Sweet Basil Neapolitan Style Pizzeria
26235 Ctr Ridge Rd, Westlake, OH, 44145
Sweet Basil Neapolitan Style Pizzeria Menu
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Salads
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Calzones
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Create Your Own Stone Pie
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Specialty Stone Pies
Healthy Meal suggestions for Sweet Basil Neapolitan Style Pizzeria
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Salads
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Calzones
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Create Your Own Stone Pie
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Specialty Stone Pies
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Address :
26235 Ctr Ridge Rd
Westlake, OH, 44145 - Phone (440) 899-1899
- Website https://www.sweetbasilpizza.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Jon G.
Tied for best NY style pizza in Cleveland (with Vincenza's downtown). Great variety and fantastic pies every time! I'd order twice as much if they delivered!
(5)Kristin B.
Good pizza. Owner is super nice! Customizations are no problem. Online menu doesn't show the array of wonderful macaroni and cheese variations available. Try any or all of them!
(4)Rachael N.
I agree with the other yelpers- this ain't no crostatas. It was a late Sunday night and we were craving pizza. Let's go get pizza! And off we went. We ordered the Queen Margarite and a special that had shrimp on it. Both were just okay- they were definitely very flat..and iono...just didn't have that same taste as Crostatas. It wasn't oily or anything like that.. I mean, it was good....but not great. Definitely not great. I think I would have preferred Pizzabogo over this place. It was just very flat, think crust, not even doughy or crispy..but kinda floppy pizza. Definitely not in the same league as Crostatas...but just average. They had a lot of cool brews though- except they were out of the one that we wanted. Sad. Nonetheless...it was pretty average...
(3)Omar S.
I always get pizza here. The crust is excellent and as are the toppings and cheese. The service is friendly as well. I wish there was slightly more parking available but no big deal. Very delicious pizza.
(5)Som S.
Great pizza! Visited multiple times.
(4)Noelle P.
I am writing this review after my second visit to Sweet Basil's. It was one of those experiences better digested after two visits versus one. Sweet Basil's gets a lot of business by word of mouth and reviews in the paper for being Neapolitan style pizza. I think it is more east coast pie meats (ha I play on words) California pizza. Each time I have visited, which were weekend evenings, the restaurant has been very busy. The atmosphere is very Chicky cheese, yet the modern color selections, granite table tops, cool pendant lighting, loft style ceiling seems to be aiming for a different crowd. Yet, It is a very family oriented and lacks atmosphere. Ever been to Marotta's on Lee? Sweet Basil's is a 180 degree switch in feeling. The food. Pizza is better than average but not a tribute by any means to Neapolitan pizza. No wood oven. Cased closed. East coast pizza..you bet. The pizza, or pie as the owner calls it, is quite large, has good texture and the quality toppings are much appreciated. The house made salad dressing is to die for, we even bought some to take home. Quality salads, quality pizza toppings, and quality pizza. Just NOT Neapolitan pizza. Wine and beer is served BUT extremely limited in selection and quality. Service is OK. Servers are very young. So young, in fact on our second visit, she couldn't even carry out our wine and beer. She has to wait on someone else to do it. The second visit also had a pizza mishap where in our party, one couple had their pizza "accidentally" delivered to the wrong table. So our pizza arrived first, very cold. The owner and servers were very apologetic about our friends pizza and brought out a piping hot one 10 minutes later. 2 problems, ours was cold and theirs was very late. Nothing was done to rectify this situation not a comped beer, discount, free dessert, nada. Not that we were looking for freebies, but we all know..it is the thought that counts. The pizza is good. I wouldn't drive across town for it. If you are in the neighborhood, it would be worth your time. I do appreciate when a restaurateur puts effort in delivering a good quality product, even if it is marketed incorrectly ;-)
(3)Bobby B.
First time ordering take out. Went in to place the order, girls behind the counter were super friendly. Pricing was typical of pizza places in the area. Slices of pizza, HUGE! Several options to choose from. Ordered a large (for two people), overload. But so worth it. Two things that I would change or want done differently, one is the pizza be a little crispier on the bottom. And the balsamic dressing was super tart. But that was my decision. Otherwise we will be back for sure. The girls behind the counter spoke very highly of the owner so that tells me a lot about how they are treated and respected as employees.
(4)Mila P.
Mmmmm so good! Love their crust, it's the best! The service is ok, but what do you expect from a bunch of teenagers... We talked to the owner who is super nice. I guess he used to lead a corporate kind of life...quit his job and opened up this brick oven pizza joint. He uses all local ingredients grown right here in cleveland and the surrounding burbs. Highly recommend!
(4)Diana P.
Loved stopping in here yesterday for a late lunch. The website made me want to have a slice of pizza! Plenty of parking outside and they have a cool logo gigantic beach chair in front. Indoor is bright and comforting... tables and a sports bar corner with tv. You get greeted the minute you walk in by friendly people. Our slices of pizza were hand crafted and freshly made in minutes for us. You can customize your own. We planned to take ours to go so they put in boxes but I had to start eating my slice on the spot. Huge slice. .. thin crust and flat neopolitan yummy style. Lots of garlic and full of flavor. The owner is super nice and attentive with a go go go mentality. Seems like all the locals like him and his food. They actually do catering for lunches Which is great. Great casual dining restaurant for lunch or dinner. Bring the family! I will be back
(5)Arbab C.
Awesome pizza. True NY style crust. Good place to take the family. We love coming here anytime we feel like pizza and we are too lazy to cook at home. Definitely my favorite pizza place since I don't work downtown CLE anymore and don't get to go to Vincenza's.
(5)John D.
DECIDEDLY AVERAGE Our family group of 9 came in for dinner based in part on the high Yelp reviews. The pizzas were poor to average. The salads were sub-par and the service was lousy. Why all the good reviews? Is the competition really that bad by comparison? And Faux News was on the TV. I'm sorry, but that's one demerit!
(2)Bill T.
Great pizza - fresh salads - good service Very pleasant find - thank u yelp - we will be back next visit
(5)Todd K.
One of the best pepperoni, jalapeño and anchovies pizza I have ever had. Coupled with a Goose Island IPA - perfection! Crust was perfectly thin and the sauce was not too sweet. Atmosphere is very casual. There's a game room for kids.
(5)Jon B.
Usually poor service. It's pretty sad because the Pizza is not bad. Better option is Dewey's.
(2)Nina G.
Delicious pizza- has the neopolitan pizza was fresh and awesome. waiters were attentive and food was relatively quick. Definitely will come again ;)
(5)Jesco D.
Pricey, but it makes up for it in portion and quality. Unfortunately, consistency could use some great improvement. A few weeks ago I ordered a 12 inch Neopolitan and it was great. I was disappointed that i didn't get the bigger one...However, the following week when I ordered the same in 18 inches all I mostly tasted was burnt dough. Way to thin and burnt, not enough sauce. That was REALLY disappointing. Especially after spending $21 for the whole pizza.
(2)Rieale L.
When it first opened, Sweet Basil was my 'go to' pizza place. The pizza was flavorful and used high quality ingredients. You would walk in to see dough being thrown and a smiling face, but the last two times have been an utter disappointment. The first I chalked up to a bad night but it repeated and seems to be standard. For a small salad and 12 inch pepperoni and mushroom, I was charged $23. There was a total of 8 pepperoni and small bits of mushrooms. Further insult to injury was a lack of cheese but strangely a lot of grease. It was enough to make the two of us not hungry...but not for very long. The sauce was good and seemed high quality but the price and lack of toppings made me feel ripped off. I should have gone to fatheads and got twice the pizza for half the price. Skip this place unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket.
(2)Reel S.
Danny has done the Westside a favor. He works hard and has a great pizza. The place is small but he makes it work. The smell from the burning flour from the pizza oven is the only thing that needs fixed. The food is very good.
(4)John W.
Awesome Neapolitan-style pizza with an owner that stands behind his product. I accidentally caused my pizza to fall on the floor & they replaced it, no charge. Waitress was also great, friendly and provided top-notch service. Highly recommend this local Westlake business!
(5)Jennifer S.
Excellent. We've been several times, and I'm new to Neapolitan. One had a little too much cheese for my taste, but overall great dining and carry out.
(4)Lili L.
This is by far the best pizza I've had in Cleveland. Dreaming of a good slice of pizza (prefer NY style over Chicago deep dish, but if it's good, it's good either way) I embarked on a best-pizza-in-Cleveland journey with my trusty sidekick. First stop: Mama santa's: worst excuse for pizza ever, disgusting, and disappointing. Second stop: Guy's pizza co.: *sigh* what is this world coming to? Well, I guess it's decent for a chain. Okay. Time to get serious. Angelo's, Crust, Sainatos, Marottas, Dewey's Pizza...were all pretty good. But Sweet Basil...oh sweet Sweet Basil Pizza was the best out of all the aforementioned. The meat lover's pizza had, well, ample meat, was well seasoned, cheesy, saucy, all atop a thin, but not too thin, crispy crust. Oh sweet basil, I've found the best pizza in Cleveland! AND this is a no fuss, no mess, no snob place. Come one, come all, with your granny or your crying babies. It's great pizza, period. Edit: woah! Just went to Vero's (east side) and that is now the top of the list for yummy pizza.
(4)Bill M.
The Neapolitan is the bomb. Get a small and a salad and house dressing. Help is great. Owner is a good dude. Good atmosphere. They stock cupcakes from Great Scott's. Or everyone gets a junior cup of lemon Italian ice.
(5)Mitchell D.
I was excited to come here cause I love pizza. Who doesn't? 1. The door to the front door was open and it was 50 degrees. It was freezing in the dining area. 2. The garlic bread tasted like pure butter. No garlic taste at all. 3. The pizza was very bland. It tasted like a can of tomatoes was open and thrown on it. No seasonings at all. I got the "The Special Pizza". It had olives, pepperoni, gyro meat, green peppers, and bacon. The gyro meat was tasteless. I couldn't even tell it was on their till I actually looked at the pizza. 4. The older lady we had as our waitress was not friendly. All she wanted to do was take our order and that's it. She never asked how the food was. I'm sure she is glad she didn't cause it was awful. Honestly, Ive had better pizza at Pizza Hut. I did love the size of the pizza. The crust was ok. I liked the chewy aspect of it.
(2)Tom S.
Giving this restaurant 2 stars is really upsetting. The pizza was great but the service was absolutely terrible. After receiving my food, I did not see my waitress for 45 minutes. I waited for a refill and for a box. The manager eventually came over to see if I needed anything and he never even returned with a box. The only way I'd consider eating their pizza again is if I got it to go.
(2)Andrew C.
I HATE Cleveland "pizza." I also hate Chicago casser- ...pizza. I love sweet basil! I'm from north jersey, been here 5 years and discovered sweet basil about 2 years ago. I can't believe I never reviewed it! They ARE a little pricey for pizza, but then again I'm from nj, so they're cheap compared to any place there. Either way, completely worth it. Best Neapolitan pizza in neo, hands down. I'd be proud to serve this pizza at home... And we know pizza.
(5)Jaret K.
Utter disappointment sums up my dine in here for dinner today with my wife. I want my daily calories back and the $40 that I had to spend on a small pizza, small salad, garlic not knots and two drinks. The only reason I did not give one star is because their salad dressing was actually good. The pizza had hardly any flavor. We ordered the small Special which was $17.00(by the way nothing special about this dry flavorless pizza).The garlic not "knots" were 4 small bread strips which were just okay for $4.75 that's almost a $1.20 per tiny strip of bread. The salad was good. They charge 75 cents per topping on the salad. We ordered mozzarella cheese a received a small little bit of cheese but their house dressing was tasty. All I can say is I will not come back here and think that your basic chain pizza company is more enjoyable. And for anyone who thinks this is close to NYC pizza is out of their mind. I travel to NYC for work at least once a month and this does not even come close.
(2)Doug H.
Was out shopping tonight with my family and we found Sweet Basil's on Yelp. Based on the other reviewer's recommendations, we stopped in for dinner. We had two house salads and the house dressing was highly flavorful. We ordered a small half BBQ chicken and Queen margarite (quite close to a caprese style). I loved the margarite. My kids unfortunately didn't love the BBQ chicken but primarily because they are more accustomed to Dewey's style. Overall it was a good experience though. Friendly staff. Good prices. Game room for the kids after dinner. If you're in the area, it's worth stopping in for.
(4)Ralph K.
Been looking for great pizza on the west side Found It!!!!! The drives to little Italy for pizza are finally over. Here is a pizza place that gets it, pizza done right. If your looking for bread pizza with no flavor go to any other place on the west side. Trust me I've tried them all, all the top rated by the tv station. Big plus here great beer menu. Oh I gotta tell you my server was a delight great service without being a pest. Check them out, nahhh never mind keep going where your going I'll keep this place for my own.
(5)Heather W.
Delicious delicious pizza!! Thin crust, my favorites are cheese and Frank Pepe's Fresh Tomato Pie. They have tables and booths but I've only done take-out. Service was great! Highly recommend.
(4)Allison G.
Delicious! The white clam pizza is amazing! Love the thin crust pizza here. Service is great and we will keep coming back!
(5)Arnold S.
This is what pizza is meant to be. I know they say New York style (which it is) but that is the closest to what pizza is supposed be. Nice, thin but structurally sound crusts with a nice crisp bite and lengthy chew. Then come the toppings. A sauce that supports the pie but doesn't overwhelm it and the quality cheese and toppings make it harmonious pie. I have traveled all over and have tried real za from the homeland and this is by far the best in Cleveland in my book. Mama Santa's is next on the list. A must go for a great pizza. Just wish you were closer!
(5)Suezann Z.
I got pizza here for the first time and it tasted like barf! I got the neopaltin and something else I can't remeber I thought after seeing these reviews it would be good but there went $30!
(2)Gigi B.
Love their pizza! It's New York style, large foldable pieces! Their Italian sausage is the best, thinly sliced, not sausage "chunks" you'll find at other places. Always consistently good! I've never had a bad pizza here!
(4)Jenny G.
I'm a fan, it's solid pizza. AWESOME people / service. I would return, for sure - if I'm in the area. With all the "New York" pizza talk I think it set me up for disappointment - it is not New York pizza. It's good for the area though, so I'll give it that - it's just you can't really say "New York" pizza.
(4)Chintan S.
Simply fantastic. Great pizza. I love thin crust and stone oven pizza and these guys do it very well. I also had couple varieties of their Mac&cheese and it was just as good. Soaking up the liquids with their bread.....yummm. The food is fresh. I love the red sauce.....I can taste tomatoes as well as the herbs. White pie is just as tasty. Perfect balance of dough sauce cheese and toppings. Service is good. I had eat in as well as carry out. People who work there are great friendly and make you feel welcome. The restaurant is spacious and comfortable. Prices are in line with other small pizza places. I am a frequent visitor...... And will continue to be so.
(5)Courtney T.
Pizza has no cheese :( and claim to be styled after New Haven pizza... No where close unfortunately. This is a really popular place though so just not my taste I guess?!
(2)Hector R.
About time they have a family pizza place where you can sit and enjoy awesome pizza. The place just impressed me, I love it! The owner came and talked to us and was very helpful in helping us plan our 3yr old daughters party there. The pizza making show they put on is great also. It was cool how they gave my daughter a piece of dough to play with. It was like playdo but neater and natural. The pizza was huge and I couldn't get enough. Yummm, I'll be back soon. Before I finish the review I wanted to say the arcade room was a pleasant surprise.
(5)Nicole M.
If you're looking for NY style pizza on Cleveland, Sweet Basil is the place to go. To get the true feel of a fold over thin crust piece you must order the large. It's a lot of pizza, but great for lunch the next day! The experience is wonderful, watching the pizza dough being hand tossed. There are bar stools sitting at the pizza bar and the kids love watching! Our favorite is the Neapolitan. Wonderful fresh ingredients!! We've experienced slow service at times, with what seems like confusion on who is responsible for what. But the pizza is definitely worth the confusion! A must visit when in Cleveland.
(4)Rachel B.
It's all Nicole's fault! Her ROTD made my mouth water for real NY-Style, thin-crust pizza. And Sweet Basil does it! Finally, I have found a slice that is TRUE to what many claim to be. Now, I know it's not wood-burning, brick, or what have you, but a specialty oven does not a NY slice make. I DO admit that the so-called "best" NY joints, aka the old-school, fresh, specialty shops, do use these ovens. But my favorite pie comes from any run-of-the-mill pizza place on the corner of any street. And those places use a gas oven. Ok, now that we've gotten that part out of the way ... The place itself, as in the decor, was really nothing special. It was Strip Mall USA. However, I could tell from my first bite to my last that the ingredients are phenomenal and the pies are cooked with great love and admiration for the dough, the tomatoes, the basil, and so on. You can just tell from having a five-minute conversation with this guy that he absolutely loves what he does. After reading several reviews, I was worried I'd have to order a whole pie (well, let me rephrase that:I wasn't worried, because lord knows I could have polished it off even if it took me a few meals and a couple of days, but it's so nice to have a carefree slice on the go. There's no long wait time, no worrying about taking a box out or anything getting cold). But! Lo and behold, there was a lunch menu with salad/slice, salad/soup, or soup/slice combos, so I went for it. Let me just say that putting fresh mixed greens, various colors of veggies, and THOUGHT into a house salad does not go unnoticed. And the dressing was insanely good. It was like balsamic vinaigrette on crack. And the slice. Oh, the slice. Humongous enough, as Nicole said, to do the fork-and-knife thing or the Tony Soprano fold. I chose the fold, and that delicious cheese and sauce got all steamy and puffed out with every bite. This slice needed no garlic salt, no red pepper flakes, no Parmesan cheese, no NOTHING. It was perfect. You can tell that the dough, which was simultaneously soft and crisp, crunchy and chewy, and altogether delicious, only had a few key ingredients and no fillers. I was waiting all this time for "The One," that perfect slice to remind me of home. I've found it!
(5)Dan S.
In an area that is overwhelmingly saturated with the bland and flavorless national chain shops Sweet Basil is an oasis for my tastebuds. This place serves up some amazing pizzas! And holy cow are the slices huge! I'm a big eater and had my fill after 2 slices! Freshness of ingredients is what sets this place apart. The dough is freshly made, the sauce is wonderful, and the cheese is REAL. You won't find the processed cheese food product stuff being used here. It's all 100% awesome romano and mozzarella. The crust is nice and thin, but still has a bit of that chewy doughy thing going for it. When you add on the sauce, cheese, and any number of their wonderful toppings you'll never go back to the crappy McPizza Shack again.
(4)John R.
Pizza is amazing. We had half chicken and broccoli Alfredo and half vodka sauce with basil and fresh mozzarella. 3 people shared one pie. We were full and had leftovers. Delicious!
(5)Jessica I.
One of the few local pizza places that does a great thin crust. They have a bunch of tasty house pies, or you can simply build your own. The toppings are fresh and contain some nice upscale options like prosciutto. Salads are a fine accompaniment- no iceberg lettuce here. Good beer selection and decent wine. Very family friendly and very loud at times, but you can always take it to go.
(4)K D.
I've had this pizza a number of times, but ordered it for take-out myself for the first time last night--that won't happen again. Was left on hold for 7 minutes when I first called, and on calling back, my order was taken immediately, so they obviously just forgot to go back to the calls on hold. When I went to pick the order up, I was essentially ignored by the hostess, she went to the back, and when she came back to the counter, helped the person behind me. I understand these are underskilled high school students working, but if they can't handle answering the phone and helping people who walk up to the counter, it's a huge problem. It's especially a huge problem when the pizza is otherwise delicious. (Love the house dressing too.) There are, however, half a dozen other pizza places in the vicinity and they're all pretty good and they can handle dealing with customers... and most of them deliver.
(3)Kristine D.
One of the best sit down pizza places in the area! The pizza is thin crust style and huge! They offer a variety of flavors and the option to customize your own. They also have several beer options. The price is moderate and the staff is friendly. The only downfall is the often slow service. It's small inside, so you might have to wait for a table on a busy Friday or Saturday evening. Overall, great place to grab a drink and pizza.
(4)Lisa G.
I have been by this place many times, but have never stopped until tonight. I had "The Special" pizza and house salad. The house salad dressing is a balsamic based dressing that was wonderful. The pizza was a very thin crust, with an amazing amount of toppings. We only ordered the 12 inch, which was served with a wire rack on the table. Others in the restaurant were getting the 18 inch, which they serve on a luggage rack, because it is so big. I was expecting more of an Italian feel to the inside, however, found it to be very modern. The only negative is the price. I thought the salad was very reasonably priced, but the pizzas are a little pricey, however they are loaded with toppings. I would diffidently go back.
(4)Meeko P.
Big and Delicious, New York style pizza, you can taste the fresh ingredients in every bite. Mine (the Neapolitan) had lots of fresh basil, crushed tomatoes and garlic. The crust was thin with a lightly chard, crunchy chewy crust . The slices where so big you had to fold them to eat them, just like in NY. I relize there are different taste and preferences out there, but this is the kind of pie to go for if you like a good NY style pizza.
(4)Steven S.
Overall good pizza, fresh toppings, good sauce. Not a huge fan of the standard crust they offer but the toppings make up for it. The vegetarian specialty pizza has stood out as my favorite of their specialities that I have tried so far. I would give 3.5 stars if that were an option.
(3)Axay U.
Be warned, this is not New York style thin crust pizza, slices definitely are not foldable, though it's not pan pizza. In addition, the sauce just seems to be crushed tomatoes. The cheese was decent, and the toppings are generous; I ordered garlic, and it must have been super finely chopped, because no pieces were visible. To be fair, this might be the best pizza in Cleveland, but I am not a local and wanted decent pizza.
(3)Xela N.
If you like 'Neapolitan Style' pizza, this is the place to go! The homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella tastes (and is) fresh, and the thin crust is excellent. While there, I met the owner, Dan, who is clearly passionate about pizza, and a helluva nice guy all around. I understand that although he was born and bred here, he spent many years living in the NY/NJ/CT area (my old 'stomping grounds'), and brought back some of that tri-state area pizza making magic back with him! All we NE Ohio pizza lovers are all the more lucky for it!
(4)Murray R.
Try being open some time, dumb fucks. I went there a couple times last year and the kitchen was closed before nine at night. Yesterday I stopped by at 11:30 am. They are open at that time. Like three days a week. Tuesdays, nope. What stupid shit is that? Don't think I'm going to bother coming here any more. Shame, cuz I like the pie a lot. But quirky schedules really piss me off. Plus Westlake sucks in general.
(3)Matthew M.
Yeah, I get it. They fling the dough up in the air to stretch it out. By appearance alone, it seemed authentic. But don't the pizzerias in the mall do the same? Yeah, it beats the frozen disks as used by Pizza Hut and Papa John's I imagine. Let's just not get carried away folks. The praise I've been reading about this place has been off the charts. I was curious if it could withstand the hype... Sweet Basil has been on my places to try list for quite some time. I've heard comparisons to Crostata's in Highland Heights. Now that I find myself trolling the Western side of town more-so these days than the Eastside, I figured the timing was perfect to check out this much heralded pizza joint. It was Friday night. Approximately 7pm. Pizza was on my mind. We headed to the dreaded 'burb of Westlake to check out this pie. Sweet Basil was stuck in a strip mall along Center Ridge Road. Who has more strip malls by the way? Westlake or Strongsville? My God there's a lot of brick in these cities! Inside, it was chaotic. The dining room shared the same space as the kitchen. It was basically one big room packed to the brim with loud kids and families. I wasn't sure a calm meal could be enjoyed in this atmosphere. It seemed more like a Chuck E. Cheese than a restaurant, so we ordered a pie to go. To kill time and protect our sanity, we waited it out at a bar on the other end of the strip mall, called "Time Warp Bar". More on that in another review.... We ordered two pies. The "Queen Margarite" (tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, garlic) along with the "Special" (sausage, ground sirloin, bacon, olives, onion, pepper, garlic, mushrooms, romano and mozzarella). For dessert, two cannolis. The pies were both acceptable. Thin crust, nicely proportioned toppings, did the trick. A far cry from Crostata's though. Not even in the same league actually. The pizza isn't even cooked in a wood burning oven. If I hear one more comparison to Crostata's, I might flip. Better than the chains? Sure. Among the best in greater Cleveland? Meh. It might crack the Top 10.
(3)Alex S.
Great pizza, a bit expensive though.
(4)Bill C.
Best pizza in Northeast Ohio. For thin-crust fans who value hand-tossed pies right before your eyes. This is our weekly family pizza joint. Parking can be REALLY tight.
(5)Camilla G.
Decent pizza -- not phenomenal, but decent. Pretty bland atomosphere. It's in a strip mall and feels like it's in a strip mall. My biggest complaint is that the pizza is served tableside on racks, which makes navigating through the restaurant (to and from the restrooms, for example) a little dodgy. As in you are dodging pizzas! Just a little awkward.
(3)Nicole M.
This is my favorite style of pizza-- thin crust, goodly amount of sauce, fresh mozzarella (not provolone-bleh) and fresh toppings. It reminds me of the pizza I had in Italy-- fresh and perfectly balanced. If you think that Mama Santa's or Joey's is the ne plus ultra of pizza, try this and reevaluate. It's not canned or burnt! The restaurant is modern, pleasant and spare, filled with families and couples. The staff is friendly, but does not hover. They make the pizza from scratch when you order, so expect to wait about 15 minutes or so. NB, the only starter is a substantial salad. I wish they had something else to nibble on during the wait. They do have games you can play! The pizza came straight from the oven. Most patrons used a fork and knife (Toronto style!) to eat the first few bites of the enormous slices. Some did the NYC fold. We had the Neapolitan pie. The crust itself was flavorful. The sauce had a lot of texture, and was not too salty. No excessive gobs of cheese. They did use a flaming boatload of fresh garlic, so if you plan to make out with anyone afterward, make sure he/she has eaten just as much as you have, or ask them to go light on the garlic.
(4)Tim W.
We love the pizza and we love the place!!! An all time favorite when you want to unwind in a very comfortable setting, watch pizza being made, then indulge on your own pizza!!! Incredible selection of regular and specialty pizzas. The best bacon ceasar salad ever!!!
(5)Seed M.
Seriously not a bad pizza for being in the land where there is no good pizza. CLEVELAND. Threw a hot wing in the parking lot.
(3)Michael M.
I wish I could give it 4.5 stars. Cause it is a great place. We have eaten there a couple of times. First was when they hadn't even finished opening up. The floor wasn't even finished! It was really good the first time, so we went back for a second and third. The pizza is great. The atmosphere is great. The service is great Nd very friendly. They even let the kids watch them make the pizzas and toss to them a small ball of pizza dough for them to play with. We will definitely be back.
(4)David W.
Have never had a bad experience here and I've been eating here for years. The pizza itself isn't the usual deep dish heavily loaded down kind. Rather it's lighter with a thin crust. You're given a huge variety of toppings to choose from, everything from traditional toppings to more cosmopolitan ones like roasted garlic, sweet basil, and roasted red peppers. The restaurant itself is nice, usually gets really hot in the summer so dining in may not be that enjoyable. Other than that it's a must try for anyone craving pizza.
(5)wes s.
Superb ! Best pizza between Boston and Chicago (and beyond actually) - not far from the highways when traveling. We will stop every time we drive through the area.
(5)Rick F.
EXCELLENT! I will definitely be returning. Quality ingredients. Pleasant staff. Couldn't ask for much more.
(5)Norman H.
Fantastic! We tried four different specialty pizzas. All were exceptional, but the artchoke and pesto was my personal favorite.
(5)Michelle M.
What a great little place! The thin crusts are fantastic and the selection of toppings and sauces is quite diverse. It will take many visits to even decide which of their pizzas is my favorite! Tonight I tried the Grapes of Wrath white pizza with grape tomatoes, cheese, fresh basil, garlic, and balsamic vinaigrette. I can't wait to try more!
(5)Allison G.
A great local pizzeria. We ate in for a late lunch and had a really nice time. Service was friendly and efficient, and I especially liked the artichoke pizza. The food seemed very fresh and homemade. They also do take-out.
(4)Jen Z.
My favorite pizza!!!! I highly recommend.
(5)D. K.
If you like thin crust pizza, Sweet Basil's is a good choice. We have been there 4 times or so in the past year. The pizza is good to very good. Salads are only OK. The location is unpretentious yet inviting and open. It is very family friendly which we appreciate but at times that can lead to it being a bit noisy so I would not recommend it as a place to linger for conversation or as a location for a quiet dinner for two.
(3)Jim P.
I have been a frequent visitor since SBNSP opened and everything's still perfect. Dan and his team make the ultimate pizza for us every single time. I don't know how he does it, but he and his staff work extra hard to make sure we are satisfied. You can't ask for any better than that. Jim Poe
(5)Pete R.
By far the best pizza on the West Side, which doesn't say much, but it would compete on the East Side. The owner is a great guy... Don't know what else to say other than great pizza.
(5)Roger B.
Best Pizza on the west side of Cleveland.
(5)Jen M.
If you are looking for an old school pizza place with Luigi and Nona flippin' dough in the back room and, "That's Amore" blasting from the speakers, this isn't it. This is a modernized version of a pizzeria with slick, slightly industrial decor and clean lines. Bravo to Sweet Basil for that. I only ordered a calzone for lunch. When I went to pick it up they slid a pizza box across the counter. Surely it was the wrong order, right? Nope. Tucked inside was the most MASSIVE calzone I've ever seen. No joke it had to be `12" long by 9" wide. Perfectly constructed. And I loved how I could customize my calzone (which means they make them to order...awesome). I ordered it with sundried tomatoes, pepperoni, and extra sauce and it already came with a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, and romano. I thought the red sauce needed salt. sad to say. It was kinda boring and borderline tasteless. Dough was thin and chewy. All in, it cost $11. Good quality ingredients for sure.
(4)Gretchen B.
Delicious food. Fun, family-run feel. They have games like farkle to play while waiting at your table. Very down to earth place :-)
(4)Jim G.
Definitely the best pizza available around Westlake. Though many of the pizzas feature a large number and variety of toppings, the pizza itself is perfect. Perfect crust, perfect sauce, and a perfect blend of cheeses, the toppings only serve to add to the experience.
(5)P C.
It has been a while (about 3 months) since my one and only trip to Sweet Basil, but I figured I should write this review now, since it is doubtful that I will be going back anytime soon. The food, from what I remember, was good. Decent Neapolitan style pizza and standard salad. The drink menu, as I recall, was lackluster...pretty sure they only had soda and a small wine selection. I didn't remember the pizza or salad being anything extraordinary, but it was fine for general pizza eating purposes. Chaotic would be the best way to describe this place. We went there on a Friday night. Lots of little kids and big families...I think this is the main reason the place did not appeal to me so much. There was a balloon clown. Perhaps Sweet Basil is just not meant for my demographic, and that's fine -- not every place is going to be. Still, the place seemed a bit out of control...someone's child dumped either water or soda with ice all over the floor near the entrance, and nobody was bothering to clean it up during our (very long, I might add) wait to be seated. I had to warn other patrons who were almost about to slip and fall to be careful. I even brought it to the staff's attention, but the spill with slippery ice remained there on the floor for quite a while. (I guess it never occurred to the parents of the child to make the child clean up his own spill, or else clean up after him themselves?) There were big pictures of the owners' family all over the wall...weird. Sweet Basil would probably be a good place for takeout. I haven't had their takeout but I could imagine enjoying it a lot more without the quiet din of a hundred young children incessantly babbling. If you have kids and are on the West side of Cleveland, you may want to consider taking them here.
(3)Diana P.
Loved stopping in here yesterday for a late lunch. The website made me want to have a slice of pizza! Plenty of parking outside and they have a cool logo gigantic beach chair in front. Indoor is bright and comforting... tables and a sports bar corner with tv. You get greeted the minute you walk in by friendly people. Our slices of pizza were hand crafted and freshly made in minutes for us. You can customize your own. We planned to take ours to go so they put in boxes but I had to start eating my slice on the spot. Huge slice. .. thin crust and flat neopolitan yummy style. Lots of garlic and full of flavor. The owner is super nice and attentive with a go go go mentality. Seems like all the locals like him and his food. They actually do catering for lunches Which is great. Great casual dining restaurant for lunch or dinner. Bring the family! I will be back
(5)Arbab C.
Awesome pizza. True NY style crust. Good place to take the family. We love coming here anytime we feel like pizza and we are too lazy to cook at home. Definitely my favorite pizza place since I don't work downtown CLE anymore and don't get to go to Vincenza's.
(5)John D.
DECIDEDLY AVERAGE Our family group of 9 came in for dinner based in part on the high Yelp reviews. The pizzas were poor to average. The salads were sub-par and the service was lousy. Why all the good reviews? Is the competition really that bad by comparison? And Faux News was on the TV. I'm sorry, but that's one demerit!
(2)Todd K.
One of the best pepperoni, jalapeño and anchovies pizza I have ever had. Coupled with a Goose Island IPA - perfection! Crust was perfectly thin and the sauce was not too sweet. Atmosphere is very casual. There's a game room for kids.
(5)Jon B.
Usually poor service. It's pretty sad because the Pizza is not bad. Better option is Dewey's.
(2)Bill T.
Great pizza - fresh salads - good service Very pleasant find - thank u yelp - we will be back next visit
(5)Nina G.
Delicious pizza- has the neopolitan pizza was fresh and awesome. waiters were attentive and food was relatively quick. Definitely will come again ;)
(5)Rieale L.
When it first opened, Sweet Basil was my 'go to' pizza place. The pizza was flavorful and used high quality ingredients. You would walk in to see dough being thrown and a smiling face, but the last two times have been an utter disappointment. The first I chalked up to a bad night but it repeated and seems to be standard. For a small salad and 12 inch pepperoni and mushroom, I was charged $23. There was a total of 8 pepperoni and small bits of mushrooms. Further insult to injury was a lack of cheese but strangely a lot of grease. It was enough to make the two of us not hungry...but not for very long. The sauce was good and seemed high quality but the price and lack of toppings made me feel ripped off. I should have gone to fatheads and got twice the pizza for half the price. Skip this place unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket.
(2)Jesco D.
Pricey, but it makes up for it in portion and quality. Unfortunately, consistency could use some great improvement. A few weeks ago I ordered a 12 inch Neopolitan and it was great. I was disappointed that i didn't get the bigger one...However, the following week when I ordered the same in 18 inches all I mostly tasted was burnt dough. Way to thin and burnt, not enough sauce. That was REALLY disappointing. Especially after spending $21 for the whole pizza.
(2)Jim P.
I have been a frequent visitor since SBNSP opened and everything's still perfect. Dan and his team make the ultimate pizza for us every single time. I don't know how he does it, but he and his staff work extra hard to make sure we are satisfied. You can't ask for any better than that. Jim Poe
(5)Pete R.
By far the best pizza on the West Side, which doesn't say much, but it would compete on the East Side. The owner is a great guy... Don't know what else to say other than great pizza.
(5)Roger B.
Best Pizza on the west side of Cleveland.
(5)Jen M.
If you are looking for an old school pizza place with Luigi and Nona flippin' dough in the back room and, "That's Amore" blasting from the speakers, this isn't it. This is a modernized version of a pizzeria with slick, slightly industrial decor and clean lines. Bravo to Sweet Basil for that. I only ordered a calzone for lunch. When I went to pick it up they slid a pizza box across the counter. Surely it was the wrong order, right? Nope. Tucked inside was the most MASSIVE calzone I've ever seen. No joke it had to be `12" long by 9" wide. Perfectly constructed. And I loved how I could customize my calzone (which means they make them to order...awesome). I ordered it with sundried tomatoes, pepperoni, and extra sauce and it already came with a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, and romano. I thought the red sauce needed salt. sad to say. It was kinda boring and borderline tasteless. Dough was thin and chewy. All in, it cost $11. Good quality ingredients for sure.
(4)Gretchen B.
Delicious food. Fun, family-run feel. They have games like farkle to play while waiting at your table. Very down to earth place :-)
(4)Jim G.
Definitely the best pizza available around Westlake. Though many of the pizzas feature a large number and variety of toppings, the pizza itself is perfect. Perfect crust, perfect sauce, and a perfect blend of cheeses, the toppings only serve to add to the experience.
(5)Reel S.
Danny has done the Westside a favor. He works hard and has a great pizza. The place is small but he makes it work. The smell from the burning flour from the pizza oven is the only thing that needs fixed. The food is very good.
(4)John W.
Awesome Neapolitan-style pizza with an owner that stands behind his product. I accidentally caused my pizza to fall on the floor & they replaced it, no charge. Waitress was also great, friendly and provided top-notch service. Highly recommend this local Westlake business!
(5)Lili L.
This is by far the best pizza I've had in Cleveland. Dreaming of a good slice of pizza (prefer NY style over Chicago deep dish, but if it's good, it's good either way) I embarked on a best-pizza-in-Cleveland journey with my trusty sidekick. First stop: Mama santa's: worst excuse for pizza ever, disgusting, and disappointing. Second stop: Guy's pizza co.: *sigh* what is this world coming to? Well, I guess it's decent for a chain. Okay. Time to get serious. Angelo's, Crust, Sainatos, Marottas, Dewey's Pizza...were all pretty good. But Sweet Basil...oh sweet Sweet Basil Pizza was the best out of all the aforementioned. The meat lover's pizza had, well, ample meat, was well seasoned, cheesy, saucy, all atop a thin, but not too thin, crispy crust. Oh sweet basil, I've found the best pizza in Cleveland! AND this is a no fuss, no mess, no snob place. Come one, come all, with your granny or your crying babies. It's great pizza, period. Edit: woah! Just went to Vero's (east side) and that is now the top of the list for yummy pizza.
(4)Mitchell D.
I was excited to come here cause I love pizza. Who doesn't? 1. The door to the front door was open and it was 50 degrees. It was freezing in the dining area. 2. The garlic bread tasted like pure butter. No garlic taste at all. 3. The pizza was very bland. It tasted like a can of tomatoes was open and thrown on it. No seasonings at all. I got the "The Special Pizza". It had olives, pepperoni, gyro meat, green peppers, and bacon. The gyro meat was tasteless. I couldn't even tell it was on their till I actually looked at the pizza. 4. The older lady we had as our waitress was not friendly. All she wanted to do was take our order and that's it. She never asked how the food was. I'm sure she is glad she didn't cause it was awful. Honestly, Ive had better pizza at Pizza Hut. I did love the size of the pizza. The crust was ok. I liked the chewy aspect of it.
(2)Tom S.
Giving this restaurant 2 stars is really upsetting. The pizza was great but the service was absolutely terrible. After receiving my food, I did not see my waitress for 45 minutes. I waited for a refill and for a box. The manager eventually came over to see if I needed anything and he never even returned with a box. The only way I'd consider eating their pizza again is if I got it to go.
(2)Andrew C.
I HATE Cleveland "pizza." I also hate Chicago casser- ...pizza. I love sweet basil! I'm from north jersey, been here 5 years and discovered sweet basil about 2 years ago. I can't believe I never reviewed it! They ARE a little pricey for pizza, but then again I'm from nj, so they're cheap compared to any place there. Either way, completely worth it. Best Neapolitan pizza in neo, hands down. I'd be proud to serve this pizza at home... And we know pizza.
(5)Jennifer S.
Excellent. We've been several times, and I'm new to Neapolitan. One had a little too much cheese for my taste, but overall great dining and carry out.
(4)Jaret K.
Utter disappointment sums up my dine in here for dinner today with my wife. I want my daily calories back and the $40 that I had to spend on a small pizza, small salad, garlic not knots and two drinks. The only reason I did not give one star is because their salad dressing was actually good. The pizza had hardly any flavor. We ordered the small Special which was $17.00(by the way nothing special about this dry flavorless pizza).The garlic not "knots" were 4 small bread strips which were just okay for $4.75 that's almost a $1.20 per tiny strip of bread. The salad was good. They charge 75 cents per topping on the salad. We ordered mozzarella cheese a received a small little bit of cheese but their house dressing was tasty. All I can say is I will not come back here and think that your basic chain pizza company is more enjoyable. And for anyone who thinks this is close to NYC pizza is out of their mind. I travel to NYC for work at least once a month and this does not even come close.
(2)Bill M.
The Neapolitan is the bomb. Get a small and a salad and house dressing. Help is great. Owner is a good dude. Good atmosphere. They stock cupcakes from Great Scott's. Or everyone gets a junior cup of lemon Italian ice.
(5)Doug H.
Was out shopping tonight with my family and we found Sweet Basil's on Yelp. Based on the other reviewer's recommendations, we stopped in for dinner. We had two house salads and the house dressing was highly flavorful. We ordered a small half BBQ chicken and Queen margarite (quite close to a caprese style). I loved the margarite. My kids unfortunately didn't love the BBQ chicken but primarily because they are more accustomed to Dewey's style. Overall it was a good experience though. Friendly staff. Good prices. Game room for the kids after dinner. If you're in the area, it's worth stopping in for.
(4)Ralph K.
Been looking for great pizza on the west side Found It!!!!! The drives to little Italy for pizza are finally over. Here is a pizza place that gets it, pizza done right. If your looking for bread pizza with no flavor go to any other place on the west side. Trust me I've tried them all, all the top rated by the tv station. Big plus here great beer menu. Oh I gotta tell you my server was a delight great service without being a pest. Check them out, nahhh never mind keep going where your going I'll keep this place for my own.
(5)Heather W.
Delicious delicious pizza!! Thin crust, my favorites are cheese and Frank Pepe's Fresh Tomato Pie. They have tables and booths but I've only done take-out. Service was great! Highly recommend.
(4)Allison G.
Delicious! The white clam pizza is amazing! Love the thin crust pizza here. Service is great and we will keep coming back!
(5)Arnold S.
This is what pizza is meant to be. I know they say New York style (which it is) but that is the closest to what pizza is supposed be. Nice, thin but structurally sound crusts with a nice crisp bite and lengthy chew. Then come the toppings. A sauce that supports the pie but doesn't overwhelm it and the quality cheese and toppings make it harmonious pie. I have traveled all over and have tried real za from the homeland and this is by far the best in Cleveland in my book. Mama Santa's is next on the list. A must go for a great pizza. Just wish you were closer!
(5)Suezann Z.
I got pizza here for the first time and it tasted like barf! I got the neopaltin and something else I can't remeber I thought after seeing these reviews it would be good but there went $30!
(2)Gigi B.
Love their pizza! It's New York style, large foldable pieces! Their Italian sausage is the best, thinly sliced, not sausage "chunks" you'll find at other places. Always consistently good! I've never had a bad pizza here!
(4)Jenny G.
I'm a fan, it's solid pizza. AWESOME people / service. I would return, for sure - if I'm in the area. With all the "New York" pizza talk I think it set me up for disappointment - it is not New York pizza. It's good for the area though, so I'll give it that - it's just you can't really say "New York" pizza.
(4)Chintan S.
Simply fantastic. Great pizza. I love thin crust and stone oven pizza and these guys do it very well. I also had couple varieties of their Mac&cheese and it was just as good. Soaking up the liquids with their bread.....yummm. The food is fresh. I love the red sauce.....I can taste tomatoes as well as the herbs. White pie is just as tasty. Perfect balance of dough sauce cheese and toppings. Service is good. I had eat in as well as carry out. People who work there are great friendly and make you feel welcome. The restaurant is spacious and comfortable. Prices are in line with other small pizza places. I am a frequent visitor...... And will continue to be so.
(5)Courtney T.
Pizza has no cheese :( and claim to be styled after New Haven pizza... No where close unfortunately. This is a really popular place though so just not my taste I guess?!
(2)Hector R.
About time they have a family pizza place where you can sit and enjoy awesome pizza. The place just impressed me, I love it! The owner came and talked to us and was very helpful in helping us plan our 3yr old daughters party there. The pizza making show they put on is great also. It was cool how they gave my daughter a piece of dough to play with. It was like playdo but neater and natural. The pizza was huge and I couldn't get enough. Yummm, I'll be back soon. Before I finish the review I wanted to say the arcade room was a pleasant surprise.
(5)Nicole M.
If you're looking for NY style pizza on Cleveland, Sweet Basil is the place to go. To get the true feel of a fold over thin crust piece you must order the large. It's a lot of pizza, but great for lunch the next day! The experience is wonderful, watching the pizza dough being hand tossed. There are bar stools sitting at the pizza bar and the kids love watching! Our favorite is the Neapolitan. Wonderful fresh ingredients!! We've experienced slow service at times, with what seems like confusion on who is responsible for what. But the pizza is definitely worth the confusion! A must visit when in Cleveland.
(4)Rachael N.
I agree with the other yelpers- this ain't no crostatas. It was a late Sunday night and we were craving pizza. Let's go get pizza! And off we went. We ordered the Queen Margarite and a special that had shrimp on it. Both were just okay- they were definitely very flat..and iono...just didn't have that same taste as Crostatas. It wasn't oily or anything like that.. I mean, it was good....but not great. Definitely not great. I think I would have preferred Pizzabogo over this place. It was just very flat, think crust, not even doughy or crispy..but kinda floppy pizza. Definitely not in the same league as Crostatas...but just average. They had a lot of cool brews though- except they were out of the one that we wanted. Sad. Nonetheless...it was pretty average...
(3)Omar S.
I always get pizza here. The crust is excellent and as are the toppings and cheese. The service is friendly as well. I wish there was slightly more parking available but no big deal. Very delicious pizza.
(5)Som S.
Great pizza! Visited multiple times.
(4)Jessica I.
One of the few local pizza places that does a great thin crust. They have a bunch of tasty house pies, or you can simply build your own. The toppings are fresh and contain some nice upscale options like prosciutto. Salads are a fine accompaniment- no iceberg lettuce here. Good beer selection and decent wine. Very family friendly and very loud at times, but you can always take it to go.
(4)Axay U.
Be warned, this is not New York style thin crust pizza, slices definitely are not foldable, though it's not pan pizza. In addition, the sauce just seems to be crushed tomatoes. The cheese was decent, and the toppings are generous; I ordered garlic, and it must have been super finely chopped, because no pieces were visible. To be fair, this might be the best pizza in Cleveland, but I am not a local and wanted decent pizza.
(3)Rachel B.
It's all Nicole's fault! Her ROTD made my mouth water for real NY-Style, thin-crust pizza. And Sweet Basil does it! Finally, I have found a slice that is TRUE to what many claim to be. Now, I know it's not wood-burning, brick, or what have you, but a specialty oven does not a NY slice make. I DO admit that the so-called "best" NY joints, aka the old-school, fresh, specialty shops, do use these ovens. But my favorite pie comes from any run-of-the-mill pizza place on the corner of any street. And those places use a gas oven. Ok, now that we've gotten that part out of the way ... The place itself, as in the decor, was really nothing special. It was Strip Mall USA. However, I could tell from my first bite to my last that the ingredients are phenomenal and the pies are cooked with great love and admiration for the dough, the tomatoes, the basil, and so on. You can just tell from having a five-minute conversation with this guy that he absolutely loves what he does. After reading several reviews, I was worried I'd have to order a whole pie (well, let me rephrase that:I wasn't worried, because lord knows I could have polished it off even if it took me a few meals and a couple of days, but it's so nice to have a carefree slice on the go. There's no long wait time, no worrying about taking a box out or anything getting cold). But! Lo and behold, there was a lunch menu with salad/slice, salad/soup, or soup/slice combos, so I went for it. Let me just say that putting fresh mixed greens, various colors of veggies, and THOUGHT into a house salad does not go unnoticed. And the dressing was insanely good. It was like balsamic vinaigrette on crack. And the slice. Oh, the slice. Humongous enough, as Nicole said, to do the fork-and-knife thing or the Tony Soprano fold. I chose the fold, and that delicious cheese and sauce got all steamy and puffed out with every bite. This slice needed no garlic salt, no red pepper flakes, no Parmesan cheese, no NOTHING. It was perfect. You can tell that the dough, which was simultaneously soft and crisp, crunchy and chewy, and altogether delicious, only had a few key ingredients and no fillers. I was waiting all this time for "The One," that perfect slice to remind me of home. I've found it!
(5)Dan S.
In an area that is overwhelmingly saturated with the bland and flavorless national chain shops Sweet Basil is an oasis for my tastebuds. This place serves up some amazing pizzas! And holy cow are the slices huge! I'm a big eater and had my fill after 2 slices! Freshness of ingredients is what sets this place apart. The dough is freshly made, the sauce is wonderful, and the cheese is REAL. You won't find the processed cheese food product stuff being used here. It's all 100% awesome romano and mozzarella. The crust is nice and thin, but still has a bit of that chewy doughy thing going for it. When you add on the sauce, cheese, and any number of their wonderful toppings you'll never go back to the crappy McPizza Shack again.
(4)John R.
Pizza is amazing. We had half chicken and broccoli Alfredo and half vodka sauce with basil and fresh mozzarella. 3 people shared one pie. We were full and had leftovers. Delicious!
(5)K D.
I've had this pizza a number of times, but ordered it for take-out myself for the first time last night--that won't happen again. Was left on hold for 7 minutes when I first called, and on calling back, my order was taken immediately, so they obviously just forgot to go back to the calls on hold. When I went to pick the order up, I was essentially ignored by the hostess, she went to the back, and when she came back to the counter, helped the person behind me. I understand these are underskilled high school students working, but if they can't handle answering the phone and helping people who walk up to the counter, it's a huge problem. It's especially a huge problem when the pizza is otherwise delicious. (Love the house dressing too.) There are, however, half a dozen other pizza places in the vicinity and they're all pretty good and they can handle dealing with customers... and most of them deliver.
(3)Kristine D.
One of the best sit down pizza places in the area! The pizza is thin crust style and huge! They offer a variety of flavors and the option to customize your own. They also have several beer options. The price is moderate and the staff is friendly. The only downfall is the often slow service. It's small inside, so you might have to wait for a table on a busy Friday or Saturday evening. Overall, great place to grab a drink and pizza.
(4)Lisa G.
I have been by this place many times, but have never stopped until tonight. I had "The Special" pizza and house salad. The house salad dressing is a balsamic based dressing that was wonderful. The pizza was a very thin crust, with an amazing amount of toppings. We only ordered the 12 inch, which was served with a wire rack on the table. Others in the restaurant were getting the 18 inch, which they serve on a luggage rack, because it is so big. I was expecting more of an Italian feel to the inside, however, found it to be very modern. The only negative is the price. I thought the salad was very reasonably priced, but the pizzas are a little pricey, however they are loaded with toppings. I would diffidently go back.
(4)Meeko P.
Big and Delicious, New York style pizza, you can taste the fresh ingredients in every bite. Mine (the Neapolitan) had lots of fresh basil, crushed tomatoes and garlic. The crust was thin with a lightly chard, crunchy chewy crust . The slices where so big you had to fold them to eat them, just like in NY. I relize there are different taste and preferences out there, but this is the kind of pie to go for if you like a good NY style pizza.
(4)Steven S.
Overall good pizza, fresh toppings, good sauce. Not a huge fan of the standard crust they offer but the toppings make up for it. The vegetarian specialty pizza has stood out as my favorite of their specialities that I have tried so far. I would give 3.5 stars if that were an option.
(3)Xela N.
If you like 'Neapolitan Style' pizza, this is the place to go! The homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella tastes (and is) fresh, and the thin crust is excellent. While there, I met the owner, Dan, who is clearly passionate about pizza, and a helluva nice guy all around. I understand that although he was born and bred here, he spent many years living in the NY/NJ/CT area (my old 'stomping grounds'), and brought back some of that tri-state area pizza making magic back with him! All we NE Ohio pizza lovers are all the more lucky for it!
(4)Murray R.
Try being open some time, dumb fucks. I went there a couple times last year and the kitchen was closed before nine at night. Yesterday I stopped by at 11:30 am. They are open at that time. Like three days a week. Tuesdays, nope. What stupid shit is that? Don't think I'm going to bother coming here any more. Shame, cuz I like the pie a lot. But quirky schedules really piss me off. Plus Westlake sucks in general.
(3)Jon G.
Tied for best NY style pizza in Cleveland (with Vincenza's downtown). Great variety and fantastic pies every time! I'd order twice as much if they delivered!
(5)Kristin B.
Good pizza. Owner is super nice! Customizations are no problem. Online menu doesn't show the array of wonderful macaroni and cheese variations available. Try any or all of them!
(4)Norman H.
Fantastic! We tried four different specialty pizzas. All were exceptional, but the artchoke and pesto was my personal favorite.
(5)Michelle M.
What a great little place! The thin crusts are fantastic and the selection of toppings and sauces is quite diverse. It will take many visits to even decide which of their pizzas is my favorite! Tonight I tried the Grapes of Wrath white pizza with grape tomatoes, cheese, fresh basil, garlic, and balsamic vinaigrette. I can't wait to try more!
(5)Allison G.
A great local pizzeria. We ate in for a late lunch and had a really nice time. Service was friendly and efficient, and I especially liked the artichoke pizza. The food seemed very fresh and homemade. They also do take-out.
(4)Jen Z.
My favorite pizza!!!! I highly recommend.
(5)Matthew M.
Yeah, I get it. They fling the dough up in the air to stretch it out. By appearance alone, it seemed authentic. But don't the pizzerias in the mall do the same? Yeah, it beats the frozen disks as used by Pizza Hut and Papa John's I imagine. Let's just not get carried away folks. The praise I've been reading about this place has been off the charts. I was curious if it could withstand the hype... Sweet Basil has been on my places to try list for quite some time. I've heard comparisons to Crostata's in Highland Heights. Now that I find myself trolling the Western side of town more-so these days than the Eastside, I figured the timing was perfect to check out this much heralded pizza joint. It was Friday night. Approximately 7pm. Pizza was on my mind. We headed to the dreaded 'burb of Westlake to check out this pie. Sweet Basil was stuck in a strip mall along Center Ridge Road. Who has more strip malls by the way? Westlake or Strongsville? My God there's a lot of brick in these cities! Inside, it was chaotic. The dining room shared the same space as the kitchen. It was basically one big room packed to the brim with loud kids and families. I wasn't sure a calm meal could be enjoyed in this atmosphere. It seemed more like a Chuck E. Cheese than a restaurant, so we ordered a pie to go. To kill time and protect our sanity, we waited it out at a bar on the other end of the strip mall, called "Time Warp Bar". More on that in another review.... We ordered two pies. The "Queen Margarite" (tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, garlic) along with the "Special" (sausage, ground sirloin, bacon, olives, onion, pepper, garlic, mushrooms, romano and mozzarella). For dessert, two cannolis. The pies were both acceptable. Thin crust, nicely proportioned toppings, did the trick. A far cry from Crostata's though. Not even in the same league actually. The pizza isn't even cooked in a wood burning oven. If I hear one more comparison to Crostata's, I might flip. Better than the chains? Sure. Among the best in greater Cleveland? Meh. It might crack the Top 10.
(3)Alex S.
Great pizza, a bit expensive though.
(4)Bill C.
Best pizza in Northeast Ohio. For thin-crust fans who value hand-tossed pies right before your eyes. This is our weekly family pizza joint. Parking can be REALLY tight.
(5)Camilla G.
Decent pizza -- not phenomenal, but decent. Pretty bland atomosphere. It's in a strip mall and feels like it's in a strip mall. My biggest complaint is that the pizza is served tableside on racks, which makes navigating through the restaurant (to and from the restrooms, for example) a little dodgy. As in you are dodging pizzas! Just a little awkward.
(3)D. K.
If you like thin crust pizza, Sweet Basil's is a good choice. We have been there 4 times or so in the past year. The pizza is good to very good. Salads are only OK. The location is unpretentious yet inviting and open. It is very family friendly which we appreciate but at times that can lead to it being a bit noisy so I would not recommend it as a place to linger for conversation or as a location for a quiet dinner for two.
(3)Nicole M.
This is my favorite style of pizza-- thin crust, goodly amount of sauce, fresh mozzarella (not provolone-bleh) and fresh toppings. It reminds me of the pizza I had in Italy-- fresh and perfectly balanced. If you think that Mama Santa's or Joey's is the ne plus ultra of pizza, try this and reevaluate. It's not canned or burnt! The restaurant is modern, pleasant and spare, filled with families and couples. The staff is friendly, but does not hover. They make the pizza from scratch when you order, so expect to wait about 15 minutes or so. NB, the only starter is a substantial salad. I wish they had something else to nibble on during the wait. They do have games you can play! The pizza came straight from the oven. Most patrons used a fork and knife (Toronto style!) to eat the first few bites of the enormous slices. Some did the NYC fold. We had the Neapolitan pie. The crust itself was flavorful. The sauce had a lot of texture, and was not too salty. No excessive gobs of cheese. They did use a flaming boatload of fresh garlic, so if you plan to make out with anyone afterward, make sure he/she has eaten just as much as you have, or ask them to go light on the garlic.
(4)Tim W.
We love the pizza and we love the place!!! An all time favorite when you want to unwind in a very comfortable setting, watch pizza being made, then indulge on your own pizza!!! Incredible selection of regular and specialty pizzas. The best bacon ceasar salad ever!!!
(5)Seed M.
Seriously not a bad pizza for being in the land where there is no good pizza. CLEVELAND. Threw a hot wing in the parking lot.
(3)Michael M.
I wish I could give it 4.5 stars. Cause it is a great place. We have eaten there a couple of times. First was when they hadn't even finished opening up. The floor wasn't even finished! It was really good the first time, so we went back for a second and third. The pizza is great. The atmosphere is great. The service is great Nd very friendly. They even let the kids watch them make the pizzas and toss to them a small ball of pizza dough for them to play with. We will definitely be back.
(4)David W.
Have never had a bad experience here and I've been eating here for years. The pizza itself isn't the usual deep dish heavily loaded down kind. Rather it's lighter with a thin crust. You're given a huge variety of toppings to choose from, everything from traditional toppings to more cosmopolitan ones like roasted garlic, sweet basil, and roasted red peppers. The restaurant itself is nice, usually gets really hot in the summer so dining in may not be that enjoyable. Other than that it's a must try for anyone craving pizza.
(5)wes s.
Superb ! Best pizza between Boston and Chicago (and beyond actually) - not far from the highways when traveling. We will stop every time we drive through the area.
(5)Rick F.
EXCELLENT! I will definitely be returning. Quality ingredients. Pleasant staff. Couldn't ask for much more.
(5)Noelle P.
I am writing this review after my second visit to Sweet Basil's. It was one of those experiences better digested after two visits versus one. Sweet Basil's gets a lot of business by word of mouth and reviews in the paper for being Neapolitan style pizza. I think it is more east coast pie meats (ha I play on words) California pizza. Each time I have visited, which were weekend evenings, the restaurant has been very busy. The atmosphere is very Chicky cheese, yet the modern color selections, granite table tops, cool pendant lighting, loft style ceiling seems to be aiming for a different crowd. Yet, It is a very family oriented and lacks atmosphere. Ever been to Marotta's on Lee? Sweet Basil's is a 180 degree switch in feeling. The food. Pizza is better than average but not a tribute by any means to Neapolitan pizza. No wood oven. Cased closed. East coast pizza..you bet. The pizza, or pie as the owner calls it, is quite large, has good texture and the quality toppings are much appreciated. The house made salad dressing is to die for, we even bought some to take home. Quality salads, quality pizza toppings, and quality pizza. Just NOT Neapolitan pizza. Wine and beer is served BUT extremely limited in selection and quality. Service is OK. Servers are very young. So young, in fact on our second visit, she couldn't even carry out our wine and beer. She has to wait on someone else to do it. The second visit also had a pizza mishap where in our party, one couple had their pizza "accidentally" delivered to the wrong table. So our pizza arrived first, very cold. The owner and servers were very apologetic about our friends pizza and brought out a piping hot one 10 minutes later. 2 problems, ours was cold and theirs was very late. Nothing was done to rectify this situation not a comped beer, discount, free dessert, nada. Not that we were looking for freebies, but we all know..it is the thought that counts. The pizza is good. I wouldn't drive across town for it. If you are in the neighborhood, it would be worth your time. I do appreciate when a restaurateur puts effort in delivering a good quality product, even if it is marketed incorrectly ;-)
(3)Mila P.
Mmmmm so good! Love their crust, it's the best! The service is ok, but what do you expect from a bunch of teenagers... We talked to the owner who is super nice. I guess he used to lead a corporate kind of life...quit his job and opened up this brick oven pizza joint. He uses all local ingredients grown right here in cleveland and the surrounding burbs. Highly recommend!
(4)Bobby B.
First time ordering take out. Went in to place the order, girls behind the counter were super friendly. Pricing was typical of pizza places in the area. Slices of pizza, HUGE! Several options to choose from. Ordered a large (for two people), overload. But so worth it. Two things that I would change or want done differently, one is the pizza be a little crispier on the bottom. And the balsamic dressing was super tart. But that was my decision. Otherwise we will be back for sure. The girls behind the counter spoke very highly of the owner so that tells me a lot about how they are treated and respected as employees.
(4)P C.
It has been a while (about 3 months) since my one and only trip to Sweet Basil, but I figured I should write this review now, since it is doubtful that I will be going back anytime soon. The food, from what I remember, was good. Decent Neapolitan style pizza and standard salad. The drink menu, as I recall, was lackluster...pretty sure they only had soda and a small wine selection. I didn't remember the pizza or salad being anything extraordinary, but it was fine for general pizza eating purposes. Chaotic would be the best way to describe this place. We went there on a Friday night. Lots of little kids and big families...I think this is the main reason the place did not appeal to me so much. There was a balloon clown. Perhaps Sweet Basil is just not meant for my demographic, and that's fine -- not every place is going to be. Still, the place seemed a bit out of control...someone's child dumped either water or soda with ice all over the floor near the entrance, and nobody was bothering to clean it up during our (very long, I might add) wait to be seated. I had to warn other patrons who were almost about to slip and fall to be careful. I even brought it to the staff's attention, but the spill with slippery ice remained there on the floor for quite a while. (I guess it never occurred to the parents of the child to make the child clean up his own spill, or else clean up after him themselves?) There were big pictures of the owners' family all over the wall...weird. Sweet Basil would probably be a good place for takeout. I haven't had their takeout but I could imagine enjoying it a lot more without the quiet din of a hundred young children incessantly babbling. If you have kids and are on the West side of Cleveland, you may want to consider taking them here.
(3)