Basta Pizzeria Ristorante

Honestly, this place was alright. The food was alright and the wait staff was alright. My boyfriend and I went just to try something new and probably aren't going back. The food is overpriced for what you are getting but I guess it also contributes to the atmosphere. I honestly can find the same stuff some where else for cheaper and probably with more rich flavors. The wait staff was kind of crazy where 3 people ended up helping us through the night but they weren't communicating they were. They almost forgot to give me the other half of my sandwich which they boxed up for me. I had to ask for it and she acted like she didn't know what I was talking about at first. That sandwich was $16, I was not leaving without the other half of it. I would recommend if you want to try something new, maybe give this place a shot but there are better places in the area that are a better bang for your buck.
2 7 years ago (04-03-2018)

Delicious food. Always consistently well executed. The stuffed dates are amazing. Calamari is best I've had in town. Thanks for a consistent pleasant dining experience Basta and staff.
5 7 years ago (04-06-2018)

I always feel like I don't put enough effort into giving good reviews. We stopped in, completely unplanned, for my husband's birthday, for lunch. Our service was kind and attentive. The calamari was prepared perfectly! We spent the summer on the east coast and were happy to see such great prep. We also recently vacationed in Greece and the olives offered on the appetizer menu were reminiscent of our visit. The staff gave no hesitation to our request to share the crab spaghetti. It was awesome! Perfect, hearty pasta. A lot of crab and just the right amount of spice inthe cream sauce. The corn and asparagus included were on point. Overall ... great. Kudos to your kind staff and great food!
5 7 years ago (16-02-2018)

This was by far the best pasta I've ever had in my life. We split the 4 cheese penne (the portion sizes are really big by the way) and it tastes delicious and was an overall amazing experience. I recommend this restaurant to anyone.
5 7 years ago (08-05-2018)

Basta has become my go to place for a nice dinner out as well as a place to bring family and friends from out of town. It’s got a great presence from the street in downtown Iowa City and the inside is an upscale setting. The architecture and lighting lens itself very well as an untainted and inviting place to eat. But don’t let that exclude you from coming here for lunch, as the service is quick and attentive and they have several offerings that make for a good bite to eat. The pizza here is no joke, and that’s coming from a guy who used to live in Chicago. Even some of the best places I’ve eaten have something that may not have met expectations, but as I continue to go here and try different menu items I have not found anything that is subpar. I’d attribute that to the on-the-smaller side but well curated menu. Did I mention the service? It’s excellent. In college towns you might find the restaurants have some turnover, and I’m sure Basta does too, but over the last year I still see familiar faces there, which to me means that it’s worth working there, and that mentality shines through their service. Quick and attentive is not giving them enough justice. They are unobtrusive when you’re having one on one time with your wife, and understand fairly well how to pace a meal.
5 8 years ago (14-01-2018)