It is good Italian food in a beautiful ambiance in Millburn. I think we have all heard that about a lot of restaraunts in Millburn. I have been here a couple times and enjoyed myself each time but nothing stood out to me. The wait staff didn't make you feel at home or give me any special feeling to go with the ambiance. I left satisfied, but nothing I have ever eaten here made me say "wow I need to come back here again." Especially with so much competition. If you are looking for super romantic on a Saturday you should certainly come here. We took my girlfriend's mom here for her birthday and she enjoyed it. We got the muscles in white wine sauce, unfortunately a couple too many of them were still closed. She got the black linguini for dinner which looked really neat, but the taste was nothing special. I got the pasta with sausage, the sausage was really spicy but the pasta sauce could have used more umph. Millburn has a lot of Italian places. Millburn has a lot of spots with nice ambiances. If you go here on a Saturday night you will be satisfied, but make sure you explore town before deciding to make a second trip here. Millburn has so much to explore and I don't know if this place is worth skipping your first time at a different spot. Don't get me wrong though, you will be satisfied if you go here. They have a nice outdoor garden area but so far each time I have been there it has been closed for private parties. It's BYO like pretty much every other spot in Millburn, and you can also get a bottle there if you forget which is convenient. read more

Basilico - The black linguini, it's a fun experience - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

A classy and elegant dining experience. I have eaten here twice now and both times I have left extremely satisfied with the entire experience. The waiters are attentive and the food is delicious. They have many options to include gluten free options. Will continue to dine at this fine establishment. read more

Restaurant was pretty much to sum it up ass poorly refined plates poorly an UNprofessional service rood behaved customer being raciest an shaming us an not timed organized. Just if I want to be shamed I wold have stood at Ihop an getting ask for change in a cut just saying just be mindful of ur customers an try to tend to them properly read more

Went back here recently and unfortunately the meal did not live up to our previous 5 stars. This round was 3 stars at best... The service was good, but the food disappointed a bit. Three of the seven entrees were chicken parmigiana - for some reason all of them were about half the portion we got on our last visit. Then I ordered the Gran Cartoccio di Mare which was absolutely flavorless - plus the prawn really just grossed me out. None of the meals this go round made anyone say, wow this is amazing. They had me sold on this place on my first visit, but now I'm questioning going back because, for these prices, you have to be exceptional and consistent. Maybe it was just an off night, but Sundays they should have their A game on. read more

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Hidden gem!!! The fresh pastas are to die for. It's cooked to perfection. It's not salty (which I love). My sister and I are foodies, we have tried many restaurants in NYC. But we find this place to be the best, far better than NYC. Love how fresh the ingredients are. Can't wait to go back. We had the Rigatoni with vodka sauce, papadelle with shrimp and strawberry soufflé for dessert! Yum read more

Basilico - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

Absolutely delicious food. The restaurant is so beautiful, you feel you are taking a step into Italy. Such a nice atmosphere. The server was nice and attentive. They follow guidelines and everyone is spaced out. Such a great evening, can't wait to return. read more

Good Italian restaurant. Service was a little slow. But the food was tasty. They were also very accommodating and willing to alter dishes to accommodate allergies. I am dairy and gluten free and eating at an Italian place can be tough so this was refreshing. Nice place for a family dinner night. (Stuff pictured with dairy isn't mine but I'm told it was good!!) read more

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Hadn't been back in quite some time, hopefully it won't be as long until my next visit, as everything was on point this time around. Our sever couldn't have been more in tune. When we mentioned a gluten sensitivity, he went out of his way to clarify if it was a mere dietary choice or in fact celiac disease and he addressed the situation accordingly. When Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe was ordered, he made sure that no extra cheese was added to the dish, as it was the opinion of the restaurant that the cheese would somehow throw off the dish. When Spaghettini all`Arrabbiata he recognized fairly quickly that our table accidentally got an extra spicy rendition meant for another table and swapped it out quickly. He even brought us a complimentary Crème brûlée with our dessert. The pacing was on point, the service was efficient, all inquiries were addressed, every dish was given to the correct person, and shared appetizers were pre-split for convenience. The food itself was quite good. Every dish was properly prepared, well seasoned and tasty. Like most restaurants in Millburn, parking can be a challenge, so be sure to arrive a little early to give yourself time. We were seated promptly for our 8 PM reservation. read more

My friend was given a gift certificate to this place so we came here on a Friday night and what it treat it was. The menu is extensive with many interesting choices. We decided to get a bunch of appetizers and 2 main entrees to share between 3 of us. We shared shrimp cocktail, mussels, oysters, fried zucchini flowers, and 2 delicious entrees. My girlfriend actually found a tiny pearl in her oyster! Everything we ordered was excellent. Great atmosphere, great service, and excellent food. I'd definitely return to try other things on the menu. This place is BYO so don't forever to bring your favorite wine. read more

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Great food. Friendly atmosphere! I would recommend it to anyone looking for legit Italian. read more

Nice place located in center of Millburn, NJ , we went there as Groupon customer for lunch. Menu was somewhat complicated. We started out with 3 piccoli Platti dishes: arachini, Polenta with Meat ragu and Shrimp in a garlic sauce for appetizer and then mushroom soup, Spaghettini all'Arrabbiata for entry which was very good. And chicken breast with artichokes. Overall all the items that we order had very presentation and nicely spiced. We also ordered Napoleon to go which turn out to be really good, highly recommend it. Good thing we had Groupon. Servers are very tentative, I give high rating for service received. They automatically added 18% tip on the bill which was reasonable for good service. I would go there again if we had another Groupon deal. read more

Basilico - Italian Near Me - Millburn, New Jersey

Great meals, atmosphere and service. It may be new owners but still very good. Great for a BYO

At first the restaurant seemed promising with the small, but alluring environment. But then my group and I soon discovered that this place allowed way too much that made all of us agree that the restaurant wasn't worth the time or the money. Food was alright and I personally felt they could've had a bigger selections. What makes the review a one star is the complete lack of customer service. The waiter barely had manners which was huge for me. The abhorrent night ended in being watched constantly by some ignorant group that decided it's allowed to make jeering comments to us. We were the first ones in the restaurant and the absolute last to be served. Group/family after another kept coming in, dining in, and receiving their food before us. The whole ordeal was horrific. I felt unwelcome, uncomfortable, and somewhat obligated to leave due to the waiters swarming us and looking for cues to intercept our dining experience. The experience ruined our appetite and drove us completely away. Never again.. read more

Fantastic service and even better food. Our family has been coming here for over ten years and have yet to have an unpleasant experience. Food: Over the course of several years, I have tasted almost everything on each menu they've released. Keep an eye out for seasonal updates like their amazing pumpkin ravioli and special menu themes like incorporating figs into some of their dishes. Service: Every time we've come in, we've been warmly welcomed and promptly seated. Our server quickly took our order and checked in on us several times throughout our meal. Water and wine have been refilled without skipping a beat, which I've always considered to be a great indicator of attentiveness. Furthermore, it was never hard to find our server should we need anything. Drink: Small wine selection, but you can also BYO. read more

I am first generation Italian and I know that all you need to make Italian food taste great is fresh ingredients. Basil, parsley, garlic, tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and the rest is up for interpretation. With all that said, mustard DOES not belong in a Caesar salad!!! My husband's home made pappardelle had to be cut with a knife and his a Bolognese was tasteless! My spaghetti carbonara was terribly dry and also tasteless. Now keep in mind, these are basic Italian staples that any standard Italian restaurant should be able make with ease. I will never patronize this establishment again! read more

To me, a hidden gem. And yet not what I would typically expect when thinking of 'hidden gems.' Atmosphere - we have only sat out on the back terrace which is surprisingly quiet from street noise. It's walled/covered but you don't feel closed in. Comfortable seating and lay out of tables works so you are not on top of one another nor having to talk in raised voice/lean in to hear. For us, having a toddler, they are extremely welcoming and understanding. Particularly as our son likes to play with his cars on the stone floor:) For a 'white-tablecloth' decor style inside, it really feels very relaxed, yet still upscale, outside. Food - one word: burrata! Delicious. And I'll admit, we are known to find places based on if they have on the menu or not. The other dishes we've also had have all been very tasty. Wine - BYO AND they also have a small selection on the menu. Best of both worlds. Service - no complaints. Very welcoming greeting when you walk in (again, with a toddler some places are not as eager to see us!). Seated & greeted promptly by our server. Each server we've had has been very pleasant. Welcoming but not over-bearing. Even though we were outside and at one point the only table, our server did not forget to check in on us. Refilled our wine (when BYO and when bought off menu) and waters, etc. read more

I recommend Basilico to any one who once to be impressed for a special Occasion. As we were approached by our waiter he showed us he was very proficient and knowledgeable of the specials and of the entire menu. Through out dinner we enjoyed the well spaced tables even though the restaurant was busy. Atmosphere was most comfortable in early May with open doors. I ordered as an appetizer gluten free pizza made of cauliflower for the first time which was better than I expected. I also ordered Grilled Veal chop with broccoli rabe, roasted potatoes and red wine reduction as an entree. I was delighted and content with my selection. The best Veal chop I had in years. My mom was most delighted that Basilico offered dishes she favored for many years considers herself some what of a connoisseur. She ordered the soft shell crab appetizer special and grilled Branzino from the main menu as an entree. She was very impressed. Lastly my mother was extremely elated of the service when our waiter with the help of two other servers sang happy birthday with a candle on Mom's desert which I ordered when I made the reservation. The entire dinner was a little pricey but worth every bit. A gem. read more

Basilico is an amazing Italian restaurant. Almost anything you get there is delicious. My favorite dish is mussels. It is nice and creamy with pieces of scrumptious sausage around the inside of the dish. The only downside is that you can't bring large parties on a Friday night without a reservation. Basilico is a formal restaurant. For a family of 4 the price range is from $100 - $150. The staff is very nice. They mostly have a smile on their face. If they don't, they try their best to keep you happy. At Basilico the lights are nicely dimmed and a nice sound of conversations and utensils clattering against the plates. In Basilico there are 2 parts, the indoor and outdoor area. The indoor part is like any other restaurant. The outdoor area is an attachment to the building. Even if it is outdoor it is covered and is accessible in winters. There is an alleyway to that part where you can hang around. Basilico is a delicious and awesome place. For your next eat out, go to Basilico with your family and have some family fun. This is written independently by my nine-year old - I agree with him 100% read more

Had dinner here with in laws who live in Short Hills. This is a BYOW, which I actually regard as a positive, given the plethora of wonderful wine shops in the near vicinity. We ordered a few specials as apps such as the heirloom tomatoes with burrata and smoked salmon, baby grilled calamari on a bed of greens, and the octopus. They were offering a grilled wild salmon with fresh sweet corn, fresh green beans and roasted fingerling potatoes; Delicious! The Branzino (Italian sea bass) was also very good. Cozy place with a courtyard for al fresco dining and a warm, welcoming interior area. Will return on our next visit! read more

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Friendly staff and delicious food. Great with allergies and modifications. Lovely inside and outside decor.

Went here this past saturday night with my wife for my anniversary. Food was great - we shared the riceball appetizer and the calamari with zucchini and carrots. Interesting twist on a dish that can be boring sometimes. Also the two spreads they give you with the bread were delicious. For mains, my wife had the shorts ribs, it was cooked perfectly but she did say the sauce but a bit rich and salty. I had the squid ink pasta with scallops, clams, mussels, shrimp, etc. I tend to order this when its on the menu because we dont eat a lot of pasta at home, and even less squid ink! This one was one of the best I've had and was cooked in tin foil in the oven - very different and I appreciated the effort. We had a banana caramel tart for dessert which was delicious and light. Prices very reasonable especially in Millburn where things can be very expensive. So theres really only 2 reasons preventing me from going full 5 stars. #1, the service was very slow. Our waitress was very nice but seemed overwhelmed. We had already ordered our apps before we even got bread on the table, and after we finished our mains, the dishes sat untouched for at least 15 minutes - possibly more. Also by that time my water glass was bone dry. #2, they had the front doors open for al fresco dining, but it was very humid out and the restaurant was packed so it was borderline uncomfortable inside and we were a little more than halfway in towards the back. I get having those doors open but the AC still needed to be on. We will definitely be back, just hope the service is a little more attentive next time. read more

First time in this restaurant yesterday Amazing food and the service is excellent So much food and the best is the price BYO Will be back for sure read more

Hands down the worst restaurant experience I've ever had! I had a reservation for 10 people to eat before seeing a show at the Papermill Playhouse on a Saturday night. When I made the reservation, the hostess assured me that a 5:00 reservation would give us plenty of time before the 7:00 show. When we got to the restaurant, it was empty. I told the waiter about our show time and that I wanted to order right away. He wouldn't let us order for 15 minutes. Long story short, we order at 5:15 and our food never arrived. We kept asking the waiter what was taking so long and he said the food was coming out momentarily. After waiting an hour and a half, we finally had to leave at 6:45, after waiting an hour and a half for food that never arrived. The waiter didn't even apologize. When I asked several people to speak to the manager, they refused to get one. I called today to speak to a manager and was told the manager wasn't working and there's nothing they can do. Having worked in the restaurant industry before, I understand things happen every once and awhile, but I am disgusted at how poorly the staff handled this. They could have made this situation right by apologizing and giving us a gift certificate to come back another time. But blowing us off like we had some nerve to expect our food to arrive in an hour and a half is unacceptable. read more

I made an online reservation early Saturday morning for 4 pm for Mothers Day dinner (the next day). When I completed the reservation, I called my daughter and let her know to meet us there. She was excited, I was excited, my granddaughter was excited. At 6:30 p.m same day, Basilico's called me to tell me they wouldn't be able to seat us until 7:30 p.m.! I was driving 2 1/2 hours to get there each way and didn't want to be getting home at midnight, so I said 7:30 was way too late, couldn't she give that to someone else and let us have the 4:30 table. She refused and when I asked her how could this happen, how could thier reservation system allow me to make a 4:30 reservation if they were already booked at that time, and she said they were going to put us at a two-top until she read in the notes that we had an infant with us. I didn't understand because even without the baby, we would have been three, so how would she have put us at a two-top? I strongly feel that they had a 4 top open, but someone else wanted it, and we were not chosen because of the baby; we would have needed a 4-top, which means at a table for 4 only 3 people would be paying their $70 price and they'd rather have the 4th diner regardless of who booked first. I only feel this way because she mentioned "the infant" 3 times in a conversation that only lasted a minute. Now I have no reservation for my family for mothers day and chances of getting one are slim to none. I would have been more understanding if they had called earlier. They open at 5, so someone was there by 2 at the latest, and a much earlier phone call could have made the difference between having somewhere for my family to go on mothers day and staying home. I've heard their food is great, I won't ever find out because they treated me with very little respect and decency. There are plenty of other places to spend my money. read more

I am so bad, and maybe I had this coming to me. I'm a single gal, and at this time I have the A-list candidates that I like to always continue seeing. But then there are those D-lists who I rarely give a time a day to. Well after 6 text messages, 4 voicemails and 1 email, I finally gave in and agreed to go to lunch with a D-list candidate. Great choice he chooses Basilico which is close to my office. He was cute and asked for type of attire. I responded business casual is good. I arrived, and then he arrived in jeans and a t-shirt. I guess he doesn't know what business casual means. We both made it to this restaurant and the moment you walk in you can smell the aroma of pasta. My only complaint is that the booths and tables are very close together and you need to be anorexic to move in and out of the tables. We ordered this trio crabmeat, shrimp, and salmon ceviche appetizers. It was "ok" at best. Nothing that special. What this place is known for is the pasta dishes. All their pastas are homemade and cooked perfectly al dente. The sauces are amazing. I had this mussel, shrimp, and calamari pasta. It was absolutely delicious. All and all the meal was wonderful. But my D-list date has just knocked himself down to never to see again. My date forgets his wallet in the car, and says "do you mind if I go get it?" I said sure go for it. But then he immediately states, oh wait how about we do this, I treat you next time. Advice to guys, first date impressions are important, so DO NOT forget your wallet in the car. I'm not old school, and nor do I expect a guy to pay every single time, but whoever does the inviting, does the paying. read more

I've always enjoyed a good meal at Basilico. Their menu is very creative and I usually end up ordering something I normally wouldn't find at another restaurant. The ambiance here is great. I especially love the warm feeling you get on a cold winter night. The lights, the hues, and the overall decor makes this place seem fancy, yet understated. It's totally casual but it makes you feel like you're out to a special meal. The food is very good and they take great care with their presentation. I always enjoy their salads, especially the beet and goat cheese. The mussels are great and so is the tuna tartare. I usually get a seafood dish here because the fish is always fresh and perfectly cooked. The pasts dishes with shellfish are also a fave. Recently, my husband got the short ribs which were amazing. I would never order short ribs but it really made me want to! Service is always good; friendly and attentive to making sure your glass is full and you're not waiting on something. BYOB and takes OpenTable reservations. read more

This place was a fantastic dinner. Wife and I hadn't done a date night in a while, and they took good care of us. BYOB with no cork fee, and they also have a wine selection. We had the pinot noir, not bad at all, split a caeser salad and calamari (which also had carrots/cucumbers). Also enjoyed the bread plate which came with a selection of butter, sundried tomato sauce, and chickpeas/garlic. Then we split the bolognese, very very good, and we're tough to please. The appetizers were big enough for once that we were satisfied and didn't order a second entree to split, and didn't need dessert either. Highly recommend you try this place. read more

This place was supposed to be great. This place was supposed to be the best food in town. This place was supposed to be worth the 100 + dollars I dropped on two apps and two entrees. Stuffed Artichoke - looked and tasted like it was made the day before and wrapped in plastic wrap only to be heated in the microwave for service. Stuffing was bland and overall kinda weak...a majority of the bottom leaves were not tender enough to eat. Raw Seafood Sampler - Our initial impression, "Fuck, this thing is peuny". Two oysters, two clams, four small pieces of crab at two stinky shrimp. Not enough seafood and the shrimp were literally stinky, ya know old. I stopped chewing half way through and spit the shrimp into my napkin. (I know, that is disgusting and extremely poor manners, but I knew I would vomit if I swallowed). Lamb - Was OK, served with fig and walnut risotto which was decent, but needed salt and pepper to make the dish. Who is there target demo. the geriatric folks from Short Hills??? Give it some flavor. Short ribs- Not my entree, but tried a sample. It was good, but also needed salt. Served with plain, boring risotto. zzzzzzzzzzzz. My normal complaint is that restaurants are too ordinary...Basiilico was below ordinary. Try Harder! read more

There's something oddly familiar about a vacant main street in a quiet town beyond bedtime hours, after porch lights flick off and storefronts lock until sunrise. Small, affluent suburban towns sweep across northern New Jersey like paint flicked from Pollock's brush. Some boast the best school systems, others the biggest farmers markets--but what they all have in common, whether they like it or not, is that they're more welcoming than they pretend to be. Perhaps I'm a product of a quaint town like one these, and perhaps that's the well from where I'm drawing this nostalgia. But perhaps all of us, at one point or another, have felt the odd comfort of a street lit by nothing other than a few vaguely winking street lamps and the hint of the moon behind a ceiling of evergreens and oaks, and perhaps all of us have wished for a version of that suburban reality to become part of our own. To be less longwinded and ridiculous, all of this is meant to say that I enjoyed a beautiful suburban evening at Basilico in the ever-quaint town of Millburn, New Jersey. A midsummer night's breeze blew across the open restaurant, a low murmur of pleasant conversation (likely about beach homes, the newest model of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, and Jo Malone's most recent candle collection) rose from tables of families throughout the space, and an overall milieu of contentment settled across Basilico like the near-silent hum of the aforementioned RR Phantom. Upon entering, three lamps posing as garlic hang over the bar, and hanging over the front dining area is a lamp shaped like a conglomerate of garlic (what is the proper term for a full thing of garlic?). The menu is hefty with options, which caused a rare occasion of personal indecisiveness commonly brought on by menus longer than the length of the debate over the difference between tiramisu cake and regular tiramisu, an almost-debacle we faced later in the evening (it turns out there's no such thing as tiramisu cake at Basilico). With eyes glazed over, the vast ocean of specials swept over us like an outgoing tide, the keyword here being "outgoing;" not one special was retained after hearing them, but they sounded delicious as they soared over my brain and out the other side of my head. The bread was served with a few spreads, one of which was a nondescript, innocuous hummus-ish (say that five times fast) dip. The short ribs entree paired nicely with a flavorful saffron risotto, the wine had various notes of... wine, and the non-cake tiramisu felt well-earned after tasking ourselves with the challenge of finding the many apostrophe catastrophes throughout the dessert menu. On top of it all, the waitstaff was attentive and went as far as asking more than five times if a coffee refill was desired. I rely on suburbia for many things (i.e. comfort, quiet, peace, sanity, et al), and my experience at Basilico further increased my dependence on suburbia's ability to provide solace, whether it be in a moderately full restaurant on an arbitrary Tuesday evening, or under a traffic light directing nothing at all, the blur of a train horn in the far distance reminding us it's as easy to return as it is to leave. read more

Been here two times and both times the food has been very good. The thing I like about this place (besides being a BYO) is their specials. They always seem to have a long list of very good specials. Their seafood is fresh and the service is very fast and friendly (expect both times I waited a long time after coffee to receive the check). Great dessert menu too. My suggestions are: make reservations because it's small and popular, don't make any decisions until you hear the specials, don't wear good shoes in the winter because the town parking lots are not close and Millburn doesn't seem to do a great job clearing snow from their sidewalks, don't choose here to talk about something too personal with your dinner companions because the tables are VERY close. Other than that I highly recommend this place. read more

Went here last night pre-Paper Mill Playhouse. Service was impeccable, and the food delicious. We were seated immediately and we finished in time for a comfortable stroll for an on time arrival at the PMP. Thanks for surviving the Pandemic and the floods. We will be back soon. read more

The place is very nice with good service but the food is all very mediocre and overpriced for the quality. Side order of meatballs was $8 and it was just 2 very small meatballs. The seafood over linguine was ok but all of the seafood was very overcooked. Salads were decent. Dessert was very good. With all of the great Italian restaurants in the area, I see no reason to frequent Basilico. read more

Loved the bread basket. Seating area near the window is nice and bright. Outdoor seating. Good solid simple Italian food. They don't do quick, so go AFTER the show. Amazing Napoleon for desert, a bit non traditional, very interesting the puff pastry was so crispy and the cream delicate and fresh it was a small tower of finishing course goodness. read more

Squid ink pasta with clams is one of my favorite dishes at Basilico. Pasta is made fresh, cooked to perfection and the clams are delicate and delicious. Perfect representation of the sea on one plate. read more

Don't pass up this wonderful Italian restaurant. The spaghetti in whit clam sauce and the lasagna is as good as it gets. The fish is terrific too. BYOB and enjoy the super service. It is great for celebrating any occasion. A real treat. Among the best in NJ and I eat in many of them. read more

Had lunch here recently. Nice place, food was very good - I had an entree salad - and the service was courteous and unobtrusive. I also thought the prices were reasonable. Quiet atmosphere, not very busy. Great for a business lunch, if one is so inclined. read more

All I can say is the photos do not do this place justice. The combination of the fabulous waitstaff, byob, private patio set up... it was perfect! My friend threw her sisters bridal shower out on the patio.. it was amazing. We ended up staying later than the shower and just chilling on the patio drinking some champagne. The staff was absolutely amazing.. the restaurant was technically closed but our waiter told us not to worry about it.. even got the chef to put together some salads and salmon tartar (highly recommended). I am soo impressed by this place.. read more

Went here on a Monday evening. You can park on the street, 25 cents per hour at a meter,or, there is a parking lot among the side of the restaurant. The restaurant is byob, which I love, so bring your favorite wine. I went with three friends and we all loved the food and dining experience.the restaurant has a cozy feel and tables come with white linen tablecloths. Wait staff was excellent and didn't rush you at all. I had the beet salad with warm goat cheese which was delicious. My entree was pasta with broccoli rabe and a lovely sauce. Three of us each had a different pasta dish which we raved about. My other friend had a shrimp dish which she loved as well. The price was right for the quality of food and service. I'd definitely return read more

My least favorite type of local restaurant... overrated, overpriced, inflated view of itself... Mediocre service (staff should be better trained). Food lacks taste. read more

Such a great little gem down the street from me. I've been twice and the service is good, there's BYOB, and then you can take a walk afterwards in the park to digest. The osso bucco is well worth the money and fall right off the bone, it's so tender, The Raspberry Sorbet was absolutely incredible and a great way to finish off the meal. Also, they're great for wine service. We've had some really interesting, expensive and old bottles there and the service is great. read more