Basta
121 Iowa Ave, Iowa City, IA, 52240
Basta Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Iowa City for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Iowa City for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
121 Iowa Ave
Iowa City, IA, 52240 - Phone (319) 337-2010
- Website https://bastaiowacity.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
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.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Beth J.
I was a bit disappointed with Basta seeing that that the owners are of two of my favorite restaurants, Atlas and Jimmy Jacks Rib Shack. My husband and I attended on a Friday night without reservations (I recommend making some if you would like to try it). The host said it would be 30-45 min and we were welcomed at the bar. We had some drinks and an appetizer which was amazing (the stuffed dates). We had a great experience at the bar. When we were moved to our table about 20 min later our experience changed. We ordered the Siccila (italian sausage) pizza and the octopus risotto. They were both mediocre at best. The pizza was to thin, soggy and greasy. When you picked it up all the toppings fell off. The octopus risotto was a mess. The rice was over cooked and runny. The pancetta in the dish was chewy and overcooked. The only good part about the dish was the grilled octopus. For such a limited menu (about 10 to 15 items) I would expect that what is on there should be perfectly executed and unfortunately it wasn't. I will say the wait staff was excellent and I do like the option of ordering either small or large plates. We hope to go back in a couple of months when they have their act together and hopefully have a better experience.
(3)k b.
Went there on a Sunday night which is not the night to go out to eat in Iowa City. The service was good and they were friendly but the food was not great. The ravoli tasted like it had been sitting around for a while. At least they were apologetic
(2)Jeff O.
My wife and I had a fabulous meal here when we came for our date night. We came after 8pm and we got sat immediately. There's a fair amount of room both inside and outside. It was pretty full but still wasn't incredibly loud, which is ideal for date night. Service was adequate. I think the servers realized we were gazing into each other's moon eyes and gave us space, but when we were hoping for our bill it did take a while to come. Still, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. We started each with an Amalfi Press, which was on special half off for Basta club members. They're kind of like pimped out mojitos and they're DELICIOUS. Our entrees were the ribeye cooked medium and the lobster pizza. The steak was free for her birthday month (also a Basta club thing) and it was cooked perfectly. Usually when we order medium it's overcooked but here it was just like we wanted. The marbling was beautiful and quite juicy. The mashed potatoes were delicious, and grilled asparagus was really tasty as well. The lobster pizza was also phenomenal. The ricotta mozzarella combo was on point and carried a genius combo of toppings. In Iowa it'd be incomplete without corn of course! For dessert we got the nutella creme brulle and it was really really good. Rich nutella custard with a crispy torch glazed top. AWESOME. We'll be back!
(5)j c.
Great location in the downtown area. Spacious inside with nice bar area and the brick oven. They are serious about their food with home-made pasta and mozzarella cheese. Familiar items are mixed with some intriguing options on the smallish menu. Among the appetizers, calamari stands out with light and crispy coating that looked clean without the tell tale dark spots suggesting old oil. Fine bibb salad. Beet salad was a bit salty. The goat cheese on the garden pasta overwhelmed the rest of the flavor. Pizzas are well made with thin yet not soggy crusts. Overall, excellent choice downtown with potential to become a great restaurant. The reason for not five stars is while everything sounded and tasted good, it didn't quite have that wow factor.
(4)Roy S.
The pizza is very tasty. The ingredients are fresh, and the staff is exceptional! There are always new seasonal items which are a great treat!
(5)Chad Z.
The pizza was perfectly baked in a wood oven with outstanding authentic ingredients. We also had a beef pasta dish that was quite good. Very cool atmosphere for the downtown Iowa City area. PBR on tap.
(5)Carol E.
Get the margherita pizza...it was excellent. The minestrone soup was good, croutons best thing in that. Entrees should be skipped -- flavorless -- chicken/pancetta wrapped w/ gnochi -- gnochi was mushy and flavorless. Fruiti de Mar -- bad pasta and flavorless seafood.
(2)Michiko M.
I have to give Basta a mixed review. The ambiance, service, and food are all good. It might even be authentic. The price was astronomical considering what we got. I'm not used to paying $40 for lunch for two. If we were getting alcohol, it might be slightly more reasonable, but we didn't We even got smaller entrees. If it were stratospheric in quality and slightly larger portions, I wouldn't mind the price. As it was, I won't go here again unless I'm with someone who can't eat anywhere else.
(3)Ann P.
My boyfriend and I came for a late Saturday dinner after Iowa played Illinois State for a football game that morning. Given we aren't from around here, the restaurant looked appealing from the outside. We saw it had overall good Yelp reviews but were not considering the dress code. He was dressed up more than me, as I had on the outfit I wore to the game and hadn't changed - not sure if that was the reason I felt like we weren't taken as seriously, because the service was less than suckish. Once we entered and the hostess didn't seem to be judgy, we figured it was worth dining in - it would've been too late to leave by then anyway. We got seated inside and immediately got greeted by our waiter. It was a little crowded, expected for a Saturday, but not completely full. Our (pretty big) section, however, only had 3 other occupied tables, where two parties had left halfway through our meal. Some time during our wait for the food, Brandon noticed servers carrying baskets of bread. He questioned if we should've gotten any, but I shrugged it off giving them the benefit of the doubt that they'd bring it later. They didn't. Finally we got our food, from another server - which is normal - but he didn't ask if everything looked alright or if we needed anything else. We went with the crab bruschetta for an appetizer. It was awesome, and Brandon loved it even more because it didn't have any tomatoes (he doesn't mind it, but it was a surprisingly good variation). The bread was thick and not too crusty at all. The crab mixture had a kick towards the end but was balanced by the cool avocado. The fire cooked pizza would be the reason for one star, and the open half-kitchen where you could see the chef making the pizza would be for an additional star. Pizza was perfectly cooked and the combination of sweet corn, white sauce, and lobster was great! I got the four cheese pasta, because I'm a big fan of the Cheesecake Factory's version. It was subpar, not bad but I wouldn't order it again. Another pet peeve I have with "nice" restaurants; rule of thumb, my beverage should never, for the most part, reach below half, or even 3/4 empty. Although Brandon is a very fast drinker - I mean he will get through at least 8 refills in a sitting - I'm the complete opposite. When I found myself waiting around what had seemed like forever for someone to replenish my drink, I was even more mad than before. We had to flag down another server on MULTIPLE occasions, which we're happy that they helped us with the attitude we'd be tipping them. Every time I saw our server, he never seemed busy, just busy visiting at his other tables to make sure he didn't need to tend to anything else for them, which he didn't. Note, we haven't seen our server since ordering. He passed us numerous times and didn't bother giving us the same service. When he finally did come by for the second and last time, we got our check and gave him a tip although he didn't deserve it. Maybe he assumed he wouldn't have gotten a nice tip from a couple of college students, which is wrong because we personally tip based on service as opposed to the stigma. I'm more than understanding when a place is slow due to a full crowd or being understaffed because it's not the server's fault, but this was not the case. Instead, Basta has just earned a couple of unsatisfied customers who will never recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Robyn C.
Just got back from dinner at Basta. We moved to Iowa City from Rome a year ago, and have been craving "real" Italian pizza since we got here. At Basta, we've found it at last!! We knew we were in for a treat when we got the appetizer, which is simply called "Meat & Cheese Plate." Delicious pecorino, Tallegio, Iowa prosciutto, and a GORGEOUS soprasatta....served with well-toasted crostini and a lovely date jam. We practically licked the plate. The house red wine was also really good, and a nice reminder of Italy. Then, the pizzas came. We had a four-cheese pizza, and a fungi (mushroom). The crust on both was phenomenal....better than we've had in the US. Thin, but bubbly, charred in all the right places, but not soggy and soupy in the middle (which, truth be told, was our biggest complaint about restaurant pizza in Rome). The toppings were delicious, and NOT piled on to excess.....but exactly enough (hence the name, basta). We absolutely loved the green garlic pesto on the fungi pizza, but wouldn't recommend it for anyone on a first date, as that garlic has some punch! The richness of the four-cheeses was cut nicely by some peppery arugula. Can't wait to try all of the pizzas. At some point, we may just ask for a pizza bianca with olive oil and salt....the crust is that good. Though we loved the appetizer we had, we're going to try the stuffed dates next time. Our server (and lots of yelp reviewers) recommended them, and we're inferring from the lovely combination of the cheeses and the date jam we had that the stuffed dates will be excellent. We are big fans of Jimmy Jack's, and Atlas has served us some yummy stuff as well. With Basta, we think these guys are three for three!
(4)Chaos M.
Eat pizza and soup here. Heard from my friends, they said it is the best pizza place in town. The pizza is special, looks different from other places. But maybe I don't like this kind of pizza, I didn't feel it is better than other places. BTW, I like the soup.Include service, it maybe 4 stars, but I just rate the taste of food I ate.
(3)Sandra A.
Nothing here is terrible but little is awesome, save their happy hour prices.
(2)Nicole P.
My expereince at Basta was less than enjoyable. I planned an after work outing for us to grab a couple drinks and some food after work. We arrived and were told we would have to sit in the cafe seating area as only two tables could accommodate our group of 8 people. They had other tables that appeared to fit 4 to a table but we would told they couldn't move tables together. We sat at the cafe area and they would not let us move the small tables together but there was really no reason. After that we ordered a few drinks and a couple of us wanted to order food. At first the waitress told us we could not all order food due to the small tables, which was fine since only a couple of us wanted to order anyways. She still went to check with her manager. The manager then came over and said they could only take a couple orders and not orders for everyone as the "kitchen was busy". We were not in a rush or asking for food to go. I have never been told I am limited on the amount of food we can order due to the kichen being busy. After later getting my food, a pizza on the special for ~$15, I was dissapointed with the lack of flavor and minimal amount of goat cheese placed on top. Overall, the poor service, in addition to the over-priced, mediocre food, convinced me and my co-workers not to come back.
(1)Leah W.
The bad: I ordered the octopus risotto. Risotto was overcooked and flavorless; the predominant flavor was the oodles of butter the oyster mushrooms were cooked in. The octopus was VERY fishy (I've eaten lots of seafood, raw and cooked, and this may have been the worst seafood I've ever had). Nothing good about this dish. The good: The sausage stuffed dates. Amazing. SO GOOD. Nice glass of prosecco. My boyfriend liked his bolognese. When I mentioned to the (very nice!) server how disappointing the risotto was, he addressed it with a manager, and comped us a free dessert. VERY well handled. The dates were delicious, I've heard nothing but great stuff about the pizzas, and I look forward to trying one the next time I visit.
(4)Todd M.
I ordered an appetizer, salad, and pasta. Which came out of the kitchen in the order Pasta, followed by the salad minutes later, followed by the appetizer. So, by the time my salad was finished, my pasta was cold. Service was friendly, but not competent. I had butternut squash ravioli. This pasta was accompanied by nicely seasoned mushrooms and a decent cream sauce. The serving size was remarkably stingy. The salad was fair. Bibb lettuce, diced cuke, grape tomatoes, red onion and small croutons. All in all the quality of food was average. The cost of the meal without drink was ~$25. There are several restaurants nearby in this price range that are of higher quality and much better value. Hopefully they can get their food cost in line and train up the wait staff. Could be good someday.
(3)Amy D.
Basta is a lovely restaurant with several options for different tastes and price ranges. One could easily split a pizza (all are good, really), foccacia and a carafe of wine with a friend for a reasonable price. On the other hand, one could enjoy a more indulgent evening with an appetizer (please, please choose the pancetta wrapped dates, they're perhaps the best thing on the menu) a pasta or main dish (I prefer the short rib tortelli) and dessert (try the tiramisu!). The cocktails are also lovely and represent a range of tastes. If you prefer a sweeter, juicier drink, the Amalfi sling is perfect with a lovely mint taste to cut the sweetness. If you're up for a more interesting cocktail, the Negrelli is both complex and delicious. The atmosphere of Basta is inviting and would be suitable for a family dinner, casual drinks with friends, or a romantic meal. I hope you enjoy Basta as much as I do!
(5)Em K.
Went with a friend and was highly disappointed in the lack of vegetarian and/or simple past choices. Their menu has too many random aspects --thought it was supposed to be Italian.. Decided on a pizza which came out rather burnt. Not to mention the wads of black hair entwined in my pizza crust. When I pointed it out to my server (who might I mention was highly unintelligent) she said we would get it for free which would have been great if she hadn't "accidentally" charged us $11 each for a side salad. We ended up leaving hungry and insanely frustrated 2 hours and $18+ later. Service was insulting and the manager appeared to be insanely under trained in the "interacting with humans" category.
(1)Peter G.
We've been here a few times, going back to the first time we visited Iowa City before our son began attending U of Iowa. This is a great Italian restaurant, and being of Italian descent and a native of Boston, I think I know good Italian food. Their home-made pastas are excellent; try their spaghetti bolongnese, it's awesome. My wife likes their fruitti di mare dish, and the broth is fragrant with excellent quality seafood. My son likes their pizza, but also is a fan of their sausage & orichiette with broccoli rabe. Service is always good, nice feel and decor, a step up from the usual college town restaurants. It can get a little loud on a busy night because of the high ceilings, so get a booth on the upper level if you want a little more conversational atmosphere. Quality you would expect to find in Boston, New York, Phillie or Chicago. Go there, you'll love it.
(4)Aaron F.
Their tomato bisque soup is phenomenal! I have gone here on more than one occasion and just ordered that. Overall the ambiance of the restaurant is great for both dates as well meeting up with friends. I can't say I have a bad experience here yet. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are at all thinking Italian food in Iowa City.
(4)Marjorie S.
I have always have great experiences at Basta and I think it's one of the best restaurants in Iowa City (and I am very picky!). I am writing because last night while my boyfriend and I were waiting for our food and appetizer, I was experiencing a very scary medical event and needed to leave. Our waitress was so understanding and professional about the situation, as was whoever my boyfriend talked to when he went inside to tell them we couldn't stay. I wish I knew who the waitress was because she deserves to be thanked. It was around 7:30 pm last night (7/23). I am very appreciative of your exceptional service and look forward to returning.
(5)Christine L.
I had the chicken fettuccine and my sister had the lobster pizza and both were to die for ! The lobster pizza has roasted corn roasted red peppers and fresh mozzarella cheese and cooked in a wood fire oven !!! My chicken fettuccine had homemade noodles and plenty of the Alfredo sauce !
(5)Zainab A.
I've dinned 3 times and never was disappointed! Everything was amazing, service, food, and the restaurant is clean, from floors, tables, bathroom, walls, glasses, and utensils! Pizza is freshly made with fresh ingredients, you should try the mozzarella, tomato, and basil pizza, so simple and so delicious, the gelato was amazing!
(5)Jessica B.
The pizza and wood oven focaccia are amazing. The wood oven adds a great flavor, and they use a block of Parmesan cheese to top your food if you like. The staff is always great. My favorite lunch spot in Iowa City!
(5)Nora R.
Wood-fired pizza, excellent salads, tiramisu, limoncello, and much, much more. Attentive staff, comfortable seating, reasonable prices, near the Pentacrest. And you can get a small or large plate of spaghetti and delicious meatballs any day of the week.
(5)Nate K.
Outstanding pizza. The staff is always friendly and helpful...especially when we stop in with our two young boys who want to pull up a chair and watch the chef make the pizza. Also great/thought-out ambiance.
(5)Mat W.
I asked my daughter how many stars. She said 5 :-) we had the marguerite pizza, two of them. It was really cooked perfectly, cheese was great, crispy and gooey, but right amount of cheese. I might take .5 off as server was a bit slow, didn't check up for soda refills. Was a new trainee though so no big deal we all have to learn.
(5)Stephanie W.
I had the Salsiccia pizza and it was terrific. A little spicy but I liked that. The pizza crust is flawless. Also, the house red wine is one of the best house wines I have ever had. If you like a classy place, excellent service and phenomenal food, then go to Basta. It never disappoints.
(5)Cyrus G.
Wife and I are visiting from San Diego and stopped in for some pizza. It was spectacular we had the beat salad and the ground sausage pizza followed by an espresso. The salad was fresh, the pizza to die for and the espresso was fresh ground. We didn't know where to eat so we were wandering the town looking up reviews on yelp and they didn't disappoint. The staff here was also extremely kind and courteous.
(5)Sidot S.
Great atmosphere. Really good for the stuffed dates, and the squid ink pasta were to die for. Reasonably priced. Most people may not notice the music selection while dinning, however I due. Even that was great. We were in a group 5+ and the server did a great job not hovering, but being around just enough. Just don't forget stuffed dates for and appetizer and for desert the gelato flights.....Trust me!
(5)Carly M.
The food was good, as well as the staff.. Probably wouldn't go back.. Nothing stood out as amazing
(3)Sara S.
Great food, great atmosphere. Basta has delicious salads, homemade pasta, a brick pizza oven that's visible throughout the open restaurant. Somehow Basta is open yet cozy, elegant yet comfortable for children. We love to take people who are visiting or new to town to visit. It's great to sit outside on a nice day and enjoy a meal with a view of the Old Capitol. I highly recommend the Steak and Beet Salad, even if you're not a met or salad lover, it's amazing. The Sevice is always above average. Brady has gone out of his way to make us feel comfortable and welcome during a long wait. Highly recommend.
(5)C C.
The staff was great and very friendly! The ambiance was nice and the food was dynamite!
(5)Eric H.
I really wanted to love this place, but each visit has been a disappointment. What I really love about this place is the atmosphere, which is night and day difference from its previous college bar status as "808." It's now a romantic place- I just wish the food was better. I think the best thing to get is the pizza, which is a more traditional Napoli style pie. Really delicious crust. The spaghetti bolognese was fine. It lacked flavor and made me wish I'd cooked at home. The spicy sausage pasta was made flavorful by the kale and sausage, but it was covered in way too many garlic bread crumbs. Tiramisu was really rich and delicious.
(3)Mark G.
I had one of the best Spaghetti I have ever had, they have that "mama in the kitchen touch" for sure fresh, flavorful, decent sized portion. The stuffed dates were awesome as well, very nice dish. Pizza was great, nice to get a good pie here in Iowa. However, no salad or side dish with my meal! Huge let down for what I paid I expect some kinda side, I mean if Olive Garden can do it so can you. Wish they had a few more pasta dishes, with such talent in the kitchen I would expect more.
(4)Mary W.
My absolute favorite pizza! Haven't been able to try anything else because I refuse to pass the pizza up!
(5)Gregory J.
I really like the beet salad. It's fresh and a large portion, so the salad alone is filling enough for a whole meal. Very satisfying. The service is wonderful. I've gone there many times for lunch and find the food and service are consistently good.
(5)Samantha P.
Great atmosphere and amazing food. We were visiting from Chicago and went to dinner here with friends. We all got a pasta dish and were all very pleased with our choices. I got the four cheese penne, which was one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had! Would recommend.
(5)Dana S.
The wood oven pizza is great! I also recommend the fried calamari, the sauce that comes with it is so good! The food is very fresh and seems to have continually gotten better since it opened!
(4)Bobby C.
Hells yeah! Basta is exactly what is needed in the downtown IC dining scene. What Basta literally means in Italian is "not too little, not too much -- ENOUUGH." And their culinary wizard, Brady McDonald has really incorporated that in the meal I had last night. Dining with 2 people we had that perfect "Basta" experience. We left satisfied but not stuffed. The same reflected in our wallet as everything was reasonably priced including their great happy hour that we just caught before it ended at five -- half off vinos (and I think other drinks-but don't quote me). Ok down to the food. The pizza Napoli style was incredible. And after having my IC staple Pagliaias just the day before, I'd have to say I prefer Basta at the moment. It's authentic Italian, the crust is so thin that you don't feel like a fatso after eating. The appetizer we had was one of the best things I've ever tasted. Pancetta wrapped,house-made Italian sausage stuffed dates with Gorgonzola, Calabrian chile tomato sauce. 5 of them were the perfect size as they were pretty rich and worth splitting for 2-3 people. An excellent Italian wine selection ranging from 6-$9 per glass (half off during happy hour) and they are healthy pours. Excellent service both from our waitress and manager on duty. I used to come here when it was GA Malone and 808 and they have done the best I've ever scene with the space making the open layout still feel cozy and romantic. Ok my long-winded review is now enough... I mean 'Basta!'
(5)Michael B.
Very nice option for casual Italian food in Iowa City. The atmosphere is somewhat subdued, quiet, elegant but still casual. Definitely not a place where you want to show up in sweats, but at the same time, it's a relaxed atmosphere... I've only gone during the week and the place is typically pretty empty, so not sure if it gets jam packed and rowdy on the weekends. Service is typically pretty solid, obviously all college kid waiters, but they are courteous typically fairly on-point. Food...Really enjoy the food here. Pizza is simply awesome. GREAT, great crust. Just enough toppings and soooo fresh. I typically get the sausage/pepperoni combo (you have to ask for it). The meat and cheese appetizer is also great. For entree, I've tried a few things but my favorite is the Spaghetti Bolognese. Home-made pasta, lots of meat sauce, pancetta, mhmmm... Soo good! Haven't tried their desserts and the bar drinks are just so so. Nonetheless, the pizza and home-made pasta make this place great if you're in the Iowa City area.
(4)Joy S.
We stopped by on a whim. Loved the entire dining experience! From appetizer of stuffed dates to sage tequila smash to dessert! Service was excellent! If you are hungry for Italian in Iowa City, you must eat here!
(5)Libby H.
This was a really wonderful experience for dinner. We walked in as a party of two on a home game night and were seated in their cafe area. The decor is warm and classic...lots of couples on dates, families, folks stopping in for a drink. We had their "Amalfi Press" and "Whiskey Shandy" cocktails--the former with house-made limoncello which was absolutely delicious. Bibb salad and tomato bisque also to start, both excellent. The parmesan they use is high-quality. Then we split a funghi wood-fired pizza--great Neopolitan crust. Have you had top notch Neopolitan, thin crust, wood-fired pizza? This is what it's supposed to taste like. The crust is that perfect blend of chewy and crispy. No, it's not huge and greasy like the Airliner. It's not supposed to be. Dessert was best of all--when you go, try the "budini" (I think?)--their flourless chocolate cake. Don't try to eat the cake with the gelato. Eat cake, then gelato, then cake. You will wish it could go on and on. Seriously, so good. Two drinks, a medium sized salad, a cup of soup, a 12" pizza, and dessert for $45-50. Not a bad way to spend a night out in class in Iowa City.
(5)Chase L.
I had the spaghetti with meatballs and was blown away. The atmosphere was great and the staff very friendly and kind. Great prices and I am left very full. Seriously the best pasta I have had. I think it was the homemade thick noodles but the slightly spicy meatballs might have been the 5 star topper. I'll be back and I live 5 hours away!
(5)Gustatorius T.
This is an OK restaurant with pizzas above the IC average. The place is well renovated and designed, the ambiance is nice, the service outstanding but the food is so-and-so. The flatbreads were good but nothing spectacular. The place is much too pricey for the quality of the food there. That said, I only had pizza and I will return to sample more from the menu. And I dont think it is right to charge $4 for a glass of PBR...
(3)Matt U.
We strolled in to Basta on a nice summer evening to see for ourselves what people had been talking about. We'd heard mixed reviews, but came away very impressed. The restauranteers got it right with the use of a good amount of dark wood and a classic bar to create an ambiance that was a nice combination of classy and romantic, but without becoming pretentious. The servers were all very nice and were well versed in both food and beverage offerings. The wine and beer list weren't overly extensive, but gave good variety. They had a number of good Iowa beers that ranged from light to dark (Most good!) as well as plenty of wines by the glass. The appetizers are plentiful and included one of the best in recent memory - The stuffed dates. The bacon wrapped morsels were stuffed with sausage, floated in a delicious marinara and graced with bleu cheese. I found myself chewing longer they were so good! The fritto misto was the Italian version of fried shrimp and veggies, served with roasted pepper aioli - decent, not great. For the main course we sampled the Salsiccia pizza. It was excellent with some great sausage and really good thin crust made in the brick oven. It was only made better by the Pizza dude in the corner tossing dough a la Visa commercial! Next, we tried the Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli and it was truly incredible! The sauce was creamy, but not heavy, the broccoli was tender and the bread that came with it was spectacular! It's worth going back for. Overall, the food ranged from average to incredible, the ambiance was nice and the service excellent. The prices were a little steep for the pizza's while the pasta and other entrees were about right. Outdoor seating would be great on nice nights, but the interior is well thought out and gives the place some nice character, and with the backdrop of a very impressive bar, there's little to dislike inside! Basta is on par with places like Baroncini and Cafe Dodici and is well worth trying out. You'll like what you find!
(4)Lynn J.
Good place to eat. Nice.
(4)David S.
My first time trying this place was for take out. Man was I surprised! Everything I had, dates, burrata, pizza, orecchiette was amazing! I couldn't believe how well the food kept. The decor of Basta reminds me of an Italian restaurant in Chicago with its subway style tile and marble. I can't wait to dine in!
(5)Scott A.
The good: the stuffed dates are fantastic. Definitely try them. The not-so-good: the rest of dinner was so-so. The penne and sausage was dry. The salad was plain. The bruschetta was very chunky and plain. My wife's pasta was pretty flavorless. And so on. Service was good and friendly, but the food needs improvement.
(2)Jeremy Z.
Not a great experience
(2)Anthony S.
I've been here twice and both times it has underwhelmed. The food is just ok - could make much better at home. The menu offers very limited choices.
(2)Nicole K.
Great food and awesome service. We made a mistake when we ordered and they were so polite and made us a new dish.
(5)Ryan M.
I can't speak for the entire menu at Basta, nor need I. If you want a great, cheap dinner for two, get a cup of soup, split an awesome pizza, and order some wine. All of the above will be great and it will cost you $15 per person. Going alone? Get a glass of wine (instead of a full carafe), and hold the soup (or get it anyways, whatever!). I did once order the calamari. I would not again. Following the above, which is how I did it in my three or four trips to Basta, I thoroughly enjoyed my meals. The atmosphere is comfortable and was quiet when I went. The servers were very polite (even fun) and fine for the place being so new (and even it it was not new). Maybe the other dishes are not as good (I have not tried them). Go with what they do well--pizza and wine. I have some fond memories of dinners at Basta. Go and create some of your own.
(5)Margaret K.
The building looks nice and the interior design is done well. Pleasant atmosphere. We started with dirty water glasses and slow service on a not particularly busy night. Felt like our waitress forgot about us. Possibly understaffed. Inside had flies all over. Took an hour to get our food, and when it finally arrived the quality wasn't worth the price
(2)Fadua M.
Excellent service!!! Great food!!! Ambiance was really good even with a child. Would definitely go back again!!!
(5)Dave W.
Food decent. Host and hostess were snobs. If I wanted to sit in the bar area with my wife on our one night a week away from thw kids, I would go to Joe's. Dumb move. = 12% tip. Decent waiter. Lots of other places to drop my bucks on dinner and drinks at, that are better, and don't stick you in the bar seating area when tables are open in the dining room. Update. Ran into manager in rest room and shared my displeasure. Un-solicited & after we had paid the bill, he tracked us down 1/2 way down the street and handed us a gift certificate for $25.00 & apologized.. classy move. Guess they are not all tools there. That gained them 2 *'s more than original review.
(4)Samantha L.
Wonderful and swanky restaurant in downtown Iowa City. The ingredients are all locally sourced or made on site ( including the cheese) and the result is delicious! We had pizza, a flatbread, and a salad. The pizza was amazing. The service was excellent.
(4)Carol E.
I ate ALL of my spaghetti bolognese! It soooooo hit the spot! I had a gin and cucumber tonic cocktail thst was delish. Our server, Jenica, was great. This table of 7 was super satisfied!
(4)Alejandro S.
I have tried multiple of the pizzas, and they're all delicious. Went here today with a small group of friends and everyone very much enjoyed their food. It isn't the greatest place, but if you want a yummy lunch or dinner, I'd recommend Basta any day. The only thing I wasn't thrilled about was the seating arrangement. We had a couple sitting on the other side of a barrier, but their side was raised so we could see them looking over us. But, if you are dining with people who don't necessarily care about being extremely private it shouldn't be any problem.
(4)Ted B.
I love Basta. I mean, I LOVE IT! It's one of my favourite restaurants in Iowa City, for one very good reason: Pizza! I've never been a big fan of American pizza. I understand that it's essentially an American original at this point, and that's fair enough. You have your New York style and your Chicago style and what have you, and obviously people really enjoy those. For me though, there's something really off-putting about the combination of masses of sugary-tasting dough, three pounds of pasteurized cheese product, and fistfuls of mushed up sausage meat. Let's not even mention those specialty taco pizzas and cheeseburger pizzas and whatnot. Well, you can believe me when I tell you that the first time I ordered a Basta pizza, the heavens opened and choruses of angels serenaded me from on high, somewhere up above Iowa Avenue. A super light, wafer thin base with just that little bit of elasticity, olive oil and a few dabs of tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella applied sparingly, lovely aromatic basil leaves, and perhaps four or five nice salty anchovies chucked on top, just so...ahhhhh, now that's a pizza! It's my understanding that Basta is an Italian restaurant, and for those few reviewers who've had a bit of a moan about the pizza here, I just want to let you know that this is Italian pizza, specifically the classic Neapolitan style. If you're after a "pie", there are about a million options for American pizza in the Iowa City-Coralville area, so don't feel left out. Just call Little Caesar or Gumby or whoever. My experience with Basta's other entrees is limited to samples I've half-inched from my wife's or my friends' plates, and they've all been either good or very good. My kids cleaned up the kiddie pizza no problem, so it must have been pretty decent too. The beer and wine selections are small but respectable. A couple glasses of Stone Ruination will wash down your pizza just the right way; or a fruity, peppery Nero d'Avola, when it's available, works just as well. Reliable sources tell me that the desserts are very tasty indeed. Service is usually quick and professional, and the wait staff is generally very nicely turned out. It would be great if they could deliver their pizzas, but honestly, you want to eat them as fresh as possible, so the closer you are to the big brick oven the better, I suppose. I eat at Basta at least once a month, I get a freebie for my birthday and for my anniversary, and as I mentioned to begin with, I LOVE IT!
(5)Kent L.
Basta is one of my favorite restaurants in the Corridor area. The pasta is handmade in-house and they have a good selection of entrees, from pizza to various pastas (including ravioli) to steaks. Basta also has a rotating Specials menu, which included squid ink fettucine with crab meat recently (it was excellent). I've tried a handful of different dishes here and the only complaint I can come up with is their Fruiti di Mar seafood pasta dish was a bit bland in my opinion. With that said, I give Basta a five-star rating because of its excellent quality food at a great price. Service here is also consistently very good, which is always a pleasant surprise when you dine on a college campus. I would recommend Basta to bring friends to, a date, or even family. Give Basta a shot. You're not likely to be disappointed.
(5)Lola N.
My first twenty minutes at this place, I was pretty sure I was going to have a five-star experience. I love the atmosphere, the decor, everything on the menu was exciting to me. For appetizers we got the stuffed bacon wrapped dates, fried mozzarella, calamari, and the olives. You really can't go wrong with bacon wrapped dates, so we all enjoyed. The fried mozzarella was pretty good, I thought - I liked the lightness of the cheese inside, seems they incorporate some ricotta or something like that. But the polenta-fried calamari were totally awful. Polenta just isn't good as breading, although the idea excited me initially. Also the marinara sauce they served on the side with the fried mozzarella and the calamari is indistinguishable from what you get at Pizza Hut. For entrees we ordered the tonno, steak salad (forget its name), and 2 people got the bolognese. Truly the bolognese was bad. The sauce was like Chef Boyardee - my mom called it. I also did not find the thick spaghetti noodles charming. My boyfriend also had the bolognese and was less than impressed. The person with the tonno and orzo salad was also underwhelmed with their dish. The only guy who came out a winner was the steak salad, which was perfectly cooked rare and lightly dressed. HOWEVER I will note that if I had to rate this place only on dessert, it would be an automatic and amazing five star place. The "flourless chocolate cake" was in fact an unbelievably warm, light, beautiful confection dressed in OLIVE OIL AND SALT! I couldn't even believe it but I scarfed 75% of it before anyone else at the table could try it, it was so good. I plan on going back just for that reason alone. Summary: service A+, appetizers/food: C+/B-, Dessert: A+++.
(3)Chandler C.
they have an authentic Italian style margherita pizza.. well everything else on the menu pales in comparison to this one item. I would go somewhere else if I wasn't getting that pizza.
(5)Ron S.
I think they tend to fail in the middle. Don't have the brew I want, wonderful salads but lacking in the entrees. My advice find a nice wine, order a salad and make a light meal of it. Sunday spaghetti is a treat, though include the above.
(3)John F.
This is a classy upscale pizzeria that serves tasty pies on a thin and blistered crust (my favorite). It's obvious that equal attention has been paid to the decor, the food, and the service and I commend the restaurant for top marks in all categories. One thing I have to share is how the service handled a bad order. A companion ordered a pizza with atypical toppings on them, and as happens the kitchen staff got it wrong. On top of apologizing, the staff rushed a new one through the kitchen and comped us the pizza. Mistakes happen, and I'm glad to see they were on top of keeping us happy. Will I go back? Most certainly!
(5)Jamie B.
I had a nice experience here. The drinks (the amalfi something-or-other) was very sweet, so minus a star. The food was very good-- I had a chicken salad and my friend had the fontina stuffed chicken breast on a bed of asparagus and gnocchi. The gnochi was amazing and pillowy soft. I felt a bit rushed at the end of our meal- our server had changed into her "going out" wear and was just anxiously awaiting us to hurry up and pay. Minus a star for that.
(3)Shannin Z.
I've been to Basta three times now, every time for lunch. Today was, by far, my best experience. The menu has had a bit of a makeover and they now offer an Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich with either a small Bibb lettuce salad or a cup of minestrone soup for $9. I had to try it & was not disappointed. The Bibb lettuce salad was delicious, as always, but the sandwich was a real treat. Homemade bread, one thick slice of eggplant on each half (skin removed), breaded and fried to perfection, between two layers of homemade mozzarella cheese, topped with homemade marinara sauce, and served with more sauce on the side. Yum! This might be my new favorite downtown lunch. I've had the tiramisu for dessert on every trip and never been disappointed. I'm pretty sure that's made in-house too. As others have stated, the place looks great. I highly recommend trying this place (and the new sandwich)!
(5)Gina Marie H.
Beautiful vintage bar inside, very European vibe. Food was great! Can't figure out why the place was almost empty on a lovely Saturday afternoon. My summation is that the local college kids don't appreciate a place like this. Fools...
(4)Annie W.
Had a nice weekday lunch there. I had..a sandwich which I cannot recall the name of. It was two Italian meats, tomatoes, arugula, and shaved pecerino cheese. I think I left off onions and aioli. It was delish and the bread was great. It came with minestrone soup, which I didn't eat much off...seemed tasty but I'm skeptical of mystery veggies and the sandwich was filling enough. I also had ginger ale that was obviously not the usual ginger ale..in that it actually tasted like ginger. Super yummy. Overall, good service (though it was a late lunch so the place was practically empty), good food, nice atmosphere. Expensive but tasted good enough that it didn't seem like a total rip off.
(4)T A.
My first time here was for a business lunch. I ordered the Chicken Alfredo and it was amazing!! Just the right amount of the home-made creamy alfredo. Home-made noodles were perfect! Also ordered a cappuccino after the meal, very good! Signed up for their birthday club (free entree in the month of your birthday) and I will definitely be back!
(4)Jessica A.
Love this place. The hanger steak melts in your mouth and the bruschetta was so delicious. We also had really great service.
(5)Kat H.
Nice atmosphere. Good friendly service. One vegan option-marinara pizza. Its really thin, and has an even thinner layer of sauce with dried garlic shavings. Wow, would not come here as a vegetarian.
(2)Angela W.
Went in for a happy hour cocktail and stayed for two plus a specialty dish and appetizer!! Love a restaurant that can bring in a "big city dish" and do it right. Best beef carpaccio I've had. Great stuffed dates (consistently good appetizers) and awesome creative drinks!
(4)Tyler R.
The service was quite good--something to note when in Iowa City. I've ordered several things here before: pizza, steak and bolognese. The first two are quite good, but the bolognese was terrible. I highly recommend going to Monica's for Bolognese because this stuff really does taste like Chef Boyardee.
(3)Troy S.
Hmmm, the 3 star label is A-OK... I would prefer it say average. The food is fine, but nearly everything is heavily over-salted. The last dish I had were the scallops with greens: both of which were far too salty. Good news is that the scallops were over cooked. The pizza is nice. The steak is nice too, but too salty. It has been this way from the beginning and I had hoped it would improve with customer feedback. It is spacious and good for a family. The specialty drinks are very nice. Again, average. 3-star if that meant average.
(2)Austin B.
1st, I am writing this review with a buzz. Second, I am writing it in comparison to another recently opened restaurant, Peking Buffet. Not like Peking Buffet: They have a wine list You are not allowed to scoop your own ice cream (they call it "gelati" at Basta, what the hell is that?) They have a menu period The server refilled my water more than once The pizza is baked in an open fire oven the size of my bedroom, I think Peking Buffet may use a microwave They did not have crab rangoon Like Peking Buffet: I was really really full when I left It was kinda loud inside Basta was great. This review may be colored by my recent experiences at Peking Buffet and my beers at Joe's Place, but I recommend you coming here. I can forgive Jimmy and Jack for not opening another Jimmy Jack's here, I hope they buy Pizza on Dubuque soon and turn that into a hamburger place. The End.
(5)Doug W.
Obviously any restaurant that only opened two weeks ago deserves to be cut some slack. So, if you are reading this review months after it was written you should probably disregard it. Went for dinner tonight with my mom, who was in from out of town. We passed on pizzas and pastas because of a gluten intolerance, but got apps and entrees instead. Pizzas, though, are a main focus of this place (with its wood-burning oven) and they looked and smelled great! Service was spotty...our server was obviously very new to any kind of restaurant service, very shaky and awkward, but still nice. Took a little over 10 minutes once seated to get water/drinks, and she was pretty unsteady taking our order, needing to look at the menu to figure out which wine I was asking for, and coming back to the table after leaving already to confirm what we ordered and the temps of our entrees. We started with the meat and cheese plate. It had Iowa prosciutto, house-cured duck breast, sopressata, some cheeses and a few other garnishes and was a great starter for two people. My mom got the Bibb salad that had a really nice (dijon?) vinaigrette. The Iowa (pork) chop was pretty good but unremarkable. It was well-seasoned but lacked any extra "oomph", and the white beans/grape tomatoes accompanying it were not very flavorful either. Seasoned with salt, cooked very well, but not any other flavors going on. On top was a thinly sliced fennel/radish/red onion garnish that was tasty and added a little contrast to the rest of the dish. My mom got the hangar steak that was cooked perfectly, and was accompanied by rosemary potatoes and some broccolini. Pretty tasty, and the salsa verde added a nice kick to it. We had an Italian primitivo with dinner, reasonably priced at $28. Bottom line: service needs some work, entrees are cooked well but need seasoning/flavor in order to be up to par with the really classy ambiance. Whew! Will try again down the road.
(3)Alison S.
My review is basically for the pizza. To be fair I've never really had any of their pasta dishes but their pizza is SO GOOD I can't dream of wasting a visit on a pasta dish I can probably throw together at home. Basta's pizza is in neapolitan style, which is my preferred way to consume pizza so this is not one to share.
(4)Melissa Z.
Basta is just what iowa city needs. The pizza and dates are amazing, the service is top notch and Steve, the manager, was more than helpful. He was warm, welcoming, and gave us a great dining experience! Go here! Or miss out on a great dining experience.
(5)Claire M.
I'd heard just mediocre reviews of this place before I tried it, but my first meal here was a delight. I ordered the Grilled Hanger Steak with Rosemary Potatoes and Broccoli Rabe, and eagerly ate every single bite. I should note, though, that I didn't get Broccoli Rabe, but cooked spinach (I think I prefer the spinach!), and a like switch happened with no explanation with my friend's side to her Frutti di Mare. I went with Hubs and two friends who hadn't yet tried Basta, either, and I think the rest of the table was not as impressed as I was. First, I have to agree that our service was spotty (we had sort of a ditzy waitress), and it was a tad disconcerting to walk into an almost-empty restaurant at dinner time, when it's sister restaurant, Atlas, is just next door and always full. Still, the overall presentation was lovely, even if the food was pricier than it should have been.
(4)Anna H.
Actually they get 2.5 stars. The food was underwhelming, to start off, we wanted to order the fried mozzarella, but were told they were out. At 6 pm, already? you're kidding right? (it's called planning people, it's not rocket science!). My pasta carbonara was undercooked but my friend's gnocchi was delicious so at least one of us was enjoying something. The waitstaff keep taking our glasses away to refill when they were half full, which would be okay, but it took them five to ten minutes to return with them. After the plates were cleared they delivered our checks with no offer of dessert (probably because they were out!) but at least the food was reasonably priced. I'll have to go back to accurately assess them, but this meal was not a great first impression.
(2)Drew S.
Iowa City has never had good Italian food in my opinion (we used to drive down to Cafe Dodici in Washington Iowa when we lived in Iowa). Fortunately, on my last visit, Basta had just opened. The decor is spot on, the food is delicious (the stuffed dates are unreal), and the house wine is just what Italian wine should be -- good and cheap. The two can't miss items on the menu for me are the stuffed dates and the beet salad. Both are simply phenomenal. My wife particularly loved the swordfish, as well as the Negrelli specialty cocktail. I highly recommend Basta!
(5)Melissa T.
While I was incredibly excited for Basta initially, after a few more visits, I've realized something- their pasta portions are TINY! Both the full and half- 4 raviolis in the half for that price point? I was embarrassed when we brought out of town guests for dinner and they were still hungry after their entree. After talking with some of our other friends, they said the exact same thing. Too bad.
(2)Joe T.
Basta is the premiere dining experience in Iowa City. The staff is friendly and helpful and certainly has a mastery knowledge of the menu. As far as real-deal Italian pizza is concerned, Basta is the only place around who knows how to do it right! I have yet to try a pizza that I haven't liked, and I LOVE getting an over-easy egg on top (trust me on this one, it's fabulous!) I'm also a HUGE fan of the stuffed dates-- I have personally tried to recreate this amazing dish at home, but to no avail. I am always impressed with their cocktail selection. It seems that Basta is committed to coming up with new drinks, without forgetting about tried and true favorites. Finally, I can't say enough about Basta's general manager. I have dined at Basta over ten times, and there hasn't been a single instance when the general manager hasn't personally stopped by the table to ensure my satisfaction. Although I no longer live in the area, I regularly find myself counting down the days until I will return.
(5)Jason F.
Had my sister's birthday party here last night. Couldn't have been better. The server was friendly and perfectly accommodating (my family is bat $#!+ crazy!). Food was hot and plentiful and perfectly plated. One of the best family meals I can remember. Bravo.
(5)Rhonda W.
We were excited to try Basta last night. Liked ambiance and ESP. Cloth napkins great touch. Went downhill from there. Although service was friendly, not especially attentive. Simple things like asking for cracked pepper, having the waitress come over and not offer it to the other diner as well before walking away seemed quite surprising. Especially when it happened 2x and again with grated cheese. No bread on table, although great for my waistline, was an obvious void. Meals were just OK. My partners sausage and peppers was much too overdone and came with a dry piece of Italian bread. NOTHING on it except char markings. Tasted like it should of stayed a garnish or rescued from the crouton pile. Really? No need to rush back. Hoping to find tastier Italian elsewhere in IC.
(2)mark n.
Food was fantastic. Stuffed dates for appetizer, which are worth a try. We got butternut squash and the sausage pizza. The flavors were great and the service was prompt. Definitely be back!
(5)Michael T.
Call me boring, but I've been here probably eight times and I just can't get away from their spaghetti bolognese with homemade pasta... It's just too yummy to resist... Also like their wine selection with some nice Italian wines.
(5)Ben C.
I've had their salads and the hanger steak, and WOW. Amazing food and the service is top notch!
(5)Ted K.
You are single-handedly redeeming dining in Iowa City. Food's always good and your service staff is great--eager, friendly, and professional. We only wish you'd switch up the menu with more frequency, but we're very glad that the things you do, you do well.
(4)W Q.
the only thing good here is the bacon wrapped dates. everything else i've tried is mediocre and overpriced. i am a big fan of jimmy jacks, def my favorite restaurant by the same owner. atlas is okay, but basta, i don't think it will make it and here is why. 1. there's no value here. 2. it's not authentic italian. 3. condescending manager (this will guarantee the closing of this restaurant) 4. there's only one dish i tried out of 10 that i thought was good, and that's an appetizer. this place will fail unless the owner takes drastic changes and fire the current manager and hire another that is not a condescending prick. will never visit this place again and will tell everyone not to go! seeing this place fail will really make my day.
(1)S L.
Let me start out by saying that I like Basta in many ways. The place is spacious and nicely renovated. (I can still remember when this building housed a sleazy burger joint many years ago, and the current room is light years better.) The wood-fired pizza oven turns out a nice crust if you don't mind a bit of charring on the bottom -- and that's actually fine with me. The hanger steak served to our table was flavorful and nicely cooked. The only thing that really bothers me about Basta is something that afflicts most Italian restaurants in the U.S.: the food is spiced with too much "heat." Too many Italian restaurants seem to think that their food will be perceived as too bland or boring if they don't make it hot. They seem to lack confidence that the natural flavors of fresh ingredients that have been well-prepared will impress the diner unless they are "spiced up" with hot peppers. As an example, Basta makes fresh, kind of rustic spaghetti noodles, which are then combined with a ragu that would have been quite flavorful if it had not been overpowered by hot peppers. The first time I tried Basta's spaghetti at lunch, I thought it was ok but would have been much better with less "heat." When I gave the spaghetti a re-try recently, it was even hotter -- in fact, so hot that it made it hard to finish the meal. This is not the way spaghetti Bolognese is supposed to be prepared! In fact, even the sauce on the pizza Margherita at Basta was too spicey. An Italian restaurant should be able to trust that a simple pizza Margherita just needs to let the flavors of tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella (preferably from buffalo milk) shine through. Basta hasn't figured this out yet, but I hope they do. End of rant! Or as they say in Italian, "Basta" (enough).
(3)Lindsey D.
I went there with a group from work who were all looking foreword to eating at this cousin of Jimmy Jacks and Atlas. We split a few appetizers; the butternut bruchetta was not very satisfying to the taste buds, some had a meat and cheese tray that looked good but I did not try. For the main course, I had the frutii de mar (they may have called it chapino?) The see food was OK, pasta was home made which was awesome, but the sauce left something to be desired. A coworker had butternut squash ravioli and loved it. My husband had the duck con feit pizza. The first pizza he got was burnt so they made him a new one which sill had a few burnt spots... But the taste of the duck and the dates that were baked on the pizza was great! I could eat a date pizza for sure. We had the terimisu sp?for dessert, this may be the best in the area. Some others had a chocolate hazelnut desert that seemed like a mix between nutella and jello. This restaurant has a great market for a GOOD Italian restaurant. I wish they would just do fresh good food and stay away from the fancy stuff. Not really a wide selection on the menu, but pizzas open up some opportunity for picky eaters. Hopefully my experience was just because they were just new, I love the idea of a fresh sustainable food Italian restaurant here in Iowa City.
(2)Benjamin B.
I went there. We spent quite a bit on large serving of ravioli only to find out that it was a small portion. Interestingly enough they also offered a small portion so I'd be curious to see how much that would actually be. Our server was very friendly however, Cassie was extremely unfriendly during the process. If management is going to allow some of their servers to get away with that sort of treatment, then they need to rethink there business. On our way out the same women Cassie was there and she just ignored us on our way out. Customer service is lacking. Food is small in portion and expensive but tasty.
(1)