Hidden Italian. The Basil Leaf Cafe is a sweet little spot hidden in a small shopping strip - you can blow by it in a second if you are not looking for it. The restaurant is small, but not teeny. The bar is pretty small - but you can still pop in there and have a glass of wine. There are a couple of dining rooms and a patio area in the summer - but it is the food that is damn good here. Actually- beside the yummy food, the prices are pretty decent especially when you factor in the area where it is located. Personally we love the pizzas that come from the wood fired oven - but everything we ever had was good. Definitely a place to hit when in the area. Parking lot in front read more

Oddly, my original review is missing. So I will do it again. A friend of mine and I went to have lunch at this restaurant. As usual, when the manager is there, whose name is Adam, he manages to put us in a tiny table in the back, or in a very inappropriate place. When we protested, he gets extremely nasty and rude. For reasons not well understood the owner of this establishment is fully aware of this managers behavior and yet he is still there. This time he used the filthiest language. I have heard in a long time, He used F bombs and demanded that we get the F out of the restaurant. We were not rude or nasty. We also noticed that there are several complaints about this man and his behavior is generally targeted against women. He doesn't have the courage to talk to a man the way he spoke to us because a man would probably pop him one with the kind of language he used. Obviously, we will never return to this restaurant mainly because Adam needs a few lessons as to how to treat customers and frankly the food is mediocre at best. It is a local place and we are local people and that explains why we actually attended this place. Adam is not usually there when we are, so there are no problems. We will never return. Please do not remove this review. It is honest and sincere and needs to be seen. read more

This place is tucked in a small group of stores and looks a bit small to be a full restaurant from the outside! Inside it's bigger than it looks.. and is a nice place with a nice vibe. We had a good friends birthday dinner here a number of year back, and they were willing to create the right sized tabler for 12 or so. Very nice place, quality is good, good for lunch, better for dinner. read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Small pic of Basil Leaf Cafe - hard to find online (website is flash). - Italian Near Me - Locust Valley, New York

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Might be the best food around! Why only 3 stars? My issue is with the tall lanky manager that seats you. He is not a friendly guy and he is easily upset . We have been avoiding Basil Leaf but we hope the owner wakes up and finds a friendly face to greet customers. read more

Had dinner here tonight; I would give this place a better rating if the service was way better! There's nothing worst than having great food at a restaurant and horrible service!!! We waited multiples times throughout the night for our waiter to bring us menus, the drinks, the food, let alone the check. Our waiter really just wasn't attentive at all, so it was just utterly disappointing. Overall, the service really killed the vibe for the night. read more

Had a party here for my daughters communion. It was fabulous. Food was great, hot, tasty. Atmosphere was comfortable, friendly. Service was top notch. Not cheap but you wouldn't expect it to be, you get everything you pay for! Highly recommend read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Communion celebration - Italian Near Me - Locust Valley, New York

Came here for a birthday party on a weekend. The party room was a comfortable size for 7 tables (9 ppl each). For a starter we had bruschetta it was pretty good. For our dinner we had a choice of salmon, veal, eggplant or chicken. I ordered the chicken it was really good probably four stars, however the portion was not that big, it was one piece of chicken, 3 quartered pieces of roasted potato and some vegetables. I tried the eggplant and found it plain, my Italian grandmother makes it better! The wait staff were nice but certainly not the fastest. I think it could have been different if I had just gone there for dinner. Overall it was good food though. read more

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This review is more about the review below, by the Asian lady (Spunky C.), than it is about the cafe itself. In a nutshell the cafe is a fantastic place all around year round. The length of the review by Spunky C. shows how much the lady was agitated, but in reality her agitation was fabricated and unfounded by the unacceptable demand she made. It is understandable if you think you are singled out for a lesser treatment by a public place. That was not the case at all here, but rather the opposite, demanding an especial treatment flashing the racism card. I'd like to clarify two points from my experience: First I knew this manager for the two decades he managed Basil Leaf. He is one of the funniest guys you'll ever encounter in your life. And speaking of racism, if only that lady knew where he is from, she'll know she made an accusation that is absolutely baseless. The truth is always complicated. From those who witnessed the incident, customers as well as staff, the lady was poised to pick up a fight entering the place's front door. The moment she was in the cafe she started by complaining about how small the only table available was and vociferously for everyone to hear wanting an already-seated patrons to leave their table for her and her friends, and when shockingly but politely her request was rejected, the racism card was pulled out. For the argument in an unacceptable loud voice that followed, she was asked to leave, and when she refused, the police was called in and when arrived they escorted her and her friends out. It is painful if that happens to anyone, but she came in with the problem already in her hand. Her way out venting what she didn't expect, was the racism false accusation review. read more

Love it ! My go to place for fantastic Italian food !! Vito and Adam are the best always treat you like family when your there !

Got a gift card for this restaurant and LOVED it. So cute, great food! Can't wait to go back.

nice space , good courtyard chicken breast is good bread is good sauce for bread is good service is good bathroom is clean read more

Basil Leaf Cafe - Italian Near Me - Locust Valley, New York

Amazing food, amazing service, amazing building, all I gotta say. I'm Italian and this establishment makes me proud to be so, give it a try if you're around. read more

Ok where to start , came here for dinner on a Sunday and only ended up staying for a drink and appetizers. Baked clams was ehhh just breadcrumbs in a clam shell or that's at least what it tasted like, the grilled prosciutto and mozzarella was gross, absolutely no flavor to anything. Very overpriced for the quality of the food, 2 drinks and 2 apps was 70 dollars, ridiculous. read more

Haimi was the hidden gem! We have been wanting to try Basil for 5 years but for one reason or another , never made it! On a whim this rainy Friday , we pulled in to an empty lot at 7pm , the host was able to seat us without a reservation! Thank you. We lucked out , Haimi was our server. The man was perfection - his service was beyond reproach - old world welcoming with a smile! Personable and friendly despite the growing bar crowd waiting for tables.. no rush, no stress , rather refreshing to the men that were looking to rush us out and clear the table. We ordered mussels with garlic, delish.... baked clams that were ok...capellini with fresh mozzarella which was disappointing but perfectly cooked ; veal Marsala that was exceptionally delish served with bland steamed veggies and flavorful potatoes. My dinner mate finished with a cappuccino and Italian biscotti . On the whole it was a nice meal in a restaurant that had a nice ambiance! Prices were right too!!! Tables were close but not too invasive! Thanks Haimi for making it entertaining! Keep serving with a smile! You are a great asset to the restaurant, we will definitely return looking for you!!!! read more

I actually found out about this place years ago but totally forgot about it. Then when I came across it on yelp and saw about the best alla vodka I knew I had to come here to try it. I consider myself a true lover of alla vodkas lol. Anyway it was one of the best I ever had! I also loved the look of this place. We came a random Wednesday night sorta early and we were the youngest people there but eh. Also the guy working there I guess as host? was hot! anyway if you want delicious alla vodka, come here! I hope to come back with my girls because after seeing my photos they want to come try it :) also so jealous of the people all getting take out which means they must live in the area or close enough, so gorgeous over here. it's hard to believe it's only 8 miles from my home. seriously one of my favorite drives has become coming over here. service was also great, and love the outdoor seating though we didn't sit outside. also if you want to impress a date, take her here! read more

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This stand alone restaurant in Locust Valley village caters to the north shore elite serving excellent Italian cuisine. Atmosphere 80 Classic with nice outdoor seating Service 80 They know what they are doing Food 95 The gnocchi were great - A+++++ Value 75 Pricey. If the setting and cooking quality are paramount, this is the place. If price is paramount, try an Italian pizzeria. It might be just as good. read more

Hadn't been here in quite some time so ownership must have changed. Food used to be very good. Now Absolutely terrible. Overpriced. Linguine with seafood was disgusting. Looked like they used a jarred sauce. Linguine with seafood is hard to screw up but they did. Veal with brown sauce would have been better from a jar. Comparing it to an Olive Garden belittles olive garden. The Pellegrino was good! Don't waste your money. read more

Expensive but so worth it in my opinion. Love the eggplant parmigiana and pasta. The steamed broccoli with garlic and olive oil is so good! So is the bread. read more

I have friends whose opinions I respect, so I'm going to rate this experience as maybe an "off-day" for this restaurant and come back another time to give them another shot. Maybe it was one of the first days of Spring with outside seating or perhaps it was the large baby shower guests that decided to hover near the patio seating and yell very loudly to each other- not bothering to respect the other patrons and their desires to have a nice quiet meal. Either way, we had a meal that was "good" when we were expecting even better. The help was nice not overly friendly but nice. And our food was good. But just that- good. We promise to come back with fresh eyes and mouths and give them another try because they deserve more than a three star review and should get it. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants on Long Island- the food is consistently good, the staff is friendly, and the prices are right! It is a neighborhood spot, so you may just know the person walking through the door or over a cocktail at the bar, meet them. Also, love the glow from the lighting and candles. It contains serviceable renditions of earthy delicacies from all over the Mediterranean map. The Basil Leaf is delicious with creative Food. I bring friends all the time and everyone wants to come back. read more

If I had to choose where my last meal would come from, it would be The Basil Leaf Cafe. It's a wonderful dining experience. There are two indoor places to dine: the largest being a lovely little cottage that is beautifully decorated. The smaller is where the bar and kitchen are housed. There is also outdoor seating in the courtyard, which is lovely. The quality of food and service has been five star every time I have come here. I've been patronizing this fine establishment since 2000 and it only gets better! The salads are delicious and distinctly different. My favorite isn't on the menu now, but they make it for me anyway. It's a warm shrimp and white bean salad with arugula, and a bit of tomato. Add grated cheese and a slice of their delicious Italian bread and its a perfect lunch! Highly recommended are the brick oven pizza, any shrimp dish (but shrimp fra diavolo and pasta is spicy good), osso bucco, any homemade pasta (yum), homemade soup, especially minestrone. The desserts and drinks are a wonderful way to round off a delicious Italian meal. My favorite Italian restaurant on Long Island! read more

I've lost count of how many times I've eaten here. I've had lunch, intimate dinners, huge crowd dinners, take-out, been to showers, parties... Always delivers top notch food and service. Can't go wrong here. read more

BEST italian food. I mean you can't get any better than this. The best penne vodka, gnocchi.. everything I've had from here I've not only liked but LOVED. Didn't think it could get any better but the management and hospitality is outstanding. They genuinely care. The specials are always amazing and are always changing so I've pretty much tried everything here over the 15 years I've been going here read more

Had a really disappointing meal here tonight. Their pizza, which we typically love, wasn't even mediocre. Pasta dish and basil leaf salad were equally bland. Nice service at least. read more

Food is amazing, the place is nice and elegant! Like the location beautiful town. Nice workers, wide range of foods.

Kid friendly menu (pizza appetizers) - great pasta dishes and wine selection. Close to train stop too. Reservations are probably needed on weekends but easy to dine at during the week read more

Went last week. The restaurant wasn't full, we had a 7pm reservation but were asked to wait a few minutes for our table. After a short wait we were shown to our table. There was almost zero elbow space between the next table to us and ours, and we had a problem hearing ourselves due to the level of noise coming from that table. We ordered baked clams, calamari and salad. they were average nothing special. I'm a person that enjoys fresh pasta as opposed to dry, I ordered linguine pescatora - dry pasta which is a little too al dente is not my cup of tea. I'll give them another chance maybe this was an off day for them or maybe I was just expecting more from this 'gem' read more

I live in Locust Valley I have no idea why I don't stop in here more often? Food is excellent. We had the linguine with white clam sauce. Pasta was cooked to perfection. Service was outstanding. The cappuccino was the best cup I have EVER had! We will be back. read more

For 27 years Vito has overseen this restaurant. Good food in a delightful environment. Nothing speaks louder than success. His longevity is testimony to the nature of the restaurant. read more

This place has excellent customer service! They really make sure that you are taken care of the entire time you are there! I had pizza and my husband had pasta. Both were delicious! Other than it being on the more expensive side, I give this place 5 stars! read more

Cute little place. Their signature salad is wonderful. Portions are generous... my boyfriend and I share and still leave stuffed!

Had lunch here and it was great. Their burrata was delicious and their salad was as well. The pizza was delicious and not greasy though it would have been great to a larger quantity of toppings. Quick service. read more

We held my dear mother's memorial service on Friday and we found out where we originally were going to have the reception was without power. I called the Basil Leaf Cafe to see if they could accommodate our last minute (and I do mean last minute) needs. Not only did they accommodate us, they SURPASSED my expectations in EVERY way! The food was DELICIOUS, the drinks were replaced before one had to even ask, the setting was beautiful and the entire event was extremely reasonable! THANK YOU! I will RECOMMEND you to everyone!! read more

really great place for good home cooking. the ingredients are very fresh and everything tastes light and easy to digest. the salads are very good. the linguine alla pescatore is very good with lots of fresh mussels, clams, squid, and shrimp. the marina sauce has that great homemade taste to it. when the specials are available try the osso buco and the baked branzino. the specials are really delicious. dining room is nice and quiet. they have several dining rooms so you can dine casually for any occasion. staff is pleasant. no parking problems in this place, which is key for long island. read more

What has happened to Basil Leaf Cafe? We dined here tonight and it was horrible. Both of us ordered veal topped with tomato and mozzarella. It was 2 slabs of dry, tasteless veal (reheated?) with some tomatoes and mozzarella thrown on top. Dry as a desert and tasteless as well For $54 we left over most of it and went somewhere else for dinner. We have had this dish in many other restaurants - with some dressing on top and a bit of arugula/greens, onions. Either a lemon dressing or balsamic dressing with some additional topping plus veal that was not tough and dry would have made this decent. It was less than you would get in a roadside diner. A horrible, awful, unappetizing dish - a waste of $54. Waiters seemed oblivious. read more

Good food and atmosphere. I especially love to go there and sit outside. There aren't enough places to hang out outside on Long Island. This is one of my favorites. I love their salads, pastas and pizzas. Add a little wine, bread, olive oil, cheese and I am in heaven. read more

Always a battle with the staff for a decent table for two unless you are bringing in a group of kids for pizza. My wife and I usually look forward to a peaceful cocktail before dinner and a nice bottle of wine. The bum's rush seems to be standard operating procedure which we resent since our tab for two is in many cases higher than tables of four. Food is salty and no doubt contains additives for flavor enhancement. After our last visit we walked out before sitting down because we were once again placed at a table next to the toilets while the restaurant was relatively empty. I guess management was waiting (and hoping) to fill up tables of four so why try to accomodate two good guests that are already there. Based on my last few unwelcoming experiences here I will not return. Visited June 2015 read more

My husband and I just went there to celebrate our anniversary dinner. It's a Sunday night at 6 pm. The place was not that crowded on both sides of the property. When we arrived, a tall skinny man with an accent approached us, already aggravated. When my husband asked if we could sit side by side instead of across from each other he proceeded to walk us to a table where that was not possible. My husband asked politely again for a table side by side. This person turned nasty and replied I can't accommodate you. He said ok and walked away. I explained that we come here frequently and can we go to the other side. He said NO. ITS A STEAK HOUSE! Well! As a patron and in the restaurant business for over 20 years not only myself but my family, I was shocked at his behavior and his demeanor to us as customers. Maybe that is not a big deal to most of you who read this post but as a patron in the neighborhood and the other waiters in the past accommodated us , there is no reason to be treated with that type of demeanor. My husband said are you having a bad day and he just turned around and said goodbye and we left. Will NEVER GO THERE AGAIN. But the kicker is that my sister booked a party there and as tomorrow he will be out an event. Your thoughts ? read more

I would just like to say what a wonderful experience we had today at my cousin's graduation party. As I was going through the buffet line to get my meal, I realized that I could only have potatoes because everything else had dairy in it. (I'm currently nursing and my baby has a dairy intolerance). The manager overheard this and brought me up a special salad with no cheese and made a pasta dish with chicken for me. I absolutely was not expecting that at all. I've gotten used to just having more bread at functions like this. So it was so amazing that they prepared something completely different for me. You don't get that kind of service anymore. The private room was a great space and all of the food served was delicious. Wonderful restaurant. read more

Excellent restaurant. Impeccable service. Very impressed. Our food was delicious. Staff was great. Very nice atmosphere. All positives. read more