Basil Leaf Cafe Reviews

italian

This was great! Good service & atmosphere. I had the pasta alla vodka and it didn't disappoint. The service was not too fast not too slow. My friends had the coffee and vanilla ice cream for dessert and it didn't disappoint them.

We went to Basil Leaf with friends and loved it! Food is delicious and very fresh, service friendly, and prices very reasonable. I took a big salad and it was only 8 dollars. They don't have a kids' menu per se but can make kids' portions on entrees, which is actually better because it's better food than chicken nuggets and stuff. Fries were delicious. Portions are big, do you can expect to take home some. They have paper on top of tablecloth, so kids got really busy drawing on it. Would rate it 4.5 if it was possible. Definitely worth it!

My daughter recently relocated to the Lincoln Park/Lakeview area of Chicago. After moving her in, the "crew", 7 of us, set out on foot for dinner. We happened upon Basil Café and everyone of us found something on the menu to like (which is a little tricky) so we went in! The service was great, the hot, fresh bread was delicious with dipping oil as were all of the soups, salads and entrees we ordered. The gnocchi with pesto was especially yummy! A very nice neighborhood place to dine! Enjoy!

Love the drinks. service was slim. but atmosphere made up for it. hope to return for greater fun and times

Plentiful food and good value. Nice ambiance. Service a bit OTT, constantly checking on your every need although over-trained but pleasant, chatty staff with real smiles.

This was a very nice restaurant. We went in the middle afternoon so it was very quiet. At one point we were the only ones in the restaurant. Hence, service was good! The food was good with a good variety. I ordered the Chicken Louis sandwich without bread and it was a delicious un-sandwich! Food is well presented. Suitable for business meetings. Tea came in a pot with loose leaf tea and not a bag in a cup! Hard to find parking but we eventually found a spot on the one way street directly next to the restaurant.

Good stuff! came with my family on vacation and it was amazing. We enjoyed all the food we got and my mom was especially happy to have gluten free calamari. I had the carbonara and it was great and my mom really loved the spaghetti and meatballs. I forgot what my dad got but whatever it was he seemed to like it.

The food and wine offer is great! Almost european standard (also the bread)! We had a very good dinner! Pasta was excellent and cooked "al dente"!

I have read some of the reviews of Basil Leaf and reviewed it in the past. I am stunned by the negative reviews. My wife and I travel to France and Italy on a regular basis. We love the food there; food and wines not withstanding she is 5'6' and 125 lbs and I am 6'1" and 190 lbs. We think, with apologies to our restaurant owner (I will be eating in the Janitors closet at many fine restaurants) friends, we think the best three moderate priced Italian restaurants in Lincoln Park and Old Town are: Basil Leaf (they do carry out and delivery on line); Trattoria Ric on the 2100 block of Clark St.; Trattoria Dinotto on North and Wells. We are hard pressed to rate the three of them one after another or not add some truly greats. When our son got his MBA from U of C, he wanted our celebratory dinner there. When I was CEO, I had board meetings at Ric. So as George Washington Plunkett of Tammany Hall said:"you pays your money, you take your choice". But remember, never be afraid of going in to a new and strange place. Life is finite; my doc says at your age (70) do not give up the Brie, pear, brioche and a glass of red or white with your lovely wife of 48 years in the evening. Grab it while you can't!Bon Chance, James

Attentive and intelligent service, beautifully presented dishes, reasonable prices for wine & food. Good neighborhood spot that's reliably enjoyable.

Wandered in for dinner and had no problem landing a wonderful seat by the window. Our server was very friendly and helpful though a vegetarian who could only give insight on what she heard from other diners. Our food came very quickly and was delicious. Large portions with cracked pepper and grated parm added table side. We didn't finish our bottle of wine, but our server offered to cork and bag it to go for us - most appreciated. Would go back again without hesitation.

This was our second visit to Basil Leaf Cafe and it did not disappoint! We went in on a Sunday afternoon expecting to order dinner but lucked out to find that the sandwich menu was still available. The sandwich selection is unique making choosing just one very difficult! I ordered the fresh salmon sandwich with dill and it was truly the best sandwich I have ever eaten...thus the reason for submitting a review! The roll was fresh and crispy, the salmon was light and flaky and moist. All the ingredients including the avocado made this sandwich absolutely delicious and a treat for the taste buds! It was accompanied by great fries too. Our server generously offered delicious rolls twice during our meal and the garlic olive oil dipping sauce made the offer impossible to refuse. The Basil Leaf Cafe is a quaint spot in the heart of Lincoln Park that offers delicious food at very reasonable prices. I would highly recommed.

Very accommodating for 2 vegans. LOTS of gluten free dishes. And of course the carnivores are happy. The olive oil dip for the fresh rolls was scrumptious. We could have filled up on that.

Just when I thought it can not get better I had lunch there yesterday. My favorite server; ordinarily do not drink at lunch but she asked if I would like a glass of Gavi. I said yes and my guests were thrilled. We had sandwiches; that is a real misnomer. Had a sandwich to die for: prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato, on and on; frites, oh my. My suggestion is to have lunch there with the love of your life and let nature take its course. By that I mean take a nap!

Quaint, rather small, excellent food, environment, service, etc. Windows were open so we felt like we were seated on the street (meant as a positive comment!).

Basil Leaf is a wonderful place for dinner. The dining room is elegant and is located directly on Clark Street. The weather was good so all of the windows were opened--so it was like being in an outdoor cafe in Italy. The food was superb from the garlic infused olive oil, served with fresh baked rolls, through soup, salad, entree and dessert . We've gone 3 times since we moved into Lincoln Park.

Folks are friendly, service is good, but on a Saturday night this place is really loud and makes conversation very difficult. We started with appetizers, one half greek salad and the mussel special. Both were very good and the idea of being able to have one half of all the salads offered is wonderful. For main course, we had Tilapia on risotto, OK but a huge portion of risotto, and spinach with squash ravioli in garlic and oil. The spinach was extremely oversalted by the ravioli qute good. Price was very reasonable, $89 without tip but included one glass of nice Sauvingnon Blanc and single malt scotch. Overall, we will go back but not on a weekend. ZB

Came across this place by accident. Great for coeliacs as has an extensive gluten free menu. Big portions, friendly service. A lovely mid week dinner, reasonable price too! Would highly recommend.

This restaurant serves better than average Italian food. The table bread rolls are served with a particularly tasty oil for dipping. Salads have lots of fresh ingredients and the marsala sauce tasted of fresh tomatoes. Service is friendly. We had linguini with clams and shrimp and scallops with spaghetti, both good. The premises themselves are really charming, low key and warm with well spaced tablecloth covered tables . Weather permitting there is nice outdoor seating. It is one of the better looking restaurants in the area. Prices are quite reasonable for the quality. Wine pours by the glass are generous and there appears to be a large number of speciality beer offerings. In addition to the nice dining area there is a more casual bar area with wood tables. It would seem to cover all bases at a reasonable rate.

Excellent dinner in every way. Great location, large menu, good portion size, tasty dinners. Can't wait for another visit.

Ate here this evening with daughter. Wonderful evening. I had veal Marsala and daughter salmon with asparagus. Fried squid. Huge portions. Excellent food quality. Lovely presentations. Our waiter was great. Definitely worth another visit. Pricing was cheap by Chicago standards. Great value

My partner of 27 years and I have been to Basil Leaf in the past and have always enjoyed the food and service. On the 10th of June we decided it was time to legally be married. Since we have been together for 27 years for us it was a formality and a chance for the government to recognize our relationship. We were not going to make a big deal out of it. Our plan was to lunch at Basil Leaf and walk over to the North Pond for a small ceremony. When we arrived at Basil Leaf the owner, Sean, greeted us with Champagne and then a wonderful, as usual, lunch. He then topped it off by saying the lunch was on him. The staff was so nice to Larry and I it helped make this important day even more special. Our thanks to them.

This is the second time I have been to this restaurant and again had a wonderful experience- good food and good service. It is also very resonably priced. I had the squash soup which was delicious. My daughter had a salad which was very good. We had white french wine and shared risoto with veggies and cheese- wonderful dish and very filling. The atmosphere was great and teh waitress was nice and attentive. I recommend it highly.

Had lunch there with a friend who had been there many times. Everything we ordered was wonderful. You can get a cup of soup that is more like a bowl (Butternut squash was wonderful and flavorful) and 1/2 salad which was huge. Service was great and friendly. Full bar (which is separate) with great wine at reasonable prices as was the food. Can't believe I hadn't been here before. Sandwiches were so big, we all took home half of it. Street parking or take the Clark Street or Broadway bus.

Four of us enjoyed an early dinner. Each ordered a different pasta dish. All were excellent and generously portioned. Greek side salad was similarly good. Enjoyed the hot rolls with olive oil. Service was top-notch, too. We’d go back.

We enjoyed two entrees through GrubHub delivery and believe we have found the perfect "upscale" resource for those nights when you want to stay in, not cook, and want "real" food. We assume the restaurant is quite good based on our meals and will check out an in-house dining experience soon. Their Vegetable Risotto has perfect, elegantly (yes, elegant) sliced grilled vegetables. Their Rigatoni Bolognese was delicious with balanced spices and quality beef. I called the restaurant in advance to find out the veggies in the risotto and requested that some of their veggies be omitted (they include zucchini, eggplant, and squash - creepy, strange-texture veggies). I wondered if they would be irritated and it would come to me a bit second-rate. Nope, they were up to the challenge and bested any restaurant with thinly sliced grilled carrots, thin carmalized onions, perfect broccoli, etc. Thank You! Portions were generous and I'll be having the risotto for lunch!

I had my Saturday lunch while headed to the Chicago History Museum on foot. The menu was diverse and healthy. I selected soup and salad, just right. In a nearby room, a group table party was convening, fun to people watch. Staff were still attentive to me, and it was a nice respite.

I've been twice now, while in Chicago t visit family, and the food and service holds up 2 years after the first visit. It's a nice open space and the food is consistently good across 2 visits. It's in a nice location and is reasonably priced with large portions.

I read my map wrong and ended up at Basil Leaf for lunch by accident. But, it was a very happy accident, because it was most delicious, and the staff were great. Gorgeous place, super staff, good prices, great food!

went here for first time. wait staff was attentive and water never ran out. Menu was good and food was better. We had the lobster ravioli, salmon, chicken/eggplant parm, and trout. all we very good. Wine was reasonably price. Would highly recommend

Great place for lunch over salads, sandwiches and soup. Also full entree list, bar and good wines. Bread is served warm with olive oil or butter. Service is well paced.

Basil Leaf is one of the best Italian eateries in Lincoln Park for a few reasons. One, because the wait staff is friendly & attentive. Two, the food is fresh. Three because the cuisine is delicious. Definitely the spot for a special occasion.

I like an honest review and I do know that sometimes "things happen". I had read good reviews about the Basil Leaf. So, we put it on our "must do" restaurant list for Lincoln Park. We were dissapointed. The food was average and my spouse never received his. After 45 minutes, we cancelled his meal. yes, the server was apologetic but she was being paid to expediate our meal not to let it go this long. The three remaining meals were acceptable but nothing outstanding. Just pasta. Prices were reasonable but that didn't make up for our miserable first experience. I am going across the street to my favorite favorite pasta restaurant in Lincoln Park. The Pasta Bowl. Not every restaurant is for every person.

The Good - Food was excellent. Service was quick and attentive. Allowed a side substitution although our server said they typically do not allow same. The Bad - bathroom wasn’t very clean. The Ugly - Sat outside under a shade tree. There were however flies, or some other bugs, that bit us throughout the meal.

My son & I were looking for a place that served a great salad, meatballs and sandwiches, so when this establishment popped up as an option, we HAD to check it out. We entered to an empty dining area for a light lunch and were greeted and seated quickly. The menu offered many choices for me of salad greens with fruits...my favorite! The hardest part was deciding which one to choose. Our server, Jen, suggested her choices when we asked which we should try. She was very attentive to us even after the dining area started to fill up and the rest of the waiting staff made sure our water glasses were never empty and our finished meal plates removed. I can not wait to visit my son in the city again with friends/family to return to this cafe so they can enjoy it as much as we did. Kudos for a great culinary experience! Next time I hope to be off my 'diet' so I can try some dessert!

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.

Had a great mid-afternoon snack at Basil Leaf Cafe back in September. My daughter and I had spent the day walking around the city and fancied a drink and a nibble. We split the Greek salad and an order of crab cakes and we each had a glass of wine from the expansive and very reasonable wine menu. The Greek salad was very generous, as were the crab cakes. Both were absolutely delicious. Because of the weather, all of the windows were thrown open and we had a nice, airy window seat. There was outdoor seating but at the time we arrived, but it was in full sun so we opted to sit inside at a window seat. Hand sanitizer was readily available and staff wore masks and were very conscientious about safety. I couldn’t help but notice the very busy takeout business the restaurant was doing. Recommended.

I ordered takeout fettucine with crabmeat. It was real crabmeat (the tiny shell remnants noticeable) and very well prepared although the pasta was linguine, not fettucine. Serving portion generous. My wife had the chicken marsala which also was very tasty but the chicken wasn't very tender. They advertise a northern italian menu but it seemed more generic to me. Service was quite friendly and ambience very welcoming and clean. I think it's one of the better Italian spots within the north Lincoln Park/Lakeview neighborhood.

I think we ate at this restaurant when it was new about 20 years ago. When we were looking for a restaurant that met our specifications, we kept coming back to the idea of this one and are so glad we did. The service was impeccable. We felt very well cared for by the staff who were pleasant without being obtrusive. The menu selections offered a variety at reasonable prices. The food was nicely presented and was good! The ambiance was lovely. It was well worth the trip on the bus from Millenium Park. Try it...

Great Caesar salad with flank steak. My friend had the chicken Feta sandwich which was huge and great value at $8.95. Couple glasses of wine at $7. Great value, quiet, white table clothes... Perfect or Sunday afternoon. Other places in area Sunday can be filled with loud music and loud yuppies(nothing against yuppies BTW).

We had a Sunday lunch at the Basil leaf and it was very good. Tasty salids, inexpensive food with a good reasonable wine list and pretty good service. Highly Recommended

This restaurant has fantastic food. I had the salmon (delicious !), and my spouse had lamb chops that she loved. Our server, Laila, was exceptional- very friendly and professional and eager to give us a great dining experience. The restaurant and bar are huge, and there is a separate room for private parties. We look forward to returning for more.

Fabulous sandwiches and salads!!! Delicious Bloody Mary's!!! And great service !!!! In Lincoln Park , cute neighborhood

Went for dinner last night. Very attentive staff, great food and drink including deserts. Definitely will return as all was great.

Solid menu, great wine special (1/2 price on Wednesday) and a charming setting made for great anticipation of a post-Cubs victory meal. However, the rude service and abundance of annoying flies kept us from truly enjoying the delicious food. A stone's throw from our son's place in Lincoln Park, it would have been nice to find a "gem" in his neighborhood...and yet left disappointed.

We were very pleased on our first visit to Basil Leaf. The linguine with shrimp and scallops was a generous portion, served with a tasty marinara sauce. The tri-color fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and broccoli was very good as well, and also a huge portion. Prices were reasonable by Chicago standards.The dining area was pleasant -- quiet with soft background music. Service was attentive and professional. If you are in the area, it's worth a visit.

We needed a good restaurant near a concert at Francis Parker School and we were very pleased. A chicken marsala with artichokes was quite good, as was the cheese tortellini with peas (though there were a few more peas than I thought necessary). A pleasant and quick meal - and we made it to our concert on time.

We really like the food here. Every time we eat here we ask ourselves why we don’t eat here more often. I always get the salmon or some other fish, and it’s always delicious. My spouse normally gets pasta and is always satisfied. Our server, Ciara, was fantastic - friendly, attentive, and professional. Our only complaint was there were fruit flies, and we had to keep our wine glasses covered. Perhaps it was because the windows were open, but it seems like something can be done.

Just putting my cards out here - my sister and I went twice in three days. The food was well worth the multiple Uber rides. The best part was starting the meal with a warm roll and dipping oil. We tried two pasta dishes, a dessert and the bruschetta. The chicken piccata is an absolute must. The portions are pretty big so we split one pasta each night. The pesto pasta was also pretty good but the chicken piccata is really the main character. Despite not loving the chocolate cake or the cocktails, I would go back to this place in a heart beat. It’s definitely a good place to bring your Mom for a nice meal or a little date. The entire staff was also quick, kind and attentive. If you can, make a reservation! Honestly, I love this place and I’ll be back soon.

I have gone to this place numerous times. They excel at the amount of gluten free options and naturally fresh food. The salads are always good, add the chicken breast. Love the honey vinaigrette! The meatballs or meat sauce are excellent as well for pasta choices. Reasonably priced for Chicago and walking distance of a few bars nearby for after you fill up! Restaurant itself is clean, nice in the summer with the windows open and good service. The takeout food is also a good option, order has always been correct, fresh, and tasty!

I don't know why this place isn't more popular. To me, it's a hidden gem! Great food, adorable space and comfortable atmosphere. Online ordering is super easy & detailed where u can order half salads, customize, whatever. Plus take-out orders & pick up process is simple with the 15 min loading space in front. As far as food they have the best Butternut squash soup I have ever had. I got hooked after trying here and ordered at multiple restaurants since in Chicago & LA and nothing comes close! The salads are great too. Go!

Went here after a hectic day walking round Chicago so ravenous. Fantastic home made butternut squash soup followed by vegetarian pasta. Delicious and plentiful. Service was perfectly timed with the water being topped up regularly by a lovely guy. If I didn't live 4000 miles away would make this my place of choice to eat

Six of us entered Basil Cafe on a Saturday night after viewing the Lincoln Park Zoo Lights. Although we had no reservations, they set up a table in the window area of the bar for us. It was pretty cold outside, so this little niche was very cozy. A server came along with freshly baked rolls, still warm from the oven. In addition there were little bowls of herbed olive oil for dipping. We called him over for a second round, but had to control ourselves after that because we could have made a meal of the bread alone. One of us had the salmon with dill sauce, another had veal piccata, three others had various pasta dishes. I had the special, Branzino, which was probably the best I've ever had. It was simply prepared with olive oil and lemon, and came with roasted potatoes and green beans. Every one had leftovers, but I finished all my fish it was so good. Even though it was grilled, it wasn't dry but rather very moist. Wine was good and reasonably priced. A couple of people had soup (manhattan clam chowder, or minestrone) or salad (Greek) and raved about their choices. Service was very good and we did not suffer sitting in the bar, and in fact, that area was full by the time we left. I'm not in that area of town very often, but if I'm near, I look forward to going there again. And, I would definitely recommend it.

The waitress was a little stale, but the waitress at the table next to us was great. She explained the menu to the other guest, we over heard her and it helped us decide what we wanted. Despite our waitress, the food was great! The lamb Popsicle appetizer was not seasoned, but grilled perfect and moist. The warm bread with seasoned olive oil was great. It would have helped if they served the seasoned oil with small spoons or a larger plate, it was hard to share. My children ages 11 and 13 loved their meals. We were able to sit by the open windows, we really enjoyed this, the weather was perfect. The food was great.The portions were good for the price and the food came out all great. I would recommend this restaurant to friends and family!

Stopped in on a walk for a late lunch. Had fresh mozzarella sandwich and some great hot crispy fries that were perfect. Had I not had to drive, I would have loved to add wine!

We had family dinner tonight. The choice of the restaurant was by the accident. Ended up that we score big time. Seating outside on perfect evening in Chicago and having Niamh as server was priceless. Half of us had fluke special and the rest grilled salmon dinner. Both choices were delicious. Paired with Sauvignon blanc "Sea Pearl" made even better. In house made Tiramisu was like my grandma made excellent choice. Very happy with overall experience.

We always seem to forget about Basil Leaf Cafe since its just a few steps past our normal walking range. However, we were passing by the other night and saw a parking place. As usual, dinner was delightful. The place is inviting, the bread outstanding, the server was very pleasant and the food was great. Plus we brought a bottle of Pinot Noir we like and there was only a $10 corkage fee, All in all a winner

Things started off a little chaotic with the hostess shuffling us to 2 different tables before figuring out where we belonged. We had reservations. Not sure what the disconnect was. I really wanted to like this place because our server was delightful - but it took almost 1.5 hours to get our food and then the food itself was just okay. 2 of us had fish and both were overdone. If it had been wonderfully prepared, I wouldn't mind the wait. The rest of our party had different pasta dishes. Veal parmigiana received high marks, but the others were mediocre. Probably would not go back again.

My wife and I went to Basil Leaf for our third anniversary dinner. We were not at all disappointed. The food was very good, and the service was excellent! The butternut squash ravioli was very good, but was a notch below the same dish at our favorite Italian restaurant (Eatalian in Gardena, CA). The staff was very friendly and accommodating of our special requests and modification of menu items, and the food was reasonably priced. This is definitely a place worth visiting!

Basil Leaf Cafe was recommended to me when I was looking for a nice place to have a business lunch. It was terrific. There were very few diners for lunch. Given the location, this isn't too surprising. My guess is that it is packed at dinner. There were three of us and we each ordered sandwiches. None of us was disappointed. The sandwich bread is out of this world. The sandwich fillings were tasty and plentiful. Would definitely go back. I'd love to try it for dinner.

Who wouldn't love the Basil Leaf? It's the only decent place in East Lincoln Park that is still affordable. Stuck in with a hundred bars on Clark Street, the Basil Leaf is one of the only walking distance options. I love their sandwiches, butternut squash soup and especially the seared tuna salad (when they have it). The owner, Sean is also a super great guy.

We 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!

From the fruit infused water, to the subtly flavored olive oil used to dip the crunchy bread, I felt that there was so much attention to each detail of our lunch. I had the roasted portabello mushroom sandwich - every element of this simple sandwich stood on its own. The ingredients were so fresh and the sundried tomatoes were the BEST I've ever tasted. I can't wait to go back for dinner!

Varied menu with lots of salad choices, appetizers, and main dishes. Very adequate wine menu with lots of wine by the glass options. Warm intuitive service. Nice ambiance. Will return.

I love the Basil Leaf -- good food, friendly service, nice atmosphere. Every time I visit my brother in Lincoln Park, this is a "must visit" restaurant. I love the vegetable risotto, and the butternut squash soup is awesome (my brother calls it "crack in a bowl"). Love the desserts, too!

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.

Excellent Italian food, a romantic interior, and a view of bustling Clark Street make this a great place to celebrate a special occasion.

Basil Leaf is open all day, so you don't have to check when dinner service begins. Excellent food at lunch, dinner, or just for wine and appetizers. Housemade pastas and soups, salads and "half salads," appetizers (like the fried calamari) more than big enough for the table to share. Cheese tortellini, lobster ravioli served with asparagus, are just some of consistently very good pasta entrees. Service friendly and efficient. Lovely place, even for just a chicken salad or salmon club sandwich at lunch. Close to Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory, Theater on the Lake, and other Lincoln Park attractions.

We live a Chicago city block away. Ate there last night for the first time. I had a bowl of tomato soup and scallops/shrimp over linguine with their home made marinara sauce. Excellent! My wife and our friends all had different things and we concluded that the portions were enormous, the food, service and ambiance very much like one would find in Rome. The next time I am having the soup, an appetizer for my entre, a roll with their seasoned olive oil, finished with a cappuccino. Of course that is what I say now at home without a menu in my hands!

Clean, open, well-lit. Nice menu. Had a simple dinner of mussels and side of asparagus. Excellent house-baked dinner rolls. Service was perfect--felt well-cared for. Was a quiet Thursday evening, conversation friendly, not rushed. Would go back!

We have gone to drink a few times. Now we had dinner before a show. Everything was outstanding. We were lucky enough to eat outside once but not this time. The service was great - our server recommended various beers to match with the food we ordered. Everything was outstanding - the food was great and the beer even better. Seem like we were back in Brugge. I have recommended this place to everyone we know who is going to Chicago. It is worth the effort to get to this place even if you are staying downtown.

After long day at work my wife and I decided to go out and eat on a Monday so we went to The Basil Leaf Café in few blocks away for our home. It was a great experience!! It had everything you could ask for in a restaurant. Freshly made to order food, great atmosphere and a fabulous service. This was my first time at Basil Leaf and I usually don’t give a restaurant five stars on the first try stars but I just had to. I highly recommend it.

...was absolutely to die for! My son's shrimp appetizer was much larger than expected and very fresh. Wine selection is well-priced. Will return for sure, and my son and daughter-in-law who live in the area are adding it to their list of regular choices.

We had great meals here - my husband loves to get ravioli and he thought it was very good; I had chicken marsala and they subbed broccoli for the linguini they normally include. It was great, reasonable, service was attentive and personable.

We stumbled on Basil Leaf as we were driving up Clark Street looking for a neighborhood place for a quick dinner. We’re in this neighborhood often so we’re not sure how we missed it. We were slightly intimidated at first by the up-scale décor, white tablecloths, tables widely separated, and many servers, but quickly recovered. The prices were reasonable, wait staff friendly and efficient, and, without rushing, we completed our meal in about an hour. It’s hard to draw general conclusions from two dishes, but ours were excellent. We comfortably split a delicious and large house salad. The provided rolls were hot and yummy, with a fine herb-infused olive oil dipping sauce. She had chicken piccata; I had penne with broccoli. Both were excellent and interesting. My penne had large pieces of roasted garlic and walnut chunks and both the pasta and broccoli were perfectly cooked al dente. Her chicken also was tasty as was the pasta on the side. Both portions were generous to a fault so we had plenty to take home for lunch the next day. We were there on a Saturday night and the noise level increased as the place filled up, but never to a point of annoyance. As others have noted, the tables are far enough apart to enable conversation without yelling. We wanted to stay awake for the movie so skipped the wine but the wine and beer lists looked interesting and reasonably priced. We got out of there with a tab under $50, fine for the quality and quantity. Even on Saturday we found on-street parking, probably due to Chicago’s outrageous parking meter prices. We’re delighted to have found this restaurant and look forward to tasting other dishes.

Four of us tried this noisy restaurant for dinner, and found it acceptable but hardly worth a special trip. My Caesar salad was OK, but run-of-the mill (at $3.95, however, I suppose there's not much ground for complaint). Linguini with clams was disappointing, as the clams were exceptionally tough; the Gorgonzola gnocchi was better. Two other dishes -- one chicken and one fish -- were OK, but again nothing to write home about. House wines by the glass were, well, house wines. Our server was a bit slow to take our orders, but after that she was OK. I agree with other TripAdvisor reviewers that the portions here are very large, but I am perplexed by the reviewers' raves about quality. I have had meals just as good, and for half the price, at the Macaroni Grill chain. And I have had a far better dining experience, at nearly the same price, at Chicago's Riccardo Trattoria (the Basil Leaf Cafe can't hold a candle to that place).

Great service in a bright and airy room, and reasonable prices. Sadly, the food was where things fell short. Its overriding characteristic was blandness. Not even close to authentic Italian. The kitchen needs to learn how to use herbs, garlic and seasoning. I liked everything else about the place enough that I will try it again some day. Perhaps this review will alert them to the need to find better recipes or a chef that knows how to cook Italian. It wouldn't be that difficult to improve things.

I adore this Lincoln Park Italian restaurant. Everything I've had from here has been delicious, and have had enough leftovers for almost 2 meals every time! I first came here a year ago on a first date, and we returned this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary. The fried ravioli appetizer is delightfully sinful, and I know it sounds strange, but the water they serve is unlike any other - notice the pitchers the waitstaff carry around, the water has fresh fruit infused right into it. Good for families, groups, or a date in the dining room, but has a more casual atmosphere in their front bar area as well. Servers are always attentive and knowledgeable without being overbearing.

My husband and I frequently dine at Basil Leaf, before and after its move across the street on Clark. The new restaurant is spacious and has a much more modern decor than the previous location. The wait staff is very friendly and attentive and the food is delicious. The only negative that I have experienced is that sometimes the wait seems too long from the time we place our order to the time we get our entree. However, the staff keeps us busy with water refills and dinner rolls.

Both indoor and alfresco dining available. We have eaten there this year and last year. The food is superb and the service is second to none. They have a wonderful diverse range of beers from all over the world. The staff and management are very friendly and cannot do enough to please you. We highly recommend that you try this for yourselves. Prices are reasonable.

Found ourselves in Lincoln Park looking for a nice easy lunch venue. Daughter picked Basil Leaf Cafe. Food was delicious and service was great. Portions were very generous!

It was my mom's 80th birthday and I talked to the owners for reservation purposes. I received a text later if I 'd preferred a special menu . Upon our arrival they surprised us with their private room and a special welcome without expecting extra charges. The food was the freshest of the season and the hospitality was warm, well attended and beautiful. My there teenagers and my two elderly all enjoyed food and ambiance which are so important for family gatherings with variety of ages and tastes. Highly recommend for big parties and family gatherings.

I have been here before but it has been awhile. We visited my daughter in Chicago again and went there for dinner. The service was great . They have Italian and also many vegetarian meals. My wife and I and my daughter had glasses of wine- two white and one red- and my daughter's fiance had a beer. We shared a salad with romaine and avocado, etc and my wife and I shared a big bowl of butternut squash. The soup was delicious. My wife had angel hair pasta and vegetables which she loved- I had linguini and mahi mahi and vegetables which was delicious. My daughter and her fiance shared a penne pasta with various vegetables and vodka sauce. We shared keylime pie and chocolate mouse desserts, which were very good. A very enjoyable meal.

Great local spot for the family or for a romantic dinner. Food is reasonably priced and service is great. This is the perfect place to get the authentic Italian meal you are craving! Nothing over the top, but they do the classics very well!

Well designed menu offers a wide range of entrees and sides. Always get one of the soups and often choose a pasta dish. Service is always excellent and never pretentious Pleasant decor although tables are a little close together Food is offered at a reasonable price Really great for nice lunch as well On street parking can be an issue at times

Invited as a guest, I enjoyed real gnocchi in a basil sauce while my friend who eats there frequently had a marvelous looking trout and vegetables. She is gluten free for real, and I can eat anything. Sit inside if you don't like street noise and flies. Good wine selection and helpful waitstaff. No rush before 6 pm if you like to eat early, or if you are strolling through Lincoln Park near Fullerton and would like an effortless meal.

We just picked a restaurant recommended by a friend for a business lunch - and we found ourselves at an Italian family table, as if the cook was the head of the family cooking for us! The chicken sandwich was truly unbelievable and the pesto gnocchi also remarkable. The service was attentive and caring and the bill surprisingly low for such an experience! We will be back!

Went here on a Tuesday night. Server recommendations were spot on. Loved the lobster ravioli in red sauce and the butternut squash ravioli with garlicky spinach. Also enjoyed the chicken over linguini with a lemon sauce, although my chicken tasted like it had been nuked a bit too long. The three of us shared a salad with goat cheese and cranberry. Good location and decent price point for the area. Nice atmosphere will be great in summer with the doors open.

Our family lives in the "burbs" but enjoys dinning in the city frequently. We walked to this quaint neighborhood restaurant after spending most of the day at the Lincoln Park Zoo. It's a nice walk. We loved the atmosphere, service and food for a late lunch. Nice well rounded Italian menu, attentive, friendly staff, charming atmosphere <with outside seating> and delicious meal with amazing bread and a garlic olive oil accompaniment. Definitely worth the trip!

The Basil Leaf Cafe has a great variety of Italian food offerings. Dinner portions are huge especially for their chicken dishes such as the chicken marsala and vesuvio. Delicious oven-fresh dinner rolls with a terrific olive oil dip are served at the beginning at the meal. Great atmosphere. Terrific, attentive service. Very reasonable prices especially for Lincoln Park.

My daughter and I ate at Basil Leaf - we had only eaten lunch there previously. We loved the food - gnocchi and penne with salmon — and the service was fantastic. The place is small, clean and very friendly. Highly recommended!!

Have dined here several times in the past, but this was my first time since going gluten-free. Absolutely thrilled with the yummy, g-f offerings. Both the g-f penne and gnocchi were amazing. Quaint little place with great food. Definitely worth stopping in.

I popped into this restaurant with a friend of mine a couple weeks ago. They have a nice menu and space. My friend and I both had the Chicken Milano special. It was delicious. We also liked the fresh rolls that are served with seasoned olive oil. We'd go back just for those. The service was very good.

We were with a real estate agent exploring the area and decided we'd better grab lunch before continuing our viewings. We walked into Basil Leaf on a Sunday at about 12:30 pm and were surprised to see how quiet it was. My sister commented that maybe it wasn't a good place since it was relatively empty, but the realtor said it was good. I had the caesar with a grilled chicken breast, my sister had the caesar with a salmon filet and the realtor had a chicken sandwich. I have to say, the caesar was outstanding and the grilled chicken moist and tender. My sister raved about her salad. I'd definitely go back if I were in the area. We sat in the bar area and I enjoyed watching the television screens with all the football games being televised. Server was prompt, efficient and friendly.

There are lots of choices for restaurants in this part of Lincoln Park so the competition is fierce. The place looks good, neat and well kept, overall ambiance is very warn, friendly and fairly quiet. The food is I would say, is just average, but quite reasonably priced for Chicago. I had the lobster ravioli which was ok, the risotto was also average but the butternut squash soup was great. Turn offs were the mediocre and bland olive oil served with their excellent bread (extra virgin would be nice). Also, my menu was recently wiped with a musty smelling rag which gave me quite a bad impression (amazing that small details like this are a huge turn-off). Probably worth trying again in a few months, maybe we just did not order their more popular offerings.

This is a favorite spot for a quiet lunch or dinner out for either social or business occasions. Always superb food reasonably priced, terrific atmosphere, and good service.

very small & quaint but great food

We went there for dinner last week , and had a great experience. Son who is vegan was able to have a nice meal and the staff was responsive to his requests. Loved the mussels app and had a great fish special. Would come back.

Can't say anything bad about our dinner at Basil Leaf Cafe. The service was excellent (especially the refilling of the water glasses!) and the food wonderful. Loved the vegetarian risotto, especially. And my husband wanted the shrimp and scallops, but with vodka sauce: the kitchen was more than happy to accommodate him. Although there was an occasional noisy truck driving by, it was nice to have the feel of an outdoor cafe, with the window-wall entirely open on a gorgeous summer evening. We'll go again in a heartbeat!

My husband & I were in the mood for Italian food & this place didn't disappoint! I love that they take reservations. The place has a beautiful atmosphere & we had a seat right my the open air window. Our server Jessica was very sweet & did a great job. Loved the home made rolls served with an olive oil/Italian season/garlic mix. We started with the Caesar salad, was one of the freshest we've ever had, dressing not heavy but packed with flavor! I had rigatoni bolognese & loved it....my hubby had a chicken/linguini w/peppers & the portion was huge & very good. Highly recommend this place & can't wait to go back😊

We came in on one of the hottest days of the summer after moving our daughter into her new apartment where the a/c wasn't working. Our server was kind and attentive; the food was comforting and delicious. We felt postivitely pampered!

A little pricey, but well worth it. One of my favorite spots to eat in Chicago, the food is excellent and service is also great. Get a table in the front (where you come in), it's nice and quiet.

Full bar service available in restaurant. Extensive menu. We made a reservation but it never was recorded; yet, we were given a nice table. Menu quite extensive. But the wait time from our order to receiving our appetizers of two salads and a soup was discomfortingly long. And the time gap from the first course to the second course was also quite excessive. My cream of mushroom soup had pureed mushrooms, and I did not care for it. One of us ordered veal parmesan; the veal was actually stone cold frozen; and after a heating attempt, was still frozen. The pasta was anything but special. My lollipop lamp chops were fine. No valet parking.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Lincoln Park but hadn't been there in a couple years. This time visiting the city, I made sure to get there the first night and was not disappointed. We were seated immediately in our requested area (with no reservation on a weeknight). Our server was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. They gladly substituted different pasta on our entrees than what was on the menu. All the food was excellent and served piping hot. I had bolognese on angel hair which was excellent and creamy but not too rich. My daughter's chicken Parmesan was a very large portion which she thought was a little too thick. Her husband's pasta dish with prosciutto and peas was excellent. They offer a nice variety of affordable wines in addition to reasonable meal prices. It was great to be back!

Basil Leaf is one of our favorite places to dine in Lincoln Park. The service is excellent! We usually sit in either Erin, Jessica, or Kristin's sections. In the summer, outdoor seating is offered which is lovely. The small cheese platter, butternut squase soup, and cheese tortellini are among our favorite dishes.

I took my tour group from Rockford IL to Basil Leaf Cafe because of the excellent reviews it received on TripAdvisor, especially because it was a favorite of the locals there. It lived up to my expectations and more. The premier buffet which I chose was delicious, very filling, and authentically Italian. Sean, the owner, was very helpful with the meal planning and service once we were there. The wait staff too were very efficient, friendly, and met needs asap. I highly recommend this restaurant.

This is a neighborhood Italian Restaurant and has been around for quite a while. It is well liked by the locals and my barber actually recommended it to me. Let's just say they do a good job in serving food and if you ask your server for advice, my experience is that you will be well served. I most recently had their salmon which is a new offering - and it was very well executed. I was extremely pleased with the taste and the accompanying vegetables. The pasta dishes are good, especially the seafood selections. This is a good place for out of town visitors to visit if they are looking for a reasonably priced, good restaurant meal. It is convenient to taxis and the number 22 and 36 buses run on Clark Street in front. (Many people stay downtown and don't know that they can get on either of these buses on Dearborn St. and get to the North Side very reasonably.) I also have found their wines offered by the glass to be quite nice. Highly recommended.

Just what we were after, what you see is what you get, only the portions are huge. There is the potential for a very nice three courses here! Good calamari and inventive salads. The side portions are plenty.

We felt very welcome on arrival, and tucked into the fresh hot rolls with flavored olive oil. Beers were well chilled and served in a cold glass, decent selection (12-15 choices). We had the squash ravioli and chicken marsala. Sometimes you'll get squash and ricotta ravioli that taste mostly like ricotta -- not these! They were aggressively squash-y and quite good. The marsala was excellent, with a side of pasta enriched with tomatoes, mushrooms, artichokes, etc. And immense. It could easily have fed two hungry people. Italian desserts are generally awful, but here they had really good choices -- a lemon tart, flourless chocolate cake, proper tartufo. We shouldn't have, but couldn't resist adding dessert to our meal, and once it arrived we cheerfully ate it all! Prices were quite reasonable; service was fantastic. Now we are stuffed but happy.

This was the best restaurant experience that I've had in a long time. Most of their menu is gluten free, and it is wonderful. I ate there on back to back days. The first day I had a fresh mozzarella sandwich on very tasty gf bread and a cup of tomato basil soup (which comes in a large bowl.) The second day I had a fried brie salad with butternut squash soup. For dessert I had a chocolate marjolaine which was incredible. The wait staff were very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The next time I'm in town, this will be my first stop.

Went for a late lunch. Food (salad and sandwich) was delicious in a relaxing atmosphere. Nice beer and wine list.

Last evening my friend and I tried the Basil Leaf Cafe for dinner. The restaurant is not pretentious, the staff is friendly, their service was phenomenal, and the food was out of this world! My friend had the chicken piccata - the serving was huge and she really enjoyed her tasty meal. I had the linguine carbonara and, honestly, it was the best carbonara I ever had! And I've had a lot of carbonara at a lot of restaurants around the world. I can't wait to go back for another meal at Basil Leaf! Prices are reasonable, too.

My husband and I have frequented this cozy restaurant for the past 7 years when visiting family in the area. Recently we had a late lunch before heading out of town. The main dining room feels like an extended room in a cozy home. The menu offers a nice variety of large heavy meals, hearty salads, comforting Italian pasta and veal favorites and lighter salads and plates. Somehow it never seems noisy and the staff is attentive but not in your way. I would recommend it to anyone.

In April, my husband and I had dinner at the Basil Leaf Cafe before going to a concert at Lincoln Hall. (I know, I know… should have written the review back then.) I had done some research on restaurants in walking distance, looked at websites and menus online, and chose the Basil Leaf based on the fact that they had a risotto that sounded interesting to me. We went on a Sunday evening, around 5:00 since the concert we were attending was at 8:00. We were able to get seated right away. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere. I like the style of the décor, it’s comfortable, but does not detract from the food itself. The service was excellent and our food arrived in appropriate time, but the restaurant was not too busy on an early Sunday evening. We started with the fried ravioli appetizer since we had never had anything like that before. It was tasty and the marinara with it was excellent. I am glad we tried it, but I would probably skip the appetizer in the future and get a salad instead. It’s more a matter of personal preference. But we do like to occasionally try things we have not had before if we see them on the menu. For the main course, my husband ordered the fettuccine with chicken and broccoli. He thoroughly enjoyed the sauce and loved the added flavor from the grilled chicken. I had what I had chosen the restaurant for, the wild mushroom risotto with grilled chicken and sun dried tomatoes. I loved the dish. The risotto was perfectly cooked. There was a great mushroom flavor. The grilled chicken added some extra flavor and texture and the sun dried tomatoes added a great tang. I would go back for that dish in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, we were both so full that we did not have room for dessert. We will try that the next time we have the opportunity to go to Basil Leaf.

Found this restaurant while driving downtown. The curb appeal drew me in. Once in the restaurant was glad that I had stopped. Servers were friendly and the food was great. The sizes of the appetizers were incredible - great value for the money. By the time I got my dinner, I was only able to eat half and of course I brought the rest of it home. I would recommend this place based on the great Italian food.

A lovely popular neighborhood spot with very friendly staff and delicious upscale Italian cuisine. Nice wine list as well makes this a top pick for the area.

Stopped in for a late dinner and was pleasantly surprised by the lovely dining room and beautiful bar. The Italian rolls and the spinach and pear salad were delightful starters. The lobster ravioli was delicious and the cheese tortellini with a light alfredo sauce was superb. We would definitely do this again!