Basta is a pizza and pasta restaurant located in downtown Iowa city on the U of I campus. It's a step up from casual but not fancy. You can find metered parking out front. Service is friendly and fast. I ordered the calamari, spaghetti bolognese and Bellini. Everything was delicious and fairly priced. read more

Went here in a large group during the block party. Sat at the front round table. There was a bit of nostalgia as this place was a popular bar in the late 90s. Waitstaff was incredible. Quick with waters and very social. The chicken milanese was incredible. Everyone loved their drinks and food. No wonder my college daughter loves this place. read more

Basta Pizzeria - NY Strip with cheese ravioli - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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The fig and prosciutto pizza was amazing, and the butternut squash ravioli was good. The stuffed figs were also really good. The drinks were decent, and our server was a rock star--the service overall was very good. Unfortunately, the NY strip was where things fell short. It was cooked to the right temperature, but it had a slightly burnt taste, almost like it had been left on one side too long. It also had absolutely no seasoning--no salt at all. The sauce was good, but without it, the steak itself was incredibly bland. And then there was the tiramisu. Honestly, it was a joke. It was more like a tres leches cake completely drowned in espresso. It was very dense and heavy instead of light and airy like a good tiramisu should be. The restaurant itself is really nice and has a beautiful bar. The drinks were good, and the service was definitely a highlight. But for nearly $200 including tip, I expected a lot more from the food. My recommendation would be to stick with the pizzas, pastas, and drinks and skip the main courses. Overall, I found the place to be pretty overrated, especially considering the price point. There were some good dishes, but the overall experience just didn't live up to what I expected. read more

I love Basta! How can you not love fresh pasta??? Every time I say I am going to try the pizza, yet I get a pasta. It's always cooked al dente, and the dishes are plentiful. I finally became a believer of the brussels sprouts (I'm not brussels sprout person) but holy moly, if you're ever going to try some brussels sprouts you need to try them here! I will definitely be getting them from here on out. Their focaccia bread is always a staple at our table. Just simply delicious. This time we tried the Chocolate Budino with vanilla gelato, and it was the perfect ending to an already wonderful dinner. As always, our service was stellar. Our waitress had a trainee with us and they both did a wonderful job. read more

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Incredible gf pasta! Lots of gf options. I sat at the bar and the bartenders were great. read more

Basta Pizzeria - Sausage & orecchiette (gf) - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Great food, good patio and happy hour- do yourself a favor and stop in lots of good drinks. Great service and lots of attention

Food was amazing I had seafood pizza...and Calmari.The service was great. Air conditioning nice and cool. We enjoyed the tasty calamari appetizer so much we didn't get a picture. read more

Basta Pizzeria - Lobster Pizza - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

The food was again amazing. Highly recommend the Blue Crab and sweet corn plate. It was so good. Service again amazing! shout out to Clayton! read more

Basta Pizzeria - Blue corn & sweet corn bucantini - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I checked out this restaurant on Yelp before going, and I thought I would not be impressed with the food based on the photos, so I was blown away when I got there and actually tried all the food. It was extremely flavorful and everything was really good. The ambiance in the restaurant is nice, a great place for groups or date night. We got 3 apps - the flatbread, burrata, and brussel sprouts. I enjoyed the flatbread, it is very cheesy so I felt I got the pizza experience even though I didn't get a pizza as my main. The burrata came with amazing bread, and the brussel sprouts were really good. I got pasta as the main and it was a lot of food. The menu claims all breads and pasta are made fresh daily, and I could believe it. Very good! Service was also good, better than I would expect! read more

Basta Pizzeria - sausage orecchiette pasta - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Basta is a pizza and pasta restaurant located in downtown Iowa city on the U of I campus. It's a step up from casual but not fancy. You can find metered parking out front. Service is friendly and fast. I ordered the calamari, spaghetti bolognese and Bellini. Everything was delicious and fairly priced. read more

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Amazing gluten free food! Excellent wine choices. Highly recommend their pasta - specifically the sausage & orecchiette!

Had the awesome surprise of finding out one of my favorite church members was in town. We immediately made plans to go to Basta as that's been a top recommendation since I've arrived in Iowa City. SERVICE: Our waitress was Tori. She was a sweetie! She had great recommendations. I really enjoyed the shrimp fettuccine. And, she checked on our table a lot. A very good waitress. FOOD: We ordered the calamari for our appetizer. The calamari comes out on a light bed of salad. You also get a nice charred lemon to squeeze over the calamari. For dipping sauces, you've got the tomato sauce and an aioli. I preferred the aioli for dipping my calamari. For the entree, we split the shrimp fettuccine. The shrimp fettuccine is delicious!! Fair warning, the dish comes with Calabrian chiles so if you don't like spice; I would ask for the chiles to be taken off. Also, Basta was kind enough to split our entree on arrival since both of us are nibblers. Great flavor with excellent portions. The shrimp in the pasta are jumbo shrimp. 10/10 recommendation. I will be back soon read more

Basta Pizzeria - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Outstanding pasta. Amazing Nutella crème brulle. Always a memorable experience. Highly recommend.

1hr+ wait on a Tuesday,rude hostess, slow service, overcooked hanger steak. Coming from MPLS, wish I would've had Pancheros or went to any other restaurant. read more

Basta is a good spot on campus for some good italian food. I have only been here once, and very fortunate to be there on there patio as the weather gave me the chance. The patio is really cute. I am sure even cuter with flowers out as weather gets warmer. My server was very pleasent and the food was good. I would like to try more of their dishes. It seems to be a solid choice. Go get your grub on!!! read more

Basta Pizzeria - Sausage & Orecchiette- very filling and good! - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

The pasta and pizza here are both so good! Recommend getting the meatballs as an appetizer. Am planning to come back to try the other dishes they have on the menu! read more

Basta Pizzeria - Appetizer Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I ordered the NY strip along with the 4-cheese ravioli topped with pesto on a bed of pesto and oil, plus potatoes. The flavor combination was something I've honestly never had before -- rich, unique, and absolutely amazing. I was shocked at how well everything balanced. For the appetizer, I went with the roasted Brussels sprouts, and they were a 9.5/10. Perfect texture, and the sauce was unreal -- I think Dijon-based -- mixed with shredded carrots. Whatever it was, it worked. The Old Fashioned was also standout -- easily top 5-7 I've ever had. What really elevated the experience was the service. I stopped one of the chefs, and he took five minutes to answer questions and give detailed recommendations. Everyone I interacted with was welcoming and attentive. The atmosphere had the feel of a comfortable, modest neighborhood spot, but the food and execution were at a 4.5-star level. Not a single misstep all night -- I'll definitely be back if I find myself in Iowa again. read more

Basta Pizzeria - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Basta is my go to anytime I'm looking for a nice meal around the ped mall. I'm probably a smidge biased as we've had a few "family dinner" Yelp events with Jack here so it holds a special place in my heart. It's a beautiful space with delicious food that isn't too pretentious that you couldn't just drop in from the street as I'm prone to. Get pizza. Get dessert. Have a nice cocktail. You won't be disappointed. read more

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The food was fantastic and the ambience was very nice. Would make for a fantastic date night. Service was excellent too. Can recommend and would return. read more

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I try to update my reviews every three or four years-- as not all restaurants stay consistent or live up to the hype, ESPECIALLY in a college town. But Basta, my friends, it is like a fine wine. It just keeps getting better with age. Basta boasts all your Italian must-haves; fresh pasta, amazing meatballs, delicious baratta and of course divine wood-fired pizza. The food never really disappoints and is at a pretty reasonable price point, all things considered. This is my family's restaurant of choice for big celebrations. Things I adore about Basta: - It NOW takes reservations via Resy. (Totally recommend you snag one.) - Basta offers brunch! - Don't miss out on Happy Hour. - Inquire on dessert-- they have some amazing tiramisu and creme brûlée. Overall, I rarely have a bad experience at Basta. I popped in last Friday prior to the Homecoming Parade and I am going to be honest, I expected perhaps to be underwhelmed by service just because of how busy this particular night is downtown. No, not the case. The manager even came over to say hi. Everything came out quickly, correct and cooked to perfection. No complaints here. read more

Disappointing experience due to poor service especially by the manager Aaron. My family and I went in for our first time and were sat at the smallest table even though there were plenty of bigger tables available. We were excited and decided to get two appetizers, a pizza & a salad (plus my daughter had a kids pizza). When our food arrived there was absolutely no space. We tried to make it work but it was difficult and uncomfortable to eat. So finally I decided to pull the table next to us mind you the restaurant was EMPTY!!! That is when Aaron approached us and said we couldn't do that. I don't have an issue with what he said, it's how he said it. Aaron was rude and condescending. He talked to us as if we were Children and never bothered to apologize. Aaron's demeaning tone and lack of customer service made our hunger go away. We didn't finish our drinks or food and chose to leave. It doesn't matter how the food taste, when the service is bad it's always a waste of money. I would suggest going elsewhere. read more

Basta is one of those spots where every dish hits. The food is so good you'll want to order the entire menu, and the happy hour cocktails are bright, balanced, and genuinely fun. Simple take: next‑level flavors, zero misses. read more

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The food was amazing!!! Best meatballs & eggplant. All of the food was delicious. Service was excellent. We went multiple times during our stay in Iowa. read more

Basta is always a hit when looking for something a bit more elevated that won't break the bank in Iowa City. I've ordered a handful of things in the menu over, and the sausage orecchiette is hands down the best entree on the menu!! The spaghetti is good and noodles taste homemade but the meatballs were a bit underwhelming; however, you won't find something bad on the menu. They have great drinks from the bar, and a great dessert menu (highly recommend the tiramisu). The staff are always very friendly and helpful when deciding what meal to get. Food tends to always be delivered to your table quickly. Only negative thing I have to say is that it can get loud in here sometimes, but the food is well worth it. read more

Basta Pizzeria - Spaghetti and meatballs - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Made a reservation for 9 for lunch on a Friday. Had to give them a credit card number in case we cancelled the reservation, we would be charged a cancellation fee. We arrived for lunch; another larger group and other patrons were there but not real busy. Server was prompt with waters but then we had to wait a bit too long for her to return to take our orders. Some of us pointed out to her that we were together (spouses) while we ordered, thus indicating are checks would be together. Requested a container of ice for our water (a very hot day), server had to be reminded twice. Food came to the table at a reasonable period between ordering and service. When it was time to pay, the server told us there would be one bill since we were a party over 7 with an automatic 20% tip. Too which we were surprised. Asked if I had been told that it would be one bill with auto tip when I made the reservation - to which, I responded that I had NOT been told that. Note: there is a statement re: that in small print at the bottom of their menu but having not looked at the menu closely I did not see that. Well, after a lengthy discussion with the server, she finally said she would talk to the manager to see if the bill could be itemized or be separated. This took a very long time. The manager finally came to our table, where we reiterated our concern and request. She agreed to separate the bills but as she left the table our server came with individual bills. Payment took a LONG time to complete. We paid our tab with cash and were the last ones to leave since we had to go to the bar/counter to ask when we would receive our change. Everyone in our group stated they will not return to Basta. Our food was good but just not as "wow" as is used to be. Overall, I was very disappointed in the afternoon. Our reservation was for 11:30 am. We finally walked out at 1:30. Aargh. read more

Really disappointed with our anniversary dinner. Male server was not connected to us and our table. Food came out cold making it less than tasty. read more

We had brunch this weekend at Basta and were very pleased with our whole experience. My wife and I started with peach Bellinis which were on point. For my meal I tried the Arancini bolognese; the pork ragù is flavorful with a nice kick, the eggs and hollandaise are good as well but the real star of this dish is the crispy risotto. The breakfast potatoes with garlic aioli was fantastic too. While I really enjoyed my meal, the one bite I tried of my daughters Nutella french toast really stuck with me and I want to get it next time. Our server was great and so was the manager who I happened to ask a bunch of questions on the menu. It was too hot for us to sit outside but their patio seems very nice and we'd enjoy that next time. Overall probably my favorite place in Iowa City so far. read more

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Stopping in for some Italian at Basta in Iowa City Conveniently located in the downtown/College town area of Iowa City, Basta Pizzeria is not just for pizza! Offering metered street parking. It can get a little tight during peak hours but there are plenty of lots within a few blocks. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant has kept much of the buildings character with gorgeous mosaic floors in the long wood bar which offers full service. Happy hour specials extend to tap beer some wines, and even some of the appetizers, but check out their website for any changes. Our server was super pleasant and efficient. She offered some suggestions and we tried a lot! The barrata special seem to be very popular and when it comes out, it's offered with plenty of bruschetta making for a great group appetizer. Also, the meatballs come in portions of 4 to 5, 1 inch meatballs, again offering a nice taste of what yet to come. We enjoyed a variety of pastas that included the Quattro Formaggi, the butternut squash ravioli, and the eggplant Parmesan, which was creatively done into small egg plant cakes, served on a bed of pasta. We enjoyed everything although I would have to admit that my ravioli did fall apart a little bit and was a little mushy, but I would not hesitate to try it again. Their wood-burning stove was generating. A lot of beautiful looking pizzas and I expect that I'll be back to try one of those. This restaurant offers desserts, but we were way too full to even attempt it! Great food, great atmosphere, and great service. What more could you ask for?. read more

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Delightful and unique menu, fast, friendly service Hate Brussels Sprouts? You'll change your mind here Seafood? Pasta? They have it all read more

The food and service were excellent. What a great spot to go for dinner and cocktails

Best place in town for quality Italian food. The interior is nice and the service was fantastic. Last time I was there, we had a larger party and our server was so kind and attentive to our group despite being very busy. read more

Basta Pizzeria - Crab and sweet corn buccatini - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Pleasant Surprise! Came to get away from moving hell. We had the soup - tomato and their soup of the day - farina, broth, tomatoes- both were delish! My daughter and I both ordered pasta... Penne baked with bacon and tomatoes/cheese and the Sausage Oriechettie (so). As we came for lunch, I guess they were lunch portions. Can't imagine what the dinner size is!! Both were ample and really flavorful! Can't wait to come back again ! See you in October!! read more

We got a reservation for a bday dinner and it was perfect! It was packed so recommend the reservation but the service was amazing. The burrata was my favorite thing but also, I still think about the sausage orecchiette pasta dish. I recommend checking it out for a well-priced place for a special dinner or happy hour as well. read more

Basta Pizzeria was a great spot in Iowa City while we were visiting the University. Situated right next to campus in the downtown area, this was a great meal. The atmosphere was great, reminded me a bit of an old style steak house but with a wood burning oven and serving Italian. We had both pizza and pasta and had an excellent meal. Paper plane cocktail was delicious and the group loved the pizzas. The Orecchiette with sausage and kale was top notch and it would be hard to not order that when we come again. It was slightly different variation on this dish with kale vs. spinach and a but more creamy of a sauce and toasted breadcrumbs. Order this. Dessert was also good. Definitely stop here while in town. read more

Basta Pizzeria - Orecchiette with Kale - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Their gluten free pasta is legit! My wife gets a GF dish each time we come and I end up eating half of it, and the left overs! Great service and the location is fantastic! read more

Basta never lets me down. Great service, good menu. The beet salad with steak added is almost always my first choice. Love sitting outside the best - it's the true downtown Iowa City feel. read more

Wonderful service. Not a huge foody but the server and menu there made me want to be one! Server Sam made the vibe 10/10!!!!

This is a really great place to bring people who are visiting! I love going there on my own too, or with a couple friends or family members. During covid pandemic, their patio was a very welcome outing for my dog and I. Solid food, awesome service, interesting variety in cocktails. I used to take my kids there when they were little, and there's something for everyone to enjoy. Their kids menu doesn't "dumb down" the food. This time, we went for brunch which also offers great options. The manager Aaron is really great, and I've always had excellent service with friendly, helpful waitstaff and bartenders over the years. My favorite foods? So hard to pick one! Their pizza is always great, but the items I order most often are the beet salad (with pistachios, Gorgonzola, and I recommend adding steak...the combo of textures, tastes, and temperatures is the best!), the eggplant Parmesan which comes with spaghetti, and tomato bisque. I'm new to brunch here, but loved the lobster omelet and the arancini bolognese...makes me hungry now, just thinking about it. They're well-presented and came with a nice selection of fruit. Someone in my group usually orders butternut squash ravioli, and they always give it rave reviews. The most fun thing about Basta is that they have rotating special drinks and food items, so there's always something new to try. read more

My husband and I had a day date in Iowa City. A friend recommended Basta. Not only was the service impeccable (thank you Ashley) but the food was top tier. We started with the Beet Salad and Meatballs. Both were perfect in every way. I had the Shrimp Fettuccine as my main. The house made pasta was perfectly chewy and loaded with flavor. The shrimp were huge, the sauce wasn't heavy, and the cherry tomatoes added the right amount of freshness. My husband had the Flank Steak and it was as so tender, perfectly seasoned, and cooked to his preference. Drinks were refreshing & flavorful. We shared the Tiramisu and an Americano for dessert. Let me say, that Tiramisu was fabulous. She was thick, dense, flavorful, and the perfect way to end our meal. 10 out of 10 and we will be back. read more

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Had a lovely date night experience last week at Basta! I got the Salmon main dish, it was delicious, flavorful, and had a nice crispy edge. We were delightfully surprised by their half off cocktails happy hour and our waitress made sure to check in with us before happy hour ended to see if we wanted to get another drink ordered! I loved their espresso martini, it was delightfully done. I'm sure I'll be returning for future date nights and celebrations! read more

Basta Pizzeria - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa