Sweet Basil Italian Cafe

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diningjunkie12

Joined 2 years ago

How are their bad reviews?? LOVE SWEET BASIL!. I was a little shocked with the bad reviews... I have been going to Sweet Basil over 10 YEARS and have NEVER had a bad experience! Usually I have bad luck, so how do I always have good luck here? Maybe these other reviews are biased for some reason....

Outside: unassuming in a strip mall

Inside: very QUAINT, charming, quiet, romantic (great for a quiet date night)

Service: prompt, steady and non-invasive (if you are looking for suggestive foodie sales this isn't the place!)

Food: EXCELLENT! Everything has been tasty from the crisp light caesar salad, to the smooth lobster bisque, to the lightly breaded chicken or veal parm, to the delicate but fresh tomato garlic linguini... desert is ALWAYS a great way to finish of the night!

Drinks: Bar drinks are minimal but enough variety to please most

Pricing: Very affordable and on par with quality!

Not a place if you want to see and be seen but a definite place to go when you want a delicious relaxing dinner by yourself, or with a loved one, or to catch up with a group of friends! One of my FAVS!!!

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Mhromalik

Joined 2 years ago

Sweet Basil - Always a Great Time!. My wife and I just visited Sweet Basil for the 7th time. Each time, the experience has been wonderful...great food and service and nice atmosphere. The first three times we went, I had the pork chops, which are the best I've ever tasted. We had wiener schnitzel on Easter--just like what we had in Vienna! We love this place! Some people have nothing good to say about anything or anybody--makes them feel superior. I'm glad they don't plan to come back because I'd rather dine with the happy "regulars" at this marvelous restaurant. I must add that the manager and the entire staff have always treated us like royalty. I just can't believe the bad reviews.

Doesn't Recommend

nursinggal

Joined 5 years ago

Ruined lunch date. Everything was fine until we received our bill. We were charged for a caesar salad and when I questioned the waitress about it, she went to the back and I could hear her manager (I'm assuming he is the owner) getting upset that she was going to remove the $3.50 salad from our bill due to a misunderstanding. The manager came out to my table and made a scene with us regarding the salad price and our misunderstanding of the cost. I then agreed to pay for the salad, but then the manager went a step further by going to get a menu and pointing out to me in a deragatory manner that HIS menu was very clear on the pricing. I again said that I would be happy to pay for the salad but all this man cared about was proving that he was right. I felt that he was making a big deal out of nothing and frankly it ruined a perfectly good lunch. Bad move on his part. Because of his attitude and the way he belittled me on this issue, I will NOT return. There are plenty of italian restaurants to choose from. I am a consumer and I have a choice where I spend my money. I will not recommend this place to anyone else either. I am extremely sympathetic to anyone who works for him. I heard him giving our waitress the "third degree" as we were exiting the restaurant. I feel that it would have been in his best interest to suck up the $3.50 rather than go to the extreme he did in making his point.

Doesn't Recommend

foodie1968

Joined 3 years ago

Worst Italian Place ever visited. This was the worst Italian restaurant correction the worst restaurant I have been to. The service was horrendous the server was untidy, uncooth, the food tasted like out of a can from walmart.

Rating = -5 / 5

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darkblood777

Joined 7 years ago

Very Romantic Very Affordable. They have a small, but satisfying wine list. The most popular chardonnay, white zinfandel, merlot, cabernet, pinot grigio, champagne, and chianti are available. They also have some small cocktails as margaritas, bloody marys, and my favorite the peach bellini. All wines are available by the bottle including some that aren't available by the glass.

The food is excellent. Their salads are very fresh, with everything in place for a delightful starter. Their near-unlimited supply of bread is crisp on the outside with a warm and fluffy interior. Only III Forks's bread is superior to Sweet Basil's. They have a wide variety of pasta dishes on the menu including dishes with chicken, pork, and veal. All of the good Italian standbys are here; each drenched in a tomato, pesto, or creamy alfredo sauce.

By all means, get dessert. Yes, you can get a tiramisu and it's wonderful! If I could have a tiramisu main course that would be delightful. They also have some other fine desserts including a very excellent crème brûlée.

While the lights are not dimmed too much, the atmosphere is very romantic. This is a family-owned restaurant so the waiters are very concerned with your happiness, and do try to please you at every turn. Our waiter brought us some free house salads (normally $1.50 with meal), and never let our drinks run dry. The interior decorating is old-European style with Greco-Roman artwork peppering the dining area.

For the same price as a junky Olive Garden dinner you can get excellent Italian food and pristine service, to make the perfect romantic anniversary.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

This airy, welcoming little restaurant serves Italian fare with a New American twist.. The Scene
Classical statues, streaming sunlight and an abundance of greenery offset the terra-cotta tile and light maple woods. Roman arches frame diners in side booths, and glass panes sandwich Italian postcards against the tablecloths. Well-stocked wine racks offer a varied selection.

The Food
Appetizers include the Clams Vesuvio, which pair steamed shells with a volcanically hot garlic and white-wine dressing, and the lightly breaded and fried zucchini fritti. The Sophia Loren salad combines crisp hearts of palm, avocado and sweet pecans with honey mustard. Baked lasagna is substantial without being too heavy, and the farfalle al pesto delicately marries al dente butterflies with a bright, creamy basil sauce. Roman pork chops are grilled and flambed with a brandy-cream sauce.