Sweet Basil

My son and I dined in Sweet Basil this week: it was very disappointing. The service was friendly and prompt from the Asian waiters and waitresses. But the food was very ordinary indeed and the main courses were mean and had neither robustness nor delicacy or anything Italian about them, except their names in the menu.

And they pulled the same irritating trick that Fish in Borough Market do: that of adding a "discretionary" 12.5% to the bill as a service charge and then making a fuss when you exerciese your descretion and leave a little cash tip instead. We won't be back.
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City Master
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Saturday, September 20, 2008

I have had several lunch meals at Sweet Basil. I try a different dish every time. I find the food top notch, the service friendly, efficient and professional, and have enjoyed every visit. So much so that I took my wife there for supper, again it was first rate.

This is a family run place and it grins through to the positive.

I have spoken with the owners Suzanne and Claudio who tell me their staff have all been with them for years and that they pride themselves on the freshness of the ingredients and quality of the food. The toilets are spotless and the hygene is of a high standard.

Price is good and there is no pressure for time or space, every one is relaxed.

As a man who often eats in the best London restaurants, Sweet Basil is fast becoming a favourite lunch time/ any time haunt of mine. Try the homemade Walnut cake desert!
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Dave - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, June 26, 2008

I just wanted to take five minutes to comment on an excellent meal i had at lunch on friday.. Sweet Basil in brushfield street met all my expectations. i believe it is a family run business which you could certainly tell by the attention and helpfulness of the staff..My meal was delightful with such flavour and fab presentation.. I could not resist a dessert and this was most definitely home made..I would recommend sweet basil for business or pleasure .. you will not be disappointed.
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victoria
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, March 01, 2008

I have eaten here on several occasions before and visited again last night. The food was disappointing but the service was dreadful. Firstly we were brought the wrong food - no problem until the waiter argued that it was ours... he eventually conceded that it was not. Then he brought our salad which had no dressing, so we asked for dressing - no problem until the waiter told us that we were wrong and walked off. We asked again and he suggested we check under the lettuce (!) - he then conceded there was indeed no dressing and brought some. We then pointed out that the salad did not contain three of the items on the menu - he argued that it did, until he checked with the chef and conceded that it did not. He then argued that we should have pointed this out before eating the food - I would argue that we should be notified if items were not on the menu! Furthermore the tuna was overcooked and dry, the rosemary bread too salty, the pizza cheese was not the mozzarella advertised. To be fair, we were offered free desserts, but declined. You can get much better in the area, this place has gone downhill - not recommended.
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Sam
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 2
Thursday, October 04, 2007

What a fantastic restaurant! I have dined here on business and pleasure many times and have never been disappointed. I have also dined here with my 4 year daughter who was the only child in the restaurant and was treated like a princess.

Overall great food and fantastic staff!
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Marie-Louise Bennett
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, January 19, 2007

I think this is a great pizzeria - very authentic tasing pizzas - probably the best I have had outside of Italy! The wine list is good and the deserts --especially the chocolate mousse is to die for!!

Anyone who wants good italian food should go to Sweet Basil
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Thursday, January 04, 2007

It has been a while since i have eaten at Sweet Basil, but i am definately not going to leave it so long next time.

The food was excellent, very fresh, great flavours; we had a Tuscan red with the meal which was also excellent.

The staff were great, and when i asked for a desert that wasn't on the menu (an afagato), the waiter didn't even flinch as he wrote the order down.

Quality like this is often a rarity in the city. I will be back!
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Woody - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, December 05, 2006

We ate at this restaurant on a Thursday evening. We found the staff very attentive and friendly. The food was excellent. The chef would even prepare dishes which would were not on the menu if you wanted something different. The ambience in the restaurant was very relaxing and we all felt that the quality of the food and value for money was very good.

This all ledto a thoroughly enjoyable experience and lovely evening out
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Alastair
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Monday, August 21, 2006

I have used this Sweet Basil for client entertaining for a number of years and have never had a bad experience. It gets rather noisy at lunchtimes but service always quick and food always good
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Michael Hooper
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, July 19, 2006

I have lived 6 months in Italy and even if the pizza was not so good as what you can find there, it was still a very good one, but much too big for a small French girl !

Be carefull that the pizzeria is actually downstairs (more casual restaurant), and that you cannot eat some upstairs.
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Emma
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Friday, June 02, 2006