Basil'sGreat Mother's Day brunchThe food was far better than a typical buffet style brunch. Gormet everything from salads to cheese and baked goods. Also loved the prepared entrée selections. Only wished i could have picked two. Great service, was greeted by the chef and manager, everything about it was fantastic and a perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMom loved it!Went for mother's day, my wife and mom loved the food and atmosphere. Service started a little slow, but once we were "in the system" all was good. Good food, nice selection and as expected polite and attentive service staff.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day BrunchI really enjoyed a pleasant Mother's Day Brunch with my wife and daughter this year at Basil's. I requested a patio table overlooking the IDS coutyard in my reservation, and I had a lovely view of the waterfall. The reservation through Open Table was easy, and I received communication from the restaurant confirming my reservation. The brunch featured an omelette bar, salad and fruit bar, a dessert bar, and a primary entree from the menu. Complimentary champagne or Mimosas were also included. Food quality was excellent, and service was top notch. Although not cheap, it was a wonderful special occasion meal that was a hit with my family. I'll go again next year, and recommend it to others looking for a classy venue for Mother's Day.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMVery goodWent to Basil's for Mother's Day and the brunch was great. Will go back next year.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed it!Our dinner was great, although the server could have been a bit more attentive.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMNice night out.Unique food in right sized portions. Beautiful presentation. I would dine there again.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat downtown restaurantWe had the prix fixe menu, and most of the food was fantastic. The seared tuna small plate was prepared perfectly, and had a great sauce for dipping. The beet salad was refreshing and delicious. My companion's steak au poivre was juicy and flavorful, while my pork chop was slightly dry, albeit tasty. Overall, a great meal!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was a lovely way to spendIt was a lovely way to spend the evening with my husband. The server was terrific! She was helpful with recommendations. We would absolutely go back.
Just so you know, we read a comment earlier about someone who used their Living Social coupon and received less than satisfactory service. That certainly was not the case with us.
Thank you!4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFood lacked in quality comparedFood lacked in quality compared to what Basis's was 3 or 4 years ago4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMBasil's served excellent foodBasil's served excellent food and the service was great. This restaurant was well prepared for our Living Social coupon and clearly explained what was included. The choices were excellent and I loved that they had a separate menu for people with these offers to make decisions easier. I didn't feel like we were treated any differently. The person serving us was very attentative, knew the food and made suggestions and was very enjoyable. We will come back and would highly recommend Basils.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGood food and great service.Good food and great service. worth a return visit.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall very good. Had overcookedOverall very good. Had overcooked pork chop for dinner and server went to replace right away. Took a bit but came back cooked right. Manager even came to check on us. Appreciated that they sought to make things right. Location overlooking IDS courtyard is excellent.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were at Easter Brunch atWe were at Easter Brunch at windows on Minnesota. Everything was perfect in all respects from arrival to departure. We will definitely try the restaurant next time in the Cities.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMA Lovely Dining ExperienceReserved a table on the balconey at Basil's for our 33rd anniversary and were not disappointed. It was a fabulous couple of hours ... a real 4-star experience. My wife and I shared an appetizer (Ahi), enjoyed our own salads (Pear & Beet and Chopped), and loved our entrees (Filet for her and Sea Bass for me). The courses arrived at a leisurely pace as we sipped our house wines and sampled the very tasty bread. The service and personal attention we received from all employees was outstanding! We turned down the dessert offerings, but they looked gorgeous. We will return ... sooner than later.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good but not outstandingBeautiful view of Crystal Court from balcony tables. Service: perfect, right level of attentive, useful recommendations. Food: good, but not outstanding. Beet salad: very few beets, purple ones hard, orange ones mushy, otherwise great composition of ingredients/flavors. Steak au poivre: was discouraged by server for asking for rare, so sure, ordered it medium rare, and darn, it came out medium. Nice presentation though, on top of bed of very flavorful mashed potatoes & perfectly cooked (tender-crisp) asparagus. Tiramsu: charming presentation w cup of espresso on plate(we poured over cake, yum!) but lacking the rum that normally the cake soaks in. Given prices they need to pay more serious attention to details, up the quality.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMJan recommended the jambalaya,Jan recommended the jambalaya, and it did not disappoint! Great lunch, great service! Fresh coffee at the end, to boot.3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWe visited Basil's using aWe visited Basil's using a Groupon. What a good find! The food was really good and we can't wait to go back. Great spot...3/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWe sat on the balcony, itWe sat on the balcony, it was fantastic. The food, wine, service...will be going back!2/23/2013 12:00:00 AMNice menu. A little on theNice menu. A little on the pricey side, but food was very good.
Our server - Theresa - was great!2/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe used a living social couponWe used a living social coupon for our dinner, and that seemed to be a big turn off for our waitress. It took her about 10 minutes to come back just for our drink order, and by that time we were ready to order our food as well. She also was unable to answer more than basic questions about the menu or give an suggestions. The food itself was wonderful, no complaints at all. Had crab cake appetizer, coconut chicken salad, pear and beet salad with salmon (nice large piece of salmon!), and steak au poivre and the steak and shrimp entrees. All well cooked, good vegetable sides, salads were probably the favorite.2/23/2013 12:00:00 AMBasil's is a very nice RestaurantEverything was wonderful. I will go back again very soon.2/16/2013 12:00:00 AMBasil's has always been aBasil's has always been a downtown favorite of ours and we were unhappy when it was closed for several months. We were very happy to see it re-opened and that the food and service is up to the same high standard it always had. It's hard to beat great wine and food and be able to overlook the waterfall in the IDS Crystal Court.2/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a very enjoyable evening,We had a very enjoyable evening, sitting out on the deck next to the waterfall and watching people walk by. The food was very good and the service was outstanding. We will return.2/15/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I absolutely lovedMy wife and I absolutely loved the food at Basil's. The portions were good, every course was delicious, and we really liked the location. Basil's is inside the Marquette hotel with a balcony inside of the IDS tower. This is especially nice in the winter because it gives the outdoor eating experience when it's 10 degrees outside. We will be going back for sure.2/15/2013 12:00:00 AMNice size appetizer offerings,Nice size appetizer offerings, we shared 2 and ordered an entree, quiet enough to hold a conversation. Very friendly and accomodating staff.2/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFood wAs good and the viewFood wAs good and the view off the balcony is beautiful. Good change from usuAl. There is a somewhat limited menu.2/12/2013 12:00:00 AMI had the seafood jambalayaI had the seafood jambalaya with large seafood, mussels, sausage and flavorful spice. The waitstaff,valet, and maitre are experienced pros at providing excellent service. I had the opportunity to sit outside by the second floor balcony and the open air space view of the IDS with all the light is a great environment for a winter day. Bon apetit!2/12/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Dining experienceExcellent Dining experience before theater with my son. Food was great, wine was good. We will be back2/12/2013 12:00:00 AMBasil's is a great night out.After being closed for dinner for a few years, Basil's is open for dinner again. The food is, and always was, wonderful. Well prepared, not fussy or pretentious, just really good food. The service is attentive and prompt and dinner at Basil's is a great night out!2/8/2013 12:00:00 AMwe enjoyed our visit to basilswe enjoyed our visit to basils very much. we dined on the balcony overlooking the crystal court. the food was good & our waitress was exceptional. i'll definitely go back.2/7/2013 12:00:00 AMOur table was out on the balconyOur table was out on the balcony and overlooked the waterfall/courtyard area. Everything was just perfect. It was such a nice evening.2/2/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent staff, service andExcellent staff, service and attention to guests. Thank you1/30/2013 12:00:00 AMBasil's is the perfect spotBasil's is the perfect spot to end of day of shopping and fun in downtown. It was quiet, peaceful, and the terrace at Christmas is stunning. Our server was exceptional and fun to chat with. We will be back for sure.12/29/2012 12:00:00 AMSitting on terrace overlookingSitting on terrace overlooking the Crystal Court provided a great setting for our holiday luncheon. Good choices were ample, delicious and service was great.12/20/2012 12:00:00 AMGreat ambiance for reasonable $Basil's is in a great location within the IDS center, with balconies overlooking the IDS's beautiful indoor courtyard of lighted trees and a fountain dripping from the tall ceiling. My husband and I chose Basil's for our anniversary lunch. During December there are holiday concerts down below during lunch hour, providing quality, free entertainment if you sit on the balcony.(We requested the balcony as a note in our OpenTable reservation and they honored it.) The ambiance is classy but not pretentious. The food was very good and really pretty reasonably priced...a gourmet grilled cheese with marinara dipping sauce and greens (salad) and a lamb burger with greens, all for only $30.12/19/2012 12:00:00 AMGreat for business lunch!I was surprised at the quality of the food. Amazing crab, corn and bacon bisque, plenty to eat with a side salad.12/19/2012 12:00:00 AM