Sweet Basil

We ate a lot. Here is the rundown. Beet salad and orange segments and dressing was delicious. Caesar salad was very good. Gnocci was phenomenal. Outstanding but the Gnocci with black truffle special more $$ less portion size less complex flavors was definitely not worth it. Whipped feta looked great but taste was was just ok. Salmon main course was tasty. The sticky toffee pudding was superb a must have.

We stopped by Sweet Basil mid-afternoon for drinks and had such a pleasant and great time, and ended up ordering their full Apres Menu. The whipped feta was a well balanced dish, the feta spread with the honey glaze and apples, make such a great combination. The caramelized beat salad was delicious, the country ham added just the right kick of surprise to the plate. The Caesar salad just all worked so well. The hamachi crudo was very fresh and the sauce just made it super tasteful. The ahi tuna tostadas were definitely the favorite ones (wish they were either larger or more :)) and the oysters were perhaps the least favorite ones as they were not as tasteful. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very intimate and the bar tenders were super welcoming and with great conversation. For drinks, the spicy margaritas are your to go drink, you will not be disappointed!

Absolutely delicious. We had the oysters, tuna tostados, blue crab bucatini, Iberian pork chop, and sticky toffee pudding cake. The bone in part of the pork chop is cooked differently from the rest of the pork chop. Best part of the meal. Carajillo was delicious. We sat in the back dining room with view of the creek. Not sure why this place isn’t rated 4.7 or 4.8.

We had an absolutely amazing experience at Sweet Basil. The moment we arrived, the atmosphere was beautiful and inviting, and we knew we were going to have a wonderful night. The waitress was truly amazing — friendly, attentive, and made us feel so comfortable the entire time. And the food… WOW. Every dish was delicious, full of flavor, and beautifully prepared. The combination of great food, incredible service, and a perfect atmosphere made this one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in Vail. We will definitely be coming back, and we highly recommend Sweet Basil to anyone visiting the area.

Sweet Basil delivered a really memorable dinner overall. We started with fresh oysters that came already dressed with a bright, well-balanced topping, followed by a crudo that was equally fresh and full of clean, thoughtful flavor. The house bread with their signature whipped feta was excellent—worth trying, though probably not something I’d order again on a repeat visit. For entrées, I had the duck, which was outstanding and really elevated by a rich, flavorful sauce, while my wife enjoyed the whitefish, though we both agreed the duck was the clear standout. The only downside was the service pacing, as we waited about 30 minutes before being able to place our order, but dessert helped end things on a high note with the igloo ice cream, which was creative, fun, and genuinely delicious.

Sweet Basil has some real highs, but our night started off rough. We arrived about 10 minutes early for our reservation and the hostess seemed flustered by the crowd. The most frustrating part: an open table near the front window sat empty while we waited, and we weren’t seated until about 15 minutes after our reservation time at that exact table. Once we sat down, things improved. Our waiter was attentive and truly great. He explained the menu with so much detail and enthusiasm it made you want to order everything. That said, pacing was a major knock. Obviously at a fault of the kitchen. From placing our order to appetizers hitting the table was 30+ minutes, which felt excessive. We did not get any food until one hour after our 8pm reservation. That’s not acceptable. The appetizers, however, were the clear stars and honestly worth coming back for on their own: hamachi crudo, Caesar salad, beets, shrimp toast, and whipped feta. All 10/10. We genuinely couldn’t decide on a favorite. The Caesar salad was a must have shockingly for just being a Caesar. The whipped feta was so unique. It was topped with a caramel sauce that reminded me of that classic caramel sauce in the container around Halloween. On a return visit, I’d happily just eat my way through the appetizer list because they completely outshined the mains. Cocktails were just okay. My dirty martini was a miss. The olive juice tasted off and a few of the drinks at our table were finished, which kind of says it all. For entrees, we tried a lot: the special: strip steak with a tamale side (perfectly cooked and the tamale was stand out) , cod with a mushroom tempura side, duck tacos, lump crab bucatini, plus the ricotta gnocchi from the appetizer menu. The entrees were not hot. Luke warm at best. Most were solid, but one I’d tell you to skip: the crab bucatini. It was flavorless, and at $50, you shouldn’t have to learn that lesson the hard way. Overall: amazing appetizers and a great server, but the pacing and cocktails held the experience back to start. That said it truly was a great night. Delicious food and a lively atmosphere.

We had an enjoyable evening at Sweet Basil. Having been familiar with its sister restaurant, Mountain Standard—which I still slightly prefer—we found the food here to be well executed and the wine selection thoughtfully chosen. Each course was prepared with care, and the overall atmosphere made for a pleasant dining experience. If there was one area with room for improvement, it would be the service, which could have been more attuned to pairing the wine and food in a way that enhanced the meal and made the experience more pleasant. Even so, we appreciated the quality of the cuisine and the setting, and left feeling satisfied. The price is definitely on the higher side for the experience.

One of the best restaurants in Vail for sure. Service a bit slow, but it's always full of people eating and waiting to be seated. Food was incredible. The signature feta spread mega worth it. Photos don't do it justice. Skip the coffee.