Sweet Basil

My family ate here on the last night of our Vail trip – certainly saved the best for last! I had the halibut and my husband had the flatiron steak – both were delicious! We were able to sit on the deck overlooking the creek while we ate on a beautiful evening! Great service! Be prepared to pay the price – we knew this was a pricey restaurant so we planned the rest of our week’s meals accordingly!

Sweet Basil consistently presents creative, beautifully plated food. And, I’ve never had a meal I didn’t like. Servings can be on the smaller size, but you feel more than satisfied when you finish your meal. They could offer more vegetarian options as they are always amazing.

Food was good and server was friendly though restaurant is not able to get food/​drinks out timely. It took 15 minutes to get our drinks Appetizers included beets, albacore Ceviche and salmon ceviche. All really tasty. Hanger steak was average, tortellini, tuna and sea bass were very good.

Great food, as local as possible ingredients. Dan was very attentive and knowledgable.
Beautiful patio overlooking the creek.
Enjoyment of the restaurant was tempered though by Emily’s attitude (hostess).

One of the best meals in Vail. If you have more than a couple people, be sure to make reservations well in advance (during ski season, at least). With only 2 people, I’ve always been able to get a couple seats at the bar without too much of a wait.
You can’t go wrong on the menu, but if there’s a lamb special, get that.

The name of this place made me think that it was a Thai restaurant, but it’s really a new American restaurant. The food was delicious and high-​quality, and expensive which is not that surprising since it’s Vail, and a lift ticket is $ 175. The portions were tiny, and the prices pretty much the inverse. It was good, but after snowboarding all day and working up an appetite, I wanted a little more sustenance.
I’d recommend making a reservation if you have enough time to plan ahead; we came here around 9:30 pm on a Friday night and the place was packed. We had to wait about 15 – 20 min for a table, which wasn’t too bad, but if you’re coming during peak hours, you may be waiting longer.
Call us cheap, or hungry (or both), but after we realized how small the portions were, and how hungry we were, we decided we would split a few appetizers and then head down the street for some pizza (we failed at this, because the pizza place was closed when we left the restaurant). Not sure the waiter was entirely happy with us, but oh well. Despite thinking we would leave hungry, we were actually pretty satisfied and full from what we ordered.
They will start you out with bread, which is not warm (sad face), with some butter and sea salt. I was hungry, so I ate it even though normally I don’t eat a lot of wheat or gluten — it was fine, but I wouldn’t claim it to be amazing or super fresh bread. You can skip this if you’re trying to watch your calories — there’s better bread to be had. If you’re going the cheap route (like us), eat the bread, it will help fill you up.
Albacore Tuna «Ceviche» ($ 17) — This was delicious, and the tuna was fresh and cut in cubes, with a homemade coconut milk sauce and peanuts. Kind of a Thai/​Vietnamese/​Japanese twist on ceviche, which is traditionally a Peruvian dish. There were maybe 6 – 8 cubes of fish, so be kind and share appropriately. It was delicious, but I wish it had been a little bit bigger.
Pear Salad ($ 14) — The salad was one of my favorites, with endive, poached cranberries so they were soft and juicy, and a really interesting cashew granola that added a nice crunch in lieu of croûton. Again, small, but really interesting and delicious.
Wild Mushrooms Pasta ($ 18) — We waffled between getting the sea scallop and a pasta dish, and then the waiter told us the sea scallop was singular, as in one sea scallop, so we opted for what he told us was a more filling dish. This was really good, but there was only one sheet of pasta. It was like a deconstructed lasagna, but I would have liked maybe two or three squares of a lasagna noodle in the dish. The flavors were good, with a runny egg, pine nuts, a cheese that was similar to ricotta, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I enjoyed the few bites that I got, I just wish there had been more.
All in all, the quality of the food is there, but for the price (yes, I know you’re in Vail so everything has a 30−50% higher-​than-​normal price), I would probably go elsewhere. This place is great if you’re celebrating a special occasion, want to splurge, or if money is of no objection, but after a long day of snowboarding and being hungry, I’d probably opt to go elsewhere. Nothing wrong with the food or menu but I probably won’t be chomping at the bit to come back here on another trip to Denver /​Vail.

Sweet Basil must be the most popular restaurant in Vail because reservations were impossible for weeks before our trip. We kept checking and there were openings at times like 930pm only. We called and someone told us there’s also a waiting list to eat at the bar, so we showed up on Wednesday evening to see if we could get in. There was a long waiting list at the bar and also no openings for tables until 930pm. So we made the reservation for 9:30 (it was already 8pm by the time we asked) and just walked around the village for a while.
Fast forward to 9:30 and we arrived and were seated in the back of the restaurant. Our waitress got our wine order right away — Amalaya Malbec. Tasty wine for decent $ 48 price tag. Good start. Then they brought out bread with soft butter and rock salt. Perfect start to the evening.
The menu was a little confusing because there are «shared» items, then there’s a section called «one» and then «two» and «three». The «one» also looked like appetizers and some of the shared seemed to be shared entrees. Our waitress straightened it out and we finally decided on one item from «one» section (cold, appetizers, to share), two items from «two» (soups, salads, other warm appetizer/​small plates), and then entrees from «three». I did find it odd that she said they would bring out the first three all together. I suspect because they technically close at 10pm? However, if you are going to seat people up until 9:45pm then you should expect to give them full, as usual, service until they are done. Right? Right.
Ceviche — albacore tuna with coconut leche de tigre with peanuts and mint cilantro and key lime. This isn’t your Tex-​mex ceviche, this is high end with a sauce on the side. It was fresh and unique and we ate all of it.
Scallops — served with raisins and pumpkin seeds and squash — buttery and perfectly cooked with sweetness.
She crab soup — MMMMMMMM. Everything you love about she crab soup was right here. Rich. Creamy. To die for.
The BF had the filet, medium rare, which was perfect. I especially liked sniping his roasted garlic cloves that I found on the plate.
I had the lamb T bone with roasted squash, walnuts, carrots, apricots and madras curry. This was medium rare, very juicy meat, quite a decent sized portion. The flavors were very middle eastern and sweet/​savory in nature. Which I adore.
So, yeah, the food here was worth the $$$ and the wait… but for this type of cash we should have had our wine glasses filled by the waitress and our table checked on to see if we needed water, etc. Even when she came by she didn’t pour the wine… we waited to see if she would. That’s pretty standard. Also, it felt like since we were eating later in the evening that perhaps they were hoping to rush us out of there. Other tables were still there finishing up wine and such and I’ll be damned if I drop a few hundred on dinner/​wine and rush out. The last seating of the evening should expect the same service as the prime time seating. It isn’t some crappy chain or something, this is fine dining. Anyway, soapbox off. We pretty much drank our wine as fast as we could and got the check.
Overall, I say plan ahead and get you a reservation here at Sweet Basil or show up early in the evening and eat at the bar. The food is definitely creative and worth the effort.

Vail won my heart and Sweet Basil my stomach. What a way to kick off the weekend!
Started with the Salmon Tataki which had great flavor and texture. Salmon was complimented, not over powered and the crispy rice added wonderful crunch. Also had the Steak Tartar — best appetizer out of the two — sweet egg jam, crispy brioche, horseradish and pine nuts tucked in tender meat. Still dreaming about it :)
For dinner the ahi tuna was a winner winner fish in my belly dinner! Tuna was perfectly cooked (rare). Each spoonful was a flavor journey and consisted of fatty tuna swimming amongst mushrooms and delicate soba noodles, topped with spicy sweet chili, in a mouth watering dashi broth.
second entrée was the rack of Colorado lamb over bulgar wheat with apricot curry and butternut squash. My husband LOVED it!
Brussels sprouts were my best fried friend — crispy, fatty, and surprises of bacon and sweet candied walnutzzzz

Ate here recently and cannot wait to go back. The only reason it gets four stars and not five is due to the attitude and attention from one bartender (the other one working was fantastic!).
Started with drinks at the bar. Pinkish, bubbly and potent, I forget the name, but I would have ordered another.
Dinner consisted of Ahi Ceviche (BEST fresh fish I’ve had since moving to the Valley) and Crab Tataki (I think that’s what it was called…). Both were fantastic. I followed with the Buffalo New York au Poivre, which was enjoyable as well. Even though ordered well done (I know, I know), it was still a little pink, but appropriate enough for me to eat and not get squeamish. All was paired with an Australian Syrah.
I didn’t hold back on dessert as a co-​worker is also a pastry cook here. We ordered the recommended Sticky Toffee Pudding, as well as the Rum Roasted Pineapple Tart (subbed passion fruit sorbet instead of coconut) and Fresh Baked Cookies. I couldn’t finish any of them, but they were all phenomenal.
Service was on par — friendly, willing to ask the Chef questions (the AHI!) and didn’t crowd or rush us, even though they were busy.
Expensive, but worth it for a nice night out. I look forward to returning.

My dad and I visited Sweet Basil during our first night in Vail solely because my uncle worked here in the late 70s/​early 80s. What my dad did not know, however, was that over the past decade or two, this has become the «it» spot in Vail. I looked at the menu online beforehand and I could easily see why – creative, elegant, diverse and of course, expensive. Unlike a lot of overhyped places, Sweet Basil completely lived up to expectations.
While we knew of Sweet Basil long before our trip here, we didn’t make a reservation. It IS possible to get a table/​eat here without one, but it may require some waiting. One little pearl of wisdom we received from a local was that Sweet Basil has a zero tolerance no-​show/​egregious tardiness policy. When we showed up here, we were anticipating eating at the bar, as their was an hour wait for a table (they allow this). The food gods had a different plan in store for us, however. After about 15 minutes, the hostess informed us that there was, in fact, a no show! Right place, right time. Off to a good start. My tip if you come without a reservation: arrive on the earlier side. It fills up quite a bit around 8 or so.
First off: drinks. Hard to go wrong here. I’m used to cocktails in NYC, so these weren’t as highbrow as I’m used to (go ahead, judge away). That said, I thoroughly enjoyed both of my drinks here. For the health nut, go for the What’s Up Doc? (Vodka, Yellow Chartreuse, Coriander, Lime, Carrot Juice, Bitters). Semi-​sweet, light and a touch of spice. Perfect to start off the night. I also tried the Alpinist, which is up there with some of the ultimate winter drinks: Sage Infused Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Vermouth, Peach Vanilla Cordial. Sultry, boozy and a bit herbaceous.
The star of the night (as one would hope…) was the masterfully executed food. Obviously, we had to share. It’s hard to dine with me without being pressured to share. Just the way I’m wired. Everything we had was its own brand of flavorful/​special/​creative/​scrumptious. Even the entrees here are conducive to sharing (you get multiple slices of protein X in just about everything), so this worked out well. We got:
Salmon Tataki (Soy Caramel + Tempura Avocado + Sesame Puffed Rice + Mustard Seed) — A+++
What a superb dish to start a meal off! Just wow. If you look at my picture, you can see how beautifully prepared this was. I was impressed with the presentation… until I tried it. THEN I was impressed. I’m very into the whole diversity of flavors/​textures thing (is that even a «thing»?), but not if its excessive. In this dish, each ingredient had its place, and all contributed to quite the well-​rounded, complex taste. There’s a hint of spice here (maybe the mustard seed?) but nothing that’ll prompt you to start downing water after each bite. We all know raw salmon and avocado go well together – the puffed rice just made it a next-​level experience. Just a subtle crunch – yum.
Buffalo Tartar (Parmesan + Horseradish + Pine Nuts + Egg Jam + Brioche) — A
I would say the «least best» but still really damn good. Again, great first impression with the presentation (see image). The buffalo was light and fluffy and paired wonderfully with the mild parmesan. Again, you’ve got some subtle spice with horseradish, subtle crunch with the pine nuts and brioche, and some nice creaminess from the egg. Dat execution tho.
Ahi with Wild Mushrooms (Pine Dashi + Soba Noodles + Lemongrass Chili Condiment) — A+
We got to enjoy some more Japanese flavors with this gorgeous tuna dish – looking back at the night, we unwittingly ordered ourselves quite the balanced meal. I’d say this is one of the lighter entrees on the menu, but it still manages to be bold and flavorful, as everything else here is. Nothing superfluous about the broth here – they pour it over the tuna when it’s served and makes the whole plate cozy/​comfy.
Pan Roasted Duck Breast («Farrotto» + Brussels Sprouts + Preserved Huckleberries + Soubise) — A+++
My dad and I were both fawning over this dish long after the meal ended. The sidekicks were almost better than the duck. Don’t get me wrong, the duck was perfectly cooked and super flavorful, but the other components more than held their own. This dish was hearty and warming – perfect for a snowy winter night. A hint of sweetness is always a welcome addition most duck preparations, in my humble opinion, and the huckleberries were just that. It’s hard to pick a favorite of the night, but this just might’ve been it.
Lastly, I need to dole out some high praise to our wonderful waitress. She was so sweet and personable, it caught me off guard at first. Perhaps this is because I’m so used to service i New York, which can be on the brusque side at times. Regardless, she was efficient/​chatty-​but-​not-​too-​chatty/​informative and any other positive adjective you could think of to describe a server. Sweet Basil just exudes class in every area – the five star rating was a no-​brainer. We definitely did my uncle proud.

O. M. G.
Such a wonderful arrangement of flavors. In everything we tried. We had the brussel sprouts with what, cranberry? Perfect blend of acidity/​brightness and savory. We also had the Pork Loin with polenta. it’s impossible to reflect in words how satisfying the blend of flavors was.
My gf and I are foodies, and we’ve continued to talk about the food we had at Sweet Basil for several days. Don’t miss it if it’s in your power to go there.

We ordered the buffalo tartare which is especially good for someone liking horseradish (which you can taste and goes well with the meat). Can’t stop saying how tasty the soba sauce was and the ahi is really fresh. Buffalo steak was different, good but not my favorite out of our dish. First time we had bison steak. The meat was soft and perfect cook, not your average steak and made from Colorado bison. Of all our dishes, I would recommend getting the Brussel sprouts! It’s the best combination I’ve tasted and will try to recreate it at home. Hazel nut mousse was good with banana ice cream and rich brownie bits.
They were packed on a Friday evening and was not taking reservations for the whole night. We came early and didn’t realize they don’t serve dinner until 5pm. We got drinks at the bar and got dinner there as well. In the middle of our meal, they were even taking names to be waitlisted to eat dinner in the bar. I recommend getting there before 5pm and sitting in the bar and order there during peak times.

No Vegan options on the menu, but Chef specially prepared a delicious salad for me. Call Head to give them a heads up. Salad was good, but left still hungry.
Vail is ridiculously behind concerning Vegan options/​food.
This restaurant could & should be getting 5 stars from me and it wouldn’t take much.
UPDATE: Went back for New Years Eve and Chef made beautiful, super tasty Vegan dishes for me. Very happy & appreciative.

Outstanding! Really, I can’t speak highly enough of Sweet Basil.
Every dish we ordered was incredible, with unique flavor combinations and fragrant Moroccan notes.
I had the squash carbonara to start, and while it looked unassuming it was mouthwateringly flavorful and delicious.
I followed that is with the lamb, which fell apart in my mouth and was paired with sweet and fragrant spices in the sauce and marinated, semi-​dried apricots.
My husband bookended his meal with buffalo tartare and buffalo steak, with scallops in between. All of which was outstanding!

I feel compelled to write another review for this fantastic establishment. We swung in here on a whim for lunch and it didn’t disappoint. Craig, our waiter, was charming, knowledgable, and top notch all around. We decided on sharing the roasted chicken chopped kale salad and a burger with cheddar and bacon. I can’t even explain… But that kale salad was the BEST salad either of us have ever had in our lives. Packed full of flavor, sensational to the eye, and large enough for two. I swear I could eat it every single day! The burger was also great. Beautifully presented and cooked to perfection. This is a «must» every time we visit.

So beautiful meal for us. Nice place. Simply the best.
Waited 1hr as we didn’t make the reservation. But we got the best terrace table for 4. All were wonderful.

Came here for my birthday dinner in Vail and I can say that I had a wonderful experience here.
We started off with the tomato salad which was a great summer treat. Nice and light, perfect start to the meal. I had the ahi for dinner which again was light and fresh, perfect for a warm summer nice. Service was great as well, no complaints. I’ll be back.
Only downside is I wish we got to sit on the patio, but that will be requested next time.

My friend who visited Vail in March recommended this place so I made a reservation about a month in advance. Good thing I did, because when I checked availability a week out, there were all booked until 9pm+!
Upon arriving to Vail, practically every person we met (mostly locals) said that Sweet Basil was the place to go. For the past 25 years, it has been one of the best restaurants in Vail. Since we were only in the city for one night, I’m glad we picked this place for dinner.
Upon arriving, we checked in with the hostess and did not have to wait more than two minutes to be seated at our table. We wanted to order wine, but we had to show IDs as that is state policy. Note, you will not be served alcohol if you don’t have your ID, so don’t forget it! We got one of the Oregon Chardonnays — it was AMAZING. I highly recommend it.
We got a tomato salad to start. It was an heirloom mix soaked in a balsamic vinaigrette, along with burrata. I love burrata. The puffed farro was interesting. Never thought of it in a salad, but the crunchiness was a different texture in the salad. Not too sure if it worked or if I liked it, but good thought.
For dinner we got the salmon and the pasta. My friend loved his salmon. The friend oysters on his plate looked delicious, and he devoured them. The pasta was also amazing. I love that it came with a soft-​boiled egg. I love eggs and I think they enhance any dish. The roasted corn was excellent, along with the queso fresco. It was a light pasta dish, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The most unique part to it, which I didn’t expect, were the lime pieces. They were surprising, maybe too large of pieces, but definitely lightened the dish and made it quite refreshing.
For dessert, our new Vail friends recommended the sticky toffee pudding, so we had to get it. Next to us, a couple got the pavlova and sticky toffee pudding. I love pavlova, so we had to get it!
The pavlova was a ricotta pavlova, so not your typical egg white meringue. Nonetheless, it was wonderful. Very light for a dessert, which is maybe why it was still called a pavlova, with blackberries, hazelnut wafers, salted caramel ice cream, and blackberry coulis. All parts of the dessert were amazing and plated well.
The sticky toffee pudding was wonderful as well, but more heavy. While we could not finish it, we enjoyed every bite.
Only downfall was that service was slightly slow.
Overall, loved it; I’ll have to be back.

Nice lunch spot with friends. We shared the calamari and shrimp as a started and it was really nicely done — some tempura style vegies accompanied the dish and the dipping sauce was soy based with some sweetness. Good combination.
The pasta dish was my lunch choice. Pasta in a light white sauce with lamb chunks (torn) on top. Worked very well. Some salads were also enjoyed and the burger was given high marks.
Will return.

Sweet Basil is a New American restaurant located in Vail Village. You can find some modern dishes in a very warm inviting space. The restaurant name is misleading, as this is NOT a Thai or Asian Fusion restaurant. In fact, I didn’t even see the basil used in any of the ingredients.
My Overall Rating — 3 Stars (Atmosphere, Food, Return)
Atmosphere — Upon entering and taking a few steps up, you’ll be greeted to a nice, modern, well-​lit bar. Definitely a welcome site for weary skiers looking for that après ski cocktail. The restaurant itself is quite small, with main dining in the back and a few tables in the front. The tables are pretty close, and have a unique look that there are no table cloth. But the contemporary look & feel certainly match the menu. 1 Star.
Service — If you plan to dine here, make sure you make reservations. It’s small so it can get busy. Luckily the bar is a nice stop for walk-​ins willing to wait. Our service was unfortunately rushed & slow at the same time. I know this statement contradicts itself, but when we arrived, our server rushed to get our drink menu, then disappeared for a long time. When she returned, she then rushed us to place our order, then again disappeared for a long time. Not sure if it was because they were busy, but this is a nice restaurant so I expected better. No Star.
Food — As I stated before, this is NOT an Asian Restaurant. That being said, it is an excellent New American restaurant. The lobster & crab sopes were a home run to start. Chunks of lobster, crab, onion, & cream over a sope (corn patty) was delicious. The Seafood Fritto was a great appetizer to share as well. Then again, it’s hard not to like fried food. The Parmesan Truffle fries were light & crispy with a hint of truffle oil, and the burgers were massive with excellent bread. The Duck Confit Cassoulet was good but not great. The duck and ham hock complimented each other well, but the beans seemed a little undercooked for my tastes. But hey, you’re getting some incredible dishes here. 1 ½ Star.
Will I Return? — Probably. Despite the super slow/​rushed service, the menu is progressive and the dishes are quality. Now, it is a little pricey but we ARE in Vail. Yes, Sweet Basil may be worth a return visit. ½ Star.
My Unilocal Rating Scale (Sum of all parts):
1 Star — Atmosphere — Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I’ll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm.
1 Star — Service — You can have a great meal with bad service. But that’s also what can make a five star joint drop to four. It’s important to the dining experience that service is great and on point.
2 Stars — Food — I’ll award up to two stars for the food, since this is the main reason we dine out. Sometimes the extra star is given for value, but it’s really all about the food.
1 Star — Will I come back? — If I know for a fact I’ll return, I’ll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return.
Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Unilocal score.