Bastas Trattoria
410 NW 21st Ave
Portland, OR 97209 (503) 274-1572
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
10 Reviews for Bastas Trattoria
I am really teetering on this one... Basta's is just so... Meh!
I'll stick with 3 stars, because the bartender was nice...
I have stayed away from Basta's for a long long time. In fact, this past weekend was the first time I ever went in!
My drink was OK, the orange garnish was way too big.
My Cesar salad was also just OK, these dressing was weird and tasted buttery. In a bad way!
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Here's my thoughts from Happy Hour with work:
Can't pronounce what I ate, much less spell it.
I mostly enjoyed what I ate, even though I didn't know what it was.
I ordered another beer, but it never came; the waitress was that overwhelmed.
I'm glad I went, even gladder I didn't have to pay. Thank you expense accounts!
Probably won't go back, especially with the wife. It's funny how being a vegetarian in this town can be such a challenge some times...
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I love what you've done with an old Tasty Freeze! The outside scared me just a touch... I mean, it's got that whole crappy-chain look, but inside it's adorable - the wine bottles lined up behind the bar, the brightly colored peppers and fruits as decor on the bar-top, the colors of the walls, and the overall feel. Going back to the bathroom was fun - there are huge velvety curtains along the way, and I felt a little like a kid trying to peek behind some mysterious hidden secret passageway. Alas, it's just the hallway to the bathroom, but still fun if you use your imagination a little - or just have a glass (or two, or) of wine from their fairly decent selection.
We had the gnocchi, the meat and cheese plate, and the calamari. All were wonderful. We also had some egg-shaped ball of rissoto filled witih some goodies, and then fried - yum. The gnocchi was definitely different, and tasted mostly like butter and parmesan cheese, but what's wrong with that? Overall good experience - dug the atmosphere, dug the food, dug the wine, and of course, the great company doesn't hurt. Coffee at the end was also lovely... um, is it lunch time yet?
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Perhaps I should try their brunch and see what I get then. However, for dinner; the food was mediocre, the price was high, and the service left something to be desired.
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I'm editing my review of Basta's, upgrading to 5*, based on my last few experiences. We did a weekend brunch that was fabulous. Then we attended their recent prosecco party. Tonight we did HH (after being rejected by Uptown Billiards Club - see my downgraded review of them) and had a great Caesar, carpaccio and a Margarita pizza. Yum. Fabulous food and service!
Three words: Calamari alla Griglia. Dry rubbed with oregano, grilled and served on a bed of Beluga lentils. BY FAR the best version of calamari I've ever had.
The specials are consistently good. I had a whole flash-fried sea bass and my wife had a lamb shank. Both were excellent (the lamb shank was in the "best ever" category). The ginger cake dessert was perfect too. I've had less luck with their pasta dishes and I tend to avoid them. There's plenty to choose from nevertheless.
We have had excellent service in the past. Last night's was of the 3* variety. Sent back a glass of red wine due to the cork particle floaters and got a 2nd glass with the same. Pointing this out to our waitress brought a "Did you taste it? Maybe it's okay." She also spent too much time setting tables that would not be needed that evening rather than settling our check. I've been to Bastas for large events and had excellent service. I've been on slow and average nights and had the same. So hopefully last night was an aberration.
Yes, Bastas can be loud, especially with large groups present or during special dinners. They could also expand their by the glass wine list. I'll keep returning though.
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A nice solid Italian restaurant that I've eaten at for years. Because they have been around for a while, they aren't so new and so popular you can't get a table. The interior is nice and dark (the way I like it), although it can be a bit loud with the concrete floors. The decor is slightly dated but still looks nice.
The specials tend to be the thing to order--fresh, nice flavors, and generally delicious. The calamari appetizer and the Uncle Vittori's Ragu are other solid standbys. I have not tried the cocktails but generally have been happy with the wine. The service can be hit-or-miss. Sometimes I get a really friendly attentive server, and other times service is very slow which doesn't always equate to how full the restaurant is. Fairly reasonable prices, but they could probably come down just a bit given their competition in town, and random service. Very conveniently located on 21st Ave in NW Portland.
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I went with my boyfriend and we were immediately whisked to a corner which was surrounded by two parties of 6 + who were extremely loud. When we asked to be moved, the waiter couldn't hear us and we had to repeat ourselves three times.
They told us the quiet section by the bar was closed (even though we saw people eating there upon our departure). We were moved to a slightly quieter place and the loud parties eventually moved on.
I ordered the skirt steak, which started out great, then I noticed that the meat was still quivering with life. I am an avid believer in medium rare steaks, but this was really rare. The side greens looked as though they were grilled alfafa sprouts and tasted like cow feed. Everything was dripping in oil. My boyfriend ordered a vegetable platter with cheese, which was equally disappointing because of the onslaught of oil and lack of flavor. The table bread was a heavy focaccia bread, again flavorless.
The service was curt and the food was horrible. My new name for this place is Basta Barfa. Don't waste your money.
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I was not too excited about my Bastas experience. The actual restaurant decor was interesting, and the bar area was kinda neat. The food was unimpressive, although I have always heard good things about it. Forget it if you are a vegetarian. The service was the kicker though... it was abysmal. I found it loud (even though the place was only half full) and uncomfortably stiff. Call me a slacker that poses as a yuppie - I really felt unwelcome.
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Many years ago I used to go to Basta's rather frequently because they had my favorite dish on the menu: Putanesca with penne pasta and grilled chicken. And then all of a sudden they did a remodel and the menu changed and, poof, my Putanesca was removed from the menu.
I craved the Putanesca (a spicy marinara with kalamata olives and capers) and every time I passed Basta's I hoped and prayed the chef would finally realize his mistake and bring it back. But that never happened.
I tried other Italian restaurants and ordered the Putanesca but it was never the same. And then I had a bright idea...I would make a special request for the chef's specialty even though it was no longer on the menu. I had to beg and plead with the waiter to ask the chef, and when he finally did, the waiter came back and exclaimed how excited the chef was to finally make the Putanesca again.
Okay, so I made up that last part, but it added the finishing touches to my story. But my point is still the same. Although the Putanesca is not on the menu, it's an amazing dish the chef will gladly make if you put in a special request. Whew...that was a long story!
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Fantastic food; mediocre service.
I highly recommend any specials they have on the menu. I had the gnnochi with pork medallions and my friend had their Uncle Vitorio's. The food was fantastic however the service left a bit to be desired. I ordered a sparkling wine to start and they served it room tempurature which is a NO -- NO in my book. The rest of the wine selections were wonderful and well priced.
I went here on a whim for our monthly dinner date with my friend. It was a rainy night and they sat me way in the back which wasn't a problem while I waited. My friend sat at the bar waiting for me; it took nearly twenty minutes for them to realize that he was who I was waiting for. The owner did come by our table to say hi and ask about our food but its not like I'm going to say anything to him while were at the table.
If you go; expect the food to be great and don't get upset when the service isn't. Just enjoy it and be prepared to take your time.
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