I can't believe I haven't eaten here until now! My husband and I came in for a date night. We didn't have a reservation but thankfully we were able to get a table since it was a quiet night. The ambience is so warm, cozy, and romantic. I loved how quiet it felt and how we got to have a great time talking throughout the night. The service was excellent. Friendly, professional, and not intrusive. The food was incredible!! We made it a slow 4 course meal with soup, salad, mains, and dessert. The main dishes were our highlights! The meat and the vegetables were all perfectly prepared. The boeuf bourignon was superb. Meat so tender and flavorful with whipped mashed potatoes. I had the king salmon special which was one of the best I've ever had! I appreciated the portion sizes for being just right, not too small but not so big that you become too full or feel like you're wasting food. The soup special and salad were delicious as well. I loved that the soup was perfectly seasoned and didn't require any extra salt or pepper. Finally the dessert special was a pavlova topped with strawberry ice cream, whipped cream, and strawberries. It was delicate, flavorful, and had an amazing combination of textures. We can't wait to go back! I wish I had pictures but the experience felt so intentional and special that I didn't want to take away from the moment with photos. Make sure you visit! Food that tastes like the person preparing it actually cares is rare in this world. read more

A lovely experience from start to finish. Warm and efficient service by Jeremy and the service team, paired beautifully with the outstanding cuisine. Cozy dining in a relaxed yet efficient style generally unavailable anywhere else. Sharing a delicious seared scallop and risotto appetizer with a glass of white Burgundy transitioned to beef Bourgogne for me and steak au poivre for my bride of 47 years accompanied by a Bordeaux, both available in half bottles. Nice. A celebratory crème brulie was a fitting conclusion. Attention to details like artisan bread with soft and luxurious butter, hot food served piping hot, quality stemware in a warm and unpretentious dining room. And if all that were not enough, the menu and wine pricing are extremely reasonable. Shhhh.... Unless NPB glam is essential, for those that appreciate dining of quality over being seen, Basilic is not to be missed. read more

Basilic Restaurant - Beef Bourgogne - French Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We have lived in Orange County for many years, but I can't believe how long it took us to get to Basilic (we frequented Pescado). Went last night - what a great place! It's an old school Swiss - French bistro. It's on a busy stretch of Marina Avenue on Balboa Island. Very small inside - maybe 10 tables, with a few more out on the sidewalk. And dark, atmospheric. Our party had Raclette, French onion soup, and the daily special salad - last night it was pears, cheese and greens. All excellent. And the entrées were equally good. Our party had beef Bourguignon, rack of lamb, duck breast, and hanger steak. Really good wine list - all French. Nothing terribly affordable, though. And really good service too. We will definitely be regulars here. read more

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I came here with my pseudo adoptive father on a calm Thursday night in September - we had no reservation but were easily able to get an outdoor table. They were kind enough to have a heater above to keep us warm! I forgot to take a picture, but in addition to the coq au vin and the vegetarian dish (I think it was risotto) we also ordered a charcuterie board, which was super lovely. The food itself was alright - I got flavor fatigue pretty quickly with the coq au vin but the noodle texture was splendid. Overall, a decent experience if you're looking for a semi fancy dinner at Balboa. One odd note is that the young male server for some reason deliberately kept avoiding eye contact with me which was a little awkward, but he was amiable and helpful besides that. read more

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Came here on a date with my boyfriend after a night out. We honestly found this place on accident. The staff was so kind and did inform us that there was a prefixed menu ,but we're still welcomed to order from the regular menu as well. We came during raclette night. Server made sure we were constantly happy and really took care of us. Such a special place for a quite intimate date night. read more

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My husband and I visited Balboa Island for a spontaneous getaway, and we landed on our eyes on this restaurant for dinner. They prefer for guests to make reservations to ensure seating availability, but luckily, we arrived right as they opened and they had 1 table left available. We had to be shuffled around a bit because the table we initially sat at was reserved for regulars of the restaurant. It was no problem for us to be moved around since they accommodated our last minute seating, but be aware this could happen. However, the service was wonderful and there were many apologies about the shuffling which is why we were not offended nor frustrated with being moved around a bit. They had a great selection of specialties from which we chose the Mushroom & Spinach soup (not pictured). We also got bread and butter on the side ($7), that came out fresh and hot (still steamy)! The butter had coarse salt coated on top yet didn't taste overly salty, and left us very impressed. Dipping the buttered bread in the mushroom & spinach soup was divine. The soup itself having an excellent flavor profile as is (vegetables grown in house, and explicitly stated by server!). We then ordered the rack of lamb & oven roasted duck breast, which were both excellent. Both had a unique flavor (ordered as medium rare). While we enjoyed both immensely, we agreed that the duck was just superb, so we highly recommend getting it. My only critique would be for the rack of lamb to have a bit more char on the outside for additional texture. Overall, we are planning on visiting again in the future. We look forward to trying out different items on the menu and will get dessert next time as well. read more

Basilic Restaurant - Rack of Lamb - French Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Went here Thanksgiving weekend with my family and had such a wonderful experience. This cozy little Swiss-French spot is full of charm. My husband was beyond excited about the wine prices--seeing Silver Oak at that price was unbelievable. The food was delicious, and the desserts were phenomenal. The chef even came out to serve us--so kind, humble, and welcoming. We were a group of five tucked into a corner, knees touching, but it honestly felt cozy and bonding. (If you prefer lots of space, it may feel tight.) Warm, intimate, and memorable. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Fabulous food selections ! Great flavor in every dish. Cheese platter is a nice way to start out with a couple of Kir Royals. Swiss onion has a nice ,flavorful broth, delicate onions and toasted bread. My wife had the fish special and I had the steak. Service is not rushed at all, and very attentive. This is a small, quaint restaurant that has the feel of being in Switzerland. One of the best wine selections in town, from new world to old world, if you cannot decide, just ask. read more

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This multi-generation restaurant is an absolute neighborhood gem! It's super small and intimate, and is like being an invited guest to dine in the chef's kitchen. Third time here and always awesome. Jeremey our server tonight was delightful. Make a reservation as the restaurant is very small and very popular with locals. read more

Basilic Restaurant - Veal - French Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Went here for a Friday date night. Did al fresco due to limited seating inside. The prix fixe menu was nice. The sauces that accompanied the entrees elevated the courses. With the cold night, the soupy dishes were quite comforting. The dessert trio was good, although we thought one of them was a little dry. Service was quick and efficient. Street parking is decent, but I can see how it could be difficult on a busier night. read more

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This restaurant is a gem for French and Swiss cuisine enthusiast! Their All You Can Eat Raclette night is a must-try, offering an authentic experience that will leave you craving for more! Atleast I do Be sure to call ahead and inquire about their schedule, as it's usually held on the first Tuesday of the month only and sometimes they might also extend it. This family-owned establishment boasts a cozy yet elegant atmosphere, perfect for a romantic evening out or with friends! With a focus on fine dining, seating is limited, so reservations are a must and call ahead and ask them for availability. The service is impeccable, and the food is simply amazing!!! If you're a cheese lover as much as I do, the raclette experience is tailored just for you! Their traditional French and Swiss dishes, such as Beef Bourguignon, are cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. I highly recommend this restaurant for its exceptional cuisine and warm ambiance!!! read more

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Oh my - what a great dining experience! Reminds us of those small & quaint European family owned bistros! Quality service staff, pace and food- a wonderful and romantic evening. We will be back- what fine dining should be! read more

We've been here several times when we visit Balboa Island... beautiful ambience, outstanding service and great food!

Our last visit was 2021....it made such an impression it took 4 years for us to try it again. This time we made a reservation. They let us in. It was a great experience...very professional service and quiet reserved ambiance...the restaurant has downsized and cut themselves in half the floor space since the last visit. Very small with tables very close together but it works. And each menu item is a delight. Coq au Vin was delightful...a little heavy for our taste, the scallops appetizer was excellent...not many chefs know how to cook scallops and this one does. We had the salad for dessert....ala philippine who also have their fruit salad for dessert. We also tried the creme brûlée...right up there with the best we've ever had. And cappuccino we're so glad they have espresso drinks. The merlot was cold...I'm not sure about the customs of France and Switzerland...do they drink their red wine cold? but it was an excellent vine that stood up to the handicap of being served cold. (what do I expect? it was by the glass...if I wanted room temp I should have ordered a bottle. Funny this is the kind of place where you don't learn anyone's name. We're used to learning everyone's name. The lady next to us was eating her bread with a knife and fork...butter, bread, cutting little pieces and eating it with a fork...I felt so out of place as I picked my bread up with my fingers - cretin. You're 2-3 feet from each other and you don't look or smile. It's like being in another country...I guess that's good yes? But when you spend $150 for two to have a light meal you have to expect things to be different. I would say make a reservation, expect an outstanding meal served excellently, and bring your passport. read more

My husband has been hankering for raclette since we had it in Switzerland some years ago, so when we found out Basilic has it on their menu we had to come and try it. We had dinner on a Friday evening and only tried it as an hose d'oeuvre but on the first Tuesday of every month they have raclette night with a more authentic experience and they serve all you can eat raclette table side. Anyway, we ordered the raclette to start, the seasonal salad (like a caprese with arugula), gazpacho, duck and coq a vin. Everything tasted fresh, delicious. The food and the cozy ambiance really make you feel like you're eating in someone's private home in Switzerland. Would recommend this spot if you're looking for something a little more different in the area that serves authentic French/Swiss cuisine. read more

Lovely Italian spot located in the heart of Balboa Island in Newport Beach. Quite a small restaurant so recommend calling to make a reservation early. They have some outdoor seating as well. We each got the 5 course tasting menu which came with a sample of soup, salad, fish, meat and dessert. I noticed most tables did not order this but we were visiting from out of town and wanted to try everything. Usually tasting menus are fixed and no modifications are allowed but here we were allowed to modify as we don't eat beef. Instead of beef bourguignon I was able to get lamb which was succulent and tasty. Note that bread costs extra but I don't think it is needed since the portions are good. My Chianti paired well with all the dishes. read more

We'd been wanting to try this restaurant for years and finally did. What a charming ambiance and wonderful food! We had the signature veal in mushroom sauce, duck breast, beef bourguignon, blue crab salad and of course, raclette. Everything was delicious, fresh and tres European. And the service was very gracious. We loved it and look forward to going back! Highly recommend! read more

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This is one of the best dining experiences in all of Newport Beach. If you haven't been, you are missing out on a long time staple that never lets us down, ever. If you are looking for a romantic experience, or just to feel like you are someone special and different, this is the spot. read more

Basilic remains OUTSTANDING. Ambience, service, food all as good as the best restaurants we've enjoyed in Switzerland and France. Swiss onion soup is a must-try. Very different than the French onion you've had elsewhere. Sea bass was amazing. Zurich veal is very authentic and presentation is world-class. Reservations are a must but Tuesday call for Friday normally works. This is a REALLY special experience. read more

My husband and I really enjoyed dinner at Basilic. Quaint atmosphere, reasonable prices, great service, food not only tasted great, the presentation was gorgeous. Looking forward to going back! read more

The meal was as in the past, perfection. Our service was equally superb and the visit by the owner/chef is always appreciated. Our favorite restaurant in Newport Beach and we've been to all of the top tier. read more

Believe it or not I worked at this magical little restaurant over 40 years ago when it was called Hemingways and also when it was call Steinbecks. I was lucky enough to dine there again last night with an old high school friend. The food and service were absolutely impeccable. We started with the Raclette I had the Swiss Onion Soup and a veal with wild mushrooms. Everything was reminiscent of the time I worked there. This is a place not to be missed when you're looking for a special occasion or visiting Newport Beach! read more

Basilic Restaurant - Sweet little dining room with 9 tables. Reservations are recommended. - French Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Was highly recommended this place by a buddy and finally had a chance to try it out for a birthday celebration. Being somewhat of a francophile I had high expectations and they were all met and exceded! Rarely does this happen especially for a french style bistro. Located in a great downtown location, the venue itself was cozy and oozed warmth. Definitely gave me intimate bistro vibes. Got to meet the father/son team and they were amazingly considerate and knowledgeable. Our waitress was also impressive in her knowledge and attentiveness! Learned they source much of their provisions from France and local sources. Our supper: The baguette and butter was fantastic. Nicely crusted with the taste of European butter. Our table had two bottles of excellent Chateau Pape du neuf vintages. Seriously delectable. Gespatio was perfect for a fresh, refreshing and hydrating first course. The charcuterie plate couldn't have been better. Top quality. The Raclette and potatoes (melted swiss style cheese with an assortment of accompaniments) was fantastic. Don't often find this at 99% of places. Make sure to eat with potatoes, cornichon pickles and ham on a piece of baguette. Chef's kiss! The rack of lamb was cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. Mouth watering just thinking about it. Make sure to get your fingers dirty and eat the meat next to the rib. Best part! The Steak au poivre was amazing and had so much flavor. Honestly better than most native french bistros. We finished off with a perfect portion of raspberry meringue. It had a hint of malt and was really quite special. The lava cake was mouth watering as well. Chocolately to the max. Must try in the Newport Beach area! read more

the restaurant is like been back in France, with very exquisite food and wine. But the warm of people offering the most amazing culinary experience. Keep it up! Basilic you are a jewel in Balboa Island! read more

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Just a lovely cozy place!!! Love going back on special occasions. Words cannot describe how amazing the food is! The taste and plating hit all senses! The chef is kind and caring enough to come out to check on the clients. This is a special secret place I would love to gate-keep but that's not right.. so.. enjoy!!!! We had the seasonal salad w shaved root vegetables etc. Rack of Lamb. Steak. Seasonal dessert.. Apple Tart(?). (a must!!!) @the owner.. Having a lap dog next table sure was not a good experience. What about my allergies? Plus, it's in the dining hall where you have all people eating.... read more

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Tremendous restaurant with excellent food and service. Small, intimate setting invites you to relax and enjoy the wonderful experience.

I can't think of a restaurant that I have been to that that takes me to another place for an evening. In this case the French alps. The place is clean, the service is friendly and attentive. The table layout is perfect so you don't feel crowded. The food and desserts are top notch as is the French wine. A lot of value for the experience. Great for a date night, their 4 top by the window looked like the best seat in the house. They also have well appointed seating outside but I recommend inside. We will be back! read more

we've lived in orange county 13 years and finally made it to this wonderful restaurant on balboa island we both ordered the pre-fixed dinner menu; 5 courses including a soup, salad, fish, meat and dessert. i don't know if what they serve changes daily or not, but we had salmon and bourguignon, and everything was delicious, was plated beautifully and portioned just right! to be clear, other restaurants might sell you three times the amount of a dish for the same price, but when something is done right, you really don't need very much of it at all a great place to celebrate a special occasion :) thank you for the wonderful meal and service -- we will be back again! // on reservations + availability it's a fairly small and intimate restaurant, so we made reservations (phone only) on tuesday for right when they open the following saturday @ 5pm. they only had outdoor seating available for the 2 of us, but 3 other 2 tops were available for walk up this night read more

We can always count on a perfect experience. Love celebrating all my special occasions they will not let you down.

Romantic French-Swiss restaurant in Balboa island :) loved the intimate setting.. we got to try the Beef Bourguignon (beautifully done) and Coq au Vin, another classic. I loved the simplicity & richness of both dishes. Waiter was so kind and owner Bernard was thoughtful to check in with us before our arrival. Can't wait to come back for Raclette night! read more

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Basilic Restaurant may not catch your eye as you stroll along Marine Avenue on Balboa Island, but for locals, it's a hidden gem that embodies French-Swiss Cuisine charm. The restaurant may be small, but its heart is big. It's a 5-course tasting experience, so definitely come hungry. This quaint eatery is the kind of place where romance fills the air, whether you're cozied up in one of their fur-draped outdoor seats or enveloped by the intimate vibe inside. Small, yet full of character, the space makes you feel like you've been whisked away to the French countryside. Nestled in the heart of Balboa Island, parking is a breeze--you can find spots right on Marine Ave or in the nearby local streets. Sitting outside, you'll get the best of both worlds: excellent food and wine with a front-row seat to the tourist scene, watching people pass by as you savor your meal. We started our evening with two glasses of white wine, perfectly paired with a few delicious appetizers. The night was just beginning, though. Soon we moved on to red wine, a beautiful complement to my rack of lamb. It was cooked to perfection--so good, I found myself savoring every last bit until all that remained were the bare bones. And just when we thought the night couldn't get any better, we indulged in a fresh seasonal mixed berry dish, which was the perfect light finish to a decadent meal. The flavors were delicate yet bursting with the natural sweetness of the berries that rounded out the experience beautifully. If you're looking for a romantic, cozy escape where the food and wine transport you to Europe, Basilic is your spot. The service, ambiance, and exquisite cuisine make it a treasure you'll want to return to, time and time again. Just make sure you make reservations if you don't want to wait long and want guaranteed seating. They have limited seats, and the space is really small, so it's a good idea to book in advance. They're often booked out months ahead, and trust me, you don't want to miss out on this gem. read more

There are a multitude of reasons I'm giving this place 5 stars, but first and foremost was their willingness to take our reservation for a party of six since it's such a tiny restaurant. Second, we there for my aunt's 80th birthday and we didn't ask them to bring her a dessert, we actually just went ahead and ordered dessert but when our waitress brought out our desserts she set one of them in front of my aunt with a candle. We were all looking at each other confused, wondering who told the waitress about the birthday but she said she just heard us talking about the birthday. Now that... is an attentive waitress! She was the only waitress attending to all of the tables yet she someone caught a piece of our conversation & surprised us all! We kept saying we didn't feel like we were on Balboa island. I kept thinking I was in Quebec City or a Swiss mountain town. If you have a special date or small party of 3-4, I highly recommend Basilic for an intimate and special evening and DO NOT skip dessert! We had the chocolate walnut bar, lemon tart and tart tatine and they were all tres magnifique!!! read more

We had been so looking forward to dining at Basilic. Sadly, our experience last night did not live up to our expectations. While my own dinner (salad and duck) was delicious, my husband had ordered the nightly special, which was sea bass and it was overcooked. We were the third party to arrive in the restaurant so being busy was not an excuse and it was in reasonable that his dish, the special, should have been overcooked. In fact, he had originally chosen the scallops, which were on the menu of the nightly specials, only to be told that the scallops hadn't arrived (so why were they still on the menu??). Our service was also disappointing, as our original server never showed up again after taking our order and completely forgot to bring us the bread we had asked for - we had to flag down another person in the restaurant and ask her to bring it to us. I'm hopeful that this was a unique experience but it was one that doesn't encourage me to return soon to this restaurant as there are so many other great places to dine in the area. read more

It's was Bastille Day and got together with a few close wine friends and enjoyed a relaxing evening out. This tiny restaurant has temporarily expanded allowing more people to dine. The only issue with the temporary spot is that it was quite warm, with minimal circulation and no fans or air conditioning. We started off with raclette cheese rolled out on a hot plate with two fingerling potatoes some gherkins and pearl onions. Delicious!!! Next up an arugula salad with stone fruits, burrata cheese, roasted cashews and balsamic drizzle. Tasty For the main course we all had rack of lamb. Four smaller sized pieces cut way too thin IMO. Cooked rare to med- rare. Over mashed potatoes and a delicious sauce. Good, but probably wouldn't order these again. Dessert was a Meyer lemon tart that I split as they ran out of them. We had two nice bottles of wine to go with the meal a 1996 Leoville Las Cases and a 2005 Pichon Lougueville. Both were spot on. Service was excellent!! read more

Had the chance to try this trendy restaurant and it was great! The interior of this restaurant is relatively small, so make sure to have a reservation ready! I came across this restaurant as I was on the search for a raclette dish, which is a type of rich cheese that is heated, then scraped onto a plate to enjoy. This happens to be one of the few places that currently has it, but unfortunately it does not come scrapped right at your table, but served to you on a plate after you order. They do have a monthly raclette night where it's all you can eat and the entire raclette cheese wheel is out, so that is something I'd come back for! In terms of the dishes I got to try, I paired the raclette with the Bundnerfleisch (some Swiss dry cured meat), then enjoyed the rack of lamb and Beef Bourguignon. To end the night, I got their chocolate bar. The Bundnerfleisch paired perfected with the raclette, as it made the ideal cheese and meat combo for me. The waiter also let us know the correct order of enjoy the Bundnerfleisch, raclette, and then chasing it with some of the pickled vegetables on the side. The rack of lamb had a great sauce and mash potatoes that went with it. The lamb's texture wasn't too ideal as it was a little tough despite being medium rare, but overall the dish was not bad. The Beef Bourguignon has some of the softest pieces of beef I've had. With the sauce and crispy potatoes that came with it, it was a great dish! We ended the night with a chocolate bar which I didn't expect too much. However, when it came out, it was very rich. One of the best chocolates I've had in a while! I would definitely come back for the raclette alone, but all the other food here was very good as well! read more

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This restaurant was absolutely amazing! Family owned established. The chef is the owners son. The owner checked on our table a few times! Our server was Abby. She was an absolute delight! Very personable, and attentive! Great personality! She was very knowledgeable with the menu, and made great recommendations. We tried a lot of dishes that evening and shared, everything I tried I enjoyed! We were there to celebrate my birthday and this restaurant was just what I was looking for - amazing food, service, reasonable prices, and great ambiance. We had a table outside, it was very lovely! I highly recommend this restaurant, and would absolutely return! Wine list is also quite lovely! read more

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Great location. Very good service and even better quality. All food French origin. Family owned and operated

I don't know what happened to this restaurant, which used to be one of my all time favorites, but it's truly lost its cache. We were all very disappointed. The French onion soup's croutons was already soggy and sunk to the bottom of the bowl. The cheese that used to float on the top was now a tiny portion. The coq au vin had none of the savor it used to have - The broth tasted more like gravy out of a can. The squash was as hard as a carrot. The lettuce in the salad is one of those out of a bag bunch of weeds. Didn't used to be that way. They now charge $3 for bread. It's no wonder why, this being the season, they were not full as they used to be every Friday night. I've given it a try twice since the quality has changed, and both times the same. Please go back to the way it used to be. read more

This is an every occasion place and a special occasion place. It is on Balboa Island so if you want the 5:30pm reservation while all of the construction is going on then know you may park a five minute walk away. Otherwise, spots open up at the 7pm seating. It's small and cozy so make sure that you have reservations. My go to appetizers are the French Onion soup and the Crab salad. Otherwise the duck and the lamb are my main favorites. The desserts are lovely but I sometimes prefer to do a house salad as my dessert. If I get here early, I like to stop into the boutiques around there. Two thumbs up! read more

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Everything we ordered was tres bon! The restaurant is cozy and quaint and the service is very personalized. Definitely worth a visit if you're near or around the Balboa Island/ Newport area! The presentation of each dish was carefully and artistically plated. I'd also like to add that the baguette was the perfect vessel to soak up the sauces in our dishes so make sure to order a basket. If that isn't a testament to how delicious and flavorful the dishes were, I don't know what is! The only downfall here is parking is limited as are the number of tables so make sure to snag a reservation early! read more

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