I've been to Sweet Basil several times and have had a great experience on each occasion. The restaurant has a very homey feeling, and the food is incredible. You really feel like you're eating at somebody's house, in a good way. It's traditional Italian with a twist. The chef/ owner Dave Becker owns two other restaurants in the area, and he really puts his personal spin on various cuisines at each of them. It works great. The portions are ENORMOUS (seriously... two people could comfortably share an appetizer and entree and leave satisfied). The food is super flavorful and fresh. Try not to fill up on the totally addictive complimentary sourdough bread and fresh homemade pesto! BYOB, so swing by the wine shop down the road before you go. read more

Sweet Basil - Enormous portion of delicious calamari! - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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stopped in for a late dinner a few weeks ago. the dining room has a lot of tables, additionally there's outdoor seating. we sat near the kitchen. complimentary bread greeted us when we sat down. we ordered the chicken parm and the lamb shank. the lamb shank was delish, the meat was super tender, the sauce complimented the lamb. the melody of veggies was good for the most part. a couple pieces were under/over cooked. the chicken parm was standard. the size is big. read more

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The food at Sweet Basil was absolutely delicious. The bread was served with the best tasting pesto I've ever had. My date and I each ordered salmon which came with a purple rice that I had never had before. It was phenomenal and the serving sizes were generous. The restaurant does not take reservations, but we were seated within a minute of arriving and the service was great. Looking forward to going back and trying some of their other dishes. read more

So good! Went on a whim on a Friday (they don't take reservations anyways) and were seated right away (despite it being busy and a smallish restaurant.) Didn't realize it was BYOB but the waiter kindly told us we could go next door and buy something if we wanted. We opted to just get sodas! The food was AMAZING and extremely generous portions. The rosemary chicken dish (its pasta) was so good but kind of salty. I liked it regardless. My husband got the lamb (it was a special I think) and really enjoyed it. Tender, fall off the bone delicious. We were extremely full but also it looked like we hadn't put a dent in our food. Again, portions are big. This would be a great place to share family style if you're into that. Ambiance was pretty solid. Bright colors and funky but a nice spot for a meal out! read more

Sweet Basil - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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We haven't been to Sweet Basil in over a year mostly because they're not kid friendly. There's a new executive chef and the food has tanked. Salt partially masks the taste of terrible sauce and uncooked (albeit homemade) pasta. What a heartbreak from what used to be an excellent BYOB. The mussel app was great, but the entrees were cafeteria-grade. read more

Waste of time and money. Wish we just ate at home. Bad service. Bad Food. Cramped tables. Loud music from the speaker right behind our heads. It took ~30minutes for server to take our order, then after finishing our salads we were left waiting again for the entrees to come out, then to top it off, we got the wrong order. If only the food was worth the wait. Sorry to leave a negative review - wish we had a better first experience. It's a convenient location and we drive by often, but there's nothing about this restaurant that would have us go back. Lesson learned. read more

First time dining at this little place and it's now on our favorites list! The decor and ambiance is very down to earth and the music gets you in a chill and relaxed mood. BYOB! So bring whatever wines and drinks you like and they will bring out the glasses for you. There is a liquor store and a dessert store next to the restaurant. The food was high quality and on point, great portions, and kind service. We appreciate Emily who checked in on us a few times. Definitely give this place a try and support a wonderful family owned business! read more

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Amazing local BYOB restaurant with such a happy atmosphere. We had a great time, the food was amazing, and the service was so friendly and welcoming. All the food is made from scratch, and the pasta is homemade. The octopus dish I had was so good, the octopus is soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. My fiancé also really enjoyed his cheese ravioli. Highly recommend! read more

Sweet Basil - Octopus and Cheese Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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Review for Sweet Basil in Needham. Great Italian food with a twist! Love the byob at this location ( only). read more

Obsessed! I was told this place was really good but still so surprised at how good it was when I went this past weekend. Portions were huge! I've never had a calamari appetizer that couldn't be finished but we had enough to take home, along with our pasta entree. The waitress was so nice to give us a portion of the pesto dip that came with the bread to take home because we loved it so much. Big fan of these small and quaint places away from the busyness of the city. The menu was small but does not disappoint. Will definitely be back! read more

Coming back here the second time, I must say this is one of the best hidden gems in Boston. The value is unbeatable for the amount and quality of food. You can tell the ingredients are fresh. All the dishes we got were delicious. Service was spectacular this time. No complaints from me! Loveee the complimentary bread with pesto. Must get: * Steamed Mussels: the portion is insane, keeping in mind this was a starter. The soaked bread in this is just * Shrimp Scampi: perfect noodz * Octopus: one of the most delicious grilled octopus I've had. The ragout is perfect with it The best thing was the complimentary date cake as dessert. It was SO good that we had to ask for a second and we have no regrets asking. They NEED to add this to their menu. read more

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I usually don't complain about a meal I was here this evening around 6ish we ordered mussels and Greek salad to start. The mussels where tough and the salad was old the lettuce was wilted. Our entrees we ordered shrimp scampi (which was not shrimp scampi the pasta was very hard and too lemony. The ravioli was very tough and sauce was too soupy. We will not be returning again. read more

Sweet Basil - Cheese ravioli (which the sauce was very soupy and the ravioli was very tough) - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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Best food ever! I totally recommend this place. Great service and attention. Our first time there and it was amazing.

yes overall the food and service is great. just be sure to ask clearly about all the extra specials and variations. they do a great job. it's just busy and a lot going on. the food is cooked correctly with exciting preparations real food people enjoy read more

Absolutely love this place! Every staff member was so welcoming and friendly. Great atmosphere and portions were generous. Started off with their bread and pesto ... best pesto ive ever had. The rosemary chicken was unbelievable and so tasty. The salmon special came with a delicious sweet potato mash. BYOB. Highly recommend!! read more

Sweet Basil - Rosemary chicken and salmon special - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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We have eaten here many times and always enjoy it. Our most recent experience on Sunday at 5 PM was not up to standard. The worst part was the pasta in the Bolognese was seriously undercooked. My wife was born and raised in Sicily and we are very familiar with pasta al dente - this was much less cooked than that. The service was also slower than usual and it was very noisy. The salmon and chicken dishes were very good as usual as was the calamari. read more

It's been a while since we visited Sweet Basil but it was really good this time. The pesto served with the bread was better than what I make from scratch. Everything was delish, except the shrimp scampi was a bit overpowered by the garlic. Will definitely return, as it's better than Fiorellas and other Italian restaurants in the area that we frequent. read more

Wow, just wow. We ordered take out from Sweet Basil on a Monday night, food was ready within about 40 minutes. The freshness of this food is worth its weight in gold. The noodles in the bolognese sauce were very clearly freshly made. The meat was cooked to perfection and the PESTO, I swear don't go without trying their pesto. When we were done eating, we used our bread to clean up our plates and I mean clean, not even a scrap left for the pup. 2 entrees, ravioli, a salad, and pesto was more than enough for 4 people. We had plenty of leftovers and I was the chosen one to take home the delicious pesto, which I proceeded to put on toast, eggs, potatoes, and eventually eat it straight with a spoon. I highly suggest trying this place our, authentic fresh Italian food has the ability to improve your mood. read more

Sweet Basil - Bolognese, rosemary chicken, ravioli, and the Greek salad (with half a pint of pesto of course) - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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Delicious food with personable staff and talented cooks. Miss lunches here. Wish it was open for lunch again!!!!

My favorite Italian bolognese place. The sauce is amazing, and the pasta is homemade. The restaurant is open for dining. It is a little crowded just a note for covid. The service is great, everyone is super nice and friendly. Also a big fan of the calamari! Just found out recently that you can bring a bottle (no hard liquor). It does get busy, so come here early! read more

Sweet Basil is probably the best restaurant in Needham. The food is excellent (and portions are huge!) and love the BYOB. Staff is super friendly and accommodating. There is often a wait given limited seating, but it's worth it! read more

Great little restaurant in Needham, MA. Service was great and food was very tasty! Would come back, but out of state.

Cozy atmosphere with some of the best meals I've ever had. Thr pesto is addictive and the homemade pasta is to die for. read more

Sweet Basil - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

Always fab! Rosemary chicken is to die for! Everything is made to order. Bread and garlic dip is wonderful. read more

One of my favorite spots in greater Boston! BYOB as well :) Homemade pasta is deliciously made with a deep egg color. The fresh bread and pesto was great to start. We followed this by the mussels, which were served in a buttery garlic white wine sauce over sauce soaked bread. I've had a lot of mussels and my life and these were on a different level. I've had the rosemary chicken and the chicken parm, both are so tasty. My girlfriend had the butternut squash soup and she was raving about it. The passion for their food and serving their customers was apparent. If you aren't used to dense pasta you may not love the pasta at first but it definitely will grow on you. A true gem, thanks Sweet Basil! read more

Sweet Basil - Butternut squash soup - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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While the food was pretty good, the music and noise level was way too high. Service was ok but not outstanding. This used to be a much better place! read more

Haven't been here since Covid 19 started. Hopefully the food is still tasty. Thinking of going here for my birthday. Good food, good service and ambience is good. What's not to like? read more

TLDR: Food is excellent!!! Why go to North End... just as good and better than most in Boston. They will tell you waiting time is 45 min to 1 hr but chances are your group will be called in for your table within 30 min... that was our case the last two times. read more

Huge portion for the rosemary chicken. Tasty and filling but not the best I've ever had - a little too creamy and heavy. Service was friendly and fast. No liquor license so BYOB. Great location with indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Great Italian food. Pesto, bread, chicken parm and pasta are all fresh and really high quality. Been going here for years and have only had great experiences. read more

Always a favorite. Never (every) been disappointed, and I've eaten there at least 25 times. Sometimes there is a wait. I usually get the special. The pesto is fabulous (comes to the table when getting settled). Try not to fill up on it! read more

Good stuff all around!! Nice decor, good service, and delicious food. How can you argue with that? read more

This is the best restaurant in the area Love the rosemary chicken Keep up the good work read more

Wonderful staff and food. Needs some fine-tuning. No coffee / tea / drinks - I understand space is an issue, but to me that says you haven't found the right space. Alcohol is an easy fix, with a corking fee (which they have). However, coffee and tea (especially espresso) for an Italian restaurant is just a deal-breaker for me. The host was sympathetic and threw me a few recommendations for coffee since I was beat and had arrived early hoping to perk up before the rest of the dinner party got there. Sadly, all the Dunkin's were closed, so I pushed through the meal with nary a tea or espresso to be found. Accessibility - The outdoor seats were so low to the table that the food was at my chest--and I'm a pretty tall woman. This made eating difficult. This is as much an accessibility issue as it is a gender issue. The seating is best for made for large and tall people--aka, the average man. Dish-wear - My Greek salad with chicken (which was delicious), was served in a round, high rimmed soup bowl. Trying to get at my salad was challenging. Cutting the chicken in there was impossible. Combined with the low seats, I had my elbows in the air and my wrists at an awkward angle the whole meal. I dropped food almost every bite. A wide, low edged bowl for a big salad would have made my meal much more enjoyable. The marinated onions were a nice touch as I'm never a fan of raw ones. Attention to detail - My husband's shrimp scampi over linguine was more of a round noodle that was concentrated and stuck together. The noodles were al dente, which he prefers, but because they were stuck together some were more al dente than he likes. He had to work to break up the noodles to get sauce distributed evenly. His food was tasty and the shrimp was good quality, but it had the feel of a meal made at the end of the day that didn't get as much love as perhaps before the dinner rush. He also was stressed for me, watching my food fall every time I tried to get a bite, which would have pissed him off. Overall, he said his plate of food was enjoyable. I admit, I was eyeballing his shrimp, which looked plump and yummy. Our waitstaff was extremely friendly and chatty, but by the end, I wasn't in the mood for dessert. Perhaps for the best, since the price tag was $140 for 5 plates of food without appetizers and only two soft drinks. I guess my feeling is, either you're a higher-end restaurant or you're not. If you want to charge a premium for food, then figure out how to give customers at least the basics and understand what makes a comfortable / enjoyable eating experience. I 'might' come back -- well-armed with a seating pad, my to-go coffee, and a bottle of wine. read more

Ordered take out from here based on a recommendation for Italian food and it did not disappoint. The pasta is so fresh, chewy texture and perfect al dente. We ordered the shrimp scampi and the rosemary chicken. Rosemary chicken was delicious, a bit on the saltier side but very good. The shrimp scampi was a little dry on top so be sure to mix up the plate before you dig in! They also give a generous portion of fresh bread for take out. Definitely recommend giving this place a try! read more

We came here on a monday night at 6:30 to celebrate my brother's 21st birthday. The place was packed! We were quoted 20 minutes but it ended up being 40. Not a huge a deal because it was a beautiful night. To start, our waitress brought us amazing crusty bread and pesto spread. My mom is gluten free so she was served a dish of vegetables and dairy-free basil pesto vinagrette which I thought was awesome. For appetizers we ordered the fried calamari, which was a HUGE portion, and gnocchi. Both were amazing. For dinner I had the shrimp scampi. It was excellent. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food, and we were all able to bring home leftovers due to the huge servings. This is a pricey restaurant but the food is quality and authentic. Overall great experience. read more

Sweet Basil - Fried Calamari appetizer - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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Very good food and great service. The pasta in particular had a great texture and the chicken was very tender.

Came here to celebrate our anniversary and absolutely loved our meal. You can't make reservations here so I would highly recommend looking for less popular times to go because it does get very crowded. The meal was on the expensive side but is nothing outrageous. You also have the option to bring your own wine or beer for a $5 fee. The restaurant itself is small and intimate but not too grand. As for the food, everything was had was out of this world good and I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu. After being seated, you're served starter bread and pesto. I could have just eaten that for my meal... it's AMAZING. For my app, I got the baked gouda over greens and for my main, I got the shrimp scampi. Both were delicious as well. Great place for a celebration - would definitely recommend for a great meal. read more

Sweet Basil - Shrimp Scampi - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts

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Got takeout on a Friday night - had called the day earlier with order, but ended up waiting a bit (15 minutes past pickup time) as lots of big takeout orders seemed right ahead of me. A couple tables were eating in the street side, a couple tables inside. Staff were friendly as always. Got eggplant parm, chicken parm, rosemary chicken, bolognese. All were large portions, hearty, but what struck me tonight from past times was how Salty everything was! Maybe it was just a busy night; it won't keep me from coming back as this spot is usually so on point! read more

Honestly the best Italian food I've had while around the Boston area. The bread they serve is delicious & the sauce was packed with flavor. The ravioli were perfectly cooked, which I find is rare. Al dente & rich in flavor. The red sauce was ridiculously fresh and well seasoned, nothing too heavy either. I came alone just to check it out, and the staff were so wonderfully friendly. It is a very warm & inviting environment which really made the experience all that much better. Though, I really wouldn't overlook how delicious the food is. While the atmosphere itself is romantic, the food alone is astounding. Worth a try. read more

Sweet Basil - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Needham, Massachusetts