This little gem is such an adorable place! The room is fairly small and tight spaced, but it makes for a warm environment. The interior design has a unique, classy Italian touch to it with an assortment of wines lined along certain parts of the room. The waiter, Nick, was professional and extremely helpful. He is a great waiter and we were very glad to have him enjoy our dinner with great recommendations, specials, and personal favorite dishes on the "secret" menu (previous hit dishes). For appetizers, we had the Sicilian Calamari and the Shrimp Romano, both had great flavor and unique in its own way. My boyfriend and I both had the Prime Rib Steak Special and, oh my gosh, the meat was one of the best we've had in a long time. My boyfriend likes to think of himself as a steak expert, and he gave two thumbs way up (his mouth was full most of the meal). For dessert, I had the Tiramisu and he had the Creme Brulee, which were splendid. the Tiramisu wells soft and perfect to its taste. The Creme Brulee was also amazing, super creamy and as my boyfriend described it.. "orgasmic". I would definitely come back a second time to try out other dishes they offer!! read more

Basil Tree Ristorante - tiramisu dessert was so soft and savory! - Seafood Near Me - Dixon, Illinois

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We ate at the Basil Tree for our Anniversary last evening. It was the second time in the last month we dined there. The food is really great. The ambiance is just what you want in an Italian restaurant. Unfortunately, the service left much to be desired. The restaurant was not busy - so it is difficult to understand why we were not waited on in a timely manner once seated. Our waitress (who had worked there for many years) seemed like she would rather be somewhere else than waiting on her tables. A couple was seated at the table behind us - they arrived 15 minutes after did - the were immediately waited on and given a bread basket. We still didn't have one after 15 minutes. They were done with their entrees before we received ours. We asked her to please check on our entrees - as it took so long to get them . She checked on us only once after serving the entrees. My water glass sat empty several times. A very disappointing experience. read more

Excellent food, cant get better pasta anywhere in town. Unique sauce flavor, and the customer service is wonderful. Very nice owner. Food is worth the price read more

Always pretty good food. Good small town feel. Trying a little too hard to be classy in a town only known for the largest embezzlement in American history and well endowed church. But the food is really all that matters read more

What a pleasant surprise in Dixon, IL! Glad I stopped in. Had the pasta fagioli soup which was fabulous with the little slices of bread - SO yummy I could have made this my meal! I also had a taste for creamy/cheesy and indulged in the quartto formaggio - FAB! Highly recommend this restaurant and am looking forward to bringing my Sicilian husband to experience it! read more

Well, I am back again with an updated review. Tonight I tried the feature appetizer, Bruchetta. Frickin awesome! Soup of the day was minestrone, again, homemade and delicious. Entree was gnocchi basilica. Spot on perfection. 5 stars. Best restaurant in Dixon. read more

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Service was excellent, great atmosphere, I had seafood and pasta which had clams and mussels (among other things in it). It was good, I did get some grit in the clams which was off putting. Great place for a special occasion or date night, not someplace I would go just to have dinner. read more

The food is awesome yummy the owner is very nice and what a great service keep up the great service. This is the best restaurant in Dixon.

Welcome to Italy! This beautiful building greets you with a receiving area outside boasting a quaint fire side seating arrangement and warm brick facade. Upon entering you are immediately greeted by a inviting staff and glorious marrying of Old world Tuscan and Italian design with almost a speak easy feel. With Sinatra, Martin, and even traditional Italian music the interior finds you searching for the quintessential well dressed " legitimate buisnessman" or a aging member of the Rat Pack. Exceptionally well thought out bar, with wood and stone with a inviting wine rack and flowing fountain make your first step back into a more tasteful era a most enjoyable decision. The staff is welcoming, and very well informed making your meal selection a wonderful part of your evening. The ability to inform the guests (from memory) the daily changing specials and chef creations in great detail to preparation and ingredients all while pairing wines is a lost art and very well received by the guests. The menu is smaller while offering very diverse and exciting selections all of which have never failed to please. Chicken, Steak, Seafood all have been prepared to perfection while the chef and support staffs pride and passion shine through every meal. The deserts are absolutely decadent and paired with thier italian coffee or fabulous martini list (chocolate is to die for pair it with the Tiramisu) make for the most enjoyable of closing overture to the most Magnificent symphony of dining experiences. The entire visit from entering to seating, serving and beyond is a dining experience not to be missed. Slow down, take a moment with friends; family or loved ones and take journey into exceptional with The Basil Tree you will be glad you did. read more

This is one of my most favorite places to eat at when I prefer a relaxing environment. Delicious food and great service. read more

Basil Tree Ristorante - Seafood Near Me - Dixon, Illinois

The only great restaurant within 70 miles, fantastic food and service! I can feel confident when I take someone there that they will enjoy the experience. We are fortunate to have at least one great restaurant in the area. The pricing is justifiable for the quality and portions size! You will be happy :) read more

I have had their food before via carry out but this was my first experience dining in. We came for lunch and we were one of three tables dining in. We were there for 2 hours! We didn't get our food for an hour and half. The food was warm at best and the bread was burnt. I will not waste my time dining in again. The food tasted good, but it was barely warm. I will do carry out only. Disappointed. read more

This. Place. Is. Amazing. I can't speak highly enough about it- the atmosphere and service are top notch and THE FOOD. Holy smokes please choose this restaurant if you are ever in or near Dixon. It's 5 mins off the freeway and worth every bite! read more

I'll start off by saying that Basil Tree is a very well put together restaurant. Very clean, friendly staff and I enjoyed the small space as it made the dining experience feel more personal. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, having celiacs disease this meant a lot to me and thankfully they can make nearly anything on the menu gluten free. Now for the not so good part of this review. For the area Basil Tree is beautiful, but it did feel a little cookie cutter and cliche. Faux brick, wine bottles, generic paintings. As for the food itself; sorry to say but bland and tasteless. I ordered the Basil Tree with chicken breast, thinking that since it's their namesake I couldn't go wrong. The presentation was a bit of a let down, and the only real flavor was salt. My fiancé order the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, and said the same for her order. Boring, bland, and tasteless. Basil Tree has the potential of being outstanding with not having much competition in the area for Italian dining, but needs to overhaul their recipes to really punch through with a "wow factor". I will give credit to the bartender as the drinks were mixed perfectly and not a single complaint can be made in that area. Don't try to be like Olive Garden with the "customizable pasta" and focus on being Basil Tree. read more

We love this place. It has the best staff and the best food! Great small friendly bar too. You can't go wrong with Basil Tree!

I've been here twice and loved both meals (live in Chicago, so it's hard to get here more often). Always had enough food for leftovers. The decor and ambiance is perfection. My only complaint....offer that jalapeno pasta dish regularly!! I've never had a pasta so unique and delicious! read more

We have had dinner & lunch @ Basil Tree & it was wonderful every time!! I absolutely will go back & recommend to other diners!

Dixon is full of surprises. You can't find a single decent cup of coffee anywhere in this town, and as far as I know, there doesn't seem to be a movie theater or a place to go shopping other than Walmart. And yet, here is this cute little restaurant that has great Italian food. Old school Italian American restaurants usually overdo it with the sweetness in sauces, but the sauces here hit just the right note - fragrant, with deep flavors, and you taste herbs more than you taste anything else. The chicken has this interesting smokiness and depth. The gnocchi is dense - I prefer the light pillowy kind, but it's my understanding that dense gnocchi, more like dumplings, are a legitimate gnocchi style, and I did like them. The bar has a coppery tin sheath on top, which excited me. As a Chicagoan strolling west, I was on the prowl for things that would be too expensive for me in Chicago. I had already picked out a chair in St. Charles. I had hoped that maybe they sold that material in Dixon - the waitress didn't know, but they were so awesome that they brought out someone who did know and told me about the building of the piece, which was very nice of them. read more

I have never been to Dixon and wasn't sure what to make of the restaurants in the area considering we live so close to Chicago and have access to some of the best food around. We then came across the basil tree during our day trip in the area. When walking in we were greeted by a friendly younger server and were seated. I was a little stunned that it was completely empty and not a single person walked through the doors in the hour we were there. Mind you it was a Wednesday around lunch so maybe that's normal? Nice atmosphere and seemed like a very clean, well put together restaurant. The menu had a pretty decent selection. I wasn't really a fan of the customize your own pasta. I like the idea, but considering this is an Italian restaurant I expect some pre-designed pasta dishes. It felt a little Oliver garden-y. The food arrived fast, our server was pleasant, our cocktails were made well and if we are in the area we'd give it another shot. Recap: Cute atmosphere Good service Empty (not much traffic) Menu needs some re-working Decent food portions read more

Shrimp scampi, house salad nice. Red sauce and soups average. Have tried but unfortunately never had a good veal dish. Most recent was Basil Tree veal, meat was overcooked and not tenderized. In fact, I think it was chicken and not veal as ordered. Venue was one-third full on a weeknight and soup and salad arrived before appetizers, had to ask for beverages and condiments twice. Wait staff disorganized and untrained. read more

Not fabulous, but definitely very good. The options in Dixon are pretty limited, so it's nice that even though there's really nowhere else to go, it's thoroughly enjoyable. The service was good and the kitchen was prompt. Very fresh veggies in my pasta, but I have to say my husband's steak was pretty average. I will definitely try them again, but I will probably stick to the pasta as it was the best of the dishes we tried. read more

I had to be in my hometown of Dixon to help with some personal issues. My birthday happen to fall during this time. My husband surprised me and we went to Basil Tree for birthday lunch! Was exceptional!!! Food, atmosphere, service was a 10. Would definitely go back! Thank you! read more

I am staying at white pines state park and their Sunday dinner menu didn't sound appealing especially since I'm on the Ketogenic diet. I googled restaurants in the area and saw the high ratings for Basil Tree. I called and made a reservation and when I arrived was seated shortly after I found a server (no hostess or bartender). The place is clean and beautifully decorated. Val was my server. She was friendly, personable and attentive. I ordered the shrimp cocktail (6), caesar salad, and the ribeye. I cannot have potatoes so I ordered the veggies. The shrimp cocktail was good but the shrimp were warmer than normal. Guess I'm used to them being chilled. The caesar was tasty as well. My ribeye had a delicious flavor but wasn't cooked medium rare. More medium to medium well. The veggies weren't for my liking. Being in the service industry myself, I did mention these shortcomings. Val was very accommodating. The other server on staff was very friendly as well. The service is 5 stars, the food was 3.5 hence a 4 star review. No dessert as I'm on a no sugar diet but other reviews say the dessert is fantastic. It did look good! read more

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The best restaurant in downtown Dixon. I love the intimate atmosphere and small dining room. I had the shrimp and scallops (scampi style) over gluten free pasta. Being celiac for over 5 years now, I know how tough it can be to cook gluten free pasta just right, and the chef nailed it. The drink menu and wine list is wonderful too. We had great service. The food came out very quick and it was piping hot, not waiting under a heat lamp. Everything was so fresh down to the garlic in my meal. Next time I go, I'm going to sit at the bar before diving to enjoy a drink. read more

By far one of the best restaurants I've had the pleasure of eating in. Staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. Owner/ Manager personally greats you and ensures that your meal is to your liking. I ordered the chicken parmesan. Very generous portion, and very delicious. While I didn't care too much for the soup, it was still a very very large meal, which for the price, it was a little bit more expensive than the majority of the restaurants in the area, but well worth it for the serving size and quality of the food. It was a very intimate experience. Located just off the main stretch of Dixon, it has a great atmosphere, especially the downstairs dining area where I was at. read more

My husband and I are from a western suburb of Chicago and had the delight of recently dining at the Basil Tree Ristorante. We visited family in Iowa and after finding accolades about this restaurant online, decided to exit I-88 for Dixon and have a 'date night' at the Basil Tree. We were absolutely thrilled with the ambiance, the genuineness/attentiveness of the owner and staff, the excellence in the food (presentation and preparation), the exceptional value and the overall experience at Basil Tree Ristorante! We have eaten at some of the finest Italian restaurants in Chicago, New York and Rome (and plenty of places in between). I also LOVE to cook and obviously eat...so we tell you wholeheartedly that this is a GEM of a restaurant in charming Dixon. If you want great authentic Italian food, priced so reasonably, in a small town atmosphere (really nice people), we HIGHLY recommend the Basil Tree Ristorante. We can't wait to go back! read more

I have been a fan of this place for quite a while. It is difficult to pass up the lunch buffet's variety but the individual entrees are so wonderful it is nearly impossible for me to make up my mind. Service is as delicious as the food. I generally prefer to dine with my Kindle. Unlike some dining establishments, they offer the same great service (without over doing it) as they do couples or larger groups. It has become a tradition when I am in Dixon for a visit to KSB to stop in for lunch. Takes the sting out of the doctor visit. read more

If you stopped someone on the street in Dixon and asked them what the town's nicest restaurant is, chances are you'd hear "Basil Tree!" This is my boyfriend's and my go-to place when we're looking to celebrate or want a great meal. It's a little out of my "average night out" price range, or we'd definitely be there more often. My boyfriend swears by their gnocchi. I love their vodka sauce, but I usuallygo for one of the specials because they never disappoint. The bread is great, the wine list is extensive and the dessert...amazing. The service is also highly professional and very attentive. They also have a banquet room in the basement that I'm eager to try when I have a reason to rent a banquet room! read more

I was here last Sunday and the service & food were impeccable. I ordered the steamed mussels & clams in the white wine sauce. For my entree I had the seafood cavatelli pasta which was so delicious. Dessert was a wild berry sorbet. I took home some leftovers which made for a great late night feast. I liked their food more than the Italian places in my area near o'hare airport. I'll be back soon! read more

Quite possibly my favorite restaurant in Dixon! Relaxing atmosphere and friendly service - The vodka and paesano sauces are both excellent choices for a main dish or as an add on for the side pastas. If the tomato basil soup is available, go that route and you won't be disappointed. In addition to the usual, the owner is always welcoming and friendly. I moved here somewhat recently and am out of town for work the majority of the time. It's nice to have a night out where you remember what a small town is like. He's taken the time to recognize us and make us feel like part of the community inside of just the occasional visitor that I tend to be everywhere else in the vicinity. read more

This is our date night spot. It's also where we choose to go for birthdays, etc. They have the best vodka sauce! It's intimate, never rushed, always attentive, and extremely delicious. We almost always get some type of pasta with vodka sauce but my husband also likes their chicken parm and the chicken with Vesuvius potatoes is great too. I work with disabled adults and have brought a group in and we were treated phenomenally- even to the point of receiving a slice of tiramisu on the house for everyone! Great place, run by great people. read more

We came to Sterling from Chicago to visit my friend. She has been raving about this Italian place in Dixon so of course this is where we came for dinner. I have to say she was right, the food was delicious! For appetizers we got the calamari and the bruschetta, the calamari was good but the bruschetta was great. Then we had the minestrone soup with their fresh, warm rosemary bread - excellent! For entrees my husband got the cheese ravioli with cream/marinara sauce (yes, you can create your own pasta with their many sauces which is so cool) and I got the baked mozzarella topped prosciutto wrapped chicken breast, both were great but that ravioli was the best - and I'm not even that big a fan of ravioli. What really made Basil Tree stand out was how gracious everyone was, from the waitstaff to the host (who was the owner himself!). My friends go to the restaurant often and they were talking to the host about different wines on the list (which is pretty extensive) and happened to mention a Cabernet that they really liked in napa that wasn't on the menu. The owner took down the name of the wine and told them he'll try to track it down and give them a call when they get it, amazing! Now that's five star treatment. Coming from Chicago where the options for great restaurants are endless I have to say Dixon has a true gem. read more

Amazing food and atmosphere. You feel truly transported to such a fine dinning experience right here in town.

Service and food outstanding. The best spinach lasagne I ever had. Good wine selection and great presentation. A nice evening out but a bit pricey. read more

We made the trip from the QuadCities for great Italian eats! Friendly, helpful wait staff and amazing food. I had the salmon, my son is often a picky eater and he devoured the tilapia. We will make the trip again soon. read more

Really disappointed with last night's service and I hate to say that and have to write this. I NEVER WRITE BAD REVIEWS. We made our reservation 2 weeks ago for what was our second date night in 18 months since the birth of our daughter. Arrived and ordered at 5:15 and our dinner was not served until I asked at 6:35. My husbands dinner was not warm and I was too annoyed to eat after sitting for over 40 minutes with no one checking in on us and all drinks and apps finished. Really bummed we needed a nice night out We did get a rushed apology from the waiter and explanation that our food was not out because pick up orders came first (what?) and one piece of complementary cake ... for two of us.. k .. they literally forgot about us gave cold food and rushed us out because our time slot was over. I did write a comment on the Facebook page and it was promptly deleted.. sensing a theme here. I don't know what I want nothing I supposed either than an acknowledgement of my existence. Bummed because the food is really good but I will never return if this is how they treat their customers. read more

While our service was fine, the food was terrible. The bruschetta was just unmarinated, unripe tomato and onion on untoasted bread. I ordered the shrimp and scallops scampi style. It was way overcooked, had a strong old fish smell and the consistency of rubber. I tried one bite of shrimp and one of scallops and couldn't even bring myself to eat anymore. My fiance ordered the ribeye medium-rare. It was well done without even a hint of pink and was absolutely covered with flavorless, cold canned mushrooms. It was hands down one of the worst meals I've ever had from a restaurant. read more

We have been customers here for years. The food is amazing!!! The environment is clean and comforting. It's very relaxing! On Valentine's Day the owner hands out roses to all the ladies! He also likes to surprise couples with chocolate covered strawberries. We love the staff and the environment! read more

Loved the chicken parmigiana! Big portions good food.Nice atmosphere and wait staff appetizer fell a little short for me but overall a good enjoyable experience read more

Let I've been a customer at Basil Tree for many years. I've chosen it for my birthday celebrations, family celebrations, large dinner parties, date nights, etc. It's one of the gems in Dixon as there is not many restaurants that are locally owned and the Basil Tree is actually quite nice for Italian cuisine and is rather known and established. I would say that I've never had a terrible experience there, quite the opposite, up until last Thursday. I ordered the salmon picatta. A dish I've ordered several times prior. Salmon in a wine and lemon based sauce with sauteed spinach and capers. It was delicious. However, our poor waiter was doing the majority of the work for the busy restaurant, rushing meals up and down flights of stairs while his female counter part was largely chit chatting. I felt rather sorry for him, tipped him well although we were late to the other plans we had that night. Roughly two and a half hours later I was so sick. I instantly knew I had food poisoning. I spent the remainder of my night and the entirety of the following day bawled up in a mess on my bathroom floor. I couldnt move andnnearly called an ambulance on several instances of illness: did you know a common side effect of food poisoning is numbness in the limbs and face? I didn't either. Literally thought I was having a stroke. I contacted the two other guests I went to dinner with once I was capable of handling a cell phone again. One did not have the same dish as I and the other did. Guess what? The other guest who ordered the same entree had the same side effects, while the guest who ordered spaghetti remained symptom free. Basil Tree was contacted and notified. Not to protect us, to protect THEM. However, we were met with "its fresh " "that's never happened" "no problems in 11 years". No offering to protect future customers. And for that, they may ultimately kill and elderly or immunocompromised customer. I will NEVER eat there again and their reputation will have some stains on it when I chat with other locals about their service. read more