The Basics
Cuisine: American
Ambiance: Contemporary
Address: 7th & Marquette, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Neighborhood: Downtown
Phone: 612.376.7404
Web Site: http://www.basilsminneapolis.com/
Must Taste (Breakfast):
- Breakfast: Wild Rice Waffles – when in Rome…check out the Wild Rice Waffles to get a taste of the local cuisine. These waffles taste pretty much like regular ones with a little extra texture.
Best For: Eats for travelers, meal with friends or co-workers
What to Wear: casual to business casual to dress casual
Fave Points: Convenient location for business travelers, nice interior, and fabulous indoor patio.
My Fave Dish: I loved my wild rice waffles. I’ve never heard of such a dish before and thought the flavor of the waffles was really nice and that the rice added some fun texture. The waffle was cooked perfectly – slightly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Menu pricing and availability subject to change.
My Dish
I was in Minneapolis, MN on business and made a quick stop to Basil’s Restaurant for a simple breakfast.
As the hostess led me inside the restaurant, I caught a glimpse of their indoor patio area and asked to be seated out there. There was a nice water fountain that streamed from the ceiling to a small pool below that created a relaxing moving water background. The view was the inside of a mall-like area.
The table setup simple simple, but nice and clean.
I ordered a cup of coffee with cream and sugar to drink.
I was feeling a standard egg, pancake, and bacon kind of breakfast, but the wild rice waffle captured my attention as soon as I saw the dish listed on the menu. I knew I had to try them.
The waffle came out perfectly golden brown and served with whipped butter, syrup, and a couple pieces of fruit.
The waffle was just how I like them: slightly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Yes, there really was wild rice inside!
I ordered an extra side of fresh fruit – the bowl was really pretty and I liked the variety of fruit and how the medley contained berries – strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
Final Dish
Although Basil’s Restaurant may easily be missed since it’s not street-side and is located inside The Marquette Hotel (on the third floor), the restaurant is worth a visit. I liked the clean, contemporary interior of the restaurant and the indoor patio is definitely worth checking out. My waiter was nice but the service was a little on the slow side. The food more than made up for it. My breakfast was really well prepared and the flavor of the waffles was awesome. I would definitely come back to Basil’s Restaurant, but I will probably try to wake up earlier next time so I can enjoy a slower-paced breakfast, but not because of the service. This restaurant is a nice place to catch up with the newspaper and take your time sipping on coffee and savoring your waffles, especially before starting a long workday.