This is my first message. I have never felt compelled to review a restaurant before but, after last nights experience at The Basil Leaf in La Grange, I feel that it would be wrong not to.\r
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My wife had been after me for some time to visit one of the restaurants in La Grange and as her Birthday dinner she chose The Basil Leaf. We called and made a reservation for two for 7:30, we arrived at 7:15. It was our first visit and as we walked in I felt the place had possibilities. After just a moment of waiting, we were greeted by the hostess who took us to our table. That was the last positive experience.\r
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I dropped may salad fork while unfurling my napkin, asked for a replacement, never received one. We order a cocktail, waited forever to get them. Ordered an appetizer and waited forever to get it. The app. (crispy spring rolls were very tasty). We ordered another glass of wine, the ticket got lost and had to reorder twice, once with our server, once with the hostess. Were served very unappealing salads, (lettuce was wilting). By the time our app. & salad were cleared we had no silverware left. Asked our server and the hostess for a replacement twice. Tables around us were left unbussed.\r
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Our entrees finally arrived at 8:45. My wifes filet mignon was cooked perfectly and had great taste, the mashed pototoes were excellent, the french beans were over garliced and unedible (to someone who loves garlic. My veal rosa had three very small pieces of veal topped with spinach tomato and mozzerella had no taste and the Fettuccine was mush. At $21.95 it was not a good value. Not that we wanted it at this point, but the offer of coffee or an after dinner drink would have been nice.\r
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The restaurant has potential, but the servers, bartender, hostess, and bus staff need training. It would have been nice if there was a manager on duty to speak to. Two hours later we paid our overpriced bill and left. There were many others who didn't stick it out.
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