Basilic

Best table in the house was right by the front door 🚪 had the duck breast and rack of lamb, and of course you have to try the raclette.

Great place for a casual dinner, street side seating, good food, great service from Jeremy, and really relaxing atmosphere.

Wendell Chong

What a wonderful place to spend our anniversary! The food was amazing and plentiful. We had two of their tasting menus which came with a glorious mushroom spinach soup, a light and bright arugula salad, sea bass, lamb, and a dessert trio. It was so delicious and the service was top notch. We're definitely returning to try some of their other dishes!

M Jeero

Nice little place in Balboa Island serving french food done well. Service staff is wonderful, very good food & the atmosphere is romantic.

Yingxi Song

This is a French restaurant hidden in Balboa Island. It is very small but very charming. It feels like a vacation in Europe. The food is exquisite and the service is handsome and friendly.

josskees

Truly an outstanding and menorable dining experience. We had been invited to celebrate some birthdays and our host had dined at Basilic several times. A Friday evening, and the small but cosy restaurant quickly filled up ( and also outdoor tables) The service was inpeccable and pleasant and we never felt rushed. The food was of a very high standard and the presentation was very nice. All dishes we ordered were tastt and clearly prepared with passion.

Save the Oceans

Very friendly and attentive server. The food was delicious and well plated. Both chefs came out and chatted. The restaurant is cozy and warm. I completely recommend this Swiss-French restaurant.

Steve Ingalsbe

This meal was amazing! I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. The Seabass was cooked just right and served over couscous and summer vegetables. We ordered a bottle of sparkling water and a half bottle of white wine and they brought out a basket of bread with butter. The restaurant is very small (about 10 tables) but the noise level was very low and it was easy to have a conversation. The food is not cheap but the quality is great.

cecelia moreno

Wonderful birthday meal. Husbands first glance at menu was,”I could eat anything and everything on this menu!” Service was delightful and the Chef came out to say hello before we ordered dessert. We cannot wait to return.

Arthur Chen

Great place for a casual dinner, street side seating, good food, great service from Jeremy, and really relaxing atmosphere.

Jason Manasse

We had a great meal there tonight. Wonderful summer salad, good raclette and the duck was excellent.I also tried the risotto with shrimp which I’d order and a dessert special which was light and very flavorful. Portion sizes are small enough for multiple courses which is nice as you get to try more things. I’d go back again without hesitation and try everything on the menu.

Victoria Langton

Delicious food and great service! We got takeout from here last week and were blown away by the quality of the ingredients and delicious flavor. I look forward to ordering again and dining in person one day!

Valerie Van de Zilver

TakeOut dinner last night was amazing! Definitely the best take out meal we’ve ever had! 😊 Shrimp Risotto, Meyer Lemon Tart for desert! Accompanied by a nice Pinot Noir. Support local restaurants, love Basilic and Chef Bernard ❤️

Isabelle Nguyen

Best table in the house was right by the front door 🚪 had the duck breast and rack of lamb, and of course you have to try the raclette.

It's not only about the food or wine or service. The ambience of Basilic shows hard work, Your typical movie like place of a hidden gem, where a person worked most of his life to perfect everything in his place. You feel and see that energy and it's beautiful! Food, dessert and wine selection are outstanding. Chef Bernard and family are amazing. 100/10 recommend for date nights, business light Meetings, casual friends and small family dinners.

What a gem a unique experience like eating in someone's kitchen. Small intimate old world restaurant with wonderful food. Have to make reservations in ahead. this is one of the best French restaurants in Southern California

This tiny( less than 10 tables) restaurant in an area drowning in kitch, produces delicious food made with care, attention, and top quality ingredients, beautifully executed and presented. Staff is professional, and knowledgeable about every dish on the well chosen menu. Wine list is impressive, and here too staff had detailed knowledge about the each wine. Every dish was a delight, and all 4 of us had a wonderful dinner.

Ubaldo Bezoari

This tiny( less than 10 tables) restaurant in an area drowning in kitch, produces delicious food made with care, attention, and top quality ingredients, beautifully executed and presented. Staff is professional, and knowledgeable about every dish on the well chosen menu. Wine list is impressive, and here too staff had detailed knowledge about the each wine. Every dish was a delight, and all 4 of us had a wonderful dinner.

rezaphoto

Basilic is the hidden gem of OC. It is my favorite restaurant to take friends to or to treat a business acquaintance. The food is one of a kind and you can’t get quality or regional food like this anywhere else. The dining room is a small intimate setting with beautiful lighting and it really transports you to a Swiss countryside restaurant. Located on balboa island only adds to the mystique. The prices are reasonable for the quality you get. It really is an intimate setting and you feel like family when you sit down and eat there, which is a quality sorely lacking in today’s culture. The Althaus family will come out and check on you and if youre lucky share a glass of wine. I highly recommend the lamb chops but everything is good on the menu and it will keep you coming back because you should sample all of the flavors! Go here and you will not be disappointed!!!

PltAnt

It's not only about the food or wine or service. The ambience of Basilic shows hard work, Your typical movie like place of a hidden gem, where a person worked most of his life to perfect everything in his place. You feel and see that energy and it's beautiful! Food, dessert and wine selection are outstanding. Chef Bernard and family are amazing. 100/10 recommend for date nights, business light Meetings, casual friends and small family dinners.

Came here for a birthday dinner and had a good experience! The restaurant is located right on the busiest street of Balboa Island, and it gives off a cozy, intimate vibe with its wood interiors and dim lighting — though it was a bit too dim at first, making the menu hard to read. The space is small, with just 7 indoor seats and 2 outdoor tables, so it feels very personal. The menu is also quite small, offering a few appetizers and entrees, which I usually take as a good sign of quality also it can a double sword. One bad dish can cost none returned customers. Orange county has way too many good or new restaurants. Appetizers: We ordered the Raclette with Bundnerfleisch and Bread & Butter. The plates arrived piping hot — always a great sign. The raclette was bubbling and full of rich flavor, though the fingerling potatoes didn’t add much. The cured meat was tasty and paired well with the strong mustard. I also ordered a Cabernet, but the wine selection was a bit underwhelming — just “meh.” Entrees: We had the steak and duck. The duck was the star of the night — hands down the best duck dish I’ve ever had. It was juicy, tender, not at all gamey, and absolutely packed with flavor that melted in your mouth. The steak (ordered medium) had a perfect juicy center, but the exterior was a bit too heavy on peppercorns and possibly over-charred, which added bitterness that overpowered the meat’s natural flavor. The boiled veggies on the side didn’t do much — not a lot of seasoning or flavor. Dessert: We shared the caramelized walnut chocolate bar, and it was surprisingly good. I’m not usually a fan of chocolate bars because they tend to be too rich, but this one was well balanced. The walnuts cut the sweetness nicely, and the raspberry & blueberry added the perfect tart contrast. Portion Sizes: Just right. Everyone at the table was able to finish their plates without feeling stuffed or hungry. Overall: A cozy, intimate spot with some standout dishes (especially the duck), excellent plating, and great attention to detail in the food. A few things could be improved — lighting, wine selection, and sides and steak cooking.

Really warm and cozy restaurant with excellent Swiss food. The raclette was really good, the duck breast was a small portion so better pair that with something else.

Been wanting to try this place forever. Hard to get into. Only 7 indoor tables and 3-4 outdoor tables with heaters. Good food at high prices. Unfriendly servers.

A L

Came here for a birthday dinner and had a good experience! The restaurant is located right on the busiest street of Balboa Island, and it gives off a cozy, intimate vibe with its wood interiors and dim lighting — though it was a bit too dim at first, making the menu hard to read. The space is small, with just 7 indoor seats and 2 outdoor tables, so it feels very personal. The menu is also quite small, offering a few appetizers and entrees, which I usually take as a good sign of quality also it can a double sword. One bad dish can cost none returned customers. Orange county has way too many good or new restaurants. Appetizers: We ordered the Raclette with Bundnerfleisch and Bread & Butter. The plates arrived piping hot — always a great sign. The raclette was bubbling and full of rich flavor, though the fingerling potatoes didn’t add much. The cured meat was tasty and paired well with the strong mustard. I also ordered a Cabernet, but the wine selection was a bit underwhelming — just “meh.” Entrees: We had the steak and duck. The duck was the star of the night — hands down the best duck dish I’ve ever had. It was juicy, tender, not at all gamey, and absolutely packed with flavor that melted in your mouth. The steak (ordered medium) had a perfect juicy center, but the exterior was a bit too heavy on peppercorns and possibly over-charred, which added bitterness that overpowered the meat’s natural flavor. The boiled veggies on the side didn’t do much — not a lot of seasoning or flavor. Dessert: We shared the caramelized walnut chocolate bar, and it was surprisingly good. I’m not usually a fan of chocolate bars because they tend to be too rich, but this one was well balanced. The walnuts cut the sweetness nicely, and the raspberry & blueberry added the perfect tart contrast. Portion Sizes: Just right. Everyone at the table was able to finish their plates without feeling stuffed or hungry. Overall: A cozy, intimate spot with some standout dishes (especially the duck), excellent plating, and great attention to detail in the food. A few things could be improved — lighting, wine selection, and sides and steak cooking.

Drew Suthipongchai

Really warm and cozy restaurant with excellent Swiss food. The raclette was really good, the duck breast was a small portion so better pair that with something else.

Rick Schwartz

Been wanting to try this place forever. Hard to get into. Only 7 indoor tables and 3-4 outdoor tables with heaters. Good food at high prices. Unfriendly servers.

This place is adorable and the service was excellent. My husband and I had different opinions of the food based on what we ordered. I had the classic chicken dish with wine sauce and it was delicious- they were even able to make this dairy free for me which is so unique for a French restaurant. However my husband has the shrimp risotto and for 50 dollar dish it was scant and he was still hungry at the end. There was like, 2 Shrimp and the risotto was unfulfilling with barely any sauce or rice. I was disappointed for him.

M T

This place is adorable and the service was excellent. My husband and I had different opinions of the food based on what we ordered. I had the classic chicken dish with wine sauce and it was delicious- they were even able to make this dairy free for me which is so unique for a French restaurant. However my husband has the shrimp risotto and for 50 dollar dish it was scant and he was still hungry at the end. There was like, 2 Shrimp and the risotto was unfulfilling with barely any sauce or rice. I was disappointed for him.

I took my wife here for her birthday on a week night. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very nice - definitely a good vibe for a date night. We made a reservation and were taken to our table without waiting. Right off the bat, I noticed that the waiter did not pay much attention to us; taking longer than usual to give us our menus and answer our questions. Granted, there was only one waiter serving the entire restaurant, I expected a better attitude from the waiter. He not only would not respond to our inquiries with any acknowledgement (but would still fulfill our request), he also seemed to be in a hurry every time we asked him something. Note that he was not like this to other tables. One observation that I made, and I could be totally off on this, is that the entire restaurant were filled with white people except for my wife and I, who were Asian. This could be the reason for his attitude towards us, but again, I could be wrong. We ordered the chef's tasting menu and the waiter did not even take his time to explain to us what each dish in the menu was. When he served the dish to us, he didn't even tell us what it was and I had to ask for it explicitly. I was very annoyed by this experience as all other restaurant's tasty menu services were much better from my experience. As for the food itself, it was delicious! I probably would not come here again if that waiter is still there. I would come for the food but definitely not the service.

John Tseng

I took my wife here for her birthday on a week night. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very nice - definitely a good vibe for a date night. We made a reservation and were taken to our table without waiting. Right off the bat, I noticed that the waiter did not pay much attention to us; taking longer than usual to give us our menus and answer our questions. Granted, there was only one waiter serving the entire restaurant, I expected a better attitude from the waiter. He not only would not respond to our inquiries with any acknowledgement (but would still fulfill our request), he also seemed to be in a hurry every time we asked him something. Note that he was not like this to other tables. One observation that I made, and I could be totally off on this, is that the entire restaurant were filled with white people except for my wife and I, who were Asian. This could be the reason for his attitude towards us, but again, I could be wrong. We ordered the chef's tasting menu and the waiter did not even take his time to explain to us what each dish in the menu was. When he served the dish to us, he didn't even tell us what it was and I had to ask for it explicitly. I was very annoyed by this experience as all other restaurant's tasty menu services were much better from my experience. As for the food itself, it was delicious! I probably would not come here again if that waiter is still there. I would come for the food but definitely not the service.