Both the food and the service were outstanding! The Calamari Fritti was the best I have ever had. We had two different pasta dishes, both we would order again. read more

Please be careful, check your bill for extra fees! Last month two of us had dinner at Basilico Ristorante, the restaurant was busy and very noisy, the food was tasty and the service was good. We had brought a bottle of II Poggione Brunelleschi di Montalcino 2012 we sensed they weren't excited that we weren't purchasing wine. The shocker came when we got the check and they charged us a $23.00 corking fee, plus an additional $10.00 fee to the total. I guess it could have been because we split the bill in half, hard to say. Problem is they never mentioned the add on, so we both tipped 20% more. They are expensive anyway, why take your customers for an extra charge. Copy of Bill attached. read more

Basilico Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Wow! Lately, when my family orders in Italian, it doesn't feel fresh or healthy at all even when we try to order healthier things like chicken, fish, or vegetable dishes. All we end up getting is heavy, greasy, or overly rich food. Tonight we ordered (via Door Dash): The Polenta and Gorganzola app and Halibut with Fresh Seasonal Vegetables. All the textures were right, nothing was over or under done, things were seasoned nicely, and the flavors were great right down to the herbed dinner rolls. We will definitely be eating here again. Thankful to have found a great local spot! read more

We were driving home from our honeymoon vacation. And she said i am craving Italian food. Which is tough cause she has celiac. And generally even when you find a place that offers "gluten free pasta " they cook it in the same water as regular pasta. But we thought we'd give it a try. WOW! Not only did they not do store bought basic GF pasta. But amazing gluten free pasta from Italy. And not just one, but different styles of GF pasta as well. Along with GF bread. Paired with a wonderful Italian red wine. Mybwife was in heaven! My dish (non gluten-free) was outstanding slow cooked beef and home made pasta. Yummm. About an hour from home but worth the drive. read more

We were so excited and looking forward to our dinner at Basilico. So it was quite a disappointment when we were seated and not acknowledged for at least 15 minutes. Finally got our drinks and menus. And then told after looking at the daily specials that it was the wrong menu! We never could figure out who our waiter was. Different people came and went. Bread, calamari and clams were good except for sand in about 5 of the clams. Ugh! The men had the tenderloin that were fab. Us girls got seafood pasta. We asked if the cream sauce could be lightened up. Big mistake, but our fault for changing it up. Too watery. Now desserts were a whole different ballgame. From, lemon sorbet to tiramasu and 2 other ones, they were all out of this world! A must have! Would give it another try because it had great potential. Maybe an off night. read more

NOTE- Whenever I eat at an establishment I look at the following factors: quality of service, quality of food, price of meal, portion sizes, and the restaurant ambiance. Downtown Olympia Washington is a great place for walking. The open air parks and proximity to the coast make it a very nice place to visit during the hot Summer months. If you happen to be looking for dinner while walking downtown, one of your stops should be the Basilico Ristorante. Located off Capitol Way and Fifth Avenue, the Basilico Ristorante Italiano is a taste of authentic Italy in the American north west. I had the chance to drop by on a recent visit and wanted to share my findings. Although the menu is filled with mouth-watering fresh hand-made pastas do not neglect the other entrees. While I was visiting I was not looking for a full pasta dish but something lighter with, perhaps, a small plate of noddles on the side. The Smoked Salmon Salad caught my eye. One of the first things I noticed about Basilico Ristorante was the unique twist they added to their dishes. Before the salad came out I was brought a variety of breads. Typically, I have a small plate of olive oil for dipping the bread into but here it was a little different. They added a daub of couscous in the middle of the plate. Fun! I thought I would see how accomodating they were and asked for a small plate of pasta on the side as my salad came out. The waiter let me know up front that the pasta was hand-made earlier in the day and may not be as fresh. The fetuccini came out and I had a nice glass of white wine to mix. Some of the other items that caught my eye were: Pastas- Italian Riviera Tagliatelle made with prawns, Manila clams, calamari, halibut and salmon in plum tomato sauce, and the Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu Salads- Duck Breast Salad and Pear Salad with sweet Gorgonzola Entree- Angus beef, Rabbit Cacciatora, Crispy skin wild Alaskan Halibut, and Pancetta wrapped Pork loin For a light dessert I had the Tiramisu. The waiter was kind enough to give me a small glass of sparkling Dessert wine to go with it. Refreshing. Overall, I found the Basilico Ristorante to be very good. The staff was not overly familiar but they were friendly and attentive. The store, though a shot-gun building, was light and open. The dark stained woods contrasted well with the tile and faux painting. The menu and wine list offered enough variety that should keep patrons returning. Next time you are in Olympia, Washington I may see you at the Basilico Ristorante. Bon Appétit! read more

Basilico Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Basilico Ristorante Italiano is a can't miss Italian restaurant in Olympia. The service was attentive and good while the meals were outstanding. read more

Honestly, they get four stars for service, but the three was for the food. My husband's pasta was over cooked. For a Italian Ristorante, they should have that down cold. I'm not Italian and I don't claim to be any kind of expert on Italian cuisine, but I also found the Ravioli in a butter sauce an odd choice. It made it taste very heavy. It has basil on top of it which was refreshing. I the ravioli was asparagus (the special of the week). I think if I was making it, I would have paired it in a lighter dressing of olive oil and basil and that's it. Voilà! Despite the food fumbles the service was top notch. I wanted to pair my dinner with a delicious Piedmont red. It turned out they had a second that wasn't listed on the menu, so he brought out both for me to sample. We love coming here but the food can be hit and miss. Reservations recommend when the legislature is in session, otherwise it's a safe zone. read more

Basilico Ristorante - Asparagus ravioli - Italian Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Been here on several occasions. It's pretty consistent, that is to say it's pretty consistently marginal. There is very little good, or even even edible, food to be found in Olympia. Save your money and trek to Seattle and go to The Pink Door. read more

Holy mother of Italian food this place is delicious. Nestled in the heart of downtown Olympia, this little restaurant is a hidden gem. I've walked past it several times and never really realized that it was there. My mom suggested that my boyfriend and I try it with her, before she and my step dad left on a trip. So we made reservations (which we learned was a good move by the way) and checked it out on a Saturday night. Once you walk in, the dim lighting and all-wood and Italian art on the walls brings you to a whole 'nother world. We were seating immediately and got some wine and appetizers going. Our waiter was not only literally from Italy, but he was super friendly, funny, and helpful in answering our questions about the wines and food. We each ordered our main dishes and ended up talking to another waitress (my mom has a knack of making friends with everyone) who came to Oly from Portugal. Such a cool collection of employees here. And the FOOD. Holy cow it's amazing. I can't even describe it, but everything we had was amazing. The pasta is apparently made in house and it's just perfection. The wine our waiter suggested paired great with our dishes, and we polished off the meal with this insane tiramisu. My parents and I have both been to Italy on separate occasions and agreed that the food was authentic and just as amazing as the food there. This place is pretty pricey but maaaaan is it worth it. I'd highly suggest it to anyone visiting Olympia or just in need of a good date place. You'll walk out full and blown away. read more

Basilico Ristorante - Handmade lamb ravioli. - Italian Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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2 stars because service was poor. Food is good but the help appear to be unmanaged and haphazard/understaffed. Hostess took forever to get us seated, she seemed unfamilliar with customer service/eating a restaurants (had no clue what people expect). She also seemed to have spent more time and energy into picking out her attire than learning about hostessing. read more

We went out for dinner last night and were terribly disappointed. My husband's ravioli was under cooked and hard to cut through! My pork dish was tender and tasty but the roasted potatoes were dry and had no seasonings. It is a very noisy restaurant due to the tile flooring, very hard to have a conversation or a sense of elegance. The wait staff was fine. However, they add a service fee of 10% and one could choose to add what ever amount of tip on top of that. What is confusing is who gets that 10%? read more

This is a rather small, intimate place with superb service and great food. I highly recommend this restaurants f'or great Italian food.

Great food and nice European bistro atmosphere. Made our reservations for early seating. We enjoyed the meal so much we splurged on dessert, a panna cotta with seasonal berries. They make their own pasta and source from local farms when possible. Lots of items to choose from, all fresh, freshly prepared, and really varied. Loved the mussel and clam appetizer. Marinated beef with juniper, rosemary, black pepper and other spices and a small pile of arugula to roll it with. Delish! The staff is so knowledgeable about the menu and particularly the wine. Very romantic little Italian restaurant with attention to detail. read more

Basilico Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Very disappointed with the restaurant. We had to wait for a long time for our food. When it arrived, my son's lamb chops were burnt. They offered to bring a replacement, but it took them so long that we decided we didn't want to wait and asked for a check. They charged us for the burnt lamb chops, but offered a cheesecake on the house. The waiter was very nice, food was very mediocre read more

New favorite Authentic Italian fix. Always onpoint, never fails and desserts are amazing!

I haven't seen them open lately and they weren't open a little after 8:00 on a Wednesday night (July 29).

A personal favorite. Mostly accommodating and very good Italian food. Very accommodating to gluten free requests and celiac people. You can taste the greatness of Italy here. Like to reserve early in the night and frequently take family here. Great variety of meals to order and a wine list for those that like to merge the two. Prices are what you would expect for a great Italian restaurant. If your visiting or doing that something special this is your stop. Make a reservation is a must! Until next time see you soon. read more

Interesting options, the cheese platter was great for me since I enjoy strong flavored cheeses or aged if you will, I had the wild boar dish with a noodle variety I've never seen, about 2 inches wide, well prepared all in all. A bit on the upper scale cost wise I rolled the dice had the experience I'll wait for the seasonal menu to change to decide if I'd go back read more

Basilico Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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One of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to, including three trips to Italy. And they have in incredibly impressive GLUTEN FREE menu, including homemade pastas. Their gluten free options are far from an afterthought. Definitely get at least one pasta dish when you go -- this seems to be their specialty, and the primary reason for my 5 stars. The gluten-free bread was also VERY good. I can't remember the last time I've been to an Italian restaurant that took such good care if its gluten free guests. read more

This is a review purely on the service. Had reservation for 2, confirmed the reservation by calling on the same day (most restaurants would call patrons before but we had to call to make sure we still had seats). Went there 10min prior and was seated promptly. Everything was going great and the restaurant was nearly full, but there seem to be several wait staff and few bartenders. We received the complimentary bread which was pretty tasty. Then it was downhill. We waited for over 30min but no one came to check on our table or even to take our orders even for drinks. A water server came by and asked if we wanted more water but we asked if a waiter/waitress could come by soon. The water server told us that she notified the staff and we thanked her. 15 min later, no one still came by. We felt we were being completely ignored so decided to just leave. No one bothered to ask if we were doing ok, try to explain if they were overwhelmed or understaffed, or explain why other tables had wait staff attending them even the ones who sat after us. But after over 45min of being ignored, I think I will take my money elsewhere. I do not enjoy giving horrible reviews because most businesses are doing their best to survive, but the experience really left a bad impression. read more

I made a 7pm reservation for a 5 course tasting. My dietary requests were gluten free and vegetarian. Each course was amazing and plenty of food. The dessert course was awesome because the plate had a nice sampling of fantastic offerings. The price was good and I recommend this experience. The gluten free bread and pasta was excellent and my guest loved it. This is a romantic place and a gem in Olympia. The servers are truly professional and provide a warm welcoming experience. I will be back for sure!!! read more

Probably one of the better restaurants in Olympia. Want to return before awarding more stars. Their tomato sauce is a four, going on five. That's good for starters. Need more exposure to make up my mind. Efficient service, engaged owner! read more

We actually went here because it was within walking distance of the Governor Hotel where we were staying. It ended up being a little out of our budget but everything we had was wonderful. The staff was attentive even though we were a little underdressed. We had drinks served by a gorgeous Italian man. We ordered carpaccio and a meat and cheese board and this same Italian man helped us with the cheese we couldn't identify. The appetizers filled us up more than we expected so I wasn't able to touch my pasta with seafood and that was literally true because I hadn't noticed there was no refrigerator in our room. Anyway our only complaint was that it was outside of our budget but you get what you pay for and that is definitely true here. read more

We found this restaurant very disappointing. Conversation difficult due to noise. Even though wait staff were informed this was our first visit they were not at all helpful in answering specific questions about the food or preparation. It was impossible to determine who was responsible for our table. We were told anyone on the floor might help us. This made it difficult to determine if our orders had been given to the kitchen. The staff were in fact unsure and had to check twice. The food was over-sauced and the crab stuffed ravioli was under cooked. This was a week night and the restaurant was not crowded. The gelato and tiramisu were delicious. We may stop in for dessert but will pass on dinner in the future. read more

Went to Basilico for the first time today. Both my wife and I thought it was fabulous! I had the Lasagna Bolognese and she had Paglia e Fieno al Ragu' Rosa. Everything was unique and the pasta is made fresh. The staff was fantastic! We will definitely be back! read more

I don't mind spending crap ton of money if the food is good but this place is expensive and the food was mediocre at best. To make matters even worse, my grilled meats and cured meats were sauced up. I despise masking meats with sauce as its normally an indicator that a chef is lacking in cooking skills. If you know how to grill meats well, all you need is seasoning. If you must, put the sauce on the side to give the audience an option. On a positive note, male server was very good. He wasn't our server but took care of us. The female server assigned to me, I believe, was sand bagging. read more

This place was great. We came in on a week night and were able to get seating without a reservation, no problem. We elected to do the Discover Basilico option where the owner asks some questions and gives us a 4 course meal. He remembered our dietary restrictions as well as preferences. He also took special care of the one of us who doesn't drink alcohol. Each drink was still paired with the course. Also, it was one person's birthday. We got a candle in the dessert and a special design on the plate. I highly recommend a weeknight and the multi-course option. read more

This place was authentic Italian! We lived in Italy for 3 years and this was the closest we have gotten since being back in the states. They even made scorpino for us. read more

Basilico Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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Have been to this restaurant multiple times since my last review. Consistently outstanding food and service which is a sign of a truly good place. Not cheap but you get what you pay for. Don't plan on just walking in make a reservation or you will probably be turned away. read more

Probably the best meal I have had in Olympia. We had the calamari appetizer, very thick cut pieces, not rings, with a light almost tempura like batter. Very good. We also had a Radicchio salad. It is grilled and comes with pancetta. It was an interesting vegetable unlike any I've had before. It has a rather bitter taste. I didn't enjoy it, but the two people I was with really liked it, and the pancetta was really good. Just a personal taste issue not a quality issue. For main courses we had a lamb ravioli special, lasagna bolognese, and an eggplant appetizer as a main. They were all excellent. All obviously made to order with fresh quality ingredients. I can't remember what the dessert was called, but it was basically just blueberries and vanilla ice cream. Simplicity isn't bad though and it was excellent. I went into this place with expectations formed around other options in the city. Everyone in our party left very happy with the experience and food. No one drank, but they have an extensive wine list and full bar as well. I will absolutely be back. read more

My husband and I went to Basilico for our anniversary, and we were both surprised that we didn't care for the food that much. It wasn't terrible; it was just ok (but pricey for being just ok). Service was fine, ambience was nice, but food so-so. My husband got the braised pork shoulder and when I asked him how it was, he said it was good, but kind of like Dinty Moore Stew. I had the grilled portobello mushrooms, potatoes and asparagus and everything was grilled so much that it was dry and chewy (even the asparagus). The best item that we ordered was the Caprese salad. In hindsight, if we had to do it over again I would have selected a pasta - perhaps that is their specialty. Honestly, though, it cost too much for us to experiment with it again. read more

We came for dinner. Appetizers and main courses were delicious and service was excellent. The carpaccio and ragu were so delicious.

We both had the skirt steak special. The meat was tender and a perfect medium rare. There was a balsamic reduction drizzled on the plate and the fresh vegetables. Chunks of fried potato were also in the mix, along with al denté asparagus. Every bite was delicious and it was sad to take the last bite; however, we took solace in our dessert! We thoroughly enjoyed the Tartufo Nero Semifreddo. I ate my half before my wife poured the espresso she had ordered on the side over it. It was wonderful. Make a reservation, because the hostess was turning people away even though there were tables available. I read some reviews from other Yelpers and saw the behavior they had described. I will return the next time I am in the Olympia area. read more

Outstanding restaurant in Olympia for authentic Italian cuisine. The octopus appetizer was incredible, and the rabbit cacciatore superb. Good wine list that isn't overly pricey. Smallish and intimate ambiance. read more

My husband and I had reservations for 7:30, when we got there we had to wait 10 minutes even though there were tables clean and open. When the hostess finally sat us we were confused as no one left so it wasn't an issue regarding sitting in a servers section. We sat there for 30 whole minutes before trying to get a hold of waiters. Twice waiters walked by our "excuse me". I finally flagged down a Hispanic gentlemen who was soo sweet. He apologized and got our waitress. The waitress who had curly short hair was SO rude. She spoke under her breath, and would reach over us very aggressively. After taking our drink orders she disappeared and didn't come back until it was time for the check. She didn't deliver drinks/food, didn't come out to check on us or refill drinks. The only one who helped us was the gentleman. He was very attentive and nice and made good conversation! The pesto pasta tasted like dry noodles. The sauce was very bland and almost nonexistent. My husbands lasagna was good and flavorful though. We were so excited to try this place but it was a terrible experience. Would not recommend anyone this place. read more

6 out of 5 overall experience tonight. Classy restaurant, plus fantastic service. Great Italian food. Certainly not low priced and they annoyingly added a 10% service charge and so this place isn't for everyone however if you can afford it this place is fantastic and one of (if not) the best restaurants in Olympia. Their daily special appetizer of Carpaccio di Mese was awesome ($15 and worth it). Zuppa di Mare was good ($25) Fritto Misto was good ($16) Pasta Special ($24) ok. Their daily special Brasato del Mese (rabbit etc) cost $35 and was memorable. Excellent. Talamonti Montepulciano red wine perfect ($35 bottle) Desserts? OMG ... all are homemade ... tiramisu the best! Torta al Calda was super and so was their gelato. We left very happy. read more

At first, when we walked in on a Thursday night at 6pm, there was only one table that was taken, the rest of the restaurant was empty, I thought, did I make a mistake? The ambience with daylight streaming in shows that it is a little dated but I am sure during the short winter days, it is cozy and warm with soft lighting. Our server Jennifer was really sweet and it felt like we had her all to ourselves even when people trickled in and sat down to their tables. She was attentive without being overbearing. My husband ordered the lamb chops and I ordered the housemade fettucini noodles with mushrooms and marsala cream sauce. I opted to add some protein to my dish, 4 large grilled and seasoned shrimp cooked to perfection. Both of our dishes were so good! For dessert, we ordered the cannoli and the tiramisu, it was our anniversary :) both were so delicious. I can see that there is a lot of care put into the dishes and service at Basilico, we plan on taking my in-laws there next time we go! They are busy when there is a show at the theater nearby so keep that in mind when you go. The only thing that caught me off guard was the 10% fee automatically added to the bill, I read the note that came with my bill AFTER we paid and so they got a really nice tip that day :) in the future I will keep in mind the 10% already added to our bill and tip the difference. read more

Best. Birthday. Dinner. Ever. I've been wanting to come here for quite some time but rarely eat dinner out in Olympia. Boy, am I glad I had an early morning work commitment that prevented me from fleeing to Seattle or Tacoma! I haven't eaten gluten free pasta in a restaurant ever. How sad is that?!? I have finally found a place where I want to eat g-free pasta out! We had a reservation for seven and were taken to a sweet table all ready for us to occupy. The server was very attentive and helpful providing recommendations. The wine list is superb! What an excellent selection of Italian wines! The appetizer... I've found a new way to prepare a caprese salad. The tomatoes were roasted, making them super sweet... a perfect balance to the nutty oil and salty mozzarella. We added a little balsamic vinegar to it and it was truly to die for, eat it every day! I had the g-free gnocchi with the wild boar sauce (ragu). My date had the lamb ravioli and while he loved it, he loved mine more and ate a good bit of it! Absolutely delicious! I can't wait to come back to try more of their gluten free dishes! read more

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Oh my, so, so good!! Service was excellent, great wine suggestion. We tried the 5 course hand created menu. My husband finally found a tomato he liked. Hands down best Italian food in our region. read more