Wow, Basilico, you have really fallen off! We haven’t been here in ages, but we thought we would give the new«take-out» menu a try. Oof. I had a bad feeling when the person on the phone asked if the«Grilled Egpplant» appetizer was on the menu. We ordered Salmon Piccata and Chicken Piccata, both with mashed and veggies. All I can say is, if you want a mediocre Italian entrée made with frozen food, for take out, just stick with Gian Marco and La Strada. No reason to spend extra money at this place. I used to like Basilico, but if they can’t get their act together I hope they close soon and a decent place moves into that space. I’m quite capable of microwaving food myself, I order from a restaurant to get something better.
Mike P.
Tu valoración: 3 Livingston, NJ
I was expecting a very solid meal. What I got was decent, but nothing more than that. Given their price point, especially given that they’re a BYO, they should be doing a much better job in all aspects of food and service. The tuna tartare was boring as could be. The octopus was properly prepared and flavorful. A true winner. Unfortunately, it was the only winner of the evening. Rack of lamb milanese would have been better off cooked as a full rack then sliced. Unfortunately it was separated, breaded and fried which may have worked if it were not completely overcooked. Braised short ribs featured one on-the-money and one tough, chewy shoe leather. Decent flavor, in the preparation, but one inedible rib was a major disappointment. Scallops were more of the same. Some cooked to perfection – some overcooked and rubbery. The chocolate tasting was fun. It would have been nice had our servers taken so much as a moment to explain what was what on the plate. In fact, aside from the bus staff replenishing the water fairly regularly, the service was quite subpar. Servers did not check on anything. When the food arrived, they had to ask who had ordered what. That doesn’t fly at a «finer» restaurant. It was far too difficult to track down the wait staff to ask for just about anything – in fact it was tough to order apps, mains, dessert, etc. Even getting the check was a chore. Uneven food. Tedious service. In North Jersey and Millburn, there are far better Italian restaurants offering better more consistent food and service. It’s not bad. It’s simply overpriced given their issues with food and service considering the competition.
Edmund M.
Tu valoración: 3 Chatham, NJ
Still good but feels like it’s slipping a bit. Not so excited to go anymore. I’ll be going elsewhere since parking in the area is no easy feat. So sad…
Shakirah S.
Tu valoración: 5 Montclair, NJ
Very nice casual restaurant parking lot in the back if your lucky. Good food quick service, this is a BYOB. Definitely will return next time better company though. Lol
Nancy L.
Tu valoración: 2 Wayne, NJ
The ambiance is casual and comfortable. The wait staff was nice enough but they made us feel hurried-no doubt being encouraged to move things along. Despite no one waiting for a table and empty ones available, it was clear that we were being encouraged to leave. The food was nothing special. The salad was nice, but laden with a bit too much dressing. We had specials-one a lobster pasta dish and a lemon sole. The sole smelled fishy and was overwrought with cut potatoes and tomatoes and broccolini(I think that’s what is was). It was under seasoned and bland. The lobster dish was okay. The dessert, a peach, cream and phyllo concoction was good. Given the varied reviews, I wonder if the differences are related to the chef of the day or the menu items chosen. I guess I would have to go back to know!
K S.
Tu valoración: 4 Millburn, NJ
Basilico is a really great Italian restaurant in downtown millburn. It’s pretty pricy but has really good food. It’s packed on the holidays and on some weekends. Overall this restaurant is really good and I did not give it 5 stars because of prices.
Kenneth G.
Tu valoración: 3 Millburn, NJ
It is good Italian food in a beautiful ambiance in Millburn. I think we have all heard that about a lot of restaraunts in Millburn. I have been here a couple times and enjoyed myself each time but nothing stood out to me. The wait staff didn’t make you feel at home or give me any special feeling to go with the ambiance. I left satisfied, but nothing I have ever eaten here made me say«wow I need to come back here again.» Especially with so much competition. If you are looking for super romantic on a Saturday you should certainly come here. We took my girlfriend’s mom here for her birthday and she enjoyed it. We got the muscles in white wine sauce, unfortunately a couple too many of them were still closed. She got the black linguini for dinner which looked really neat, but the taste was nothing special. I got the pasta with sausage, the sausage was really spicy but the pasta sauce could have used more umph. Millburn has a lot of Italian places. Millburn has a lot of spots with nice ambiances. If you go here on a Saturday night you will be satisfied, but make sure you explore town before deciding to make a second trip here. Millburn has so much to explore and I don’t know if this place is worth skipping your first time at a different spot. Don’t get me wrong though, you will be satisfied if you go here. They have a nice outdoor garden area but so far each time I have been there it has been closed for private parties. It’s BYO like pretty much every other spot in Millburn, and you can also get a bottle there if you forget which is convenient.
Maria R.
Tu valoración: 3 Ossining, NY
3 of us went here last night to celebrate our friends birthday. We sat in their ‘garden’ which left a bit to be desired as far as ambience goes. We ordered apps from both their daily specials and menu which were very good. And 2 out of 3 of our entrees were good, the skirt steak was fatty and not too great. I snuck out after entrees to find a staff member to ask about putting a candle in our dessert. The first person I came across was our busboy, I asked him in English but he just stared at me so I tried again in Spanish and he seemed to get it… guess not. All he did until the unadorned dessert arrived was make goo-goo eyes at me. The birthday girl was a bit let down and I was a bit disgusted. Anyway, I would definitely give Basilico another chance, just not on a Monday
Steve T.
Tu valoración: 5 Short Hills, NJ
Best Italian food in Millburn. Fresh seafood and signature Italian dishes! I recommend the Osso Bucco, lasagna and tuna tartare!
Caroline L.
Tu valoración: 3 Millburn, NJ
Classy BYO, and hit or miss food. Food: First, they had a TON of specials. So much so it could have been another menu, and I would have remembered more if it was listed out in front of me. I had the L’Ossobuco, which is their specialty. The Veal was done well, fork tender. The bone marrow was nice too. The pasta was a bit dry — maybe the sauce could have been draped over it. The short rib was perfect though. Wish I had gotten that. BYO — and no corkage fee. Bread basket and things to dip the bread in were good. They went beyond the traditional olive oil and had some roasted peppers and other things to dip in.
Andrea S.
Tu valoración: 5 Short Hills, NJ
We liked it so much the first time that we wanted to come back the next week. We love the ambience, low light and soft music, the restaurant is decorated with style. Bread plate is delicious, be aware it can stuff you, especially with their tomato spread. Service is very attentive. Food quality is excellent, Italian food which is really italian quality. The soup we tried was phenomenal. The short ribs as well. Even plate presentation is excellent. I was a little so and so for the black ink spaghetti, but they were ok. So far the best restaurant in Millburn ‘downtown’
Bbq B.
Tu valoración: 2 Woodbridge, NJ
Such a nice place but such disappointing food. Caesar Salad had a very very odd taste maybe excessive mustard. Fusilli pasta with Cauliflower had little taste, not much cauliflower and the pasta itself was cooked way less than al-dente. Pizza had a thin crust but was dense and chewy. It also had the taste of an overly rich sauce and of being over-cooked. Cobb Salad, had a tasteless dressing along with being oily. Desserts were nice looking on the plate but were UN-remarkeable. Even the Diet Coke had a problem with carbonation and flavoring.
Gabi S.
Tu valoración: 4 Millburn, NJ
This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the area. They have a lot of traditional Italian dishes, but offer their own twist on others, which are delicious. It is a bit difficult to get reservations on the weekends, but it is definitely worth a try! And it’s BYOB, although they do also offer wine.
G B.
Tu valoración: 5 Springfield Township, NJ
I had the penne vodka, bruschetta and fried zucchini. all very good! my parents had fettuccine Alfredo, I had some too. we loved it. it’s not on the menu but they can make it. they also gave us plain bread that was awesome! it was all for take out. I love this place. a bit pricey but worth it!
Michelle L.
Tu valoración: 4 Livingston, NJ
I’ve always enjoyed a good meal at Basilico. Their menu is very creative and I usually end up ordering something I normally wouldn’t find at another restaurant. The ambiance here is great. I especially love the warm feeling you get on a cold winter night. The lights, the hues, and the overall décor makes this place seem fancy, yet understated. It’s totally casual but it makes you feel like you’re out to a special meal. The food is very good and they take great care with their presentation. I always enjoy their salads, especially the beet and goat cheese. The mussels are great and so is the tuna tartare. I usually get a seafood dish here because the fish is always fresh and perfectly cooked. The pasts dishes with shellfish are also a fave. Recently, my husband got the short ribs which were amazing. I would never order short ribs but it really made me want to! Service is always good; friendly and attentive to making sure your glass is full and you’re not waiting on something. BYOB and takes OpenTable reservations.
D. G.
Tu valoración: 2 Short Hills, NJ
The food here is so average. The ricotta ravioli were clearly frozen and really not good at all. The dining room is nice and the service is pretty good but the food really isn’t.
Louis S.
Tu valoración: 5 Clark, NJ
I am a subscriber to the Papermill Playhouse and eat here at least once a month. The food is always top notch with the service being just as good. I almost always have one of their specials which are always different. Desert has to be a soufflé which is the best I ever had. This is most certainly a keeper.
Jim S.
Tu valoración: 4 Short Hills, NJ
Been here for years. Great food. BYOB and higher quality food make for a very enjoyable experience. Try to sit in the garden outside, very nice. Osso Buco in fall and winter is great. Good risotto and pasta dishes as well.
M J.
Tu valoración: 3 Short Hills, NJ
We don’t enjoy restaurant experiences when the tables are so close together that the people seated next to you are only a few inches away. At one point, the people next to us stopped talking and were both listening to my friend as she softly spoke about her vacation, the atmosphere is not to my liking. Food was good but not great. BYO place
Shari A.
Tu valoración: 4 Livingston, NJ
Two words: Consistently good. There is no shortage of Italian restaurants in Northern NJ and they range from inexpensive pizza joints to high end northern and southern Italian restaurants. Few, however, deliver the same quality and service whether you’re looking for a simple lunch, a quiet more upscale dinner for two or fabulous group dining experience like Basilico. We love the BYO option here as well. The menu offers plenty of options and they have seasonal specials that they literally plan daily as of 4:30pm each day. Their salads are delicious, grilled seafood spot on, meat preparations done almost to perfection each time… and their desserts are really delectable. The squid ink pasta frutti di mare is for sure a winner every time. The servers will make great recommendations and let you know which pastas are homemade. We have even ordered take out and it has always been really good. I am constantly amazed how good the entrees are to go! If there are any knocks to one of our favorite go-to Italians in the area, they are that the creativity factor isn’t exactly soaring off the charts and the service/food can be occasionally spotty on a very busy Saturday night. They also could use a larger space because the locals all know this is the best place in town!