I was pleased with my first visit to the new location since Basil Leaf moved to Mass street! The new ambience is much moodier and more sophisticated than before, and service is still great. The menu was pretty similar to what I remembered, but I was sad to see that one of my favorites--deconstructed lasagne--is no longer on the menu. I had the spicy Cajun penne instead and it was really good--although maybe not QUITE as good as I remembered. This is definitely one of the nicer date-night places in town, and it's priced accordingly. You won't find any bottles of wine on the menu for less than $18, and entrees are near $20. But I'm very glad to have an Italian place like this in Lawrence! read more

What a delightful eating establishment. We had not eaten here before. The restaurant itself is beautiful. The service is impeccable. Our server made suggestions and was just so friendly and helpful. I had the chicken cordon bleu and the house salad. Both were exceptional. The bread is delicious. My dining companion had the mushroom risotto and said it was delicious. A perfect meal from start to finish. I cannot wait to try some of the other delicious sounding items on the menu. I am so happy to have found this gem. read more

Terrible management. Came with a group of 8 for my birthday. We had a reservation but the manager seated another group at our table right before our reservation slot. They kept telling us a little longer.... We got a table 90 minutes after our reservation time. Some of my companions asked to speak to a manager three times and she NEVER so much as talked to us. They did give us free apps and desserts. Then one of the girls found a huge hair in their food. Still manager wouldn't even speak to them. I used to really love it here. Our server was fantastic. Most of the food was good. Horrible management. It really ruined the rest of the night and we had to change other plans. read more

Did is so so, beautiful presentation, but tastes flat and plain. Had our salad, never offer cracked pepper Service was barely there on a week night, with not crowded indoor sitting, overall, won't go there again read more

My heart is broken. Back in 2018 or 2019, this restaurant was over on 6th Street (or was it 9th? I don't have a car and always get those two corridors confused...) Anyway, the food I ate at that location rocked my world, changed my life, haunted my dreams. The service was as attentive and personable as my favorite haunts in SF or New Orleans. Alas...I've had two meals at the larger, swankier Mass Street location and have finally accepted that it's a new day and a new way at The Basil Leaf Cafe. I'm glad lots of folks love it but for me, it's an unfortunate and unsatisfactory re-imagining. The service is still five-star but the food doesn't come close. read more

Could not sit in a decent sized table and the portions have gotten smaller and smaller

Visit the new location on Massachusetts Avenue! Attentive staff, although perhaps short staffed. This location brings more traffic than the previous location, and perhaps they need to staff up. This is an Italian Restaurant... and surprisingly the staff recommend non Italian dishes. The recommendation was the tender chicken cutlets on top of Risotto with charred Brussels sprouts. The chicken was tender indeed! Nicely flavored, and the risotto was perfect. They didn't have bubbly or ice tea.. and the wait was long for Diet Coke. My dining mate ordered the salmon and veggies... the plating was underwhelming. read more

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We have been faithful cash customers of this lovely little bistro since it was in a gas station! It was our favorite place for special meals. I ordered a scheduled pickup meal for our family after our moms celebration of life service. It was a special expensive splurge. Someone called from the restaurant 40 minutes before I was to pick up the order, did not leave a message. I called back and the person who answered did not know why I was called but said our food was ready early. I should have asked them to cook it all over. I rushed downtown to pick it up and found our order had been sitting there getting cold. The ticket was 70 minutes before I was scheduled to pick it up. Why? The restaurant was not busy. Cold gummy risotto, cold brussel sprouts, cold steak (had to ruin the medium rare texture to reheat it) and soggy cold chicken fingers with the breading falling off. If you microwave good food it changes the texture, if you reheat on stove it makes new dishes to wash, takes time and defeats the whole purpose of a nice hot takeout meal. Why? read more

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Super cute little place. All of the staff was super friendly. The food was fine but nothing amazing. Ordered calamari and fried ravioli. The calamari was chewy and fishy tasting so we sent it back. Do not recommend that. The ravioli was yummy. Shared 2 pasta dishes. The creamy basil chicken was very good but the pasta in the penne abruzzi was over cooked a bit and while the meatballs had good flavor they were a little tough. Overall, if you are in Lawrence looking for a cute little place to grab dinner, it'll do the trick. I will say I think the wine prices are great. Had a bottle of Franciscan Cab and it was only $30. Won't see that in KC! read more

Excellent meals: a little on the higher price in the area but worth the extra budget.

Seated immediately upon arrival. Server was friendly and attentive. We ordered chicken parm to share and it was plenty of food for the two of us! My seasonal mule also tasted great. read more

The Basil Leaf Cafe - Drink menu - Italian Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

We were drawn in by the ambience. Drinks were excellent but slow in coming. Server was nice and responsive. Food was mediocre. So much potential but chef needs education. read more

I came with a guest at 5:10, was seated by 5:15, but waited 15 minutes for any service. We were then greeted at 5:30 by an unwelcoming waitress who took more time talking to her peers than waiting on tables. To start, we ordered calamari for $11. I am not kidding when only 10 pieces were brought out. We asked our waitress if it was a full portion, to which she responded "let me get the manager". Although it wasn't terrible, it was not great. Our main entrees, the chicken tenders with risotto and Brussels sprouts ($18) and a large Caesar salad ($11) were not worth the price point. Could've used salt and pepper (which is not at that tables) Due to the poor service and condescending attitudes of those who do work here and the underwhelming food, we will not be returning or recommending Basil Leaf Cafe to anyone. read more

Are there early on New Year's Eve - Service, food and atmosphere were outstanding. Every dish was devoured and washed down with a wonderful wine. read more

What a great little spot. We got a little of everything last night. Calamari - excellent flavor and cooked perfectly. Split a Caesar salad - super fresh and crispy lettuce and the dressing was great. She got the penne abruzzi which we both loved and I got the lemon chicken tenders. The batter on the tenders is really unique and you get a great portion. Huge fan of the brussel sprouts as well. The meatballs in the pasta were full of flavor and the sauce was really tasty. It's hard to adequately explain how impressed we were by literally everything. Finally, a shout out to our server Amber. She was quick, attentive, gave great suggestions and is someone you can tell takes pride in where she works. The best server is the one you never find yourself needing and this girl was ON IT. Props. Well definitely be back. read more

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Not very busy ( non- home game) weekend. Good service and great ambiance. I read the other reviews first, and I thought maybe the average score was being drug down by complaints of bad service. Food is OK. Definitely Americanized Italian food. read more

We loved the new location! Fantastic dinner. The drinks were delicious as well. We enjoyed our experience. read more

The Basil Leaf Cafe - Italian Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

My father used to say "you could never go back." He did not mean that you literally could not return to a place physically. But the likelihood of re-creating the same experience with slim to none. That was my experience here at Basil Leaf Cafe. I was a student at Lawrence seven years ago and wrote a review at that time. They were located on ninth Street. So today when I was in town, I went back to a place that was familiar and learned that they are now located on Mass Street. That's exciting! I did not hesitate to go find them. My mom and I dined together. She had the chicken Parmesan, which was tasty. I had the pesto chicken penne, which left a lot to be desired. I was expecting a more cream-based sauce experience, and the pasta was dry and the chicken was tough. The garlic bread with very tasty. I ordered a side of Alfredo to try to make my dish a little better. It still was not a win for me. Service was just OK. Our server was polite, but did not come back often to make sure we were OK. She also took no customer service Even after, realizing that I was not enjoying my meal. It should've been quite clear by my attempt to add something to it, and certainly by the amount of food that I left on my plate. We were also completely turned off by the flies, which were quite pesky during our dining experience. It is an absolute beautiful restaurant. Perhaps Sunday at 4 PM just wasn't the best time. But I'm thrilled to see if they're still in business! read more

The Basil Leaf Cafe - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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We sat at the bar because the dining room was full, which was great. The bartender gave us suggestions on our food and then on a drink after we ate. We enjoyed visiting with her during the evening. The food was amazing. I had spaghetti and meatballs and my husband had Cajun pasta. We had plenty to take home for lunch the next day. We will definitely be going back! read more

Interior belies the quality of the food. Very nice, bright decor. Good music. Our waitress was very attentive. However, the food is meh and not worth the money. Would not go back read more

Their Italian and pasta dishes are delicious. Service was excellent and ambiance very nice.

We bought this beautiful $16 salad and we receive a tiny $4 side salad . I called to make sure this wasn't an error and told nope. read more

The Basil Leaf Cafe - Huge salad advertised - Italian Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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recently my son took his wife and two older kids to Basil Leaf . The food was mediocre at best, the so called service totally sucked ! It took over 10 minutes to get the food and then only 3 dinners came out...the fool ( waiter) forgot to include the boys dinner ! Still my son left a $20. tip in cash and gave the host a $10. cash tip. When my son got home and checked the credit card bill, the sneaky waiter added a $20. tip for himself....?! Dang ! this place is really bad ! I'd not recommend it to anyone ! read more

Always a great meal. Until they change the salmon and risotto. Too, the salmon drowning in a salty puree. Either plate the salmon with a small bed of puree with asparagus. Or, bring back the salmon and risotto. The brussel sprouts appetizer was wonderful. The tortellini cordon blue was very much on point. I will give 4 stars because I do really like this restaurant. Very close to being a 3 star review. read more

We've been customers since opening day in the original location, however after our last two experiences I just can't recommend them anymore. They've changed the breadsticks...those amazing breadsticks. Why? Why would you do that? My wife had the lemon chicken tenders. If there was any lemon, it was overwhelmed by the burnt chicken. It was fried longer than Tommy Chong. Overcooking was the theme tonight. I had the lobster fettuccine that came with rubberized lobster. At least the pasta was cooked perfectly. read more

TERRIBLE SERVICE !!! The food was okay. But the service was absolutely terrible. I have never seen a general manager be so rude and condescending. I will never be going back. To Dayna the GM, I think you need a new profession . Customer service isn't for you. To Brandon Graham the owner, I would definitely be looking for a new GM. Your employees had to keep apologizing for her and also said this isn't the first time she has "acted" in such a way. read more

A restaurant is only as good as your full experience. The food was amazing and I was excited to go back. I live in Kansas City so driving to Lawrence for a restaurant is kind of a big deal. No matter how good the food is, the staff can ruin your experience. Typically you'd go to the manager for issues.... rarely, if ever, is it the manager who acts like a toddler when interacting with customers. Complete disbelief with how she handled a simple situation that could have been a kind conversation. It truly makes me wonder how she handles other interactions and how she treats her employees. I can tell you right now, I'd never work for someone with that attitude, it would make for a toxic work environment. read more

Meh, would summarize it good. Service below average. Atmosphere above average. Calamari uses beer batter. Salad was good. Pasta sauce was very watery and the meal was extremely salty. read more

The food was wonderful. Staff very attentive to our needs and making sure to make our date night extra special!

Not only is their food wonderful, but they are so so so kind here ! It's a small restaurant, so game days or weekends might be hard to find a table ... but as long as you call ahead you're in for a treat ! Reminds me of Italy :) read more

The Basil Leaf Cafe - a plate of pasta and a sandwich - Italian Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

This is my first review in 15 years of using yelp. My groups (14) experience was the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. Specifically it took over 45 minutes from placing our order to getting our first plates and they trickled in over the next 15 minutes. Three of the dishes with eggs were so burnt we thought they added dark mushrooms. Several orders of fettuccini were cool to the touch. The toast was so hard it would probably cut up your mouth. 10 of the 14 plate weren't eaten. The manager took off three meals from the bill, imo should have been more... read more

Go where the locals go is what I always say, so when people kept steering me toward the Basil Leaf Cafe for Italian food, I finally took their suggestions and stopped in them other night. The space is intimate yet casual with a tiny bar tucked in the back corner and wooden tables for the seating area. There was a weird smell as we entered which made me feel the exhaust fans weren't pulling hard enough, but I got used to that soon enough. Our server was nice, letting us know what they were out of that night and steering us toward a couple of her favs on the menu. We went with the pork belly and Brussels sprouts and the aranchini which both were amazing! For my entree, I had spaghetti with meatballs and my dining companion went with the chicken and tortellini. The serving sizes are large so know you will have plenty to take home for another meal. What surprised,me ( in a very good way) was the beautiful way that they plated this food. I didn't expect to see that in a restaurant like this. Take a look at the pics I posted and you'll see what I mean. Great food, reasonable prices and served in a friendly environment? That's the Basil Leaf Cafe. Check it out! read more

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Excellent dining in Lawrence. Ambience and convenience. And excellent service and food! We love it!

Ordered risotto and was given a short- grained rice dish that was def not Arborio. Very little flavor. Friend's fettuccine Alfredo was solidly congealed on the plate. Crostini was okay but bread was not toasted. Very few people eating when we were there. Service was good, no complaints, but food needs to improve or business will suffer. read more

I ordered the Lemon Basil Mule, it was very strong to say the least. I wish there was more kick from the ginger beer, but well worth the price paid. I like the vintage vibe from the recycled wine bottle chandelier to the wooden bench we sat on. It was small, but the right people know how much of a gem Basil Leaf is. This is my second time in 3 years eating here, and the quality hasn't skipped a beat. I should definitely come back more often, I just wish I thought of more reasons because it seems so upscale, but always a laid back chill vibe. The Caesar salad was perfectly dressed with fresh shredded Parmesan cheese, and homemade croutons. The shrimp scampi was absolutely amazing. The sauce was fresh and light, along with the mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers! I got the tiramisu for dessert and it was perfectly made. I'm not fond of coffee at all, but this was the first tiramisu I took a second and third bite of. Although the chocolate cake was dry, it would've been better if served if a scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate drizzle. read more

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Such a delicious meal. The pasta was amazing and I had plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day. The dessert was wonderful as well! read more

The Basil Leaf Cafe - Cajun Penne - Italian Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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So good we came back 2 days later. Great service delicious food couldn't ask for more. Highly recommend.

AMAZING FOOD! I had the lemon chicken over a bed of risotto with banana pepper cream sauce and a side of brussels sprouts. We went on a Friday night without a reservation as we had just arrived to town for a weekend away. We were lucky enough to snag two seats at the bar with no wait. Unfortunately, we felt pretty neglected at the bar. Our initial drink, appetizer and food order was put in and was brought to us in an appropriate amount of time. However, no one took our small app plates even when our food came so the bar became very crowded. Additionally, after our food came, no one checked in to see how everything was tasting or offered any drink refills. We had to flag someone down to get to go boxes and our check. It is a very small venue so I would highly recommend a reservation. read more

The Basil Leaf Cafe - Lemon Chicken Entree - Italian Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

It was awful. My entree was FULL of garlic! Other entrees overloaded on spices. Toasted raviolis were over done! My daughter ordered the spaghetti with NO meatballs was was charged full price $17!! Outrageous! They did nothing to accommodate- we barely ate and are hungry - going to find descent food. And the bartender sucked too! Such a waste of money!!! Not once did a manager come around to ask how our meal was - that in itself speaks VOLUMES!!! I eaten all over the world and this place is awful!! read more

Wow. Was just at the restaurant on 9/9/23 with a bridal shower and the manager Dana was so rude. We were waiting on checks when Dana came over and told us we need to get up and leave. When asked who told her to ask us that she said the manager. She is the manager so she absolutely portrayed herself falsely initially. We were never told we only had an hour and 45minutes for our table when it was booked. Have never had such terrible service and respect when it comes to a manager. Will never go back unless I hear that manager is gone. Felt extremely bad that staff were having to apologize for her. Staff were great except Dana. Honestly after that we shouldn't have even had to pay. read more