Sweet Basil - Vail

“Still dreaming about our dinner at Sweet Basil! 🥂 From the first pour of wine to the very last bite, everything was flawless. The kitchen is doing some truly incredible work - the flavors are sophisticated, fresh, and totally memorable. Combined with the impeccable service and that iconic Vail atmosphere, it was a night to remember. Huge compliments to the chef and the entire team for such a stellar experience! Highly recommend”

“Our experience at Sweet Basil was truly spectacular. The service was exceptional from start to finish, making us feel genuinely welcomed and well taken care of. The food offered an incredible contrast of flavors that we thoroughly enjoyed, perfectly complemented by a great French wine that simply couldn’t be missing from the table. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Vail. it’s an absolute must.”

“We stopped by Sweet Basil mid-afternoon for drinks and had such a pleasant and great time, and ended up ordering their full Apres Menu. The whipped feta was a well balanced dish, the feta spread with the honey glaze and apples, make such a great combination. The caramelized beat salad was delicious, the country ham added just the right kick of surprise to the plate. The Caesar salad just all worked so well. The hamachi crudo was very fresh and the sauce just made it super tasteful. The ahi tuna tostadas were definitely the favorite ones (wish they were either larger or more :)) and the oysters were perhaps the least favorite ones as they were not as tasteful. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very intimate and the bar tenders were super welcoming and with great conversation. For drinks, the spicy margaritas are your to go drink, you will not be disappointed!”

“We ate a lot. Here is the rundown. Beet salad and orange segments and dressing was delicious. Caesar salad was very good. Gnocci was phenomenal. Outstanding but the Gnocci with black truffle special more $$ less portion size less complex flavors was definitely not worth it. Whipped feta looked great but taste was was just ok. Salmon main course was tasty. The sticky toffee pudding was superb a must have.”

“Sweet Basil has some real highs, but our night started off rough. We arrived about 10 minutes early for our reservation and the hostess seemed flustered by the crowd. The most frustrating part: an open table near the front window sat empty while we waited, and we weren’t seated until about 15 minutes after our reservation time at that exact table. Once we sat down, things improved. Our waiter was attentive and truly great. He explained the menu with so much detail and enthusiasm it made you want to order everything. That said, pacing was a major knock. Obviously at a fault of the kitchen. From placing our order to appetizers hitting the table was 30+ minutes, which felt excessive. We did not get any food until one hour after our 8pm reservation. That’s not acceptable. The appetizers, however, were the clear stars and honestly worth coming back for on their own: hamachi crudo, Caesar salad, beets, shrimp toast, and whipped feta. All 10/10. We genuinely couldn’t decide on a favorite. The Caesar salad was a must have shockingly for just being a Caesar. The whipped feta was so unique. It was topped with a caramel sauce that reminded me of that classic caramel sauce in the container around Halloween. On a return visit, I’d happily just eat my way through the appetizer list because they completely outshined the mains. Cocktails were just okay. My dirty martini was a miss. The olive juice tasted off and a few of the drinks at our table were finished, which kind of says it all. For entrees, we tried a lot: the special: strip steak with a tamale side (perfectly cooked and the tamale was stand out) , cod with a mushroom tempura side, duck tacos, lump crab bucatini, plus the ricotta gnocchi from the appetizer menu. The entrees were not hot. Luke warm at best. Most were solid, but one I’d tell you to skip: the crab bucatini. It was flavorless, and at $50, you shouldn’t have to learn that lesson the hard way. Overall: amazing appetizers and a great server, but the pacing and cocktails held the experience back to start. That said it truly was a great night. Delicious food and a lively atmosphere.”