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Super busy place for very good reasons. We were a party of 6, were still sat right away on a busy weekend day for brunch. They have a pretty extensive menu and lots of different options from healthy to indulgent. I had strawberry cheesecake pancakes and they were to die for. Also had a pumpkin latte with almond milk which was perfect. Great kids options as well! Food is very well excited and fresh. If you don't mind a crowd, a great spot for a meal. Parking lot can be chaotic, so just prepare yourself.
Busy restaurant so stop by before 11 if you want to do brunch on the weekends! The star of the show are the pancakes, skip all the savory dishes and just "treat yoself" it's worth it! The eggs Benedict was "fine". I think about their pancakes at least once a week!
The interior of the restaurant was cute and festive, and the server was so sweet. Food-wise, though, this was an ok spot! I ordered the harvest bowl; I wasn't sure if it was bc there was vinegar or something in the bowl, but it smelled distinctly sour? It was tasty, but I was just worried about the smell stemming from some ingredients having gone bad. One of my sisters got the goat cheese and spinach omelette, which was pretty mid.. not terribly good or bad. My other sister ordered the spicy chicken sandwich, which was actually quite good. Overall, I wouldn't recommend the restaurant if you're looking for really good brunch, but the ambience and service made up for it.
Nothing special here, except the extraordinary high price.... I was in the Livingston area doing some errands and I stopped by to try Sweet Basil's on a recommendations from a friend. The restaurant was spacious and busy for a weekday at about 1:00 PM. I almost thought I would not get a table, but luckily there was one left. There was plenty of items to choose from on their 3 different menus, and I decided on ordering their Spicy chicken sandwich. crispy chicken cutlet, spicy slaw, Sriracha sauce, Swiss cheese, bacon, tomato, pickles ($16) + Fries ($3). Unfortunately, the sandwich was not as tasty as I thought it would be, nor was it spicy either as the name suggests, sriracha sauce ?? I didn't even get a hint of that. And the extra fries weren't anything special either. Sad, for a $20+ meal.... I was seated close to the kitchen, which allowed me to see other dishes, flying out. Those salads actually looked pretty darn good, but I probably won't be going back. I would like to say, that an alternate waiter helped us way more than our initial waiter, and for that, thank you. Parking is quite limited in their parking lot, but if you make a few laps, you may be able to score a parking spot. Follow me on Yelp, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube as I travel the world in search of the perfect dining experiences . Insta/X. @Noodlesoupr
Three years later and I still seem to enjoy that cold pesto! lol I finally revisited this month (Jan 2024) with two other companions and we all enjoyed ourselves. Despite saying I should try something new, i ended up with a sandwich again lol although this time it was just their grilled chicken sandwich, i still loved the simplicity of it along with an additional side of pesto pasta. I also tried their hot smores latte however despite the flavor, i find the base of the coffee somewhat bitter. Perhaps their iced coffees are better? anyway, my friends ordered from their vegan menu and both fritata and tofu scrambled looked great! the tofu scramble was pretty delicious! As usual they were still busy during the weekends and it was already packed by 11:30 on a sunday. As for parking, I got lucky finding a spot as soon as I arrived meanwhile my friends had to park at shoprite. Overall, we had a great time and our server was pretty nice and friendly too which was a bonus. Glad to have revisited and still had a good experience.
My husband and I had breakfast at Sweet Basil's Cafe during the holiday break a couple of weeks ago. I'd been to SBC when it was at a different location, but I've wanted to check out the current spot near Northfield Ave for a while. We got there 10 minutes after it opened for the day and there were already a bunch of customers seated at tables, and what looked like a DoorDash pick up table ready with orders to hand off. We were seated right away at a cozy wooden two-seater table. Our waitress was nice and checked in on us throughout the meal. Some of the food runners were warm, saying "enjoy your meal" and looking like they meant it. It's those interactions that make an impression. I ordered Steak and Eggs with fries and rye toast. My husband ordered a Santa Fe Omelet with home fries and rye toast. Overall, food was good. Our only criticism - and it could have been a one off - was that our potatoes were kind of dry, hard, and not crisp. They may have made them ahead of time in preparation for the rush of customers, which I understand, but it brought down the meal a notch. We regretted not getting a pancakes there instead (which looked amazing at the table next to ours). I'm curious what the dinner experience is like and during the work week because their menu looks appetizing. Despite the potato thing, I still give the dining experience a high 3/rounded-up-to-4 score.
Popped in for a Sunday Brunch with the Mrs. I had the Salmon Grits and Apple Cobbler Pancakes. The Mrs had the Veggie Omelette and the Banana Pecan Pancakes. The service was great although the food took awhile to come out, mainly due to it being busy. Great atmosphere for everyone. So I could not give them a 5 Star review because our pancakes were kind of cold when we got them and the Salmon wasn't quite seasoned to my liking. However, when we ate our leftover pancakes on the next day....
We were able to get a table right away because they had just opened up. The place is very casual. The service was good. Our waiter was very patient with us since the kids were with us. It is kid friendly. The food was good, but was average. I would compare to diner like food. We had ordered were the following: - Kid's scrambled eggs but had them put it into a wrap. - pancakes either a side of strawberries - southwest wrap - classic eggs Benedict
BEST FRENCH TOAST IN NJ!!!! Lovely, cute and intimate cafe with friendly staff. I stopped in for brunch and ordered the poached pear french toast along with sunny sided up eggs and turkey sausage. My entire meal was delicious. The pouched pear french toast was amazing, decadent, flavorful and filling. Also, the fresh smoothies are a must. The Green Giant and Tropical Breeze are so refreshing. The menu was robust with so many appealing options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thank you @Sweet Basil's Cafe!! I will certainly be back!!
A small cozy location for a delicious breakfast. No reservation was needed, but it was quite full that Saturday morning. The patrons kept going in and out. The food was delicious and the portions were filling. I'm glad I found this breakfast spot.
So amazing. If I could give more stars .I definitely would! Food is super great. We ordered the ahi tuna tacos and the smiley face pancakes. Definitely consider going here when you're looking for a place to eat. Their service is pretty good, too. I absolutely LOVE it.
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We stopped in here for breakfast. We didn't do any research on it. We asked if they had any gluten free items on the menu and she presented us with an entire separate gluten free menu! We were pleasantly surprised. We tried the shrimp Benedict and the Mexican omelet. When I saw that the benedict came with a yuca hash I couldn't pass it up. How could I pass on cassava? The dish was beautifully presented. The hollandaise had a nice heat to it. The pouch was perfect. I just loved how it was overflowing with shrimp. The dish was delicious and filling. My eating partner cleaned his plate and I didn't get to try the omelet, but he enjoyed it. Next time I'm in the area I'll be sure to stop in. read more
6 years ago
Every town has a Sweet Basil's Cafe, or something like it; a place where everyone in your group will want to go, because they all already know what they want to order without ever looking at the menu. Although I've always associated Sweet Basil's Cafe with brunch/lunch, they also have a wonderfully diverse dinner menu, and even though the restaurant looks the same during dinner the vibe is very different. During the day, the restaurant is loud, boisterous and very busy. The tables are filled with people eating hamburgers,salads, pancakes and Eggs Benedict. At night the lights dim and the restaurant becomes more mellow and quiet, with a much more relaxed vibe, and the menu transforms into something more sophisticated, with choices like Pan Roasted Branzino, Artichoke Risotto and Braised Short Ribs. Today for lunch I once again was forced to deal with the same dilemma I always have when I come here: finding a main course that will still allow me to order their incredible Roasted Apple & Carrot Soup without feeling too decadent. The soup is admittedly not very exciting to look at, but trust me on this, it's absolutely addictive and truly delicious. To go with the soup, I avoided the heavier items, although Short Ribs Benedict on the specials menu proved a challenge to pass on. I ultimately chose one of my old stand-byes, the Sweet Basil's BLT, which is described on the menu as melted brie, arugula, tomato & applewood smoked bacon on a baguette with mayo or honey mustard. It comes with either a salad or pasta salad, and at $9.95 it's worth every penny. The pasta salad was especially good; al dente angel hair pasta with petso. I honestly can't recall what else was ordered at the table, because I was so focused on my own food, but everyone seemed equally pleased. If you're in the Livingston area, I recommend you visit Sweet Basil's Cafe, and don't forget to try the Roasted Apple & Carrot Soup! You won't regret it. read more
5 years ago
This cafe has delicious, crispy home fries, decent pancakes and not the best vegan sausages and scrambled eggs (the eggs taste like they're from a carton). The banana pecan pancakes aren't too sweet (the glaze and bananas come on top, I just got mine on the side). Service is efficient. It does get quite busy on the weekends as you can expect from a brunch spot. All in all, this is a decent spot and I'll come again to try some of the vegetarian options (they have many vegetarian/vegan options to choose from). read more
12 years ago
This morning breakfast was particularly amazing. I checked the menu prior to going knowing I wanted to have a descent delicious breakfast but I didn't want to go to my normal spots. I've heard the best reviews about this place especially since their newer location and expanded menu. Because I have a weakness for everything spicy I went for the Heuvos Rancheros and they were wonderful. The presentation was perfect, in a cast iron mini skillet the Rancheros were stacked tightly with two fried eggs on top... Spicy chorizo sausage and pulled pork deliciousness!!!!!!! The wide got the plain French Toast... Which of course I would have went completely Ham and gotten the Strawberry stuffed Challah.... But the plain French Toast was actually quite nice. If your looking for a light breakfast option... You could opt for this !!! Overall I enjoyed this read more
5 years ago
We also got takeout from here during Covid and it was packaged well and came hot. We were impressed with how well it travelled since we got chicken and waffles and eggs Benedict. read more
7 years ago
Great atmosphere, nice service level, the cheeseburger was really good and the French fries almost perfect! No WiFi available... except this a perfect spot for friendly lunch or breakfast! read more
Went here for dinner last night with a friend. Walked in and loved it already. Great atmosphere and ambiance. Super cute cafe! The menu is big with options from salads, to burgers, tacos, pasta dishes and fish. They have meat, vegetarian and vegan options for everyone. Complimentary bread with butter was served to start. It was hard to choose what to order! I ended up getting the vegan cafe salad. It had greens, red peppers, tomatoes, mango and veggie burger on the side. It was delicious! The veggie burger was very flavorful and crispy and made the salad a better meal. I am picky with veggie burgers and this one definitely gets an A in my book. My friend got the grilled shrimp salad and loved it! Wish they had more vegan options. (hint hint!) The service was great! Food came out quick and waiters were attentive. I definitely recommend trying this place out! And it's BYOB and you know we all love that. read more
4 years ago
Doesn't look like much when you walk past but there a lots of healthy options on the menu. Was seated quickly and couldn't make a quick decision what to eat. I opted for the chicken avocado bacon sandwich with a side of salad instead of pasta. The sandwich was very good. It was in multigrain toast. Would've preferred a baguette. The salad came with a vinaigrette. I ordered an unsweetened iced tea. The ambiance is nice. Very casual. Wish they had a counter to order out. Next time I might call my order ahead. I was the only one eating today. I would recommend this place for a reasonable place with plenty of healthy options. read more
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Not sure what all the hype is of this place. Wife and I went there for brunch on a Sunday. It was packed so we had high expectations for the food. We both got the chicken and waffles. We were both equality disappointed by it. It was ok, nothing amazing. Definitely not worth the $16 for it. read more
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Have been here a handful of times for dinner and most recently for brunch, each time more delicious than the last! Cute cafe with good wait staff, great specials and nice variety of food. Today I had the banana pecan French toast & it was EVERYTHING! Not cloyingly sweet, not soggy at all, it was perfect. The regular coffee (always black) was also delicious all on its own. Knocked off a star for attentiveness, keep the coffee coming! read more
8 years ago
We came here for brunch after a quick Google search, and it did not disappoint. Everything on the menu was delicious, and we took quite a while to choose what we wanted to eat. My friend chose the current special of duck benedict and I chose the health kick eggs (in omelette form). The duck ragout in the benedict was so beautifully cooked and seasoned to perfection, the salad it came with was tasteful. The portobello mushrooms in the omelette was so savory, the home fries it came with were baked perfectly. We were extremely satisfied at the end. Aside from the delicious food, all of the waitresses were amicable, personable, and attentive. Our waitress was very punctual, our food and drinks came fast, and she handled all of our requests efficiently. Her knowledge of the menu was also evident. The ambiance of the restaurant was definitely a plus. We didn't feel rushed like we usually do when brunching in NY. The place was huge, clean, and homey. They also serve lunch and dinner. If you're in northern NJ, you have to come here! read more
Very nice Decor, very spacious, staff is friendly. I ordered a Strawberry Mascarpone french toast. It was okay, nothing amazing. Halfway in eating my meal i did find a hair in it. . But the manager was very attentive to the incident & offered to replace the meal. Since i didn't want anything to eat anymore she comped the meal. The menu does offer those crazy shakes for a good price, which i was too full to try but they look good. read more
3 years ago
9 years ago
I told myself that I would give this restaurant a few chances before writing a review, because I wanted to explore the menu a bit before giving my opinion. The one positive is that their coffee is not the brown water you typically get at many diners. It actually has a nice, smooth flavor. But as for any restaurant, no one goes for just good coffee alone. The menu, at first glance, is pricey for what the dishes are and the dining atmosphere. The service was just mediocre, and some of the servers look like they could use a Red Bull or two. During my first visit, I ordered the pulled pork benedict. The pulled pork was too sweet and otherwise flavorless. I was so disappointed. The second time I visited was for dinner, and the fish dish was fine but way overpriced. The last time I went, I wanted to start off with a "Sweetened Iced Cappuccino." This is what it is called straight off their menu. The waiter said, "You will have to use these sugar packets to sweeten it." I asked if they could use the liquid sugar that restaurants typically use for specialty coffee drinks (especially ones that cost $5), and he said no. Why call a drink "sweetened" if it comes unsweetened? P Next I ordered a sandwich off their Specials menu: Prosciutto grilled cheese sandwich. While I know that prosciutto is a cured meat, normally a meal with a salty meat is cut with something to balance out the flavor. The sandwich was so greasy and salty! I felt like I was eating a fried salt sandwich. Ughhhh, such a disappointment! Needless to say, I couldn't finish my sandwich. As much as I wanted to give this place a chance and good review, I don't want to overspend on below average food and mediocre service. I'd rather go to Livingston Diner and pay half the price. read more
5 years ago
Definitely wouldn't have found this without yelp's help! I was worried about parking but thankfully found parking in the connecting lot which allows parking on weekends. We had no wait as we arrived shortly before 11am which was a nice surprise. We brought champagne to have mimosas and ordered a large orange juice but our server informed us we can order a pitcher since it wasn't listed on the menu. Our table felt oddly placed in the middle of the restaurant but we still enjoyed our time. I ordered one of the specials being a salmon cake Benedict and my partner ordered the chorizo croquette meal. Our food came out quickly and the potatoes looked absolutely divine. Before I took a bite, my server offered to grab more hollandaise as she didn't think there was enough sauce on it, and I certainly agree! The hollandaise was frothy for lack of a better work but not bad. I enjoyed my Benedict and my girlfriend also enjoyed her chorizo croquette Benedict which she said was the best thing she's ever had. Our server took a bit to greet us and then get our check but they certainly seemed short staffed so it's understandable. Overall, lovely experience and I'd love to come back to try more! read more
4 years ago
Talk about a surprise! After almost a year of passing this cafe on my way to work, colleagues and I finally decided to spend a rainy Tuesday at Sweet Basil's! After all of the reviews, I knew that I would need to return for brunch at some point, but nonetheless wanted to try for lunch. Arrived at 11:45AM, able to easily find a table for 4. By 12:15PM, this place was BUSY. Definitely come as early as you can! Party of 4 and we all ordered off the specials menu. 2 of us ordered a grilled cheese, the other two ordered the tacos that were on special. Great portion, reasonable pricing. For the grilled cheese, they were both on thinly sliced challah bread, one was a portabella mushroom grilled cheese, the other a brie, pear chutney, arugula grilled cheese. COMPLETELY HIT THE SPOT!!! Each grilled cheese came with sweet potato fries. Absolutely fantastic. Got a perfect chai tea latte to end the meal. Came out to about $22-25 per person. I'm calling it a win, and I'll be back! Oh and Valet parking is available. read more
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Do NOT skip dessert ! The food was great, they don't have many choices but all the ones they have are great. The breakfast is amazing, and the service is fabulous. This place is great all around. We will definitely be returning especially since i have a picky eater and she loves this place !!! read more
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More info about Sweet Basil's Cafe
498 S Livingston Ave
Livingston, NJ 07039
Directions
(973) 994-3600
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Visit Website
http://www.sweetbasilscafe.com/
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Do they do delivery?
They do door dash and Uber eats delivery but the restaurant itself does not
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Sweet Basil's Cafe - newamerican - Updated August 2026
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