Spending this past weekend in the Monterey Peninsula, Dan and I went back to one of our favorite towns in the area called Carmel-by-the-Sea. We've been there about two years ago and the picturesque surroundings impressed us so much that we were eager to come back and enjoy a lovely brunch yet again at Basil Seasonal Dining.
Lucky for us, Basil Seasonal Dining serves brunch on Sundays and that's consequently when we decided to pop in. I made a quick Open Table reservation, which worked out beautifully. Upon arriving, we noticed that the majority of the clientele brunched al fresco and because most of those seats were taken, we sat inside. This was more than OK with us, and we even chose the same table as last time, just for nostalgia's sake.
Food:
Although I can't say that Basil's Sunday brunch menu is extensive, the items that are featured on it are enticing and excellent. The fact that the menu is so focused helped us choose quickly and we didn't regret our options one bit.
Poached Egg Sliders - This was something so unique and delicious and consequently featured on their menu's cover that it completely piqued my interest. The portion looked small but was totally filling, featuring fluffy eggs, sauteed fresh, local spinach and a lemony hollandaise sauce that brought everything together in harmony. Even the soft and slightly warmed up potato bun was perfect, soaking up all that eggy goodness.
Basil Egg Burger - Wowza...this thing looked impressive and tasted equally so. Dan was very happy with it, savoring the juicy, grass fed beef, the runny egg on top and slivers of slightly tart heirloom tomato. Once again, the bread was excellent, consisting of a buttery brioche that was the perfect vehicle for all those savory ingredients.
Bloody Mary - Dan ordered a classic morning cocktail, which was on the spicy side - dressed with lots of horseradish and hot sauce. A topping of celery and olives completed its classic look and overall this cocktail passed the muster.
Service and Cost:
Just like last time, the service at Basil Seasonal Dining impressed us. Not only was our waiter completely knowledgeable about everything, he told us more about the seasonal ingredients, accommodated all our specific wishes and then some.
Costs are on the higher side at about $12-$14 for entrees but totally worth every penny, considering the delicious experience you get each time. I'd be back in a heartbeat and think it can very well be in the cards again.
3 Mmmms
Basil Seasonal Dining - San Carlos between Ocean & 7th, Carmel, CA 93921
831.626.8226
www.basilcarmel.com
After we left San Francisco, we headed South by way of California’s Monterrey Peninsula, which was just a spectacular experience. Part of what made the journey that much more enjoyable was the delectable, natural food we had at our disposal, and it was really difficult to have anything that wasn’t delicious.
I did some research on Carmel’s restaurants, as I usually do, only to find a lot of gems, which were also very pricey. Doing some more digging, I decided that heading to Carmel’s quaint town called Carmel by the Sea would be a nice place to have dinner, and I found a cute little, low-key restaurant called Basil Seasonal Dining that ended up being our dinner destination.
Atmosphere:
Set in the heart of Carmel by the Sea, it’s a wonder that Basil Seasonal Dining remains a hidden gem. It must be its stealth location, as Dan and I inadvertently passed it on our way over since it’s situated in a little tributary street right off of Ocean St.
We noticed a few tables outside, but since Carmel gets to be quite chilly at night, we chose to dine in Basil’s cozy dining room. It’s a good thing we had a reservation, since the place was almost full, which was a good sign.
Dan remarked at how tiny it actually was, the dining room housing only about 25 patrons – and we loved that. We hadn’t really had an intimate, romantic meal up to that point in the trip, and this created a nice opportunity.
Food:
While the menu wasn’t wildly extensive, it had just what we needed, and we were excited by a lot of the menu items. The wine selection was quite nice too, and boasted a few local varieties, which we naturally had to sample.
Tuna Tartare – We were totally taken with this appetizer special, which sounded delicious and hinted at Asian flavors. I enjoyed it very much, as the tuna was fresh and cut into bite size pieces, resting on a bed of chunky avocado salad. Refreshing and light, we both agreed that it was a great way to start, and to keep our palates neutral, in preparation of the heartier dishes still to come.
Braised Rabbit – I was curious to try Basil’s take on a braised rabbit dish, which was paired with locally grown veggies such as heirloom cauliflower and romanesco. A modest helping of homemade gnocchi also graced the dish, which was a big highlight for me – the soft, pillowy pieces catching the rabbit’s hearty braising liquid. The meat itself was really flavorful and cooked perfectly – not too gamey or tough but tender, juicy and a tad earthy.
Wild Boar Sausage Wrapped in Prosciutto – Dan was a very happy customer, devouring the sausage dish, but still managing to share with me. I was grateful, as it was a real treat, the salty, well done prosciutto being my favorite part. Boasting some fresh pieces of basil, it was nice to actually tear some into the dish for a hint of lemony freshness.
Service and Cost:
The service was yet another success at Basil, our waiter showing off his knowledge of food and drink, but also his professionalism, all at the same time maintaining that characteristic, Carmel laid-back vibe. We never felt that we waited too long for anything and generally felt well looked after.
All the food is very well priced, considering the locally sourced ingredients and their high quality. The entire dinner set us back about $95, including drinks, tip and tax.
3 Mmmms
Basil Seasonal Dining - San Carlos between Ocean & 7th, Carmel, CA 93921
831.626.8226
www.basilcarmel.com
