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Basil Leaf Cafe
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- None
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- 407 reviews
- Neighborhood:
- Embarcadero
"I LOVE THIS PLACE! I have been coming here for awhile and it is most certainly one of my faves. One can definitely taste freshness and…" read more »
17 reviews for Basil Leaf Cafe
Mom and I shared a wonderful shawarma here-we both agree it was deeelicous! Nice and spicy too!
I was a bit confused when ordering, I thought I was ordering a combo plate with a shawarma and two sides (I chose dolma and baba ghanouj) but realized it was rice with meat on top-not the shawarma I was expecting.
No biggie!!
The owner was very generous and told me the shawarma was coming right up! The blond lady working next to him made sure I was convinced it wasn't a big deal as I waited for my food. They were really nice and the food was really good.
It's a way better deal than most spots in this neighborhood! Totally recommend for anyone who works in this area and is sick of Sai's.
I've walked by this place a thousand times and never stopped in 'cause I am true blue to Hadi's Cafe on Battery. Today I didn't feel like walking down to Hadi's, so came in here for a med fix.
Place is very casual and small - nice brick walls, high ceilings. I ordered a kefta wrap to go from the nice men behind the counter. And I waited and waited for about 15 minutes until it was finally ready. In all fairness, it looks like I arrived just after a couple of four-tops got there, and since everything is prepared fresh on the spot, it takes a little time.
Just as I had paid and was ready to leave, I noticed the owner removing and eating a piece of chicken from a plate he was just about to serve to a customer. That really grossed me out, and I did not enjoy my kefta wrap AT ALL. The kefta had a weird taste, was a combo of undercooked AND burnt. Oh, and the wrap had a pickle in it. WTH is that all about?
Hadi's, I'll see you tomorrow.
A clean simple lunch spot that serves a variety of wraps. I had the Basil Delight which had turkey, avocado , lettuce and other veggies. The turkey, while as turkey is, was dry as expected but with fresh taste. The wrap was simple but good. Also had a carrot juice which was pretty good!
Like the decoration, high ceiling with exposed brick walls as the sun shines in on a lazy Friday.
Solid med food with friendly service. This site is full of haters sometimes.
Geo remains of the best finds in the downtown lunch scene. I wasn't so overwhelmed with the food (splitting the A-OK veggie wrap and roasted turkey wrap with my always game sis), but the service continues to stand out. Before I could even ask, Geo offered hummus instead of yogurt in my wrap (yes please), and cut both wraps in half so my sister and I could share. The man is clearly paying attention to the happiness of his customers. Consider me happy.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/11/2009
My second attempt at a blueberry yogurt parfait at Basil Leaf was much more successful than the… Read more »
I'd have to grade the shawarma wrap here just below those at Oasis Grill on Drumm St; but light-years better then the crap served up at Ali Baba's Cave...
The owner is an absolute gentleman...
I really tried.
I really tried because they're really trying. Unfortunately, which ultimately led to this poor review, the lunches from here have become too trying.
I've given the falafel numerous chances to win me over. It has only succeeded in grabbing my fleeting attention.
I've given their hummus numerous chances to join the ranks of other places' hummus offerings and...quite frankly I love hummus...I eat it almost every other day...this was an easy one...but nope.
The last straw...the schwarma options. I was not only let down...but sorely disappointed.
I haven't had the kebobs...but why keep putting myself through this...it's like giving that hot girl chance after chance but she just truly is an idiot and a slob...sure she looked nice...but that doesn't fill up the heart. This is the case here...crazy beautiful location, mad clean inside, great staff, quick service...but nothing to offer my heart.
Pretty decent kabob, not enough meat. Some tzatziki sauce/sour cream would have been nice also.
Rice was good.
Bacony delicious!!
Where, what, who?! I am talking about the lone focus of this review, the soups at Basil Leaf. Three cheers for Basil Leaf's restaurant reincarnation as a bacon infused soup paradise. Let me adorn myself with fig leaf and dance in your Eden.
$4 gets you a pint or so of soup. Usually they have a white bean soup, but today it was lentil. I've seen chicken-rice and potato-leek on the menu too, but I went straight for the beans and lentils. Why, because legumes bring the pork. Both soups pack a smoky bacon note that would convert disciples of Kosher & Vegetarian food-dogmas into piousless pork procurers.
Seriously, soup that leads to food anarchy has to be worth a 5 star review. Does it not?
This place was resurrected about a month ago. I'm glad they returned after the building was renovated. The new/old space has a charming blend of bricky Barbary Coast and modern hipness.
Service is very friendly. I had the Basil Leaf wrap, which is basically a pesto salad with slice(s) of peach wrapped in a tortilla. The wrap itself was a bit tough, but I think it was because I came for a super late lunch.
They serve a mainly Mediterranean-based lunch, and also have some items for breakfast.
Next time I'll be back to try it out during the main lunch rush. Welcome back Basil Leaf!
I discovered this place yesterday and i ordered the beef kabab, it was delicious! so good i came back today and had the same thing for lunch. Greatly recommended, cute clean place. The older gentlemen that works there or owns the place is VERY nice and courteous. Great people, great service and good food!
One of the best little gems to reappear in the FiDi/Jackson Square area...after 11 am. They were closed for a few years for renovation, and opened their doors just a month or so ago. Inside, you are greeted by Paul, the little Greek owner, and his wife (Anna?). Both are beyond happy and friendly, ready to chat while their busy hands move over the delicious food in front of you.
First time I went there was for lunch, which I got a Greek salad pita. I (of course) wanted to tweak what was offered, and Paul walked with me in stride, adding humus, extra feta, peppercinis (way to my heart), olive tapenade, romaine, fresh tomatoes, tabuli spread, tahini spread and their version of tzatki. Wow, talk about heaven. Paul made sure to grill the pita bread beforehand, which gave the sandwich this great crunch. All in all, a perfect sandwich.
So why four stars and not five? I went back for breakfast a week or so later, on the prompting of my sweetie. They had a much more basic menu, with bagel as the only starch (what, no english muffin? boo). I had a bagel, egg and cheese sando (read: hangover). The egg was very over cooked and spiced, the cheese was not melted on the eggs over the burner, but just placed on top (big time pet peeve of mine) and the bagel was just too big. I will definitely have to stick to Manhattan Hub for my morning after breakfast sando.
Come here after 11 am, and have one of the best pitas imaginable!
Basil Leaf is a clean and friendly spot for Mediterranean food in the FiDi - another good addition to my list of places to hit for good falafel. My friend enjoyed their chicken shwarma, too. I prefer falafel wrapped in lavash rather than in a pita, so Basil Leaf was spot on. Mostly I was impressed that the lavash wrap was fresh and grilled to have just the right level of crispiness, and everything inside was, of course, fresh and good.
Prices were good - I think my sandwich and a snapple came out to about $8.00. That's not cheap, but its not bad for downtown. The staff was friendly and it seems like the owners are probably working there, so at least you know you're supporting good hard-working people. It's only a block from my office, and I'll definitely be back for the falafel.
This place is just aight. I wanted to love it because this food is so right up my alley. But, something was missing. Needs some heat. Maybe if you ordered extra spicy or something it would be better. Not the worst option in the neighborhood by any means though! Big portions, you could probably share...
Just tried this place today becase I took a late lunch and being a pre-holiday day several other places were already closed up. It will be a new normal lunch spot for me. Very friendly service. Nice unique menu for the area. Very tasty chic shwarma. Will be trying some of their different wraps next time, everything on the menu sounded good. Definitely check it out if you're in the area.
I am very surprised that this place has a 4-star rating even if there are only 4 reviews so far. The name of the restaurant sounds more like a thai restaurant, but I guess that's less important than the sub-par food. I've only had lunch once and breakfast once but won't be back. I was not impressed by the falafel wrap and my bagel + cream cheese was just ordinary / conventional. I'll stick to the Jackson Cafe for my bagel fix.
This place isn't great but it's better than other Med. food places in SF. The wraps aren't large think pita types but okay tasting.
