Sweet BasilExcellent Dining SpotBeautifully cooked and presented in every course. Attentive and well trained staff. Hard to ask for more.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing Food!My son and I are foodies. We love to cook and try new recipes so we were excited to try lunch at Sweet Basil. They did not disappoint. We tried two small plates and both were excellent. The mixture of fresh ingredients, flavors and textures was to die for. My main dish was the lamb salad, wow! So good. My son had the mushroom ravioli and he loved this too! I don't usually have dessert but after looking at the dessert menu we decided to split the blueberry cheesecake. It was so light and delicious. If you love great food, this is the place for you. Go now while the spring special is running, the prices are much more affordable!5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Off Season Foodie DelightFantastic 3-course "mud season" menu. Diners choose any appetizer, any main course, and any dessert, all for $45. I enjoyed an amazing, fall-off-the-bone lamb shank, a spectacular sushi-grade salmon and beet appetizer, and shared three amazing desserts among the three of us. Wow! Considering the restaurant's food is always outstanding, what a deal! Our waiter was a bit Vail-Surly, but the food presenters were attentive and concerned. Food was hot and fresh, served and removed together.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was the best meal weThis was the best meal we have ever had at Sweet Basil and we go there regularly since it is our favorite in Vail. I had a wonderful bay scallop appetizer that was light yet extremely flavorful and perfectly seasoned. My cod entree was again light and wonderfully balanced. My husband had the crispy trout and he said that he won in the entree department, but I was not conceding his victory at all.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways at its best!!! WeAlways at its best!!! We have eaten at Sweet Basil many times and have never been disappointed.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMA gem in Vail Village.Sets itself apart from many other high end restaurants in Vail by a lack of pretense. Convenient location in Vail Village, comfortable setting, nice table overlooking Gore Creek, friendly and knowledgable wait staff. The venison carpaccio appetizer is a perfect mix of intense flavors and textures. My wife's salmon and my trout entrees were done perfectly. The wine list provides some great choices from some of our favorite regions...Bourgogne, Russian River, Santa Lucia Highlands...at very reasonable prices. In a town with many high end choices, Sweet Basil is one we will continue to choose ahead of others.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMPros & Cons During Off-SeasonWe dined here during off-season, which has its pros and cons. Pro: There was a special menu -- 3 courses for $45. The food was magnificent and surprising. Probably one of the best steaks I've ever had. Con: The service was well-intentioned but ultimately lacking. Our waitress was great at first, but by the time we had our entrees, we were extremely neglected. We literally sat with our emptied entree plates for more than 20 minutes before she came back to ask about dessert/coffee. We are understanding during off-season, but it would have gone a long way for her to at least say, "Sorry I disappeared so long; thanks for your patience." She was rushed -- but also rude toward the end of our meal, and that ruined the experience for us.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat new menu for off seasonGreat new menu for off season and summer!
Lunch was delicious and the waitress was friendly and helpful.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was great exceptThe food was great except for the appetizer paella which fell a bit short.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurant, one of Vail'sGreat restaurant, one of Vail's finest. A consistent fine dinning establishment.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and atmosphere wereThe food and atmosphere were fantastic! A must do when in Vail4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMHendricks Haze cocktail wasHendricks Haze cocktail was great. We had a very enjoyable lunch with attentive staff.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMI had the usual scrumptiousI had the usual scrumptious lunch here at Sweet Basil, always a stop while in the Vail area for a week of skiing. The service is always attentive but never over bearing. The food selection is wonderful and difficult to choose from so please save appetites to try as many choices as possible. The food is sublime and the flavors just pour out as they allow the food to speak for itself without being overpowered by too many additions to the freshness and quality of the ingredients themselves.
Unfortunately, my experience at dinner did not match the exceptional one at lunch. My review follows and I as deeply disappointed and not sure why there was such a dichotomy there.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMBest restaurant in the world!Sweet Basil is not to be missed. The food and service is consistently exceptional . Every plate is a work of art! Make reservations well in advance.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMone of the better if not theone of the better if not the best and most reliable restaurant in vail. reserve well in advance.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent in every respect-food,Excellent in every respect-food, service, ambiance. Server was knowledgeable about the food and wine, and was very pleasant. She always was there without being in the way. A really great evening.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMGood food and service. AGood food and service. A bit overpriced but that's normal for Vail. Cozy.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMSweet Basil was by far theSweet Basil was by far the best dining experience in Vail. The restaurant design is very attractive with outstanding views of the Gore Creek. The service was exceptional with knowledge of both the food selections and wine pairings. The food was a work or art and, most importantly, tasted even better. Definately a dining experience not to be missed in Vail Village.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMSweet Basil continues to getSweet Basil continues to get it right. It has been 5 years since our last visit to vail and sweet basil HS not lost a step. Creative menu choices are matched by energetic servers who go the extra mile. Kids have options at sweet basil so families are definitely welcome. By the way ... Get the signature dessert .... It is ridiculously good.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have had many wonderfulWe have had many wonderful meals at Sweet Basil over the past 30 years. Usually, we have lunch but this time was dinner and it was superb.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent FoodWe had a wonderful meal - particularly the venison entree - it was outstanding and highly recommended. Place was jammed through the 1000 seating.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMSweet Basil stands out yearSweet Basil stands out year after year as top 5 in Vail. I make sure to dine here every year and it is the highlight of my trip. Make a res in advance so you wont be disappointed.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe've eaten at Sweet BasilWe've eaten at Sweet Basil whenever we are in Vail, Co, but have never had a meal so delicious and with such amazing presentation. IF you haven't eaten at Sweet Basil, you MUST!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMone of my very favorite restaurantsone of my very favorite restaurants anywhere
the crispy shrimp and calamari appetizer was beautiful and delicious3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMSweet, Sweet BasilOur 4th year to Vail, our 4th year at Sweet Basil. It is a must-do for us: we'll even take a day off the slopes to enjoy a long lunch. Everything is so well-executed from service to appetizers though to dessert. A creek-side table is a special treat, as are the truffle fries, shared at the table prior to ordering. With my crew they last about 30seconds... I wish i could savour them longer, but then I would get any! My only beef...the decor could be updated, feels a bit tired and dated, to be a great as the food and service.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMOur greeting at check in wasOur greeting at check in was less than stellar! St 5:30PM, at a time when they were less than busy, they didn't tell us to wait, but started to walk away, so we followed thinking they were taking us to the table. For about two to three minutes, no one told us anything so we just backed off until they were ready. This shouldn't have happened as it can color one's whole feeling about a restaurant. We didn't let it bother us anf the food was good and the server was excellent.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMI decided to apply the 3I decided to apply the 3 strikes and you are out rule for this Resturant. We have dined here many times over the years but were disappointed on our last two visits. Very glad to report that Sweet Basil is back and can not say enough about how great the food and service were.3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is our favorite restaurantThis is our favorite restaurant in Vail, and we never miss an opportunity to dine there on our annual ski trip. The atmosphere is elegant but not formal, the food is outstanding, and the service is always great. It's always busy, so be sure to make your reservations ahead of time.2/27/2013 12:00:00 AMSweet basil was fabulous asSweet basil was fabulous as always. I've eaten here at least half a dozen times and I have never disappointed. My dad loves the sticky toffee pudding, but the rest of the table preferred the Greek cheesecake1/26/2013 12:00:00 AM