What's Cookin' Downtown - Aiken, SC — Restaurant in Aiken County

I have tried What's Cookin' Downtown a number of times and there is ALWAYS something wrong. Usually it's just the wrong "side", chips instead of fruit or something to that effect. I have called once before when I ordered for our office (and each order had something wrong) and the lady on the phone was incredibly rude telling me she did exactly what was ordered and on the ticket, when in fact I had the ticket, and the ticket was correct but the orders were not. Today, I tried again, going against my gut. I opened my lunch, only to find that a Fly was already enjoying it (crawling happily in my box all over my chips and sandwich, did I mention that he stayed long enough before flying off for two coworkers to walk in and out of the room I was in?). When I took it back to the restaurant, I told the lady that we would exchange boxes when she got my new sandwich ready. She took my box from me and back in the kitchen it went. I asked for a refund instead of a new sandwich since I wasn't comfortable knowing the fly infested sandwich was back in the kitchen. She said "Is there something wrong? Some reason that we can't make you a new sandwich." When I stated that I was uncomfortable knowing that the box was back in the kitchen she said "I had to throw it away somewhere." That would make sense had there not been a trash can right next to where we were standing. Long story short, today was my very LAST visit to What's Cookin' and I recommend everyone walk just a few feet down the street and try Stop Light. They offer fly free food and the girls in there are...

What a beautiful, local experience. Hands down, this is the best restaurant with homey vibes in Aiken yet. This place feels nostalgic, I needed a place for inspiration so that I could write again and I found it here!

Aiken has always been my home, I was born and raised here. This place is by far the best restaurant I've been to in this area. I love the coffee house music that plays, it's very retro and gives me new ideas and clarity.

I had the Spinach Bacon Salad!! It was absolutely AMAZING! If you're going for breakfast, you have to get the grits. I added cheese in mine, they are the best grits I've ever had hands down (and I was raised on grits!). I had the Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake with my lunch today and it was worth every penny.

The prices are beyond reasonably for the amount of food you get on your plate and the quality of each bite. I am not over exaggerating when I tell you, if you're looking for a place to eat that has an "Aiken-feel" and right in the historical part of cozy downtown Aiken, look no further than "What's Cookin'".

You're welcome. Oh! I...

Basic breakfast & lunch counter service on the dining side. There is a separate take-out side with prepackaged meals which you can grab & go. A few outdoor umbrella tables on the sidewalk and a decent sized dining room with tables & booths.

Not bad food, but not exceptional either. Sandwiches & salads seemed a bit overpriced for essentially assembled supermarket items. Basic bread, meat & salad selections. The spinach bacon salad we ordered with extra croutons was delivered without the croutons, runner said she would bring them right away. After waiting 15 minutes, finally flagged down a different worker who eventually got them to us.

Order at the counter, if dining in, food is delivered to your table. Self-service for soda & coffee. Seems the cashier forgot to give us a table card, so when our food came out the runner kept wandering around with our food. Wait time was OK for lunch time, if we hadn't had the additional 15 minute wait.

I would recommend if you're looking for a quick lunch while downtown. Not worth making it a...