We tried The Basin Grill for the first time and were very pleasantly surprised. We thought it may be a 'pub fare only' type of place but it wasn't at all. Impressed by offerings like Buttery Garlic Clams in White Wine, Burratta over Greens with...a Fig Glaze, and Linguine Alle Vongole, we knew we were in for a little beyond average.
My husband and I enjoy trying things not readily available elsewhere so we started with Saratoga Chips with Onion Dip and Tater Kegs. The latter were excellent: housemade tots stuffed with cheese and bacon and served with a side of silky Jalapeno ranch dressng, which seemed also to be made in-house. The tots were generously sized and very crisp on the outside - and delicious. The chips, unfortunately, were extremely salty, which ruined the experience, we didn't even taste potatoes, only saline. PLEASE reconsider your recipe for these because they have potential.
My order of Short Rib Ravioli with a Sherry Mushroom Sauce was AMAZING. Delicious, flavorful short rib meat encased in each generously-sized raviolo, and lightly bathed in a fabulously flavorful and creamy mushroom sauce. I say 'lightly' because my only complaint about the dish was not enough sauce for my liking. It was sparse, and a couple more tablespoons would have made all the difference, but I'd definitely order it again.
My husband's Linguine Vongole (Linguine with clams) was also very good. The clams and shrimp were cooked to perfection. The pasta was perfectly al dente. The entree was piping hot, which is hard to do with delicate seafood. However, my husband is not a fan of mixing seafood with any kind of red sauce and this had a light tomato-picante sauce throughout. On its own, it was very good, but the menu didn't mention any tomatoes in the description so it was an unpleasant surprise. If they had stuck to the menu description, it would have been perfect.
The portions are pitch-perfect: not too big or small and we happily had no need for take-away containers. A huge bonus and integral part of a good dining experience is the staff were ALL welcoming, friendly, and helpful. Our waitress, Emily was a gem - very attentive and cheerful. It doesn't matter how great the food is, if service is unpleasant, it's a game-changer. Overall, three cheers fo the Basin Grill for a great kitchen and wait staff, imaginative menu (they DO offer plenty of pub favorites as well), and delicious food. We will be back.More