Basilico Restaurant: Affordable Gourmet Italian-inspired Dishes in Pasig (Closed)

As foodies, we're always challenge ourselves to be one of the firsts to try out a new food place.  One of our latest find is "Basilico".  Its facade looks a bit dainty and uninviting that you might even think that you are in the wrong place.  But once you go inside, its actually cozy with its colorful interiors despite its limited space.  

Food
Basilico is named after the Basil herb which serves one of the primary ingredients in their dishes.  For a humble restaurant, we were amazed that their menu had so much to offer.  We were fortunate that the one of the owners Mr. Renelee Javonillo was there to give as some tips on which to order.  He also shared that the dishes there are not Authentic Italian but Italian-inspired which he concocted himself. 

Appetizers
chicken peperocino
 Chicken Peperocino (215 php)
When the Chicken Peperocino was served, we were not only enticed by its beautiful plating but we were all eager to try this dark java-cayene pepper sauce covered baked chicken wings.  Just a bite of this made us head over heels with it.  It was perfectly crunchy and the taste was a pleasant blend of sweet, nutty and pungent.  This is one unforgettable dish that you just can't miss out on!  

Entree
baby back ribs
Baby Back Ribs (250 php)
The Baby Back Ribs is oven-barbecued American pork ribs in a sweet and tangy sauce served with either Mashed Potato and Basilico Rice.  It was served hot, tender and tasty but it wasn't the baby back ribs we were  expecting.  It was good but nothing spectacular.  The Mashed Potato had a herb-infused gravy which didn't appeal to my taste buds either.

Pasta
chicken cajun ala carbonara
Chicken Cajun ala Carbonara (190 php)
The  Chicken Cajun ala Carbonara  is not the creamy type of carbonara.  This pasta had a light cream that's spiced with cajun pepper.  It was topped with mushrooms and soft and succulent chicken bits.  It was pretty good.

arrabiata
 Arrabiata (180 php)
The Arrabiata delivered a sensational sophisticated flavor that got us all raving for it all night long!  There is just a perfect medley of flavors from the fresh herbs, zesty stewed tomatoes, sweet peppercino and hint of red wine that will surely win you over.  This is a must try!  

Pizza
Seeing how confused we were in what pizza to order, they offered to allow us to try two pizza flavors in one pizza.  Mr. Javonillo emphasized to us that they are more than willing to please their customers as much as they can.  When I asked about that pricing,  he told us not to bother because they care more about customer satisfaction than pricing distortions.   He even mentioned that although not on their menu, they even make rolled lasagna with spices depending on the diner's preference.  How cool is that right?  

funghi pizza white pizza
 Funghi Pizza (300) and  White Pizza (250 php)
chili oil
Chili Oil 
We were given some their own blend of Chili Oil which serves as the hot sauce for their pizza.  It's mixed with basil, chili flakes, cayenne pepper, white pepper and more.

The first pizza I got to try was the White Pizza.  It's a pesto-based thin crusted pizza topped with triple cheese: mozzarella, parmigiano and cheddar in white sauce.  It had a hint of truffle oil.  I usually don't enjoy a cheese and cream based pizza because I find it either too plain or overwhelming, but the White Pizza definitely own me over.  The taste had a nice balance.  It also goes well with the Chili Oil.  

The Funghi Pizza is just as great as the White Pizza.  Compared to the White Pizza, this was more chunky.  It was topped with stewed tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, beef toppings and three types of mushrooms.  We could all tell that the stewed tomato sauce was freshly made because of its rich flavors.  But, the freshness of the mushroom was the key to the success of this pizza.  We could all derive the earthy fragrance of the fresh mushrooms as we savored them in every bite.  

Dessert
chocolate amaretto cheesecake
Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake Solo (200 php)
The Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake is a two-layered cheesecake covered in dark Swiss chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate chips.  It's not your ordinary cheesecake as beneath the thick and heavy cheesecake is a chocolate brownie layer that's soft and moist with a hint of amaretto.  

Cold Beverage
red velvet apple mango cream
Red Velvet Basilico Iced Tea (40 php), Apple Basilico Cola (35 php) and Mango Cream (60 php)
The frothy Red Velvet Basilico Iced Tea reminds me of the Japanese red tea only this was more fragrant in taste and in scent.  The Apple Basilico Cola  is a low calorie option for a cola fan like Tsinoy Foodie Kurt.  It tasted like apple juice but it was more bubbly.  On the other hand, the Mango Cream is a light and refreshing mango smoothie with a vanilla essence.  

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Basilico is a hidden gem in Pasig for affordable yet Gourmet Italian-inspired dishes.  We were all shocked with their pricing.  Not only is their serving size generous, they also don't scrimp on ingredients.  In case you're wondering, they offer FREE delivery with a minimum order ranging on the location.  They also have affordable packages ranging from 250-800 php per person for bulk orders and catering.  In fact, a large percentage of Basilico's clients are corporate firms which order from them on a daily basis.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating Basilico Menu
Ambiance Menu | Menu 2
Taste
Service
Price
=Favorites or Recommended 
Basilico
Business Address
202 Dr. Sixto Antonio Ave., Caniogan, 
Pasig, Metro Manila
Business Hours 10am - 10pm
Payment Options Cash
Service Charge
Budget/Person 65-300
Free WiFi Yes
Unlocked Foursquare Perks None
Contact (02) 655-5651
Other  Email: info@basilicofood.com Facebook Fan Page
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