Basil Flats

We are in love with this fast-casual, local restaurant that serves incredibly fresh, Mediterranean-inflected food.  Basil Flatsis an order-at-the-counter type of place that nonetheless has some of the most consistently delicious food around.  Their house salad, made with impeccably fresh greens topped with slivered dates, toasted almonds, grape tomatoes, and Haystack mountain goat cheese, is my current obsession.  I cannot get enough of this salad, which comes lightly dressed with the house sherry vinaigrette.

Pizzas and salads both come in small or large, and we typically order a large house salad to share, as well as a wrap or a pizza.  Another personal favorite is the Artichoke Fritas, a generous tapas serving of crispy-fried artichoke bites, served with a smoky, spicy, house-made Romesco sauce and some of their soft, warm, grilled flatbreads.  Heaven on a plate.

We also keep going back for the wonderful Falafel Wrap.  The falafel are crunchy outside, creamy inside, and wrapped up in a soft flatbread with fresh lettuce, cucumber and tomato salsa, creamy hummus, and a side of their thick Tzaziki sauce (I always get an extra side of the sauce, which is made with Fage yogurt and would be delicious eaten straight up, with a spoon).

Over the course of several visits we have sampled a few of the pizzas and have never been disappointed.  The classic Margherita is lovely, with a thin, flame-blistered crust, and on the last trip we tried the Papas Frites, a Romesco-sauced pizza with crispy bits of potato, caramelized onions, and a blend of mozzarella and asadero cheeses.  The pizza crust has a crispy-chewy texture and and toppings are judicious and flavorful (gluten free options are available).

Where the pizza and grill action unfolds

Basil Flats also offers a good selection of wines, yet it is certainly a family-friendly atmosphere.  While we tend to stick with the vegetarian options, they offer many carnivore-friendly toppings and sandwich fillings, and have a decidedly local-friendly sourcing bent.  The prices are extremely reasonable and the interior is a good reflection of the focus on fast, casual service with great, freshly-prepared food.

If it sounds like I am in love with this place it is because I am–I have yet to have a dish that wasn’t carefully prepared and delicious.  Basil Flats periodically does fixed-price wine pairing dinners, often featuring locally-sourced products, and we are planning to attend one of those events really soon.  Give them a try, I am sure you will enjoy your meal.

Thanks for reading,

-Angela