sweet basil's cafe, west orange

[scarlet knight]

We've had a love-hate relationship with this restaurant. For some reason, the chef's post here is a revolving door. When it's good, it's very good. Former talented chefs include Lance, now owner of Indigo Smoke in Montclair and Anthony LoPinto, recently of Casa di Amici in Denville. Some of their successors were just horrible, but I must say that they now have a winner--John (Jon?) , formerly of NYC's Gramercy Tavern. My wife had Halibut cooked in a banana leaf with coconut sticky rice and collard greens. I had shelled lobster in a butter sauce with favas, limas, corn and raviolis. Both were very good. A grilled scallop, beet and pea shoot appetizer hit the spot. The complimentary salad had a zingy pesto-citrus dressing. Dessert of maple bread pudding left us stuffed, but impressed. If you have been here before, but had a bad experience, I urge you to give the new chef a try! We ate at Girasole on Wednesday, my wife was a likely victim of food poisoning, but even notwithstanding that, the food at Sweet Basil's is in a much higher league.

[coughy]

We live in West Orange and I frequently have lunch at Sweet Basil. I usually eat the Pommery chicken salad which has been the same for years. We never think to have dinner there preferring to try different things in different places. Tonight we went to Harding Township to Pierre's. The ride was nice, the restaurant lovely. We ate outside on a porch which was great. The food was okay. I did have a delicious salad of fresh greens, roasted tomatoes, bacon and bleu cheese. My main course was osso buco that was supposed to come with creamy polenta; it was anything but creamy - more sticky lumps. The osso buco was okay but I did something I never do and that was to add salt. My husband had the same salad and soft shell crabs which were good. The worst part about dinner was the coffee. I left the whole cup. Next time, we'll stick close to home and go to Sweet Basil.

[Lreda]

We ate at Girasole on Wednesday, my wife was a likely victim of food poisoning, but even notwithstanding that, the food at Sweet Basil's is in a much higher league.

Food poisoning is a bit of a strong accusation to put on a restaurant. Now I don't know Girasole, but have heard good things about it here. To say a restaurant might be guilty of food poisoning is giving them a black eye without proof. Did your wife go to the hospital? How long after eating did she begin to get ill? I'm not doubting your wife was ill that night but be careful before you slander a business without justifying your claims.

No offense, just a restaurant owner speaking his peace.

Lou

[scarlet knight]

I said "probable" because one cannot be positive. However, my wife threw up and had "extreme problems" from the other end in the evening after we got home from this restaurant. It was the last place that she ate anything and she was not sick from anything else. Generally, she has a strong constitution and rarely has any stomach problems. I offered to take her to the hospital, but she didn't want to go and she gradually got better the next day. I don't know if she ate something contaminated there, but I think that it is more probable than not.

[scarlet knight]

Actually, I reviewed my first post and I said "likely." We don't know what caused it . If anyone has another theory, I'm happy to consider it.

[scarlet knight]

We ate at Girasole on Thursday night. Check out Rail Paul's comment on the Sweet Basil postings.

[Rosie]

I like Girasole and have always had excellent meals there.

Thanks for info on Sweet Basil. The problem is that a chef never stays there long enough.

Your wife may have had a virus.

[coughy]

We made it to Sweet Basil's Cafe tonight and we were so glad that we did. The food was excellent. The new chef is from Gramercy Tavern and we had a wonderful dinner. I started out with grilled scallops on sliced beets with a delicious, light dressing. My husband had a warm roasted red pepper soup. A friend had the lobster salad with fava beans and she was practically licking the plate. My main dish was herb crusted tilapia - fresh fish over arugala, red potatoes with a light vinegrette. My husband had wasabi shrimps over coconut rice. He liked is so much he didn't want to give tastes. Our friend had the veal meatloaf and he said that it was the lightest meatloaf he ever had.

We only had one dessert - a lime cheesecake tart with fresh whipped cream and Persian lime ice. I loved it even though it had nothing chocolate.

We will definitely go back.

[Rosie]

Thanks for the report. I think I'll call before I go to be sure the chef is still there.

[coughy]

We needed some place close to have dinner last night. We chose Sweet Basils and I am glad we did. We had another wonderful dinner. Our 12 year old who wins the picky eater award was even happy. The staff was friendly and accomodating. I had a rack of lamb that was outrageous. The restaurant, unfortunately, was empty. If you are looking for a moderate priced delicious meal give it a try.

[scarlet knight]

We have really enjoyed Sweet Basil's under the current chef. I hope that some of the e-gullet readers patronize this place. After the demise of Blue Sky and 28, these New American restaurants need regular customers. As an aside, we drove past 77 Walnut last night and it was dark. Vacation or closed?

Edited September 13, 2003 by scarlet knight (log)

[Rosie]

77 Walnut is temporarily closed for renovation.

[dbrociner]

After the demise of Blue Sky and 28, these New American restaurants need regular customers.

Shouldn't the demise of Blue Sky and 28 help a competing restaurant serving similar food? I haven't been to Sweet Basil's but I was at both 28 and Blue Sky and in both cases I wasn't surprised when they called it quits. I think that when one of these "hot" places goes "cold" all the air tends to come out of the balloon at once. I know that 28 hung on for a long time but I think it died a slow and painful (for those paying to eat there) death.

[Rosie]

Blue Sky closed because the owner wanted a life style change and decided to move to Maine. The restaurant was very successful even to the last day it was open for business. It was also noted in the New York Times that this excellent eatery was closing.

[scarlet knight]

I hope that less competition helps Sweet Basil's. However, we've found a lot of restaurants that we never would have heard of on this board and we just wanted to contribute our "discovery."

[dbrociner]

Blue Sky closed because the owner wanted a life style change and decided  to move to Maine.

True enough, but you have to admit that the quality of the food had gone down before they threw in the towel. As a matter of fact, I think that you did admit this either here or at the Egullet lunch at An American Grill last fall.

[Rosie]

Blue Sky closed because the owner wanted a life style change and decided  to move to Maine.

True enough, but you have to admit that the quality of the food had gone down before they threw in the towel. As a matter of fact, I think that you did admit this either here or at the Egullet lunch at An American Grill last fall.

No. I don't think so. I never thought the quality of the food went down at Blue Sky but as a disclaimer I know the chef.

[dbrociner]

My bad. I think I got this confused with a discussion that we had about Bella Rosa in East Hanover where the food quality certainly has gone down.

[Rosie]

Now that could have been it. However, we were back at Bella Rosa about a month or so ago and it was very good. Love consistancy in a restaurant!