Gaulart & Maliclet French Café opened its door during the summer of 1984 in Charleston, SC by artists Gwylene Gallimard & Jean-Marie Mauclet as a tool to build community through food. They remain advisors to the longtime employees that carry on their legacy. The shared tables that bring the height of the customer to the same height of the staff, the open kitchen, the focus on simple, fresh ingredients and our commitment to making fresh soups and specials daily are just as important today as they were when we opened. Charleston continues to expand outward and change demographically but the Café remains a place where people of all walks of life can gather, communicate, and enjoy a home cooked meal and an affordable glass of French Wine!
Bustling bistro offering all-day eats, coffee, beer & French wines, plus sidewalk seating. Based on 924 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.4 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Curbside pickup
Address:
98 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 577-9797
Website:
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Saturday |
8 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday |
8 AM–3 PM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
Closed
Holiday hours
|
| Tuesday |
8 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday |
8 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday |
8 AM–9 PM |
| Friday |
8 AM–9 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
Reviews
BKV
Fast and French is a great spot to take a lunch break! Delicious and fresh food served quickly with a casual European feel. I like the wine selection, coffee, soups and sandwiches. Convenient location for locals or tourists to enjoy. I have been coming here for years and will be back.
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Angela Chung
We loved this cute little restaurant. Staff was incredibly friendly. I had the bouillabaisse which was great. My husband got their chicken special. Wonderful atmosphere and great wine.
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Nicola Rogers
We enjoyed a delicious late lunch at Fast and Fresh (which is what the staff call the restaurant). Our server Max was delightful. We enjoyed numerous versions of a croque monsieur. All were delicious. The portions were plenty and the price was low considering the quality and quantity of the meal. I would highly recommend a meal at Gaulart & Maliclet if you are in the area, we will definitely return when next in Charleston.
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Aliesha Caldwell
Lovely little spot for lunch! Took the kids and enjoyed sandwiches and soups for a light lunch. We all were raving about the food we ordered. Several of my kids ordered the Croq Monsieur and thought it was delicious! We were also pleased at the vegan menu options. I ordered the lentil soup and another child ordered the vegan baguette (with an olive tapenade) and we had entree envy when we all tasted hers!
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Brian DiGiorgio Zanger
A unique place in an old building with lots of charm. We sat in a table that was tucked in a back alcove that was so secluded that it was basically a private room, but the servers never forgot about us so it was nice. The food was okay (nothing special) and the selection was kind of restrictive, but if you want more traditional breakfast stuff there are plenty of other places to go. The wait to get in was long even at an off time in the off season though, and the time estimate by the host wasn’t accurate, so I shudder to think what it would be like during a more busy time
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Paige Race
I can’t give this place a 0 so I’ll give it a 1. First off, not fast and not french. Overpriced spam & packaged cheese. On three slices of bread.. not a baguette. No idea how this place has 4 stars. We felt very ripped off and would avoid coming here if you’re actually looking edible food and something French.
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Isabella Sullivan
I’ve lived in Charleston my whole life; there are so many better French places to go, even just downtown.
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Quahog
This is one of Charleston’s tried and true eating establishments, serving the local community for decades. Recently expanding to sidewalk dining, an artifact of the pandemic, it has continued to be a reliable venue with good food, wine and a certain charm. It is tight on the inside and you are often sitting elbow to elbow. Great for lunch or dinner, and a relatively convenient walk from most of the dense tourism locations. After a recent early evening Spoleto event we stopped by for a light dinner of goat cheese toast and soup. Their soups are always a great choice and you get a nice hunk of baguette along side. They have many French standards on their menu and prices are very reasonable for downtown. No restaurant parking but there are parking garages and street parking close by. Service is always good. We give it a solid four clams on the coveted Five Quahog Rating Scale
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Ojas Gokhale
Good breakfast place serving typical French dishes. Coffee was good as well, could be sweeter for my taste. The MonteCristo sandwich for amazing, do definitely try that. Service was quirky but prompt. Prices are fair.
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Holistic Travel Guy
We had a great lunch here, just before it rained, the $15 lunch special is a good value, includes glass of wine, baguette, cheese, soup
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