Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Kansas City / Kansas
  4. Lawrence
  5. Lawrence
The Basil Leaf Cafe, Lawrence, KS

The Basil Leaf Cafe

4.6
4.6
300 Reviews
$30 and under
Italian
Top Tags:
The Basil Leaf Cafe is proud to have built a loyal following in the Lawrence community. We are excited to continue the tradition of amazing food and provide great service as we continue to grow our locally owned restaurant.
We are excited to be introducing an updated menu with all of your favorites and some new items as well. We open at 4:00 P.M every day of the week for dinner with great specials and a daily happy hour!"


Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary American
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Wed, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (785) 856-0459
  • Website
    https://basilleaflawrence.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Location
    801 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044
  • Neighborhood
    Lawrence
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 300 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Kansas City / Kansas

    Italian

300 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Omaha

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service3ambience5
    Bust Saturday night. Seated right at our reservation time. I loved the food. The down side was the service. On two separate occasions we had food we did not order delivered to our table. After having set it down it was then picked back up and delivered to a different table.

    Is this helpful?

  2. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I have to tell you the bartender who took care of my wife and our 3 kids was awesome. Energetic and never forgot about us. The manager who was working with the hostesses was very professional and you can tell she loved her job. I tried to tell her thanks when we left but she was taking care of a ton of other customers. We will be back

    Is this helpful?

  3. OpenTable Diner

    Dallas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    So good. One of our favorite places in Lawrence. Food & service is always 10/10!

    Is this helpful?

  4. SarahF

    Houston

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great atmosphere, bar and restaurant. Food was delicious!

    Is this helpful?

  5. RuthW

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was excellent and our waitress was very good. Enjoyed sitting by the window. Though noise around from other tables, it was still quiet enough to enjoy the conversation at our table. Food portions are very large. Expect to leave with a "to-go" box.

    Is this helpful?

  6. ChristopherM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We will be going back. The food and service was awesome

    Is this helpful?

  7. Marilyn

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Our server Nicole Aqui was amazing. She recommended things when we asked and was friendly.

    Is this helpful?

  8. gigi

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolutely amazing as per usual. The only complaint was the music wasn't great. It didn't suit the environment.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Softballfan

    St. Louis

    59 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    59 reviews

    Dined on August 21, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    This our first visit to the new location. Love the vibe! One of our favorite restaurants in Lawrence. Great menu and HUGE portions. I was hoping for a dinner ‘special’ or two to choose from, but we did visit on a Monday evening. Our server was polite, pleasant, but didn’t have much of a personality. Maybe she was new and nervous- not sure. My husband and I split a Caesar salad. Homemade dressing was delish. Chicken cordon blue tortellini for my husband, chicken parmigiana for me. Obviously we brought home doggie bags. Keep up the good work. We’ll be back!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Lovestoeat

    Phoenix

    60 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    60 reviews

    Dined on August 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lake and Alison were fantastic servers. The chicken strips and brussel sprouts were delish. The cordon Bleu and Cajun pasta were yummy HUGE portions. Was expecting the Chicken Parmesan to be a normal chicken parm versus sliced chicken on pasta, so ta is my only negative comments. Although it was still good, I was hoping for a full typical chicken breast with a side of pasta.

    Is this helpful?

  11. OpenTable Diner

    Austin

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Good meal in Lawrence Forgot our salads or might have been higher.

    Is this helpful?

  12. KPod

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 3, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Dinner was good. The menu has changed since my last visit in the former location. Maybe not as rich? But when I go to eat Italian, I don’t plan on watching calories. (Get the salad, then.) I want rich, creamy and buttery. Also I wish you had a maybe answer for whether I’d recommend the restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  13. TimothyG

    Kansas City

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a wonderful experience. Food, service and value are great.

    Is this helpful?

  14. MichaelT

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 28, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    The food was not memorable. The service was inconsistent.

    Is this helpful?

  15. LeahHall

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Basil Leaf is the perfect spot for a date night or to bring out of town guests. The portions are large and everything on the menu is delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  16. NathanS

    Omaha

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 25, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience5
    Was a bit irritated their “Chicken Parmesan” was really just a plate of pasta with a couple pieces of chicken. Was listed separately from other pasta entrees and seemed like it would be MAINLY chicken, but it was basically just pasta. Food is decent, nothing crazy.

    Is this helpful?

  17. Dena

    Kansas City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Loved our waitress, great personality and put up with our funny jokes. Absolutely adored her hair tinsel!!! Basil leaf is always a good time. See you all soon.

    Is this helpful?

  18. TylerD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a great meal here. Perfect for my dad's 81st birthday!! Awesome entrées and dessert. Tiramisu is A+

    Is this helpful?

  19. gigi

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The absolute best Italian food in Lawrence, bar none.

    Is this helpful?

  20. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great! I had a wonderful time as per usual, and the drinks and food were fabulous

    Is this helpful?

  21. Justme

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 9, 2023

    overall4food2service4ambience5
    toasted ravioli was crispy, meat balls were hard like hockey pucks. wine was poor. we should have sent things back but were with friends.

    Is this helpful?

  22. OpenTable Diner

    Denver

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 9, 2023

    overall3food4service2ambience4
    We had 3 dishes. The salmon was fantastic, seasonal veggies (zucchini and squash) were very well prepared. The Fettuccine Alfredo was good, was a little light on chicken. Mac and cheese was good, could have used more seasoning. Device was polite, but lacked attention. Drinks sat at the bar undelivered, we waited for our check and boxes while staff chatted amongst themselves and had to catch a staff member that was just passing by for assistance after waiting. We will return, we enjoyed the food, would like to see the staff be more attentive considering the price point.

    Is this helpful?

  23. NinaC

    Central Texas

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food and drinks. Nice atmosphere. Definitely going back

    Is this helpful?

  24. Boobooliezer

    Kansas City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 3, 2023

    overall5food4service4ambience5
    The shrimp scampi was 'okay,' I've had better in previous visits. Drinks and salad took awhile to get. Host was accommodating - seating the 4 of us by the window. We had asked for a child seat (for an infant) that hangs off the table, but they didn't have this. Overall, we had a good dining experience.

    Is this helpful?

  25. JeremyT

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 1, 2023

    overall1food1service2ambience2
    Our waiter was trying to serve too many tables and was not on top of his customers. We had to be quite firm to get his attention. Our food when it came out was dry and in my case virtually inedible, because it had waited under heater warmers for the waiter to get around to us. Our third course was stale. I have known this restaurant since it first started on 6th street and we were very disappointed.

    Is this helpful?

  26. OpenTable Diner

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great food and service - enjoyed the experience and plan to return

    Is this helpful?

  27. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 28, 2023

    overall3food2service3ambience3
    We ordered fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken. The chicken was not grilled and it was shredded. Not to mention the chicken was extremely tough. We had to remove the chicken due to this.

    Is this helpful?

  28. JohnJ

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We got a great table toward the back. The food and the service was very good and I would recommend the restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  29. TimothyH

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 16, 2023

    overall3food2service5ambience5
    Tortellini is off the charts fabulous! Chicken tenders over risotto also fabulous! Shrimp scampi Gluten Free was disappointing because there was no sauce and water pooled at the bottom of the dish. I think the cook must have been in a hurry and forgot to finish the scampi. Great happy hour prices too.

    Is this helpful?

  30. AlexC

    Kansas City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 30, 2023

    overall5food4service4ambience5
    Love this restaurant! A wonderful place for a date!

    Is this helpful?

  31. HawkInTX

    Dallas

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 26, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Nice variety on the menu, and great food. Our server (Jewel) was awesome - attentive and pleasant without intruding on our dining experience.

    Is this helpful?

  32. OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was great except our server charged our credit card for dinner from a different table. Was more expensive than our dinner. When I went up to her at the server station to question the charges, she said she thought we had already left. All she had to do was look at our table to see that we were still there. Everything was corrected, but didn’t feel like she was paying attention to the bill or the fact that we were still there. She did do a fantastic job waiting on us while we were dining.

    Is this helpful?

  33. KenS

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food. Prices are reasonable and service was friendly

    Is this helpful?

  34. GaryM

    Philadelphia

    59 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    59 reviews

    Dined on May 17, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Always a pleasure, staff are engaging and friendly. Good wine. Food very good, but not great.

    Is this helpful?

  35. JamieS

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We loved the old place and we really love this new place. Everything about it! We've already been twice! The lasagna was excellent!

    Is this helpful?

  36. Merry

    Kansas City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is my favorite Lawrence restaurant! Excellent service, delicious food - plus we had window seats. People watching at its finest. 😁

    Is this helpful?

  37. StephR

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 8, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    The food is amazing. After they moved downtown it has a more upscale feel to it.

    Is this helpful?

  38. Jonathan

    Tallahassee

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on April 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We are there for 3 nites. Highly recommend the salmon. Big portions. You won't go away hungry. Ask for Jewel's section

    Is this helpful?

  39. Molly

    Kansas City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on April 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was great. Our out of town guests were very impressed with quality & taste of the food.

    Is this helpful?

  40. JanDar

    Tulsa

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This restaurant is Phenomenal on service, food quality and ambiance. We loved their new appetizers and their selections of beverages. The entrees are exceptional and the Tiramisu is the best we have ever had. We frequent this restaurant often. We rate them five stars for all of these reasons.

    Is this helpful?

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily

  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

The Basil Leaf Cafe is rated 4.6 stars by 300 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Google Map for The Basil Leaf Cafe

801 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Lawrence
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Wed, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Restaurant reservation software
  • Industry insights
  • Hospitality resources
  • Marketing resources
  • Operation resources
  • How to open a restaurant
  • For restaurants
  • For restaurant groups
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2023 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
Rentalcars Logo
OpenTable Logo