Sweet Basil’s Cafe
498 S Livingston Ave, Livingston, NJ, 07039
Sweet Basil’s Cafe Menu
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Address :
498 S Livingston Ave
Livingston, NJ, 07039 - Phone (973) 994-3600
- Website https://www.sweetbasilscafe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Phil E.
Nice layout. Decent food. Small portions for the price. Steak sandwich on small side but price was obviously increased because steak platter and sandwich were both marked up with post it and hand written price.
(3)Brian R.
The food is reasonably good, as is the same at a lot of other places. Nothing stands out to make this a go-to place in any category I can think of. The staff were friendly and efficient. The parking is relatively good. The decor is ok, but the end result of all the hard surfaces is a very loud environment that was pretty uncomfortable. Also, the owner was rude about seating for no good reason. That's enough for me to take my large restaurant budget elsewhere. When breakfast is $40 I expect more for my money than compromise on noise and seating, so I would encourage you do to so too. Probably the way to really enjoy sweet basil is to skip dining there and take out.
(2)Eric H.
Now that I've had some time to reflect on our life-endangering quest for brunch this afternoon, I'd like to share my thoughts. The food is certainly of the brunch flair and deserves credit for being above average in the lunchtime victuals category. The steak was cooked medium rare, as requested, with proper seasoning and the eggs were sunny side up, as advertised. It is indeed possible that my expectations and taste buds have been compromised from the daily Billy & Harry $5 lunch boxes and I'm completely off-base. Moving forward, I think we can all agree on the elephant in the room; service moves at a glacial pace and it's not their fault. Should the speed of service find a way to pick up, ceteris paribus, I'd be more than happy to venture the streets of Livingston with you all again for a lunchtime extravaganza. Otherwise, Little Basil's is a viable weekend action spot should we find ourselves with leisure to spare.
(3)Vishal K.
Had a great experience..good food, good coffee, good service, very clean..will surely be back many more times..
(5)Liz D.
3.5... What a bummer!!!! I went with high expectations. I love breakfast spots, I LOVE French toast, hell if a place makes a good, fresh coffee (and keeps it coming) and feeds me porky-eggy/sweet yet savory delights..... 5 stars, immediately. No doubt. Breakfast is a tough beast to master, however.... You have to be pretty much *spot on* as far as staffing is concerned, really no mistakes are the only mistakes. That is the key. To go from a "decently good" to "I would trade my left arm" kind of breakfast-spot .... there needs to be an air of "we give half a shit about our customers" made loud and clear by *someone* on the staff. Think about your #1 breakfast spot in the world, maybe it's some bougie fancy-fancy spot that costs, like, a mortgage payment.... but more than likely, you have a diner, a FAVORITE diner.. some little grungy, hole-in-the-wall diner where a waitress named Dee remembers your order and how you like your coffee *every single time* .......chances are, you will keep coming back. Familiarity, that's it. Sweet Basil's lacks familiarity. Boo. Group of 6. Plus one toddler, who would NOT sit still..... This is just a minor detail, and nothing to really fret over, but..... Maybe the hostess could have dropped some paper and crayons? There was only three or four other parties there at the time,.... And lots of staff, kind of meandering about. Also, I like the new location, but parking is a little tight, and the general setup for the resto is a bit weird..... Looks very cafeteria-like, not a lot of privacy, by any means. So the French toast is *exceptional*. Without a doubt. I do not think I have ever tasted a fluffier, just sweet enough, light and moist and just heavenly French toast in my entire life. Too bad my fathers eggs came out almost 15 minutes later, after he insisted for me to eat...I was almost finished. Oh, and my brother ordered the same thing as my dad, the huevos rancheros, and HIS eggs came out about 5 minutes BEFORE I got my dish!! What the hell? Strange. I think it's better to go with fewer people, and realizing that the staff may be trying to adjust gears to a new location, I will be back again without a doubt and hopefully will bump this rating up...
(3)Yh K.
We had our dinner on last thursday night around 6, it was all packed but we didn't wait too long to be seated. It's better to make a reservation before you go in. Hmm...I had a Veggie burger, but it wasn't what I expected at all. It was pretty dry with no taste inside the burger, I wouldn't recommend this dish for anyone! My husband is usually not a picky person with food, he had a burger as well, but he said its the worst burger ever! I remembered there's one called Memphis BBQ burger, I had it while ago, this one is actually pretty good and juicy! Try this one if you are looking for a burger with something juicy inside!
(3)Jeff C.
What a great find in West Orange. So good we went back...three times in a month. The food here is great. Banana pecan french toast with caramel sauce was so rich, and the gaucho steak and eggs were also very, very good. The kids also love their smiley face pancakes each time we go. On our third visit, I tried the eggs Benedict and my wife had the french toast with poached pears, they too were all SO GOOD. They have a very friendly wait staff and the an overall nice dining environment. It's a really nice place for breakfast or brunch.
(5)Queenie W.
4 star for food 3 star for ambience 1.5 star for service 2 star Overall We came here for lunch. Food was good by NJ standards. I ordered the Sweet Basil BLT baguette. There were several pieces of warm Brie inside the baguette. Brie certainly complements well with the sandwich. The sandwich came with pesto pasta as a side. The place itself is clean. However, because of the way the restaurant is designed, it was very noisy inside. Since the ceilings and walls are smooth, sound bounces back and forth the walls and magnified the noises. When there are a lot of people inside the restaurant, it becomes very loud. We asked for the check when our dishes came out because we were in a hurry, but it took the waiter a very very long time to give us the check.... Because our party had 6 people, the waiter added a 20% service charge on our check. I am not sure if it was explicitly written on the menu (certainly wasn't on the website as of 08/03/12) but forcing customers to pay 20% service charge for lunch when the service we received was subpar is unacceptable.
(2)Becca F.
Friday night dinner in the suburbs can be a harrowing affair of over-sauced Italian food. But this Friday night dinner with the parents was different. Sweet Basil is laid-back, has a very diverse menu and everything we ordered was fresh and delicious. My branzino special disappeared from my plate so quickly my mother asked if I'd eaten at all that day. Also worth getting again was the firecracker shrimp. Skip the bread basket though- boring old white bread. Worth taking the train out to the burbs? Maybe not...but certainly worth the visit while I'm here.
(4)Amy H.
If I was just rating their veggie burger I would give them five stars, it's awesome! Homemade, moist, and flavorful. You also get a choice of fries or salad when ordering any of their burgers, which I like. That said, the fish dishes I've had have been disappointing, as they lack flavor (surprising because the veggie burger is so packed with flavor). Also, the costumer service could be better. No one has been out right rude, but the manager and most of the servers make you feel as if they're doing you a favor by seating and serving you (though two of the servers are very friendly). Their brunch is good but I definitely don't like that they charge you extra for real maple syrup; they have quality food overall and bad syrup ruins pancakes. Anyway, will definitely keep going back for the veggie burger.
(3)Chris R.
This place was great. I had breakfast...tasty pancakes, amazing french toast. I dont understand the negative reviews? We were served by 3 different people who waited on us hand and foot....also..the place was busy at the time. i was informed by the couple sitting next to me that dinner is also phenominal. I have no excuse for not going here for breakfast, but I promise you I will be returning soon and often.
(5)Colleen W.
Sweet Basil's Cafe was an awesome to-go lunch option for our 16 person crew. Our order was put together in under an hour without any mistakes. The food was fantastic, healthy, fresh, and perfectly priced. The service could not have been better - even giving us itemized receipts for business purposes. I wish there were more places like this around the country.
(5)Javier C.
Amazing So I have live in West Orange most of my life and have only eaten here this year. I always have seen it but thought it was closed due to the times I would see it aka after 3. Where to start. Gourmet food that is cheap and healthy. Attentive staff. Ambiance: Very new England feel which is a good thing. Kind of mom and pop set up which feels like you are in someones dinning room. Service: Staff is attentive. Small place so if you need anything you can always flag down someone Food: Tuna Burger 5/5 Hits all the right spots with flavor. The burger was just seasoned right. Flavorful but not too strong. The only thing is they should not call this a burger as more of a patty. The wonton crisps are a joke that you use to dip into the patty like chips and salsa. Ask for more chips or bread. The sweet potato fries were great. Nice light and they use Kosher salt and I loves my kosher salt. Gaucho Steak & Eggs 4/5 This is where the Cuban comes out in me. I love skirt steak. The skirt steak here was cooked very well. Nice and juicy but it could have used more seasoning. Potatoes were good and you cant really mess up sunny side up eggs. Multi-Grain French Toast 4.5/5 MMM french toast. Quasi healthy french toast even better. This is what you would expect from french toast. My only complaint is that it lacks the flair of their other dishes. That nice little extra twist they give to most of their dishes. I guess that is the multigrain toast but it could have been something else. Overall very unique place. There are not too many places like this here. I want to make it my mission to try all the dishes in this place. The only turn off is the hours. They close at 3 and reopen at 5. This cuts into my lazy Sunday time which I usually get out of my house for lunch around 3. Pros + Unique + Healthy + Plenty of Parking in the back + Dishes very different from each other Cons - Some people might prefer traditional (American cheese vs goat) -Small place but worth the wait
(5)Eric P.
Very disappointing. Had the breakfast wrap. They scrambled the avocado in the egg so it was a greenish unappetizing mess. Eggs were very overcooked and thus dry. "home fries" were deep fried potato chunks. Lazy. Will not be back.
(1)Kimmy P.
I came here purely based on its Yelp reviews. This place is definitely worth it. I ordered the blueberry french toast and it was very good! My friend had the one with the poached pear and that was really good too! Very rich; I saved some for later but definitely ate the leftovers! Next I will try it for lunch :-)
(4)Marina M.
Review of their new livingston location for dinner. Definitely still under construction, kind of hard to get around but they were very nice, friendly, and service was great. Bruschetta was awesome, as were their fries. Entrees were less memorable.
(4)GK A.
The reviews are spot on. A great place for brunch. Never disappointed with the food or service
(5)Athenia J.
Shrimp and Grits with Pomegranate Lemonade for breakfast.. Nothing major. I'll have to visit again and try a few other menu items.. I'll get back to you guys then.
(3)M B.
We just moved to the area and I read the stellar reviews for Sweet Basil's on Yelp, so we had breakfast there on a recent Saturday morning. The waiter was extremely pleasant and quick. We were pleased to see a really extensive breakfast menu and it took us a few minutes to decide what we wanted. We were also pleased to see that the prices weren't outrageous. My husband had the mushroom, spinach and goat cheese omelet, after wavering between that and the tiramisu pancakes. He thought it was O.K. ... a bit "bland," he said. He would've preferred that the eggs be cooked a bit more so that they were brown on top. I had a bite and I thought it was good, so I think that this dish just came down to personal preference. There was certainly nothing wrong with it. I suggested that he ask for more "well-done" eggs next time and he agreed. Maybe he should've asked for a bottle of hot sauce (I saw some near the cash register). I had the poached pear vanilla bean French toast ("Great choice!" the waiter responded). It was really delicious ... the two slices of challah bread were nice and thick, the poached pear was awesome and the caramel sauce was great as well. I'm not a huge cinnamon fan and the cinnamon in this dish was not overwhelming at all. My husband took a bite, promptly said that he should've ordered the French toast himself, and then took a few more bites from my plate. My second-choice item was the strawberry mascarpone French toast so I will definitely consider that for next time. We were seated a little before 10 a.m. and we were one of about five full tables in the restaurant at that time, and by 10:15 a.m. the place was nearly full. So if you enjoy a quiet breakfast (especially if you don't want to deal with children), try to get there early. The final bill - omelet, French toast, a regular coffee with refills, and a regular tea, plus the tip - was about $30. Not bad at all. I'm sure we'll be back for breakfast, and I'd like to try it soon for dinner as well.
(4)Genevieve L.
I drove 30 minutes to have brunch here because of the rave reviews. There were a lot of people here on a Sunday, which is always a great sign. Waitress wasn't very attentive, but it was packed and we weren't in any rush so we didn't mind that the service was mediocre. The mint hot chocolate and pomegranate lemonade were delicious, the caramel latte was ok but not great. My fiance and his mother both ordered Tunisian Eggs and they came with peppers and onions. It was supposed to be spicy but wasn't spicy, so they were a little disappointed. Overall, the dish was not bad. We also shared a bowl of chicken chili, which also lacked any spice/heat, but was still tasty. It came topped with cheese, guacamole and sour cream, and little tortilla chip pieces. It was a good bowl of chili, but not great (due to lack of spice). I ordered the strawberry mascarpone toast (toasted challah). It was pretty good, but again, not great. The mascarpone tasted too much like strawberry cream cheese, and was not fluffy or soft enough. I thought there would be a pink billowy layer of delicious cream, but it wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be. There were also very few strawberries on the plate..and I expected more. Overall, this restaurant is not bad. Perhaps it didn't live up to what I had hoped it would be. I might eat here again if I were in the area, but I wouldn't travel 30 minutes to come here. Final rating: 3 stars. Okay, but not that great. (that is just food, the service I would give 2 stars, waitress was friendly but definitely inattentive, kept running away before I could ask for a glass of water, and left an empty cup sitting at the edge of the table throughout the entire meal)
(3)D M.
We reserved a party for 30 for my mom's birthday brunch and when we first arrived, there was a pipe that had burst and there was a pungent smell at the entrance. I say this only to remark how exceptional the hostess was in accommodating our large group. Not only did the whole staff give our group extra attention, but made sure we received a few free side plates. The food was served promptly and it was amazing ! I ordered the spinach & goat cheese omelet and my sister ordered the banana pecan pancakes ( OMG !!) delish ! Fortunately, they are going to be moving to a better building and all our guests were thrilled with their dishes ! This is a great place for brunch !! I highly recommend you go ! I will be back !
(5)Jessica A.
The food was great! My husband had the Healthy Kick Start and I had the Strawberry Shortcake pancakes. Everything was great. The service was top-notch, the bathrooms were clean (I always check!), the servers were helpful, and the food was fantastic. I would have give them 5 stars but we ordered turkey sausage and it was horrible - looked like something that came out of a box of Jimmy Dean's that was then microwaved. They did offer to take it off the bill, though, so kudos to them!
(4)Ellen P.
Over the last several years my office regularly ordered from the West Orange location for various luncheons. In an average week we spent 500.00+ to as much as $5,000.00 for special occasions and then it all changed. A few weeks ago we tried to place a $50.00 order and they refused to deliver after years of steady business. Our office no longer orders from them and the new place we found is SOOOOOO much better. Thank you for treating us so badly because we're much better off now.
(2)Chris T.
Great brunch spot for a small town. Dishes were actually pretty creative. Tunisian eggs were very tasty, eggs florentine were a bit overcooked though. slow slow service on a holiday weekend. Would recommend though
(4)Carol C.
First trip today for my birthday. Loved it. Had the spinach, mushroom & goat cheese omelet. It was wonderful. Hubby & kids had french toast & the fresh squeezed OJ. They loved it. We also liked the bacon. It's hard to find good bacon these days. Prices were reasonable too. I had been afraid to go there. Looks too nice to have such reasonable prices. There's nothing like it in the area. Had to move outside because the AC was too high.
(5)Sheldon S.
Do not go very rude and expensive chop salad 2.00 extra
(1)Sharon C.
Very disappointing. I have been dining at Sweet Basils for years and the food has always been consistent and very good. Today not so much. I had the poached eggs florentine and the English muffin was barely toasted, the poached eggs overcooked, and the home fries were out of a box. I find it annoying when I feel that I could have prepared a more satisfying breakfast at home. I would hate to see them shut their doors, but I wouldn't go back. Cmon sweet basils....you can do better.
(2)Michael W.
Just like some ballplayers who last 20 years in the Big Leagues and they never really get noticed until they retire or all of a sudden a person in your life becomes almost insatiably attractive when all along they were right in front of your eyes - well - that is like Sweet Basil's Caf. I live in LA now but I lived near Sweet Basil's in West Orange, NJ for almost 10 years and I often go back and eating there (actually I usually take out and eat in my car while listening to "Mike & the Mad Dog" - a NY Sports Talk Radio Show) is a regular stop for me each time I visit my family in New Jersey - that's how good the food is at this rather non -descript "Joint." While the place does okay it's reluctance to tell people how good it is reminds me of the phrase - "too cool for school." In fact, I hesitate to write about it in Yelp for fear that everyone in New Jersey will know my secret but this is a JOINT which has CLASS and CREATIVE, HEALTHY and TASTY food. There are no downsides to it yet I marvel at how often it is not being as occupied as it should. The owner and Chef, Allan Platt, tells me that they are so busy catering that serving meals is almost secondary to their revenue source but they don't treat costumers like that as they afford them the utmost respect and always offer enticing specials and tasty tidbits from all over the country. As a result, the customers have an excellent dining experience whether it is a casual lunch with the office staff or a quite dinner with a loved one. I often kid Allan that if Sweet Basil's were in LA, it would be HUGE because its under-stated nature would attract a solid following as Allan has mastered the Secrets to running a long-standing restaurant - that is - excellent food, occasional specials that keep you guessing a bit, a cool environment and consistency. Also, in LA, no sign, no marketing, no advertisements - usually results in a great business! I am a Tuna-Fish maven and I can tell by looking it whether I can eat it and here the "Tahini Tuna" is AMAZING. Allan has some special recipe for it and I NEVER miss stopping by when I go back home and visit New Jersey to order two (2) sandwiches on well-done Rye Toast with Lettuce and Onions. Give me the NY Post, scandalous details about Eliot Spitzer and those two (2) sandwiches and I am in heaven. Sometimes I feel like taking an advertisement out in the Local Papers and screaming at everyone that they are missing out on the best food in the area but somehow Allan prefers to simply grow his business through word-of-mouth - as a satisfied customer is the best advertisement. I might have breached Allan's wishes a bit by writing this review but he deserves someone spreading the word because this is a GEM.
(5)Emily M.
i highly enjoyed my classy breakfast (ratatouille omelet) here at Sweet Basil's Cafe. My boyfriend and I sat outside, even though the outdoor seating is in the front with an unblocked view of Eagle Rock Ave. Our waitress was sweet and the food was tasty - a step or two above what you'd expect at a diner. The fresh squeezed orange juice was yum and I enjoyed the crispy home fries. I plan on coming here again during lunch for sure.
(4)Hilary M.
The new location is definitely a step up from the old West Orange location - larger (less waiting for a table) and a more modern space. One of the reasons I like this restaurant is because I feel comfortable taking my toddlers here for weekend brunch - that said, it's a noisy restaurant, full of kids. If you're looking for a quiet, intimate brunch, this isn't your go-to place. The staff is wonderful with my kids, which I appreciate and the kids menu offers several different types of selections for them. As for the grown ups' food - it's heavenly. I love the banana pecan french toast - the french toast itself is so thick and fluffy (challah bread) and the caramel sauce is delicious! I pretty much always order this - while so many other items on the menu look amazing as well, I can't imagine coming here and not getting this dish because it's so good. I usually also order some sort of side - home fries, bacon, etc... Totally not necessary, but a yummy addition. Last time I was there, there were a few minor mix-ups with our order, but they were taken care of immediately and really didn't interfere with our enjoyment of breakfast. We'll certainly be back!
(4)Sweta S.
Oh, Sweet Basil Cafe, I love thee!! Staff is wonderful, they are very attentive and helpful. It's so comfortable, a great place to spend hours with your best girl friends. They make amazing lattes and hot chocolates. I have had a wide variety of dishes and I was never disappointed. Recent Faves: Black bean veggie burger - words cannot describe how delish and good for you this burger was. It was savory, did not taste like cardboard, and I believe it is made fresh and not from a box!!! Oat(?) pancakes, pears, raisins smothered in rum maple syrup - I could not get enough of this - unfortunately i had to share it for dessert! These pancakes, were good for you, not like IHOP pancakes, and they *pause* melted in my mouth. I have also sampled salads, soups and sandwiches, all of which were great, dishes have a flare to them in a way that is refreshing and unique.
(5)A. M.
My favorite place for lunch when I worked in the area. The food is amazing and always tastes fresh and of high quality. Never had a bad meal and I tried most of the menu. The owner, Alan, is pretty friendly and remembered me by name. Service is good too, but what happened to that one cute waitress who would sneak me a cookie every once in a while :)
(5)Christina B.
LOVE this place. I actually had a bad first experience there and reviewed it on Baristanet.com , and the owner saw the review and offered me a free meal to give his restaurant another try. I actually never took him up his kind offer, but a few years later, I went back to give it another chance. And, I've been back several times since. The food is fantastic--the ingredients are fresh, and the menu choice is extremely varied. They have a great brunch selection, and I really like that they have healthy salads and sandwiches, but also decadent breakfast dishes. I've taken many friends there and they all fall in love, too. This place reminds me of cafes I've eaten at in California, where the food is fresh and healthy. Also, nice outdoor seating if you can get it in the nice weather. Note: go early or late to avoid crowds!
(4)Tom S.
I'm going to give this 3 stars for now, but will probably upgrade it when I go back. We visited Sweet Basil's for the first time for brunch and I should have listened to everyone else on Yelp and got the french toast. Instead I got Eggs Benedict and wasn't a huge fan of the hollandaise sauce. It was overpoweringly buttery, almost like someone poured drawn butter over the eggs. The home fries were really good though. The coffee was just alright. I know its fair trade, which is socially responsible, but it was bland. My wife ordered the basic pancakes and they were delicious. I was irritated though that my $3.50 side of bacon came with only 3 strips. Everything was fresh and I'll definitely go back and order again. The service was great and we didn't have to wait for a table because they were turning them over pretty frequently without rushing anyone out.
(3)Brian C.
Went here with a group of 6. The food was great and the portions were pretty good. Had a late which was pretty good. They have parking in the back which is pretty nice. We sat by the window and my back got cooked, but i cant blame them for good weather. The decor is a little dated, but the food is great and the prices are moderate. Would recomend this place for brunch. French toast all the way.
(4)Zinat M.
What an unsuspecting little gem of a place. No over the top decor, no frills type of feel, friendly staff, family vibe, and a-amaaazing food. They really aim to please the tummy, and that's what it's about my friends. Our table had folks who ate there times before, so we knew this was going to be good. The shrimp yucca benny... OMG... never heard of, nor seen a dish like this anywhere. Shrimp with yucca, fried eggs, hollandaise sauce. Every bite was heaven. Others had pulled pork, banana walnut waffles, and a veggie sandwich, they all raved. We split the tiramisu pancakes, although the waiter was pushin the pears french toast hard. The pancakes were light and fluffy, cinnamony, mascarponey, and chocolately, went superbly with our coffee. Apparently that french toast dish is the crowd pleaser, so we're going back for that next time and can't wait. Very friendly and attentive service. Prices extremely reasonable for the portions and quality of the food. Place gets packed so go early or make ressies? not sure about that. We're making this place a monthly ritual... so good.
(5)Rick S.
I lived in West Orange for over a decade, and had never visited the Sweet Basil Cafe. I've since moved from West Orange but still work in the area, and have eaten at Sweet Basil several times. I wish I had gone while I lived there. This food is fantastic. I've tried a good variety, from the burgers, to other sandwiches - everything tastes delicious and fresh. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are sufficient. They have been serving brunch as well, everyday I believe, but I've not had a chance to try the brunch menu. I've heard good things about it though. There is a small outdoor seating area, the majority of the people eat indoors. I've gone at lunch time during the week, it is almost always packed. Great food, good service, reasonable prices. What more do you want?
(5)Steven A.
good for vegetarians but not so much for vegans prices are high
(3)S G.
Stopped in for breakfast and had the Tunisian Eggs and the Southwest Egg Wrap. The Tunisian eggs were excellent, over easy eggs on top of peppers, onions, and garlic sauteed in Mediterranean/African spices accompanied by nice, fresh, warm pita. The Southwest egg wrap was good, but could use a little more heat (or maybe just a bottle of Tapatio/Cholula brought out with it, but that doesn't seem to be very common here on the East Coast, sadly). The potato chunks with the eggs were crispy, but maybe just a teeny bit dry. We will definitely be back for lunch and dinner. The breakfasts, were nice, fresh, and tasty. Sweet Basil's is a wonderful break from diner breakfasts, which I love, but which can get old.
(4)Simona C.
I have lived in West Orange all my life and have only been here within the past year. My boyfriend is a big breakfast person so I wanted to take him somewhere new and different. The staff is warm, friendly and attentive. They have a lot of unique options on the menu and would love to go back to try some of their pancakes.
(4)Jen C.
YUM! love this place!! came here for brunch and everything was delicious. service was excellent. there was a baby shower going on as we were finishing our meal, and our server offered us a complimentary dessert with coffee if we switched our table so we could continue talking in an area separate from the shower. that was above and beyond what they needed to do, and we really appreciated it! will definitely definitely be back again to try the rest of the menu. i just wish the place was bigger- i could imagine it gets really crowded during peak hours!
(5)Karen L.
The food is delicious and fresh, the price is reasonable, the atmosphere is nice, the coffee is fair trade, and the service is good.
(5)syd s.
I have been going to Sweet Basil's for years and it is THE BEST! The food is fresh, the menu is innovative, and the service is great. The blueberry stuffed french toast and the ahi tuna sandwich are some of my favorites, but really, everything I've tried is delicious. Highly recommend!
(5)Don W.
Dont miss lunch at this delight. Sandwichs, salads and entrees are healthy and full of flavor. Come early since it fills up with locals of all ags
(4)Matt U.
Went for brunch with my girlfriend on a Saturday morning. We sat down right away, seemed to be a good size for the damand it gets. The waiter came over right away and took our drink order. The menu was small but unique. It had a lot of good sounding combos. I got the Pear Freanch Toast and she got a custom omelette, mushrooms and spinach. The food arrived pretty quickly and tasted great. The French toast was lathered in some type of sauce, I'm not sure what kind of sauce, but it was perfect. It was some of the best french toast I have had and french toast is always my go too breakfast item. I tried some of my girls omelette and, although I don't really like omelettes, it was very good aswell. The food was great but the atmosphere was nothing special, which is why it only got 4 stars. It wasn't a bad atmosphere it just was nothing standout. I really enjoyed this place and definitely plan to go back. Would recommend.
(4)Mike R.
Saturday lunch around 12:30. No wait but busy. Mixed results: Pulled pork and pancakes very good. Turkey sandwich and $15(!) burger were underwhelming. Service was initially poor (had to get our own napkins and had a very long wait for coffee refill) but it improved toward end of visit. High expectations after all the Yelp reviews were not met.
(3)Laxmi A.
Sweet Basil is a great option for brunch or lunch in the Livingston/Chatham/Madison area. The food is fresh and tasty, the service prompt, and the ambiance inviting. We went around noon on a Sunday and the place was packed with brunch and early lunch crowds. I had something called the Health Kick (eggs with avocados) while my daughter had the pancakes. Both were excellent. The pancakes in particular were golden, fluffy, and delicious. Parking can be a bit of a hassle, especially when the place gets crowded. I'll definitely be going back..
(4)Angela P.
Sweet basil has a phenomenal, fresh, selection of breakfast lunch and dinner at all times during the day every day which is great. The fact that it's byob is also great. I had a specialy omelette there once thag I still dream about. A pesto infused egg white one. Awesome. The service is great and friendly. The place is always hopping. My only beef is that the parking is scarce and I just went there for an egg white and turkey sausage sandwhich and paid $11. I Hence why I couldn't cough up the last star. Parking is a big one and an $11 breakfast sandwich is insane.
(4)Bianca C.
Came here super excited and ready to indulge in goodness. We've been here 3 times and this place to me is hit or miss. On a yelp scale of 1 to 5 stars with five being "as good as it gets" here are my rating: 1. Service---------------------------------2 stars 2. Ahi tuna sandwich------------------5 stars 3. Talapia fish tacos-------------------3 stars 4. Poblano burger----------------------2 stars 5. Blueberry stuffed french toast----5 stars 6. Banana pecan french toast-------3 stars 7. Lobster roll----------------------------1 star ( extremely small & soggy)
(3)Kevin M.
These are the kind of experiences I live for... The days where you venture to somewhere new and end up with a mind blowing dining experience. Simply put, Sweet Basil Café is now one of my favorite places in New Jersey and home to the best French toast I've ever had. In a small strip mall in Livingston lays this French toast paradise. Upon entering on a weekend, the line is pretty intense. It makes lines at IHOP seem small... But I'm happy to say that the lines move really fast and I was seated within 15 minutes. I expected it to be a hell of a lot longer. I wasted no time and ordered the French toast. It was perfect from the first bite to the last. Not doughy, just the right amount of batter and the banana & pecans topped the dish off excellently. Like most people, I've had French toast hundreds of times in my life, and this place is the clear winner. I also had a side order of hash brown and those were delicious as well. Fried to perfection and seasoned nicely. This restaurant is a must. If you're in the area or near the Short Hills Mall and want a delicious meal, specifically French toast, come here immediately. Don't let the line scare you off, it moves fast and food is well worth it.
(5)Dan B.
Came by here for brunch before heading to a day spent at Short Hills Mall (not by choice) and ordered a coffee and shared a few things with my fiance. We shared the pulled pork eggs benedict (amazing!!) and the southerwestern wrap. Both were good but my favorite was the pulled pork eggs benedict. I will def return and order the pulled pork again.
(4)Di L.
Sweet Basil's has been a long time favorite of mine and my wife's; the food is great and the service is good! I always get the Banana Pecan French Toast and it's always amazing! The ambiance is nice and quiet, the serving staff is friendly and speedy. The valet parking is a great service especially in the winter. I would highly recommend.
(5)Gabby B.
Eat here! DO IT!! Drive for however long you need to, it's so worth it! I've been here 4 times, with my SO, my sister, a friend, and when I introduced my mom to my SO. Every time the food is great, I most often go for the pulled pork Benedict. I think it's a staple of this place, however everything else is also good. The service has been great as far as I remember. The food comes out in a timely manner and it's not over priced. I need to come back for the French toast tho!!
(5)Chrissy K.
Came for a lovely brunch and it was wonderful! Ordered a strawberry mascarpone French toast and it went beyond my expectations. I ordered the syrup and strawberries on the side and I'm actually quite happy I did so. I think it would have taken away from the dish if the French toast was drenched in syrup. I'm definitely coming here again soon!
(4)Francis C.
Somewhat of a disappointment for me. It's not bad, but I had pretty high expectations after all the great yelp reviews and a previous experience. I ate here for brunch many years ago when they were still in West Orange. I don't remember what I got, but I do remember that it was fantastic. Fast forward to August 2014, they are now in Livingston. Hostess was a little cold. I saw lobster roll special on the menu and my eyes lit up. Turned out it was so small, I think I finished it in about 1 minute. It was in a standard potato hot dog roll and the liquid from the mayo made it so soggy that it was falling apart in my hands. Thankfully my wife liked her stuffed french toast and ahi tuna sandwich. Maybe the lobster roll was an anomaly so I gave them another shot two weeks later. That time I had the poblano burger, which I assume would taste somewhat like a poblano pepper, but instead it was pretty bland. It was about diner quality. My wife got fish tacos made with battered talapia and she thought it was just ok. So I guess this place is kind of inconsistent. Maybe they are only good for breakfast/brunch.
(3)Nicole M.
I really have no complaints about this place which is surprising considering recent reviews. I came here on a Sunday around noon with a group of about 15. We were seated relatively quickly which is great considering they don't take reservations. The coffee was strong and SUPER hot which was ideal since we had all just run or walked a 5k. Even with two tables of 7 and 8, our service was very quick and incredibly friendly. I ordered the strawberry French toast with the sweet cream filling and it was delicious and probably terrible for me which made it that much better. Thank you to Sweet Basil's for a great breakfast with my family!
(5)Rudy M.
This place has some genuinely home-made, and amazingly delicious dishes! If you enjoy "fast food" joints, then stay away. For those who have a more exquisite palate, you will not be disappointed. Please note, lunch time may be a little crowded, so choose your arrival times wisely. My one peeve: I'm not a fan of the 'open-table' setup... (don't care to watch others eat!) I wish they had booths! Don't know what to get? Try the Poached Pear French Toast, or the Pulled Pork Benedict! Both will leave you "Mmm-ing" to death!
(4)Tina P.
We love coming here for Breakfast / Brunch. We bring our toddler who loves there home fries and vanilla shake. There Veggie Omelet is really good. Also there fresh Pomegranate lemonade.
(4)Robert M.
Always great! I used to come here when they were located in West Orange. I was happy that their move to Livingston didn't affect their high standards. EVERYTHING is always delicious and the wait staff is always polite and helpful. Best eggs Benedic I've ever had anywhere!
(5)Penelope M.
I don't understand why it took so long to take our orders and then seem to rush us to leave. I wish I asked for their names so I can give credit to those who actually were working. Like the older fellow, tall and lean. His nice attitude made up for the "glacier-speed effort" of the younger female server who clearly did not wish to be there. The food is not bad. I had steak and eggs and they were done as I ordered them. The whiskey sour pancake ordered by my co worker, is also pretty good. Then as we were conversing, another wait staff kept hovering around us like he wanted us to leave already. Place wasn't even packed. While earlier, he made an excuse of, "give me one minute" so he can get away from taking our picture. It was a farewell brunch for a co worker. Most of the time though, he just walked around aimlessly. Dining out, brunching out is an experience that people will remember. The quality of food, the ambience and the attitude of servers. Sweet Basil's menu is good enough to come back to, but attitude of servers can detour future patrons.
(3)Erik E.
It's good cause most restaurants in livingston kind of suck. It's a good place because it's straight forward, no surprises. But, it's not super great, it's simple.
(2)Inês L.
They claim to have vegan options but, really, it consists of one sandwich, one soup and one salad. If that's the case, then technically McDonald's also has vegan options, if you get what I'm saying. Anyway, my BF and BF liked their food. Decent portions for the price, lots of coffee refills (yay!) but be advised you'll have a really hard time finding parking.
(3)Sasha A.
The lunch menu was nothing to write home about. It was crowded and extremely noisy, so we pretty much ate quickly to avoid the noise level.
(2)Jeanette P.
Stopped in for breakfast because the bagel place I wanted to try was closed. I'm so glad I did! My husbands huevos rancheros was awesome and my sweet basics florentine ( English muffin with spinach , portobellos, poached eggs with hollandaise and pesto) was amazing. Will definitely be back to try their lunch and dinner :)
(5)Purpose T.
This place earns their 5 stars EVERY time!!! You absolutely cannot go wrong for breakfast here. I always say I have to try dinner here but I keep getting lured in by breakfast cravings! :) this morning I had the strawberry shortcake pancakes w/their oh so delicious homefries, of course. Not one complaint!! I love sweet basil's!!
(5)Susan Z.
We put in a large (~12ish people) order for takeout early Sunday morning for a wedding party, and it was great. I usually don't like pancakes that much compared to other breakfast fares but WOW the tiramisu pancakes are amazing! Everything else was good, too, all the bennys were good and we appreciated the variety. Will stop in again if we're back in the area!
(5)Michele B.
Fast service, adorable charm, and good fresh food. Don't forget to bring your own champagne for those mimosas!
(4)Allie M.
We waited for more than a year to come back here after having a few horrible service experiences here in 2012/13. Even though we really didn't want to come back, my mother-in-law got us a gift certificate for our one-year anniversary, so we decided to give it another try. We were off to a decent start. The waiter took our order and brought us our drinks within a few minutes of arriving, which definitely was NOT the case before when we waited so long to order and then so much longer to eat that part of our party actually had to leave. Our waiter brought our coffee and latte within a few minutes of us ordering them., but sadly my latte was only warm, definitely not as hot as it should have been. Then I ordered the shrimp Benedict, which was pretty elaborate and flavorful and served in a tortilla bowl. My husband ordered the pulled pork Benedict. His was definitely better than mine--it was seasoned much more intensely. We didn't wait unreasonably long for the food. But then when our waiter asked if we wanted our toast (um, yeah - it comes with it, we want it!) he didn't come back until we were almost finished, and he brought the wrong kind of toast. Then the check came. It was $32-something. We had a gift certificate for $30 and gave them our card for the rest because we didn't take any cash with us. The waiter returned to our table a couple of minutes later to tell us that there is a $10 minimum purchase for cards. Instead of offering to put $10 on the card, the rest on the gift certificate, and the difference back to is in cash, the waiter rang through the card for $10 (which ended up being $16 with tip) and gave us back our gift certificate with the $13 balance scribbled on it... Now, for the second time we have to go back, and we don't even want to. So lame. I won't be giving this place anymore of my time or money after I use the last of our gift certificate.
(2)M B.
When you first pull up the only parking option seems to be valet. Inside really isn't much to look at, reminds me of an older Chinese restaurant. The food however is fabulous. They have plenty of vegetarian/vegan options and there was a line waiting out the door and inside to be seated.
(4)Meredith G.
I hear this place gets to busy valet parking is required during the week. But on a Saturday at 9am we beat the crowds. I got the Banana Pecan Pancakes- pancakes topped with fresh bananas & a decadent caramel pecan sauce. No additional syrup required this was so sweet and yummy. Friendly staff buzzed around. Everyone loved their breakfast and they didn't rush us out when we finished and sat there talking.
(4)Kevin B.
This place is fantastic! I came here for brunch in Sept with a few friends and it definitely lives up to the hype. The service was very prompt and the food was absolutely delicious. I got the huevos rancheros and they were super tasty and the perfect spice level. All my friends liked their meal as well and I didn't hear one complaint about the food. The menu is quite extensive and I will definitely try to come back to check out some of the other dishes. Great place overall for breakfast or lunch!
(5)Aquilla L.
This morning breakfast was particularly amazing. I checked the menu prior to going knowing I wanted to have a descent delicious breakfast but I didn't want to go to my normal spots. I've heard the best reviews about this place especially since their newer location and expanded menu. Because I have a weakness for everything spicy I went for the Heuvos Rancheros and they were wonderful. The presentation was perfect, in a cast iron mini skillet the Rancheros were stacked tightly with two fried eggs on top... Spicy chorizo sausage and pulled pork deliciousness!!!!!!! The wide got the plain French Toast... Which of course I would have went completely Ham and gotten the Strawberry stuffed Challah.... But the plain French Toast was actually quite nice. If your looking for a light breakfast option... You could opt for this !!! Overall I enjoyed this
(4)Tali B.
We got the Southwest Breakfast Wrap which was pretty good but I am convinced that the churizo is actually cabasa or some hotdog which was disappointing because I am a big fan of churizo and it would have added a nice kick to the wrap. We also got the classes french toast which was very tasty but it was a little too soggy for my liking. Otherwise the service was great and the ambiance was cozy.
(3)B-Mama D.
Sweet Basil's food is well-crafted, thoughtful and makes me so happy every single time I eat here. My favorites are the skillets, the salads, and the coffee is strong and delicious. My kids love the pancakes, and hot chocolate. I only go here during the week, as I imagine parking is a nightmare during the weekend. My only wish is that there were one closer to my house!
(5)Gunny R.
Can't say enough good things about this place. It's a BYOB, so that's always a plus for me. I seem to always have Kate as our server, and she is always very engaging, attentive and pleasant. Food is amazing, fried calamari with hot cherry peppers, capers and arugula. Who can top that one! Specials are always fantastic, and I've never been skunked here. It's a winner. Enjoy!
(5)Jerard C.
After running my first 5k nearby I was willing to eat anything that wasn't poison, but I'm extremely happy I ended up at Sweet Basil's Cafe. As a part of a group of 15 people I was nervous about getting a table quickly especially since they don't take reservations, but we only waited for about 10 minutes before they were able to fit us in even though it's not a big place. It was right around time for brunch so before deciding what I was going to order I had to decide if I was in the mood for breakfast or lunch, but everything on the menu sounded so good I had trouble just doing that. After fighting with myself in my head my stomach took over and decided that it wanted lunch, so I ordered the Ahi Tuna Multigrain sandwich, and I definitely was not disappointed as it was sizable and delicious. Several others at the table ordered some variation of pancakes and not a one left anything on their plates. Our server was very polite and always available despite the brunch crowd. I hope I get a reason to go back to West Orange to give breakfast a try sometime soon.
(5)Jess C.
Based on food alone, this is my favorite place in all of NJ to have brunch. They have an overwhelmingly diverse menu with anything from eggs benedicts to pear and vanilla bean pancakes, french toast, hash browns, omelets, sandwiches... the list goes on. I always get one of the benedicts (pulled pork, shrimp, or salmon) and they're usually en pointe, but the rest of their menu is fairly decent/above average too. Their homestyle potatoes are incredible though! Prices are on the higher end for suburban NJ, but for this area and the amount of food you're getting, it's worth it. Just thinking about finding parking in the small shopping center gives me anxiety. There's too many restrictions e.g. "this space is for the bagel shop only," this space is 5 minute parking only." Apparently there is more parking further down the street but I'd prefer not to jaywalk across Livingston Ave. Service isn't the best. The no-nonsense hostess is efficient, just don't expect to be greeted with five-star service and a smile. The ambiance is also very casual. I like the large windows, spaciousness, and some of the colorful paintings on the wall, but the tacky seasonal decorations and dining room chairs are questionable. Basically, just come here for the food!
(4)Bryan Z.
Breakfast and Brunch have always been a crapshoot between IHOP, DD, or Starbucks. I had forgotten that eating of the morning variety should be enjoyed and celebrated. Okay enough of that hogwash! Sweet Basil's Cafe was in one word: INCREDIBLE! Upon walking in you are greeted by a friendly face and shown a menu while you wait. I've been here twice. Once on a somewhat busy Sunday morning and other time on Father's Day. Even on a high volume day they were very organized and unfazed which speaks volumes about how they conduct business. Very friendly and professional. The food was also spectacular. We started with Nutella pancakes and they were as tasty as you could imagine. I had the Pulled Pork Benedict and honestly I did a happy dance when I ate it. It was perfect in all respects the pork was nice and salty and the spice was perfect. Honestly if I could eat that for breakfast everyday I would be happy. On Father's Day my girlfriend decided to go with the Pulled Pork Benedict since that one bite of mine on our first visit made an impression on her. I was more in a lunchy kind of mood and went with the Memphis Burger the second time. Wow and wow was all I could say! The plate was pricey for being a burger but at 19 dollars it was worth it. The ambiance of this small spot is definitely inviting and whether on a date or with family it's proven to be a smashing success. Highly recommended!
(5)Jitesh D.
Walked in on Fathers Day. We had no reservations waited for 20-25 minutes for our table. Thanks to the Manager,Michelle, who managed the walk in well inspite of all the hustle and bustle. Good choice for Vegans and Vegetarians. The fully loaded burger (Vege) was good. Don't miss to try out Blue Velvet and Pepper Mint Brownie Milkshake.
(4)Edward R.
Food here is great; however, I am sitting here today for Fathers Day and the prices in the menu are 60-80% higher for this day and Mother's Day. This, my friends, is called price gouging! My chicken bacon avocado sandwich today is $16; otherwise, it would be $9 on any other day. Tropicana orange juice today is $5. I know I have the choice to walk out, but I didn't get the Father's Day menu until after my 45 minute wait for a table. Never take your customers for granted.....
(2)Mags M.
Great brunch place - spacious, clean, friendly. Will definitely return. We went early (around 9am) and it wasn't crowded.
(4)Vanessa P.
This is a perfect choice for A-you don't know what you want to eat and want options or B-everyone wants something different. I took my family here the day after Thanksgiving, as I had been here once prior, and knew that they would enjoy it. The place was packed, but there luckily was a four-top open for us and we didn't have to wait. It was around 1045am and we were pleasantly surprised to find out that although they had an extensive brunch menu, they also allowed you to order lunch. My sister had eaten, so she tried an assortment of teas and coffees. My dad went with the breakfast option of the fritatta special, which was gone in a matter of minutes. My mom chose a sandwich, saying, "This is the best BLT of my life!" and I chose the mesclun salad because I wanted something light and it was flavorful and perfect for my needs. Last time I was here I had the pancakes which were so tasty and filling. It's nice to know that you have so many options, just let the mood take you. Reasonably priced, good atmosphere, and great gourmet food. I will be back!
(5)Michelle C.
For brunch, this place is great. Blueberry pancakes, strawberry marscapone french toast, regular french toast are my favs. Unfortunately, the service is horrible. It took about 10 min just for the server to take our drink order and another 10 min just to get the coffee. Food took at least 25 min to arrive and my eggs were undercooked. I asked fit them to be well done and they just threw it back on the griddle - gross! They put them back on the same plate too so my home fries were cold when my recooked eggs returned. The egg skillets come out with this dirty dish water smell that is rather repulsive so those are no good. Lunch is ok. Not mind blowing. I think this place is pretty overpriced for what you get. Example: $13 for a cobb salad that was missing the hard boiled egg and was really just a bed of lettuce. I ordered a cobb so I'd be full... not hungry again in 30 min! I'd give this place more stars if it wasn't such a rip off.
(2)Susana F.
Nice brunch spot in the area. My bf and I shared the pulled pork eggs Benedict and the southwestern breakfast wrap. Really wasn't a huge fan of the wrap, not enough flavor for all of the ingredients put together. However the eggs Benedict were incredible. Never had something like that before and it was so flavorful!!! Next time I come back I will be ordering that for sure. So good!
(4)Irene L.
The food is great, my problems are with the parking. The lot fills up fast and there are way too many places that I can't park in. Also, while the staff is nice, when you walk in you never know whether to just sit down or wait for someone. There's no hostess booth or anything and the staff is usually busy helping other people or just standing by the bar.
(4)Cindy B.
So I have visited this restaurant twice and both times have been for brunch and yes, I am a FAN! Their menu is pretty extensive and shies away from your traditional brunch menu -although there are some traditional eggs benedict :) It is a BYOB so make sure you stop off for your Mimosa fixn's! The wait is about 15-20 mins on a Sunday after 12 o'clock mass -YES I do church as well:) I HAVE to pray for mercy on my waistline and hips as much as I LOVE to eat! lol! So, not too bad a wait:) It is crowded and the noise level is usual-not too loud. I have had both the twists to the eggs benedict -the shrimp eggs benedict on my first visit and the pulled pork eggs benedict this past Sunday and have to admit, I can't pick a fave! The Shrimp eggs benedict come complete with roasted corn & yucca hash with shrimp, topped with guacamole, two poached eggs & cilantro chipotle hollandaise...mmmm mmmm mmmmmm! The pulled pork benedict follows suit with pulled pork instead of shrimp....hence the name! lol! Despite what you may be in the mood for, land or sea, both are delicioso!! My only complaint is that I was finished before everyone else at the table!! :( -Having NOTHING to do with portion size as their portions are enough- they are not feeding the green giant! My son ordered the huevos rancheros with a side of anduille sausage *spicy sauge*. The huevos rancheros consisted of two corn tortillas layered with chorizo, roasted pork, black beans & cheddar cheese topped with two sunny side up eggs, poblano sauce & our five chili ranchero sauce. It was very very delish! My hubby ordered the shrimp eggs benedict and a side of blueberry stuffed whole wheat pancakes! They were so delicately fluffy and so tastefully delicious! I initially frowned when he ordered them whole wheat thinking that perhaps it may make the pancake dull and cardboard like, but ohhh noooo, quite to the contrary! Service? oh wow! What service! I was compelled to give a little more than 20% simply because the server was beyond serviceable and engaging DESPITE the fact that all of his tables were full! Look for Manny when you visit! Cost...all of the above plus: 1 pitcher of oj; 2 coffees; 1 chocolate milk & an apple cobbler =$82.66....Would I return? Can't wait to go back to try dinner!!
(4)Anna W.
We came here for an early dinner and we were not disappointed at all. We were seated quickly and the service was outstanding. Kate was our waitress and she was very friendly and helpful, especially with our two little nephews (5 & 1). The menu was full of very appetizing options as well as vegan and gluten free dishes, good for those of us with food allergies. We all loved what we ordered. We'll be back for the delicious sounding brunch.
(5)Jeffrey S.
A consistent, solid choice in an area that has few consistent and solid choices. I have had dinner and breakfast here numerous times and have really enjoyed it. Love their brochette and their mac & cheese is to die for. However, what seals it for me is that they have fruit, yogurt and granola on the breakfast menu, adoringly called, morning crunch. I am surprised by how few restaurants have something like this and it is always my number one choice for breakfast. Service is polite, efficient and attentive without being over bearing. This place is great.
(4)Rachel B.
Finally--we found good brunch! I can't say enought good things about Sweet Basil's Cafe. The staff was friendly and polite from start to finish, the coffee is strong and tasty (even the decaf), and the FOOD IS SCRUMPTIOUS. My fiancee had the eggs florentine and it was the best he's ever had. The breakfast potatoes that came with it were little fried nuggets of delicious. I had the poached pear french toast and it was outrageous. Just enough caramel sauce to make it tasty and moist, and the challah it was made from--so good. I also had scrambled egg on the side and it was perfectly fluffy. We'll be back again for absolute sure.
(5)Shari A.
Definitely losing its appeal. Met a friend for brunch midweek and the place was bustling. Ordered my usual, the health kick omelette which was okay, but the scrambled whites with pesto and veggies was texturally just too mushy. When I asked to substitute for the toast, the server simply said no and that I would be charged extra for fruit. In the past they have just added a few more greens to the small side salad. I am usually happy to pay extra for an addition but he just was not that service oriented. Also, had to ask numerous times and wait quite long for coffee refills. My friend was happy with her go to vegan cafe salad. Guess if you need a brunch fix this place is fine but I prefer to grab a salad down the street at Coco Bello-quality of food and service is superior.
(2)Bill I.
Always great tasting food. Usually I order breakfast, but everything is good.
(4)Rebecca B.
We went for brunch on a Saturday. We had the smiley face pancake for kids, the steak and eggs, the eggs Benedict, the huevos rancheros and the pear and vanilla French toast, everything was good but not great, the coffee was crap!
(3)Jason S.
Great food, good prices, nice interior. Good for anyone for any meal. Busy but service is good. Glad I came and would recommend to anyone.
(4)Talia A.
Best breakfast/lunch/dinner place in Livingston. You won't be disappointed. Everything is good here, price is reasonable though parking is a problem as always crowded. You can park in Shoprite parking lot and walk here.
(5)Ariel J.
It's BYOB and they have excellent food options for brunch, what more can you want? I got the poached pear French toast which was delicious! Because I usually like a well-rounded sweet and savory dish, I ordered a side of scrambled eggs and a spicy chorizo sausage. All together that was heaven in my mouth. My friends got the shrimp Benedict and the huevos rancheros which they said were really good. The portions are pretty big as well - I could barely finish For 6 people, the bill came to $125 which I didn't think was that bad. Overall - this has to be the best brunch I've had in NJ and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Cirio D.
Great spot for breakfast/brunch. If you plan to do brunch on the weekend, I would highly recommend being seated before 11:30 to beat the rush of people that will come in. Highly recommend: - Banana Pecan French Toast - the caramel/banana/pecan syrup over the French toast is an explosion of different flavors, all powerful on their own, blended harmoniously together. Differently original, and a welcomed change from the standard butter/syrup topping on French toast. My fiancé had the Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes. The filling in between the pancakes was creamy and just the right amount of sweet; fresh strawberries and whipped cream topped it off. Very good, but not quite the French toast. Other items to try on future visits: - Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict - Steak and Eggs - Crab Cake Benedict - Poached Pear Vanilla Bean French Toast One other tip - breakfast sides are on the plain side, and are nothing to write home about.
(4)Bill M.
Great, relaxed atmosphere and terrific food. Low volume adult alternative music in the background was a nice touch and seems to go with the mood. I went for a late Sunday brunch and was seated immediately. The staff was polite and friendly. We were seated with menus and had enough time to figure out what we wanted before a drink order was taken. It is a BYO establishment (liquor store across Livingston Ave in Shoprite lot). They uncorked the champagne for us and brought a pitcher of OJ for mimosas. The eggs Benedict was very very good and delivered quickly. Waitress followed up with his everything was but later than would have been helpful. However, everything was terrific so no need. Menu for lunch and dinner looked excellent so a return trip is happening. And everyone was raving about the pulled pork eggs Benedict, so that will be on the list of things to try.
(4)Marie Z.
A nice little café located on South Livingston Avenue. Do keep in mind Sweet Basil's shares the same plaza as Regal Bank, Chinese take out restaurant, nail salon and bagel shop which leads to parking issues if you do visit the café during peak hours. Otherwise, mediocre food and service.
(3)Danielle D.
organic whole wheat blueberry pancakes were amazing. wish i lived closer but will definitely be back. the reviews don't lie.
(5)Millzz P.
I love brunching here. The entire menu is enticing but I am a sucker for their Huevos Rancheros.
(5)Jeff A.
As I said from my last review, I would try their dinner menu and, yes, DELICIOUS! To start, bestfriend and I had the three style bruschetta: goat cheese with mushrooms, cheese gorgonzola with walnut honey and guacamole along with tuna tartare. The praise here is their chicken entrée: I had the Greek chicken and she had the chicken burgundy. Truth be told both dishes are amazing, the sauce on these two dishes are very flavorful and balanced. Of course my fave is the Greek chicken: grilled onion, kalamata olives, tomato, lemon vinegrette and feta cheese just compliments the fried chicken so well. Mouthwatering!
(4)Megan D.
Great spot for a healthy bite to eat. Came here with my friend who's vegetarian. It was great for her because it has enough of a selection for her to get her brunch fix. She got the egg white veggie omelette with spinach and feta and a small side salad. I got the spanish scramble with cheddar cheese, tomato and chorizo. Get tasty and full of flavor. Came with a side of home fries and multi grain toast.
(4)Sumi P.
I have enjoyed Sweet Basils brunches and lunch quite often, unfortunately, dinner does not follow suit. I went this past week with a group for dinner and it was as if I was in a different restaurant. The food and service were, to put it simply, awful. The menu is the same as the lunch menu, with daily specials printed on paper. The waiter was only available to take a dinner order. Never did he come and ask if we needed anything, ask if we needed more sparkling water (we did), or ask if we wanted dessert; again, we did but were not asked. The food was bland, cold, and my 'market' salad had raw potatoes with a completely tasteless dressing. Fried chicken was dry and bland with a mushy crust. Other entrees did not fare very well either. One thing that I do not understand. If the waiter takes the dinner order in order of seating, why do servers come to the table and yell "Who gets the...." no excuse for this. Overall, a very disappointing experience, pne that will keep me from coming back for a long time.
(2)Kristin A.
Excellent menu, accommodating waiter, reasonable prices. All around great time!!
(5)Jeremy G.
Probably some of the best French toast that I have ever eaten (I had the caramel pecan). My wife also liked her pulled pork Benedict dish, but kept stealing bites of my French toast. Service was good and interior design is modern industrial. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Janice G.
Great food, good service, live in Denver, and go often. Always a nice treat. We ski Vail quite a bit, and make reservations at Sweet Basil's every time. Fabulous!
(5)Ebony V.
Food was excellent, unique breakfast selection, we had the shrimp and yuca Benny (amazing), and the sweet basil's florentine(equally lovely). The experience was seamless! Will definitely be back :)
(4)Kira M.
I came here alone on a Tuesday for brunch. The staff were quick to get me seated and started on some delicious coffee. I ordered the Health Kick -- pesto, egg whites, avocado, portobello, onion, and tomato, with whole wheat toast and home fries -- and I was in brunch heaven. The food came out pretty fast, was plated well, and was all around delicious. The egg dish was incredible and healthy, the toast was perfect, and the home fries were more flavorful than you usually find. The servers were very attentive and polite. I'm giving a 4-star rating for the quality of food and service. What keeps me from giving a 5 is that the tables and chairs are a little ugly for such an otherwise great place that serves all three meals. I guess they are appropriate for a breakfast or lunch place, but not for dinner. Overall, this place is definitely a must try! I hope to come back and try more meals and dishes with my friends.
(4)Victoria G.
Omg awesome food! Ok I had the pulled pork Benedict and it was TDF. Amazing hands down. Most of menu was really unique and very tasty. Parking is a problem however and if you go brunch times the place is super packed! But I would go again get there earlier (breakfast) and order the whiskey r&ab pancakes or tiramisu pancakes!
(5)Lior S.
My views for Sweet Basil unfortunately have not changed and worsened! It appears that the owner, who was nice enough to respond to my previous review, did not do anything to improve and be consistent with the service. I did not reach out or request anything to remedy the previous debacle since I wanted to see whether it deserves another chance. It has been long enough that one would think natural correction would take place. What is worse is people rating this place 4-stars for breakfast due to lack of options. Came in today with family and happy to see the place filled with happy people. The first false positive was the coffee which actually had a strong taste and was brewed right. Then the service issues began. My daughter grabbed my wife's cup and spilled seltzer on the table. It was quickly cleaned up but my wife, who is 6 months pregnant, was never asked or brought a refill. The waitress disappeared for a while, also not showing up after we asked the floor manager to get her for us, and we had to grab someone who walked by to get another cup. For the food, the order was messed up for my sister-in-law who got a western omelet wrap instead of the omelet she requested. After a while, her order arrived but was cold. The pancakes for my nephew, chocolate chip, were dry and poor kid ate them since he was hungry and being polite. My western omelet wrap, which I added potatoes too thinking it would be great, lacked flavor and I had to add salt (it's supposed to have chorizo and other great elements that should have some flavor). Everyone else just had mediocre food and regretted not choosing our usual brunch place that we didn't feel like driving too far to. Would have been worth the drive! With the party obviously agitated, and not showing any signs of satisfaction one would think that the management would be notified - there are sites such as yelp after all to share the experience. No such thing. The waitress was ambivalent and quite frankly did not give a crap. After what seemed like ten minutes for the bill to arrive, she showed up saying the omelet was take off without apology. This impacted both her tip and fueled my desire to come home and write this up. Unfortunately, we also didn't have anything good to say to a person who asked us in the parking lot whether the brunch there was good. Too bad...
(1)Brian T.
Giving this one star solely based on the service. Not only was our table neglected, (had to get up and go ask for a refill and had to get up and go ask for dressing for the salad), the tables around us were as well. So this negative review is all around the server that was helping us. I will definitely try again because the reviews from others appear to be good and the food was decent.
(1)Honey P.
Let me start off saying that I'm a HUGE fan of Sweet Basil's when it comes to brunch (5 stars), but I'm not a fan when it comes to dinner (3 stars). Going to Sweet Basil's for brunch makes me happy and we bring anyone that comes over to visit us to this place. My husband LOVES their Poached Pear Vanilla Bean French Toast, whereas my weak spot is for the Strawberry Mascarpone French Toast. If you eat all of it, you'll be very sleepy afterwards! When I'm in the mood to eat something on the lighter side, their Health Kick dish is really good too. If you're going to get sides, their Home Fries are perfectly crispy! Other ones that I've tried are their Florentine (yummy) and their grilled cheese special (if you like grilled cheese, this is a fancy/delicious version of it!) I've tried going here for dinner twice so far. The first time, I wasn't amazed. I love brushetta and while it was good, it wasn't something I look forward to coming back for like I do for their brunch dishes. I got their lemon chicken sauvignon and again, same feelings as the brushetta. I gave it a second chance by ordering their chicken w/ pesto sauce special. It was not appetizing whatsoever w/ the skin (not crispy) still on and very bland. I ate the veggie and polenta, but just moved the chicken to the side. I didn't bother saying anything to the waitress, however when the waitress asked what was wrong and I told her -- she handled it very well and was much appreciated. I will give dinner another chance someday and I will continue to be a loyal brunch customer!
(4)Kris R.
The banana pecan pancakes were delicious. Nice atmosphere and definitely look forward to revisiting
(4)Tiffany H.
This is a regular for some of my friends. The food selection is interestingly mixed in type but very good. It's always crowded, with limited parking, which isn't wonderful considering that it's a cafe/restaurant in a small town.
(4)Gianni A.
I love this place service was alright but the food made up for it .. I didnt know what to order at first but then i noticed the strawberry french toast ! I cant wait to go. back
(5)Jennifer M.
3.5 My only peeve about this place is that sauces/syrups should always go on the side. I had ordered the poached pear/vanilla french toast and it was SWIMMING in caramel syrup butter. I had to ask for a extra plate so that my toast wasnt drenched in caramel, making it too sweet to eat. Other than that, friendly service, great selection of food, fresh, trendy open ceilings. The place is swarming with couples with young kids or older couples trying to get away from their kids.
(3)Alyscia Z.
Great spot for brunch on Sundays. There home fries are delicious but wish they put more on your plate. Had to order another side order of them because barely got any. Favorite spot for my girlfriends and I to catch up on a sunday morning.
(4)Biz T.
Came here after a year. Place is still crowded which is a good thing. The menu is extensive for food and non alcoholic drinks. Sometimes too much is not a good thing and that is the case this time. Trying to be a maser if all comes with risks. My veggie burger was tasteless and the fried were cold and soggy. Replacement fries were marginally better - still not what they ought to be. Breakfast items seems to be their strength. Better to stick with those.
(3)Nancy P.
Amazing split pea soup and lentil!! I can never go wrong ordering lunch from here. Wished they offered delivery because it is a zoo to pick up!!! Sad the little basils closed loved there food too!!
(5)Karen C.
Visited for late brunch..
(3)Christine M.
This is my favorite brunch/breakfast place. Everything I've ever gotten here is delicious. I recently went to its new location (I'd only been to its West Orange location before) and it was just as good! I got my old favorite, the poached pear vanilla bean pancakes. Mmmm, just like I remembered. The poached pear was nice and soft, the caramel was gooey and the pancakes had a nice little crisp on the bottom. I shared my friend's huevos rancheros and they were excellent. Can't go wrong here!
(5)Julie T.
Loved it much better when they were in West Orange. Parking lot is a mess and there are just too many rude people that now frequent this place.
(3)Junaid H.
Love this place. My favorite place for breakfasts. Love their eggs steaks benedicts. Their mascarpone french toast is absolutely heavenly
(5)James S.
I went here before they moved to Livingston. Both the food and service have declined to a notch better than a standard diner. For the money I would go elsewhere
(3)Caylee C.
Yum...would definitely recommend! This place is delicious! Lots of different food options; more exotic than the average brunch place. I had the pulled pork eggs Benedict. It was very flavorful and had a beautiful presentation. The service was a little on the slow side but we went during Sunday brunch so it was expected.
(5)Carlos V.
I love this place! It is a great find. First let me talk about the service. We went there for a birthday brunch and the management and staff were very accommodating. The place was busy and they still managed to handle our large party. Now let me tell you about the food. I'm from the west coast so finding great Mexican breakfast food is a little more difficult here in Jersey. This placed delivered, however. They had amazing huevos rancheros and steak tostadas. I also tried the blueberry pancakes and they were some of the best I've ever had. Now if breakfast isn't your thing, don't worry they also serve a variety of American food too.
(5)Sasha J.
Dont waste your time or money going here for dinner. I had dinner here last night for dinner and it was AWFUL. I ordered the mussels, ribs, crab cake salad and pomegranate lemonade. The first thing I had was the pomegranate lemonade. It was Gross so I had to send it back and she recommended the strawberry lemonade. Strawberry lemonade it was somewhat better but it was not worth the price. I had the mussels for appetizer; they were really gritty I guess someone forgot to clean them. Prior to ordering our entrees I asked the waitress whether the crab cake was a lump crab cake or that breaded crap. Of course she said it was lump but the crab cake she brought to the table proved that was a lie. It looked like a frozen crab cake from the market. The ribs while tender had soo much sauce slopped on them it was hard to really taste the meat. Furthermore they put the ribs on top of the fries so it was impossible to eat the fries without eating most of the ribs first. I wish we would've came for breakfast instead of dinner.
(2)Yangy L.
Quite possibly the best French toast I've had! I ordered the poached pear French toast. I loved the balance of the challah bread, caramel sauce, and pear. I normally can't finish French toasts but I devoured this one. Granted I did give some to my lunch companions, they really liked it as well. I definitely want to return and try their other offerings since everything on the menu looked yummy!
(5)Jane R.
Service wasn't great. Food was good. The place is too small and the bathrooms were gross. It's a good place to go with friends and has good healthy options.
(4)Denise M.
Their catering menu is out of this world!! I've never been to Sweet Basil Cafe but my daughter lives nearby and it's her fave restaurant. So we planned her baby shower to be at home and had Sweet Basil cater the luncheon. Everything came so fresh and delicious! The protein platter with sesame crusted ahi tuna, salmon and balsamic chicken was just perfect with their signature salad and angel hair pesto pasta salad! The goat cheese and portobello on crustini appetizer was the huge hit of the party! Such a diverse and delectable catering menu that made our shower unique and a huge tasty success! Thank You Sweet Basil!!
(5)Annie B.
Oh my goodness I can not saw enough good things about this place. I absolutely love it! their hanger steak and eggs breakfast entree is delicious. Perfectly tender and seasoned steak. I inhaled it and had to stop myself from licking my plate!!!!
(5)Marisol L.
One star due to price. Just 2 slices of French toast for $10+?? Even average places serve at least 4 slices. I understand the dishes aren't your average diner selections, but I paid over $50 (incl tip) for the 3 of us. We didn't order specialty drinks or lattes. We only ordered 1 side, bacon: it was a very small portion, dry. Sorry...this isn't NYC to charge such prices.
(1)Scott M.
Ate huevos rancheros and it was phenomenal. The chorizo gave it just the right spice. Coffee was tasty. Fresh squeezed OJ great as well. My wife had eggs Benedict and it was also fantastic.
(5)Colin C.
Big fan of this place. I love brunch and they had the perfect brunch menu with tons of different options ranging from overly sweet and decadent to boring and healthy. I've seen the notes about prices and the meals are not huge and most don't include home fries or fruit. However, the prices are low enough you can add the sides, especially for the area. The French Toast with different flavors was amazing, as were the egg Benedict. The shrimp with chipotle hollandaise was even in a taco shell bowl. The coffee drinks were also made well. Parking wasn't great but high turnover which also applies to the wait. Not so bad even on a Saturday or Sunday primetime even though they don't take reservations.
(4)Michele D.
I met a friend for brunch here last weekend. I've never been before but can assure you I WILL be going back! I got there aroud 1030 & was seated immediately. Service was great & attentive. As crowded as it was we weren't rushed to leave. I had the mushroom, spnach & goat cheese omelette. We split the mascapone & strawberry pancakes. The food was absolutely delicious. I can't wait to try dinner! This is a MUST go restauarant! I am definitely going to be a repeat customer & plan on bringing everyone there.
(5)Sofia A.
I've been here plenty of times because the food is great. I usually get the steak salad which is simple but so good. They definitely have a large amount of options to choose from which is great. The only problem is the service. Every single time my table is neglected and the servers are rude. I understand being busy .. I get that. But waiting longer than 5 minutes to be greeted and then never seeing the server again once placing the order? Not cool. Can't get refills on drinks or more napkins or anything else because the servers never come back.
(3)Arielle S.
For $10.25 we got a tiny (...let's be generous and say two shot glasses worth of...) soup and with half a slice of tomato, one tiny slice of avocado, and two peices of lettuce. If I worked at a restaurant I'd be embarressed to deliver this plate to a table.
(2)Mallory A.
This is one of my favorite brunch places in the area. It's a little pricey if you're a college student or working on a lower income, but for an every once in a while splurge it's absolutely worth it. Word of caution: if you go on a Sunday, be prepared for a wait! It's a *very* popular restaurant and also a smaller restaurant. That place blows UP for Sunday brunch. That being said, I have never seen anyone who works there lose their cool. Ever. And they have had plenty of opportunities to do so, so kudos to all of you who work there! A big draw, in my opinion, is the originality of their dishes. They really seem to have put some thought into it and have some really outstanding special dishes. Their pulled pork benedict is to die for. It's stellar. And the Whiskey R&B Pancakes are just... I can't. Words don't do justice. There's a disclaimer under that dish that says, "Trust us- No Substitutions." Just do it. Just put it in your mouth.
(4)Iris S.
came here for brunch. the food had good flavor but everything (huevos rancheros and pulled pork benedict) was served luke warm. i personally like my food hot if i plan on sitting down at a restaurant.
(3)Jan M.
A hidden gem at Livingston and a great place to have brunch. We ordered: Pulled Pork Benedict, Crab Cake Benedict, and Smoked Salmon Benedict. The staff joked, "We are the Benedict table." Hahaha We didn't realize. Food was surprising amazing (given with the bad reviews on yelp) and the serving was good for the price.
(4)Justin C.
Came here for brunch with a few friends and was treated to a fantastic meal. I had the pulled pork benedict and it was excellent. Although I missed the english muffin typically served with eggs benedict, the hash that it came with was delicious. Could have used more pulled pork and 1-2 bites were pure fat, but the highlight of the dish I thought was the cilantro hollandaise sauce. Overall, the dish was a great medley of flavors with every bite. I ordered a side of well-done fries (as I always do for breakfast dishes) and they were not the best fries. Fries were not well-done and they tasted like a poor man's version of 5 guys fries. My friends got the blueberry pancakes, california scramble and sweet basil's florentine. They all enjoyed their dishes. The food tastes great and looks fresh. I will definitely return to this establishment for brunch and would like to check them out for lunch/dinner as well. The reason for 4 stars as opposed to 5 is that the service was lacking. Waitress seemed a bit rude and didn't seem to care much about serving us. Had to chase down different waiters to get an extra dish and refills on our drinks.
(4)Lisa H.
Since we were already in the New Jersey area for a wedding the night before, we searched the area for a brunch place and decided upon Sweet Basil's Cafe on a Sunday afternoon. I ordered the wild mushroom, spinach and goat cheese, egg white omelet with a side of home fries. Being that I'm a sucker for mushrooms, I utterly enjoyed this dish. My boyfriend had the pulled pork benedict which was cooked with yucca, roasted pork, corn and cilantro hollandaise.. super saucy and also had an added kick. And to think this wasn't enough food, we had to order a short stack of blueberry pancakes to top it off. They serve well portion sized entrees and we both really loved everything we ordered. I dislike brunch places who only serve the usual brunch fare (eggs, bacon, salmon benedicts). So glad to have chosen Sweet Basil's, where they added that extra oomph to their menu options.
(4)Cat K.
I visited a few times when it was located in West Orange, and really enjoyed the brunch there so I tried the new location in Livingston for a New Year's Day brunch. While the decor is a lot better in Livingston, the service and food don't measure up to the old place. My usual is the health kick ($10) included scrambled egg whites with pesto, red onion, avocado, and portobello mushrooms with salad and multigrain toast. On this particular visit, the eggs were served just lukewarm though, with a skimpy portion of toast and salad. The presentation could do with some more TLC! I'll be back to try the lunch menu though. Lots of different salads and sandwiches that sound delicious!
(3)Lynn S.
I love the salads at Sweet Basil's. I come here for casual business lunches - which are best if you arrive early since by 12:30ish it's crazy busy. Other than being too popular, which you can't fault them for, the menu is the best in town!!!
(4)Ellen P.
We were seated right away, with an attentive waiter. With his suggestion, my husband and I shared 3 bruschetta. Delicious. My husband ordered steak salad, excellent although skimpy on steak portion. I ordered Braised Short Rib, with carrots and mashed potatoes. I could have licked the plate, it was that tasty and I rarely eat or order beef. My dog loved the bone we took home for her. I never order dessert but couldn't resist Apple Cobbler with vanilla ice cream, plenty for us to share and delicious. Our only complaint was once all the tables were taken, the room was very noisy. I had heard this but still wanted to try. I would go back again.
(4)J V.
Overpriced for okay food.
(2)Welby L.
Im a fan all the food was perfectly cooked. I really could not complain about anything. nice restaurant not loud. you can hold a conversation without being drowned out by noise. a good amount of parking unless this place gets packed then your SOL. Overall a really great place to eat.
(4)Nikki A.
This is a review for the West Orange location, however I believe it is a similar menu. I've gone a few times for brunch and gotten the poached pear/vanilla french toast. It is unbelievable! Top 5 french toasts I've ever had. I love eating and think about food all the time, but I definitely have my favorites and will often order the same thing every time I got to restaurant. However, there are so many items that called out to me on this menu and everything I've tried has been delicious. I look forward to trying the new Livingston location next time I go home.
(4)Stephanie P.
Cutest cafe ever! Doesn't look like your typical cafe upon walking in - it looks like a really nice restaurant. Service was exceptional, I felt like we were very taken care of. We ordered: Hot artichoke dip - very basic but very good. Bruschetta (tomato basil, avocado, and catalan) - omg, it was so yummy! Tomato basil i think is my favorite so far. I ordered the cheeseburger with jack cheese and it was great. Looks like it would be a good place to have brunch. Would love to come back!
(4)Clay D.
We had a quick trip to New Jersey before moving here recently, and while here we stumbled upon Sweet Basil's - WOW! We were blown away by some really delicious food. Had a wrap one time and then came again a different time and had some amazing breakfast. Food was incredibly seasoned, perfectly cooked and just generally on-point! Well-done Sweet Basil's... =D
(5)Christa H.
Service is horrible. I ordered french toast and I had to ask 3 people for syrup. By the time I got it my food was cold. My husband ordered an omelette that come out at luke warm temperature. The cheese wasn't even melted...just gross. Oh, and parking is horrible too. Only reason I am giving 2 stars is Bc the coffee was good and I have had some good lunches there.
(2)Agustin K.
Review at their new Livingston location. New and modern. I think I will like it more when they are more settled in. The makeshift curtains need work. And also the shopping complex is under massive renovation as well. we completely missed it since we didn't see their name. Brunch is good. Price is around $10 per dish. The Shrimp Benedict is superb. Definitely prefer their chipotle hollondaise sauce. Steak and eggs is interesting in that the steak is marinated with bulgogi sauce so on the sweeter side. Good but not what we had in mind when we ordered it. We will come back for dinner since it is closer to our house.
(4)Food L.
Been for breakfast a bunch of times and food has always been 4 star quality. Delicious Benedict's!! Although I always have to ask for extra hollandaise because they never give enough. Their selection for a new location was not a great one. Not sure what they were thinking. Parking sucks!! So 3 stars it is.
(3)Abby S.
Even though I've only dined here twice, I can easily say I'm hooked to this place! They have excellent and quality ingredients in every dish. There are many healthy options as well. My friends that I've gone with have had nothing but positive remarks. I've had the ahi tuna wasabi sandwich---a little pricey ($15), but outstanding! Went there for breakfast this past weekend and ordered the southwest breakfast wrap. I could taste every fresh ingredient inside- the chorizo, avocado, jalapeños, chili sauce, etc.. Truly mouthwatering! Can't wait to visit Sweet Basil's Cafe again!
(5)Anna C.
The food here was fabulous! I had the Yellowfin Tune Entree Salad for dinner and it was great. I was impressed that the tuna actually was sushi grade. My friend had the fish tacos, which she said were good also. For dessert I had the cheesecake and it was excellent -- and I am picky about cheesecake. And it was HUGE! My friend got the tiramisu and it was also HUGE. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. I would definitely eat here again.
(5)Emma T.
Went here for brunch today, my family and I loved it! I got the pulled pork benedict, my mom got the pear and vanilla bean french toast, and my dad got the fritata special. All were amazing! Coffee was great too. I definitely recommend the pear & vanilla bean french toast - amazing flavor combo. Server was friendly and attentive. Guess the other reviews with negative service experiences caught them on an off day, or we just caught them on a good day. Anyway, great brunch menu. The burgers on the lunch menu sound great also. May have to come back and try them. Definitely recommend!!
(5)Phil C.
My wife and I have been to Sweet Basil's close to 10 times and every experience is a little different. Seems that other reviewers have said the place has gone downhill since moving to it's new location in Livingston but I wouldn't know anything about it since I've never been to the old one. The service here lacks consistency. Sometimes our server is great, quick and attentive, and other times it seems like they just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Nonetheless, the food is average to good but this is pretty much the best spot in the area price wise if you're looking to have brunch. The only bad experience we have had with the food was on the first or second visit when we both ordered skillets. The actual skillets smelled of dirty dishwater as did the food. We had them re-made but the exact same thing happened so we just gave up, held our noses, and ate it. Made mention of it to the manager but no offer to take anything off the check or anything (oh well). Needless to say we never ordered a skillet again. Since then we often stick to the pancakes which are pretty delicious and I like to order the various eggs benedict dishes which are always good. The sandwiches aren't bad either. I'll give it a 4 since if this place closed, we'd have nowhere else to eat brunch in Livingston, but otherwise a 3.5 would be more accurate. If you want a good brunch experience all around, try Bubby's in NYC. You might even spot a celeb or two like we did.
(4)Michelle H.
What a cute little spot! Came in with a friend and her 9 month old son. The service was great and everyone was so sweet to the baby. I got the Mexican omelet, which had a ton of avocado, bacon, and cheese. It was delicious. I'll be back for lunch next time!
(5)Salvador G.
The menu is awesome and clever!! Tiramisu pancakes are insanely great! They also have a cool Benedict selection! This is the spot for brunch!
(5)Madmodma 1.
Great brunch spot, though it can get very crowded and loud. The food is always good and their specials are typically pretty special. The parking sucks and the more crowded the place gets the worse the service. I was sad to see their take out "little Basil's" go by the way side. I'm not sure it got enough PR to sustain itself though.
(4)Gary L.
Food was very good. 50+ dollars for breakfast for 3.people. 2 coffees and a juice. Place was clean. Service was fine. Perhaps people just enjoy paying through the nose since its Livingston. While i would come back again, i think the price will keep me away.
(2)Krista B.
Cute little cafe with a neighborhood vibe tucked away in a little strip mall near all the weird-people-statues in Livingston. Stopped in for lunch to try their....vegetarian menu--woohoo!!--and they had a big catering order they were assembling but food still came quickly.
(4)The R.
I have been to both the current Livingston location and former West Orange location. The Livingston location is much larger than the old restaurant which is great since the wait times aren't nearly as bad and often non-existent. I have eaten here numerous times, but only for brunch/lunch, never dinner. The food is pretty good. A lot of options to pick from and everything has been pretty tasty. I have tried numerous items including the various eggs Benedict options, the egg skillets, french toast, pancakes, sandwiches, and burgers. Unfortunately, as decent as the food is, there are just too many issues and things keep going downhill. Parking is a nightmare. The lot is small and obviously other businesses in the shopping center have obviously complained. So now spots are reserved for the bank, bagel store, and nail salon. Spots which remain empty most of the time and cause the lot to get backed up. I'm sorry that nobody wants to go to super duper bagels, but let someone use the spots. The biggest issue with Sweet Basil's is the service, or lack there of. They seem to have a fairly large amount of people working there, but I am not exactly sure what they do. It is always impossible to find your server or any staff when you need somebody. Placing an order is a sloooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww process. Hope you don't want a refill on your drink, it would actually be quicker and easier to run across the street to Shoprite and buy yourself a 2 liter bottle of soda for the table. Even getting the check and paying is an ordeal. On a recent visit we had to ask 3 separate times and 2 people to get our check. Even though we mentioned that we were in a rush and wanted the check with the food. When we asked to split it on 2 cards we got attitude. Despite being conveniently located, not sure I will be going back soon.
(2)Amie S.
Loved this place! Their Strawberry Mascarpone French Toast is amazing!
(5)Anthony C.
The service was stellar! Our server was knowledgeable with the menu and suggested dishes that came out perfect. My girlfriend ordered the fully loaded burger and I got the New Orleans Cajun Chicken wrap. We also got the strawberry infused French toast. Everything was fresh and delicious!
(5)Rayla B.
I was so excited to try this place. Got my coffee quickly but the person I was with asked for water and it never came. Our food came. Still no water. Asked twice. Still no water. Waved somebody over from behind a counter. Still no water. Finally, the water did come when we stood up and asked three different people for water. They advertise free refills on coffee but nobody approached our table again until after the meal to refill the coffee. The food was okay. Nothing special. The omelet had advertised that it came with avocado and had one tiny piece of avocado on the inside. There are much better brunch places in the area that I will go to next time.
(2)Gracie J.
I was a big fan of Sweet Basil's when it was located in West Orange (prior to their move in July 2012 to the current location). At that time I would have given it five stars - their lunch selections were always fresh and fairly priced. Sweet Basil's food continues to be solidly good at its new location, but some of my favorite selections (such as the homemade cajun chips and sesame encrusted tuna salad) is either now off the menu or subject to a price hike. Burgers are still good and service still friendly, though. I will continue to go to Sweet Basil's, but might look around Livingston to try some alternative places for lunch.
(4)Holly B.
I love this place! My default brunch spot with some very interesting options that you just won't find at other breakfast & brunch places. Often busy so sometimes the food is hit or miss, but it's usually worth the wait. The new location is much more diner friendly than their old foothold in West Orange. Dessert is also good, and it's BYOB. Highly recommend coming here for breakfast or brunch, have never tried dinner but it seems too informal for that.
(4)Adam B.
My favorite brunch spot in NJ. Their bennys and pancakes are incredible. I definitely recommend the Strawberry Mascarpone Pancakes and Blueberry Stuffed French Toast for the sweeter side and the Spanish Scramble for the savory side. Really great iced coffee, as well. Highly recommend to anyone in the area!
(5)Mike P.
3.5 stars. The food was tasty. Soft shell crab Ap was cooked perfectly. Not a huge fan of the cornmeal breading, but the crabs were cooked on the money, and the mango salsa added a refreshing citrusy balance. Even my 6 year old loved it--a good things, as they really need to expand on a 3 item children's menu. The fried chicken was cooked to a nice golden brown, though a touch under seasoned. Could have used a little more zing in the batter. I'm not a fan of the cut breast--they are clearly taking a short cut to ensure an even cook time. The mashed potatoes were flavorful but a touch too dense and solid in their texture. My 6 year old opted for the mussels tapa for his main, and he enjoyed it, even taking a little bread and dipping it in the broth. The zuppa de pesce was fresh, light and flavorful. We did have to ask several times for more water, but outside of that the service was steady and friendly. I did get a chuckle when given the 50/50 between my son and I, the runner decided that he'd gotten the full order of fried chicken, and I'd ordered the mussels tapa. Oops! It's been too long since I've been for brunch. I look forward to a return to revisit that as well. Brunch was their true 'bread and butter' at the start and I'm optimistic they're still doing that very well.
(3)Sylvia L.
The very first time I was here, I don't recall the food being very good (this might have been at the old location) but the 2 times since (this year), the food has been very good. We have only had brunch here. We almost always get the banana pecan caramel french toast and the pulled pork benedict. The have a large seating area but it can get busy which means a slight wait and they also have an outdoor area where I've seen people eating. I can't seem to find enough good brunch places in NJ but this will be a repeater for me.
(4)Rita H.
An excellent place. Attentive service. Innovative and tasty menu. The brunch which I went to a couple of weeks ago with a friend was wonderful.
(5)Michelle L.
A cute little cafe in Livingston good for breakfast/brunch/lunch. Every time we go here, it looks like they're expanding a little, which is good because it gets quite busy, especially on weekend mornings. The food has always been good, including their sandwiches and egg dishes. Good place for everyone - friends, families, kids, and the elderly. It's not a fancy place - it actually looks a little thrown together if you ask me, but for a good, quick bite with friendly service and a reasonable price, it does the job. Take note, it's BYOB!
(3)W P.
Have eaten here twice recently; once for dinner & once for lunch. Found portions small & expensive given size & quality. Dinner portion of salmon was maybe a 2 inch square over obviously mashed potatoes from a box ; did lunch w friends thinking dinner might not be representative. lunch another day was a Cobb salad which was mostly lettuce & also on small side & highly unmemorable. I was also dismayed to see that I was charged for an additional cup of coffee --guess no refills on the house here. So all in all, I found small portions, mediocre food & expensive. Really tied between 1 & 2 star rating here.
(2)Meredith J.
I was a regular at the West Orange location and was beyond excited when they moved to Livingston. I have been here for brunch and lunch and both are delicious. I have had numerous menu items (poached pear French toast, huevos rancheros, Tunisian eggs to name a few) and you cannot go wrong with whatever you order! Cannot say enough great things about Sweet Basil's!
(5)Tracy T.
I haven't been here in a loooong time so I'll have to make another stop to truly update my review but the times I had been here previously were good. I also know they changed locations so I can only speak about the previous location. Both times were for breakfast and thoroughly enjoyed. I had the shrimp benedict....it sounded different so I decided to try it out, I was pleasantly surprised. It was creamy and delightful and the shrimp tasted fresh. My friend had the huevos rancheros minus the chorizo and she also seemed happy with her dish. The coffee was decent nothing amazing, and service was quick although they did not rush us when we hung out and chatted awhile. The portions were quite large from what I remember and you can't really take breakfast stuff home....I guess you can but that's gross. The other time I had been there I opted for a basic combo, eggs, homefries, toast, and bacon. I've seen a bunch of other dishes coming out while I was there including their poached pear french toast....it looked and smelled heavenly but I just can't justify being in a diabetes coma all day from breakfast-I'll have to bring a friend here to order it and steal a few bites from them. Everything was delicious in it's simplicity...even the homefries which I normally have issues with. I hope to go back soon to try them out in their new location---would def recommend if you're looking for a breakfast option that's slightly different.
(4)Katie P.
Love this place. Interesting twists on regular meals. Good ingredients and yummy meals. Breakfast gets pretty busy on weekends. Chipotle shrimp salad is SO good. Steak sandwich is awesome. All of the breakfast food I have had is great....including the organic coffee. Family friendly.
(5)Joanne E.
Me and my cousin were looking for a place to eat nearby and we stumbled upon Sweet Basil's Cafe. They are busy there and I feel there aren't enough people working there to keep up. But the atmosphere is nice and the menu is written very visibly to see on a giant chalkboard on the wall. The menu is pricey, but good. Food portions are not as big, but still delicious. I had the burger and my cousin had the eggs benedict. Both items were delicious. I'd definitely come back a second time.
(3)Andrew D.
This place has changed a little since they moved to the new location. Mainly, they're busier! The menu is bigger and more diverse, with somewhat more upscale options. The breakfast choices are still a big draw and I can't complain about the food at all. The layout is open and bright, and they've thrown some colorful art up on the walls. in all, not spectacular, but not annoying either. There appears to be a lack of organization, though--the staff is always bumping into each other and sometimes forget to take your order. It is like the owners haven't figured out how to gear up their staff and procedures to catch up with the increased business. The hectic pace kind of makes it hard to relax and enjoy your meal. Still, it is worth the wait if you're not starving.
(3)Ben P.
This place was excellent for Brunch. I had the Southwest Burrito, which was tasty and good. I look forward to trying more of their menu next time I am in the neighborhood.
(4)Melissa J.
Typical brunch joint. They had some nice sounding things but my boyfriend got the lemon marscopone pancakes and they were dry and not that impressive. I ordered an omelet and it was pretty standard. The one thing I really enjoyed was the apple cider, I would go back again just for that! The decor was standard, staff was friendly and attentive, prices not too bad.
(3)Nisha G.
Perfect place for a relaxed Sunday brunch! We got seated immediately on arriving and were even greeted by the owner himself who had wonderful recommendations. Ordered a health kick start which true to it's name was healthy as well as extremely delicious. Overall it was our first visit and we will definately come back..great staff, great food and warm and friendly atmosphere! Oh and the price was right as well :) Enjoy
(4)H S.
Went here for Valentine's Day. Expected better choices for the specials. Wait staff got order wrong; and when it did arrive,(seafood pasta) the pasta was overlooked and the meal didn't have much flavor. Had to ask for fresh-ground pepper. Have been here before (dinner and brunch) and was quite surprised that more of an effort wasn't made to be on point given that it was Valentine's Day (the place was not crowded). May go back one more time...for brunch before totally abandoning this a pick.
(2)Russell A.
We stayed at the Wilshire Grand Hotel right down the street which was VERY nice; however, their breakfast ended at 9:30 so we decided to try Sweet Basil's cafe (around 9:45) since it was rated so highly. We got the "Pulled Pork Benedict" and unfortunately were VERY disappointed! It was seriously like eating SOUP! Not good at all. It sounds very good tho... "Yucca, roasted pork, corn, & cilantro hollandaise." Other people there were eating pancakes, waffles, and french toast which looked pretty good so that would probably have been a much better choice. I LOVE all sorts of breakfasts being a bit of a foodie but what we had was a soupy mess. Sorry Sweet Basil Cafe, I don't know how you let that get out of your kitchen! ---------------- EDIT: The manager followed up with me regarding my not-so-great experience at their restaurant. I appreciated her concern and effort to correct the situation. Like I mentioned above, a lot of the other food looked very good so hopefully my experience was a fluke. I will return to the Cafe next time I'm in the area and write an updated review.
(2)Anika W.
Really good! Visited this restaurant for the first time last week, and it was cute. I had the southwestern wrap, and it was really good! Everything tasted really fresh, and was moderately passed. My friend had the French toast, and it was great. The challah bread is perfect for the French toast. The waitstaff is nice for the most part, and the area had decent parking available. Will definitely be back.
(4)Amanda T.
Went there for brunch this morning with my family and had a pretty good meal. Looks like they completely reinvented themselves since moving from their dated decor and menu in West Orange. The new Livingston location seems modern but laid back in both the setup and menu. I had the pear & vanilla bean french toast, and it was delicious. I asked for the sauce on the side and I'm glad I did because it was pretty sweet, but still yummy! My husband got the pancakes and the eggs & hash browns. All delicious & fresh tasting . The decor was pretty basic but nice & clean. They seem to be working out the kinks with lighting, because they had the shades down in the section with the best windows, and had dark lighting in the section by the brick wall. On a gorgeous day, it would have been nice to have some natural light. That being said, we had a delicious meal, service was pretty good, and we would definitely come back. We also looked at the dinner menu on our way out, and it looked pretty tasty.
(4)Rich D.
Used to be a huge fan and have been going here for years. Since they've moved to Livingston the prices have gone up and the quality has tanked. They went from all homemade from scratch, to obviously anything that can come from a can, did. From the starter to desert, there was at least one key ingredient that came from a can. Terrible!!!
(2)Irene W.
LOVE this place for brunch! It's a hidden gem because it's located in a strip mall that used to be a bit abandoned, but now they're renovated the area and it's more noticeable. I had the french toast which was divine, and I'm not usually a sweet foods type of person. This french toast definitely had me wanting more with each bite! Other dishes were equally delicious, healthy, and fresh. Can't wait to go back again!
(5)Vicky C.
Everything that Livingston has been missing. Moving from Brooklyn we really missed yummy restaurant right around the corner... And now we have one. Feel like we walked into Brooklyn. Cute decor. Food was awesome. Eggs florentine was great! Kids pancakes were soso but good enough got a 3 year old. Service was sub bar.. Hope that improves. Didn't get menus, waited a while for food and didn't bring water or hot sauce when asked. Overalls totally psyched cant wait to go back.
(4)Felicia W.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this place. I have been going here since 2010 when it was located in West Orange, NJ. The food is so good. Nothing compares to the Poached Pear Vanilla Bean French Toast, The Crabcake Benedict and The Pulled Pork Benedict. AMAZING!!!! I would not go anywhere else for brunch
(5)Kim G.
Went here for the first time today for brunch and what a treat! The menu was fantastic -- several different versions of Eggs Benedict (my husband had shrimp Benedict which he loved) and omelets. I had a frittata special (crab and brie) that was great and we both had a side of andouille sausage. They also had pancakes, which we didn't get, but really looked yummy. It seems to be a very popular place and you may have to wait, but I would definitely recommend coming here. As a note of caution, there is not much parking.
(4)Josh L.
Try the Memphis Burger! Delicious! Great ambiance and a decent selection of food! I plan on coming back to see how dessert here is like.
(4)Pamela F.
This boutique bistro has a great menu with fresh variety! I love that I can be in and out quickly for a take out lunch or sit and stay for a while and do business over lunch. The carrot apple soup is out of this world! I also recommend the crab cake over salad with that delicious mustard dressing. Sweet Basils is the perfect place to relax and enjoy yourself in a comfortable atmosphere with a boutique feel. I think you need to come in with realistic expectations as this isn't a fine dining establishment with fancy china and white glove service. However, Sweet Basils is a very clean, very fresh and very fabulous spot to enjoy yourself and a great meal.
(5)Lisa D.
They would've gotten four stars but I'm not a fan of cheap silverware folded into cheap paper napkins. They need to upgrade to cloth napkins, and they need to add raw sugar. The food, though, was PERFECT. My son chose his own omelette ingredients, I ordered a BLT which isn't even on the menu, and my husband ordered steak and eggs AND French toast. Yummy. That's all I can say.
(3)V M.
It is such a rip off, they charged 15-16$ for two pieces of bread ( french toast) in cash for father's day! Is it suppose to be cheaper for cash then credit? And when you have specials, why to cancel regular menu, people coming for their favorits. Probably to hide regular prices for the same breakfast. What a wonderful present for father' s day! 50 % higher prices for cash! Shame!
(2)Liz J.
The best french toast on earth! I had the blueberry stuffed french toast, and the pear poached vanilla bean on another occasion and both melted in my mouth. Eyes closed and mouth watering with each chew. I am salivating now just thinking about it.
(5)Bbq B.
After NY Times review, I went back again after 7 months. With the new chef, the food has improved. Clam chowder was tasty with ample amount of clams; even though I had them leave out the bacon. The first time I had it, I thought the bacon over-powered it. I also felt it was over seasoned with thyme and and noticed sand in a couple of clams. The Yellow-fin tuna salad was very good and plentiful with the added mango. The pork sliders, not as tasty or large as was 7 months ago. The steak sandwich ordered, got delivered incorrectly and was sent back with no replacement. Service was extremely slow; almost an hour to entree and the waiter tried to tell me it was only 40 minutes. He obviously doesn't know how long it took him to wait on me in the first place. He also got the an entree wrong and I wasn't going to wait for a remake after almost 11/2 hours of being there already. After 7 months, and the owner telling me they are still learning, the staff still did not seem to know what they were doing. Even though the wait staff are pleasant, one gets the feeling the they are far from being professionals; unsure of what they are doing and lacking sharpness, efficiency and enthusiasm; walking around as if they were parallel with another planet; waiting for the space ship to arrive and carry them away to their mother ship. (Where's the theme from Star Trek when you need it.) The place has great potential but, a decade may pass if it comes to fruition. It will have to be another favorable review before I go back.
(2)Steve G.
Unless I'm being deliberately cynical, the word "cute" isn't usually a part of my vernacular. I'll break from trend and use it to describe Sweet Basil's, because it so aptly applies. We began coming here infrequently for brunches because it is one of my mom's favorites. Well mom, you were right again, this is definitely one of the better brunch stops in the area. I've only recently learned that they are also open for dinner. The waitstaff, who I suspect to include the owner, is frenzied and in constant motion. When they land, the service is cordial and competent. What I've eaten at Sweet Basil's has been very well prepared, nicely presented and thoroughly enjoyable. A shout out to the Carolina Shrimp & Grits and Pulled Pork Benedict; both absolutely delicious. For such a pleasant dining experience, bettered of course by pleasant family conversation, the tab (with tip) usually is in the $15 per person range. Life doesn't get much better than this!
(3)Jamie N.
Good food, REALLY overpriced because the portions are so small. Got like 1/3rd an omelette for 10 bucks, kind of ridiculous if you ask me. I won't be coming back because I can get just as good food for less of a price. Also, it was very crowded when I went there and some of the staff is unfriendly.
(2)Natalie S.
This place was packed! I was in West Orange for 2 days and ate here twice. I checked yelp for good dining options and Sweet Basil kept coming up on my list. Thus, we came for Sunday brunch. We had to wait 15 min for a table. I had the harvest pancakes which were made with whole wheat pancakes and had nuts, cranberries and bananas inside. I think it had 4 large pancakes, which was far too much for me to eat. The second time I came, I had the split pea soup, which was tasty. My only complaint is that service is a tad bit slow...
(4)Portia A.
The restaurant moved to a new location. Much is improved. The food continues to be very good, and the rooms are fresher and more inviting. But the ambiance is limited by the rather stark decor and the stark vinyl/laminate feel to the place. The big problem for someone seeking a nice place for a private dinner is that almost all of the 2-tops are in uninviting locations - near the kitchen, at the place where the servers congregate, or in the lower area near the door. There are also a few larger tables, also next to the 2-tops, where families with a slew of noisy children or obstreperous teens will dine. Nothing against two couples of four out for a nice evening, but why should a single couple be condemned to this noisy hell? We were also told when we reserved that our table was booked twice so we had a 2-hour window in which to dine and get out. As it happened, we had no problem with that on that evening, but it was a rather rude welcome.
(4)Cj T.
We went here for brunch, our first time. We had a horrible experience. It began when we tried to use the free valet service, we were told we could park the car, we went around the corner to park on a residential street only to see the valet parking cars there. The horrible experience continued inside. I ordered a veggie omelet that came with homefries and whole grain toast. My friend ordered strawberry( strawberry shortcake?) pancakes. My omelet was cooked too long that it was hard and looked/tasted more like a sponge. I had to ask for more feta because it was next to none in the omelet. The homefries were crispy on the outside( which I enjoyed) but very mushy on inside, if I wanted to eat them I had to keep pulling lint from them. The toast that came with the meal was whole grain and delicious! But I had to keep pulling lint from it as well. My friends' pancakes were mushy and came with one strawberry, she asked for more. All of our food was luke warm, nothing was hot. Now, onto the terrible service. The host that seated us sat us right in front of kitchen area when my friend asked for another seat we were told,"no" at first and then seated with an attitude. Our server never checked on us, and seemed bothered when we asked for items to complete our meal. My friend addresed his attitude, he apologized and said he was sick. On a positive note my friend said her turkey sausages were very good. After taking my plate to the owner/ manager and showing her my food she offered me something else to eat ( I declined) she took my meal off the bill. The interior is really cute, great menu items to chose from. But we will never be back. This place deserves "0" stars from me based on my experience.
(1)Kathryn L.
Delicious, unique and reasonably priced. Can you really do any better? The clam chowder is to die for.
(5)Alan C.
My first time here was excellent. I would come here for the breakfast potatoes alone. I had the Huevos Rancheros and it was really good. The service is top notch. Worth every penny.
(4)David W.
Was there twice. Had a veggie omelet. Fair, nothing special. Toast came dry without butter as I requested. Home fries were french fries. Coffee is terrible. Second day blueberry pancakes. Tiny, tough, and I counted four blueberries. "is there a blueberry shortage"? Pancake syrup was of the industrial grade. Wait staff was great.
(2)Charlie B.
They have absolutely amazing brunch. All of their pancake and french toast dishes are delicious. The pancake portions are big, but most people who want pancakes want to have a lot anyway. The french toast is out of this world and the sauces they put on the specialty french toasts are insane. They also have very good omelets and other breakfast essentials. I am, however, yet to try their lunch food.
(5)Matt D.
One of my favorite spots. Great brunch. Tiramisu pancakes are to die for. *flips wrist* Only downside is the 3pm closing time for those who like to get up late and are still looking for a late breakfast meal after noon. Also outside seating is a plus.
(5)Kristin B.
I was thoroughly impressed with Sweet Basil's Cafe...and I'm a tough cookie to crack. I'm generally very hard on everything about an establishment, from the food to the atmosphere and everything in between. But that's what makes my reviews so legit. I "met halfway" with my former college roommate, a fellow Jerseyite and foodie who appreciates good food and good service as much as I do. We were seated right away by a smiling hostess and were attended to almost immediately by a friendly waitress. And the food; oh, the food. Let's pretend we're in the Philly Cream Cheese commerical where they're having breakfast in heaven for a second. Except this wasn't any old bagel & schmear. (And we weren't wearing our angel wings.) Fluffy, fresh blueberry pancakes for her and a unique apple & brie scramble with breakfast potatoes for me. How many ways can you say DELIGHTFUL?! A great start to the day for just around $20 for both of us. It was a lovely experience with delicious food. I'm coming back ASAP to enjoy the cozy (ok...cramped in a charming way) outdoor seating during the summer and to try dinner or lunch. This place is worth a second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. visit.
(5)Michael D.
I keep going back and sending friends and family. I can always be sure of a good meal here, especially the seafood. Clam chowder, zuppa di pesce and seafood pasta are standouts. Accommodating with special requests with gluten-free and vegetarian menu. Very busy for weekend brunch - for good reason. Good service, clean new bistro-style space. Diner prices for top notch meals.
(4)Felicia K.
A great breakfast/brunch place with menu items that you can't find just anywhere. As much as I love diners, their generic breakfast selection can get a bit dull at times. Cute decor, decent service, and very tasty food.
(4)Gen G.
Best French toast! Yummy satisfying sandwiches and the Sweet Basil Florentine was wonderful. Food is 5 star. First time going to this place-went because of the reviews on Yelp and it was so yummy. Great value. portions were excellent and the food was made and served with care. 4.5 stars if I could . I withheld .5 star because the decor could use some updating.
(4)Alexa D.
Sweet Basil's is one of my all-time favorites. The California Scramble is my absolute favorite. With the avocados & salsa on the side, it is my perfect breakfast. Everything is always so fresh and delicious. The only downside to Sweet Basil's is that it gets so packed! But with any delicious restaurant with reasonable prices, it's expected. Although the last two times, we've tried to go there, they have been closed. Not sure why? But, from the looks of other posts, I guess I shall try again soon!
(4)Keith A.
We took a trek over to Livingston for Sweet Basil's after having over-visited our usual breakfast haunt. The décor is quite nice - clean, modern, and appealing. The service, however, is dismal at best. Our waiter was thoroughly disinterested in any sort of accommodation; after asking if we could order an additional 1 pancake for our 2.5-year-old (in addition to the omelet we already ordered for him,) he (with a thoroughly confused expression,) repeatedly gesticulated to a pancake meal on the menu. Multiple times. He was so befuddled by this apparently complicated request that we gave up. His sparkling personality was also evidenced via repeated monosyllabic utterances and/or grunts. This - however unfairly - did set the stage for our food. My pulled pork benedict was quite tasty, but was a pretty small portion served with no accompaniment. One of the omelets - after we requested it to be well-done, for the 2.5 year-old - came out runny and undercooked. Personally, I'm almost positive it was done out of spite. For the money, despite the glossy appearance, and one tasty entrée, we would not return to Sweet Basil's. The stereotypically (for Livingston!) aloof attitude, combined with the high prices / small portions, has turned us off.
(2)Christina S.
I've eaten here twice and will not be back. The food is ok but definitely not worth it for the terrible service. During our fist visit we sat outside and the service was slow but we chalked it up to the fact they were busy inside and we were the only ones sitting outside. Our second visit was probably the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. We walked to sweet basics and brought out two dogs with us since we annex to sit outside as we had the week before. When we arrived there was an employee standing outside of little basil's and upon seeing us he went inside. We thought it was probably to notify someone they had patrons who were sitting outside. We waited for 5 minutes and weren't even greeted, we then went inside to ask for menus and were told that they weren't serving outdoors that day but we could order food to go and eat it outside or eat inside or do whatever we wanted to do. When we asked why they wouldnt serve outside like last time we were told they only use the patio for overflow. It's a pretty absurd policy being that outdoor brunch is what attracted us to the establishment in the first place. Nevertheless we decided to eat here because we were starving and had just walked 45 minutes from our house and could not wait another 45 minutes to eat until we got home. We ordered food to go and ate it outside. The potatoes were cold and the omelettes were barely warm and I found a hair in mine. I was so displeased with the service and employees who seemed not to care about anything that I didn't even complain, I just threw the omelette in the trash. This place had potential but we won't be coming back here again.
(2)Ivelisse P.
YUMMY! I had the Shrimp and Yucca Benny and my husband had Organic Blueberry Whole Wheat Pancakes. We also had fresh squeezed orange juice. The food was fabulous and the service superb! Very quick and attentive.
(5)Debbie G.
Packed for Sunday brunch in a smallish space, the hostess seemed a bit frazzled to have the constant flow of customers coming through. There was a bit of initial confusion in getting seated as another party was put through before us, even though we had put our name on the list first. However, we accepted the sincere apologies and were then promptly seated. We found the menu to be unique and atypical of brunch offerings. The Yucca Benny was unlike any brunch dish I had ever had. A mixture of rich, creamy hollandaise, guacamole, and poached egg with shrimp, corn and yucca served in a taco shell. A very heavy dish, but tasty too. My friend had the Carolina Shrimp and Grits - a different kind of dish, but could have had a bit more flavor than it did. Not sure what the volume for lunch and dinner crowds are, but brunch is a popular time to check out this spot.
(3)Jake F.
I have been living in the area for a few years now and have been routinely disappointed by the quality of restaurants in Livingston. Sweet Basil's Cafe may just be the best restaurant in Livingston; it is certainly my favorite. The menu has plenty of variety without losing its focus. Breakfast/Brunch provides a completely different experience than Lunch/Dinner. I enjoy both equally. Some of the standouts from the menu are: Eggs Florentine, Tiramisu Pancakes, Fully Loaded Veggie Burger, Shepherd's Pie, Fried Chicken, and Macaroni and Cheese. The dishes taste fresh and vibrant. While some items may have a little too much salt or fat for the health conscious, they do taste delicious. I have been at least a dozen times since Sweet Basil's Cafe moved to their new location on South Livingston Avenue. I have never experienced an unreasonable wait for seating or service, though we usually eat early. The staff is always friendly, especially to our two little children. Some menu items are pricey, but there are always many affordable options. My only disappointment has been that sometimes pancakes or french toast get skimpy portions of fruit or sauce (as in the tiramisu pancakes).
(5)Agnes T.
This place was so amazing that we went back the next day! The tuna burger with sweet potato fries was amazing! Other recommendations: fully loaded veggie burger, poached pear vanilla bean French toast, and the strawberry mascarpone french toast were phenomenal! The menu had so many creative things on it, we really didn't know what to order....everything looked so appealing! Thanks for a great experience Sweet Basil's! free wi-fi would be my only suggestion.
(5)Viktoriya L.
This place is healthy, natural and tasty! I love coming here and enjoy it every time. They get packed at lunch time. I would recommend coming here for anyone.
(5)Ieisha H.
I love this restaurant and the people as well as Allen and his staff. One the food is beyond delicious but it is sinfully good. I had some spicy adouille sausages and banana pecan french toast that I know Jesus die and rose several times because it was so good. I have been to many restaurants local, new york and abroad. However if I moved to London tomorrow I would hop on a plane every sunday just to be in this very homey atmosphere.....Thankx Sweet Basil I would follow you to the moon thats how good the food is.....
(5)Alan J.
I called to plan a surprise brunch for my mother's 60th. When I called to find out if I could stop by at lunch that day to look at the space and ask a few questions, the first response was "umm, we are busy durnig lunch so can you come at 2pm". Of course, I have a job so no that was not an option and an immediate 1st strike in customer service. I said if preferred, I can stop by after work and she agreed. When I arrived after work, I did meet with a very nice manager on duty. However, once there I was told if I wanted to secure a time and menu, I had to come between 10-3pm when the owners were available. Of course, I did try initially to come during those times but was told to come at night. Get it together. It gets better. So I called the next day to schedule a time to meet the owners and the owner was there but I was told by a representative there that she was "running deliveries" so to take my information and they would call back. OK so at 2:45, I called back since deliveries couldn't take that long and I was eager to set up a meeting and was informed the owners had a flex schedule ending at 3pm daily. I disrespectfully overheard the owner state that "doesnt he understand we are in a rush" and that they would call me in an hour. So, I'm not sure why at 3pm after lunch before dinner on a weekday that I should understand they were busy at that hour nor should I have been spoken to in such a manner. Do we have to beg people to take our money? Needless to say, I was not going to give them my business and to top it off, they still haven't called back. I hope karma pays a visit to this establishment that is clearly tripping over money.
(1)Jason L.
I've been here twice. The food is excellent and the prices are reasonable. Particularly good are the poached pear French toast, blueberry stuffed French toast, R&B rum raisin pancakes and any of the Omlettes. However I've noticed that they are never full, which doesn't bode we'll for them unfortunately. And even without being super crowded, the service is a bit slow. I don't quite get it. But they really do have some very creative dishes and they do it really well. I would absolutely recommend them and would hope that people in the area support a great breakfast option, when there are unfortunately not that many really great options besides grabbing a dozen bagels.
(4)Shirl D.
Bad business ethics. Prices almost doubled for Father's Day. Won't be back again.
(3)Tony K.
Just need to add to my post yesterday. They do NOT accept credit cards. I know the business listing says they do but they don't.
(2)Reg Z.
Really phenomenal for brunch. Had the pulled pork Benedict (fantastic) and other people with had corn bread pancakes, strawberry marscapone French toast, and tiramisu pancakes... Plus sides of bacon and French fries (really good). Everyone loved it. We will be back, multiple times.
(5)Dee C.
Have been coming here forever for breakfast! HANDS DOWN the best breakfast in Essex county. THEN I found out they do dinner and the chef was completely different from day time. Took 5 of my foodie friends and gave it a try. Some of the most unusual, innovative items on the menu. 100% delicious! I had the pan seared salmon with the skin on. Most amazing piece of fish I've ever put in my mouth. My friends all had something different and we sampled. Everything was literally orgasmic. For dessert, we tried a bacon jam. Yes folks, bacon jam. It was some sort of reduction of what tasted like plums or some sort of fruit - mixed with bacon. Spread over a warm english muffin and served with expresso and ice cream. Sound odd, but it was the most amazing thing ever eaten. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)David W.
I called during the afternoon to make a reservation for 6:30pm this past Saturday night. The man over the phone told me they were all booked up and said he could make it 6:45. We were there promptly and greeted by a very young girl. She told us she did not have our reservation. There were about 10 tables there and only 2 were occupied. Instead of offering us a table anyway, she needed to check and see if she could put us in the dining room. After a couple of back and forths, she let us in. Where were the 6:30 people? The tables did not even fill in when we left at 8pm. The food was good. Our waitress, Katrina was very nice but her inexperience really came thru. The kitchen missed our order. The food was good but the initial experience left a bad taste for us
(2)Sandra V.
Delicious, perfectly sized portions. Terrific service and a lovely setting! We enjoyed breakfast here and are considering trying the tempting lunch menu!
(4)Larry R.
Livingston has long needed a place like this serving breakfast, lunch and dinner--it's an excellent alternative to the diners in town and a worthy competitor to the more upscale restaurants. We've been 3 times in the last 2 weeks and find the service to be quite good and friendly and the meals to be outstanding. I can endorse the tilapia which is prepared perfectly, others in our group were gung ho for the fried chicken. It's a BYO so the pricing becomes attractive.
(5)Tara L.
Oh my goodness...I found the best brunch in New Jersey?!?!? Yes, it's true, this place blows most brunch places in NYC out of the water and it's super cheap. I found this place through the Yelp app on my phone after my husband and I stayed in New Jersey to see The National. Nice strong coffee was perfect after a late night and the food was amazing. My mouth is watering thinking about the banana pecan french toast that I had. It was made with thick-cut challah bread and it was a very generous portion and was swimming in a richly spiced maple caramel sauce. The bananas were perfectly cooked (that can get a little wonky) and the pecans were warm but still crunchy. It was so sweet that I wished I had gotten some bacon or ham to balance it but I couldn't have eaten anything more. Eric got the southwest breakfast wrap which had nicely spiced chorizo and was packed with avocado and cheese. It was really good but I didn't think it was as amazingly delicious as my french toast. The breakfast potatoes that came with it were really good too. I thought the whole experience was great although my husband thought that others dining there needed to use their inside voices! I would seriously consider stopping here every time I am in New Jersey. Hey wait...I have a brother who lives near there...it may be time to visit him more!
(5)Rebecca G.
Hard to park, but good menu selection. Crowded and noisy, but good food. Nice veggie selection. Would go again, but either early or late as it gets crowded around 12:30.
(3)Alice D.
This is my updated review. Let me start by I loved Sweet Basil and was a regular customer at the West Orange location. Then our family just happened to move to Livingston around the same time they opened in Livingston. We were so excited to be so close the new location. In the beginning the food quality and yumminess was the same as the West Orange location but prices were a little higher. Still not a problem since the food was excellent. However, things seem to be changing and the quality has been slipping. Two visits ago we left content but not with the usual wow we had a great meal feeling. But last night was the worst we ever experienced. The artichoke dip was extremely salty, my husband's steak sandwich was very salty, and the cheese was processed and not the normal deli style cheese, my ahi tuna salad was tasty but the tuna was overdone and they must have used canned or jarred mangos instead of the normal fresh mangos. And the dessert special peach crisp was absolutely the worst. There was absolutely nothing crisp-like about it. It was dense and heavy and the peaches were not fresh, looked like it was from a can, jar or frozen. I will probably give this place one more try because I really like the menu and the convenient location. I really hope they get back to their roots and do fresh tasty clean food that they were known for.
(2)Mike M.
Great place. Kid friendly. The Mexican egg entree was superb. Gets packed for weekend lunch. Food is always fantastic. Glad they don't actually put basil in everything.
(4)Karol R.
Went there today for lunch from the advice of all the Yelp reviews. Did not disappoint! Our lunch was great. Quaint little restaurant, great burgers, wraps. The split pea soup was terrific. The food is freshly prepared. We will be back. They will be moving to Livingston Avenue soon, so watch out for them in their new place.
(5)Wendy W.
We have been to this new location twice and I have to be honest....the service has not been up to par. The food is good but the chicken salad was rather skimpy on the sandwich considering the price. My husband enjoyed his spanish omelette. We went for brunch yesterday (Sat) and waited a while till anyone came over to our table to offer coffee, drinks.Then we had to track down someone to refill hot tea, and water. This is the 2nd time where the service hasn't been good....there seemed to be a bunch of wait staff, etc gathered at the bar/service area and not near the other side of the room. We enjoy the food here but service has to improve. Your staff should be much more attentive and friendly as a suggestion. I would've given this a 4 stars if the service was better. Thanks!
(3)Robert S.
My wife really loved Sweet Basil when it was in West Orange. I liked it, but the menu was a little small for me. The service was always outstanding. Last night, my wife and I tried Sweet Basil in Livingston. I had the Lentil soup (cup) and Pork Osso Bucco. They were both excellent. I was also very pleased with the portion of Pork (more than enough to satisfy a very busy husband who rarely has time for lunch). My wife had a beat salad and Cod. Both were very good. As an important note, my wife really does not eat fish; she thought she would try the Cod; and she really liked the Cod , didn't think it was "fishy", and thought it was delicious with the tomato and eggplant sauce. We are looking forward to going back again. If we were to give a rating of Sweet Basil compared to other restaurants in Livingston, and Livingston only, Sweet Basi would receive 5 stars.
(4)Jenny D.
THE MOST FANTASTIC FRENCH TOAST I HAVE EVER HAD! Wow, wow, wow! I ordered the French toast stuffed with fresh blueberries and a sweet cream. I keep day dreaming of this stuff. I also ordered spicy chorizo as a side, I like me sweet with salty. It was definitely on the spicy side. The menu was absolutely amazing and I can't wait to go again to try something else. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars was because my food came out really late. However my server did apologize several times, apparently after we gave our order there was a 5 minute delay in the kitchen due to a "problem" which I didn't get specifics about. Then we noticed people who came in after us were getting their food. The waiter came again to apologize because I ticket got pushed to the back by accident. He did try to make up it up to us by asking if wanted any drinks while we waited. He also gave us a fruit cup without us asking for it, he was trying to stall us. It was a nice gesture so while my husband and I waited for food we just picked at the fruit cup. It's a good think my meal was AMAZING and worth the wait. My husband wasn't too thrilled, but he ordered egg whites so that's his fault :) Anyway when the server gave us the check he took off the cost of the cappuccino, fresh squeezed orange juice, and coffee. I still left the place happy and will go back.
(4)Pamela O.
Not worth going back....I gave this place a chance three to five more times...they disappointed me each time....the food tastes like it is from yesterday....not fresh...and doesnt taste too good.....the menu items may sound interesting but the taste is disappointing.. I really wanted to like this place but i couldnt do it to myself.. The customer service is poor...I can easily find a place where the service is good and food is excellent... I will not go here again
(1)Alexa H.
Sweet Basils may have the best pancakes in the area. From poached pear toppings to lemon mascarpone, I have rarely had better. Other menu items are great and they have just revamped the menu--making it a little smaller, which I think makes the food just a little better. Savory items are also good. If you're feeling lunch-y, I recommend the grilled cheese with whatever delicious spiced pork they put in it or their BLT, which uses brie. Yum! The brunch is so good, I'm actually considering going for dinner one of these days. My problem is the service. It is slow. They are almost always out of the drink that you want. Last time I went, we had ordered, gotten our food, eaten our food and had the plates cleared. When the waiter came by, he was confused and thought we had not even ordered yet! It seems like there is always one fewer waiter than would really serve the place. Just make sure you go ready to linger over brunch--and possibly ready to wait a few minutes for a table. This place is popular for good reason!
(4)Stacey F.
Sweet Basil's is all about homemade, cooked to order -- truly, a rare find around here. We've had many nice lunches -- salads and sandwiches. The sandwiches often come with a side salad or homemade pasta salad. If you order a salad with grilled chicken -- the chicken comes warm presumably because it was freshly cooked. The soups are a highlight. They often have a vegan option and all seem made from scratch. The breakfast is great for all old favorite options, but also some unique selections like a banana french toast. Make sure you get the real maple syrup to go with your pancakes/french toast. It's worth the upcharge. Dinner is also nice -- offering some more sophisticated menu items. The dining room is a little "home decorated" in its feel which frankly detracts from the great food experience. Sweet Basil's is family friendly enough -- but not a great place to take screaming toddlers as the dining room is wide open. You can get away with a boisterous kids group if you get one of the large round tables in the front which are literally in "cubby holes" flanking the restaurant entrance. This is a family run business that has survived for quite a number of years. The wait staff is generally on the ball. I have seen small groups hosting special get-togethers at Sweet Basils. It is a small enough dining room to "buy out" for a baby shower or similar party.
(4)Lisa B.
Visited today on a research trip to the venue scoping it out for a shower. Atmosphere = cafe + diner. There's outdoor seating but not much to look at out there. Restaurant is small but looks like it can accomodate groups well. Food was great! I had the Cali Scramble and my husband had the blueberry french toast - both were awesome. Fresh squeezed orange juice was a nice plus. Would recommend!
(4)Scott G.
Better, since their move to Livingston. I'm at Sweet Basils too often to critique one particular meal or any specific menu option but will say that they are generally reliable for a very good meal. Oftentimes, you'll be pleased with a great meal. Although, sometimes, you'll find yourself with a meal that was just "eh." The reason for the array of outcomes is their array of menu options. For breakfast, you have all the standard diner options (omelets, pancakes, etc.) but elevated significantly. Lunch and dinner fare are also stepped up to some degree.
(4)Trish F.
While making my bed this morning, a letter from my hips fell out of my sheets.. Weird. My dearest Trish, We're coming up on a birthday, aren't we? Wow.. so that'll be almost a quarter of a century of knowing.. that any food that isn't a vegetable.. goes STRAIGHT to my TURF! Why don't you just apply chips and ice cream directly to ma face! And going to places like Sweet Basil's Cafe don't help man! I KNOW their dishes seem so light.. but that doesn't mean that you should split two dishes and THEN get dessert.. WHATAREYOUCRAYCRAY? Starting out with a tasty caramel apple cider, the body thought we wouldn't have to work so hard since you don't order special drinks when you have a big meal. And I know you're indecisive. I know you were unsure whether or not to get the jumbo crab cake sandwich (that comes with cole slaw AND a side salad or pasta with pesto) and the bananas foster Belgium waffles. I mean that sounds delicious.. but splitting that with your friend just put your body in a clusterf*ck.. too much stimuli! Then.. oh THEN.. you went and ordered the key lime mousse.. oyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Okay.. so listen to me. Just block out the fact that the waitresses are sweethearts and keep you well hydrated.. and forget the owner was super nice when he came over to talk to your friend about a rehearsal dinner for a wedding. You CAN'T come back here.. please? Pretty please? I just don't trust your judgment. It probably helps that they're only open for breakfast and lunch.. but with all the fresh cooked food and delicious options.. I don't think you'll be able to control yourself. Do it for me. Please? Love, Your Hips Just kidding about the letter. That didn't really happen.. that's just crazy.. lol.. right? PS - I took some pictures of the cafe.. will post later today! 1/29
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