Internet Reviews
Metromix
Bestsellers from two restaurantsBasil Leaf moved from 2460 N. Clark Street to 2465 N. Clark Street in January of 2008 (it reopened in the Sage Food & Wine address, the Basil Leaf's sister spot). Owners merged the menus of the two eateries, keeping bestsellers from both restaurants (they ditched the gourmet carryout market and added more seating). Menu highlights include rigatoni with Italian sausage, bell peppers and onions in a light tomato sauce; chicken Milano with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus and linguine; garlic-crusted pork chops with roasted new potatoes; and fettuccine with blue crab meat and sweet peas in a creamy dill sauce. Seafood and veggie items are also well-represented.
Yelp
I can't stand how good their food isWell, after my 3rd experience with Basil Leaf, I thought it time to make an educated review.
I can't stand how good their food is. And after reading some of the 2 or 3-star reviews, I feel sorry they didn't have one of my experiences. I love the duality of the seating area--either in the main dining room or the bar. Both offer full-service wait staff, so it just depends on how busy they are and what type of mood your'e in.
I love their bolognese and tortellini w/ peas. I could eat either of those every day for dinner. Also, the gorgonzola mushroom appetizer is nummy! Usually I find gorgonzola to be a bit too pungent for my taste, but this was perfectly salty and earthy. Ooo...I forgot about their spring mix salad with cherries and brie. Seriously decadent.
I've only had dinner there, and both times it definitely had some mood lighting going on. This place would be great for a nice date with good food. The wine selection is decent and the staff will help you choose a glass or bottle that matches the meal.
Watch out for parking. Being on Clark, it's hard to find a spot. There is valet (I think), but just suck it up and take a cab. That way you can enjoy as much wine as you'd like!!!
Mangia people. Mangia!
I can't stand how good their food is. And after reading some of the 2 or 3-star reviews, I feel sorry they didn't have one of my experiences. I love the duality of the seating area--either in the main dining room or the bar. Both offer full-service wait staff, so it just depends on how busy they are and what type of mood your'e in.
I love their bolognese and tortellini w/ peas. I could eat either of those every day for dinner. Also, the gorgonzola mushroom appetizer is nummy! Usually I find gorgonzola to be a bit too pungent for my taste, but this was perfectly salty and earthy. Ooo...I forgot about their spring mix salad with cherries and brie. Seriously decadent.
I've only had dinner there, and both times it definitely had some mood lighting going on. This place would be great for a nice date with good food. The wine selection is decent and the staff will help you choose a glass or bottle that matches the meal.
Watch out for parking. Being on Clark, it's hard to find a spot. There is valet (I think), but just suck it up and take a cab. That way you can enjoy as much wine as you'd like!!!
Mangia people. Mangia!
We went to Basil Leaf Cafe as one in our party had a hankering for Fettuccine Alfredo, and we wanted to dine in the area, and we had always wanted to try out BSC. We were not disappointed.
We had just a short wait on a Saturday night @ 8:30pm. Our waitress was really amazing - she knew everything on the menu, was enthusiastic and friendly - really the epitome of fantastic customer service. We also has a person with dietary needs, and the waitress went above and beyond by recommending a few different dishes, and helped us create a customized dinner option to suit our dining partner's needs.
The rolls are freshly baked, served to you one at a time throughout the entire meal, accompanied by olive oil & spices. The food was very flavorful and savory. Everybody had to stop themselves from eating too fast, we couldn't get enough.
I highly recommend the butternut squash soup, any of the salads, the lobster ravioli, and the vegetarian gnocci.
The experience was wonderful, the food tasted great, the atmosphere was warm and comforting, and I will definitely be back to try more on their extensive menu.
We had just a short wait on a Saturday night @ 8:30pm. Our waitress was really amazing - she knew everything on the menu, was enthusiastic and friendly - really the epitome of fantastic customer service. We also has a person with dietary needs, and the waitress went above and beyond by recommending a few different dishes, and helped us create a customized dinner option to suit our dining partner's needs.
The rolls are freshly baked, served to you one at a time throughout the entire meal, accompanied by olive oil & spices. The food was very flavorful and savory. Everybody had to stop themselves from eating too fast, we couldn't get enough.
I highly recommend the butternut squash soup, any of the salads, the lobster ravioli, and the vegetarian gnocci.
The experience was wonderful, the food tasted great, the atmosphere was warm and comforting, and I will definitely be back to try more on their extensive menu.
It's been almost a year since my first visit and Basil Leaf has become one of my favorite spots in my neighborhood. In the summertime I sit outside with my dog, read the paper have some coffee salad and soup. The staff is so friendly and I continue to see the same happy faces around which is always positive.
I've tried most of the menu items at this point but you can never go wrong with the tomato basil soup (even on a hot day) as well as the salad with the mixed berries which was the first salad I ever tried there. I love their dressing choices and any fruit or vegetables added to the salads are super fresh. The hot roll they give you with the oil when you sit down can't be beat. Keep that bread basket away from me or else I'll eat the whole thing!
They've also got some really yummy crafty desserts which get shipped in and the list changes all the time. I suggest if you have a sweet tooth, you should get on that!
This is mostly my lunch spot, but I do take people here from time to time in the evening when I want a low-key spot.
I've tried most of the menu items at this point but you can never go wrong with the tomato basil soup (even on a hot day) as well as the salad with the mixed berries which was the first salad I ever tried there. I love their dressing choices and any fruit or vegetables added to the salads are super fresh. The hot roll they give you with the oil when you sit down can't be beat. Keep that bread basket away from me or else I'll eat the whole thing!
They've also got some really yummy crafty desserts which get shipped in and the list changes all the time. I suggest if you have a sweet tooth, you should get on that!
This is mostly my lunch spot, but I do take people here from time to time in the evening when I want a low-key spot.
Citysearch
Great placeI have been a regular at the Bas Leaf Cafe for years--ever since I can remeber, really. There is amazing food ( i would particularly recommend the butternut squash soup and the gnocci with sun-dried tomatoes) and great service. I have almost never had to wait for a table. My father knows the owner and he is a very nice gentleman. The deserts are also fabulous. They are smll enough so that you are not too full or overwhelmed after eating them but big enough to split betwen two people.
Basil Leaf is easily one of the best finds in Lincoln Park. Everything from the complimentary Bruschetta when you are seated to the fresh fruit water adds the extra touch that makes this dinning experience one you'll remember. The wait staff is impeccably trained - which is a very pleasant surprise considering the very reasonable prices. Try the grilled vegetable pasta - excellent. The outdoor seating is one of the best in chicago.
Centerstage Chicago
Burst-on-your-palate freshnessOpen since 1998 (it moved to this location in 2008), Basil Leaf serves up typical Italian fare, including pastas, salads, sandwiches and meaty entrees. The eatery shuns the typical cheese-heavy execution of most American renditions in favor of burst-on-your-palate freshness. For instance, penne broccoli with roasted garlic and walnuts in basil oil is addictive and flavorful without being the least bit greasy. The tomato cream dishes are particularly popular here, as are some of the more inventive pasta plates, such as fettuccine jambalaya, with shrimp, chicken, mushrooms, artichokes and Cajun spices.
Portions run huge, so your best bet may be splitting an entree and indulging in an appetizer, such as calamari or grilled portabella in balsamic vinegar. Lunches are a bit more reasonably sized and a bit cheaper, though a recent order of soup and salad yielded a cauldron-sized bowl of savory minestrone and a salad that would pass in some restaurants as dinner-size. The sandwiches here are no afterthought either, with skirt steak, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes on ciabatta competing for favorite with chicken, avocado, alfalfa sprouts and tomatoes on multigrain.
Dinner entrees run $9.95-$24.95; lunch averages $9.95-$16.95.
Average cost: $10-$20
Cheeky Chicago
Clark's Corner TrattoriaIf you’re on Clark Street in Lincoln Park, you’re probably not looking for a fine dining experience. With Mickeys, the Tin Lizzie and casual sushi restaurants every five steps, this is the area you go to for a quick bite or a Sunday morning bloody mary.
But in between pitchers of beer and dynamite rolls is Basil Leaf Café – or shall I say the Tiffany’s of Clark Street restaurants? You won’t find the rolled-out-of-bed, throw-on-a-pair-of-sweats twenty-something here. Instead, this quaint, Italian-themed restaurant is home to the Lincoln Park foodie-type who wants a classier dining experience without traveling to the Gold Coast.
Walk into this homey, yet inviting restaurant and you feel like you might be in your hip Italian aunt’s living room. The mint walls and floral paintings combined with the polished wooden tables and white tablecloths are surprisingly complimentary to each other. But this isn’t a place you go to for ambiance. Its all about the food.
Whether you’re a pasta person or not, the menu is so versatile that anyone can enjoy a bowl of full-fledged carbohydrates here. With over thirty different rigatonis, fettuccines and linguinis, you could get a different dish every night of the month.
While at most restaurants I’d say skip the salads, don’t here. Instead of the typical garden or Caprese salad, Basil Leaf has created an array of simple yet perfectly balanced salads. Whether you choose the baby spinach with poached pears, gorgonzola and roasted honey sunflower seeds or the spring mix with dried cranberries, almonds and goat cheese, BL restored my faith in the boring starter salad.
The entrees are filled with fish, steak and chicken, but the pastas are the shining stars. The gorgonzola filled gnocchi with fresh spinach and chopped tomatoes in a cream sauce was perfectly decadent, yet not too rich. While the penne a la vodka with poached salmon, pencil asparagus and peapods was simple and delicious (nutritious?).
And don’t expect a finicky staff here! While some chefs cringe at the thought of changing a dish, our waitress was more than gracious when I asked to swap the salmon for shrimp, even encouraging the other diners to mix and match however they pleased.
Regardless of your choice, a bowl of Basil Leaf’s pasta will warm you up in an instance. And paired with one of their heaping glasses of wine, there really is no wrong.
Trip advisor
Gem of an Italian restaurant in Lincoln ParkWe went here with our family after strolling up and down Fullerton perusing menus. This place was quaint, cozy, beautifully decorated for the holidays with a huge Christmas tree right in the middle of the dining room! The bar area was an experience all it own with a fireplace, mini lights and a convivial atmosphere. We started with warm crusty rolls served with herbed olive oil for dipping. Careful or you'll spoil your dinner! I had the Chicken Piccatta which I asked to add spinach to the linguini side. It was molto delicioso! My husband had the butternut squash ravioli - savory and sumptuous. My daughter had the pesto gnocchi and my son had the Rigatoni Bolognese - both were truly Italy-quality (my son said it matched his favorite Penne Bolognese enjoyed in the Chianti region of Italy). The service was extremely attentive and so pleasant. When you're next in the Lincoln park area of Chicago, don't hesitate. Go!
I was visiting with friends from out of town (both first-timers in Chicago) and at the last night we wanted to eat at an authentic italian restaurant that is not a chain. There are a lot After extensive research of menus and diner's reviews, we picked Basil Leaf Cafe. We also wanted to visit the Lincoln Park area, to get away from the craziness (and tourist trap restaurants) downtown.
The food and service was exceptional. It was a nice summer evening so the windows were open and lining the windows were (of course) -- basil plants. The food came at the expected time frame. Our server was very attentive, even though it was moderately busy. Calamari was good. they have 2 choices of marinara - one is a spicy one and we got both. (i didnt think the spicy one was spicy at all) Lobster ravioli was great. My other friend had the Linguini carbonara and he liked it to. They also have a good wine selection - if you like sweeter wines, the proscecco they have is good.
If one looks at my reviews, I go to a lot of Italian restaurants, so I think I can tell what is good and what is ok. I definitely stay away from the chain restaurants if it's a special occasion.
I would definitely go back here the next time I visit Chicago.
The food and service was exceptional. It was a nice summer evening so the windows were open and lining the windows were (of course) -- basil plants. The food came at the expected time frame. Our server was very attentive, even though it was moderately busy. Calamari was good. they have 2 choices of marinara - one is a spicy one and we got both. (i didnt think the spicy one was spicy at all) Lobster ravioli was great. My other friend had the Linguini carbonara and he liked it to. They also have a good wine selection - if you like sweeter wines, the proscecco they have is good.
If one looks at my reviews, I go to a lot of Italian restaurants, so I think I can tell what is good and what is ok. I definitely stay away from the chain restaurants if it's a special occasion.
I would definitely go back here the next time I visit Chicago.
During our 3 week visit to Chicago we again visited this restaurant on 4 occasions with our different friends who were all as equally impressed as ourselves. The menu is just unbelieveable. The service is impeccable, the staff are attentive and knowledge of the menu and they will also adjust dishes to suit your requirements. They also have a bar area with an extensive range of beers and wines from all over the world. This is definitely one restaurant you must try for quality and value