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Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in the South Bay. I resort to The Basin when I want something slightly fancy but definitely cozy and then leaving with a happy and full tummy.
I'm *never* disappointed when I come here. I don't get to go here very often, and when I do come I remember why it's my favorite place... The service and food is superb! :)
It's located in a quaint area (Big Basin Way) and the decor of The Basin is warm and cozy. Though it's set up to be a more intimate setting, it's pretty casual. You can dress up or dress down.
I always go for the Thick Hand Cut NY Steak.. and I *love* it every time. The Wild Mushroom Rigatoni is amazing. Honestly, I haven't ordered something I didn't like. On top of that, they have my favorite wine.. Steven Kent Cab Sav..
Ah, I think I'm overdue for a visit..
Bottom line: Yet another WIN.. WIN... WIN!! :)
HEADLINE: Good, but not as fantastic as all the Yelpin' goin' on here ... maybe just an off night? Maybe not.
Wifey, me and a close friend hit this joint this past Saturday evening. While Open Table only had a 7:45 PM reservation available on line, when I appealed to the restaurant on the phone, the reservation taker was more than happy to accommodate our 7:00 PM request.
While great to do so, the price of the perfect time slot was being banished to the back room where several large tables had been assembled for the overflow crowd. I think the back room lacks the ambiance and energy and 'coziness" that the front of the restaurant has ... a bit disappointing, especially when we were leaving the place and walking back out the front door ... completely different feel and energy level.
We were quickly seated and water / bread immediately appeared as did our waiter who was more than happy to take two bottles of Rombauer Chard off my hands (corkage fee of $20 was quite reasonable), cork the first one, and place the second into an ice bath ... very nice ... not snobbish at all about bringing in our own ... especially since their list didn't appear to have this particular wine available.
Our waiter had a great sense of humor (all too missing this day and age) ... looking at me with two gorgeous ladies at the table ... and two bottles of wine ... 'two women, two bottles of great wine, one for each', he mentioned ... 'you know how to roll, man!' ... it cracked us all up.
Hearing the specials we dove into ordering up some small plates to begin ... of course the much-touted-here Truffle Fries were in order, as were the Garlic Shrimp and the Clams in Wine Broth ... all to be shared ... which, on our tiny little table became an exercise in space management ... but we survived.
The Frittes are everything already commented upon ... absolutely fabulous ... subtle, perfectly fried and salted ... perfect. It turned out to be the best plate of the evening, in my humble opinion ... somewhat unfortunately. But these simply should not be missed!
The Garlic Shrimp were a little over-doused with the garlic sauce ... I had one or two but did not think them to be memorable.
The Clams, likewise, while good-sized, and PLENTY of them, just didn't excite the palate as much as I had hoped. Even the much-lauded broth was simply OK in my book ... no, they were better than OK, they were good ... but simply not up the the hyped expectations I had of this little place.
While we scoffed the plates, our waiter kept the perfect balance of hovering and topping our wine glasses ... neither a stalker ... nor an ignorer (if there is even such a word) ... perfect balance in his attention all night. We were allowed to get well through our small plates before ordering main courses ... again, a nice touch.
We ordered up the Wild Mushroom Rigatoni, the Dungeness Crab Pasta and one of what I believe was the evening's special which I can't remember ... it was a bunch of shellfish in a puff pastry.
My Mushroom Rigatoni was very good, the wife thought it was the best plate of the evening. Very earthy and rich, the not so subtle flavors almost made me believe I had a meat sauce in the dish ... it was that robust and flavorful. The pasta was done al dente ... all in all, a dish worthy of the hype. Massive generous portions here, especially after experimenting with all the small plates. I sadly could not finish the entire portion, but my fellow diners were more than happy to ransack the remainder.
The wife's Crab Pasta was very good to me, the wife, not so much. The plate appeared to have a generous helping of angel hair pasta along with subtle flashes of Pernod, shallots and garlic ... all infused with what turned out to be a very zesty red sauce ... I thought this was a winner ... again, the wife seemed disappointed.
Our friend's special did not seem to hit the mark ... only its contents were consumed, with almost all the pastry left behind. Now this may have been the dish, or the fact that our friend inhaled three quarters of the Truffle Fries, simply saying they were the best frittes she had ever sampled!!!
Too stuffed for dessert, both bottles gamely manhandled to empty, we escaped the night for about $50 a piece pre-tip (again, remember the bill only contained corkage for two bottles) ... but, our man was handsomely rewarded with a good tip for his excellent service, good cheer, and attention to detail all evening long.
All in all, the trouble with this Yelp stuff is that one can come in all-too-often with exaggerated expectations and be disappointed when all the Yelp'ing turns what should have been a very good experience, into a somewhat mundane one, given those high expectations.
We had a very nice evening, but I don't know if I'd rush back here.
Having said that, a solid three stars ... and you can surely bet I'll be ordering take-out Truffle Frittes in the near future!!
Another one of my favorite places in Saratoga. Can you say truffle fries? Oh my!
When they have it get the bacon and egg pizza. Yes I said egg pizza. It really is out of this world!
Jason is my favorite bartender there and he knows his wines. Makes a mean mixed drink too.
This is one of my favorite places. It is casually upscale, the food is very delicious and there are always several things on the menu that I either have not had before or at least not in a long time - and they are always wonderfully prepared and presented. The service is always friendly, warm and excellent. I hope to come back here many times.
Preface: for people who read only the first part, read this: There are so many great restaurants in this area, it's hard to recommend this one.
We've eaten at the Basin a few times. In our experience, we have found the service to be hit-or-miss--mostly miss.
In our last visit, we tried the Beef Stew, which had been on the Specials list, but we had to pry that from our server, who didn't really seem to know that there were specials. The Stew was alleged to have just a little bit of cayenne pepper to give it a subtle kick, but not heat.
Needless to say, the Stew was way too spicy. In fact, it was painful. Food should not hurt. It was also too salty.
My companion had Short Ribs. The portion size was adequate; the flavor was good; the presentation was nice.
Upon being seated, by the way, we were given a small basket of a sliced baguette, which was really small. The butter that it was served with was ultra-salty-- it was as if there were a hidden camera to see whether the customers would notice how salty this stuff was. The joke was on us, I guess.
We started with a selection of a couple of cheeses from their list. We chose to try some cheeses that we'd never heard of. One was great; the other was unusually bland, with a texture like (here's the cliche): cardboard.
Oh, one other thing: we tried the Bread Pudding on the desert menu. We were told that it was amazing. Long story short: don't even bother with the bread pudding. Trust me on this one.
On a happy note: Nice wine list!
My favorite restaurant. Always quality food and service. My girlfriend and I love to sit at the bar and have a glass of wine paired with a cheese plate. Love you guys!
My husband and I have been coming here for 10 years and ever since our first visit it's been one of our favorites in the area. The menu changes all of the time and while everything we have had has been wonderful, a couple of our favs, if they are available, are the pork chops and the mushroom rigatoni. Mmmmm! The mushroom rigatoni! It's a must get. I usually have to restrain myself from ordering it all the time and if I happen to order it and have to share with my husband...no wait...there is no sharing of the rigatoni. It's all mine!
Anyway, back to the restaurant itself. The atmosphere is very warm and cozy. The outside deck in the back is a great place to sit on a Summer evening. The service has always been very friendly and knowledgeable not only about the food, but the wine as well. If you are lucky, Andrew (the owner) will be there and will always make you feel welcome and at home. He's actually another reason why we love The Basin so much. He has always been so warm and welcoming and treats you like family or an old, longtime friend.
This place will always be on my list of local favs and we'll keep coming back!
I have been inside this restaurant a number of times before but never reviewed it because I haven't actually had the chance to sit down for dinner. Although one of my good friends from high school actually works here as a server. So I can safely say from his experience that the food here is good. They pride themselves on acquiring their products from organic/local sustainable farmers etc. Don't completely understand this concept, but that is what they say.
Initially, the restaurant may seem small, but it is a cozy place that has soft music in the background and low intimate lighting. Which makes for a ambiance that I would like to very much dine in. It does also have a bar which I usually sit at when visiting my old friend. The bar is very clean, plenty of sprits and a good wine list to choose from.
I've always said to myself that I will come back to actually eat at this restaurant, I mean damn I already know the food is good. I guess I just haven't had the special occasion of doing so. I will attempt to update this again in the future when I do sit down for dinner.
When I was a 13 year old, I spent one whole summer when my parents weren't around wearing no other makeup on my face except this hot pink lipstick made by Estee Lauder, all because my 16 year old cousin was doing it, and in my 13 year old eyes, she looked hot. Therefore, if I did the same, I would look hot. This was completely logical, before I realized hot pink lipstick was not and will never be hot, and wearing only lipstick is a look most people cannot pull off except if you're a character on Sesame Street. Disaster.
When I was 16, my friend could drive like a maniac through the roads of Greenwich, CT in his Scirocco. I, in all my infinite wisdom, drove the same way in my Volvo 760 Turbo - rear wheel drive, mind you - in the rain and became responsible for taking down the huge "Welcome to Greenwich" sign as you entered town. As my car sat atop the huge stump that once held the sign, and traffic slowed with every fourth car calling out, "GO GRACE!!!!!!" I realized Sciroccos and Volvos do not handle the same, and that I would go down in history as the high school girl who took down the sign that had been there through history. Well, that thought occurred to me right after the thought that my parents would maim me. Disaster.
Now, at this age, I started watching some show called "Swords: Life in the Line" on TV.
Many of you will already know I love fishing - so this may not be a surprise, but I fish only for the kind of fish I eat - and swordfish is not part of my diet, so fishing for swordfish never interested me. But this show excites me to no end and gives me my fill of fishing excitement every week, and I found myself wanting to at least taste what fish it is they were catching.
Last Wednesday, we had tickets to James Taylor at Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Rob made reservations at Basin Restaurant to fill our bellies prior to the concert.
The restaurant looks a bit dated but has a very pleasant atmosphere, casual but it's got class. Service was friendly from the start, and two in our party had been waiting there over wines and some appetizers. They commented that everything was good so far.
Having only 40 minutes to eat, we opted to order a glass of wine each and go straight to our entrees. While I am scrolling through the menu, the server announces today's specials (5 of them) and my ears perked up at Linguine w/ Heirloom Tomato Sauce, but my whole head jerked when she said swordfish with yadda yadda yadda. I almost raised my hand to tell her that I'd be trying the swordfish. Rob ordered the pork which was highly recommended by the server.
Fifteen minutes later, our order was on the table.
First - - who knew swordfish was THIS GOOD? No wonder those fishermen risk their lives to catch these mothers! It was cooked perfectly, and was accompanied by a beet sauce of sorts, and some vegetables. It's moist, seasoned perfectly, and had such a clean flavor to it. It's the kind of fish that could be accompanied by any sauce, and would never overpower any protein you put on the same plate. DELICIOUS!
Rob's pork, on the other hand, left much to be desired. It was dry, and totally overpowered by the fruits and sauces that were paired with the pork. One in our party ordered the mussels, she liked it - and the friend eating the heirloom pasta made no mention whether it was good or not, now to think of it.
In any case, when I go back to Basin, I will be sure to call to make certain they are offering swordfish that evening. That was seriously one outstanding fish entree, and everyone at my table got a bite and agreed.
While hot pink lipstick and running over historical town signs due to stupidity will never again be in my future, I think I will opt to try swordfish anytime it's presented on the menu at a good restaurant.
Now, if I can figure out how to get myself to Newfoundland and head to the Greater Banks to catch me some swordfish - I'd be set!
"FISH ON!!!"
My partner and I went here on "date night" after reading the other good yelp reviews. The service and the food were excellent! Our waiter was very knowledgeable about all the wines and they have a nice selection of wines by the glass, which is what we prefer when there's only two of us and one has to drive us home.
The decor in this place is really outdated. You feel like you stepped back into the 80's. Thank god we got a table outside under the huge tree on a beautiful night. As a gay couple in Saratoga for the night....I think we were the only ones. The Basin looks like the type of restaurant that has it's "regulars" and not much else. This is not a young, hip, diverse place.
I went here for the first time and the first thing I notice is this huge 100 year old plus oak tree in the rear patio. I knew for sure that we had to eat outside. I was a bit afraid that it would get chilly but they had their heat lamps up and running. I ordered steak along with a order of truffle oil fries and it had a really interesting sweet kick. The steak was enormous and I had to take a third of it to go. Our waiter was a real funny guy and he knew his stuff, he remembered and recited the essay like "Today's Special menu" like no one I had ever seen. After dinner the owner kindly came out and asked all the parties if we were enjoying the food joking around with some of the customers. Overall I will enjoy this place very much and will return.
Random fact: it takes three people to hug the outdoor tree. Just thought I throw that out there.
Some of the best prepared salmon I've ever had (and I've had a lot) -- a really interesting mix of asparagus and grapefruit around it, which worked amazingly well.
Good wine and olives too. And a GIANT TREE on the patio. What's not to love?
The menu changes often I am told with season availability which is nice. The waiter was very helpful. One warning our lamb chop and steak were massive. Two of us ordered the steak which was good but seemed under seasoned. I admire that the chef felt confident enough to not offer salt and pepper but I could have used both for the steak.
All and all very nice meal.
Great steak, cold drinks, and nice decor. The inside was very dark and kind of cheesy (typical mid-range restaurant with dark tones) but the patio by the oak was really nice. The service was very good -- prompt, and when I asked for my steak medium because I wanted a little pink in the middle, the waitress changed that to medium rare and got it JUST RIGHT. Give the customer what they want, not what they ask for :)
We really liked it and we'll be back.
I love the food here, but I want to review The Basin on the experience I had with my wedding rehersal for 30 people. (on 6/26/09)
To be honest, it was the blackmark on our wedding festvities which otherwise went well. I saw the rehersal as a chance to bond with our family that had travelled cross-country to see us. I booked the Basin (knowing the food is great) hoping to make our gathering even more special. Well yes, it was special alright!
In a nutshell, we had talked with Andrew months before the wedding about having our rehersal early at 4:30pm to avoid the concert crowd (30 mintues earlier than they normally open). This sounded like a good deal. I called the restuarant a few weeks before the wedding to confirm the time and the date (which apparently no one wrote down). We actually visited the restuarant again a week before the wedding to choose our Menu. I do get the feeling no one was making it a priority to keep track of our group, because guess what happened? ........
We showed up a 4:30pm on June 26th to a locked-up Basin and one very surprised waiter. My guests stood on the sidewalk for 20 minutes waiting for them to get ready :( and it was terribly hot and uncomfortable. Most of all, it was just plain embarrassing. Very embarrassing. The meals came out very slowly (because we didn't get in at 4:30 and hit the busy concert time) to the point that people were forgetting what they even ordered. Yes, I was really upset.
I don't remember the name of our waiter, be he seemed like he was doing the best he could to handle our large group, and I do appreciate that.
I'm just dissappinted to couldn't trust the Basin to keep track of our reservation. With the wedding, we obviously were pretty busy, but I do regret not calling the day before to remind them, so I would suggest doing that if you book here! I would have rather gone someplace cheaper that could of been organized and kept track of our time.
I know this seems a bit harsh, but we worked with so many wedding vendors who could handle this. We had an after-wedding party at other restuarant- they had our reservation time in their books the first time we talked with them. Most of all, quite frankly, it was a bad experience.
Amber
This place rocks. We go in there at least once a month because it is the best not-absurdly-expensive place within a short drive from our house. They always remember us and treat us well.
The servers are professional and knowledgeable about the dishes. Their timing is great, everything seems to happen when it should.
The food: Just about everything on the menu is very good. Particular standouts include the crab pasta, the veal, the pork and beans, and the bowl of soul.
YUM......
Went for a romantic dinner last week, what a great night! When we arrived, we were given the option of sitting out on the patio, and I'm glad we did. Although it was a bit chilly, they turned on the heat lamp above us and it was very comfortable.
The pacing of the service with drinks and food was really smooth. We asked for, and were given solid recommendations by our server. It was also a nice touch that when ordering single glasses of wine, they brought the bottle to the table to pour a splash for you to taste before filling up the glass.
We ordered the calamari special (no fried calamari here!!!) which was really wonderful! I ordered the pork tenderloin from the menu, my partner had the lamb special......I might have licked both our plates.
Just for some pre-amble: I think most of the negative reviews on here are attributed to extremely negative people. Nothing is good enough, is it?
I was able to sample almost the whole menu... I think. If you are thinking of going to this restaurant; grab a chair and get cozy. It's story time, kids.
Me and a group of friends came here for a pre-bachelor and bachelorette party. The group was treated to a family style dinner with over 18 dishes including appetizers, salads, main dishes, and desserts.
I have never in my life eaten such incredible food. Each dish was an experience in flavor.
-BACON TACOS?! WHAT?! WHY?! I'm not the biggest fan of bacon.
-(Eat) Oh, that's why! It's the most glorious piece of food I have ever indulged my gluttonous self in.
It was one dish after the other and everything was fresh, full of flavor, and unique. At one point they brought oysters out. If there is one thing I despise more it's oysters. I tried it... now I crave oysters. What was taboo before is now common place at The Basin.
Even for the desserts, I am not a sweets lover. With their piping hot fudge cake and bananas foster, I was nearly fighting off my girlfriend like a rabid wolf after a fresh kill. Quite the primal experience. ;)
It is food cooked at the highest quality in a warm family atmosphere. The owner, Andrew, takes a lot of pride in his restaurant and it shows. I will definitely come back and try not to order the whole menu.
Went there last night before attending a show at the Mt Winery and I must say it was awesome! The martinis were ice cold and our dinners were wonderfully crafted California cuisine. The menu selections were of the freshest seasonal quality ingredients that were inventively created! I cannot wait to go back!
Well...we started with drinks and asked if they have blue cheesed stuffed olives for an "extra cold"… Read more »
A friend and I had just had facials at Preston Wynne and felt like a good martini. We ended up sitting on the patio and not only having a martini but eating the awesome bread...and then ordering the croquettes and fries. She loved the croquettes (I didn't think much of them). However, the fries with truffle salt were really good. The prices were slightly high, but we what to expect in Saratoga?
The outside atmosphere was very relaxing, service was exceptional...
I've been so busy that I haven't been able to catch up on writing reviews but this place is worth going. I went here with my then fiance for Valentines and I ordered the skirt steak with fries while he ordered the Wild mushroom rigatoni. Both were VERY YUMMY!
I read the reviews on yelp for this place and order their mac n cheese for appetizer. We just asked the waiter to split one order in two separate bowls. I don't know why they don't have it in their menu but it was simple but good.
This place is worth a second visit and I am planning to go back when I have the chance.
This had to be the most outstanding meal and service I have ever experienced. The detail put into the freshness, uniqueness and quality of ingredients are unlike any restaurant I have ever been to. The food is simply addicting and left me craving for more, several days after!
If I didn't live 40 minutes away, this would be a regular date spot. The ambiance has been carefully and cleverly crafted, and the wine menu is original and amazing.
The Basin in downtown Saratoga put a smile on my face. My friend and I were aimlessly looking around for a place to have a glass of wine at and I small bite to eat and spotted this restaurant and decided to give it a try. It is my new favorite place in the San Jose area. I moved here from Pasadena, which was rich with wine, food, and people with class, and have had a hard time adjusting to not having much of that around here, but the Basin has now filled that void spot on! I'm soo happy!
We walked in and the tables were empty, but the bar was packed and there happened to be two seats available. Great wines by the glass, the bartender knew what he was talking about which was a bonus as well. I ordered the pasta with mushrooms and it was heavenly. Not too rich and perfectly filling for someone who's not looking for a heavy meal. The people sitting next to us ordered the steak and I swear it was the size of Texas and looked incredible too!
You could tell it was mainly locals hanging out, which made it more special for me because I could tell I could get to know the people here. By the time we left the restaurant was packed, maybe two tables open. This place is clearly a hit and I recommend you give it a try, I'll be back there often!
Been here twice so far. Me likey. Both times I've gotten the skirt steak with a ridiculous portion of pommes frites, and both times I have been happy.
There were a couple of specials I got the first time that weren't available the second time -- there was a special salad of tiny heirloom melon balls with balsamic syrup and manchego cheese, and that was freakin' tasty (and I don't usually like melon), then an Andalusian white gazpacho which was very interesting. That was summer, though. This time there was a butternut squash soup which was pretty good, though I think I prefer my own recipe (sorry).
I've had the same waiter both times, a guy who will give you ridiculous amounts of detail on everything if you let him, but he was also useful for checking on your friends' weird food quirks in great detail (he went and made sure there was a non-gingered skirt steak for a friend with an allergy).
Although I have dithered multiple times over ordering the wild mushroom rigatoni, I have not yet made that leap, but managed to steal a few rigatoni from friends' plates this time -- was quite nice, nice and creamy despite using only a "splash" of cream (according to Detail-Oriented Waiter), so it's a tough call between that and the skirt steak. Of course, in my book frites usually win.
Nice place. Will go there without complaint anytime you want to take me. And now I want more frites.
Really Enjoyed my late night date with my husband at the bar. OMG
had the mushroom penne delicious. Yum- did not want to share.
The bartender was excellent- Wasn't sure what to drink so look at the wine list great wine list by the glass. Defiantly a great date restaurant.
It was a while back when I went but what I remember best is the great atmosphere and friendly staff. Everything on the menu sounded good and the bartenders not only made really great drinks and but excellent suggestions about what I should order off the menu. They were really passionate about the food and you know when the staff really care about the restaurant and food, they gotta be doing something right. They also have a good wine selection and really good deals on the wine but I opted for their mixed drinks. *yummm*
Following the bartenders suggestion,I started out with a jamon plate which was a great way to start and it was sliced right in front of me on this really cool slicer at the bar. Yumm.. it was so buttery and delicious.
For the entree, one item that caught my eye was the liver and onion.
It's been a really long time since I had livers and onions and there aren't many restaurants that serve it any more. The flavor on the livers and onion were excellent and served with generous (maybe even enormous) portions.
I was sitting at the bar and it seemed like a great number of customers were regulars and knew the staff very well. I also stole a bite of the steak off a friend and loved it! The steak dish looked so big and I don't know if I could have finished it, had I ordered it.
Overall, it was a great meal and a great night. I will definitely come back here to eat, maybe even sit at the back patio that everyone is raving about. There were a lot of items on the menu that I definitely want to try next time. I don't live in the neighborhood but I will definitely driving the extra miles to come here.
wow, i walked in this place yesterday, and then realized that i had eaten there before. that's a bit scary....
nevertheless, this is a great stop for dinner before a show at the Mt. Winery....Wilco was awesome, and thanks for asking...
i don't know what was wrong with me yesterday, but i was NOT hungry....not sure if it was the heat or what. this was kinda a bummer for me, because i could have definitely tried a few more things here. the menu is interesting...is it Spanish, is it Italian? well, it's good, and that's pretty much all that matters. The croquetas were AWESOME....some ham, chicken in there...i could have made a meal with three orders of those. the Basin Salad was nice. the garlic prawns were good...nice butter/lemon sauce. we had the strawberry cobbler...that was decent.
the service was hit-or-miss...there were some long gaps in there, but i wasn't in a rush, so it was all good. they were all very pleasant....
line of the night: "so, is Wilco like Rodrigo y Gabriela?" (ummmm, no?)
i need to come back here and order some more of their food!
My husband and I went here for date night last week because of the great reviews we had read. I was really disapointed. We sat on the patio by the giant oak tree which was the best part of the evening. The menu was really limited and not that exciting. I ended up getting a steak which came with french fries. Really? Fries? The steak was better than the fish bowl my husband ordered (bowl of sole) but neither had any veggies and neither was worth the $27 they cost in our opinion. The wine menu was twice the size of the food menu but there was little that really excited me there either. While we were there we had three different waiters, two of which were nice and one seemed to hate his job. Dinner for two came to close to $200. I don't mind pay that for a great experience, but this was not that kind of experience at all. My husband and I agree that we will not be going back there.
The first time my sister and I tried to eat here - we didn't know how popular this place was and that we needed reservations. We were smarter this time in making reservations prior to seeing Lyle Lovett at the Mountain Winery.
First of all, parking in the quaint village of Saratoga can be a challenge during the dinner hour. Be prepared to do park a couple of blocks away from the restaurant and do a little walking.
We sat in the main dining area - which was dimly lit. Every time the door opened, a stream of bright blinding light came piercing through. Note to self - if S. and I come here - make sure to get a table away from the door (he's sensitive to very bright light). I understand that there's a patio area - maybe we'll request to be seated there next time.
I was impressed with the menu - although a bit on the pricey side. We dined to king salmon (poached and garnished with citrus fruit) with cheese, bread, olives and almonds as an appetizer. They specially make their cocktails - so of course, I treated myself to one of their martinis.
Our waitress seemed to be on top her game in attending to all the tables assigned to her - but when it got really busy, it was hard to locate her. It was getting close to show time at the Mountain Winery, so my sister decided to bring our check up to the maitre d' for payment. The maitre d' found the waitress and delivered the check to my sister while she waited in line for the bathroom. Huhhhh?? I have mixed feelings about this.
Overall a good dining experience.
What a cozy and fun bar and restaurant. A few of us headed over here after the Yelp event at Plumed Horse in search of some hearty food and we weren't let down. We shared a few items at the bar and Jason the bartender (yes, Jason at the Basin!) was very helpful in wine and menu recommendations - he knows his stuff. The wine list is amazing. The special bacon and egg pizza was to die for (I know it sounds weird but the it is pancetta with several types of cheeses - reminded me of a spaghetti carbonara version of pizza). YUM! We shared the delicious clams - not sure what the sauce was but we mopped up almost every drop with the bread it was served with. This will be on my new list of faves to return to!
Honestly, I had entirely too much fun with friends in the VIP room.
Let's just leave it at that! (Highly recommend)
We have eaten here twice now, and were extremely pleased both times. Their house cocktails are great, and the menu is designed to please every palate. DEFINITELY try the salmon appetizer, whether it is smoked or raw (we've had both). The combination of ingredients is delish.
Reasonably priced wine list as well, featuring intriguing light whites by the bottle or glass.
This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in the LG/Saratoga area! We have been coming to this establishment for 5 - 6 years and will continue to do so for a long time. Not only is the food amazing and top-notch, but the management and staff is welcoming, warm, frientdly and caring. Everyone remembers and recognizes you from the owner/chef/host Andrew to the fun food runner, Steven.
Andrew creates amazing culinary delights that are creative as well as delicious. He made this wonderful garlic, almond gazpacho that was a treat for our tastebuds. During the summer he takes advantage of the perfect heirloom tomatoes from his own garden and the farmer's market to create such items as his heirloom tomato salad (a must with its fresh corn, basil and balsamic reduction), his heirloom tomato pasta (another must with the sauce being simmered and reduced for over 5 hours - an amazing taste delight!) and his heirloom tomato pizza.
My around the year faves is his incomparable Wild Mushroom Rigatoni (unlike any other I've ever tasted), his steamed clams, Chicken Croquettes, Pork and Beans (amazing- not like the common!), Gumbo (actually better than Nola's in Palo Alto!) and now his New Truffled French Fries (addictive - yes! Great with any of the steaks). During the summer, he also makes the most delicious fresh fruit pies!
Oh! - I forgot to mention the martinis. My favorite is called the Spaniard. It is a dirty martini (I always order not too dirty so it's not so salty) with olives and manchego cheese. It is like an appetizer-- bite of olive, bite of cheese, sip of vodka, yum and repeat!
This place is exquisite. We've been coming here once or twice a year for 5 years. We always have the same waiter. He looks like a cherub, yet he is so wise. He always knows what wine or appetizer to recommend. And he is always on top of things when it comes to filling glasses and taking orders and checking in.
The martinis are amazing. None of this sweetened mixed cocktail crap. And the wild mushroom rigatoni is heavenly. I adore this place.
The restaurant is located on the corner with a huge oak tree towering above. We chose to sit outside and the heat lamps kept us warm as the temperatures dropped. I had the lamb special, but after seeing my brother's New York Steak, I knew I had ordered the wrong entree. The truffle fires were tasty and the service was excellent.
This is a great spot with an unfortunate name. Try telling someone you had an excellent dinner at The Basin, and they'll probably look at you kinda funny. Nevertheless, the food, ambiance, and service at The Basin are top-notch, and deserve a better designator. For those unfamiliar with the locale, the "basin" refers to Big Basin Way, a thoroughfare that runs through the heart of Saratoga and eventually leads to Big Basin State Park, one of the prettiest parks in all of California.
The BW and I were at The Basin for the first time not too long ago on a warm, spring evening. We decided to sit outside. There's a small patio out back with a few well-spaced tables. A huge oak tree stands in the middle of the patio. That night, it stretched into the sky until its upper branches reached a nearly full moon above. It was quite a romantic setting.
The deliciousness of the food lent itself to the romance of the evening. We started with a polenta appetizer that was literally out of this world. The best polenta I have ever had anywhere. Fortunately, the appetizer was quite generous. Ample enough for two. But it was so good, we probably could have eaten another portion.
Thankfully, we saved room for the entrees. The BW had the lamb chops, grilled perfectly to just the right doneness. She reluctantly let me share a few pieces, and I almost succumbed to "order envy." But that didn't last long. I had ordered one of the specials that evening, a broiled sea bass. It too was excellent. Perfectly cooked and nicely presented, I savored every bite.
Service was attentive, courteous, and relaxed. Don't come here expecting a hurried meal. The food is prepared with loving patience and the rewards are well worth the wait. Kudos to the host who realized we were first-timers and made sure we enjoyed our experience. As I said goodbye to him, I uttered the words every restaurateur longs to hear: "We'll be back."
Occasion: Friday night dinner with workmates
I ordered: Basin Salad & Dungeness Crab Risotto. Plus we had several appetizers and desserts shared amongst the table.
Price: $60 per person (tax & tip included).
What we thought: Service was really good, and the place is BYO which is a nice surprise for a fine dining restaurant. The appetizers & salad were really yum, as were the desserts, but my risotto was a little disappointing (especially for the price).
It can get loud in here and stupidly busy when there is a concert at the Mountain Winery but the food is solid and Jason knows how to make a hell of a Sidecar.
Favorites... the salumi plate (they got a cool new vintage looking slicing machine that's currently residing in the center of the dining room.. see it before it heads to the back), the wild mushroom rigatoni, the steaks, the fresh fish.... the clams are good as well, but quite salty.
Service has always been good but it can be extremely hard to get a table. Reservations are a must.
The food is always spectacular. Great bar area too. It's always crowded so make a reservation.
Pizza and egg, you say? Interesting.
I was unsure of this unusual combination but was forced to try it just to be polite. I was shocked at the combo. I mean, I am not even an egg lover and I enjoyed this to start out the meal just right. I do however love pancetta, so that helped to win my heart.
The service was attentive and friendly and they all seemed like they were happy to be there. What a concept!
For my main dish I had the pasta with mushrooms and a light sauce. It was fresh, filling and tasty!
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