Another Basili’s Post

This one was sent to me by Museum District resident, home-chef extraordinaire and widely-proclaimed foodie- Michelle C. ********************************************** So by now, you’ve likely heard there’s a new restaurant in Carytown. And if you haven’t stopped by yet, you need to know what you are missing! Basilis’ is located at 3107 W. Cary Street, which used to be […]

March 12, 2010; 6:40 AM • by Matt

This one was sent to me by Museum District resident, home-chef extraordinaire and widely-proclaimed foodie- Michelle C.

**********************************************
So by now, you’ve likely heard there’s a new restaurant in Carytown. And if you haven’t stopped by yet, you need to know what you are missing! Basilis’ is located at 3107 W. Cary Street, which used to be home to Carytown Seafood. With all the elements needed to make this place Greek Diner-Chic, it’s easy to see that Basilis has put a tremendous amount of effort into renovating this space over the past 14 months.

Now on to the menu…

Imagine the Greek festival, all year long. Seriously, can you think of anything better than that? (This writer can’t). From lamb kebabs to gyros, mousaka to spanakopita, everything Greek you crave is on the menu. Fresh and made to order whenever possible, you can taste the quality of the ingredients. In fact, a quick conversation with Basilis reveals just how uncompromising he is about using authentic, fresh, quality ingredients. For example, while others might opt to substitute cheaper ingredients like sour cream to save money when making tzatziki sauce, Basilis insists on using imported Greek yogurt. He knows, from experience, that you can’t make a great Greek meal with inferior ingredients.

You might think the prices would be sky high, given that last statement, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth! Lunch and dinner are easily accessible in the $5-10 range. For $20, two people can eat like royalty (read: weeknight date night!). I can only imagine the kind of foot traffic Basilis will have as the Spring weather rolls into Richmond and the crowds return to Carytown.

Make sure you don’t miss the dessert case when you visit. It’s easy to miss since it’s just past the register. I highly recommend grabbing a piece of the Akmak Kataifi. The name might hide it’s deliciousness, but trust me when I say that this house special isn’t like any other dessert you’ve eaten. Structurally, it’s a little like a Greek version of tiramisu. Taste wise, it’s a trio of Greek desserts (namely kataifi on the bottom, galaktobouriko in the middle, with sweet whipped cream and walnuts and honey on top).

And if lamb, gyros, and baklava aren’t your thing – just ask for suggestions! There’s plenty of fare here to satisfy a vegetarian palate or a gluten-free diet. When I visited, I had a cup of the fish stew (tons of veggies, pollock, and lemon) and a gyro.

I couldn’t recommend this restaurant more strongly. I hope you’ll consider stopping by for a meal to support our newest Carytown business. They are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday…which makes Basilis the perfect place to add into your brunch rotation regardless of whether you plan to eat in or carry out. Just look for the neon blue sign!

While you’re enjoying your next Greek treat there, noodle on this:
Basilis almost set up shop in the West End!

March 12, 2010 6:40 AM 0