I love the warm vibes of Basso on a rainy day. Not only do they have a great happy hour, but it's the perfect spot for a weekday game or romantic dinner. It's like going back in time when you step into the underground Neapolitan restaurant that brings all the speakeasy vibes. Our waiter, Sean (or Shawn) was so amazing. He had the best suggestions and very helpful. On your next date night, I highly recommend the Witch on the Beach cocktail, seasonal burrata, Crispy Meatballs and Calamari Fritti (per Sean's suggestions!) read more

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Besides the fact that it's extremely hard to locate... and park.... I loved this place. Huge winding stairs to walk down into the restaurant... make sure you are wearing shoes you will not trip in. The atmosphere in here is super cool, dimly lit and dreamy... great date night spot. Basically a giant rectangle with a huge bar, lots of seating throughout.. with an open kitchen at the back left. Wood fire pizzas, salads, and appetizers galore. Pretty decent happy hour menu as well. We tried the grilled octopus - this was good but holy salt. Maybe marinated in some soy sauce to make it tender but keep your water close to guzzle. Flavor was pretty good. The crispy meatballs had to be our favorite. Very thick crust most likely fried and then your traditional meatball inside... demolished those. Brocollini was my 2nd favorite... perfectly cooked and a very spicy sauce was under it... really great balance to the fresh veggies. We tried the margarita pizza which can anyone ever go wrong with it? Nope. Pasta for the table was the spicy sausage and ribbon pasta... to die for. Yummmmmm. read more

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Best burger and fries in St. Louis. Hands down. Go for happy hour and it's $9. But get there before 5 or you might be waiting for a table before happy hour ends at 6. Pizza was great too. Can't recommend this place enough. We visit way more than we should ... read more

Excellent food and friendly efficient service. We tried almost everything on the menu. I would recommend giving this place a try and I will definitely go back. However, the atmosphere is suffering a severe identity crisis. With the vibe that's a dark combination of being a upscale restaurant with TVs from a sports bar and music from a club its difficult to know what their intent is. Overall, a good experience. read more

Loved the atmosphere here and all the food was amazing!! Went with a group and sampled a bunch of things, kale caesar salad was delicious read more

Basso - Tiramisu - Bars Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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They do not take reservations so 3 of us joined their waitlist at 5:10pm on a Saturday night. It said we would be seated between 6:30-7pm. We decided to commit and waited around for an opportunity to dine here. We watched as we moved down the queue and we were two minutes away in an Uber and still showing 3rd in line. Suddenly, it just said "You've been removed from the waitlist and you can rejoin if you'd like". We entered the restaurant around 7:15pm, the hostess said she still saw us on the list and we'd be seated next. We waited another hour before they decided to seat us. I'm sorry, but a three hour wait for a party of 3 is absolutely ridiculous!! The food was good, our server took 15-20 mins to get us cocktails after we ordered (this happened a few times). Then she said she'd been let go for the night and wanted us to close up with her. So, we waited all night and then had to rush to close out. Upon leaving the restaurant, two of us stopped to use the restroom. Two of the stalls had zero toilet paper, there was no more hand soap and the trash can was overflowing. I dined here years ago and it was fantastic. We all said we love the atmosphere, food was good, drinks were pretty good but we'll probably never come back due to the poor experience. So sad because this used to be a great spot. read more

Go for happy hour and get a cheese pizza $7 (ask for it to be well done) and the burger fries happy hour special is the deal of st louis for $9. Excellent and I highly recommend this happy hour. read more

I really wanted to like this place because the food sounded really good. But what I received was flat and under seasoned, which left me and my date extremely underwhelmed. The scene is great. Great looking people, nice dark vibe. A place you'd like to stay for happy hour and a few cocktails, maybe some small bites and then bounce. I'll come back again for drinks and maybe a pizza, but I don't think I'd stay for much more beyond that. Service left something to be desired. read more

This place is tucked away in a basement and the ambiance is perfect for a date night or celebration. The staff are all friendly & the food is fresh and delicious! read more

Basso - Calamari Fritti - Bars Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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The entire experience was great. Ambiance was romantic but not stuffy. Good happy hour drinks and food as well read more

Basso is Alright, at most. Ordered to go. Ceaser salad was withered, tiny n loveless.. Pizza was not what the pictures show. No crispy burnt crust. Just kinda regular. And the lemon ravioli was underwhelming.. I don't mind paying for good food and tipping generously. But this food was not worth the price. Just kinda whatever. Portions can be small if the flavor is great, but.. it just wasn't read more

First time dining at Basso tonight! The vibes were great as well as the food, but the best thing I here was the amazing service! Christina was our server and she was fantastic! We even came back a second time to see her the same day! My only critique would be to add a more vegan friendly salad option but other than that, I'm a fan! read more

Such a fun date/ girls night spot! You walk in almost hidden doorway then head downstairs. It opens up into a dark underground restaurant and it's such a fun unique environment for the city! We ordered a pasta, a burger, and a cannoli for dessert! They were all super good! The lamb pasta was super good, however the flavor of very strong so if you're on the edge about it maybe try something else!! I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu! Don't forget the cannoli for dessert! read more

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Basso is one of my favorite places to eat. The wine is great, the menu is simple but has a great selection. I've never had a bad server, everyone who works there has always been so nice! I absolutely love the setup. The only thing that I would change is I would remove the tables in between the bar seats and the booths. I know they are there to bring more customers in, but when you sit at one it seems very crowded and awkward. read more

Our family was gonna order delivery pizza but decided to come down here instead. Definitely the right call - friendly staff, interesting environment and solid food. Lucked into happy hour for some great prices too! Will definitely be back again. read more

The pizza was absolutely delicious and a good change from all the usual pizza joints around town. Nice atmosphere with gas lanterns along the walls. Will definitely go again read more

My boyfriend and I enjoyed a dinner dinner date on NYE. I was super impressed by their timeliness (shout out to the Yelp waitlist feature) and wait staff. The ambience is unmatched in STL and the food/drink is delish!! The menu exists on one page, and I can't imagine you could go wrong with any of the options. We shared a bottle of Chianti, truffle fries, and crispy meatballs. My boyfriend had the burger, and I enjoyed the Strozzapreti as my main. Everything was beyond my expectations! read more

Great atmosphere, wait staff is very attentive. Great food. Ordered 5 appetizers (Kale ceasar salad, truffle fries, calamari, brocollini and ?? peppers) and 3 main pasta dishes which we all split at the table of 5. Everything was delicious! Their tiramisu and cannelloni were great. I don't usually like cannelloni because it's usually too sweet for me, but their's was just right. Definitely going back, sooner than later. read more

Amazing ambiance, incredible drinks, and every food item I've tried here has been incredible. Service is also pretty good and efficient. PS they have Vegan Cheese for pizzas! A lactose intolerant WIN. One of my fav spots in STL read more

It took us a bit to find it, but once we did we were glad we did. I had a wonderful Manhattan while we waited for our table. The food and the service were excellent. read more

Crispy meatballs were great and the bibb salad. Cozy atmosphere and good service. Great happy hour.

Cool place- can be pretty loud but the food is always good and I love the dark, sexy basement setting. Crispy meatballs are good and the pizza with the duck egg is mouth-watering! read more

The ambiance and atmosphere is amazing, not to mention the exquisite food and wine. This place is a must in St. Louis. read more

Basso - Amazing ambiance. - Bars Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Wow what a great place. We were there for the happy hour before the Muny. The food was great our service was great and what an awesome atmosphere Thank you for a great start to our evening. Oh yes our drinks were great to!! read more

Great food-great service and recommendations by Mary Grace! Looking forward to our next visit! read more

Basso - Great food -Great Service and recommendations by Mary Grace! Looking forward to our next visit. - Bars Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I love the space at this restaurant. I've taken friends here for drinks when they come in town and have ventured here for dates. I found the food to be decent and the drinks better. Stop in here if you would like a great cocktail and ambience! read more

Love this restaurant for happy hour. The meatballs and kale salad are delicious. The pepperoni pizza is also good.

Every dinner we had on our trip was excellent, but Basso was particularly amazing. First off, you feel like you're entering a secret restaurant lair heading down the steps into the dimly lit dining room. The feeling is definitely a rustic one with a strong Italian influence without any signs of a kitschy red, white, and green flag in sight. From the drink menu alone, you know Basso ain't nothin' to eff with. These hip hop inspired cocktails like Dirty Money, Ridin' on Chrome, and I'm Sprung, will have you gettin' crunk with Diddy, T-Pain, and The Three Six Mafia in no time. As a group, we had a sampling of just about the entire menu. No use in going into every detail as it was all phenomenal so I'll give you my favorites from each section of the menu. From the Contorni portion, The Roasted Cauliflower beat out the Brussels Sprouts and Roasted carrots with that enticing boost of ricotta cheese. Off the Antipasti menu, the Buratta was less exciting, but that's because it was up against champion contenders like Crispy Meatballs and Seared Pork Belly. We can call a draw between the two of those. The all star of the night was the Calamari Fritti... hand's down the best calamari I've ever had. Next came the pastas which I didn't catch the name of all three I tried but, the surprising winner was the simple Cacio e Pepe. Sometimes a simple pasta dish is done so well that it outshines all the complexities of everything else. The pizzas we tried were McDowell's Golden Arcs, Emo Cover Band, and The Donald. Typically I would declare the winner to be the pie with the most meat, but in this case McDowell's Golden Arcs really blew me away with the butternut squash and speck. I should have ordered a second to take home with me in my suitcase. The service was conducted like a Shakespearean play with each course never missing a beat. By the time we were done, I looked back at this whirlwind of cuisine and just felt happy as could be. Being that this was a work dinner that I didn't pay for, it's difficult to speak to the value here but, I have to say after re-examining the menu, I would make this a regular spot if I lived in the area. We had 7 people and obviously went a little wild with ordering, but with two people, you could order my top four favorites of the night (Roasted Cauliflower, Calamari Fritti, Cacio e Pepe, and McDowell's Golden Arcs) for a grand total of $50. Add in tax, tip, and drinks and you can easily have an amazing meal for two in the sub $100 range... done. read more

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My favorite spot in St. Louis. Wonderful pizzas and appetizers. The burger is solid. Friendly staff. Cocktails are superb

It's been almost three years since my last review of Basso and I am still a fan. It is a solid 4 Star restaurant. It continues you please me each and every time I visit them. My most recent visit was for a quick dinner before I headed over to The Fox & Hound for a wine tasting. I figured it was also a great time to try their, Mafalda which Ian Froeb said was a "must order" on his STL 100 list. I've been dieting to lose, what I call my Yelp weight, but tonight I thought what the hell and went ahead and ordered the Mafalda. It's a flavorful pasta dish of ribbon cut noodles toss in a beef and pork ragu, with pecorino and romano cheeses and breadcrumbs. I like how the blend of the two cheeses and breadcrumbs add a thickness to the ragu. I was impressed with the richness of Italian flavor from a restaurant that is not located on "The Hill". It may not have been the best choice to accompany a pasta dish, but my Manhattan was a true classic. They make each drink from scratch, so it takes time, be patient please a for hand crafted cocktail. If you cannot wait for a masterfully prepared cocktail, I suggest you order one of their many craft beers instead. You'll have plenty to choose from and you'll be just as happy. After all it is called "happy hour". When: April 12, 2016 Why: Dinner, Happy Hour and STL 100 read more

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Great date spot or for an after work party! They have a full bar and group seating for your party.

Food and service were phenomenal! Incredible, unique twists on Italian food. Julie's service, as our waitress, was the best!!! Super fun atmosphere inside Basso as well! read more

They was fast and the prices was good and Took the time to explain to me what was wrong with my vehicle and what I needed thanks.

I'm so happy Basso is still open and serving up their amazing food and serving delish cocktails and wine! We had a couple bottles of red wine, I highly recommend the 2018 vintage Barbera D'asti. All of the members of the team were masked and all of the customers were all spaced out nicely. The vibes are still the same and enjoyable for a night out! read more

Basso - 2018 Vintage, Barbera D'asti, Italian red wine - Bars Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Everything is great - Brussels, pizza, crispy meatball, and canoli! The service and environment is great as well! read more

Basso - Crispy Meatball - Bars Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Great for Happy Hour! Cheap drinks, burgers and truffle fries make a great weeknight dinner. The shishito peppers are also very good. Classic cocktails on the Happy Hour menu (Aperol Spritz) tend to be a bit watered down but there if often a great special cocktail. read more

Just like Aaron mentioned, Basso has definitely grown on me and has become one of my favorite places for drinks and dinner. With great food, awesome décor, and at a reasonable price, what's not to love. Though this place can be pretty popular on Friday and Saturday nights, it makes me feel like I'm at an exclusive bar. There isn't a huge sign on the front begging you to come in. It's almost hidden unless you really look for it. Plus the restaurant is underground! It's like you're entering Bruce Wayne's private bar minus the creepiness and bats. Whoever designed this place did an excellent job. Gas lamps on the side booth tables, stained wood everywhere you look, a bar that is the center of the restaurant. The restaurant is essentially a huge long room. I love the open concept that allows you to see the kitchen at any part of the room. Prices are reasonable for the restaurant, but I feel like you get the best deals during happy hour which is almost the only times I go. Happy hours are from 4-7pm from Monday to Friday. - $5 select wines - $4 craft beers - $7 craft cocktails - $4-$7 bar menu, including $7 two topping pizzas You can easily get out of there with a drink and dinner for around $20, which I feel is very reasonable. I know that the craft beer specials rotate, so I'm assuming the wines and cocktails do too. I haven't seen the pizzas rotate for happy hour though. I have had multiple meals here, but my all time favorite menu item would have to be the fries. I think an order is only $4 or $5 during happy hour. I believe the fries are handcut, but they are definitely covered in parmesan, some sort of herb, and truffle oil. They are probably one of the best fries I have had in St. Louis. The only con I see about this place is the parking. The parking lot is quite small and shared with the Cheshire Inn and the Starbucks next door. I usually end up parking right across the street and walking over, but sometimes I'm lucky enough to snag a spot right in front of the restaurant. Definitely a place to check out! If you are planning on eating dinner on a Friday or Saturday, I would try to make reservations if you want to sit in a booth, else you may end up at the bar or a small table. Some people don't mind, but I know my wife and I like booths. read more

First, the ambiance is great - love the look, the lighting, etc. Second, the parking is atrocious. This has always been a problem for The Cheshire, the hotel complex hosting Basso. I'm glad we weren't trying to make a reservation time because we would have missed it circling the lot and up and down out of the garage waiting for someone to leave! We waited about 20 minutes after arrival - we'd joined the wait list on Yelp, otherwise would have been much longer. Appetizers - charging for the bread and oil as an appetizer is a little odd (in most restaurants that just comes to the table) but they do definitely dress it up with crushed garlic, parmesan, balsamic vinegar, and the bread is good. The calamari was excellent - very crispy, with a light sauce and red peppers that could be added or avoided with each bite. I had the Emo pizza - good, but not exciting. My tablemates had the lemon ricotta ravioli - delicious sauce, light lemon fragrance, that's what I'll get next time! - the burger - late to the table, had been overcooked per our server but the replacement was rare when we'd requested medium rare - and the crispy meatballs - VERY good, but also late to the table. I had a Brick River cider, always good, and we didn't stay for dessert because of my major criticism: the sheer volume of noise. It was loud enough that one member of our party had to go upstairs and outside to give himself some relief. At my previous times there we were seated at the long tables by the kitchen and I hadn't noticed it was that bad but against the back wall it was awful. Some kind of acoustic treatment on the back wall is really needed. read more

Good food and service especially considering I went on Valentine's Day. Great ambiance and atmosphere.

Yuck. Brussels were soundercooked. Noodles also over cooked, sauce tasted like from a jar. . Half the tables' orders of the "sungold" were sent back and the ones that weren't had pools of oil at the bottom of the bowls. Waitress took half the tables order then placed their orders THEN took the second half of tables order "to give the kitchen a break in preparing food". So half the table ate while the other half waited. 2005 emo hits blasting. Waitress was rude, too. Awful experience. read more

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