Wow this place is amazing! First off, the detail in the interior design is insane. If you're a bookworm this place is definitely a cozy place for you. SECOND, the food is just as amazing! I was so happy hahah. It's been a long time since I enjoyed a restaurant for more than just their food. We came here for my boyfriend's parent's anniversary and the server's were wonderful and honestly very thoughtful as well! They were very attentive to our table and refilled our waters often. I also say this because when my bf's parents ordered the halibut to split, they had brought out their meal in two individual plates that were beautifully plated, you would think they ordered separately! They also took our group picture! :) We ordered 2 orders of the Basement Snacks: For Two, 2 orders of their raw oysters for appetizers. For my entree I ordered the Shrimp Carbonara Rossa with a side of Asparagus. Everything was so good. Their buffalo wings were perfectly marinated and not too saucy, their ribs were so tender and the meat fell straight off the bone! My carbonara was also delicious. For dessert they even gave an anniversary treat which was so sweet. I ordered a Chocolate Cappuccino which was also great. 11/10! Wonderful and would recommend. read more

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I want to start this review by stating that the food was wonderful, the ambience and decor was outstanding and we just loved the overall vibe. Our waiter, Guiseppe was very attentive! We had a lovely night out with a couple who are our long time and good friends and we looked forward to this evening! However, there was a problem at the beginning of the evening that is unacceptable... my husband went to park the car, our friends were waiting at the bar for us, I walked in first. My friend ordered me an Aperol Spritz and my husband a diet coke. My husband does not drink and has been very successful with his sobriety for many years. The bartender, (I later found out her name is Maureen and apparently she is a manager there), misunderstood the drink order so my friend reiterated that we wanted a diet coke and an Aperol Spritz (two separate drinks). The "diet coke" arrived in a soda glass with a lemon wedge (just like a diet coke would) and the Aperol Spritz arrived in a cocktail glass. My husband took a sip of the "diet coke" and asked me if it tasted like there was liquor in it. Sure enough there was. We immediately returned it and the other bartender confirmed that it was a mix of Aperol Spritz with diet coke in the soda glass. My husband confronted the bartender and told her about her grievous mistaken and full disclosure, he said this is a "big f$%ken mistake you made". She took absolutely no responsibility for her error and shouted at him that she "was told to make a diet coke with Aperol Spritz". Truth be told, we clarified the drink order to her and why would she present the "diet coke" in a soda glass if it indeed was a cocktail. She went full "Karen mode" on him when she should have apologized. My request is that she re-trains in customer service and her ability to mix drinks! Like I said above, the food was excellent, the waiter was great, but this error is a serious error. People do make mistakes, but please acknowledge your mistakes and take care with serious issues. The dining experience was great, but I cannot give a 5 star due to the error. read more

What a great addition to the neighborhood! We came in to celebrate the birthday of a family member on a weeknight and made reservations just to be safe. Once we sat down we were blown away with the options included in the prixe fixe menu and for a reasonable price as well! While the service was a little slow, they were extremely busy and it did allow us plenty of time to catch up with family while there which was nice. I expected the appetizer and entrees to be smaller given the special available and was shocked with how much food was included with each order! We were stuffed before dessert even arrived! The restaurant has cozy vibes perfect for any occasion (or book lover)! read more

Wife treated me last December of my birthday. I loved as soon as I stepped into the establishment, the ambiance of the restaurant, the artworks and decorating was nice. We were served wonderful buffalo wings & soft/warm bread for appetizers. Drinks were strong to my liking and loved it. Dinner I picked out a random selection of soup like dish, it was okay but it was tasty and worth the bucks. Last but not least, our server and staff were very kind and helpful. I'd would definitely recommend this place! read more

Had dinner with 8 of my girls. It was Wednesday night. They were busy and it was good to see two of the waiters that I know. They have a pre fixe and it's perfect. All the food was good and very generous portions. There was a hiccup with a few of the Seafood Fra Diavolo and they were very accommodating. Great service, good, strong drinks, and all around great vibe. read more

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A charming place for dinner and sangria! Which by the way was soo good. I loved the decor and coziness of it. Great for date night. I wouldn't say good for kids. They have a great pre-fixe menu and their dishes are prepared very well. Tasty to say the least. There is a small bar where you can also grab a game from the overhead tv. Overall I would recommend. read more

The Basement - Salmon over risotto with asparagus. - American Near Me - Staten Island, New York

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On Friday night a friend of mine and I thought we would go to The Basement for after dinner drinks and dessert. This was perfect. We were able to get great seats at the bar to the left and back as you walk in. The ambiance was mellow, pleasant and great for a wind down to the week and a good start to the weekend. We shared the crème brûlée for two which was so delicious. My friend got a caramel cappuccino and I ordered some steamed milk. Simple and yet so satisfying. read more

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Great vibe, calm upstairs then club downstairs easy to get too. Always had security close by and bartenders were moving quickly.

My partner and I stopped by The Basement for a lighter dinner before our Ferryhawks game (just a 5-minute walk from the restaurant!) I loved the vibe of the restaurant. It's book/library-themed. Their bathrooms are even hidden doors! I had to ask the waitress to show me exactly where they were, because I legit thought I was looking at some bookshelves. While we didn't order much, the food was much better than I expected. We shared the mussels (with lime crema on the side) and grilled octopus. Of note, we also received complimentary grilled bread to whet our appetites. No major complaints about the food. I thought it tasted really good! However, a few of the mussels tasted a little too fishy. Perhaps a little undercooked? On the bright side, we didn't get sick, and we overall enjoyed our meal here. read more

The Basement - American Near Me - Staten Island, New York

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Met a friend here for lunch on a Friday afternoon. This place has a nice location near the mall and Ferry and inside was a nice ambience. We all had beers and sandwiches; mine was the chicken Caesar wrap. It was fine - I was hungry so I ate it all. It could have used more Caesar dressing and the cheese. I would not be opposed to coming back and trying something else. read more

The Basement - Chicken Caesar wrap - American Near Me - Staten Island, New York

Great ambiance, very cozy. Great for a date night! Food was delicious and service was on point. We enjoyed our meal and the cocktails were delicious. Highly recommend! read more

Beautiful space with great food, great service, and great space! I love a place that just makes you feel at home! The tacos were delicious! read more

The Basement - American Near Me - Staten Island, New York

Originally had reservation for blue didn't like the service so we walked out. Heard about this place the basement. So glad blue service wasn't good. What a great place food was excellent ambience was excellent. Service was excellent. My new favorite restaurant my wife had the tuna with tortellini fantastic. I had the duck fantastic service was great what else can I say you gotta try this place read more

Hurricane was good. $10 outside of Happy Hour. Never really go to the bars in Staten Island but this had a good vibe. Ordered fries that never came, so can't talk much about the food. I found out they were never coming because I closed out and only had the hurricane on my bill lol Glad I didn't take my time with the drink waiting on the fries since parking is 1 hour only on the streets unless you use the meter. I'll probably never order food here. read more

The Basement - Hurricane - American Near Me - Staten Island, New York

Delicious food and ambience Great place to go before a show at the St. George theatre read more

Cute bar! Great service, fair prices, and an adorable bathrooms! Would be a great spot to have book club!

Good food-parking is your worst nightmare! Maybe it is easier in the evening, but lunchtime on a Sunday was not good for finding a space.

The Basement is a hidden gem across the street from the Staten Island Ferry terminal. The food and service are wonderful! We started with great cocktails, followed by steak and swordfish, and for the finale, a delicious crème brûlée! We had a toddler with us and they kindly gave us a booth on the end with a banquette so she could nap! By the time we left at 8pm, the place was packed. read more

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We had two apps. We ordered three entrees for two people. The chicken with the lemony sauce was great. The short rib wasn't my favorite. We drank a lot. It was expensive lol. But whatever how many good places are there on Staten Island? The bathroom is hidden in the bookshelf which is funny when you're in your cups and gotta pee lol. The scallops might have been the best thing I had. Nothing blew me away but everything was solid. The service was above average. read more

The Basement - Appetizers with the burrata and the scallops - American Near Me - Staten Island, New York

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From the beginning of Our arrival the server was abrupt an indifferent to Anything we asked. The brunch was inedible ...overcooked eggs, untoasted English muffins, dense pancakes. Coffee was good . We complained upon deaf ears. Finally I said we weren't paying for the food and he agreed. We gave him $50 and called it a disappointing birthday recommendation read more

Great Ambiance and even better Food. Definitely Recommend Trying this place Our server had great recommendations on what dishes were her favorite for us to try and she was right! read more

Superior cocktails in a comfortable setting. The restaurant location is close to the St. George Theater and Ferry Hawks stadium. The cocktails were memorable. The food was good, mostly comfort food as you would find in a better neighborhood restaurant. The service is helpful and attentive. read more

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First decent place to offer me a bite off the ferry. I went with the French Onion soup because i didn't want something too heavy, and i gotta say it was a great and filling meal. Had to order a side of bread on the side, which i feel should already come with the soup. The Manhattan I got wasn't garnished and felt mostly like just bourbon. It took a while to get my food as well. The aesthetic made it somewhat worth the visit though. Big fan of whatever style this is. Might come again if i ever visit Staten Island in the future. read more

The Basement - French Onion + Manhattan - American Near Me - Staten Island, New York

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Nice atmosphere, great food and excellent service. Easy parking on Sunday evening. I have enough characters now?

Amazing food and exceptionally made drinks. Had the Mussels in a white wine sauce, wings, ribs and sliders. The ribs were fall of the bone, rings perfectly crispy and sauced to perfection, sliders cooked exactly as ordered and super tasty and the mussels were plump and tender. Had several martinis. Different types all excellently crafted and tasty. Oh yeah, forgot the Crème Brulé for two. Out of this world delicious. Very nice atmosphere and decor. Just a little small on the inside. But quaint and comfortable. Highly recommend. Also the service was attentive and helpful when asking questions and making decisions. read more

The Basement - Carmel Chocolate Martini and the Creme Brulé for two. - American Near Me - Staten Island, New York

Restaurant is extremely cozy and aesthetically pleasing, perfect for a date night or some family quality time! Our waitress, Paula I believe, was friendly, sweet and kind! The food, however, was quite a miss for us. The wings came with three drums and one flat, which was uneven but an easy fix according to our waitress. The carbonara had nice flavors, but the bacon was over-charred and was extremely salty, which detracted from the dish's overall enjoyment. My favorite of the dish was the shrimp, which was cooked PERFECTLY and had a nice bouncy texture! The bolognese was also overly salty as well, which was worse than the carbonara because it was the entire dish, whereas the carbonara was just the bacon bits (though the bacon was quite vital to the dish). The French onion soup didn't really char the cheese as evident in the photo, which resulted in goopy cheese instead of a nice crisp one. Overall, the Basement has a lot of promise and there's still so much on the menu that I would love to try! Unfortunately this time it was a miss for us, but I would love to come back again someday to give the Basement the 5 stars I know they are capable of! Thank you for reading and best of luck! (: read more

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The place is really beautiful with books as its backdrop. The appointments are really great. The food is fantastic! The calamari was light but lacked salt but the sauces made up for it. We ordered chicken martini & salmon for me. My salmon came with noodles, bok choy, tomato in this unbelievable sauce. The salmon skin was crispy & fish so tender. My husband's chicken was pounded & cooked to perfection. His had a cheesy risotto. Service was slow but our water glasses did get filled many times. There were times I felt forgotten about but still I would go back read more

This place is great. I have been there 2 times and both times it was great. Food was delicious, drinks were amazing. The service is fantastic. The place looks great esthetically. read more

The Basement - Dirty Martini - American Near Me - Staten Island, New York

Have to say we had a very pleasant experience. Walked into the place to a dimly lit bar area. Comfortable high stools at the bar. Nice decor made to look like a basement with many old books lining the shelved walls. Only one beer on tap but a dozen or so bottled beer choices. We ordered beer, calamari and tacos. I was a little disappointed that they were out of duck spring rolls. The calamari consisted of very large rings which concerned us but the rings were tender and delicious. The tacos were also very good. A friendly knowledgeable bartender helped me wade through an extensive (more than 100) whiskey list. The atmosphere was very nice for a date night. Dining room is small but spaced out enough for comfort. We'll be back! read more

Ohh it was cold outside. We happen to find this place while in Staten Island on the way to the ferry. What a great spot. Good happy hour menu. I had a Negroni. Saw some chicken wings go by that looked great but we didn't eat here. Parking is a little silly and looks all to be paid for but the locals said nobody tickets. I still paid for a lot about a block away read more

from the second you walk into the restaurant you forget that you are in staten island and feel immediately transported to a speak easy in the heart of manhattan. A++ ambiance. the food here is PHENOMENAL. we went with six of our friends and we ordered half the menu and every single item was fantastic. the apps we got were: the short ribs (SENSATIONAL), the arancini, the burrata, the white sauce mussels, baked clams, sweet potato balls, chicken tacos. the mains we got were: steak, chicken martini, halibut. sides of broccolini and mashed potatoes. dessert: banna bread pudding, blueberry cheesecake, pecan pie (THE DESSERT IS MUST HAVE DO NOT SKIP!!) seriously I can not reccomend this place enough. as someone who eats out often at different restaurants throughout brooklyn, manhattan and NJ.. it's hard to find a place where you can say all 3 courses were amazing and this place was just amazing through and through. unfortunately the only negative was that it was very understaffed... one waiter for the entire restaurant and he also served as the bus boy and server as read more

GREAT FOOD, GREAT PRICES!! Love love love it! This place had some of the greatest fresh food I've ever had.

Went there with a friend to catch up. Haven't been there since the old Besos was there. Love what they have done with place. It's very cute, eclectic and romantic. The service was good, they were very attentive. We shared some appetizers and the Frisse salad. The octopus and the salad were amazing. The roasted garlic mussels had a savory sauce delicious. Well definitely return. read more

The Basement - American Near Me - Staten Island, New York

My girlfriend Mary and I celebrated her birthday at The Basement, and it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The food was truly phenomenal and the service was excellent--warm, attentive, and professional throughout the evening. The atmosphere made the night feel special, and everything we ordered exceeded expectations. I recommend making a reservation and giving yourself a little extra time for parking in the area. You really need to go--this restaurant is exceptional. read more

Such a cool vibe to the restaurant/bar. We went for happy hour and all of the cocktails, beers, and wine were reasonably priced. The margaritas and martinis were strong but flavorful. We didn't get any food but it looked promising. read more

Love love love this place. 3 of us came for lunch mid week. Decor is such a vibe. Playlist matched the whole interior feel. The bathrooms were even nice and smelled so good. We sat at the bar. Comfy seats. Food was all delish. The mussels were my favorite. The broth was amazing! My husband and I requested for more bread for dipping cause it was that good. Our server was also the bartender, didn't catch his name, but he was great. Super attentive and had recommendations. Great staff. Superb. I also didn't expect our bill to be less than $150 along with drinks we ordered. Abs love this. One thing I'd probably recommend is that they serve like a complimentary dish, like a bread or chips or something of those sorts. Other than that I'll be back for sure! read more

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The food is amazing, and all the employees there are generous, and the restaurant is Very tidy you will have a great time, going with your family or friends read more

We tried out this place out today and we absolutely loved it. The dining area was very nicely decorated with Lots of d books and classic photos. Our serving of Giuseppe, was very attentive and made some really great suggestions from the menu. We were able to choose from all of the menus, not just a brunch selection, which was fantastic. Everything was a hit. We will definitely be coming back. read more

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Came here for small bites and drinks before a show at the St. George theatre. Scored two seats at the bar. The service was fast and it seemed like everyone in the place was on the same timeline to get to the show. The staff handled the turnover very well and seemed like a well oiled machine. The bartender was AMAZING. One of the best espresso martini's I've had. Unfortunately I cannot remember his name. Nice ambiance. I liked that we could see into the kitchen and it looked super clean and professional. Well done! Also, neat bathrooms that are "hidden" - they blend in with the wall decor. read more

Went to Staten Island by Ferry to go to "Enotoca Marie" (Nonna movie) but could not get in. They told us to go to "The Basement ". A wonderful place. Took us right in with no Reservation. The food was great. Ambience was was pub and quite enjoyable. Food was wonderful. Service great. read more