Phenomenal. Here for a conference and this place reminds me of the pizza I had in Rome.
(5)
Heather M.
Yeeaaah. Good stuff. Crust = awesome. I admit that I like mine super wood-fired (read: smoky with extra carcinogens, please -- but no, not burned). Really impressed by the variety of toppings (ramps, wasn't expecting to see that). The basic marinara pizza was bland, but well, what do you expect I guess? Every other pie I've had there has been fantastic. Beer / wine list is great -- love to see variety. I was particularly impressed that they served a super sour beer.
(4)
Sean W.
If there is one constant in my life that has "got me by" it has to be a quality pizza. Fortunately for Pizzeria Basta, they've made "the list" of my go-to spots in Boulder. The overal atmosphere of Pizzeria Basta is modern-yet-casual. Just fancy enough for a date night but casual enough to swing in solo or with a friend. Pizza and ingredient wise, Pizzeria Basta really left be stunned. Between the perfect amount of topping and seasonings on my 'daisy' pizza to the delicate but crucial crust, the pizza was perfect. Not to mention that they happen to serve a delicious variety of adult beverages from many of the notable local breweries. Overall, my experience here has been A+. I've stopped in a few times since moving into Boulder and have been greeted and recognized each time - that's actually pretty impressive and really speaks alot for the wait stuff and Pizzeria Basta as a whole.
(5)
Paula C.
Really tasty pizza that doesn't leave you feeling weighed down. We had the beet side dish, followed by the meatball side dish, the baby green salad and finished with the arugula pizza. Everything was very flavorful, nicely presented, and the service was friendly, while being efficient. We sat at the bar, in front of the oven, which provided a great peek into how everything is prepared. We were both impressed with the use of the wood fired oven for what looked like every dish (including a smore dessert that unfortunately ran out before we tried to order one) and how fresh everything was. Will definitely go back to try more of the menu. The food and overall experience were memorable. Oh! The house red wine, the Basta Red, by local winery, Bookcliff, was exceptional!
(5)
Maggie F.
Pizza heaven with a star off for spotty service. To Die For: Daisy pizza, sub fluffy, delicate house-made ricotta for mozz: Perfect tooth and slight charred undertones on the crust, great sauce to cheese ratio (read: lots'o'sauce, not so much cheese), overall best pizza in boulder. Must Have: Panna Cotta: great firm consistency, melt-in-your-mouth creaminess So-So: Pickled beets app: The earthiness of the beets was lost in a sea of overwhelming vinegar flavor and odor Lose It: Snooty Waiter: I expect to get the same service as a table ordering a bottle of wine, especially when I am ordering several mixed drinks, appetizers, and dessert. Unfortunately, I've had a few markedly different services than neighboring tables with the only visibly attributable factor being the wine (or lack thereof at my table.) I know you think your pizza is best enjoyed with a fine wine from your curated list. I don't. Don't judge me and treat me with a thinly veiled air of disdain for the rest of my experience, don't try to get me to leave by not offering dessert and walking away when I ask what your options are, etc. etc. Phew. That was cathartic. :) Sadly, they probably know that they can treat me however they choose, that pizza is truly phenomenal. P.S. One other niggling annoyance is the "take-out for peloton residents only" - the ostensible reasoning being that in order to truly appreciate the artistic vision of the pizza you must have it freshly out of their oven. Le Sigh.
(4)
Kyle G.
Location was very difficult to find. Menu was interesting and creative. Pizza's were disappointing. Charred taste of crust overwhelmed taste of pizza. Was consistant for all 3 pizza's we ordered.
(3)
Kent R.
YES YES YES!!!!! You will love this wood-fired, hand made pizza. It's for real... blindfolded (and time-traveled), I don't think I could tell the difference from a Basta pizza and those I've had in Italy (thank you Wright Brothers). It;s not cheap, but cheaper than a ticket to Naples or Rome
(5)
Tom C.
Boulder has three excellent Neopolitan-style pizzerias -- Pizzeria Locale, Pizzeria da Lupo, and Pizzeria Basta. While they are all great, Basta gets my vote for being the best.
(5)
Andrew N.
Chef Kelly Whitaker and Beverage Master Al Henkin are executing at an extraordinarily high level. This review is long overdue, as we've been enjoying the Basta experience for almost as long as they've been open. I'm compelled to write tonight because each trip in gets a little better - and their pursuit of excellence deserves recognition. Tonight's dinner...... Snacked on a Sauce pizza with a Union Jack IPA. This pizza is our new go-to on the menu. We overlooked for a long time because of it's simplicity - crust, sauce, sliced garlic and a touch of oregano. With a pizza so simple the ingredients better shine, and Basta nails it. The IPA was delicious as well - a new offering on an ever changing list of interesting brews. Course 2 - chef's recommendation - silky, mild and slightly briny West Coast oysters with a Colorado Honey mignonette. The oysters were phenomenal and the light, sweet mignonette was a perfect accompaniment - complimentary without masking the delicate flavor and texture of the oyster. Next was wood fired arctic char, with a smoked celery root puree, sauteed rainbow chard, and a sweet potato souffle. The fish was like butter and the rest worked together beautifully. The night cap - the best freakin donuts ever. Really. I'm not a fan of sweets, and we were pretty full at this point. But we're only human. Washed down the full assortment of donuts and dipping options with a lovely glass of Barolo Chinato. We eat out. A lot. Around the country and around the world. And there is no other restaurant where we feel so consistently, completely satisfied.
(5)
Steve M.
Ok. This place deserves all the credit we've heard. Absolutely fantastic! The perfect crust- the innovative toppings- wow! Wood fired ovens, great wines, amazing salads, homemade desserts like their maple-speck gelato! A little tough to find but well worth the search.
(5)
Richard T.
As usual, another fantastic meal. Took several out-of-towners there who consider themselves quite the gourmets. All loved it. From the warm olives and pickles, to the duck rillette, burrata and oyster appetizers, to the fish, lasagna, chicken and short ribs, all delicious. And don't forget about the homemade ice cream and donuts. This is a place for the serious diner who doesn't need to spend a fortune to have a great meal. Substitutions are graciously made--if you don't like cauliflower or faro, no problem. There is always something they will recommend in substitution. Al and Kelly, and Karen, Courtney and Alan, appreciate your business and will do all they can to make the dining experience exceptional. Small but carefully selected wine list and very creative spirits and beer list. IOW, all first-rate and undervalued compared to other comparable places in area. Try it-you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Rho K.
Oh Pizzeria Basta, why have you forsaken me? Why? WHY?! So I've been hearing for a while now that Basta is the new go-to spot for pizza in Boulder. That's not really saying much considering the other options, but even the worst pizza is still good, right? Well, that all depends on how wasted you are while you're eating it. Since I wanted to add to the (growing? glowing?) reviews for this joint, I decided to try Basta with a clear and sober head, which is a rarity for me. That was my first mistake. We got there at around 8:30 on a Friday night with no wait as there were still a few empty tables and the bar was pretty much empty too. Their set-up is kind of disjointed with a door by the pizza bar and another by the host stand. We didn't know which door to go through and ended up clear across the restaurant. Luckily, the balloon-headed host? server? whipping boy? did he even work there? floated on over and lead us to a table saying our server would be over soon. Looking at the menu, it's very simple and clear with charcuterie, salads and pizzas listed all on one page and the wine/beer list on the flip side. The menu was a fast read and we were ready to order pretty quickly. That's when things got sad. Sad because we waited for over 20 minutes, ready to order flowing libations and delicious eats before anyone even acknowledged our existence. Balloon-headed guy was wafting about the place, wiping down menus and hating life--completely oblivious to everything, the servers were bouncing around from table-to-table totally missing our pathetic attempts at eye contact. They were under the control of some evil pinball wizard that did not want us to enjoy the wood-fired fare. In that moment, Basta excelled at making us feel like its neglected, illegitimate Basta child. Finally, our server came skulking over to our table, his gaze locked on the floor speaking in low whispers. He knew. He felt bad. No big deal, dude, just don't ever leave us again! Even though things were all happy happy joy joy for us, his continued dejected countenance made me need a glass of Sangiovese, stat! The wine list wasn't incredibly extensive, but it was an awesome list. The beers weren't plentiful, but they were all local brews: Avery, Lefthand, etc. The pizzas all looked amazing, but why waste space on the menu to include one without any cheese? You can even create your own with an option to add a fried egg. FUCK YES. Everything's better with a fried egg on top of it! EVERYTHING. Trust me on this one. We ordered the lardo, the roasted red pepper/housemade mozzarella/basil salad, the daisy pizza with egg and the cart-driver. Everything came out lightning-fast. The salad was OK with hints of sea salt on the housemade mozz. My pizza was charred a little too deeply on one side, but everything else about it from the sauce to the cheese to the fried egg was awesome. The desserts are all priced the same so we ordered the tiramisu, which was a wise choice. With everything priced on the lower end and our guilt-ridden server comping our drinks, the check was unbelievably low. Thanks buddy! All in all, I must say that compared to its competitors, Basta is a contender for the best pizza in Boulder. Again, that's not saying much, especially if you've had the misfortune of eating that pile of puke on shit dough otherwise known as Blackjack Pizza. Go to Basta, enjoy their amazing pies and don't let them make you feel like their misbegotten baby.
(3)
Chris N.
Really liked this place. Pizza was delicious and the service was really friendly and helpful. They are going to have to work hard to overcome being in the middle of the white elephant that is The Peleton but it deserves to do well. One small point is that they could do a few more things for children but I am sure they will get there. Really really good place. Give it a try.
(4)
Bindu W.
Had basic margarita pizza, was good, but not great. Staff might have been a little too friendly, or maybe they were just happy to have a customer on a slow night. Felt a bit overdone / busy. Desert looked amazing, was again good but not great. Loved the decor, blue beetle kill pine, lovely oven...
(3)
A J.
When I crave pizza and a great glass of red wine I come here. Their smoked mozzarella on the margarita pizza is delicious with an Italian full-bodied red wine. The staff is very nice and take good care of their regulars. Not surprised they are doing so well despite being in the middle of nowhere!
(5)
Juliet T.
Wonderful service, excellent food, way over-priced
(3)
Pat S.
My husband and I recently dined at Basta. We had a terrific meal, served by knowledgeable and friendly wait staff. Each course was delicious and well prepared. The chicken liver mousse was light and flavorful, with a surprising touch of sweetness from a topping of maraschino cherry gelee. The scallops were delicate and buttery, and perfectly prepared. The signature lasagna with Basta's house-made ricotta and mozzarella was excellent and is the dish that will keep me coming back. The ambiance is warm, the vibe good. It's now one of our favorite places to dine in Boulder.
(5)
Yi-Hsin W.
They have very good service and nice food, but the price for the portion of the food is way too much. The bread which is just a sampler size portion costs 5 dollars, and the pasta we ordered contained five tiny pieces of ravioli and costs about 15 dollars. If I have to go there again, I will only order their pizza.
(3)
Kate M.
Pizzeria Basta is lovely. The best pizza of them all if you ask me. The Peppers is my favorite and the market is always wonderful. Excellent house wine that they made with Bookcliff Vineyards. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the servers are some of the best in town.
(5)
Kate L.
This place is not to be missed! Buratta cheese and melted leeks, romaine hearts with fire oven tomatoes, house made mozzarella and roasted red peppers, pizza with speck, ricotta, mozzarella and fennel pollen, yes please! The desserts were unbelievable as well (ginger panna cotta and a chocolate tart)! And not to completely gush, but, it was silly affordable! Go, and according to our server go on an off night as weekends are busy.
(5)
Michele B.
I will assume that the glowing reviews submitted by the Daily Camera and on here have likely been by friends or employees of Basta, as my two experiences dining there were less than stellar. To be fair, the ingredients are quality but the execution is clumsy. Salad was drowned in oily dressing. Pizza is OK, but relatively bland. The wine selection is poor and overpriced. Bottom line, this restaurant isn't that good and with so many other options in Boulder I do not see any reason to dine there again.
(2)
Molly M.
All of the dishes at Basta are impeccably done and so delicious it's almost wrong. Our server went above and beyond, offering us complimentary glass of Prosecco and tiramisu after relocating our seats due to a overflowing large party next to our table. But we were happy to eat up at the chefs bar where you can watch our meal being prepared by talented hands. The atmosphere was cozy and slightly upscale, but nothing that would scare away people who want to pop in for a casual bite. We will be going back.
(5)
Carrie O.
First impressions of Pizzeria Basta, "what a weird location." Seriously, in the middle of the Peloton development, it was almost hard to figure out how to get there (because you see the place from the road long before you can get there). Anyway, turn off Arapahoe on 33rd and then right into the Peloton, and there it is. But honestly, it was quite a nice place to eat. The service was friendly (though the waiter suggested we get everything on the menu, practically, it is nice to see he was passionate about all the food) and they held the door open for us coming in, which was nice! We were promptly seated, and when our friends arrived we ordered. My husband and I got some kind of really elaborate special pizza "of the day", that turned out to not be quite as good (in my opinon) as the mizuna pizza our friends got (that we tried, after picking off the prosciutto). Our roasted veggie salad was OK, but was a bit heavy on the radicchio and not heavy enough on the roasted veggies. The house-made mozz is really quite excellent, though, and we tried that on an appetizer. It could have been a bit warmer (they were toast points with almost a bruschetta-like topping and cheese melted over the top), but were still good. The best part of the meal was the Tiramisu. I DEFINITELY recommend trying that. My husband and I both swooned over it, and said we'd come back for that, if nothing else. It is house made & HUGE, so maybe split between two people. The place is very cozy, and seems like it fits well in Boulder. I just hope it's location doesn't cause issues. I suppose the Peloton residents will help keep them in business, though. I'd dine there again, and knowing what I know I think I'll get something I'd like better. :)
(4)
A B.
OK enough I suppose. Excellent service and clean location with plenty of parking. As for the pizza, the oven-fired crust was delicious but there was too much of it; basically, there weren't enough toppings and cheese on this pizza. I like finesse and balance as much as the next guy but I didn't like what I got here, especially for the price.
(3)
Mel B.
This place is DELICIOUS! Highly recommend to EVERYONE to try the lemon romaine salad and a calzone!
(5)
Ka B.
Expensive but very good. This is a fancy sort of place I can imagine would really impress a date! Definitely recommend getting the salumi/cheese appetizers in the beginning because it fills you up so that you don't spend as much overall. The pizza was delicious thin crust. The pepperoni on our pizza was good quality. The alcoholic drinks are nicely made and strong. The service was good too. The waitress had a good attitude and made us feel welcome and taken care of.
(5)
CaptainKim R.
So happy My boyfriend and i found this jem earlier this week. Not only was the food was amazing but the service was outstanding. George was exceptional. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Dominique R.
Oh my gosh, this place is my new happy place. To start....the service: It is phenomenal...exactly what I want in a server at an Italian restaurant...not too present, not too absent. Also, I made a special request for "pizza bread" which was not on the menu. They made it and it was exactly what I was hoping for. The food: As an appetizer I had a salad..which besides being very good was also very interesting. I loved it. Surprised my taste buds. Then of course I had to order pizza. Their pizza dough is to die for: fresh, light, fluffy, organic and has a wonderful flavor...not to mention with the most delicate toppings. Their mozzarella was hand stretched and delicious. For dessert (I never get dessert, but how could I pass it up when everything else was so awesome?) I had gelato and it was also amazing. I tried a sampler of the hazelnut chocolate, mint chocolate and wood fired vanilla bean. Wow, what a treat. Nice wine selection, too. The only thing I would change is the layout of the restaurant itself. And I hope they will continue to wow me with maybe adding seasonal specialties....now that would be truly autentico. As someone else said before...if you're into American "Italian" pizza then you probably won't have the palette for this food.
(5)
Stephanie W.
Pizzeria Basta is OUTSTANDING! The service is incredible (the best I have had in Boulder) and the food and wine choices are exceptional. The wait staff is extremely courteous and knowledgeable and the service is timely. Highly recommended!
(5)
Adam K.
a hidden treasure. some of the best pasta i have ever had!
(5)
Janine L.
One of the problems with review sites is cramming the review box by restaurant owners and employees. I've got a feeling about this one. Bastas is pretty boring, and its very expensive for what you get. I had a salad and a pizza there. The salad was romaine with lemon juice and some oil. That's it folks. It was too tart and exceedingly boring. I make more complicated salads at home. Are you kidding? It was even served in a plain white, thick, school lunch cafeteria bowl. The pizza was too thin in the center, and the crust was thus soggy. I had to eat the center with a fork. I found the char flavor from the wood burning oven to be fine, but they should scrape the ashes out more. I don't like eating ashes - I like pizza. The owners were there, but they were distant and rude. They were just talking to their friends. I like small places in Boulder, because the owners always come out to say hi. You want to do business with them. We felt like outsiders in a hipster-only club. The food is too expensive, and the atmosphere is a yawner. You can get a much better pizza at Laudisios at 29th street mall, where the atmosphere is great, the people friendly, and the salads, drinks other sundries are far better. Basta's is way overrated by a group of people who understand the power of Yelp. I won't be going back, but I wish them well.
(2)
andrea d.
this place was just fine, but i'm a little surprised by the heretofore unanimously glowing reviews. we arrived without reservations on a monday night at 6:30 had ended up waiting probably about an hour for a table (longer than anticipated certainly, but we also got table-jacked by a family who swooped in after we'd been told we'd be the next group seated). we had seats on the bar and were catching up so it wasn't a huge deal but not what we'd expected either. our server was extremely friendly and kind, and after realizing what had happened to us with the table we'd been promised, bought our first round of drinks and those from the bar. can't beat that. as for the food - we started with the lardo wood-fired bread after reading a positive review in the camera. it was so-so, neither of my compatriots wanted anything to do with it so i was pretty much on my own. at the table we had the daisy, mizuna and cart-driver pizzas - all were just fine, but nothing truly special. in my opinion, the best thin crust pizzas in town are to had at radda. i'd opt for proto's over returning to this spot also. oh, and one last mention, the location in the peleton is just weird. sure it's easy to park, but there's nothing else around.
(3)
Snoodly R.
Though a bit hard to find, we loved Basta. The pizza was phenomenal, the cocktails were pricey but good, and the doughnuts were just the right amount of crisp and doughy. We also tried the tiramisu which was decent, good for a restaurant. My boyfriend had a cappuccino with dessert and he said it was delightful. But most of all, the staff was so pleasant it made the ambiance perfect. We will definitely be going back, in fact, Basta may be added to the date night rotation!
(5)
Matthew D.
This place is pretty stellar. I actually had a hard time finding it as its blended in with condos etc.. Got a seat right at the bar looking at the wood oven, these chefs are very talented. The food which I had plenty of and couldn't decide what I wanted as I actually wanted to try it all!! Baratta- absolutely amazing Chicken liver- well one can never go wrong with that, I ended up polluting some with the Baratta which definitely did not suck!! Lamb meatballs, cooked perfectly and seasoned just right Finished off with a pizza- I actually don't remember what kind we ordered because we were going back and forth on the kind but it was perfect. The shell was cooked perfect and left me wanting to go back very soon.
(4)
Sean K.
Basta was a tasty treat last night. Coming from NYC and having spent some time in Italy, it's not the best pizza I've ever had, but it was better than just about anywhere else in town. We had the wood-fired veggies to start, which were unique and flavorful, although a little bit burnt tasting. A few more of the "croutons" mixed in would have been welcomed. Our second plate, the Burrata, was by far the best of the three. Creamy mozzarella atop crispy bacon and plump leeks was a great combination alongside the fresh bread that came with. Our third plate was the cart-driver pizza. Crust was thin and crispy with plenty of sausage and kale atop. A little dry but overall quite good. Ambience was cool too. A small, trendy place with nice wood tables and wood-fired accents throughout. Staff was cordial, polite and friendly, playing with our two-year old as he explored the whole place. I'd recommend stoping by and giving it a try.
(4)
Sarah G.
While both my friend and I agreed the food was good, it was not worth the $18 price tag. Maybe for $7 it would be "good" but the price was just absurd. Her $9 drink came with 80% ice cubes, and not a lot of liquor. We understand the rent of the space is very high, but for minimal ingredients on a pizza crust, the price is just to high. Especially when both our pizzas came burnt, it was just to expensive. We also agreed that while our server was friendly, the general service was so slow and laid back. The table next to us made a verbal complaint to their server about the twenty minute wait time for a simple beer, something that we had similar thoughts about. Nice atmosphere, to overpriced, and poor service. Will not be returning
(2)
Habib T.
Good appetizer we had a variety selection and mist if them were to my taste, pazza was amazing , right balance if ingredients, pronouced flavir and fresh ingredient, i cannit ask for more, service was fast and professional and waitress responded to our request with ease . Wine list is not extensive but of good quality and taste, i would definitely recommend that place and will definitely return again when i am in Boulder area.
(4)
Adam F.
Pizza is tasty, but soggy. Prices are very high -- $17 for an individual sized pizza? The same pizza downtown is less than $10 and a hell of a lot better. By the time you add a beverage, tip and tax, you're looking at $25!
(2)
trolley S.
There is a category of restaurants I place in a file called "San Francisco" restaurants. The short few years I lived there the food was amazing. The quality of the dishes were excellent at just about every decent restaurant. And the chefs there know how to cook. Really cook. Basta falls into that category for me. Basta is great. So much of the food here is made in house and everything cooked seems to go through the wood fired oven. We had a pizza, a whole fish and salad. The fish was cooked perfectly. The skin had a nice char but still edible. The meat was cooked just right. The pizza is pretty much your standard Neapolitan pie. We ordered a romaine salad, which was tossed with olives, roasted tomatoes and capers. This fed 2.5 people (2 adults one 6 year old) perfectly with some pizza slices to go home. Oh and the bread is extra but worth ordering as it's made in house as well. Our waitperson was energetic, helpful and attentive all while not being in my face. She didn't drop a beat from the beginning to finish which is somewhat of a miracle in Boulder.
(5)
Liz A.
I've been here a number of times, and when they first opened, I think they still had things to work out on the food, but now they're awesome and it's a fav place for me! I highly recommend their burrata with the melted leaks and the 'gnocchi' dish which isn't really gnocchi, but is so damn delicious you don't care what they call it. Their pizza is also fantastic, and to me, has a better balance of flavors than some of the other places in the area. Service is excellent with attentive, friendly and focused staff (a sign of good management), and the environment is friendly and upbeat. Definitely worth coming here - in fact just writing this review makes me want to go again. lol
(5)
Gary W.
Terrible, way too loud, inedible. We've eaten here other times and enjoyed it enough to return. Tonight it was the worst dining experience ever.
(1)
Veronique C.
Well, actually, it's more like 3 1/2 stars. I have visited Basta a couple times, both times with friends. The first time, we all had wine, pizzas and we loved the atmosphere (on a Saturday night) and the food. We also noticed that the place was very loud, which made it quite difficult to have a conversation, even in a small group. I think I should aslo mention that Basta is not that obvious to find, the address is on Arapahoe, but the restaurant is actually nested in the middle of the Peloton apartment complex; so you have to park and then walk a little to get there. The second time I went to Basta with a bigger group of friends, some of them had a hard time finding the place, thinking it would be directly on Arapahoe Avenue. That time, I went for dinner during the week. The place was not full but still very loud, service was surprisingly slow (well, I had to wait for quite a while first to order my cocktail, and even longer to get it, the waitress told me the bartender had 5 more cocktails to do and she was not the least apologetic, even though I had already waited 20 minutes, and once again, the place was far from full). My cocktail came (finally) with a paper straw, which I think would be cute for a non alcoholic drink (big white and red stripes), but not for the kind of drink I ordered. The consistency of paper softens fairly quickly, which does not make for a pleasant experience. We all shared various plates and everything was very tasty. I must mention though that one of the plates listed "raclette" as part of the ingredients (it was also in the name of the dish, name that I forgot). The dish ended up being very good, but there was no raclette cheese in it, just (good) melted cheese. Raclette is a cheese from France or Switzerland. It is also the name of the machine used to melt that cheese (from "racler" wich means to scrape in French). I asked our waitress if the dish was using real raclette cheese, and she enthusiastically replied, yes, it's very good and made in Vermont. Yes, this dish was good, but I get tired of restaurants using 'fancy' names to make their cuisine more appealing (and justify higher prices) when in reality the dish as very little in common with the original meaning. In this case, raclette just meant melted cheese. Please, give a break to your clients, they know more than you think, and if they don't (I don't know the specifics of Italian cuisine), don't take advantage of it! To end the meal, we shared all 3 desserts offered on the menu and they were all good, my favorite being the Tiramisu. So overall, the food is very good, prepared with quality ingredients and presented with care, but for the price (most pizzas are around $18, I know it's Boulder, but still...), I expect more attention to service and details (and real raclette if it is mentioned on the menu).
(4)
Pete T.
Outstanding place: we sat at the bar and the bartender was fabulous, food was also top notch. All the staff with the exception of the hostess were very attentive and pleasant. As long as you can get past the hostess the rest of your experience will be great.
Hot dern child. This place makes me go SNAP CATS! Such a good menu and staff. You'll enjoy promise (unless you like terrible food).
(5)
Jarrett B.
I really like the pizza but it is pricy. $16 for a small pizza is a bit much, I would take out so much more often if it was closer to $12.
(4)
Matt S.
Just...wow. I've been a couple times for my Friday pizza and while there may be pizza as good as this in the greater Denver area, there's certainly nothing that's any better. Get the pepperoni. For serious. They get it from some deli in NYC and it's as near a religious experience as I've had in quite some time. It's small and the kitchen takes the time to make the food right, so don't expect to pop in for a quick bite but if you are up for a sit-down pizza meal in Boulder...hit Basta.
(5)
Kevin H.
I thought the pizza was outstanding. I am a pizza geek who has been researching pizza making for a few years so I am not easily impressed. The crust was exactly what I expect in a neapolitan pie. Tender with some chew but most importantly has enough structure to hold the judiciously applied toppings. The fresh sliced pepperoni was amazing and I was pretty impressed with the Bianco tomatoes. I love that the flour and tomatoes used are fairly local and organic. No reason to get ingredients from Italy to make a good pie. The burrata was awesome as well.
(5)
Nick M.
Pizza is pretty delicious, but for $20 I'd hope to get a back-rub while eating. Went in here the other day with my boulder passport, service was poor and their drinks were half full. Far better places in Boulder for a more desirable experience.
(2)
Steven W.
Whoo Hoo! I haven't given a 5 star review in years! I was beginning to think they went the way of the dodo bird :) Simply one of the best pies I have had ever and I have lived in NYC and have tried the very best pies across the US in my food adventures. We started with the Burrata which was a luscious combination of caramelized onions, panceta and melted cheese. It was the perfect app and I thought the highlight of the night. Boy was I wrong! We followed with a pepperoni pie with oyster mushrooms on red sauce which was fantastic and I had the white pizza with topped with loads of garlic and fresh mozzarella. It was so great. The flavors were balanced and finely done. So what stood out about the pie that pushed me to 5 stars? good question. I have only given 5 stars to less than a handful of restaurants and I eat out for fun!! 1) the service was on point... charming and always present when needed. 2) The entree was brought to our table at exactly the right time 3) The app was fantastic and the entree actually was even better. 4) The crust was simply the best crust I remember ever!! great bite, beautiful burn from the white oak oven, and I could have eaten a whole crust even without the toppings! Just give me some evo and some fresh parmesn and and I would've been happy eating that crispy, wood touched, hot from the oven crust! 5) Toppings were high quality 6) I left with leftover for breakfast and yes I was so yummy x 2.. :) 7) Ambiance was great.. energy from staff and customers was very positive... smiles all around make a happy place :) Only con is the noise level was fairly high. They could definitely use some sonic reducing cover on that very cement roof.. It was loud.. And frankly we didn't care cause the food was just so delicious! If you want to pie done right visit Pizzeria Basta
(5)
Tianyi L.
I had dinner there with three of my coworkers on weekday evening, and Basta deserves a higher rating than #8 (according to 5280's Top 25 2014). Before delving into what we had, I would like to comment on Basta's philosophy of all their dishes touching their woodfire oven at least once. It's an interesting concept, and I was dubious as to whether it would work with things like dessert, but it surprisingly did. More on that later. We started with their house wine, and ordered bresaola, whipped tuna, burrata, and octopus. The octopus was served in a salad over a bed of dark greens, and was perfectly cooked. The Bresaola salumi reminded me of mocetta that you can get at Whole Foods, which is by no means a bad thing. The burrata was very creamy, as expected, and the whipped tuna was unique for me since I've only had whipped cod before. It was buttery smooth and very tasty. For my entree, I had the wildcaught Colorado bass that was poached whole in the woodfire oven and stuffed with arugula and kale. Extremely tender, though it did take a while to eat having to pick what seemed like a thousand bones out. For dessert, I had the tiramisu, which I believe was the only thing that did not touch their oven. It was very light and airy, in contrast to the other style of tiramisu, which is very dense and creamy. My coworker ordered an assortment of gelatos, with all of them having a smoky taste. I enjoyed the vanilla bean smoked gelato the most. Overall, an outstanding experience.
The Good: Cozy, clean, comfortable atmosphere-- a modern & open layout balanced with rustic wood & stone features. Seasonal menu with rotating market pizzas & seasonally changing specials. Good wine, beer & cocktail list, also with seasonal specials. Consistently attentive, knowledgeable, professional, prompt & friendly service. Desert is delicious -- try their housemade ice cream with an espresso or port! The Bad: One time my pizza was undercooked--we sent it back and got a new one no problem. We love Basta because we can get good late-night food after work, but this night I guess the only cook was in a hurry to leave. The Food: Incredible. Fantastic wood-fired pizza with delicious crispy crust & seasonal toppings, plus the classics like The Sauce & the Cart Driver. Basta boasts a beautiful charcuterie selection as well--try the appetizer selection of proscuttio, coppa & brisala! The fish (also cooked in the beautiful wood-fired oven) is incredible & served whole. The oysters are wonderful as well....really, everything I've ever eaten here has been delicious. Once they had a housemade mortadella, which was a real treat! The Service: Best service in Boulder. Consistently cheerful & helpful. We always feel welcome here! The servers are attentive & prompt without being smothering and are always friendly and professional. Overall: Absolutely fantastic. Our favorite place in Boulder!!! Best food, best menu, best service. Highly recommended for a fun & delicious date. Sit by the bar to watch the wood-fired oven in action!
(5)
Scott B.
From the front of the house, to our server, and bartender, the service at Basta is top notch. We managed to luckily snag what I view as the two best seats in the house, which is at the bar, but in a window, outside. Yes, outside bar seating, that faces inside. Very cool. The bartender, without a doubt (wish I remembered his name) is a bartender's bartender. The man seriously takes pride in his job, and is a true asset to Basta. He was very personable, and took the time to thoroughly explain the menu, and drink options. Wifey and I shared two pizzas, with the intention of having a to go box. The neopolitan style pizzas were simply amazing. My prosciutto was some of the best I've consumed. Perfect bake! WIfey went with the pepperoni, and it was some of the spiciest, and best pepperoni either of us have ever had. Of course, being power drinkers, we washed down our pizzas with a few craft beers. Their list is creative, and I found the smoked porter, excellent. The wife's brown ale was tasty as well. In addition to beer, Basta also offers an extensive wine and liquor selection. Each drink is hand crafted, and it's obvious that they put a lot of thought into their menu. A great find! I will return when in Boulder next!
(5)
kari b.
I have a constant battle trying to figure out if I love Basta or Pizzeria Locale More. Either way, Basta is amazing. Wonderful selection of pizzas that are just amazing. One thing I could say is that they are a bit more pricey than Pizzeria locale, for comparison at Pizzeria Locale the basic tomatoe mozz, basil pizza runs $9, at Basta it is $15. Yikes I have to say that is up there for the most basic choice. For more extravagant options they both offer a wonderful spicy salami pizza., At Basta this pizza is called Peppers and is priced at $17 and is mozz, pepperoni and Basil. At Pizzeria local there counterpart is the Diavola with tomato sauce-smoked mozzarella-salame piccante-basil-chili flake, and chili oil for $15. With all of that being said I am griping over a $2 swing on some amazing pizzas. When it comes down to it I think the deciding factor for Pizzeria Basta is there amazing potted foods. Some of there rillettes, mouse, pates etc are the best I have had anywhere. Simply delicious! They win on this count hands down. I also prefer there salads. Fresh simple filing and with lots of yummy toppings. Crust is a little black for my taste at times. I love a good char but I have gotten a couple pizzas her that have a distinct burnt taste that is just a little too far. I would imagine with the oven as hot as it is here that difference is a matter of seconds. One of my favorite date night spots!
(4)
Jason F.
I actually came here back in late November, when a lot of Boulder restaurants (Basta included) were doing their fixed price, three course meals for about $30. I came for both the fixed price meal as well as wanting to try some other things; unfortunately, they failed to advertise that the fixed meal would replace about half of the menu (including all the small plates, which actually seemed the most interesting). Then they said they had ran out of one of the two fixed meals. So in the end, most of my top choices were eliminated. This could be forgiven if the food was actually decent, but it wasn't. Soggy pizza, under salted, not enough acid, overpowered by one ingredient; every dish was lacking in some way. I appreciate the trendiness and flavor combinations Basta was trying, but every dish just wasn't executed well.
(3)
MaryBeth R.
It is hard to put into words how much we love Pizzeria Basta! The food is spectacularly prepared, the dining room warm and cozy, the staff incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and the value one of the best in town. This is something really special! My husband and I have been going to Basta pretty regularly over the last 6 months, so we have had a good chance to explore the menu. And, if you have noticed from some of my other reviews, for me a favorable review always comes down to food. If a restaurant can't knock my socks off...no five stars for it! So here are some of my favorites: Burrata -- if you order one thing off the Basta menu, order this! Hell, order 2, it's that good. Creamy burrata cheese served over a lovely mix of caramelized leeks and pancetta, served with the house-made bread. Can't be beat. Wine -- we almost always enjoy a glass or two of the Basta Red. It's a house-wine, which I normally don't find all that interesting at other restaurants, but Basta's is just plain solid. And enjoyable with a good number of their entrees. Lasagna -- the noodles that serve as the base of this lasagna are, of course, house-made. But what sets these apart from other house-made pasta sheets is the absolutely velvety feel of them. Cooked to perfection, they are the ideal vessel to bring you the highlight of this dish -- whatever the filling may be that night! House made mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, the perfect amount of sausage, exquisite sauces....all finished in the wood-fired oven. It's the perfect little pasta cloud! Wood-fired Vegetable salad -- I ate so many of these last summer that I thought I would turn into a wood-fired veggie. The small is ideal for lunch on its own and the large splits well to share as a first course for dinner. Wood-fire roasted brussels sprouts -- my son's personal favorite. I need not say more... Just About Anything Served over Polenta -- seriously. Meatballs, lamb, pork...this is a dish that shouldn't be missed. If it's on the menu, order it! Add an egg! Oh...I almost forgot about the pizza. This place is called "Pizzeria Basta" after all. But I don't think of Basta as a pizza joint -- we rarely order it because there is so much else we love on the menu. But if you arrive and find a particularly exotic-looking pizza on the specials menu, give it a whirl. While you may think that figs, and even an egg (!) on a pizza may be a bit over the top, don't be fooled. Chef Kelly has a way of picking ingredients for his special pizzas that harmonize in the most incredible ways. We've never gone wrong! So...there are many, many reasons to make Basta a regular stop on your restaurant circuit. It is certainly worth your while to trek out to the Peleton. You won't regret it. (TIP: Grab a seat at the bar if you can. Nice and cozy on cold winter nights...and it's always fascinating to watch how a busy kitchen keeps things moving!)
(5)
Cyndi R.
Greeted at the door ! Here for take out ushered to the community table , super fast super friendly great Ska Mexican Lager - so good ! Who doesn't love a great neighbourhood restaurant with a tight menu? Winning
My lady and I split the: Market pizza Sausage lasagna Grilled veg salad Ultimate whiskey daisy Recommendation on white wine pairing with lasagna Everything was perfect and creative. The pizza crust was amazing and lightly blackened in a few small areas. The lasagna tasted like you were in some old Italian lady's house = phenomenal! I couldn't stop drinking the whiskey daisy, it was the first cocktail I've had with olive oil in it. The service was amazing and they were super friendly, letting our pup stay with us on the patio and even brought out a small plate of prosciutto for him! We will be back!
(5)
Jonathan W.
Everyone has their favorite type of pizza. Some like deep dish, Neapolitan, new york style, etc. I'm originally from NY and trying to find a decent thin crust pizza with true italian inspired sauce has been difficult. Abos, The Original New York Pizza, and Locale are all good alternatives but they never quite hit the spot. And then we found Basta. If you're looking for an authentic italian pizza, this is the best place you'll find in Denver. But it doesn't stop at pizza. Basta has a great selection of local craft beers, interesting appetizers (the duck pate was amazing), and an ambiance that just makes you feel welcome. The staff is great and the cooks consistently will check on you to ensure you're enjoying your meal. If you're looking for my personal favorite pizza place in Denver metro, I highly recommend Pizzeria Basta.
(5)
pren w.
Ate here last night. The food was amazing the atmosphere was really nice and our server chad was spectacular as was the rest of the very attentive staff. I would say as far as Yelp standards go this establishment should be in the $$$ range not the $$ range. I had the house wine which was delightful, he had a cider, we split the cheapest salad and each got a pizza and it was $80 not including the tip. We will most certainly come back but the price means it won't be a regular place for us unfortunately because we both agreed that it was one of the best pizzas we ever had. I'm only giving it four stars instead of five because I feel like the price listing on Yelp is not in the right category. If it was appropriately listed at $$$ this would be a 5 star rating. :)
(4)
Linda C.
Excellent. Food. Staff. Chef. Selections. Best of Boulder. Seriously.
(5)
Patron X.
Truly phenomenal food and excellent cocktails. Most reviews are about the pizza but the entrees are the way to go. Weird location. I'd give them a 5 but their execution is very weak when it's busy and don't even try to go during restaurant week as the food and service will turn you off to it forever. Best to enjoy this gem on a weeknight.
(4)
Paul P.
This is the 2nd time I've tried Basta's, and I've had the same experience both times: good food, lousy service. I don't care how good the food is, if the service is bad, you don't have a good time, and that's what eating out is supposed to be about. There are at least two other pizza restaurants in Boulder with equally excellent pizzas, and both have much friendlier, much better service.
(2)
Remy D.
its fancy. food is tasty.
(4)
Liz P.
Really amazing food and wine. The lamb gnocchi was outstanding. Our bartender, Nick, was super engaged and on spot with all his recommendations.
(5)
Marissa P.
We were so excited to see that Boulder had another restaurant in 5280's top 25 of Denver, Basta. However, after dining there last night, I definitely don't agree with the ranking. Our meal was fine, the atmosphere is fine, but this was not a top experience for us. For starters, it is more than difficult to find and we actually know that area quite well. Upon arrival, there was only 1 other table occupied, but the hostesses took awhile to seat us and once we were seated it took forever for our waiter to show up. The restaurant is on the small side and the atmosphere is nothing special. My husband thought the beer menu was lacking while I ordered a glass of Chardonnay which I thought was excellent. For dinner we had the burrata which was okay, not amazing. For the price, I'm used to getting much more burrata. We also ordered two pizzas which were very good, but nothing overly unbelievable. Our experience overall was just fine, but if I had used our outing to Basta as a special date night I would have been very disappointed. Overall, nothing was bad, but I really don't see how Basta ended up so highly ranked...
(3)
Subrosa D.
Disappointed. There was so much hype about this place that we had great expectations. We asked our waiter what were the greatest signature dishes. He recommended the pizza margherita, which was average, nothing special, and the bass, which was, at best a C+. Dry, no special flavor or sauce, unmemorable. The chicken liver mousse was like silk, the best thing we sampled, but it came with so much bread that was also uninteresting and too filling, sat like a lump in the stomach. It would have been better with vegetables like celery or thin crisps rather than thick bread. Too many small plates and only bass and chicken for entrees. will not come back.
(2)
Brian S.
The Arugula pizza was very good. The only down fall for me was the lack of crispy on the under side of the pizza. Crust was great. The pizza had a great wood flavor. If you go get the wood fired salad. Amazing! They infused the wood fire flavor into there dressing. Once again Amazing! Desert I had the goat cheese donuts with wood fire infused dipping cream. Perfect. I have a wife and three daughters. They did not like the smoke flavor in the cream. Maybe a man taste. Service was very good. Never had an empty water glass. Made reservation on a Saturday night and waited 5 seconds to sit. We will be back!
(4)
Mary M.
This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Boulder. Hidden away in the Pelaton, so it's never too busy. The pizza is better than some I've had in Italy. Last time I was there I got the chicken dish. Absolutely incredible ! And the smoked caramel gelato . Omg so good !
(5)
Ken C.
I considered opening up my own pizza place once. I even went to Italy to learn what the "real" thing was all about. Needless to say, I'm a serious pizza guy. Of all of the fantastic pizza in Boulder, and there is a lot, Pizzeria Basta takes the #1 spot for most authentic and well executed Neapolitan pizza in Boulder. When I first visited Pizzeria Basta I was impressed with fantastic ingredients and robust flavors. It was also the closest thing that I'd had to eating the stuff from Italy (remarkably close). But, I've cooked a few pizza pies and I know that Neapolitan pizza is very sensitive beast. On any given day one can follow the same recipe and end up with a very different result. It takes mastery to consistently get a great result. So I went back 3 more times to find out just how good these guys and girls were. Well, they "delivered" (sorry for the pun). If you love pizza at its absolute authentic best, you love Pizzeria Basta.
(5)
Greg E.
That oven makes magic. Cocktails are great too.
(5)
Eric W.
Cocktail selection was unique and very tasty. Salumi and cheese plate was great, we had 2 salumi and 1 cheese and the homemade cracker and mustard cherry relish were awesome. Pizza was very good also.
(4)
My R.
Wow. Everything is great. The food is amazing and initially feels classic, but I always notice a creative touch that makes you appreciate the artistry. Atmosphere and staff are amazing.
(5)
J. F.
Oh, Basta, I wanted to love you, but it didn't work out. The burrata got you an extra star, but the pizza was a bust. In a word, burnt. Blackened. Charred. Like everyone that thinks they are an above average driver, everyone thinks that they are a pizza expert. Me too. I love thin-crust pizza and was looking forward to a visit to Basta. The salads were fine, the service was good, the burrata was unbelievable, but the pizza was bad. Proto's Pizza is a lot better. I'll just keep going there...
(3)
David T.
Overpriced with lousy food. There were 5 of us there and the only thing that looked good to any of us was the pizza. The rest is some really weird fru-fru food. So we got the pizza. I disliked it so much I stopped after 1 bite. For the other 4 it ranged from "never again" to "I would go if someone wanted to, but I'd prefer not to." The ingredients for the food all appeared to be fresh and the food was delivered hot. But it just didn't taste that good. For beer they have no amber or pale ales. And the draft beer is served room temperature (I got 2 samples, wasn't wild on either). The bottom line is that the offerings are unusual (even the beers) and so they may not be to your taste.
(1)
marc d.
Great small local wood fired oven pizza and so much more! George is an amazing waiter , the wine list is great and the variety of food is outstanding. Menu is printed daily and Highly recommend anything with pork or cooked in the wood fired oven!
(5)
Love Fine F.
WOW ~ MAGNIFICENT! Pizza just like in Italy and excellent service. I've eaten there about 6 or 7 times. I highly recommend.
(5)
Kyle A.
Chef Kelly is doing ridiculous things here. The menu is fierce. Almost all the dishes somehow incorporate the wood oven, as there are no regular ovens in house. Locally sourced ingredients call for super fresh salads, which are constantly changing. You have to try the pizza, obviously. I feel as if the wood oven is a bit more aggressive on the dough, creating a more blistered crust compared to Pizzeria Locale, but i'm all for it. There's about 5-6 pies on the menu. I haven't had the chance to try the large dishes such as the roasted fish or chicken, but some of the small bites such as the duck rillettes and the chicken liver pate are fantastic. Kelly's burrata dish is to die for. Don't go here without trying the burrata. Seriously. Also the some of the house-made gelatos get smoked too, such as the burnt caramel gelato(my favorite). Long live the wood oven!
(5)
Barb B.
Pizzeria Basta is really good. I am of the opinion that it is hard to go wrong with bread and melted cheese, but there are degrees of rightness. I would put Basta just below Osteria Marco as far as the best pizza places in Denver/Boulder go. I love the design of the restaurant. All the wood is so warm and inviting, it makes me want to sit in there eating pizza and drinking wine while it snows outside. I must also say that the service is considerably more friendly than it is in most Boulder joints I have been to. The burrata is good, but not as good as the burrata at Osteria Marco. The pizza is awesome. I love the crust. It is really chewy and soft. I would say the white pizza was the cheesiest and therefore was my favorite. I clearly need to sample a few more items but I would be happy to do that and in fact I am looking for excuses to go back for more pizza research!
(4)
John B.
Love the atmosphere! Service was excellent. Pizza was quite good. Highly recommend Burrata (cheese) as an appetizer. Lasagna was good but small and way over priced. Best part of the meal: vanilla bean ice cream. Vanilla beans are roasted in the wood fired oven where the pizzas are baked. The result is an ice cream with a slight camp fire flavor. Sounds weird but a camp fire taste is good! Overall, it's a really good, neighborhood, cool, a bit pricey, quality pizza restaurant. I'll return. Note: the menu online didn't match the actual menu. Food Items and beer choices had changed. Good wine selection in-house. Don't know if the online wine list matches actual restaurant wine list.
(4)
Pat J.
We really LOVE their pizza and baby greens salad. Nice neighborhood place, friendly people, uncomfortable chairs, but good food!
(4)
J T.
They had a Burratta appetizer (butter-cheese) when I was in last... that was awesome and then that's where the awesomeness kind of ended for me...I got a half decent pizza - which was burned... I love thin, fire baked pizza, but not burned ;( I think the burnt crust really brought down my experience, the toppings were kind of sparse, which I actually prefer... but the taste (outside of the burnt crust) was really underwhelming ( I got the white pizza) I will defintely update with my next experience here and I won't get the white pizza again. I guess I will just have to try different things on their menu. Service was good, but kinda pricey... for pizza.
(3)
Brian T.
Came here for lunch with a friend. It's a nice cozy atmosphere, but the restaurant itself is hidden in an apartment/condo complex. Wish I knew that ahead of time as I drove by the place on Arapahoe at least 3 times before venturing into the apartment complex. Their lunch special is a small salad with a pizza for less than the cost of a pizza. Win! The salad is romaine lettuce with a simple lemon juice dressing. Very light. I got a salami (pepperoni) pizza and it came out looking delicious. It's a wood fired oven and ridiculously hot. The crust is a very light bread that tastes great. A light pizza that was pretty tasty.
(4)
Jeff C.
Very good Pizza. Obviously high quality ingredients, but they'd be getting 5 Stars if they had served a properly crisp Pizza. I'm not sure if their oven wasn't quite hot enough (probable) , or if they didn't quite cook it long enough (I think less likely), but the crust, while delicious, was just a little too soft. Flavor combinations, both for the Pizzas and Salads, are interesting in the best possible way. Excellent service and a nice joint.
(4)
Aqui M.
First time we went to Basta the pizza was AMAZING! Like game changing amazing. Like I could love pizza again amazing. The dough was perfect. fluffy and doughy and flavorful. Next time we visited - meh. Pizza dried out and burnt. Everything else was spot on though. I will be returning tonight to make the final verdict. Please don't fail me Basta ya!
(4)
Carolyne A.
Went there last night. The location was interesting, its located in an apartment complex. A hidden gem! We were a Large party so we had to wait. They have a cute wooden standing table by the bar. We waited there and had drinks. The food was amazing! It's restaurant week in Boulder so portions are smaller. We had several different appetizers, duck and bread with cheese.. A few entrees to share, the chicken, pork n beans,meatballs , short ribs, white pizza, clam "special" pizza and the margarita pizza. Probably several things I'm forgetting.. Everything was delicious. Service was accommodating. Definitely going again and would recommend to anyone!
(5)
Ef R.
I had heard from many trusted friends that the best pizza in Boulder was to be found at Pizzeria Basta. Mind you, these are the same friends who assured me that my Justin Bieber haircut phase was a good idea. Those knaves! Anyway, I've gotta say that their appraisal wasn't far off the mark. The pizza at Basta is delicious. Dino-delicious, I would dare say. What is dino-delicious? It's a variety of deliciousness that is mammoth in size and rare - just like dinosaur bones. Service was very good, the food arrived much faster than I anticipated, and the setting was really nice. A few other reviewers have mentioned how strange the actual location is - and it's true. I wish it were located somewhere a bit more sensible, but what can you do. While it's not the best pizza in Boulder (that crown belongs to Laudisio, in my opinion), it comes very close and is worth a visit. Just don't bring your Bieber 'do. Not a good look for anyone, I discovered.
(4)
Bruce F.
You must like smoke(taste) to completely enjoy this restaurant. This space is cozy and cool once you get there. Our service is always outstanding: fast, efficient and informative. Tonight we started with Japanese fried peppers-love! Second, we had baked oysters with a fennel foam: beautiful presentation on a bed of salt. For dinner I had the large portion of mixed grilled vegetables: smoky, seasonal assortment. I was too full for desert but I've had their tiramisu and vanilla bean ice cream. The vanilla beans are roasted in the wood fired grill and give even the ice cream a smokey flavor... sounds weird, and it is, and it works. The menu is small but interesting and ever changing. I reiterate you must love smoke and yes, the pizza is divine!
(4)
Elaine S.
Finally tried Basta, and we were super impressed! We felt like we were tucked in a small, trendy bistro in a bigger city. Our server was great - the perfect mix of casual, attentive, and knowledgable. I had the Arugula pizza, and they nailed it! The crust was perfectly chard, but still pillowy soft in the center - not soggy at all! I also had a side of the wood-fired beets with goat cheese and toasted hazlenuts. Great, clean flavors. My s/o did the fixed price menu and it was awesome. Great value for great food. The execution of each course was perfect. Quiet atmosphere and they also do half glasses of wine!
(5)
Jim F.
The bartender at one of our other favorite place in Boulder said this is his favorite place. The food is outstanding. All the wines we tried were great. Lighting could be a little lower, and the complex where it is hidden is out of the way, but worth the trip.
(5)
Christina M.
If this place was in a better location it'd be packed all the time, I bet. It was very frustrating to find the place, even knowing Boulder well. However, we were blown away by the experience once we arrived. The food was really good, especially the burrata (if there's only 2 of you get the half portion so you have room to try the other tasty apps). Pizza was also excellent-great crust. There are better pizzas in the Denver/Boulder area but none can match the service and atmosphere of Basta.
(5)
Steven H.
I know their are tons of good reviews here, but I have to say I was really under impressed. I am from NY so I know my way around Wood-Fired pizza. The pizza at Basto came out too smoky. I saw alot of black smoke coming from the oven, that kills flavor. Sauce was bland. Maybe it was just a bad night, but honestly a pizza from Dominos would have been better. I might try it again, but not likely.
(2)
Mark C.
Maybe my favorite place in town. Chef Kelly is one of the best in Boulder. The location is weird but the place is great. I love the wood fired pizza. We always keep it simple. Also, try the chicken liver mousse and the ice cream is so good. I like the tiramisu, too. There is a solid wine list and they have the local Avery Beer on tap.
(5)
James G.
Quick joke: "How did the hipster burn his mouth?...He ate his pizza before it was cool" Here's a good visualization of Basta, imagine a homeless person found Picasso's paints & brushes and went to work on his cardboard box / house. It wouldn't be a Picasso and it would taste the same as these pies. This trendy pizza place that takes expensive ingredients and does a hack job of a pizza. If you love the taste of stale cardboard or a power-bar then I recommend you try this place. We tried 2 different pies, one was so thin and soggy in the middle I had to get a fork out, the other was burnt, flavorless, and inedible. There is a difference between burnt & caramelization. I checked out the website & all I can say is this food wouldn't sell in Italy.
(1)
carla f.
This is one of the best restaurants in boulder. Not just a pizza joint, but the pizza is great too. On par with oak and frasca; they don't have a stove so they get really creative with the wood oven and the sous vide. Amazing. Great wine list and solid cocktails.
(5)
Beth F.
I've had dinner and lunch here and both of my meals were amazing. Last night, my friends and I started with the salumi plate which had meat that melted in your mouth. It also came with beets so tasty that we requested more. Then I had the romaine salad which was salty and crunchy - I really loved it. I also had the chicken - the skin was so crispy and the breast was juicy. Perfect. I think Basta does a great job of being run by people who clearly love food without being pretentious. Our waiter knew absolutely everything about the food but would only elaborate when asked. One of my pet peeves about places like Frasca is that they tell you about every ingredient whether you are interested or not. Sometimes you want to hear all about food and sometimes you just want to eat. You know? It's much nicer for me if that information is available on request. I really liked that about this restaurant. I really loved my food, the service and the whole experience. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Jeremy T.
I have only been here a couple of times, but the food has been exceptional each time. The lunch special is great, delicious pizza and a salad, they have a limited, but well thought our beer menu, and a very well rounded wine list. The service as always been very good as well. I love the location too, but I walk there so, I have really no idea what the parking situation is like, but it looks fine.
(5)
John R.
This restaurant was such a disappointment after the great reviews we've heard from friends and here on Yelp. We started out with the burrata appetizer, which was delicious. Sadly, it was all downhill from there. The oysters were not fresh and had an off aftertaste. The daisy and cart-driver pizzas were good, but not $13 and $15 good, especially considering their moderate size. Our server really talked up the half chicken, but it was dry and lacked seasoning. Salt, anyone? It also took a really long time for the chicken to come out, well after everything else. It was Valentine's Day, but our family was so unimpressed that we skipped the dessert. SO many better options in Boulder!
(2)
paul a.
Not bad, except the food. The "white" pizza was skillfully cooked in front of us in the wood oven. But it had very little taste whatsoever. I sprinkled some red pepper flakes on a slice, and that overwhelmed the pizza. No garlic flavor, no sauce, and even the cheese was boringly mild. The staff was friendly, and helpful, and timely. Beer selection was Euro themed, but good. We also had one knock on our server. We confirmed that the pizza was vegetarian when ordering it and a salad. But when the salad was about half consumed, we realized that the brussel sprouts in it were the same as the cooked-in-bacon sprouts elsewhere on the menu. We wished he had informed us. No reason to go here instead of Pizzeria Locale.
(2)
Risha S.
Passing through on a road trip we decided to give this place a try. We have a lot of great pizza places where we live and based on the reviews I had high expectations. While the food was tasty but not great, I was really disappointed with the skimpy amount of toppings. It was so bad I don't even think we could identify what type of pizza it was if we didn't already know what we ordered. One of the pizzas had an overloaded amount of cheeses. The restaurant was cute, but the arrogance in the place stunk it up. They propped all the doors open so that the air passed through and our table was right in the middle of that path. You would think that with all 5 of us (kids and adults) having to go out to the car to get our jackets they would ask us if we would like them to close the doors...didn't even mention it. The place wasn't busy so it was perfectly obvious that we were cold. We had to ask them to close at least one of the doors and it was met with an inconvenienced look. Really?! You have 4 doors open and we asked you to close 1. The guy that appeared to be in charge had 0% customer service skills. I wouldn't go back...matter of fact I wish I could have replaced this choice with something else.
(3)
Garge b.
We love Basta. The people who work there are, without exception, warm and friendly and natural and attentive. The food is always good, every single time. The vibe is fantastic. We had oysters that were great. We had salad that was great. We had 2 pizzas--both great. One of our top three favorite places in Boulder. And the oven is super cool.
(5)
Jared H.
This is the best pizzeria in town...if you are a hipster type Boulderite who wants nuevo style Boulder organic pizza where the back story is more enjoyable than the actual pizza. If you are a Chicago deep dish or even a New York large slice pizza fan, then you will not like this place. Even if you are a fan of thinner crust, traditional Italian style pizzas, there are much better options in the area. I ordered a pre-meal salad two different pizzas: the Daisy & the Cart-driver. The daisy is a typical Margherita pizza with nothing notable about it. The cart-driver had a very unique flavor but not an enjoyable one. Both pizzas and the salad were unfulfilling. The wine menu and beer selections were above average and i did like the ambiance however.
(2)
Kristen H.
Basta is a hidden gem. The restaurant is fairly small but you can usually get a table without a long wait. Service is always great. The appetizers get you off to a great start. The cheese and salumi plates are fun, the chicken liver mouse is amazing (and I don't usually like chicken liver). The wood oven pizza is very flavorful- the peppers pizza is my favorite. The salads are all great as well- I love the romaine hearts with capers and a very strong lemon dressing. Plus they got Lambrusco which pairs really well with the salads and pizza. Hip atmosphere , great prices and friendly service!
(5)
Sherry s.
Two stars because that's the number of good dishes we had. When they figure out what kind of food they want to serve, maybe they can increase the number of good dishes.
(2)
Lacey M.
Of course I had to check this place out, being the winner of the Best of Westword's best pizza, plus I was already going to be in Boulder for the afternoon. So my husband and I met up with a friend for dinner there on Friday night. There were some very high points of the meal, along with some low points, that averaged out the experience to just A-OK. The +'s: -Cool, relaxing, and inviting atmosphere -House Red wine super reasonable at $5/ glass -Burrata is A-MA-ZING! Served on top of pork belly and leeks...so delicious. Just wish there was MORE pork belly on the plate. -Meatball and polenta dish was delish! The -'s: -Pizza was lacking in flavor, even with the housemade sausage. -Service was a little slow at times -Location is strange...inside of an apartment complex? Definitely hard to find. -Kind of on the pricey side for what you get I really enjoyed a lot of what I tried there....especially that delicious burrata! But I wasn't too impressed with the pizza....yes, I know they use very high quality ingredients, but I just wasn't wow'ed. They definitely did not get the best pizza award from me.
(3)
Kathryn M.
After living in Italy this is as close to the real thing as I have found in the Boulder/Denver area- Individual pizzas with one to three toppings made fresh to order out of the oven. The intimate atmosphere is best suited for a semi-casual lunch meeting, a date, or a foursome size group. Yes the pizzas look large for one person, but they are very thin. You'll finish the whole thing without blinking. If you love American style pizza with gobs of toppings smothered in ooey gooey cheese this is probably not the place for you. The ingredients are fresh and of high quality. The location and restaurant size are not optimal but good things come to those who wait...
(5)
Keith A.
Best pizza in boulder. Just beat out protos. Soup excellent as well as espresso to finish.
(5)
Zach A.
Basta, I've had enough! We headed to Pizzeria Basta because we wanted to try something new and different in Boulder as we tend to frequent the same locations again and again. Our experience at PB was enough to keep us from ever venturing out of our routine. Sure, the restaurant looked nice enough, the hostess was nice enough, our service was nice enough, the wine was nice enough... You know what wasn't enough? The amount of food you get for what you pay. $17 for a 10-inch pizza which was a half-barren landscape void of toppings? $16 for two raviolis. Yes, two. The flavors weren't bad, but it definitely wasn't the best pizza in town. And for those prices, it seems like PB thinks they are. In all fairness, the baby lettuce with spiced walnuts, dates and bleu cheese was delicious. "Basta" means sufficient, enough or lasting... Pizzeria Basta is only kidding itself.
(2)
Sara Y.
This is between four and five stars, depending on how you feel about paying more for high quality ingredients. It's more date night pizza, not a 'I'm starving on Tuesday night and don't really care what kind of pizza I eat" type of place. I have found Basta to be top notch each time (going on about ten visits), whether for lunch or dinner. They are currently offering more menu options, including a $10 lunch of three pizza choices and either a salad or soup. I almost always get the daisy, adding goat cheese. They use hand stretched buffalo mozzarella cheese here, and it's heavenly. Beer and wine are carefully selected and pair well with the entrees. The service has always been timely, attentive but not too attentive, and friendly. I heart Basta.
(5)
Pui Ying S.
Atmosphere is very modern and warm and the staff is very friendly. The pizza was very delicious, with a chewy crust. They also have egg as a topping (yea) but it looks like it's cooked then put on the pizza, rather than super runny and baked in the oven with the pizza. The sausage is very good however, cut into strips rather than chunky bite sized pieces which I prefer. The yellow beet salad was delicious with wonderful ricotta. The highlight of the trip was the ice cream selection. They had porter ice cream which tasted wonderfully like beer but sweet - not a bad combination. I wish I tried the speck ice cream (could it be as good or bad as bacon ice cream). I really admire the adventurous ice cream flavors.
(4)
Yokes F.
I've only been here once so my stars should probably be between 4 and 5 stars but I'm going to round it up and give it 5. Because if I gave Pizzeria Locale 4 stars, this place deserves 5. I was so excited to be at a restaurant started by Chef Kelly Whitaker, a former chef at Hatfield's in LA, my boyfriend and I just ordered like crazy and tried as many things as we could in one sitting. We had their burrata with pork belly and leeks served with wood fired pizza bread. Omg... the burrata melted in your mouth and the pork belly and leeks made an amazing combination. This is a dish I know I'm going to crave from time to time. I might need to make a monthly trek out here to silence my craving. It's a very rich dish so get ready if you order it. For salad, we ordered their beet salad that came with grapefruit, spinach, mascarpone, ricotta, hazelnut dressed in balsamic. It sounds like a lot and kind of crazy but the flavors actually come out to be very simple and delicious. The sweetness of the beets work really well with the cheeses and hazelnut. It almost tastes like a dessert salad. I loved it! Then we moved onto the Cart-Driver pizza that came with housemade sausage (really good), rapini, housemade mozzarella, fennel pollen and chilie. This was really really good. Although the style wasn't totally thin crust, Basta has their own style of pizza dough that has an amazing texture. It almost feels like you're eating doughy clouds. Although I still think Pizzeria Locale's dough tastes better, Basta did way better in it's texture and bringing out a super fresh pizza with no soggy middle. I'm a huge texture person so I couldn't stop enjoying chewing that crust. It has a really nice mochi-like texture. I can't wait to eat another pizza by them. We didn't want to stop at just pizza so we also ordered their polenta with meatballs. It's a pretty rich dish but it was really good. Their pork meatballs were tasty although I did think they were slightly too salty. The peperonata was a nice touch that added some kick to the dish. For dessert, we ordered the warm chocolate tart w/ raspberry coulis and burnt caramel ice cream. It didn't blow me away but the rest of the meal was so good, I could easily forgive the average dessert. I feel like the organic Tiramisu might've been the better choice here. I saw a couple next to us order it and it looked pretty good. All in all, I love this place. Definitely coming back. If you're coming here for the first time, it might be a little tricky to find. It's weird because you see the "Basta" lit sign from Arapahoe but the restaurant isn't really right there. You actually need to turn into 33rd St. and enter the apartment complex to park, then you'll see a restaurant in the middle of this community of apartments. Its location seemed a little bizarre but who cares when the food is good right?
(5)
Kyla L.
Fantastic on every level! So glad my sister found this place. We ate on the patio, had a great server, and loved everything: our vino, pizzas, olives and salad were all top notch. We will most certainly return!
(5)
Ki P.
Back in Boulder so had to try Pizzeria Basta-I'm from LA and have loved Hatfield's for years. So the only hard part about this place is finding it! Once found I had a blast. Sat at the bar and ordered the small plate of warmed olives-perfecto. Wine List? Check. Great list with many options, I had a glass of the Montepulciano and then another later of the Stolpman Sangiovese. Both very food friendly wines. Then onto the Shisito Peppers...grilled peppers in Sea Salt. They were an adventure, some sweet, some hot. Hot pepper roulette. Shared with my bar mates, these were a hit. Then on the PIZZA. Tonight they had a cool Mkt Pizza special with Pei Mussels, Arugula Pesto and Salumi...but I was in the mood for a great tomato based za, so went with the Peppers pizza, just tomato sauce, basil, mozzarella and pepperoni. The crust was perfect, not burned but chewy and sweet. What made this a great experience was the people-Sam the bartender was great, as was everyone. And I love this place as they have farm fresh products, and it shows. The sauce on the pizza was amazing, so amazing I could just eat it as a side. Seriously, this was good, and a good value IMHO. Nicely done Kelly Whitaker.
(4)
Micah S.
Don't tell me I can't have a table when you have two sitting there. Don't tell me that my take-out is going to take ten minutes and then make me wait 40 when you see I'm there with three kids who are starving. And don't overcharge me for tiny, burned pizzas that were by no means worth the hype.
(1)
Cynthia B.
Five stars FOR BOULDER. For being as good as it gets IN BOULDER. Which does not, let's be real, have much in the way of pizza. Shakespeare's in humble little Columbia Missouri puts Boulder 'za to shame. Ha. With that caveat, though, Basta ROCKED. Went there last week with a girlfriend, sat outside, chatted with our friendly tall waiter. (Can't remember his name. But he was from Oklahoma.) He did not steer us wrong on food or wine and we were very happy with both pizzas, the salad, and the twenty-five glasses of wine. Or something like that. Please support them to encourage the growth of decent pizzerias in Boulder. Thank you.
(5)
Mike D.
I really liked the ambiance and the staff at this place. Everyone was friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, we only stayed for an appetizer but I really enjoyed the chicken liver mousse. The side of pickled veggie were presented very nicely but served a little too gourmet, meaning tiny vegetables in tiny portions. The beer and wine selection were on point, so overall, a seemingly awesome spot that we need to re-check out another time.
(4)
Sarai S.
My first choice for dinner in Boulder, I can't get enough of Pizzeria Basta. I usually start with some meats and bread, then follow it up with the wood fired vegetable salad and then on to pizza. And don't forget the wood fired vanilla bean ice cream. YUM. But the best part of Basta is the experience. I really enjoy sitting at the bar with my mate, the warmth from the wood fire is a like a big hug that surrounds you while you sip tasty wine, indulge in locally grown, well prepared dishes and enjoy the pleasant welcoming feeling that each server, chef and bartender purveys. I enjoy watching as my food is prepared with love and masterful choreography in the smallest of spaces. Of course this was my top choice for a cozy birthday dinner with my special date. Thanks to him, the staff quickly learned it was my birthday. Although each experience at Basta has been wonderful, the flurry of heartfelt birthday wishes truly touched me and prompted this post. As if I wasn't already convinced, it has been confirmed, Basta is a VERY special place.
(5)
Cathy B.
Tried this place tonight for the first time on a whim. I got the 'daisy' [margarita] pizza with added mushrooms to go -- an older review said that they only allow takeout for Peloton residents, so they either changed their policy or thought I lived in the Peloton, since I had no trouble getting it to go. While I waited at the bar for my pizza, one of the servers offered me a glass of water, which was thoughtful. I like the look of the room, though it was a little cozy. Scenery was nice - very cute guy on the other end of the bar :-) While the pizza toppings were super fresh and tasty, I prefer my crust without a ton of the wood-oven black char on it. Some is ok, but too much just makes the pizza taste kinda dirty. But I liked the vibe so I'll probably go back and try other items from the menu.
(3)
Anahata H.
Go for the food - put up with the service. For the second time in a row, we waited over 15 m for someone to acknowledge our existence (after being seated) ordered everything as soon as a server made eye contact, courses were totally off. The salad came first, then wine, cheese and dinner. To get ahead of the game, we ordered dessert and asked for the bill when the server asked if our pizza tasted good (no joke). Total junk but the sauce pie is worth dealing with suckers.
(5)
Jon W.
I liked Pizzeria Basta but didn't LOVE it as many other reviewers did. Hopefully future trips will change my mind. We arrived a bit before 7PM on a Monday and there were plenty of open tables but we sat at the bar with a good view of the wood-fired oven. By the time we left every seat was full and people were waiting to get in. The pizza was really good but not great IMO. I'm a pizza nut and a former restaurant/hospitality professional (the hours and family pressures finally got to me) so I can sometimes be a bit tough on restaurants. The dough was perfect for the 800+ degree oven, cooking up nicely without overcooking the toppings. Nice ingredients on the pizzas but the combos didn't really work for me. The rapini on the Cart-driver overwhelmed the pizza, covering up the other ingredients. Next time I'll create my own off the menu. The salads were tasty, with fresh ingredients, nice dressings and chilled plates. The one thing that put me off was the attitude of our waiter. The presumption that diners don't know anything about food or drinks is dangerous ground to tread, especially in Boulder where nearly everyone travels a lot and get to enjoy some pretty good food without leaving the city limits. If you want to upsell me, do it in a way that tells me why my experience is going to be appreciably improved. Admittedly I have issues with our non-professional waitstaff's in the USA trying to pretend they are all knowing. Another reviewer mentioned the same thing - I know my beer and wine and don't need you to try and guilt me into buying something I don't want, no matter how much you like it or it costs. Hey, I'll be back for sure and will update this review accordingly.
(4)
Lynn M.
First experience at PB was nothing short of incredible! Started with a prosciutto flight, right into a stellar 'za and finished it off with a chocolate dessert and a side of homemade caramel ice cream. I will be going back. Soon! Comfortable atmosphere and friendly staff.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Brian S.
Phenomenal. Here for a conference and this place reminds me of the pizza I had in Rome.
(5)Heather M.
Yeeaaah. Good stuff. Crust = awesome. I admit that I like mine super wood-fired (read: smoky with extra carcinogens, please -- but no, not burned). Really impressed by the variety of toppings (ramps, wasn't expecting to see that). The basic marinara pizza was bland, but well, what do you expect I guess? Every other pie I've had there has been fantastic. Beer / wine list is great -- love to see variety. I was particularly impressed that they served a super sour beer.
(4)Sean W.
If there is one constant in my life that has "got me by" it has to be a quality pizza. Fortunately for Pizzeria Basta, they've made "the list" of my go-to spots in Boulder. The overal atmosphere of Pizzeria Basta is modern-yet-casual. Just fancy enough for a date night but casual enough to swing in solo or with a friend. Pizza and ingredient wise, Pizzeria Basta really left be stunned. Between the perfect amount of topping and seasonings on my 'daisy' pizza to the delicate but crucial crust, the pizza was perfect. Not to mention that they happen to serve a delicious variety of adult beverages from many of the notable local breweries. Overall, my experience here has been A+. I've stopped in a few times since moving into Boulder and have been greeted and recognized each time - that's actually pretty impressive and really speaks alot for the wait stuff and Pizzeria Basta as a whole.
(5)Paula C.
Really tasty pizza that doesn't leave you feeling weighed down. We had the beet side dish, followed by the meatball side dish, the baby green salad and finished with the arugula pizza. Everything was very flavorful, nicely presented, and the service was friendly, while being efficient. We sat at the bar, in front of the oven, which provided a great peek into how everything is prepared. We were both impressed with the use of the wood fired oven for what looked like every dish (including a smore dessert that unfortunately ran out before we tried to order one) and how fresh everything was. Will definitely go back to try more of the menu. The food and overall experience were memorable. Oh! The house red wine, the Basta Red, by local winery, Bookcliff, was exceptional!
(5)Maggie F.
Pizza heaven with a star off for spotty service. To Die For: Daisy pizza, sub fluffy, delicate house-made ricotta for mozz: Perfect tooth and slight charred undertones on the crust, great sauce to cheese ratio (read: lots'o'sauce, not so much cheese), overall best pizza in boulder. Must Have: Panna Cotta: great firm consistency, melt-in-your-mouth creaminess So-So: Pickled beets app: The earthiness of the beets was lost in a sea of overwhelming vinegar flavor and odor Lose It: Snooty Waiter: I expect to get the same service as a table ordering a bottle of wine, especially when I am ordering several mixed drinks, appetizers, and dessert. Unfortunately, I've had a few markedly different services than neighboring tables with the only visibly attributable factor being the wine (or lack thereof at my table.) I know you think your pizza is best enjoyed with a fine wine from your curated list. I don't. Don't judge me and treat me with a thinly veiled air of disdain for the rest of my experience, don't try to get me to leave by not offering dessert and walking away when I ask what your options are, etc. etc. Phew. That was cathartic. :) Sadly, they probably know that they can treat me however they choose, that pizza is truly phenomenal. P.S. One other niggling annoyance is the "take-out for peloton residents only" - the ostensible reasoning being that in order to truly appreciate the artistic vision of the pizza you must have it freshly out of their oven. Le Sigh.
(4)Kyle G.
Location was very difficult to find. Menu was interesting and creative. Pizza's were disappointing. Charred taste of crust overwhelmed taste of pizza. Was consistant for all 3 pizza's we ordered.
(3)Kent R.
YES YES YES!!!!! You will love this wood-fired, hand made pizza. It's for real... blindfolded (and time-traveled), I don't think I could tell the difference from a Basta pizza and those I've had in Italy (thank you Wright Brothers). It;s not cheap, but cheaper than a ticket to Naples or Rome
(5)Tom C.
Boulder has three excellent Neopolitan-style pizzerias -- Pizzeria Locale, Pizzeria da Lupo, and Pizzeria Basta. While they are all great, Basta gets my vote for being the best.
(5)Andrew N.
Chef Kelly Whitaker and Beverage Master Al Henkin are executing at an extraordinarily high level. This review is long overdue, as we've been enjoying the Basta experience for almost as long as they've been open. I'm compelled to write tonight because each trip in gets a little better - and their pursuit of excellence deserves recognition. Tonight's dinner...... Snacked on a Sauce pizza with a Union Jack IPA. This pizza is our new go-to on the menu. We overlooked for a long time because of it's simplicity - crust, sauce, sliced garlic and a touch of oregano. With a pizza so simple the ingredients better shine, and Basta nails it. The IPA was delicious as well - a new offering on an ever changing list of interesting brews. Course 2 - chef's recommendation - silky, mild and slightly briny West Coast oysters with a Colorado Honey mignonette. The oysters were phenomenal and the light, sweet mignonette was a perfect accompaniment - complimentary without masking the delicate flavor and texture of the oyster. Next was wood fired arctic char, with a smoked celery root puree, sauteed rainbow chard, and a sweet potato souffle. The fish was like butter and the rest worked together beautifully. The night cap - the best freakin donuts ever. Really. I'm not a fan of sweets, and we were pretty full at this point. But we're only human. Washed down the full assortment of donuts and dipping options with a lovely glass of Barolo Chinato. We eat out. A lot. Around the country and around the world. And there is no other restaurant where we feel so consistently, completely satisfied.
(5)Steve M.
Ok. This place deserves all the credit we've heard. Absolutely fantastic! The perfect crust- the innovative toppings- wow! Wood fired ovens, great wines, amazing salads, homemade desserts like their maple-speck gelato! A little tough to find but well worth the search.
(5)Richard T.
As usual, another fantastic meal. Took several out-of-towners there who consider themselves quite the gourmets. All loved it. From the warm olives and pickles, to the duck rillette, burrata and oyster appetizers, to the fish, lasagna, chicken and short ribs, all delicious. And don't forget about the homemade ice cream and donuts. This is a place for the serious diner who doesn't need to spend a fortune to have a great meal. Substitutions are graciously made--if you don't like cauliflower or faro, no problem. There is always something they will recommend in substitution. Al and Kelly, and Karen, Courtney and Alan, appreciate your business and will do all they can to make the dining experience exceptional. Small but carefully selected wine list and very creative spirits and beer list. IOW, all first-rate and undervalued compared to other comparable places in area. Try it-you won't be disappointed.
(5)Rho K.
Oh Pizzeria Basta, why have you forsaken me? Why? WHY?! So I've been hearing for a while now that Basta is the new go-to spot for pizza in Boulder. That's not really saying much considering the other options, but even the worst pizza is still good, right? Well, that all depends on how wasted you are while you're eating it. Since I wanted to add to the (growing? glowing?) reviews for this joint, I decided to try Basta with a clear and sober head, which is a rarity for me. That was my first mistake. We got there at around 8:30 on a Friday night with no wait as there were still a few empty tables and the bar was pretty much empty too. Their set-up is kind of disjointed with a door by the pizza bar and another by the host stand. We didn't know which door to go through and ended up clear across the restaurant. Luckily, the balloon-headed host? server? whipping boy? did he even work there? floated on over and lead us to a table saying our server would be over soon. Looking at the menu, it's very simple and clear with charcuterie, salads and pizzas listed all on one page and the wine/beer list on the flip side. The menu was a fast read and we were ready to order pretty quickly. That's when things got sad. Sad because we waited for over 20 minutes, ready to order flowing libations and delicious eats before anyone even acknowledged our existence. Balloon-headed guy was wafting about the place, wiping down menus and hating life--completely oblivious to everything, the servers were bouncing around from table-to-table totally missing our pathetic attempts at eye contact. They were under the control of some evil pinball wizard that did not want us to enjoy the wood-fired fare. In that moment, Basta excelled at making us feel like its neglected, illegitimate Basta child. Finally, our server came skulking over to our table, his gaze locked on the floor speaking in low whispers. He knew. He felt bad. No big deal, dude, just don't ever leave us again! Even though things were all happy happy joy joy for us, his continued dejected countenance made me need a glass of Sangiovese, stat! The wine list wasn't incredibly extensive, but it was an awesome list. The beers weren't plentiful, but they were all local brews: Avery, Lefthand, etc. The pizzas all looked amazing, but why waste space on the menu to include one without any cheese? You can even create your own with an option to add a fried egg. FUCK YES. Everything's better with a fried egg on top of it! EVERYTHING. Trust me on this one. We ordered the lardo, the roasted red pepper/housemade mozzarella/basil salad, the daisy pizza with egg and the cart-driver. Everything came out lightning-fast. The salad was OK with hints of sea salt on the housemade mozz. My pizza was charred a little too deeply on one side, but everything else about it from the sauce to the cheese to the fried egg was awesome. The desserts are all priced the same so we ordered the tiramisu, which was a wise choice. With everything priced on the lower end and our guilt-ridden server comping our drinks, the check was unbelievably low. Thanks buddy! All in all, I must say that compared to its competitors, Basta is a contender for the best pizza in Boulder. Again, that's not saying much, especially if you've had the misfortune of eating that pile of puke on shit dough otherwise known as Blackjack Pizza. Go to Basta, enjoy their amazing pies and don't let them make you feel like their misbegotten baby.
(3)Chris N.
Really liked this place. Pizza was delicious and the service was really friendly and helpful. They are going to have to work hard to overcome being in the middle of the white elephant that is The Peleton but it deserves to do well. One small point is that they could do a few more things for children but I am sure they will get there. Really really good place. Give it a try.
(4)Bindu W.
Had basic margarita pizza, was good, but not great. Staff might have been a little too friendly, or maybe they were just happy to have a customer on a slow night. Felt a bit overdone / busy. Desert looked amazing, was again good but not great. Loved the decor, blue beetle kill pine, lovely oven...
(3)A J.
When I crave pizza and a great glass of red wine I come here. Their smoked mozzarella on the margarita pizza is delicious with an Italian full-bodied red wine. The staff is very nice and take good care of their regulars. Not surprised they are doing so well despite being in the middle of nowhere!
(5)Juliet T.
Wonderful service, excellent food, way over-priced
(3)Pat S.
My husband and I recently dined at Basta. We had a terrific meal, served by knowledgeable and friendly wait staff. Each course was delicious and well prepared. The chicken liver mousse was light and flavorful, with a surprising touch of sweetness from a topping of maraschino cherry gelee. The scallops were delicate and buttery, and perfectly prepared. The signature lasagna with Basta's house-made ricotta and mozzarella was excellent and is the dish that will keep me coming back. The ambiance is warm, the vibe good. It's now one of our favorite places to dine in Boulder.
(5)Yi-Hsin W.
They have very good service and nice food, but the price for the portion of the food is way too much. The bread which is just a sampler size portion costs 5 dollars, and the pasta we ordered contained five tiny pieces of ravioli and costs about 15 dollars. If I have to go there again, I will only order their pizza.
(3)Kate M.
Pizzeria Basta is lovely. The best pizza of them all if you ask me. The Peppers is my favorite and the market is always wonderful. Excellent house wine that they made with Bookcliff Vineyards. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the servers are some of the best in town.
(5)Kate L.
This place is not to be missed! Buratta cheese and melted leeks, romaine hearts with fire oven tomatoes, house made mozzarella and roasted red peppers, pizza with speck, ricotta, mozzarella and fennel pollen, yes please! The desserts were unbelievable as well (ginger panna cotta and a chocolate tart)! And not to completely gush, but, it was silly affordable! Go, and according to our server go on an off night as weekends are busy.
(5)Michele B.
I will assume that the glowing reviews submitted by the Daily Camera and on here have likely been by friends or employees of Basta, as my two experiences dining there were less than stellar. To be fair, the ingredients are quality but the execution is clumsy. Salad was drowned in oily dressing. Pizza is OK, but relatively bland. The wine selection is poor and overpriced. Bottom line, this restaurant isn't that good and with so many other options in Boulder I do not see any reason to dine there again.
(2)Molly M.
All of the dishes at Basta are impeccably done and so delicious it's almost wrong. Our server went above and beyond, offering us complimentary glass of Prosecco and tiramisu after relocating our seats due to a overflowing large party next to our table. But we were happy to eat up at the chefs bar where you can watch our meal being prepared by talented hands. The atmosphere was cozy and slightly upscale, but nothing that would scare away people who want to pop in for a casual bite. We will be going back.
(5)Carrie O.
First impressions of Pizzeria Basta, "what a weird location." Seriously, in the middle of the Peloton development, it was almost hard to figure out how to get there (because you see the place from the road long before you can get there). Anyway, turn off Arapahoe on 33rd and then right into the Peloton, and there it is. But honestly, it was quite a nice place to eat. The service was friendly (though the waiter suggested we get everything on the menu, practically, it is nice to see he was passionate about all the food) and they held the door open for us coming in, which was nice! We were promptly seated, and when our friends arrived we ordered. My husband and I got some kind of really elaborate special pizza "of the day", that turned out to not be quite as good (in my opinon) as the mizuna pizza our friends got (that we tried, after picking off the prosciutto). Our roasted veggie salad was OK, but was a bit heavy on the radicchio and not heavy enough on the roasted veggies. The house-made mozz is really quite excellent, though, and we tried that on an appetizer. It could have been a bit warmer (they were toast points with almost a bruschetta-like topping and cheese melted over the top), but were still good. The best part of the meal was the Tiramisu. I DEFINITELY recommend trying that. My husband and I both swooned over it, and said we'd come back for that, if nothing else. It is house made & HUGE, so maybe split between two people. The place is very cozy, and seems like it fits well in Boulder. I just hope it's location doesn't cause issues. I suppose the Peloton residents will help keep them in business, though. I'd dine there again, and knowing what I know I think I'll get something I'd like better. :)
(4)A B.
OK enough I suppose. Excellent service and clean location with plenty of parking. As for the pizza, the oven-fired crust was delicious but there was too much of it; basically, there weren't enough toppings and cheese on this pizza. I like finesse and balance as much as the next guy but I didn't like what I got here, especially for the price.
(3)Mel B.
This place is DELICIOUS! Highly recommend to EVERYONE to try the lemon romaine salad and a calzone!
(5)Ka B.
Expensive but very good. This is a fancy sort of place I can imagine would really impress a date! Definitely recommend getting the salumi/cheese appetizers in the beginning because it fills you up so that you don't spend as much overall. The pizza was delicious thin crust. The pepperoni on our pizza was good quality. The alcoholic drinks are nicely made and strong. The service was good too. The waitress had a good attitude and made us feel welcome and taken care of.
(5)CaptainKim R.
So happy My boyfriend and i found this jem earlier this week. Not only was the food was amazing but the service was outstanding. George was exceptional. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Dominique R.
Oh my gosh, this place is my new happy place. To start....the service: It is phenomenal...exactly what I want in a server at an Italian restaurant...not too present, not too absent. Also, I made a special request for "pizza bread" which was not on the menu. They made it and it was exactly what I was hoping for. The food: As an appetizer I had a salad..which besides being very good was also very interesting. I loved it. Surprised my taste buds. Then of course I had to order pizza. Their pizza dough is to die for: fresh, light, fluffy, organic and has a wonderful flavor...not to mention with the most delicate toppings. Their mozzarella was hand stretched and delicious. For dessert (I never get dessert, but how could I pass it up when everything else was so awesome?) I had gelato and it was also amazing. I tried a sampler of the hazelnut chocolate, mint chocolate and wood fired vanilla bean. Wow, what a treat. Nice wine selection, too. The only thing I would change is the layout of the restaurant itself. And I hope they will continue to wow me with maybe adding seasonal specialties....now that would be truly autentico. As someone else said before...if you're into American "Italian" pizza then you probably won't have the palette for this food.
(5)Stephanie W.
Pizzeria Basta is OUTSTANDING! The service is incredible (the best I have had in Boulder) and the food and wine choices are exceptional. The wait staff is extremely courteous and knowledgeable and the service is timely. Highly recommended!
(5)Adam K.
a hidden treasure. some of the best pasta i have ever had!
(5)Janine L.
One of the problems with review sites is cramming the review box by restaurant owners and employees. I've got a feeling about this one. Bastas is pretty boring, and its very expensive for what you get. I had a salad and a pizza there. The salad was romaine with lemon juice and some oil. That's it folks. It was too tart and exceedingly boring. I make more complicated salads at home. Are you kidding? It was even served in a plain white, thick, school lunch cafeteria bowl. The pizza was too thin in the center, and the crust was thus soggy. I had to eat the center with a fork. I found the char flavor from the wood burning oven to be fine, but they should scrape the ashes out more. I don't like eating ashes - I like pizza. The owners were there, but they were distant and rude. They were just talking to their friends. I like small places in Boulder, because the owners always come out to say hi. You want to do business with them. We felt like outsiders in a hipster-only club. The food is too expensive, and the atmosphere is a yawner. You can get a much better pizza at Laudisios at 29th street mall, where the atmosphere is great, the people friendly, and the salads, drinks other sundries are far better. Basta's is way overrated by a group of people who understand the power of Yelp. I won't be going back, but I wish them well.
(2)andrea d.
this place was just fine, but i'm a little surprised by the heretofore unanimously glowing reviews. we arrived without reservations on a monday night at 6:30 had ended up waiting probably about an hour for a table (longer than anticipated certainly, but we also got table-jacked by a family who swooped in after we'd been told we'd be the next group seated). we had seats on the bar and were catching up so it wasn't a huge deal but not what we'd expected either. our server was extremely friendly and kind, and after realizing what had happened to us with the table we'd been promised, bought our first round of drinks and those from the bar. can't beat that. as for the food - we started with the lardo wood-fired bread after reading a positive review in the camera. it was so-so, neither of my compatriots wanted anything to do with it so i was pretty much on my own. at the table we had the daisy, mizuna and cart-driver pizzas - all were just fine, but nothing truly special. in my opinion, the best thin crust pizzas in town are to had at radda. i'd opt for proto's over returning to this spot also. oh, and one last mention, the location in the peleton is just weird. sure it's easy to park, but there's nothing else around.
(3)Snoodly R.
Though a bit hard to find, we loved Basta. The pizza was phenomenal, the cocktails were pricey but good, and the doughnuts were just the right amount of crisp and doughy. We also tried the tiramisu which was decent, good for a restaurant. My boyfriend had a cappuccino with dessert and he said it was delightful. But most of all, the staff was so pleasant it made the ambiance perfect. We will definitely be going back, in fact, Basta may be added to the date night rotation!
(5)Matthew D.
This place is pretty stellar. I actually had a hard time finding it as its blended in with condos etc.. Got a seat right at the bar looking at the wood oven, these chefs are very talented. The food which I had plenty of and couldn't decide what I wanted as I actually wanted to try it all!! Baratta- absolutely amazing Chicken liver- well one can never go wrong with that, I ended up polluting some with the Baratta which definitely did not suck!! Lamb meatballs, cooked perfectly and seasoned just right Finished off with a pizza- I actually don't remember what kind we ordered because we were going back and forth on the kind but it was perfect. The shell was cooked perfect and left me wanting to go back very soon.
(4)Sean K.
Basta was a tasty treat last night. Coming from NYC and having spent some time in Italy, it's not the best pizza I've ever had, but it was better than just about anywhere else in town. We had the wood-fired veggies to start, which were unique and flavorful, although a little bit burnt tasting. A few more of the "croutons" mixed in would have been welcomed. Our second plate, the Burrata, was by far the best of the three. Creamy mozzarella atop crispy bacon and plump leeks was a great combination alongside the fresh bread that came with. Our third plate was the cart-driver pizza. Crust was thin and crispy with plenty of sausage and kale atop. A little dry but overall quite good. Ambience was cool too. A small, trendy place with nice wood tables and wood-fired accents throughout. Staff was cordial, polite and friendly, playing with our two-year old as he explored the whole place. I'd recommend stoping by and giving it a try.
(4)Sarah G.
While both my friend and I agreed the food was good, it was not worth the $18 price tag. Maybe for $7 it would be "good" but the price was just absurd. Her $9 drink came with 80% ice cubes, and not a lot of liquor. We understand the rent of the space is very high, but for minimal ingredients on a pizza crust, the price is just to high. Especially when both our pizzas came burnt, it was just to expensive. We also agreed that while our server was friendly, the general service was so slow and laid back. The table next to us made a verbal complaint to their server about the twenty minute wait time for a simple beer, something that we had similar thoughts about. Nice atmosphere, to overpriced, and poor service. Will not be returning
(2)Habib T.
Good appetizer we had a variety selection and mist if them were to my taste, pazza was amazing , right balance if ingredients, pronouced flavir and fresh ingredient, i cannit ask for more, service was fast and professional and waitress responded to our request with ease . Wine list is not extensive but of good quality and taste, i would definitely recommend that place and will definitely return again when i am in Boulder area.
(4)Adam F.
Pizza is tasty, but soggy. Prices are very high -- $17 for an individual sized pizza? The same pizza downtown is less than $10 and a hell of a lot better. By the time you add a beverage, tip and tax, you're looking at $25!
(2)trolley S.
There is a category of restaurants I place in a file called "San Francisco" restaurants. The short few years I lived there the food was amazing. The quality of the dishes were excellent at just about every decent restaurant. And the chefs there know how to cook. Really cook. Basta falls into that category for me. Basta is great. So much of the food here is made in house and everything cooked seems to go through the wood fired oven. We had a pizza, a whole fish and salad. The fish was cooked perfectly. The skin had a nice char but still edible. The meat was cooked just right. The pizza is pretty much your standard Neapolitan pie. We ordered a romaine salad, which was tossed with olives, roasted tomatoes and capers. This fed 2.5 people (2 adults one 6 year old) perfectly with some pizza slices to go home. Oh and the bread is extra but worth ordering as it's made in house as well. Our waitperson was energetic, helpful and attentive all while not being in my face. She didn't drop a beat from the beginning to finish which is somewhat of a miracle in Boulder.
(5)Liz A.
I've been here a number of times, and when they first opened, I think they still had things to work out on the food, but now they're awesome and it's a fav place for me! I highly recommend their burrata with the melted leaks and the 'gnocchi' dish which isn't really gnocchi, but is so damn delicious you don't care what they call it. Their pizza is also fantastic, and to me, has a better balance of flavors than some of the other places in the area. Service is excellent with attentive, friendly and focused staff (a sign of good management), and the environment is friendly and upbeat. Definitely worth coming here - in fact just writing this review makes me want to go again. lol
(5)Gary W.
Terrible, way too loud, inedible. We've eaten here other times and enjoyed it enough to return. Tonight it was the worst dining experience ever.
(1)Veronique C.
Well, actually, it's more like 3 1/2 stars. I have visited Basta a couple times, both times with friends. The first time, we all had wine, pizzas and we loved the atmosphere (on a Saturday night) and the food. We also noticed that the place was very loud, which made it quite difficult to have a conversation, even in a small group. I think I should aslo mention that Basta is not that obvious to find, the address is on Arapahoe, but the restaurant is actually nested in the middle of the Peloton apartment complex; so you have to park and then walk a little to get there. The second time I went to Basta with a bigger group of friends, some of them had a hard time finding the place, thinking it would be directly on Arapahoe Avenue. That time, I went for dinner during the week. The place was not full but still very loud, service was surprisingly slow (well, I had to wait for quite a while first to order my cocktail, and even longer to get it, the waitress told me the bartender had 5 more cocktails to do and she was not the least apologetic, even though I had already waited 20 minutes, and once again, the place was far from full). My cocktail came (finally) with a paper straw, which I think would be cute for a non alcoholic drink (big white and red stripes), but not for the kind of drink I ordered. The consistency of paper softens fairly quickly, which does not make for a pleasant experience. We all shared various plates and everything was very tasty. I must mention though that one of the plates listed "raclette" as part of the ingredients (it was also in the name of the dish, name that I forgot). The dish ended up being very good, but there was no raclette cheese in it, just (good) melted cheese. Raclette is a cheese from France or Switzerland. It is also the name of the machine used to melt that cheese (from "racler" wich means to scrape in French). I asked our waitress if the dish was using real raclette cheese, and she enthusiastically replied, yes, it's very good and made in Vermont. Yes, this dish was good, but I get tired of restaurants using 'fancy' names to make their cuisine more appealing (and justify higher prices) when in reality the dish as very little in common with the original meaning. In this case, raclette just meant melted cheese. Please, give a break to your clients, they know more than you think, and if they don't (I don't know the specifics of Italian cuisine), don't take advantage of it! To end the meal, we shared all 3 desserts offered on the menu and they were all good, my favorite being the Tiramisu. So overall, the food is very good, prepared with quality ingredients and presented with care, but for the price (most pizzas are around $18, I know it's Boulder, but still...), I expect more attention to service and details (and real raclette if it is mentioned on the menu).
(4)Pete T.
Outstanding place: we sat at the bar and the bartender was fabulous, food was also top notch. All the staff with the exception of the hostess were very attentive and pleasant. As long as you can get past the hostess the rest of your experience will be great.
(4)Holly G.
Pretty good, for Boulder anyway. I feel like Boulder restaurants really like to overprice everything on menus and Basta is no exception. Sure, the food was delicious but $20 for a personal sized pizza seems a bit much for me. Anyway, between the three of us we shared two pizzas, a salad, and a burrata appetizer. The burrata was pretty good but I would have preferred it more al-natural instead of it being layered with sautéed leeks and pancetta. The salad was the best part of the meal in my opinion which was loaded with a bunch of roasted veggies including beets and potatoes. Then the pizzas arrived. We ordered the Arugula pizza ($20) and the White ($15). I much preferred the White to the Arugula because it was meatless and the other one had too much meat on it. The dough was nice and chewy as to be expected by Napoli style, but it was mostly all char on the crust which left me pretty disappointed because char isn't enjoyable to eat, therefore I left 1/4 of each piece on my plate. The atmosphere is cute but small and really loud. They need some noise dampening put in because it was hard to hear the people I was dining with. The service was friendly but seemed a bit here and there. But with none of the attitude that Pizzeria Locale gives you, so check this place out instead.
(3)Ryan H.
Hot dern child. This place makes me go SNAP CATS! Such a good menu and staff. You'll enjoy promise (unless you like terrible food).
(5)Jarrett B.
I really like the pizza but it is pricy. $16 for a small pizza is a bit much, I would take out so much more often if it was closer to $12.
(4)Matt S.
Just...wow. I've been a couple times for my Friday pizza and while there may be pizza as good as this in the greater Denver area, there's certainly nothing that's any better. Get the pepperoni. For serious. They get it from some deli in NYC and it's as near a religious experience as I've had in quite some time. It's small and the kitchen takes the time to make the food right, so don't expect to pop in for a quick bite but if you are up for a sit-down pizza meal in Boulder...hit Basta.
(5)Kevin H.
I thought the pizza was outstanding. I am a pizza geek who has been researching pizza making for a few years so I am not easily impressed. The crust was exactly what I expect in a neapolitan pie. Tender with some chew but most importantly has enough structure to hold the judiciously applied toppings. The fresh sliced pepperoni was amazing and I was pretty impressed with the Bianco tomatoes. I love that the flour and tomatoes used are fairly local and organic. No reason to get ingredients from Italy to make a good pie. The burrata was awesome as well.
(5)Nick M.
Pizza is pretty delicious, but for $20 I'd hope to get a back-rub while eating. Went in here the other day with my boulder passport, service was poor and their drinks were half full. Far better places in Boulder for a more desirable experience.
(2)Steven W.
Whoo Hoo! I haven't given a 5 star review in years! I was beginning to think they went the way of the dodo bird :) Simply one of the best pies I have had ever and I have lived in NYC and have tried the very best pies across the US in my food adventures. We started with the Burrata which was a luscious combination of caramelized onions, panceta and melted cheese. It was the perfect app and I thought the highlight of the night. Boy was I wrong! We followed with a pepperoni pie with oyster mushrooms on red sauce which was fantastic and I had the white pizza with topped with loads of garlic and fresh mozzarella. It was so great. The flavors were balanced and finely done. So what stood out about the pie that pushed me to 5 stars? good question. I have only given 5 stars to less than a handful of restaurants and I eat out for fun!! 1) the service was on point... charming and always present when needed. 2) The entree was brought to our table at exactly the right time 3) The app was fantastic and the entree actually was even better. 4) The crust was simply the best crust I remember ever!! great bite, beautiful burn from the white oak oven, and I could have eaten a whole crust even without the toppings! Just give me some evo and some fresh parmesn and and I would've been happy eating that crispy, wood touched, hot from the oven crust! 5) Toppings were high quality 6) I left with leftover for breakfast and yes I was so yummy x 2.. :) 7) Ambiance was great.. energy from staff and customers was very positive... smiles all around make a happy place :) Only con is the noise level was fairly high. They could definitely use some sonic reducing cover on that very cement roof.. It was loud.. And frankly we didn't care cause the food was just so delicious! If you want to pie done right visit Pizzeria Basta
(5)Tianyi L.
I had dinner there with three of my coworkers on weekday evening, and Basta deserves a higher rating than #8 (according to 5280's Top 25 2014). Before delving into what we had, I would like to comment on Basta's philosophy of all their dishes touching their woodfire oven at least once. It's an interesting concept, and I was dubious as to whether it would work with things like dessert, but it surprisingly did. More on that later. We started with their house wine, and ordered bresaola, whipped tuna, burrata, and octopus. The octopus was served in a salad over a bed of dark greens, and was perfectly cooked. The Bresaola salumi reminded me of mocetta that you can get at Whole Foods, which is by no means a bad thing. The burrata was very creamy, as expected, and the whipped tuna was unique for me since I've only had whipped cod before. It was buttery smooth and very tasty. For my entree, I had the wildcaught Colorado bass that was poached whole in the woodfire oven and stuffed with arugula and kale. Extremely tender, though it did take a while to eat having to pick what seemed like a thousand bones out. For dessert, I had the tiramisu, which I believe was the only thing that did not touch their oven. It was very light and airy, in contrast to the other style of tiramisu, which is very dense and creamy. My coworker ordered an assortment of gelatos, with all of them having a smoky taste. I enjoyed the vanilla bean smoked gelato the most. Overall, an outstanding experience.
(5)Mike S.
My rating for Basta is 3-1/2 stars. I must admit this is a tough review for me. On one hand, the food was good and the service excellent at Basta. On the other hand, it is just pizza, after all, and not the best pizza I've ever had. After reading all the rave reviews, I felt it we had to start with the burrata. It was good but not 'oh my god' amazing. It's basically melted mozzarella with sautéed onions and ham that you spread on bread. It was a tasty appetizer for 3. I wanted to try their polenta appetizer but it wasn't on the menu. We ordered two pizzas - the Daisy and the Cart Driver. The Daisy is essentially a margherita pizza. The sauce tasted like fresh tomato but didn't have much seasoning. My big complaint was the chintzy amount of fresh basil. There were maybe a half dozen leaves and they were all concentrated on one half of the pie. We pulled off a few leaves to redistribute which made a mess of the cheese. Kind of disappointing on this count. The crust was good, chewy and crisp at the same time. The Cart Driver was very good. The sausage could have used more fennel to my taste but was good. The pizza had a little spiciness, which we liked. For dessert, we had tira misu (generic in a good way), donuts (actually fried potato and goat cheese donut holes served with fresh whipped cream, pretty tasty and a huge serving) and burnt caramel & salt ice cream (very good). The service was very good. I don't think I've ever seen waitstaff so determined to keep water glasses filled! The pizzas come out fast because they are cooked in a super hot oven Neapolitan style. Desserts took longer, probably because it takes time to fry the donuts, but still didn't take long. All in all, the meal was good but I somehow left feeling underwhelmed. Probably because my dish, the Daisy, left me disappointed. I saw a number of other diners eating different pizzas as well as the large entrees (fish, short ribs), which looked amazing. I'd like to come back and try some other things. For now, it's 3-1/2 stars for Basta.
(3)Kaley S.
The Good: Cozy, clean, comfortable atmosphere-- a modern & open layout balanced with rustic wood & stone features. Seasonal menu with rotating market pizzas & seasonally changing specials. Good wine, beer & cocktail list, also with seasonal specials. Consistently attentive, knowledgeable, professional, prompt & friendly service. Desert is delicious -- try their housemade ice cream with an espresso or port! The Bad: One time my pizza was undercooked--we sent it back and got a new one no problem. We love Basta because we can get good late-night food after work, but this night I guess the only cook was in a hurry to leave. The Food: Incredible. Fantastic wood-fired pizza with delicious crispy crust & seasonal toppings, plus the classics like The Sauce & the Cart Driver. Basta boasts a beautiful charcuterie selection as well--try the appetizer selection of proscuttio, coppa & brisala! The fish (also cooked in the beautiful wood-fired oven) is incredible & served whole. The oysters are wonderful as well....really, everything I've ever eaten here has been delicious. Once they had a housemade mortadella, which was a real treat! The Service: Best service in Boulder. Consistently cheerful & helpful. We always feel welcome here! The servers are attentive & prompt without being smothering and are always friendly and professional. Overall: Absolutely fantastic. Our favorite place in Boulder!!! Best food, best menu, best service. Highly recommended for a fun & delicious date. Sit by the bar to watch the wood-fired oven in action!
(5)Scott B.
From the front of the house, to our server, and bartender, the service at Basta is top notch. We managed to luckily snag what I view as the two best seats in the house, which is at the bar, but in a window, outside. Yes, outside bar seating, that faces inside. Very cool. The bartender, without a doubt (wish I remembered his name) is a bartender's bartender. The man seriously takes pride in his job, and is a true asset to Basta. He was very personable, and took the time to thoroughly explain the menu, and drink options. Wifey and I shared two pizzas, with the intention of having a to go box. The neopolitan style pizzas were simply amazing. My prosciutto was some of the best I've consumed. Perfect bake! WIfey went with the pepperoni, and it was some of the spiciest, and best pepperoni either of us have ever had. Of course, being power drinkers, we washed down our pizzas with a few craft beers. Their list is creative, and I found the smoked porter, excellent. The wife's brown ale was tasty as well. In addition to beer, Basta also offers an extensive wine and liquor selection. Each drink is hand crafted, and it's obvious that they put a lot of thought into their menu. A great find! I will return when in Boulder next!
(5)kari b.
I have a constant battle trying to figure out if I love Basta or Pizzeria Locale More. Either way, Basta is amazing. Wonderful selection of pizzas that are just amazing. One thing I could say is that they are a bit more pricey than Pizzeria locale, for comparison at Pizzeria Locale the basic tomatoe mozz, basil pizza runs $9, at Basta it is $15. Yikes I have to say that is up there for the most basic choice. For more extravagant options they both offer a wonderful spicy salami pizza., At Basta this pizza is called Peppers and is priced at $17 and is mozz, pepperoni and Basil. At Pizzeria local there counterpart is the Diavola with tomato sauce-smoked mozzarella-salame piccante-basil-chili flake, and chili oil for $15. With all of that being said I am griping over a $2 swing on some amazing pizzas. When it comes down to it I think the deciding factor for Pizzeria Basta is there amazing potted foods. Some of there rillettes, mouse, pates etc are the best I have had anywhere. Simply delicious! They win on this count hands down. I also prefer there salads. Fresh simple filing and with lots of yummy toppings. Crust is a little black for my taste at times. I love a good char but I have gotten a couple pizzas her that have a distinct burnt taste that is just a little too far. I would imagine with the oven as hot as it is here that difference is a matter of seconds. One of my favorite date night spots!
(4)Jason F.
I actually came here back in late November, when a lot of Boulder restaurants (Basta included) were doing their fixed price, three course meals for about $30. I came for both the fixed price meal as well as wanting to try some other things; unfortunately, they failed to advertise that the fixed meal would replace about half of the menu (including all the small plates, which actually seemed the most interesting). Then they said they had ran out of one of the two fixed meals. So in the end, most of my top choices were eliminated. This could be forgiven if the food was actually decent, but it wasn't. Soggy pizza, under salted, not enough acid, overpowered by one ingredient; every dish was lacking in some way. I appreciate the trendiness and flavor combinations Basta was trying, but every dish just wasn't executed well.
(3)MaryBeth R.
It is hard to put into words how much we love Pizzeria Basta! The food is spectacularly prepared, the dining room warm and cozy, the staff incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and the value one of the best in town. This is something really special! My husband and I have been going to Basta pretty regularly over the last 6 months, so we have had a good chance to explore the menu. And, if you have noticed from some of my other reviews, for me a favorable review always comes down to food. If a restaurant can't knock my socks off...no five stars for it! So here are some of my favorites: Burrata -- if you order one thing off the Basta menu, order this! Hell, order 2, it's that good. Creamy burrata cheese served over a lovely mix of caramelized leeks and pancetta, served with the house-made bread. Can't be beat. Wine -- we almost always enjoy a glass or two of the Basta Red. It's a house-wine, which I normally don't find all that interesting at other restaurants, but Basta's is just plain solid. And enjoyable with a good number of their entrees. Lasagna -- the noodles that serve as the base of this lasagna are, of course, house-made. But what sets these apart from other house-made pasta sheets is the absolutely velvety feel of them. Cooked to perfection, they are the ideal vessel to bring you the highlight of this dish -- whatever the filling may be that night! House made mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, the perfect amount of sausage, exquisite sauces....all finished in the wood-fired oven. It's the perfect little pasta cloud! Wood-fired Vegetable salad -- I ate so many of these last summer that I thought I would turn into a wood-fired veggie. The small is ideal for lunch on its own and the large splits well to share as a first course for dinner. Wood-fire roasted brussels sprouts -- my son's personal favorite. I need not say more... Just About Anything Served over Polenta -- seriously. Meatballs, lamb, pork...this is a dish that shouldn't be missed. If it's on the menu, order it! Add an egg! Oh...I almost forgot about the pizza. This place is called "Pizzeria Basta" after all. But I don't think of Basta as a pizza joint -- we rarely order it because there is so much else we love on the menu. But if you arrive and find a particularly exotic-looking pizza on the specials menu, give it a whirl. While you may think that figs, and even an egg (!) on a pizza may be a bit over the top, don't be fooled. Chef Kelly has a way of picking ingredients for his special pizzas that harmonize in the most incredible ways. We've never gone wrong! So...there are many, many reasons to make Basta a regular stop on your restaurant circuit. It is certainly worth your while to trek out to the Peleton. You won't regret it. (TIP: Grab a seat at the bar if you can. Nice and cozy on cold winter nights...and it's always fascinating to watch how a busy kitchen keeps things moving!)
(5)Cyndi R.
Greeted at the door ! Here for take out ushered to the community table , super fast super friendly great Ska Mexican Lager - so good ! Who doesn't love a great neighbourhood restaurant with a tight menu? Winning
(5)Heather T.
There are meals so good that you can't help but take a deep sigh, wipe away a tear of joy and tell everyone you know how well you ate over the weekend. Friday night my two friends and I came here for a late dinner. Initially we were seated near the front door which meant the front door kept opening and blowing arctic air our direction. Thankfully a table opened up in another area and the staff was gracious and let us move. We started out with the fire roasted vegetable salad and the polenta with fennel pollen. Those two dishes alone could have made me a very happy person for my meal. The polenta was nutty and cheesy with the perfect amount of fennel dusting the top. We all thought this was sublime and thinly veiled our fight for the last few bites. The salad was a perfect balance of acidity and the smokiness of the wood fired vegetables was perfect. Now for the weeping with joy....the short ribs. Never have I had such good short ribs before. The beef flavor was intense which we found out was from sous vide not aging as we initially suspected. There is no description that I can adequately put to this dish. On the side were smoked mashed potatoes which were a perfect compliment to the meat in flavor but I could have done without them and more meat. The presentation also included caramelized onions, shaved horseradish, sautéed kale, salt and pepper. We also ordered the roast chicken which my friends really enjoyed. The meat was tender and juicy with the crispy skin being a perfect foil. For me though, it just didn't hold a candle to the beef. Fortunately, one of my friends is really petite and couldn't finish her beef which I happily took! Dessert was campfire vanilla ice cream (smoked vanilla that tasted just like you would expect vanilla roasted over a campfire to taste), chocolate-hazelnut and sea salt caramel. The salt in the caramel wasn't evenly distributed so you either got a serious hit of salt or none at all. The winner was the vanilla by far and away.
(5)Tyler G.
My lady and I split the: Market pizza Sausage lasagna Grilled veg salad Ultimate whiskey daisy Recommendation on white wine pairing with lasagna Everything was perfect and creative. The pizza crust was amazing and lightly blackened in a few small areas. The lasagna tasted like you were in some old Italian lady's house = phenomenal! I couldn't stop drinking the whiskey daisy, it was the first cocktail I've had with olive oil in it. The service was amazing and they were super friendly, letting our pup stay with us on the patio and even brought out a small plate of prosciutto for him! We will be back!
(5)Jonathan W.
Everyone has their favorite type of pizza. Some like deep dish, Neapolitan, new york style, etc. I'm originally from NY and trying to find a decent thin crust pizza with true italian inspired sauce has been difficult. Abos, The Original New York Pizza, and Locale are all good alternatives but they never quite hit the spot. And then we found Basta. If you're looking for an authentic italian pizza, this is the best place you'll find in Denver. But it doesn't stop at pizza. Basta has a great selection of local craft beers, interesting appetizers (the duck pate was amazing), and an ambiance that just makes you feel welcome. The staff is great and the cooks consistently will check on you to ensure you're enjoying your meal. If you're looking for my personal favorite pizza place in Denver metro, I highly recommend Pizzeria Basta.
(5)pren w.
Ate here last night. The food was amazing the atmosphere was really nice and our server chad was spectacular as was the rest of the very attentive staff. I would say as far as Yelp standards go this establishment should be in the $$$ range not the $$ range. I had the house wine which was delightful, he had a cider, we split the cheapest salad and each got a pizza and it was $80 not including the tip. We will most certainly come back but the price means it won't be a regular place for us unfortunately because we both agreed that it was one of the best pizzas we ever had. I'm only giving it four stars instead of five because I feel like the price listing on Yelp is not in the right category. If it was appropriately listed at $$$ this would be a 5 star rating. :)
(4)Linda C.
Excellent. Food. Staff. Chef. Selections. Best of Boulder. Seriously.
(5)Patron X.
Truly phenomenal food and excellent cocktails. Most reviews are about the pizza but the entrees are the way to go. Weird location. I'd give them a 5 but their execution is very weak when it's busy and don't even try to go during restaurant week as the food and service will turn you off to it forever. Best to enjoy this gem on a weeknight.
(4)Paul P.
This is the 2nd time I've tried Basta's, and I've had the same experience both times: good food, lousy service. I don't care how good the food is, if the service is bad, you don't have a good time, and that's what eating out is supposed to be about. There are at least two other pizza restaurants in Boulder with equally excellent pizzas, and both have much friendlier, much better service.
(2)Remy D.
its fancy. food is tasty.
(4)Liz P.
Really amazing food and wine. The lamb gnocchi was outstanding. Our bartender, Nick, was super engaged and on spot with all his recommendations.
(5)Marissa P.
We were so excited to see that Boulder had another restaurant in 5280's top 25 of Denver, Basta. However, after dining there last night, I definitely don't agree with the ranking. Our meal was fine, the atmosphere is fine, but this was not a top experience for us. For starters, it is more than difficult to find and we actually know that area quite well. Upon arrival, there was only 1 other table occupied, but the hostesses took awhile to seat us and once we were seated it took forever for our waiter to show up. The restaurant is on the small side and the atmosphere is nothing special. My husband thought the beer menu was lacking while I ordered a glass of Chardonnay which I thought was excellent. For dinner we had the burrata which was okay, not amazing. For the price, I'm used to getting much more burrata. We also ordered two pizzas which were very good, but nothing overly unbelievable. Our experience overall was just fine, but if I had used our outing to Basta as a special date night I would have been very disappointed. Overall, nothing was bad, but I really don't see how Basta ended up so highly ranked...
(3)Subrosa D.
Disappointed. There was so much hype about this place that we had great expectations. We asked our waiter what were the greatest signature dishes. He recommended the pizza margherita, which was average, nothing special, and the bass, which was, at best a C+. Dry, no special flavor or sauce, unmemorable. The chicken liver mousse was like silk, the best thing we sampled, but it came with so much bread that was also uninteresting and too filling, sat like a lump in the stomach. It would have been better with vegetables like celery or thin crisps rather than thick bread. Too many small plates and only bass and chicken for entrees. will not come back.
(2)Brian S.
The Arugula pizza was very good. The only down fall for me was the lack of crispy on the under side of the pizza. Crust was great. The pizza had a great wood flavor. If you go get the wood fired salad. Amazing! They infused the wood fire flavor into there dressing. Once again Amazing! Desert I had the goat cheese donuts with wood fire infused dipping cream. Perfect. I have a wife and three daughters. They did not like the smoke flavor in the cream. Maybe a man taste. Service was very good. Never had an empty water glass. Made reservation on a Saturday night and waited 5 seconds to sit. We will be back!
(4)Mary M.
This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Boulder. Hidden away in the Pelaton, so it's never too busy. The pizza is better than some I've had in Italy. Last time I was there I got the chicken dish. Absolutely incredible ! And the smoked caramel gelato . Omg so good !
(5)Ken C.
I considered opening up my own pizza place once. I even went to Italy to learn what the "real" thing was all about. Needless to say, I'm a serious pizza guy. Of all of the fantastic pizza in Boulder, and there is a lot, Pizzeria Basta takes the #1 spot for most authentic and well executed Neapolitan pizza in Boulder. When I first visited Pizzeria Basta I was impressed with fantastic ingredients and robust flavors. It was also the closest thing that I'd had to eating the stuff from Italy (remarkably close). But, I've cooked a few pizza pies and I know that Neapolitan pizza is very sensitive beast. On any given day one can follow the same recipe and end up with a very different result. It takes mastery to consistently get a great result. So I went back 3 more times to find out just how good these guys and girls were. Well, they "delivered" (sorry for the pun). If you love pizza at its absolute authentic best, you love Pizzeria Basta.
(5)Greg E.
That oven makes magic. Cocktails are great too.
(5)Eric W.
Cocktail selection was unique and very tasty. Salumi and cheese plate was great, we had 2 salumi and 1 cheese and the homemade cracker and mustard cherry relish were awesome. Pizza was very good also.
(4)My R.
Wow. Everything is great. The food is amazing and initially feels classic, but I always notice a creative touch that makes you appreciate the artistry. Atmosphere and staff are amazing.
(5)J. F.
Oh, Basta, I wanted to love you, but it didn't work out. The burrata got you an extra star, but the pizza was a bust. In a word, burnt. Blackened. Charred. Like everyone that thinks they are an above average driver, everyone thinks that they are a pizza expert. Me too. I love thin-crust pizza and was looking forward to a visit to Basta. The salads were fine, the service was good, the burrata was unbelievable, but the pizza was bad. Proto's Pizza is a lot better. I'll just keep going there...
(3)David T.
Overpriced with lousy food. There were 5 of us there and the only thing that looked good to any of us was the pizza. The rest is some really weird fru-fru food. So we got the pizza. I disliked it so much I stopped after 1 bite. For the other 4 it ranged from "never again" to "I would go if someone wanted to, but I'd prefer not to." The ingredients for the food all appeared to be fresh and the food was delivered hot. But it just didn't taste that good. For beer they have no amber or pale ales. And the draft beer is served room temperature (I got 2 samples, wasn't wild on either). The bottom line is that the offerings are unusual (even the beers) and so they may not be to your taste.
(1)marc d.
Great small local wood fired oven pizza and so much more! George is an amazing waiter , the wine list is great and the variety of food is outstanding. Menu is printed daily and Highly recommend anything with pork or cooked in the wood fired oven!
(5)Love Fine F.
WOW ~ MAGNIFICENT! Pizza just like in Italy and excellent service. I've eaten there about 6 or 7 times. I highly recommend.
(5)Kyle A.
Chef Kelly is doing ridiculous things here. The menu is fierce. Almost all the dishes somehow incorporate the wood oven, as there are no regular ovens in house. Locally sourced ingredients call for super fresh salads, which are constantly changing. You have to try the pizza, obviously. I feel as if the wood oven is a bit more aggressive on the dough, creating a more blistered crust compared to Pizzeria Locale, but i'm all for it. There's about 5-6 pies on the menu. I haven't had the chance to try the large dishes such as the roasted fish or chicken, but some of the small bites such as the duck rillettes and the chicken liver pate are fantastic. Kelly's burrata dish is to die for. Don't go here without trying the burrata. Seriously. Also the some of the house-made gelatos get smoked too, such as the burnt caramel gelato(my favorite). Long live the wood oven!
(5)Barb B.
Pizzeria Basta is really good. I am of the opinion that it is hard to go wrong with bread and melted cheese, but there are degrees of rightness. I would put Basta just below Osteria Marco as far as the best pizza places in Denver/Boulder go. I love the design of the restaurant. All the wood is so warm and inviting, it makes me want to sit in there eating pizza and drinking wine while it snows outside. I must also say that the service is considerably more friendly than it is in most Boulder joints I have been to. The burrata is good, but not as good as the burrata at Osteria Marco. The pizza is awesome. I love the crust. It is really chewy and soft. I would say the white pizza was the cheesiest and therefore was my favorite. I clearly need to sample a few more items but I would be happy to do that and in fact I am looking for excuses to go back for more pizza research!
(4)John B.
Love the atmosphere! Service was excellent. Pizza was quite good. Highly recommend Burrata (cheese) as an appetizer. Lasagna was good but small and way over priced. Best part of the meal: vanilla bean ice cream. Vanilla beans are roasted in the wood fired oven where the pizzas are baked. The result is an ice cream with a slight camp fire flavor. Sounds weird but a camp fire taste is good! Overall, it's a really good, neighborhood, cool, a bit pricey, quality pizza restaurant. I'll return. Note: the menu online didn't match the actual menu. Food Items and beer choices had changed. Good wine selection in-house. Don't know if the online wine list matches actual restaurant wine list.
(4)Pat J.
We really LOVE their pizza and baby greens salad. Nice neighborhood place, friendly people, uncomfortable chairs, but good food!
(4)J T.
They had a Burratta appetizer (butter-cheese) when I was in last... that was awesome and then that's where the awesomeness kind of ended for me...I got a half decent pizza - which was burned... I love thin, fire baked pizza, but not burned ;( I think the burnt crust really brought down my experience, the toppings were kind of sparse, which I actually prefer... but the taste (outside of the burnt crust) was really underwhelming ( I got the white pizza) I will defintely update with my next experience here and I won't get the white pizza again. I guess I will just have to try different things on their menu. Service was good, but kinda pricey... for pizza.
(3)Brian T.
Came here for lunch with a friend. It's a nice cozy atmosphere, but the restaurant itself is hidden in an apartment/condo complex. Wish I knew that ahead of time as I drove by the place on Arapahoe at least 3 times before venturing into the apartment complex. Their lunch special is a small salad with a pizza for less than the cost of a pizza. Win! The salad is romaine lettuce with a simple lemon juice dressing. Very light. I got a salami (pepperoni) pizza and it came out looking delicious. It's a wood fired oven and ridiculously hot. The crust is a very light bread that tastes great. A light pizza that was pretty tasty.
(4)Jeff C.
Very good Pizza. Obviously high quality ingredients, but they'd be getting 5 Stars if they had served a properly crisp Pizza. I'm not sure if their oven wasn't quite hot enough (probable) , or if they didn't quite cook it long enough (I think less likely), but the crust, while delicious, was just a little too soft. Flavor combinations, both for the Pizzas and Salads, are interesting in the best possible way. Excellent service and a nice joint.
(4)Aqui M.
First time we went to Basta the pizza was AMAZING! Like game changing amazing. Like I could love pizza again amazing. The dough was perfect. fluffy and doughy and flavorful. Next time we visited - meh. Pizza dried out and burnt. Everything else was spot on though. I will be returning tonight to make the final verdict. Please don't fail me Basta ya!
(4)Carolyne A.
Went there last night. The location was interesting, its located in an apartment complex. A hidden gem! We were a Large party so we had to wait. They have a cute wooden standing table by the bar. We waited there and had drinks. The food was amazing! It's restaurant week in Boulder so portions are smaller. We had several different appetizers, duck and bread with cheese.. A few entrees to share, the chicken, pork n beans,meatballs , short ribs, white pizza, clam "special" pizza and the margarita pizza. Probably several things I'm forgetting.. Everything was delicious. Service was accommodating. Definitely going again and would recommend to anyone!
(5)Ef R.
I had heard from many trusted friends that the best pizza in Boulder was to be found at Pizzeria Basta. Mind you, these are the same friends who assured me that my Justin Bieber haircut phase was a good idea. Those knaves! Anyway, I've gotta say that their appraisal wasn't far off the mark. The pizza at Basta is delicious. Dino-delicious, I would dare say. What is dino-delicious? It's a variety of deliciousness that is mammoth in size and rare - just like dinosaur bones. Service was very good, the food arrived much faster than I anticipated, and the setting was really nice. A few other reviewers have mentioned how strange the actual location is - and it's true. I wish it were located somewhere a bit more sensible, but what can you do. While it's not the best pizza in Boulder (that crown belongs to Laudisio, in my opinion), it comes very close and is worth a visit. Just don't bring your Bieber 'do. Not a good look for anyone, I discovered.
(4)Bruce F.
You must like smoke(taste) to completely enjoy this restaurant. This space is cozy and cool once you get there. Our service is always outstanding: fast, efficient and informative. Tonight we started with Japanese fried peppers-love! Second, we had baked oysters with a fennel foam: beautiful presentation on a bed of salt. For dinner I had the large portion of mixed grilled vegetables: smoky, seasonal assortment. I was too full for desert but I've had their tiramisu and vanilla bean ice cream. The vanilla beans are roasted in the wood fired grill and give even the ice cream a smokey flavor... sounds weird, and it is, and it works. The menu is small but interesting and ever changing. I reiterate you must love smoke and yes, the pizza is divine!
(4)Elaine S.
Finally tried Basta, and we were super impressed! We felt like we were tucked in a small, trendy bistro in a bigger city. Our server was great - the perfect mix of casual, attentive, and knowledgable. I had the Arugula pizza, and they nailed it! The crust was perfectly chard, but still pillowy soft in the center - not soggy at all! I also had a side of the wood-fired beets with goat cheese and toasted hazlenuts. Great, clean flavors. My s/o did the fixed price menu and it was awesome. Great value for great food. The execution of each course was perfect. Quiet atmosphere and they also do half glasses of wine!
(5)Jim F.
The bartender at one of our other favorite place in Boulder said this is his favorite place. The food is outstanding. All the wines we tried were great. Lighting could be a little lower, and the complex where it is hidden is out of the way, but worth the trip.
(5)Christina M.
If this place was in a better location it'd be packed all the time, I bet. It was very frustrating to find the place, even knowing Boulder well. However, we were blown away by the experience once we arrived. The food was really good, especially the burrata (if there's only 2 of you get the half portion so you have room to try the other tasty apps). Pizza was also excellent-great crust. There are better pizzas in the Denver/Boulder area but none can match the service and atmosphere of Basta.
(5)Steven H.
I know their are tons of good reviews here, but I have to say I was really under impressed. I am from NY so I know my way around Wood-Fired pizza. The pizza at Basto came out too smoky. I saw alot of black smoke coming from the oven, that kills flavor. Sauce was bland. Maybe it was just a bad night, but honestly a pizza from Dominos would have been better. I might try it again, but not likely.
(2)Mark C.
Maybe my favorite place in town. Chef Kelly is one of the best in Boulder. The location is weird but the place is great. I love the wood fired pizza. We always keep it simple. Also, try the chicken liver mousse and the ice cream is so good. I like the tiramisu, too. There is a solid wine list and they have the local Avery Beer on tap.
(5)James G.
Quick joke: "How did the hipster burn his mouth?...He ate his pizza before it was cool" Here's a good visualization of Basta, imagine a homeless person found Picasso's paints & brushes and went to work on his cardboard box / house. It wouldn't be a Picasso and it would taste the same as these pies. This trendy pizza place that takes expensive ingredients and does a hack job of a pizza. If you love the taste of stale cardboard or a power-bar then I recommend you try this place. We tried 2 different pies, one was so thin and soggy in the middle I had to get a fork out, the other was burnt, flavorless, and inedible. There is a difference between burnt & caramelization. I checked out the website & all I can say is this food wouldn't sell in Italy.
(1)carla f.
This is one of the best restaurants in boulder. Not just a pizza joint, but the pizza is great too. On par with oak and frasca; they don't have a stove so they get really creative with the wood oven and the sous vide. Amazing. Great wine list and solid cocktails.
(5)Beth F.
I've had dinner and lunch here and both of my meals were amazing. Last night, my friends and I started with the salumi plate which had meat that melted in your mouth. It also came with beets so tasty that we requested more. Then I had the romaine salad which was salty and crunchy - I really loved it. I also had the chicken - the skin was so crispy and the breast was juicy. Perfect. I think Basta does a great job of being run by people who clearly love food without being pretentious. Our waiter knew absolutely everything about the food but would only elaborate when asked. One of my pet peeves about places like Frasca is that they tell you about every ingredient whether you are interested or not. Sometimes you want to hear all about food and sometimes you just want to eat. You know? It's much nicer for me if that information is available on request. I really liked that about this restaurant. I really loved my food, the service and the whole experience. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Jeremy T.
I have only been here a couple of times, but the food has been exceptional each time. The lunch special is great, delicious pizza and a salad, they have a limited, but well thought our beer menu, and a very well rounded wine list. The service as always been very good as well. I love the location too, but I walk there so, I have really no idea what the parking situation is like, but it looks fine.
(5)John R.
This restaurant was such a disappointment after the great reviews we've heard from friends and here on Yelp. We started out with the burrata appetizer, which was delicious. Sadly, it was all downhill from there. The oysters were not fresh and had an off aftertaste. The daisy and cart-driver pizzas were good, but not $13 and $15 good, especially considering their moderate size. Our server really talked up the half chicken, but it was dry and lacked seasoning. Salt, anyone? It also took a really long time for the chicken to come out, well after everything else. It was Valentine's Day, but our family was so unimpressed that we skipped the dessert. SO many better options in Boulder!
(2)paul a.
Not bad, except the food. The "white" pizza was skillfully cooked in front of us in the wood oven. But it had very little taste whatsoever. I sprinkled some red pepper flakes on a slice, and that overwhelmed the pizza. No garlic flavor, no sauce, and even the cheese was boringly mild. The staff was friendly, and helpful, and timely. Beer selection was Euro themed, but good. We also had one knock on our server. We confirmed that the pizza was vegetarian when ordering it and a salad. But when the salad was about half consumed, we realized that the brussel sprouts in it were the same as the cooked-in-bacon sprouts elsewhere on the menu. We wished he had informed us. No reason to go here instead of Pizzeria Locale.
(2)Risha S.
Passing through on a road trip we decided to give this place a try. We have a lot of great pizza places where we live and based on the reviews I had high expectations. While the food was tasty but not great, I was really disappointed with the skimpy amount of toppings. It was so bad I don't even think we could identify what type of pizza it was if we didn't already know what we ordered. One of the pizzas had an overloaded amount of cheeses. The restaurant was cute, but the arrogance in the place stunk it up. They propped all the doors open so that the air passed through and our table was right in the middle of that path. You would think that with all 5 of us (kids and adults) having to go out to the car to get our jackets they would ask us if we would like them to close the doors...didn't even mention it. The place wasn't busy so it was perfectly obvious that we were cold. We had to ask them to close at least one of the doors and it was met with an inconvenienced look. Really?! You have 4 doors open and we asked you to close 1. The guy that appeared to be in charge had 0% customer service skills. I wouldn't go back...matter of fact I wish I could have replaced this choice with something else.
(3)Garge b.
We love Basta. The people who work there are, without exception, warm and friendly and natural and attentive. The food is always good, every single time. The vibe is fantastic. We had oysters that were great. We had salad that was great. We had 2 pizzas--both great. One of our top three favorite places in Boulder. And the oven is super cool.
(5)Jared H.
This is the best pizzeria in town...if you are a hipster type Boulderite who wants nuevo style Boulder organic pizza where the back story is more enjoyable than the actual pizza. If you are a Chicago deep dish or even a New York large slice pizza fan, then you will not like this place. Even if you are a fan of thinner crust, traditional Italian style pizzas, there are much better options in the area. I ordered a pre-meal salad two different pizzas: the Daisy & the Cart-driver. The daisy is a typical Margherita pizza with nothing notable about it. The cart-driver had a very unique flavor but not an enjoyable one. Both pizzas and the salad were unfulfilling. The wine menu and beer selections were above average and i did like the ambiance however.
(2)Kristen H.
Basta is a hidden gem. The restaurant is fairly small but you can usually get a table without a long wait. Service is always great. The appetizers get you off to a great start. The cheese and salumi plates are fun, the chicken liver mouse is amazing (and I don't usually like chicken liver). The wood oven pizza is very flavorful- the peppers pizza is my favorite. The salads are all great as well- I love the romaine hearts with capers and a very strong lemon dressing. Plus they got Lambrusco which pairs really well with the salads and pizza. Hip atmosphere , great prices and friendly service!
(5)Sherry s.
Two stars because that's the number of good dishes we had. When they figure out what kind of food they want to serve, maybe they can increase the number of good dishes.
(2)Lacey M.
Of course I had to check this place out, being the winner of the Best of Westword's best pizza, plus I was already going to be in Boulder for the afternoon. So my husband and I met up with a friend for dinner there on Friday night. There were some very high points of the meal, along with some low points, that averaged out the experience to just A-OK. The +'s: -Cool, relaxing, and inviting atmosphere -House Red wine super reasonable at $5/ glass -Burrata is A-MA-ZING! Served on top of pork belly and leeks...so delicious. Just wish there was MORE pork belly on the plate. -Meatball and polenta dish was delish! The -'s: -Pizza was lacking in flavor, even with the housemade sausage. -Service was a little slow at times -Location is strange...inside of an apartment complex? Definitely hard to find. -Kind of on the pricey side for what you get I really enjoyed a lot of what I tried there....especially that delicious burrata! But I wasn't too impressed with the pizza....yes, I know they use very high quality ingredients, but I just wasn't wow'ed. They definitely did not get the best pizza award from me.
(3)Kathryn M.
After living in Italy this is as close to the real thing as I have found in the Boulder/Denver area- Individual pizzas with one to three toppings made fresh to order out of the oven. The intimate atmosphere is best suited for a semi-casual lunch meeting, a date, or a foursome size group. Yes the pizzas look large for one person, but they are very thin. You'll finish the whole thing without blinking. If you love American style pizza with gobs of toppings smothered in ooey gooey cheese this is probably not the place for you. The ingredients are fresh and of high quality. The location and restaurant size are not optimal but good things come to those who wait...
(5)Keith A.
Best pizza in boulder. Just beat out protos. Soup excellent as well as espresso to finish.
(5)Zach A.
Basta, I've had enough! We headed to Pizzeria Basta because we wanted to try something new and different in Boulder as we tend to frequent the same locations again and again. Our experience at PB was enough to keep us from ever venturing out of our routine. Sure, the restaurant looked nice enough, the hostess was nice enough, our service was nice enough, the wine was nice enough... You know what wasn't enough? The amount of food you get for what you pay. $17 for a 10-inch pizza which was a half-barren landscape void of toppings? $16 for two raviolis. Yes, two. The flavors weren't bad, but it definitely wasn't the best pizza in town. And for those prices, it seems like PB thinks they are. In all fairness, the baby lettuce with spiced walnuts, dates and bleu cheese was delicious. "Basta" means sufficient, enough or lasting... Pizzeria Basta is only kidding itself.
(2)Sara Y.
This is between four and five stars, depending on how you feel about paying more for high quality ingredients. It's more date night pizza, not a 'I'm starving on Tuesday night and don't really care what kind of pizza I eat" type of place. I have found Basta to be top notch each time (going on about ten visits), whether for lunch or dinner. They are currently offering more menu options, including a $10 lunch of three pizza choices and either a salad or soup. I almost always get the daisy, adding goat cheese. They use hand stretched buffalo mozzarella cheese here, and it's heavenly. Beer and wine are carefully selected and pair well with the entrees. The service has always been timely, attentive but not too attentive, and friendly. I heart Basta.
(5)Pui Ying S.
Atmosphere is very modern and warm and the staff is very friendly. The pizza was very delicious, with a chewy crust. They also have egg as a topping (yea) but it looks like it's cooked then put on the pizza, rather than super runny and baked in the oven with the pizza. The sausage is very good however, cut into strips rather than chunky bite sized pieces which I prefer. The yellow beet salad was delicious with wonderful ricotta. The highlight of the trip was the ice cream selection. They had porter ice cream which tasted wonderfully like beer but sweet - not a bad combination. I wish I tried the speck ice cream (could it be as good or bad as bacon ice cream). I really admire the adventurous ice cream flavors.
(4)Yokes F.
I've only been here once so my stars should probably be between 4 and 5 stars but I'm going to round it up and give it 5. Because if I gave Pizzeria Locale 4 stars, this place deserves 5. I was so excited to be at a restaurant started by Chef Kelly Whitaker, a former chef at Hatfield's in LA, my boyfriend and I just ordered like crazy and tried as many things as we could in one sitting. We had their burrata with pork belly and leeks served with wood fired pizza bread. Omg... the burrata melted in your mouth and the pork belly and leeks made an amazing combination. This is a dish I know I'm going to crave from time to time. I might need to make a monthly trek out here to silence my craving. It's a very rich dish so get ready if you order it. For salad, we ordered their beet salad that came with grapefruit, spinach, mascarpone, ricotta, hazelnut dressed in balsamic. It sounds like a lot and kind of crazy but the flavors actually come out to be very simple and delicious. The sweetness of the beets work really well with the cheeses and hazelnut. It almost tastes like a dessert salad. I loved it! Then we moved onto the Cart-Driver pizza that came with housemade sausage (really good), rapini, housemade mozzarella, fennel pollen and chilie. This was really really good. Although the style wasn't totally thin crust, Basta has their own style of pizza dough that has an amazing texture. It almost feels like you're eating doughy clouds. Although I still think Pizzeria Locale's dough tastes better, Basta did way better in it's texture and bringing out a super fresh pizza with no soggy middle. I'm a huge texture person so I couldn't stop enjoying chewing that crust. It has a really nice mochi-like texture. I can't wait to eat another pizza by them. We didn't want to stop at just pizza so we also ordered their polenta with meatballs. It's a pretty rich dish but it was really good. Their pork meatballs were tasty although I did think they were slightly too salty. The peperonata was a nice touch that added some kick to the dish. For dessert, we ordered the warm chocolate tart w/ raspberry coulis and burnt caramel ice cream. It didn't blow me away but the rest of the meal was so good, I could easily forgive the average dessert. I feel like the organic Tiramisu might've been the better choice here. I saw a couple next to us order it and it looked pretty good. All in all, I love this place. Definitely coming back. If you're coming here for the first time, it might be a little tricky to find. It's weird because you see the "Basta" lit sign from Arapahoe but the restaurant isn't really right there. You actually need to turn into 33rd St. and enter the apartment complex to park, then you'll see a restaurant in the middle of this community of apartments. Its location seemed a little bizarre but who cares when the food is good right?
(5)Kyla L.
Fantastic on every level! So glad my sister found this place. We ate on the patio, had a great server, and loved everything: our vino, pizzas, olives and salad were all top notch. We will most certainly return!
(5)Ki P.
Back in Boulder so had to try Pizzeria Basta-I'm from LA and have loved Hatfield's for years. So the only hard part about this place is finding it! Once found I had a blast. Sat at the bar and ordered the small plate of warmed olives-perfecto. Wine List? Check. Great list with many options, I had a glass of the Montepulciano and then another later of the Stolpman Sangiovese. Both very food friendly wines. Then onto the Shisito Peppers...grilled peppers in Sea Salt. They were an adventure, some sweet, some hot. Hot pepper roulette. Shared with my bar mates, these were a hit. Then on the PIZZA. Tonight they had a cool Mkt Pizza special with Pei Mussels, Arugula Pesto and Salumi...but I was in the mood for a great tomato based za, so went with the Peppers pizza, just tomato sauce, basil, mozzarella and pepperoni. The crust was perfect, not burned but chewy and sweet. What made this a great experience was the people-Sam the bartender was great, as was everyone. And I love this place as they have farm fresh products, and it shows. The sauce on the pizza was amazing, so amazing I could just eat it as a side. Seriously, this was good, and a good value IMHO. Nicely done Kelly Whitaker.
(4)Micah S.
Don't tell me I can't have a table when you have two sitting there. Don't tell me that my take-out is going to take ten minutes and then make me wait 40 when you see I'm there with three kids who are starving. And don't overcharge me for tiny, burned pizzas that were by no means worth the hype.
(1)Cynthia B.
Five stars FOR BOULDER. For being as good as it gets IN BOULDER. Which does not, let's be real, have much in the way of pizza. Shakespeare's in humble little Columbia Missouri puts Boulder 'za to shame. Ha. With that caveat, though, Basta ROCKED. Went there last week with a girlfriend, sat outside, chatted with our friendly tall waiter. (Can't remember his name. But he was from Oklahoma.) He did not steer us wrong on food or wine and we were very happy with both pizzas, the salad, and the twenty-five glasses of wine. Or something like that. Please support them to encourage the growth of decent pizzerias in Boulder. Thank you.
(5)Mike D.
I really liked the ambiance and the staff at this place. Everyone was friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, we only stayed for an appetizer but I really enjoyed the chicken liver mousse. The side of pickled veggie were presented very nicely but served a little too gourmet, meaning tiny vegetables in tiny portions. The beer and wine selection were on point, so overall, a seemingly awesome spot that we need to re-check out another time.
(4)Sarai S.
My first choice for dinner in Boulder, I can't get enough of Pizzeria Basta. I usually start with some meats and bread, then follow it up with the wood fired vegetable salad and then on to pizza. And don't forget the wood fired vanilla bean ice cream. YUM. But the best part of Basta is the experience. I really enjoy sitting at the bar with my mate, the warmth from the wood fire is a like a big hug that surrounds you while you sip tasty wine, indulge in locally grown, well prepared dishes and enjoy the pleasant welcoming feeling that each server, chef and bartender purveys. I enjoy watching as my food is prepared with love and masterful choreography in the smallest of spaces. Of course this was my top choice for a cozy birthday dinner with my special date. Thanks to him, the staff quickly learned it was my birthday. Although each experience at Basta has been wonderful, the flurry of heartfelt birthday wishes truly touched me and prompted this post. As if I wasn't already convinced, it has been confirmed, Basta is a VERY special place.
(5)Cathy B.
Tried this place tonight for the first time on a whim. I got the 'daisy' [margarita] pizza with added mushrooms to go -- an older review said that they only allow takeout for Peloton residents, so they either changed their policy or thought I lived in the Peloton, since I had no trouble getting it to go. While I waited at the bar for my pizza, one of the servers offered me a glass of water, which was thoughtful. I like the look of the room, though it was a little cozy. Scenery was nice - very cute guy on the other end of the bar :-) While the pizza toppings were super fresh and tasty, I prefer my crust without a ton of the wood-oven black char on it. Some is ok, but too much just makes the pizza taste kinda dirty. But I liked the vibe so I'll probably go back and try other items from the menu.
(3)Anahata H.
Go for the food - put up with the service. For the second time in a row, we waited over 15 m for someone to acknowledge our existence (after being seated) ordered everything as soon as a server made eye contact, courses were totally off. The salad came first, then wine, cheese and dinner. To get ahead of the game, we ordered dessert and asked for the bill when the server asked if our pizza tasted good (no joke). Total junk but the sauce pie is worth dealing with suckers.
(5)Jon W.
I liked Pizzeria Basta but didn't LOVE it as many other reviewers did. Hopefully future trips will change my mind. We arrived a bit before 7PM on a Monday and there were plenty of open tables but we sat at the bar with a good view of the wood-fired oven. By the time we left every seat was full and people were waiting to get in. The pizza was really good but not great IMO. I'm a pizza nut and a former restaurant/hospitality professional (the hours and family pressures finally got to me) so I can sometimes be a bit tough on restaurants. The dough was perfect for the 800+ degree oven, cooking up nicely without overcooking the toppings. Nice ingredients on the pizzas but the combos didn't really work for me. The rapini on the Cart-driver overwhelmed the pizza, covering up the other ingredients. Next time I'll create my own off the menu. The salads were tasty, with fresh ingredients, nice dressings and chilled plates. The one thing that put me off was the attitude of our waiter. The presumption that diners don't know anything about food or drinks is dangerous ground to tread, especially in Boulder where nearly everyone travels a lot and get to enjoy some pretty good food without leaving the city limits. If you want to upsell me, do it in a way that tells me why my experience is going to be appreciably improved. Admittedly I have issues with our non-professional waitstaff's in the USA trying to pretend they are all knowing. Another reviewer mentioned the same thing - I know my beer and wine and don't need you to try and guilt me into buying something I don't want, no matter how much you like it or it costs. Hey, I'll be back for sure and will update this review accordingly.
(4)Lynn M.
First experience at PB was nothing short of incredible! Started with a prosciutto flight, right into a stellar 'za and finished it off with a chocolate dessert and a side of homemade caramel ice cream. I will be going back. Soon! Comfortable atmosphere and friendly staff.
(5)