Recommend: the pasta dishes were great, really enjoyed the linguine carbonara and the tortellini prosciutto. Also, would recommend the bees knees cocktail. I was was looking forward to try the braised octopus appetizer but unfortunately after trying it cannot recommend - something about the flavour did not go well for it, I think the sauce was to thin and acidic, maybe for my party's taste. The service was nice, the vibe overall was okay inside, feel like needs a bit of refreshment. Overall though I enjoyed most of my meal and drink and will be back to try other dishes. read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Basil leaf is in my neighborhood and I pass it all the time, but I never hear anything about it so I was very curious to try. The interior is pretty simple and the vibe is a weird mix between classy and neighborhood. I think it would be better on a nice day when they have the windows open but I went when it was storming. They bring you fresh bread with olive oil and garlic which I always love. The menu is a variety of Italian classics - a little pricy, but the portions were big. I got the penne a la vodka with salmon, asparagus, and peas. It was really good! The salmon was cooked well and all the flavors blended nicely. One of my friends got the chicken parm and the plate was absolutely huge, I think I'd get that next time. They have a wide variety of gluten free options as well! read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Penne Ala Vodka with salmon, asparagus, and peas - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I wanted to love, or even just like, Basil Leaf Cafe. But almost everything fell short. The pricing of the menu is pretty ridiculous for what you get - $17 cocktails, and pastas averaging $25-$35 for rather simple/basic dishes. The portions were a good size, I'll give them that. But no one wants to go out to eat at an Italian restaurant (this was supposed to be date night) and end up eating food you feel like you could've made better at home. The rigatoni bolognese my boyfriend ordered was super watery, like the "bolognese" sauce was just a can of crushed tomatoes poured over noodles. The peppers and onions weren't well sautéed but more crunchy. The fettuccine pesto dish had chicken and sundried tomatoes but for a creamy pesto sauce, I couldn't taste much basil or garlic - more like a bland cream taste. Our server seemed to mean well but he was pretty quiet, awkward, and didn't check on us very often- and when he did it was bad timing, he'd walk up as we were actively forking food into our mouths. If this place wasn't so expensive I'd be happy to give them another chance, but for an $88 bill that was only two entrees and two beers, I will be exploring other Italian options in the Lincoln Park neighborhood read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Fettuccine Pesto, Rigatoni Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Located on Clark Street is very spacious and the ambiance is great. The waitstaff is friendly and the Italian food was fair. I had the wild salmon with linguine and vegetables which were a bit overcooked. The wild rice and chicken soup was lighty creamy and perked up with freshly ground pepper. The lamb chops looked delicious and highly seasoned with salt and lemon. read more

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Always a pleasure to go to Basil Leaf for lunch or dinner when I'm in LP. They have a sick 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 soup, 1/2 pasta mix and match deal, which is worth every penny and offers variety, which I love. It's an excellent date night dinner spot, and the service is always quick, easy, and painless. Inside the restaurant just feels like an old school Italian joint, like the brighter sister to Club Lucky, to be honest! Truly don't think enough folks talk about Basil Leaf, especially because the dining room is pretty big. Some of my favorite pasta dishes in the city full stop. read more

Italian food with excellent food and nice ambiance. We had a very nice, attentive and friendly waiter named Onur. We split a bruschetta and we had the lentil soup, ravioli with marinara sauce and the linguine with mushrooms, garlic and olive oil. Superb and delicious! The menu has many choices including a nice array of vegetarian options. read more

I attended a group lunch here on a Sunday afternoon. We had a side room to ourselves for a lunch buffet which included two pasta entrees, a salad, caprese salad, and focaccia. We did receive table service for rolls, beverages, and refills. Since our meal was part of an event for the day, I have no idea of the cost per person. The food was delicious and the buffet trays were kept filled. The basil/garlic/oil for the rolls was addicting. Our group found it to be a very satisfying meal and experience. read more

Can't say enough wonderful things about Basil Leaf Cafe. Great decor, wonderful, attentive staff, fantastic food and great prices. Gluten free options abound, everyone enjoyed! read more

I loved this little gem. The portions are huge, they gave us fresh warm bread and a delicious dipping oil when we were seated. The pasta itself was really good and portions were really big. The inside was cute and felt like a bistro vibe. read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

You can't go wrong with wanting Italian food at Basil leaf cafe! The service is top notch and the waiter was very knowledgeable. She highly recommended their pasta carbonara which was delicious. The caprese salad was also very fresh! You get fresh bread brought to your table. The ambiance is between casual to sub-fancy but feels comfortable either way. Highly recommend if you're looking for comfort Italian food! read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This WAS my favorite restaurant! The last 2 times were awful. I ordered the linguini with clam sauce and the clams were inedible. I literally had to spit them out into my napkin!! The second time I had the Branzino that was so fried and dried out and the potatoes and vegetables so salty, that we left our meals uneaten. The waitress was pleasant but couldn't have cared less. I'm afraid to go back. read more

The food is delicious. There's plenty of seating which is rare in the city. Very generous portions. I had the Chicken Piccata, it was one of the best I've ever had. The leftovers gave me 2 more lunches! Others at my table had the Carbonara and the Chicken Parm. I tried them both, also sooo very good! I also had the House Pinot Noir - it was very nice. It's pricey ~$30 an entree. If they don't mind meal sharing, you could split and still leave full and save some $. read more

I know this review is super late, but I still wanted to submit it. We visited the Basil Leaf Café on April 27th for my sister's birthday. My parents previously visited for Restaurant Week and enjoyed the food, so they just knew my sister would love it, too, especially since Italian food is her favorite food. Our experience was not as great as my parents' Restaurant Week experience. We started with the Baked Goat Cheese as an appetizer. The bread we received with it was burnt, and the tomato sauce had a metallic aftertaste to it. We ended up asking for more of the complementary bread that we first received when we sat down in hopes that it would pair better with the goat cheese. For entrees, we had Linguine Carbonara, Rigatoni Sausage, Chicken Vesuvio, and Cheese Ravioli (vegetarian dish). The sauce on my Linguine Carbonara was entirely too thick, so it made everything clump together. Additionally, the onions were served in large chunks instead of diced and incorporated into the sauce. The Italian sausage in the Rigatoni Sausage was dry, and again, the tomato sauce had a metallic after-taste. The same goes for the Cheese Ravioli - bland (my dad actually said it was "pretty basic") and metallic-y. The best thing on the table was the Chicken Vesuvio, though it did need a sprinkle of sea salt. I do not recall the drinks we had, but the drinks were honestly what we enjoyed the most (after I swamped out 1 of them because it had a funky aftertaste). We opted not to have dessert because the meal was already a big letdown. Lastly, the service was nothing to write home about. We had to flag down our server several times, and it was not even crowded that day. Again, this review is from back in April. I hope others have had a better experience, especially since my folks raved about it beforehand. #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFood #YelpEliteSquad read more

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I wanted to try everything on the menu! So many appetizers, salads, and pasta entrees to choose from. We were a large group so it was perfect to split the Calamari, Mussels, and Arugula & Beet salad to start. I was happy with my Chicken Fettuccine with Sundried tomatoes and Creamy Pesto. Everyone left with leftovers! read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Arugula & Beet Salad - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food is great --generous servings The atmosphere is fun and easy-going The wait staff is terrific !! I love their pastas and fish. I really just enjoy hanging out at this place. It's kind of like a neighborhood restaurant where everybody knows your name. read more

Always great Italian food. Consistent. Friendly and patient staff. Great atmosphere. Reasonably priced.

I love coming here for some good vodka sauce and gnocchi. I always order the same thing- gnocchi alla vodka and an espresso martini. They make the espresso martini with godiva chocolate so it's super creamy and yummy. The staff is always bringing bread and water refills, and are very kind and attentive! The vibe is kind of more of an older look to it, but it has white table cloths and always has space to accommodate walk ins. read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Gnocchi alla vodka - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We picked Basil Leaf as a quick Italian dinner after a day out, and I'm so glad we did! We had seen great reviews on Yelp, and heard from some acquaintances that it was a place to check out. I made a reservation online a few days in advance - it was super easy but you do have to wait for a confirmation from the restaurant that the time you requested is accepted. We had a last minute change, and when we called day-of they were super accommodating and moved our reservation back. The vibe of this place is definitely old-Italian without being too kitchy. It feels warm and inviting - with open windows on the beautiful summer night that we visited. We started with the complimentary bread and herbed olive oil. The bread is nothing special - it's a crusty, dense dinner roll - but the oil is fantastic! Definitely a bit of a unique spice blend. For an appetizer we had the Baked Feta. We devoured this so quickly I didn't even get a picture! It comes with four crusty, toasted slices of sourdough with the tangy dipping sauce. Only downside is we wish it came with more bread since there was so much dipping sauce - but we used our complimentary rolls. I indulged at dinner by ordering the Tortellini Prosciutto - a delicious cheese tortellini with peas, prosciutto and mushrooms in a Alfredo sauce. It was rich, creamy & salty without being overpowering. I was able to finish about half of it, but I wished I could stuff myself with more. I highly recommend! I also tasted my friend's Rigatoni in Vodka Sauce and it was delicious. Our service was timely for being a busy Saturday night - as well as we were consistently offered more bread and had our glasses always refilled with water. I'd definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for a nice Italian meal, and I would go back to try more on the menu! read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Tortellini Prosciutto - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We tried it a few weeks ago. The service was very efficient. The ambiance was neighborhood casual. The best thing about our experience was that we were able to find street parking a block away. It would have been an improvement if we had not been able to find parking and gone elsewhere. I had the Linguine ala Carbonara. There was so much cream in it that it might have been a reworked alfredo sauce, so overwhelmingly creamy that there was no way it would ever be mistaken for real carbonara. Mine also had onions, which as cream, doesn't belong in this dish. The pasta was more like a pappardelle rather than linguine which should be not much broader than spaghetti. My wife had the Chicken Piccata, which had overcooked chicken in a lemon white wine sauce with capers, mushrooms and tomatoes (neither mushrooms nor tomatoes belong in a piccata dish) which had absolutely no discernable taste of lemon. This was an experience not to be repeated. read more

GLUTEN FREE CHICKEN PARM. As a celiac, it's hard to find good gluten free food, especially Italian. So delicious, super safe (the owner went through everything with me!) and a huge menu of GF food. Great neighborhood vibes, casual delicious. Love having them here in Lincoln Park! read more

The food was delicious! Good selection of choices. Wait staff was attentive and accomodating! Ambiance was lovely! I felt like I was in a cafe in Italy! Can't wait to go back. read more

The food was awesome, the service was amazing, and everything was on point. It's cute place on the corner. read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Penne Eggplant - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The pasta was great. My favorite was the creamy pesto. I didn't get a picture of it but it was the best one out of the three. The other two were great but nothing too crazy. The service was great since they were always on top of everything. The ambiance was nice, a little warm but will do. read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food and service are amazing! The people there are so kind and if you are a regular, they know your order! It's a nice place overall and I love the food read more

Went here with dinner for a friend. The staff was very kind and courteous. We were able to get a table without a reservation, which was awesome because we were in the area looking for a nice place for dinner and drinks and were having no luck finding a place that would take us on such short notice. The windows were open, so it was breezy and refreshing within the restaurant. Our servers were attentive. They bring out from bread every few minutes and offer some at your table from a basket. It was very fresh! The olive oil used with the bread was slightly spicy and some of the best I've ever had. I got the gnocchi alla vodka and it was amazing! For drinks, my friend an I had a Moscow Mule and Aperol Spritz. Both drinks were very good. I would definitely come back! read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really solid Italian food in Lincoln Park! This place is quaint and has a warm, family-owned vibe. It feels like a neighborhood institution. It is homey and casual, but does have white table cloths and such. The service is good and very proper. The food here is good, solid Italian food. It is not gourmet by any means, and does't feel like "the BEST! ITALIAN FOOD! IVE EVER! HAD!" but it is warming, comforting, and tastes good. That's got its own merits in my opinion. Some things I really enjoyed here are the mussels and the vodka sauce. I've been to Basil Leaf a couple times with multiple people and most everyone enjoys what they eat here. I'm sure you will too. read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Lobster Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Linguine with marinara was just meh. Ordered online for pickup was ready in twenty minutes as promised.

I found this place walking my Cavalier up Fullerton and took a picture of the menu as well as the interior. White linen table cloths, full bona-fide Italian cuisine (I do wish they could add veal, but that's not a requirement. Chicken is probably more environmentally friendly regardless.) I subsequently ordered online for delivery twice and was so impressed, and I am of Italian American heritage. read more

Oh my gosh, I love this place. The food is amazing and the service is even better. I have a gluten allergy and I often have a hard time finding places that actually have yummy options for me. Basil Leaf is that spot. They have so many great GF friendly options. The calamari is to die for. I ordered the Frutti di Mare and the seafood was cooked so well, the sauce was the perfect amount of spicy, and the pasta was some of the best gf pasta I've ever had. My boyfriend (not gluten free) ordered the carbonara and was a huge fan. The service is absolutely stellar. Emily was our server and she was not only super attentive to my dietary needs, but she was also so friendly and warm. One of the best servers I've ever had in this city. Can't wait to come back!! read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Indoor outdoor seating. Meaning the indoor seating with all the windows open feels outdoor. Distinctive lighting. I'm in. Most places Italian places have good bread, here it's the main event. The garlic infused olive oil is to DIE FOR! It's like dipped in escargot with out the snails. The mussels in the fennel wine broth were soft and fresh felt like was never frozen. Although the wine sauce was a little too sour The linguini carbonara is really tasty almost too rich. The cream is way too thick. You will need a glass of wine to offset it. Linguini fruita de mare was excellent. The tomato sauce just had the right spice to give it that kick. Also it will feed 2 people. Did I mention the epic olive oil dip with the bread? That alone is worth 5 stars. read more

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Food was good, lamb chops were a bit fatty and didn't have much meat. Salad was solid. I got the rigatoni chicken and spinach with spicy vodka sauce and it was so good! read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Caesar Salad 4 Lollipop Lamb Chops - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here for date-night. Romain/Avocado salad: tasty, enjoyed the crunchy sunflower seeds paired with soft avocado. Mussels appetizer: traditional white wine/garlic/butter broth. Paired with two slices of garlic bread toasts. Linguini Carbonara: Delicious with heaping portions of pancetta. Highly recommend this. Best entree of the night. Linguini & Clams: A large portion of pasta. The white clam sauce had red pepper flakes in it, which was a little surprising. Highlights!: * The bread man comes around with warm rolls and fresh herb-infused olive oil. * The parm cheese... usually restaurants give you a few swirls of a cheese grater to dust atop your meal, however, I prefer my food to resemble food covered in snow... Basil Leaf Cafe comes around with a bowl of parm cheese and a spoon to provide the blizzard of cheese I prefer atop my meal :) Tips: * Make a reservation. * Salad is big enough to share as an appetizer for 3-5 people! read more

I went here for my birthday because of the reviews I saw on Yelp and Google. The ambiance was great and so was the service. Every single person loved their food. I highly recommend the calamari (gf!) but their menu is well labeled so it's easy to choose. An added bonus, the waitress was well educated on gluten free needs; I was even able to to get a gluten free dessert. Only down side is that they do not have gf bread for their oil sauce that is served before dinner. read more

Basil Leaf Cafe is anyone's dream restaurant. Cute and cozy atmosphere, friendly servers and the perfect location. They have specials everyday of the week and also offer lunch specials! If you live in Chicago, you should be here once a week. We were lucky enough to end up on wine Wednesday's. 50% off bottles of wine under $100. Great deal but even greater food. As soon as the waitress brought our water she brought everyone a nice fresh roll to dip in an outstanding olive oil. We ordered the caprese appetizer to start. The mozzarella was so fresh, it melted in your mouth. It was served with a handful of fresh basil. We then ordered the poached salmon with penne ala vodka and asparagus. It was most definitely the BEST vodka sauce I have ever had. The salmon was cooked to perfection. And the asparagus and peas added a little crunch. The portion was huge! Can't wait to eat my leftovers!!! We also ordered the soft shell crab with angel hair pasta and the pesto fettuccine with chicken. These dishes were presented so nicely and it was SO mouth watering. The prices are wayyyy too reasonable for the amount and quality of food they serve here at Basil Leaf. I will gladly go there everyday while I'm in Chicago! read more

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Lovely local Lincoln Park restaurant! The food and service are always great. Friendly staff. The bread and olive oil they serve are so tasty. The bread is always fresh out of the oven and we can't get enough of the garlic olive oil. Sandwiches are also delicious. I love the chicken salad and salmon. The salads are also hearty and satisfying. read more

Ambiance - quaint, beautiful decor, relaxed Food - flavorful, diverse, well-balanced (we had the veggie angel hair pasta, arugula and beet salad, tomato basil soup). Service - patient, prompt, professional. I'm putting this place on my top ten places to eat in Chicago. read more

Had dinner here on Saturday. Service was solid and the staff was very nice. The place is large but intimate enough so you can converse with your dinner companion without shouting. I had the rigatoni and pasts. Delicious. My friend had the spaghetti and meatballs. Both were solid choices. read more

Our go-to restaurant since we've lived around the corner for past 2 years. We love the fabulous and hospitable service, the delicious and strong drinks, but most of all, each dish we select is extraordinary. We are so lucky that they're dog friendly outside, as we just adopted a pooch 2 months ago. She's been with us here 3x and loves it. They have special fruit-infused water that she loves! My favorites are: sea genie martini (my go to), grilled chicken Caesar salad (seriously how is it so good here?), chicken vesuvio, chicken parmesan (that marinara is so zesty and delicious) and of course their tomato basil soup! We love this place, for lunch, dinner, pop in whatever! read more

Stopped in on Saturday for a late lunch after walking all day. The meat lasagna was a GIANT portion and one of the most delicious meals I've had in Chicago. My Manhattan cocktails were on point and delicious. Great, friendly staff and fair pricing. Highly recommend this spot! read more

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The food is forgettable but the price isn't. I don't mind spending money on good food but you could make most of the pasta dishes at home for way cheaper and with better seasoning. You would think something with basil oil and mushrooms would be packed with flavor but no. If I am paying 20 bucks for pasta I would hope the noodles are fresh but if you told me they came out of a green box from the grocery store I would totally believe you. Been here twice and both times have been underwhelmed. read more