I would give negative stars if that was an option! Worst experience in a restaurant in my entire life! We had a reservation for a group of 12 (large groups ordering drinks, appetizers and entrees is going to take a while) and were at the table for 2 hours. As we are sitting there getting our checks the manager comes over and starts clearing the table and tells us we need to get up and leave now. She said there was an hour and 45 minute time limit, which we were not made aware of when making our reservation, and there was a table that had a reservation for our table at 8 (it was exactly 8) and that the group had been waiting for an hour for our table. Well if you show up at 7 for an 8:00 reservation you will definitely be waiting an hour! We were not lingering by any means, we were waiting for our checks and some of our group still had wine in their glasses. She said she didn't care, the server would cash us out at the host stand and we needed to leave. We were not given any type of warning that we were nearing our time limit (that we didn't even know we had) and she didn't come over and explain the situation nicely. She just said we needed to go. Her attitude was so unbelievably rude and unprofessional! I will NEVER EVER go back there and will be sure to tell anyone I know not to ever go there! Dana, you are a TERRIBLE General Manager!!!! read more

This place was a cute little find in Lawrence. There is little parking, you'll mainly have to rely on street parking or a back lot. You order your food at the register and then pick where you would like to sit. It's not a huge place, so when your food is ready they'll walk it out to you. They have sandwich, soup, entree and appetizer options. I got the Parmesan chicken sandwich, it was huge! And their soup of the day which was good as well. My friend got the spaghetti & meatballs. However, I do have to say that the soup was a little too salty and my friend said the spaghetti & meatballs was way too salty (she was unable to finish it for this reason). They also have a small bar so alcoholic drinks are available to you if you choose. When your done eating, they bring the check out to you (you don't have to go back to the register). All in all, parking was extremely limited (so know to look for parking spots along the way) and food was just a little too salty. But cozy atmosphere and comfort Italian food options. read more

The Basil Leaf Cafe - Parmesan chicken sandwich with soup of the day - Italian Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

$18 shrimp Alfredo tasted like paste. No flavor just a starchy thick mess. No cheese grated on top. Order caprese salad but they had no fresh mozzarella. House salad for $10 was small and bland. We were seated by the kitchen door and bathrooms. It was not pleasant. Will not go back! read more

I'm sorry but we won't be returning... when guests enter the restaurant with a reservation and are greeted with" you have the table for an hour and 15 mins ,can you be done by then?" I realize the guest experience is NOT the focus here! So just be ready to order - eat fast - don't order a second drink and maybe you will have time for dessert and coffee.... If I wanted fast food I would have gone to McDonalds. Tacky tacky tacky Basil Leaf...bye bye read more

So delicious We enjoyed one of the best meals ever last evening. The salmon was perfect, meaty, smoky with seasoned roasted potatoes. The veg side was crisp and fresh, definitely not after thought. My husband chose a basil cream pasta with artichokes tomato mushroom and chicken. The couple bites he shared was so, so good. We found the perfect wine pairing, a Pinot Grigio and the best lemon ginger cocktail. I mentioned to my husband the time we ate at Lydia's in KC and spent a fortune. Basil Leaf is much more tastier, the cost perfect for the great meal and atmosphere. Totally recommend read more

Great food, great service from Elaine. The host was a bit confused about the availability of empty tables but Elaine made sure we were taken care of. read more

Food was very mediocre. All seemed to be prepared food that just warmed . Bartender unable to make decent martini. Server was very nice.

Service here was terrible, the waitress brought us the wrong drinks(ordered coke and got root beer), dropped our food off and forgot about us, I know she wasn't busy because we could see her just talking to her friend at the bar while we were sitting there with empty drinks and nothing on our plate, she at most had two other tables. The food was amazing I've never had anything like it but if you want to have a drink with your meal I'd go somewhere else, I tell people if you want amazing food just order from here for takeout because you'll be very disappointed in the service read more

food is terrible! super bland, dishes were dirt, wait staff was the only reason there are any stars on my review

Elaine was amazing at the bar and her recommendations were spot on!! Great food, great atmosphere and grate drinks!!!

The food was great but the server was drunk asssss fuckkkk. Provided great entertainment while we ate our lunch. Will definitely be back

Over the top great !!! Food amazing! Ambiance super. Our waitress Kristen... whom I am certain we embarrassed about how great she is... was the best! We can't wait to come again! read more

Here in Lawrence for work and decided to check this place out. Wow I had ordered a Garden Salad with my meal. All of a sudden the server brings out what looks like a work of art. I thought to myself if this is what they do for a salad, I can only imagine what they'll do for the entree. I ordered the Chicken Cavitelli. U can't describe in words how good this looked and tasted. Flavor explosions in my mouth. When I was half way done, I started to eat slower so I could savor the taste. If you're in Lawrence, you must come here. Talk about chefs who take pride in their cooking. Yum, yum, yum. I wish I could have given them more than five stars. read more

This was such a welcome change after being stuck in a conference all day. The environment is cozy and inviting with friendly staff. I loved my chicken and waffles and my cocktail was perfect. If you are in Lawrence, I highly recommend! read more

What a great night! Perfect service and environment and delicious meal and drinks! The dim lighting and cozy booths made for a relaxing night after a long day of work. Our server Emily hit all the check points and gave us the best recommendations. Will most definitely be returning! read more

The food and service was stellar!! Our server, Elaine, so kindly kept refilling my water and gave wonderful recommendations. The cheesecake with strawberries and chocolate is phenomenal! read more

Elayne was the best bartender!!! She was super sweet and fun to talk to. I would definitely suggest coming here again!

Bartender was great. Food was great. Liked the old location on 9th better. Lemon chicken is what to get

What I love about the Basil Leaf Cafe is that it's just a solid non pretentious Italian place that is not trying too hard and doesn't have damn TVs all over the place. Great place to take a date and enjoy a not-to-noisy good Italian meal. Good simple wine selection, not a million to choose from. The place is small so make reservations or get their early on a weekend. We'll be back when needing Italian in Larryville. read more

They apparently don't have a stove with more than one burner. Our 4th door dasher just dumped the order (placed more than 90 minutes ago). I don't care if it is made with angel's tears and love I will not ever be ordering from here again. And o by the way, you can't call and talk through the issue because they set the phone to no response. Horrible horrible business owners. After the last experience we had it took us til now to try again. Mistake. One that won't be made again. I'd eat Chef Boyardee ravioli before I'd spend one red cent here. And I will make sure I speak poorly of the place every single chance I get! read more

Tried to switch a reservation for four to six and they said no thanks so I have no idea. Went to 715 instead. That was great!!!

My favorite spot for Italian!!! My husband and I love the atmosphere and the menu at The Basil Leaf.

Excellent food, great drinks, fun atmosphere! All In downtown Lawrence Kansas! Highly recommend

Dropped down a star because they no longer serve their amazing Basil Leaf Burgers. Hanks n Sullys next door serve it now, but it doesn't have the same taste or impact :( But their other options are delicious. I had their Chicken & Waffles recently and enjoyed that very much. Cool bartenders and polite service read more

Had a great time here at Basil Leaf. Great drinks and great food. Our server, Elaine, was incredibly personable and helpful.

GREAT FOOD. DOESNT look like much walking past, we thought it was completely empty. But we were wrong! So many people went before the KANSAS game and it was amazing! Great atmosphere and great service. There was one waitress in there doing all the seating, bussing, and taking orders. She was killer read more

I have NEVER been treated as poorly as our group was treated on September 9, 2023 by Dana, General Manager. We made a reservation for a larger group to celebrate a bridal shower. As we were paying our checks she began to take everything away from us even though several of us were finishing our wine. She told us that there was a one hour and 45 minute limit to dining, however, this was never explained to us (we even called several days ahead and spoke to a manager to help make the reservation for our group). I explained to her that I was still waiting for my debit card to be returned to me. She told us we needed to leave the table and finish our transactions at the host counter. I told her that she was one of the rudest people I have ever dealt with and I also told her that her actions were unprofessional. She continued to smile and say "thank you" with an extremely condescending tone. As we were walking out the door, our server told me that we had $68.00 of unclaimed food that we needed to pay. I went ahead and paid to avoid any more embarrassment. After comparing our tickets outside, we went back and requested a refund for the $68.00. Dana then refunded my money as they double charged us for several items and created the extra ticket. I am upset and saddened that we chose your establishment to celebrate such a special event. Dana, you should be ashamed and embarrassed by your attitude and actions. I hope you have the day you deserve. read more

I have had this place bookmarked for way too long and so glad I finally stepped away from Mass St and tried Basil Leaf out. The place is small and quaint and fills up fast so get there early. Tons of energy in the place and great vibes. Service was outstanding, we never went without drinks or filled water glasses. The wine and beer list is small but a great variety of options at a crazy great price. The do not have draft beer but they pour it in a cold glass. We started with the Arancini, I have never had it before so I can't say if it was "right" but it was delicious. Crispy on the outside with rice, diced red pepper and pork sausage inside. Five of the huge balls lay on top of marinara sauce laced with Alfredo sauce. The marinara sauce is clean and fresh tasting. Then we moved on to the grilled Romaine salad. This is probably one of the best salads I have had. It was warm and had banana peppers, purple onion, roasted grape tomatoes, bell pepper, a pesto mix and ranch drizzled over it. Everything was cut very thin and paired perfectly together. I had the roasted chicken gnocchi as my entree. Let me say, portions are HUGE. I saw many different entrees as we ate and nothing is small here, you will not leave hungry. I don't think they make any of their pastas, I understand it is a timely process but it would be great if they offered a couple homemade pastas, especially the gnocchi. However, it was still fabulous. The chicken was roasted and cut small mingled with bell peppers and onions. The sauce was buttery. A very rich dish but light at the same time with all of the fresh ingredients. A breadstick was on the side, it was good but wish they would take advantage of Wheatfields and do a local bread rather than store bought. The show stopper was my husband's meatloaf with the fried option for an up charge, I highly recommend trying it once this way. It was massive, two huge pieces of meatloaf. They use pork, bison and beef. So flavorful. They serve it with a green bean, bell pepper mix and some of the best creamy mashed potatoes. Just a little bit of brown gravy is drizzled over top. If you are a gravy person I would ask for a side but I thought the amount was perfect to not drown out the flavors. The desserts looks great but no way we had room. They do a homemade cheesecake that changes daily. Last night was caramel bourbon. Love how original they are. Highly recommend this place and excited to try their newest restaurant next door, Sully and Hanks. read more

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The best restaurant in Lawrence everyone was so nice and I got the best service ever plus the food is so good I've tried most of the menu items and all of them are great read more

My favorite place to eat when visiting Lawrence. The food is always fresh and delicious. It's a small place but perfect for a date night. And we have always had very friendly and accommodating service. read more

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Be careful when you eat here, gave a 20% cash tip on my meal and when I checked my bank statement I found that they added an additional 10 dollars on my card. On the night we were there the service wasn't that good but having been a server I gave a good tip and then was taken advantage of. I have tried to take care of it thru the cafe twice but each time have been given the run around. read more

I had been meaning to try this famous gas station pasta joint for awhile now. Basil Leaf has since relocated, but no worries, I told myself - I'll just be able to more objectively enjoy the food now. Unfortunately, this didn't turn out to be such a good thing for Basil Leaf. The cajun penne was extremely heavy on seasoning and I found myself thirsty and reeking of garlic powder the rest of the night. The dish seemed pretty disparate to me; instead of extracting all the flavors from the sausage, chicken, and shrimp it felt like each component was cooked separately and tossed together at the end. The andouille sausage, by the way, is not your standard andouille and has a soft hot-dog-like consistency. Soft meat seems to be a theme here, because the meatballs in the spaghetti and meatballs were just too tender (too many bread crumbs?) so if you like your meatballs meat-y, don't go for this dish. I know, I'm slamming Basil Leaf pretty hard. I admit that overall both dishes were okay; however, they reminded me more of quick weeknight crockpot dinners rather than restaurant food. When I dine out, I want an experience that I can't get at home. The up sides? For the price ($10-$12 for pastas) you can get at least 2 meals (probably 3 if you have a smaller appetite) so it's a bang for your buck. The breadsticks were my favorite part of the meal - soft, chewy, with just enough seasoning - mmm. I'd come back for these if nothing else! I have a hunch that Basil Leaf Cafe became highly regarded because it used to be "that cool hole-in-the-wall pasta joint in a gas station." But now that it's been stripped down to its essentials, I found it didn't hold up that well. If I want home style cooking, I'll make a trip to the farmer's market and whip myself up a fresh pasta that's not weighed down by heavy seasoning. Oh - but I may be back for the breadsticks. read more

Poor, poor Basil Leaf. They didn't know what they were in for when they announced they would be moving to the former Joe's Bakery location on 9th. I think they pictured a quiet opening with their dedicated gas station regulars. What they were met with, though, was not too dissimilar to the groups camping out before the Hanson concert last week -- but with more people. I finally had the chance to visit their fancy new location last night. It was 8 PM on a Monday, and the restaurant was at about 80% capacity. They have some bar seating, but we sat at a table in a corner. They only charge a $5 corking fee, so you can pick up a bottle at Jensen's next door and BYOW. Or you can just call ahead and get your food to go. And then eat it on the curb out front because when you have good food that close, how can you wait until you get home to eat it?! The service is lovely, the atmosphere is so, so, so pretty, but the food. The food, you guys. The best dang Italian food you can find this side of the Atlantic. I didn't have to wait very long because I came on a less popular night, but even on a busy night? Totally worth the wait. read more

Ate dinner there last night. The place was packed, but everyone on the staff seemed relaxed and happy to be working there. Food was great, portions were huge, costs were very reasonable. This is a great spot for date night, but plan accordingly -- it's very busy! Try the burnt sugar bacon rum cocktail. UNREAL. read more

First, The Basil Leaf Cafe has some of the best Italian food in Lawrence and I enjoy several of their dishes - notably the Cordon Bleu Tortellini, which is quirky comfort Italian that hits the spot. However, it's now twice that Basil Leaf has made a mistake with our carryout orders, and twice the owner or head chef has thrown a visible tantrum when we have pointed out the mistake to his staff. I understand mistakes happen, and I like the food, but making the customer feel like he or she is putting you out is not the way to incur repeat business. This happened Saturday, and I commend the hostess and the bar manager for fixing the mistake. Hopefully they did not incur the same icy stare and glare I received from the kitchen, and hopefully they weren't the victim of a similar owner tantrum like I saw, as he stormed back into the open-air kitchen and loudly threw the mistaken dish into the trash. I left feeling bad for those employees. I'm not the only person on yelp to express disappointment in the service that accompanies some of the best cuisine in Lawrence. Once is a mistake. Twice is a coincidence. Several of us is a trend. Good luck, Basil Leaf. read more

While we love to eat Italian, we cannot really go to many places because our son has horrible allergy issues. So we are mostly stuck with Olive Garden. However, last Saturday we went to Lawrence, and on a friend's recommendation decided to try our Basil Leaf Cafe. It was the best Italian we have had in a long, long time. The food was amazing, I ordered a spicy sea food penne and my son had a kid meatballs and spaghetti while hubby had a sandwich. All the food was personally and tasted yumm!!! Also the kitchen was in full view so we could actually see what food is being cooked. The decor is beautiful and they give mason jars for water, I loved that. This is truly a gem in Lawrence, do not miss it. read more

Fan-freaking-tastic food. Sure, everything in the restaurant isn't perfect (rum bacon cocktail was unreasonably sweet and where's the espresso machine?), but the kitchen packs one hell of a wallop. Unreasonably good cooking, pairing, and flavor palette. Wow. This is the kind of place you must try if you come to Lawrence. No reservations, but the wait on an early Saturday night was bearable. And absolutely worth it. Friendly staff. read more

Everytime I go here, I leave with exceeded expectations. I'll tell you why this place is awesome. 1)ambiance; this place has a cool rustic decor and although small, when you sit down to eat, you feel like your getting a good eating experience. (Personally I like a small place, I feel like I can have a conversation without yelling). 2) service; the service is exceptional, friendly and outgoing. Never have felt awkward or neglected. Everyone there has the attitude that they actually want to be there. 3) quality/quantity; the quality of the food here is amazing along with generous amounts of food to boot. I have been to this restaurant over 15 times and not once have I ever encountered any problems with the food served. Now for the recommendations! Appetizers! Definitely hit up the bruschetta (the balsamic dressing they serve is godly) If you're in for lunch, definitely hit up the meatball grinder...it's ridiculously tasty As for the pastas; mac n cheese is fulfilling and creamy Traditional spaghetti and meatballs is just how grandma use to make Cajun penne is spicy and delicious! Even the basil leaf burger is amazing, the seasoning is just right in my opinion... Did I mention they have a rotating lineup of cheese cakes?! SO GOOOODDDDD overall, I will continue to give this place my hard earned cash, and I won't even feel guilty spending $60 dollars for a dinner of two, because it's JUST THAT DAMN GOOD! read more

The new building sits in a row of shops on 9th Street not far from downtown and the University of Kansas campus. The decor is modern with a smattering of tables (about 8) in a room that could easily handle 12 or more. The arrangement of tables, bar, kitchen window and cash register is inefficient, appearing as though there really was not a plan in the first place. We sat at a table uncomfortably close to the front door and were quickly greeted and given menus. I ordered a glass of the house wine, a "primativo" that was aptly named being primitive and obviously cheap. At $6.00 a glass, I would not be surprised if the mark-up was in the 600% to 700% range. The glass was small and filled a little more than halfway, leaving four, maybe five, ounces ... I ordered the New England (the white variety) clam chowder, the tortellini cordon bleu, and a side of meatballs. After asking for water three times, my wife finally received hers, but I had to ask yet again to get mine, coming in a mason jar for some odd reason. This restaurant is apparently trying to find an identity with its' eclectic menu, modern decor, and new location, but they obviously have not figured it out yet. The soup finally arrived just seconds before our Having lived in Italy for three years and traveling there extensively over the years, I found that Italians would NEVER think of eating meat and pasta together. Basil Leaf's menu is not even close to authentic Italian. Meat loaf? Yes, Italians actually eat meat loaf, calling it "polpetone", literally "big meatball" (meatballs are called polpette in Italy). They eat meatballs too, but NEVER WITH SPAGHETTI! Spaghetti and other pasta dishes are called "primo piatto" or "first plate" and are also referred to as "primi" for short. Meat dishes fall into the "secondo piatto" or "second plate", aka "secondi" and are not brought to the table until the antipasto (appetizer) and primo have been consumed. Anyway, the New England clam chowder came in the smallest soup cup I had ever seen and was filled a little more than halfway. I asked the server if I could get some bread with my soup, but she said "the bread sticks come with your entree". Translation: "No, you cannot". Fortunately, the entrees arrived just seconds after I got my soup, so it did not take long to consume it and prepare for my oversize entree. I had heard good things about Basil Leaf's tortellini cordon bleu on Yelp, so I had to try it. The presentation was well done, being served in an oversize bowl (see photo). I love veal and schnitzel (pork cutlet) cordon bleu and this dish actually came close in terms of taste. Nontraditionally covered with a chicken cutlet (something you would never see in a classic Italian restaurant), the dish reminds me of a carbonara with ham and cheese added. It was delicious, but would have been better had it been served fresh from the pan and hot (warm). I finished half of the pasta, the lone bread stick (cut loose folks), and one of the three meatballs, leaving me a hearty dinner for the following night. The meatballs were excellent, having the correct consistency and seasoning and obviously homemade. Kudos to the chef! My wife ordered the "mac and cheese", another heaping helping of handmade pasta reminiscent of my Aunt Gina's chicatielli from Ariano, Irpino (Italy). The sauce was creamy and rich, but not overwhelmingly so. Being a native Italian born in Sicily, her palate is well honed when it comes to pasta, an Italian staple. She liked the mac and cheese even though there is no such recipe in her homeland. Basil Leaf Cafe left us unimpressed. Maybe it was because of the hype, maybe a bad night, time will tell. The pasta dishes, "starters", and salads are overpriced ($8 for a house salad?) as was the wine ($6 for 4 ounces of cheap wine). The decor needs some warming up, the tables could be rearranged to seat more customers or create a much needed waiting area (waiting customers now hover over tables of seated customers), the service sketchy, and the menu and food underwhelming. I spotted only two or three dishes on the limited menu that I would bother ordering, so our options for a return visit are already limited. There are enough "classic" Italian pasta sauce recipes to fill the menu twice over (carbonara, amatriciana, ragu, Bolognese, boscaiola, marinara, alfredo to name a few), so embrace something ... anything ... and create an identity in your decor, servers, and menu fit for a town that still does not have an Italian restaurant worthy of our custom. As an Italian-American married to an Italian (and, now, US) citizen, and having lived in Italy for 3 1/2 years and traveled there extensively, I know good Italian food when I see/ taste it ... Why this place gets 5 stars from so many Yelp reviewers is beyond me! CombatCritic Gives Basil Leaf Cafe 5 out of 10 Bombs ... Bombs are Good! read more

The Basil Leaf Cafe - New bar area - Italian Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

The food is fresh and delicious, they have a good wine selection, we've always had great service. We drive from out of town to eat there!