Basil's Restaurant & Tapas Bar

I have never had a worse dining experience in my life! We made a reservation for lunch at noon on Mother's Day. We all arrived on time (some even early...there were 12 of us). We were not seated until 1pm & were not even seated at the same table. Half of us stood around the other table & waited for the other table to open up. All this time not a single person working there said anything to us about the wait or the fact that they sat many other tables before us that had arrived later than us. To top it off, we were charged a ridiculous amount of money for mediocre food. I really think some of our bill could have been comped, but not so much. The rude waitress even ran out behind us to make sure we had paid since another server handled our check. I'm amazed at how rude the people there were & will highly recommend that people NEVER go back to this place. They don't deserve any recognition for anything but being rude. Thanks for making our mother's day one we can't forget...and not for good reasons. more

I came across this restaurant when I was trying to find a quaint, romantic spot that was not crowded, was quiet, and had a cozy, intimate atmosphere for Valentine's Day weekend. This place really hit the spot. When it comes to a nice, romantic evening, I care about atmosphere probably more than the quality of the food (as long as the food is still decent); I want the mood to be just right. If you want a sophisticated restaurant with true fine dining and expensive prices, then maybe try out the numerous other places that Atlanta has to offer like the Sun Dial, Bacchanalia, Aria, etc. However, if you're looking for a peaceful and romantic atmosphere at very reasonable prices (all entrees with the exception of the $26 rib-eye are from $15-$20 for an idea), this place is really the spot, nestled inconspicuously in a residential neighborhood. Definitely worth the money. That night, it snowed in Atlanta and created icy conditions on the road, so after about 9PM, we were actually the only couple in the restaurant on a Friday night (though it was Feb 12th and not 14th) . I do not know what attendance is normally like during normal conditions, but I plan on finding out soon enough. Unfortunately, that night the Spanish guitarist could not make it because of the weather, so I cannot comment on the music though it had been much anticipated, and I hope to go again during a night where he/she plays. I'm sure it would add even more to the cozy setting. The service was friendly and helpful, but allowed us to enjoy our evening without many interruptions. The food was well-prepared, and for the price, the quality was excellent. I had the Mediterranean Chicken Breast, and it was very flavorful. It was exactly what I had been looking for: a quiet, romantic, and cozy little restaurant to share an intimate evening. I highly recommend it if this is what you are looking for, and I definitely plan on coming again. Thanks to Basil's for an excellent dining experience. Pros: Intimate, romantic atmosphere; cozy; friendly, helpful serv. Cons: If looking for a quiet, romantic, and cozy evening, none more

We have been to Basil's many times over the years, but our visit last evening will be our last. The food quality has deteriorated to where even the nice atmosphere on the patio does not make up for it. The waitress forgot to tell us about the specials, maybe they would have been better, but the two dishes we ordered off the menu were terrible. The chicken dish was extremely salty, tough and lacked any other flavors. The paella was more like a bouillabaisse and was mediocre at best. Pros: Patio Cons: Terrible food and lacluster service more

We took a co-worker to lunch on Friday, March 20th for her birthday. The day was gorgeous and we asked to sit outside, well that started the downhill slide of our service. The waiter did not want us sitting on the patio - maybe had too many tables? One of the members in our party had water spilled on them, we asked if it could be replaced and he returned 20 minutes later. We waited another 20 minutes to place an order because he conveniently never passed the table. Order comes out and one of the meals was completely incorrect. He indicated it was the kitchen's fault and reassured us that it would be taken care. Everyone in our party had finished their food and the lady waiting on her pizza had yet to get her replacement order. He would not look at our table, did not come back or even try to pacify us by letting us know that he apologized for the delay. I guess he thought if he didn't acknowledge that maybe we would forget. The food was great, but it's hard to go back when your first time was miserable! Pros: Great Pizza Cons: servers that don't take care of their customers more

I love this restaurant and I've been going there for years. The staff is attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is kind of European to me - intimate, whether you sit outdoors or in the cozy interior. The food is always wonderfully prepared. I brought a girlfriend and she agreed with me that Basil's house salad is the best anywhere. It is always pretty to look at and then, wow, delicious! It has mixed baby greens, walnuts, mandarin orange slices, cucumber, tomato, green and orange pepper slices, garbonzo beans and plump raisons with a Basil special basalmic vinegrette dressing. Prices are reasonable. This is a really fun place to go! Also, if you arrive before 6:30 pm they offer an early bird special. Fantastic - since I go there quite a bit and like to eat early. Great place! Bring friends. Pros: Reliable, delicious - wonderful atmosphere Cons: What are the drawbacks? more

I went here with my husband for Valentines Day. It was such a cute and intimate little restaurant. Our server was Bo and he was great! When we arrived, they could'nt find our reservations and though-they were very busy and had alot of people waiting to be sat, they fit us right in with no problems! The Host, I think he was the owner, was delightful. He offered to hold our newborn so we could both eat dinner at the same time. The food was delicious as well! Everything about our experience at Basil's was great-though it was a bit overpriced, still worth it! Pros: Great Service, Loved ambiance, Delicious food Cons: Parking was a bit challenging, Our reservations were lost, a little pricey for valentines menu more

My boyfriend and I went there on a group date and it was one of my best memories to date. Everytime I think about it, my heart flips. The atmoshpere was excellent and they had a live singer who's voice was breathtaking. The food was delicious and the weather was perfect. I would recommend this restaraunt to anyone!!! They also have the restaraunt in a perfect place...like they say off a beaten path in a small cottage. I plan to go back very soon!! Pros: Outdoor dining, live entertainment, location, service, food, and parking Cons: can' t think of any.... more

We are avid food enthusiasts and love to try new restaurants. We visited Cafe Anis, which happens to be across the street from Basil's. Love the food, service and ambience at Anis, so we decided to check out Basil's. It was by far one of the worst experiences we have had. My glass of water had a mosquito on it and the server rudely replaced it. We were pretty hungry, so decided to go with entrees without appetizer's which again seemed to make our server upset. The manager (atleast that is who he said he was) was extremely rude when we commented on the service when he came to ask us about the food. In addition, we had a gift certificate from restaurant dot com which they refused to honor because it was 25 cents of the limit or something...to add insult to injury the manager stood over our head and continued to go on and on about the latter, which was very embarrasing. We are definitely not going back or recommending this place to anyone....like someone else said too many great restaurants in ATL to patronize this business... Pros: decent food Cons: service, service, service more

I found Basil's on opentable and a friend and I decided to try it last night. We were seated on the patio and then....nothing. It took almost 15 minutes to even get menus, which also meant we waited that long for drinks. We finally ordered a bottle of wine and when the server brought it out we asked him what he would recommend. He rattled of the specials, we both ordered the red snapper and I got a salad. About 25 mins later both of our entrees came out. No Salad. Then our waiter never came back to check on us until we had both just about finished our food (good thing we didnt need anything!). I then asked the gentleman beside me what he had ordered bc it looked amazing and found out that we hadnt even been told the complete specials list! \r \r I told the waiter I thought the service was below par and he said ""ok, great"" and gave me two thumbs up! He didnt even care at all that I was dissappointed.\r \r I spoke with the owner and he blamed the salad on a problem with tickets not printing right to the kitchen. I can understand that, but that does excuse the fact the that the waiter tell us all of the specials, never apologized for not bringing out my salad and didnt check on us at all. He was nowehere to be seen most of the evening. The tables on both sides of us also had bad experiences with him.\r \r Im upset because the food was actually fantastic. There are just too many restaurants in Atlanta to return to one where I will be treated this way. Pros: Food, ambiance Cons: SERVICE more

Basil's has become one of our favorite restaurants in Atlanta and is a perfect spot for a relaxing and romantic Friday night after a long week. The outdoor porch with live music is great and the food is excellent based on the prices. The only con is that the wine is marked up significantly but has a relatively limited selection. Otherwise this is one of those hidden gems in the Buckhead. Pros: Ambience, Service Cons: Wine list more

The best part about Basil's is the front porch. The atmosphere is nice and casual. They have a great salad to start things off with. Also - the bread they bring out is delicous - so dont bother ordering too many appetizers. The menu is good - not great - but well worth the under $20 price tages. The service was very non-intrusive. Overall - will definitely go back on a nice day so we can sit outside. Pros: Porch Cons: Parking more

Our first visit to Basil's was pretty good. The parking was tough but we knew that going in. We ended up parking on the street. There are a couple other restaurants that share the road so it's not uncommon.\r \r The wine list was good, but not great. There were quite a few selections by the glass and I opted for one from Lebanon. They also offer a variety of Italian, Spanish and California wines.\r \r The flat bread came out with an excellent mediterranean seasoning on it that was fantastic. We opted for the calimari as an appetizer which was also good. \r \r For my entree I tried the Lamb with Potatoes au gratin and vegetable medley. All of them were excellent, especially the heavy spices on the lamb. The portion was just right as well. Not too much but not ""artsy"" and leaving you hungry. \r \r My friend had the Sea Bass. Apparently it was lacking flavor to the point that it was just not edible. Coating it with some of the spices from my Lamb made it better but still not satisfying. Not sure if they forgot to season it or if it was just not a great dish.\r \r Service was good although a little slow. I liked what I had enough that I would definitely give it another try. The atmosphere was nice and romantic. You could easily hear each other without screaming.\r \r If it weren't for the Seabass and the parking I think this would have been a great experience. I'll try it again to see if it get's better. Pros: Excellent Spices and Seasoning Cons: Parking and the bland sea bass... more

My husband and I had dinner on the deck, which was perfect! Not too crowded if you get there before 7:00 p.m., it starts to fill-up fast. Our waiter was great. He was very attentive and allowed us to have uninterrupted time to our selves. The food was wonderful! The price was reasonable too. Overall, we had an enjoyable night out. I will be heading back especially while the weather is perfect for outdoor dining! Pros: Outdoor dining Cons: parking more

We LOVE Basil's... we're locals and go there often. They are always so kind to us and our young daughter. The food is great too! Great dinner special too 5:30-6:30 they have some $10 meals! Pros: service, food Cons: parking more

Started out well. Nice, quiet, romantic location in the heart of Buckhead just outside of the club, bar scene. With a high overall rating I had pretty good expectations. The atmosphere is nice, patio dining is preferred, weather permitting. With very few people dining after 8pm, I anticipated good attentive but not overbearing service. Unfortunately not the case, the waiter was often not found, forcing me to request his presence through other staff. Lacking any evident insect repellent and being located in a wooded area, small flying insects were bothersome (though slightly expected and accepted). What I found unacceptable was the larger crawling insect (1 definite, maybe 2) that was crawling on patio amongst the flowers. I must note I did not get any feeling of uncleanliness or unsanitary conditions throughout the restaurant itself. The food was very good and served hot. Presentation is not the major focus of the main course but the seafood kebob was perfectly cooked. Overall experience was below average only due to insect and service. Pros: Food/Menu, Ambience Cons: parking, insects more

Service is horrible!!! The owner should give a class to the servers on how to treat the customers nicely!!!! Will never go there again!!! Cons: Service more

Coming to Atlanta on business travel at least 5 times a year, you have to look for new gastronomic places to enjoy a good meal. Me and my wife had dinner last night (1-28-06) at Basil's and believe me, it was really good !!!. They have this greek influence along with the flavors of all mediterranean flair. Wine list was small but pretty accurate. Great prices for the kind of food they serve. Pros: Not expensive, Ambience Cons: Parking more

The staff is friendly and so are the regulars. The food is good. There is live music yet you can still enjoy conversation. Best of all worlds. Pros: staff, food more

I had a delightful dining experience at Basil's. It was the perfect night to be seated on the patio - warm and a bit breezy. Very Romantic. The food was very good - loved the hummus appetizer. J Pros: Good Food, Romantic Patio more

When I walked into Basil's, the owner greeted me. He noticed I was alone and planned to read during dinner, so he seated me at the largest table in the restaurant because, ""it has a couch and will be comfortable like home."" I ordered the $3 house salad. It was exceptional! Baby spring greens, cucumber, mushrooms, orange slices, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and fantastic dressing were all included in the generous portion. They served a pita with cheese, mushrooms, and some type of meat on it as the accompanying bread. It was great. The shrimp entree was fantastic as well. The wine by the glass menu is varied and quite good. Overall, I would whole-heartedly recommend Basil's. Enjoy! Pros: great food, low prices, hospitality Cons: none! more