Basil Leaf Cafe

Best food eva!!! Everything we ordered was incredible and we ordered a lot of different things

Do not miss the Tortellini Chicken Cordon Bleu!!! This is one of the best things I have ever had. Considering this place started in a gas station you will not believe the kind of food they turn out. If you pass it up you should have your head examined.

I was in town for a work trip, and Unilocal led me to the Basil Leaf Café. Thank you to the other Unilocal reviewers — what a find! It wasn’t very busy and my colleague and I were seated immediately (then again, it was a random Tuesday evening). Everything on the menu sounded good, and all of the dishes that we saw coming out to other tables looked amazing, so it was hard to decide. I ended up having the Tortellini Cordon Bleu and my colleague had the Basil Chicken Cavatelli, and both had both great presentation and great flavor. The dish was so large that there was no way that I could finish it all, but I really wanted to because it was so delicious. In addition to all of that, the the service was both quick and friendly. I will definitely be back the next time that I’m in Lawrence!

I can’t for the life of me see how they received four stars. My wife had the macaroni and cheese and the noodles were chewy. I had the spaghetti and meat balls. The meat balls were mushy. The place is not well marked so hard to find.

On our recent visit, seven months after the first, we skipped the appetizers, soup, and salad as they are overpriced and unnecessary based on the size of the entrees. A Thursday night, we were surprised to see only one free table and were quickly seated although the hostess seemed confused after I asked for a table for two as my wife had not yet entered the building. Before she had the menus, my wife had arrived and we were seated.
Our server was very nice, but a bit pushy when it came time to order as she seemed in a hurry to get things rolling and ensure our tab was of sufficient size. When we were finally ready to order, I decided on the Penne Abruzzi and my wife, not a pioneer by any stretch, went with the Mac and Cheese … again.
The Penne Abruzzi has penne, obviously, with onion, bell peppers, sun dried tomato, and bacon in a three cheese sauce. I have no idea which three cheeses they use in the sauce, but it was tasty enough although a bit too salty for my taste, possibly a result of the sun dried tomatoes as they are normally sprinkled with salt prior to being dried. There was too much sauce for the amount of pasta, giving it the consistency of a thick soup, appropriate for pasta fagioli, but not a standard pasta dish where a light coating would suffice. The bacon added just enough flavor to the dish and the three large meatballs sitting atop the penne, something you WOULD NEVER SEE in Italy, were decent.
I asked a server if I could have a menu as we left, but was told «we only have them available online». That was fine with me as I am not interested in killing trees, but when I went «online» to check the menu to complete this review, I had great difficulty finding a current menu and never did find a website. How a business can succeed without a website these days is beyond me, but Basil Leaf apparently believes they only need a Facebook page. I never did find a current menu after an exhaustive search (MenuPix had a menu with prices several dollars less than we paid) and the Facebook menu never did load. That is what you get when you trust your «free» business webpage to Mark Zuckerberg!
The pasta dishes, «starters», and salads are overpriced ($ 9 for a house salad? — up from $ 8 last October) as was the wine ($ 7 for 4 ounces of cheap wine — up from $ 6). The décor still needs some warming up, and the tables could be rearranged to seat more customers or create a much needed waiting area (waiting customers now hover over tables of seated customers). The service was sketchy on our first visit and a bit too intense this time. The menu and food remain underwhelming. I spotted only two or three dishes on the limited menu that I would bother ordering, so our options for return visits are already limited.
There are enough «classic» Italian pasta sauce recipes to fill the menu twice over (carbonara, amatriciana, ragu, bolagnese, boscaiola, marinara, alfredo to name a few) and some classic meat dishes (veal marsala or saltimbocca) would be nice, so embrace something … anything … and create an identity of your own in your décor, servers, and menu fit for a town that still does not have an Italian restaurant worthy of our custom.
CombatCritic Gives Basil Leaf Café 6 out of 10 Bombs (Previously 5 Bombs) … Bombs are Good!

Driving to Seattle from Kentucky and decided to stop in Lawrence for the night and was hungry. Fired up the Unilocal and came across this place. TOTALLY WORTH IT! Portions were big, wait staff were friendly and quick service. I ordered the Mac N Cheese and it was amazing, they even allowed me to get bacon with it… awesome. The one downside is I was coming in at night time and if I didn’t have the GPS I would of drove right past it. Definitely Recommend Otherwise!

The address is wrong for this place since they’ve moved to their own restaurant in August on 9^th Street. It’s no longer a gas station, but a beautiful little bistro looking place. We called in takeout, thinking we were calling a gas station, and it was a fabulous surprise to walk into this place. SO fabulous looking and tasting that we are going back to dine in a few days. The food was amazing. This compliment coming from a picky eater. We had 2 different pasta entrees and both were beyond expectations. Completely delicious.

So, I had totally unfairly discriminated against Basil Leaf until yesterday.
It wasn’t their fault, it really wasn’t: I was once at a frenemy’s house and they were eating it. Well, I really don’t like this person. And they were happily chowing down on some pasta from Basil Leaf. Therefore, I couldn’t possibly like it, right?
Fast forward 2 years later, hubs is begging to try it. I was craving some pasta HARD last night, so I finally went for it. SO glad I did.
Unassuming is an understatement, for sure. It’s in a gas station, for crying out loud. And somehow it’s difficult to make italian food out of a gas station seem «charming;» this is no Oklahoma Joe’s, you know? But the menu is expansive, gourmet even. I ordered the Mac ‘n Cheese.(I judge every restaurant based on their M&C, if applicable) Hubs ordered a Cajun pasta of some sort, and we split the fried shrooms. We swiftly decided on carryout after seeing the sad little table squished up against the gas station window.
But, alas, the food is really amazing. Not cheap, about $ 10 – 12 per entrée, and around $ 8 for the shrooms. Not bad, but considering the *accomodations*, a little steep. Totally worth it, though. The shrooms were seriously indulgent — crispy, yet gooey and with marinara to dip. The M&C was TDF: sooo creamy, cheesy, and interesting choice of pasta shape. Almost shell-​like, but curled together more. Hubs loved his too.
The only reason I knock off a star is because they were out of, like, 5 things the day we went. I get that they are working in a SUPER small kitchen, but it’s a little frustrating to have your heart set on something and not be able to order it. Also, I do think the prices are a little steep considering the ambiance and lack of amenities (read: silverware and dishware). But don’t go anywhere, Basil Leaf, I’ll be back soon!

Low brow atomosphere combined with high brow food. What this gas station lacks in atmosphere is MORE than made up by the quality of the food and man is it good! I have had the Tortelini Cordon Bleu, Chicken Parmsean Sandwich and don’t foget the cheesecake! I will be going back and trying the lasgna and mac and cheese as well. Count me in as a fan.

Awesome food out of a gas station? Yep!
After several trips, I can confidently say this is my favorite «italian-​ish» place to eat. While not necessarily authentic, their dishes are full of flavor, creativity, and plenty of cheese.
What’s good? Pretty much everything we have tried so far.
Our top favorite is the Tortellini Cordon Bleu. Perfectly cooked tortellini, awesome creamy sauce, bits of sundried tomatoes, ham, carmelized onion, and a perfectly cooked crispy chicken breast on top. This is some serious comfort food!
We also have tried their Mac and Cheese, which is leagues above any boxed version you could make. Our third «go to» menu item is the Penne Abruzzi, which is al dente penne pasta in a cheesy tomato sauce with chunky bits of bacon (they don’t skimp!), peppers, and topped with three big meatballs (which were super tender and flavorful!).
Finally, I am obsessed with their cheesecake. The latest was the maple bacon, and I regretted having to share it with my husband. :) I thought I made good cheesecake, but these guys put me to shame!
Whatever you order, be prepared for crazy generous portions! My husband and I end up splitting a meal, with enough leftover for lunch the next day.
This little gas station gem has really become a favorite for us!

I wanted to like this place. I really did.
But I don’t.
My husband ordered take home and brought Cajun penne and shrimp fettuccine with lobster cream sauce, along with breadsticks and a small side salad.
My first taste was a breadstick with a dip of the marinara. The bread tasted frozen and not quite thoroughly cooked. The marinara was so salty, I had to take a drink of water, and I’m a girl who likes salt.
My husband’s Cajun penne (described on the menu as a «sauté of peppers, onions, shrimp, chicken, and andouille sausage in a cajun garlic cream sauce») was… eh. It also had a cheese on top. He did like the sausage and peppers, though.
My shrimp fettuccine with lobster cream sauce would be great… if the sauce tasted of lobster and the amount was cut in half. Lots of plump, well-​cooked shrimp, but there was SO MUCH SAUCE. I tried to sop up some with a cold breadstick, but it was a lost cause.
I haven’t yet tried the salad.
Overall, this meal I was so looking forward to has left me with the face of a sad panda.

Awesome food in a odd location. Don’t let its location turn you off. You wont be disappointed. Portions are large. I can get two meal out of one order making it a great value

Love basil leaf! Huge portions, great service, and very fair prices. I have not had anything that I didn’t like. I do wish there was a bigger selection of food options and that they served wine! Breadsticks are delicious too!

I took a 1+ year break from Basil Leaf. Why? After going back recently… I have no freakin’ idea. The place is still the exact same — basic menu filled with deliciousness, friendly people, and the not-​so-​comfy-​but-​does-​the-​trick seating inside the gas station.
The menu really hasn’t changed much, which is neither bad nor good. A few things have been added, a few things deleted, but the majority has remained the same — a few sandwiches, mac and cheese that could rival just about the most unhealthy, cream laden deliciousness you could ever imagine, and various other pasta dishes.
On my recent trip, I had some sort of cavatelli dish with pork bolognese, as well as some peppers (green and banana, I believe), and other things. I imagine it was supposed to be spicy, but really wasn’t to me. At first, it sounded like the ingredients wouldn’t really go together… but they did. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and all of the various ingredients were well done and balanced — all the flavors came out, and nothing was overpowering. Really delicious.
The pasta dishes are all around $ 10, give or take a quarter or two. You can EASILY get two meals out of this, if not more, which means it’s a great price for the quality.
Enjoy!

Needing mass quantities of delicious pasta dishes? Come to Basil Leaf! There is seating behind the gas station façade, but I can certainly see grabbing some and going. Prices are great, and everything I’ve ordered (or sampled from a friend) has been pretty tasty. The breadsticks are nothing to write home about, so don’t get too excited about that. Also, since it is in a gas station, you can get a variety of sodas, including red cream! My first meal here was a special macaroni and cheese with chicken and bacon… oh, how delicious. And it lasted me 3 meals!

Basil leaf has great and unique food combinations. I have been so impressed that I have trusted the chef with foods I normally wouldn’t
Try and have not been let down. Love the hummus– best in town by far!!!

Lawrence has some of the area’s best food joints and hidden dives but one area that our town is really missing is a great Italian restaurant. I think a lot of people give the Basil Leaf more credit than they should because it’s based out of a gas station. I’ve eaten at Sweet Basil half a dozen times hoping to get the magical experience that everyone else has and I always walk away feeling short changed.
I’ve had bland experiences with their Fettuccine, Tortellini, Chicken, and even had to return their Lasagna twice (two separate dining sessions) for being ice cold in the center to which must have microwaved it back to a warm temperature because I had it back within a few minutes. The day I tried their risotto was easily the worst risotto that I’ve ever eaten.
The last few times I’ve eaten at Sweet Basil, I’ve hit their drive-​through for a Lasagna which I put in the fridge and heated up the next day (in an oven) and it was quite nice. It’s still hard to not like this little hole in the wall and I hope that success brings them more consistency because a lot of reviewers say great things. I still appreciate the irony of a place that competes with gas station burritos.

One of the best kept secrets in town. Yes, it’s located in the corner of a gas station. No, we don’t recommend dining there. Ambiance is not what they do, and that’s fine with us. This is the ultimate carry-​out in Lawrence for those nights when you need to wind down and dine totally over the top at home and pamper yourself. Grab a bottle of wine and a friend or significant other, order a movie, park on the couch. Indulge.
This is not a place to get a light salad or healthy choice. Good dining should be about getting over the top once in awhile and they can do it here, boy can they. The pastas and risottos are heavenly, and heavy. Be warned, avoid that third course. You may not be able to avoid that one, but you’ll regret it.
The tastes lean towards Cajun a bit but with strange but wonderful twists. The Guinness risotto doesn’t taste like a Guinness – don’t know what’s going on there but it’s hearty with plenty of vegetables and meat and has a Cajun kick. The mac and cheese is level light years beyond that orange stuff that comes in a box. The shrimp pasta with lobster sauce, as are all of their pastas, far better than any other pasta served in town (which really isn’t saying that much, unfortunately).
The orders are huge. One pasta or risotto will feed two and comes with bread sticks. First timer? Order one dish to split two ways. Doubt you’ll regret it. Oh, and if you don’t like garlic, might want to head over to Applebee’s for your dinner. They’ll be waiting for you, but don’t expect to find me there.
Hear the owner is expanding to a new location while staying put. Several fine eateries have launched out of this space. Lets hope they can pull it off and not impact the quality negatively.

My boyfriend brought home leftovers from this place for me and I was totally impressed! If you haven’t tried this little Lawrence gem, you need to.
You should know that they aren’t open on Sundays. :(Although this would be a great place to grab lunch after a night out in Lawrence.
I’m getting married and I’m really hoping this place will be able to cater our rehearsal dinner.

Yes, it’s in a gas station, I know. (Tortas Jalisco used to be here as well and now they’re doing the big things with their own location, so…)
Walking in, my friend and I are greeted by a woman who has just bitten into the Lobster Fettuccine. «MMM!!!» She nods her approval at our venturing into this brand new world. We ended up getting the Lasagna and the Lobster Fettuccine. If I were to do it over, I might skip the lasagna and try the Asparagus Risotto, Tortellini Cordon Bleu or Basil Chicken Cavatelli. But I gotta say, the Fettuccine was pretty satisfying. Am I a pro at Italian food-​analyzation? Eh… Am I pretty easy to please when it comes to creamy cheesy pasta? Maybe— but it wasn’t overly oily (which is a deal-​killer for me), didn’t need additional seasoning (I feel like I am often always over-​salting a poorly made alfredo) and it was a lotta bit creamy, a little bit stringy, big old mess of grown-​up mac and cheese.
Apparently, they also serve breakfast. Biscuits and gravy and breakfast lasagna, soups, salads and sandwiches. A lot of the food has meat in it, but the chef/​owner said he makes it to order so he can mix it up for you.
I would consider this a no-​nonsense stop for some decent pasta. You’re clearly not here for the ambiance and that’s perfectly fine. All the food is served in to-​go boxes and for the space and set-​up that works, although it might make the reduce-​reuser in you a little sad. I only tried two things so I’m hesitant to grade them too seriously for food. But if you’re ever gas-​ing up at that 6^th Street Phillips, suddenly struck by a craving for pasta, the Basil Leaf is there.
Umm… also, the menu says they have a drive-​thru?! No jokes, folks.