the food is, I cannot give you a review of that, this 1 star is based on how disappointed I am in the ownership of the place. I needed to buy a water on this hot spring day for my puppy. I went into basic and bought a large bottle of Poland spring water and asked for a cup with it. The guy who was ringing me out asked a small coffee? I replied no just the cup. He then asked the boss who I assume was the owner since I believe it’s just a small family run shop, how much to charge me. I said it doesn’t matter what it costs I just need a cup for my thirsty dog tied up outside please. The owner came over and said its going to be 25 cents. I reiterated i don’t care how much I just need a cup please hurry as I need to go back outside. I hope that the 25 cents they made off of me was worth it for me to never come back to try they’re food or coffee. I try not to be negative on Unilocal I really like giving places 4 or 5 stars for service but the way they reacted to me did not sit well for the rest of the walk. I hope this 1 star review wakes them up a bit and they realize sometimes making the buck has consequences.

Great reliable spot for coffee, korean comfort food, and delicious sandwiches/​salads. Everytime I go into Basic I feel like I am at home.

I don’t think I come here enough! I don’t know why I live about 5 houses away and it has such a good vibrant feel like comfort coffee shop with Asian inspired menu on some items!
Although it has a small kitchen I love their sandwiches and breakfast! For my recent particular visit me and my friend ordered the Nutella mascarpone cream with strawberries and banana sandwich and I had the breakfast burrito with turkey bacon both were absolutely delish!
The restaurant itself is very small seats probably around 15 –20 people maybe even a lil less but they serve breakfast and also great lunch.
Yes it’s a coffee shop but they have bibimbap on the menu which was my favorite! It’s a Korean dish with veggies brown rice and red hot sauce paste Also some soba soup! I love their chicken gumbo soup! Definitely a variety menu, if you are around the area check it out!

This review has been 4 years coming, and after what a staff member told me today over the phone I am officially done with this place. The only reason I and a ton of other people have continued to go there is because it’s the only place in the neighborhood that offers healthy options in walking distance.
Just about every single time I go here they over charge me. Yes, it is only by 50 cent to a dollar, but it’s all the time. I am so sick of it. I spoke with a staff member today, and they told me I had the wrong menu. I told them I picked up a new one a month ago when they over charged me the last time, and the pricing was still the same. My sandwich read $ 8.25 cent on the menu, & on my receipt it was listed as a burger for $ 8,75.
First he said…
«It’s $ 8.75 with the tax» so I said «the tax is at the bottom of the receipt, you know it’s illegal to charge someone tax twice, so what you’re saying is I paid tax on top of tax?»
Then he said «No, it’s $ 8.75, that’s the new pricing, I’m sorry the menus we hand out do not have the updated pricing on them»
I mean can you believe that? How can you hand out menus with wrong pricing, and not even offer to adjust it for an upset customer. I am not the only person that has this issue with this place. If you are not over charged take a look at your receipt next time!
Even if they just charge .25 cent’s for each client, let’s say a 100 clients a day, that means they are over charging people almost $ 10,000 a year! I’m sure it’s a lot more than that.
Very Unhappy

Small coffee shop on the corner of Hamilton Park. I try to only go there when it is a desperate caffeine 911. The coffee is usually stale and selection of pastries/​bagels is pretty basic, no pun intended. They also offer a random selection of lunch ranging from your standard deli wraps to asian cuisine & ramen noodle bowls… don’t know if I am brave enough to test that out here.
They do have wifi and a nice long window table to set up shop with a lap top if you need to get work done. The staff is so/​so, not terrible. Also it’s cash only but there is an atm inside.
If you are in a rush and need just a coffee & bagel, sure stop in but don’t expect anything better than basic.

Awful. awful. The customer service is simply awful. I had loved this place but charm can’t be everything.

I am not an avid coffee drinker but from what i have heard coffee is the only thing that is decent there. 1 for a place in NJ to not even know what Pork Roll is I believe is a sacrilege. 2 they are extremely slow if you order any types of foods and the sandwiches are not very good at all. 3 after placing an order one day for a sandwich (Egg White and Swiss) for my GF, getting home she finds its a Egg White and Turkey Sausage she goes down there to get the proper sandwich and instead of them saying sorry they place the blame on us saying that is what we ordered. For me any place that is a supposedly neighborhood place that takes care of the people should never blame someone for their mistake.
This will be our last venture to this place and hope that others will realize there are many other good places in this town that have much better customer service and foods.

This review is based solely on the coffee, and the coffee was so bad I don’t think I’d come back and try anything else.
You know when your coffee is a dull brown/​grey color, it’s not going to be a good experience.
Burnt, watery, tasteless coffee. The coffee was worse than my office’s Flavia coffee, and that’s BAD. If you like overpriced brown water, you would love Basic. Sugar couldn’t even help this case.
I just realized there are quite a few other reviews that mention how terrible the coffee is… I trusted a friend — should have trusted Unilocal

Breakfast was okay, but I’ve experienced better. Cheap, for sure, but you can make the same at home. The ingredients weren’t as fresh as I remember and, honestly, the only benefit going there was that I didn’t have to clean up dishes at home. I could have bought store packaged ham and cheese, a bagel, and made it at home.
Meh, I have indeed experienced better.
Plus, cash-​only is annoying.

I’d be pretty bummed if this were my «go to» spot for coffee. Coffee is pretty weak, and nothing more than bodega coffee. Not what I expected at all.
They do have decent sandwiches, but I have never tried their baked goods.
They also don’t regulate the temp in the summer. It can get pretty hot in this joint.
If I were to recommend anything here, it would be to swing by, pick up a sandwich to go, and then enjoy it in Hamilton Park.