Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Basalt

We enjoyed a delightful lunch at Sweet Basil. The only negative would be that the hostess was very unfriendly and the young lady that unlocked the door (we had reservations for right when they opened at noon) didn’t even open the door and greet us and the several other people that were standing outside the door waiting for them to open. I’m thinking that they were possibly relatives of the owner, otherwise they could not continue to be employed there because the rest of our experience was EXCELLENT. Vlad, our server (from Romania) was outstanding. He truly understood the entire menu and quided us expertly. This was our first visit to Sweet Basil (and it won’t be the last because there were so many intriguing things on the menu that we couldn’t try) and Vlad helped us to make our decisions. First were the cocktails (they won a 2024 Michelin award for Outstanding Cocktails). These were inventive and expertly prepared. We especially liked the Garden Nectar, which was a gin based cocktail with essence of dill, pureed beet and lemon. Wonderful! We started with their Whipped Feta, served with ginger hibiscus honey and what they called a carta di musica, which was an oblong globe of very thin crisp baked dough (or batter) that you break into shards to use as crackers for the whipped cheese. It was amazing! Unfortunately, we forgot to take a photo. We next tried the Tuna Tiradito, which was an ahi crudo type dish that is difficult to describe. It too was outstanding! We also got the French Onion Lasagna (an appetizer), which was almost more of a ravioli than a lasagna with a play on the flavors of French Onion Soup. Also excellent! For something heavier, we also shared the Lombardi Bros. Loin Burger that is smothered with bone marrow, black pepper aoli, carmelized onion jam and NY white cheddar. This was one of the most decadent burgers ever! And, it wasn’t something that could easlily be eaten by hand without making a mess, so we just used a knife & fork.

Visited with 7 people during a busy holiday week. Really exceptional service and great food. I can't say enough nice things about our truly wonderful waitress -- she was SO friendly and quick and I am sorry I don't know her name. All the service staff (bussers, etc.) were very attentive and wonderful. When our table wasn't ready, they switched us over to a quiet room, which was great for our family birthday celebration. Food came out really fast and was delicious.

Absolutely love coming here when we visit vail. The fondue is spot on always and they have plenty of vegetarian options.

Great food and service! Amazing selection of cocktails! The atmosphere was nice and cozy and we loved that it was relatively quiet there, even though the restaurant was busy. Be ware that their dishes are on a bigger side, we struggled to finish both starters and entrees.

The miso cod, seafood udon, and combination sashimi were all excellent. Service was prompt and attentive at early seating (5:00 PM).