Taylor, our server was amazing. Salad and bread so fresh. Chicken Parmigiana rivals any North End establishment! The sauce was tremendous! Will definitely be back. If I had to nitpick something. The manager greeted us, we told him we traveled an hour in the rain to get there. He then tried sitting us in the bar in a corner high top table. read more

The best date night! Wonderful service! Our server was upbeat, positive and checked in often even though it was a busy night. Mike, the manager, made time to visit our table and conversation with us. I had the beet, pomegranate and burrata salad. The flavor combination was perfection. My husband had the chicken parm. He said it was the best sauce that he had ever had in his life. The homemade pasta are delicious. read more

Basta - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

We had a special occasion dinner and the service, food and dining experience was great! Everyone in our party of 10 raved about the night we had. This is one of the top restaurants in RI! read more

I wanted to go to Basta first because I heard it was very good. But then when I heard they picked up the slack to make the Gaspee Day Parade happen this year,I knew I had to make it happen. It was fabulous! Service spot on.The Sangria was very nice,very light. The shrimp cocktail was served differently, but good sized shrimp and kicking cocktail sauce. I'm pretty basic so I had veal Parmigiana. I would say the linguini were home made and the veal pounded to perfection. It was the sauce that was really wonderful. No acidic flavor. My friends had a pork roll stuffed with multi colored carrots that looked delicious. The best was the veal chop stuffed with shrimp! Lots of parking in the rear. Yes it is a little pricy,and the bar kind of ruins the ambiance, but worth the stop if you like good Italian food! Pay back to your community. Try them. read more

Great food and service The atmosphere is wonderful Right in Pawtuxet Village we are lucky I would rate them a 10 read more

What a turn around! Our last visit into the restaurant was at the end of 2018 according to my last review. During Covid I would usually expect limited service, minimal interaction and a limited menu. But not at Basta. Their social distancing practices were great, the staff properly wore their masks and the bar dividers were clean and presentable. We originally made a reservation via Open Table but called and Mike who answered the phone was quick to accommodate an earlier time, but upon entry we found two bar seats. The staff quickly greeted us and brought flatware, HOT BREAD, and waters. We ordered the special cocktail (Blood Orange Marg) HIGHLY RECOMMEND and a martini. Both were delicious with FRESH fruit. (I cannot stand a dry lime and these were perfect). We ordered the meatball appetizer and the chicken Saltimbocca. Both were excellent. Overall a fine evening! I will note that I was invited by the manager to come in based on my last review, but to give an honest one, I thought we would just come in without notice. So glad we did and since I live down the street I look forward to many more great nights at the bar. Great job in turning this place around Mike! read more

The food is fantastic full of flavor. The service is very friendly and knowledgeable on pairings. Classy inside good for date night or special occasions. read more

Basta was the first Resturant I went to once Resturant's reopened during COVID and needless to say it was fantastic. Since then, I've been at least 5 times and every time has been an absolute pleasure. The food is excellent (the specials are always my go-to!) and so is the service. Mike, the manager, is super friendly and even sent our table over lemon cello shots on a few occasions (and they were delicious!)! Thanks, Basta for the great atmosphere, experience and food. read more

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Basta is an amazing establishment. The food is excellent, the decor is smart and stylish. We recently hosted a rehearsal dinner in their private room, the attention to detail was outstanding. Michael, the general manager and Gabrielle the event coordinator are top notch professionals. Basta went over and above to ensure our guest were safe and comfortable, every effort was taken to comply with all State imposed COVID-19 restrictions. It was absolutely an amazing experience! I would highly recommend this establishment for a special event or just a wonderful dining experience. read more

Basta - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Birthday dinner here was AMAZING-- steak was cooked perfectly and the gnocchi was delish! (I love truffle) They also do their Calamari SPICY which has my name all over it! Loved the firecracker candle they put in my dessert too-- also they make a mean espresso martini! Waiter (Brian I believe) was very attentive and explained the specials thoroughly while making recommendations. The other gentlemen that were walking around filled my water glass about 7 times (such a small yet greatly appreciated gesture for me in particular) which was so nice-- great place! read more

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Can I give 6 stars? Beautiful restaurant, with lovely service and even better food. We had the meatballs, pizza, oysters and numerous entrees and everything was fresh, authentic Italian and delicious. Will be back soon. read more

My husband and I went out for an elusive date night and had not been in a while. We were seated fairly promptly, but then it took an extremely long time to have anyone come to the table. It did seem as though it wasn't super busy but I only saw 3 servers and hey had a patio as well - so not sure if they were just short staffed or what but either way our server was nice. We got a couple of appetizers followed by a shared entree. The bread and dipping sauce was delicious. The calamari was okay, have had better and have had worse. The chicken Caesar was good. The pizza we ordered was okay as well my husband wasn't a fan - it was carbonara but the Italian bacon was mostly gristly fat pieces which I'm not a fan of. We shared the rigatoni bologna which was tasty. It then took forever to wait for takeout boxes and our bill. I like this place but don't love it anymore. Service was lackluster and there are so many places I can think of where this isn't an issue - ever. read more

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Everything here was fresh and tasty! Authentic Italian. Dessert was delicious. Will be back.

Love it here another one of my regular favorites!!! Always fresh local food. Inside is beautiful and the outside patio is also amazing!!!! Also check them out on Valentine's Day for the night of 1000 roses (you better make reservations months in advanced for this night ) Their drink specials are very very refreshing and different. Just when you think you won't like it. TRY IT!!! Its phenomenal!!!!! Their dinner specials are always good also!!! Some of my favs are calamari, Calabrian shrimp, lobster salad, roasted beets, lobster ravioli, veal chop (huge and delicious) and chicken Picatta!!! Their pizza is Napoletana style made in wood fired oven!!! Ayyyy all the pizzas are good !! Honestly just get there if you never have been there , everything on the menu is outstanding I've tried almost everything and never have had a bad dish!!!! read more

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Its ok. The service is good but its medium. Ambiance could be more more better But I would go back next time im visiting read more

Awesome COVID protocols, felt completely comfortable dining at Basta this past weekend. It's clear the restaurant and employees take their customer's safety seriously. We walked in through the front entrance and there were several tables marked "reserved for social distancing" in between seated tables and custom dividers between tables. We sat outside in the garden terrace with brand new heaters to keep your warm, which is right up our alley because I am still trying to avoid eating indoors. Tables weren't set until we sat down to avoid the silverware and glassware being contaminated by people walking by, paper menus that the waitress ripped up and threw away after she took our order. The restaurant did not feel packed or over capacity, and given the limitations on capacity and time limits, we were able to enjoy ourselves and take our time instead of being rushed out to accommodate another reservation. The general manager, Michael Ciresi, is doing a great job navigating the current climate and delivering a safe, comfortable, quality dining experience. Can't let this review overshadow the food and drinks. My husband got the 'Basta Chop' - fried veal chop stuffed with prosciutto and topped with shrimp and a lobster cream sauce and he continues to say it's his favorite dish in RI. Blood orange creme brulee and pecan pie with bourbon caramel drizzle were outstanding. We already loved Basta but this latest dining experience really solidified the restaurant as one of the best in RI. read more

Basta - Vodka martini on the garden terrace, Sept 2020 - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

For the patrons who assume that the Hill is the place for great food, (which many of the eateries have), you are missing out on this restaurant in Pawtuxet Village with ample parking. They boast two outdoor dining options which I refer to as upper and lower level. They have a special Covid menu that compliments them. A couple of weeks my partner in crime noticed her favorite veal dish was not on menu and expressed to Mike , (the Manager) , her disappointment. Two weeks later he noticed our name on the reservations and asked the chef if he could make it for her. She was delighted. Now that is class!!! Brian, Heather and the other servers are Numero Uno. Their assistants are the best. At Basta, you're not just spoiled diners, your family. read more

Came for my friends birthday and the drinks and food were amazing !!! Salmon was cooked perfect and the drinks were really creative and fun, I had a peanut butter whiskey drink to DIE for read more

Basta - Just made amazing drinks !!!! Came for my friends birthday, very Covid friendly and the salmon was AMAZINGGGGG! - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Love Basta! Food is delicious and staff are very nice. While it's not Italy, their outside patio is very nice and reminds me of Italy's outside patios. Great Pawtuxet Village location. Also highly recommend their holiday dinner packages to take home. read more

I had an extremely unpleasant experience st Basra I ordered a Linguine Vongole and it was extremely dry because it only had 5 clams. My experience at most comparable restaurants offering 12 to 20! The manager simply said that is how they do it. We also ordered a rabe side and it never arrived. The management was very indifferent to my dissatisfaction read more

We went on the Saturday before Valentine's for the 1000 roses. It was so pretty and dinner was really good. Free tiramisu for signing up for emails! read more

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I've been going to Basta for many years. It's right in my neighborhood, less than a 5 minute drive away, and is the best (most upscale) restaurant in Pawtuxet village. The menu is limited and they used to make great brick oven pizza here, which they took off the menu. The place has also seen a lot of changes with the management. Last couple of experiences here have been disappointing, including the one last night. The have three premium cocktails on their manu ($25 each). One of which has never been available, as I've asked for it several times over the last few months. Why have it on the menu if you're never going to offer it? The other, called Sazerac, is made with Remy Martin XO. Last time I was here I ordered this cocktail and I watched the bartender go to the bottle of VSOP (much cheaper cognac) to make my drink. When I confronted the staff about it, they said they were out of XO. Then, magically found a bottle for my next round. I felt this was very deceitful My friend has heard me rave about the Basta Chop here, so we brought him here last night for dinner. Even though the place was half empty by the time we ordered the first round of drinks, the service was brutally slow. We had our appetizers out, and 3 out of 4 of us were out of drinks. Teo of us had ordered drinks 10-15 minutes ago, and those had not come yet, and looking over at the bar, the manager and three staff members were standing there having a very cool conversation, with no one moving. I'm not sure if our waitress forgot to order, or if they weren't processing it, but I had to get up and go talk to the manager, in order to have someone come and give us some attention. The slow service remained such all the way to the end of the night. We saw an old friend, who graciously bought us dinner, on his way out. Somehow at the end I was still given a bill for two rounds of drinks. I didn't complain. Just paid and left. Good food. Poor service read more

Went to Basta on a busy Saturday night, the ambience is great- nice lighting, cozy and bustling at the same time. Basta Cosmo was delicious. They have a great caesar salad and their apps are top notch (tonight was the melanzane and margherita pizza which were both great). I think they fall a little short on the entrees. The bolognese was not very flavorful and the pasta was al dente to the extreme. My daughter got the chicken parm with vodka sauce instead of red sauce, which was maybe a poor move to begin with, but I really did not like their vodka sauce. It seemed very watered-down and definitely did not hold up on the pasta. My husband got the bone-in veal parm, the thing is huge!! But he liked that. Somehow we had room for dessert. I always like their tiramasu and last night was no exception. It's big enough for 4 or 5 people to share and it's delicious. We also had the creme brulee. The top was thick and the custard seemed overly eggy. All in all it's a very nice restaurant with great service but I think the play is to stick with their great cocktails, appetizers and desserts and maybe skip the entrees. read more

Basta - Tiramasu - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

Amazingly good - from the bread to the pizza to the service, you will leave satisfied. The place was pretty packed for a Thursday night - we didn't have reservations as there were only 3 of us. Going forward, def put in a reservation to get one of the comfy corner booths. The ambience is very cool, contemporary and upscale - something you'd find on the hill without the hassle of parking (they have a lot in the back with plenty of parking). We started off with calamari and the prosciutto pizza. Calamari was good and pizza was delicious. Try not to leave without trying the pizza. Nice crispy crust with just a little char from the oven. Arugula and tomatoes added a nice balance to the prosciutto. And the bread and dipping oil - delish! Roasted garlic and drizzled balsamic reduction. For dinner, I had the chicken marsala. Absolutely wonderful. Nice and crispy exterior and stuffed with mushrooms and cheese. Not your typical marsala that is drowning in sauce. It was a marsala reduction drizzled over the yukon mashed potatoes that were to die for - creamy and melted in your mouth, sauce was a bit salty but the good kind of salty. Others had the salmon and lobster ravioli and both enjoyed their meals just as equally. The salmon was cooked perfectly and was very moist. Ravioli was flavorful and al dente with nice chunks of lobster in the sauce. Service was superb - very attentive and everything was cleared and served in a timely manner. We didn't realize they have live music on Thursdays starting at 7:30. Nice crooner music but was a bit loud. We had to talk over each other few times to have a conversation. The only thing I would complain about is some of the seating seems a bit tight - but I suppose they'd want to maximize their space. Other than that, everything made for a wonderful experience. read more

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If you want Incredible food, relaxing atmosphere and amazing staff, this is where you need to be! I love this restaurant.

I lived in RI for many years, yet never discovered this gem until I was visiting friends this last week. I live in Florida and the food I miss the most is Italian and Basta hit the spot. The red couches, the lounge singer, and the formally dressed waiters all set the scene as we walked in. Seeing the RI governor dining their too on Sunday night made me giggle- that's RI for ya. We sat in the outdoor patio which had heaters and temporary enclosures which was pretty warm considering the temperature outside. The patio is so beautiful!!! I'd love to have a private party there. I can't stop thinking about the tiramisu and espresso martini I had. U must order the tiramisu. For my entree I had the lobster ravioli which was very good- just had a little more of a spicy kick than I would like but I'm a wuss when it comes to heat. The dish was a decent portion, cooked perfectly and had a nice amount of lobster pieces. I'd love to go back and try other dishes. Next time I visit RI, next time. read more

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This was such a pleasant surprise of a dinner. Being lactose intolerant, I don't usually look forward to going to Italian restaurants or places known for pasta. Usually everything is covered in cheese, and I end up getting a salad. This was not the case at Basta! Everything was delicious from apps to drinks. I told our waiter about my dietary restrictions and he could not have been better about it. He pointed out everything I could have, or what could be made dairy free. I ended up having a fantastic pasta dish, and more than 1 cocktails! Definitely go here for a romantic evening or a night out with girlfriends. read more

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Was there on Mother's Day. Portions were extremely small for the high price. Example---Bolognese was half the amount from having on previous times, but the price was not lower. One pasta dish was so small, it looked like a child's portion and overpriced. In fact, there was a child with us who ordered plain pasta and their portion was adult size! Very different from dining there other times. Makes no sense. Also, a few people ordered the gelato which had 3 scoops, very good @$9. But, one person got it and added the extra espresso over it. What happened there? Same gelato @ $9, plus $5 for the espresso on top. ONLY 1 scoop gelato?! Thought that was strange. We never questioned it or complained. Paid the bill. Left server excellent tip. Want nothing in return. But, shame on you for cutting back on portions and gouging on prices. read more

Great food, service , ambience and great choices of drinks and beer. Would recommend it to everyone

This place couldn't serve a hot bowl of pasta if their life depended on it. I've been twice and ordered the same dish (because I am clearly a glutton for punishment) both times ice cold. Save your money and come to my house, I'll make you a better bowl of pasta. read more

The most amazing service (thank you Mary) was just the beginning To a lovely date night for us. The salad was outstanding, well dressed, thoughtfully prepared and excellent ingredients. We then ordered the short ribs and veal parm. both dishes exceeded our expectations. The meals were delicious and very well prepared. We packed some up for home to try dessert, and we were not disappointed. Get the butter cake. Trust me on this one. It was so well done. The wine list was very good, and we enjoyed the vintage of Valpolicella with our meal. Somehow this restaurant balances a busy fun vibe with a laid back atmosphere that allowed for conversation. The restaurant is Immaculate, and very we appointed. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Warwick. Always friendly staff and quality food. One of the best

This place has quickly become one of my favorites. Wonderful food & staff. It challenges any location in nearby Federal Hill, matching any of them in quality, without the hassles of parking. My favorite dish is their tortellini, and I always add grilled chicken. Bellissimo! read more

Basta - Enjoying our gnocchi and tortellini dishes - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

My son grandson and I went for dinner on a Sunday night. It was a lovely meal. They got the Caprese salad that they raved about. I had the Pear, Walnut, Gorgonzola and Greens salad that was great. I had linguine with clams, my grandson had the bolanaise with spaghetti, and my son had the mixed seafood with squid ink pasta. Everyone enjoyed their pasta. My son ordered the Buttercake, grandson ordered Moulton Chocolate Lava Cake, and I had vanilla gelato. The buttercake got high reviews. We would all return. read more

What an amazing restaurant! It was my mom and I's first time visiting and we had such a great time. Our server Gabrielle was so sweet and listened to our every need. The food was delicious, the patio beautiful and the music choice playing in the background was perfect. By the way their Basta Cosmo was really good, one of the best ones I've had. I will definitely be going back! If you're ever in the area I recommend it 100%. Can't wait to go back. read more

Basta - Delicious Beat salad with seared scallops. - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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I've been here once before but I must say, last night was incredible. Not only were the staff attentive, but they were personable and so friendly. This was the first restaurant I've visited after the COVID shutdown and they did a remarkable job. The patio was beautiful, the food and drinks were delicious. read more

Basta - Italian Near Me - Cranston, Rhode Island

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Food is good. Service is ok. Very loud. I would say it's really kind of over rated.

For someone that is a huge fan of this place and on had all amazing experiences at this place. i am so dissatisfied with today's experience. One, we ordered the antipasto board, and the bread was like a hockey puck if not a rock, you couldn't even bite into it, and it was hard to break in half, even the waitress was embarrassing. Lastly the Crème Brûlée was so over cooked, that it tasted like boiled eggs. The waitress i will say tried her best to please us, but when she wanted to take the board off the order, she was told by the manger "she can't take it off the check, but she can offer you fresh bread. Which never came. I am so upset with todays experience. read more

5 of us went to Basta last evening to listen to Tom Conlon who we love. We had never been there before. The hostess was so welcoming. Our Server, MichalA was fantastic, very attentive. The food was so delicious. I had the Linguini with a Dozen fresh clams on top. It was the best I've ever had. My whole table was completely satisfied with their choices. Even the fresh bread & dipping sauce was delicious. We all shared a few desserts which were also very good. The outdoor patio and entertainment were perfect. read more

This was my 1st time here. Sunday night 8:30 every seat @ the bar was full but there was more than enough room to be seated (mostly tables). Very comfortable though. Dim lighting quiet atmosphere. Our waitress was attentive knowledgeable and had a great personality. Bread w/garlic oil is provided. We ordered a bottle of prosecco (great price) & calamari for an app. The calamari comes w/a spicy sauce. So good. I even dipped the bread in it. Entree tortellini w/chicken & chicken marsala w/side of broccoli rabe. The chx marsala was stuffed w/cheese & mushrooms. Chx is pre stuffed so can't get w/o provolone. (I'm not a fan of provolone) but still amazing not overpowering. Tortellini also yum!! Broccoli rabe was a little too bitter for me. Overall I'm already planning my next visit. read more

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