Comments on: Coming Soon – Basil Pizza and Wine Bar

By: Donna

Donna — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:37:45 +0000

I was there May 9 and had a good experience. Hostess very graciously helped us squeeze party of 4 plus a stroller into a corner, while apologizing for not having a better space for us. Our only real complaint was that the service was spotty – the fries that we ordered came almost immediately, but half of our paninis arrived together with a large gap in time before the rest arrived. All the food was excellent, just offbeat enough without being too weird. Portion size was good, too. Prices are a bit higher than other restaurants in Crown Heights but not outrageously so. I couldn’t finish the Panini and took half home; salads at adjoining tables looked to be a good size too. This would be a good place to hang out motzei shabbos also. Crown Heights needs a funky and fun place like this. Our party all agreed that we would return.

By: clayfilms

clayfilms — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:52:26 +0000

hey laurel,

smh=shaking my head

i can’t wait to read your op-ed.

By: LaurelB

LaurelB — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:25:20 +0000

@all – We had to move the op-ed publication from last week to tomorrow. Stay tuned.

@clayfilms – What does smh mean?

@shmuli – I checked out your website. Your pics are great.

By: shmuli

shmuli — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:29:10 +0000

@Yolanda i hope you had a good experience at Basil, i biked by that place today and took some pictures, i will definitely need to check the food out on this place, looks very funky indeed.
Im part of the chasiddic community in CH, I know what kind of stares you are talking about, we all get them… nice? no! what can we do?

By: clayfilms

clayfilms — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:35:06 +0000

word? wooooooow. smh..i can’t wait to read this review.

By: Yolanda

Yolanda — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:58:30 +0000

Thanks Laurel. I will definately post my dining experience.

By: LaurelB

LaurelB — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:33:17 +0000

@Yolanda – Your commentary is so very timely – stay tuned for an op-ed piece tomorrow about this very subject – the food scene and local interactions.

By: Yolanda

Yolanda — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:11:06 +0000

Let me make this clear for all those who may have read my previous comment. I’ve lived in crown heights for 33 years and was excited to see a restaurant like Basil open up because it would cut down on my trips to DOC Wine Bar in Williamsburg! Monday morning as I was leaving for work I saw people working in the restaurant and stopped in to ask what they were opening up. A gentleman opened the door for me, asked me if I wanted to come in and spoke to me about the restaurant. He offered me a menu but as I was standing talking to him two hassidic men walked in gave me the nastiest stare I have ever received and continued to stare at me until I left! Crown Heights is a mossaic of cultures but apparently some haven’t learned from our past! So will I go to Basil? Yes! Will I review the place? Yes! Should I be welcomed there? Yes!

By: Yolanada

Yolanada — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:59:06 +0000

I live on Kingston Ave and Park. Myself and I suspect many others in the community have been watching this Wine Bar and can’t help but notice the stares from the Hassidic Jews when we approach the restaurant! I will still take a chance this weekend with my girlfriends to see how welcoming the atmosphere is to African Americans?