The Original Basil T's

The Original Basil T'sThe Original Basil T's
The Original Basil T'sThe Original Basil T's
Brewery, Bar, Eatery

183 Riverside Avenue
Red Bank, New Jersey, 07701
United States

// CLOSED //
BEER STATS
Average:
3.36
Beers:
7
Ratings:
79
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.73
Reviews:
34
Ratings:
37
pDev:
15.28%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
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Ratings by marcpal:
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Reviewed by marcpal from New Jersey

2.98/5  rDev -20.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Been here on several occassions and sorry to say it is not one of my favorites.
Not my favorite, only fair to give a review of my takeaways.

A: Just weird setup that they didnt pull off. The bar area was tight and crowded as always even though there really arent a ton of people there. The rest of the place was a mid to upscale italian place, seemed to be two different entities. T

Q: The beers are not the best. Most were run of the mill and didnt stand out. The stout was admittedly very good but the others just seemed to have a similar taste with different colors.

S: This is where I have found them the most lacking- the bartenders didnt know about the beers and were not willing to let you sample or ask any questions. Just order and pay and the beer menus were not updated at all. They were friendly but surely not beer experts. Ive always been there when its been busy so this may lend a bit to the lower service but who knows. Also, when Ive eaten in the restaurant, the waiters and waitresses did not know a single thing about the beers- very sad.

S: Decent variety but their beers were far from anything to write home about. They always have the summer going it seems, as well as a red, a stout, and something else dark. The stout was by far the most solid of the offerings. It seemed that they didnt put too much effort in making distinctive brews. A bit of a letdown with such potential.

F: Food is not bad but far overpriced. The pizza is always solid as are the meals but the pricing scheme is through the roof. AThe calamari is always very good as well and the food here is much better to enjoy within the restaurant rather than what you would typically look for as bar foods.

As a whole, its a weird environment combining somewhat higher scale food with subpar beers. I think that Harvest Moon in NB has this combination to a "T" and hits on all the measures that this one lacks- atmosphere, quality of beers, variety, and service.
Apr 18, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.88 by njtmayhem from New Jersey

Dec 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Dhawanr from New Jersey

Jun 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by skriv from New Jersey

May 06, 2014
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Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

2.28/5  rDev -38.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 1.5 | service: 4 | selection: 1.5 | food: 1.5
I've always known of this place, but never bothered checking them out until recently, as it stood at a somewhat convenient mid-point between Kane and Starland Ballroom--my other two ventures of the day.

The place is a bit smaller than I expected for some reason, but from what I could see there are two bar areas as well as tables for dining. And I couldn't see much...even in the brightness of the mid-day, it was dark as night in here. But contrary to some, I actually like that in a bar. Clientele was horrid yuppies with bad taste.

I can't really say too much good about this place overall. There were six of their own brews on tap, so I got a sampler flight. They were all pretty mediocre, with some being downright pitiful. As I gazed around and saw literally hundreds of ceramic mugs from their mug club hanging on the bar, and people getting growlers filled, my mind was pretty boggled, because I couldn't imagine who in their right mind would regularly drink this swill. But they've been around a while, so I guess why change if the customers are satisfied with their low standards? There also seemed to be a large wine selection, but I don't care about that.

The food was pretty awful as well. A one-page menu doesn't give you many choices, but what is there is generally Italian in style, ranging from salads to pasta dishes to fish and steak. There were no appetizers nor were there any kind of small plates, and I don't think I saw one thing on the menu less than $15, with the steak coming in at a whopping $40. Not wanting to empty my wallet on a large meal, I opted for the burger. The fries were sub-McDonalds in quality, and the burger was so badly made, that I had to put salt on it just to get some flavor out of it. I don't think I've ever had to put salt on a burger before. Even the pickle was bad, and I'm dead serious.

On the plus side, the service was pretty good. The bartenders all seemed like seasoned veterans, and at least three of them tended to me while I was there, and I never had to wait for anything.

So one bland burger and one flight of 6 samplers of bad beer, and my bill was $27, not including tip. This place was a rip off, and on top of that, the beer was pee, and the food was garbage. There is absolutely no way I'd ever consider going back here, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
May 04, 2014
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Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
Vibe: This is an upscale Italian restaurant and you wouldn't think that this was also a brewery unless you saw the fermenting tanks in the window from the parking lot or behind the bar. They have a huge wine list and the beer is seemingly hidden on the menu.

Quality: All beers were served in pint glasses at the proper temperatures.

Service: The wait staff was very attentive and provided prompt service. The personalized cheese grating over your dish added a nice touch. Our waiter also brought a tray over with the entire dessert selection on it.

Selection: The brewpub had six beers on tap, including the five regular offerings and one seasonal beer, which was a pumpkin ale when I went.

Food: The food was very upscale Italian and the entrees were well worth the price. I tried the Orecchiette and it wasn't dominated by pasta and had lots of sausage and vegetables.

Value: The food was pricey, but seemed to be well worth the price. If want value, you can order the beer sampler platter, which came with six beers for only $9.
Sep 29, 2013
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Reviewed by JerryRiso from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5
We’ve eaten here several times and each time we leave feeling satisfied that we spent both our money and our time very very well. The food is soooo good, and very creative in their implementation of different ingredients. LOVE the seafood, LOVE the squid-ink pasta, but can you beat the homemade Gnocchi? I THINK NOT!. My favorite of the beers is their Irish Stout but Rosies Pale Ale is very very good, too.

As for atmosphere, what can be said other than it’s among the best places in one of the best towns (Red Bank) in NJ. A lively, enjoyable crowd, combined with a friendly and very knowledgeable staff, makes this a place we love to return to, again and again. Forza Basil T’s!
May 31, 2012
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Reviewed by Jiggamyte from New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5
Stopped in with my girlfriend on a busy Saturday night to get a feel for the place. The bar was dimly lit and crowded with people waiting to take a seat in the dining room. We quickly found seats at the corner of the bar and proceeded to settle in for a drink while we waited to be seated in the dining room. I asked the bartender what they were serving this evening and he proceeded to give me a list of beers instead of just taking a few seconds to list the 6 beers that are served at the establishment. I understand he may have been a bit busy for the moment and the listing did describe these beers in more detail than just spouting them out. We took in the decor and the hundreds of mugs that hang from the shelving and ceiling of the bar. Nice to have a mug club somewhere in Central New Jersey, this place is barren of a good craft beer bar. We waited for about 15 minutes and were never approached by our bartender again, even when we asked to pay our check. Seemed odd to have 3 bartenders for a 15-20 seat bar and service bar area, but maybe instead of acting busy all the time they could spend time to get to know people sitting at their bar and giving them money. Maybe I am jaded from working the biz.

Either way we sat at our table and asked for a beer sampler to start off our dining experience. The sampler included 6 beers that were being offered and a bonus black and tan because the waitress had made a mistake of informing me that they did not have their summer seasonal beer for the evening, even though they did. Not a big deal in my mind to be out of a beer and then find out that you are still serving it, but I did appreciate the black and tan being thrown in without asking for anything anyway. As far as the sampler goes, a red ale, cherry wheat, esb, pale ale, stout, and summer ale were all brought over on a round platter with the black and tan on the side. None of the beers were outstanding with exception of the stout. True to style and very well crafted, I can see why it had received medals at the GABF.

Our meals were very good. Traditional Italian restaurant with appreciation for fresh ingredients. The cucumber and watermelon salad was excellent and very light. The caesar salad was very good as well. Our entrees, the ravioli and the bolognese were fantastic and worth raving over. For dessert the cannoli was a nice ending to our evening.

Overall, we had a wonderful dinner. The food is worth the trip alone even if the beers they offer could use a little tune up. The atmosphere was pleasant, a little crowded and noisey, but it was 7 pm on a Saturday night. The dining room was well lit as opposed to the bar, and the service was much better. The decor of the restaurant was more of an Italian restaurant than a brew pub. With all the grapes all over this place it seems like it is more intent on selling wines than beer. I know we will be back, but not because of the beer.
Aug 09, 2010
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Reviewed by donniecuffs from New Jersey

1.95/5  rDev -47.7%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 2 | selection: 3 | food: 3
For what I paid for both food and drink, I expected A LOT more. This particular establishment is another example of one that has benefited immensely from what I'd like to call a 'slam-dunk' location. Yuppies from some of the wealthier nearby towns (in addition to other locals) jam this place and like to brag that they're a member of the mug club, when the majority of them wouldn't be able to tell you the difference between an ale and a lager. But I can live with that; what I can't live with is the pretentiousness, which abounds here in buckets. This is considered the premier brewpub on the northern Jersey shore (with former sister Basil T's Toms River king of the southern Jersey shore) because there is NO other competition. Zero. Therefore, don't make the mistake of getting excited reading stellar reviews from people who live nearby as, no offense, but they have no competition for a basis for comparison. FYI, don't associate the Toms River location with this one, as it is apparently no longer owned by the same group, and furthermore, Dave Hoffmann of Climax is now brewing in Toms River, so you can expect great things to come. As for the 'Original' Basil T's in Red Bank, don't bother; I consider it one of if not the worst brewpubs in the state...and I've been to all of them.
Jul 27, 2009
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Reviewed by njthebestofme from New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
when walking it looked like a nice restraunt kinda classy with very nice hosts and servers.. we sat down in the dinning room for dinner and got chicken parm .. homemade spaghtiti was great.. i wanted to see the brewery so i walked to the bar.. nice set up with the beer in a glass fermanting .. it was nice.. fillled up a growler for 24$ .. not too bad.. when we were leaving it began to fill up with poeple but over i thouight it was a nice place and enjoyed the beer .. i got rosies pale ale.. cheers
May 05, 2009
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Reviewed by Yetiman420 from Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -0.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5
This was stop #254 on my quest to visit every quality brewery/brepub in North America.

I stopped in around 7:30 on a Thursday evening in later September. I grabbed one of the bar seats with my back to the brewing equipment.

I had a pale ale and dry stout (gold GABF winner). The pale was a tad below average and the stout was a tab above average.

I had a caprise sald and lasagna. The food was delicious. Salad had true ripened beefsteak tomatoes and the bichemel sauce in the lasagna made it especially light and tasty.

Around 8, a light-jazz duo set up and began playing. By this time the bar was crowded and the music was annoyingly loud. There were no other beers on tap that were of interest to me so I headed back to my hotel for a Smuttynose IPA I picked up at a bottle shop earlier in the day.

Bottom line as others have said is that this is quality Italian restaurant first and brewing is secondary. While the food was pricy, the portions were generous and of excellent quality. My ranking is based primarily on beer.
Sep 26, 2008
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Reviewed by jfindley from New York

2.85/5  rDev -23.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 2.5
I was in the area for the week on business. Had to stop here as it is one of the few beer destinations in the area.

I agree with the bulk of what's been written about this place by other reviewers. With a couple exceptions.

First off, this place is barely, by the thinnest of definitions, a brewpub. Yes, they make the beer they serve. But that's about where it ends. I'd hardly consider it a pub and beer isn't even a secondary consideration here. Sure, people drink it and there are certainly lots of mugs in their mug club. But really, this place is a full blown restaurant first, bar second, and brewery dead last. Way last.

The beers were all well made (no flaws detected) but totally uninspired. Pale, wheat, red, summer, stout, blah blah blah. Seen it a million times all across the country and nothing at all was remotely noteworthy. It's basically all done to a formula from the brass and ferns brewpub designers manual.

It was a Tuesday evening when I was there and it was busy with only a couple seats available at the bar. Looked like mostly an after work crowd. And mostly locals or commuters returning from NYC jobs.

Pints were $5.95 - fine, I can handle that, but as noted by others the prices all go way up from there. I had the rapini pizza to eat and it was just okay. And $19. I rarely ever note anything about prices but it's worth mentioning for this place as they are simply out of line. There are dinners on the menu in the upper 20s and 30s and it's all pretty basic Italian. Again, nothing even that interesting.

To me this place is basically like a Fridays without all the cutesy crap. It's only okay at best and not a good bargain for the price. But what the hell do I know? It was full of people on a Tuesday so obviously people like it.

They can have it. I won't be back. That says it all. There is real beer to be had out there...

P.S. The service was good, I'll give them that.
Aug 13, 2008
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Reviewed by Soracloud from New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -8.8%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 4
I swear they jacked their prices up again. (Summer 08)

I moved to Middletown last September and anyone that knows the area, knows we are void of anything in regards to good beer bars or good bars in general. Basil T's is a place I imagined myself at everyday. Though now I am not so sure.

Lets first say, the beer is very good. Their Beer list is small. Only 5 or 6 Beers and a Seasonal available at a time but everything they offer is solid. The Dry Stout is my favorite. Do not bother asking your server/bartender anything about the beer. I've never gotten anything besides "Its light (or dark) and is really good" each time I ask.

As for the Bar, its rather small. Like if there are more then 25 people in the place, you are not getting a seat or be able to even walk around. The atmosphere though is very cozy. I just wish there was more room. I like eating lunch/dinner at the bar and do not like having to settle with the dining room (to me IMHO it takes away from the whole "brew pub" vibe).

When you order your first pint, you will first notice, things are askew. $5.75 a Pint. To me, thats expensive. A dollar and a quarter more then what I would expect to pay the most for at another brew pub.

The food, well it is good. You are always served fresh tasty food but the prices are a little steep. $23 for Bolognese. $15 for a salad $18 for a personal Pizza, $7.50 for two Meatballs $37 for an 18oz Sirloin. The Menu is available on their website and is updated all the time (which is nice to see).

I really think Basil T's could lower their price. I don't know if they are trying to keep it exclusive or what. The Beer is delicious, it is worth the trip of a few miles (I wouldn't go out of my way though). You are though, better off going to Harvest Moon in New Brunswick or JJ Bitings in Woodbridge. Those are two examples of Brew pubs "Doing it right."
Aug 11, 2008
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Reviewed by beernut from New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
I agree with most of everyone's reviews. This place is pretty expensive, but I disagree with what a few say about their beer. The stout is probably their best, but their seasonals are good as well. The food is fantastic as it is all made fresh to order. I like the fact that they only serve the beer they brew. It is not as dark as many make it out to seem. Expensive yes, but welcome to Monmouth County where you are minutes from the shore. This place is always loaded with the "rich snobs." Who feel they come before all. And at times they do. Once I waited 20minutes at the bar for service while people walked in after me and were served before all because they were "regulars." But, one good thing is that can purchase their beer in growlers. You paid around 20 bucks for it, but if you returned for more beer it would only cost you 11bucks. Not bad.
Jun 10, 2008
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Reviewed by AltBock from Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -28.2%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3
This Basil T's is located along the ocean on Riverside Ave in the shadows of some high rise apartments. It's a very small place with plenty of parking in the back and on the side. When you walk along side this palce, make sure you pick the right door because I alomst walked in their into their brewing room. The correct door is just a few feet away from that door. When I found the correct door, I questioned it because it was so dark in there I couldn't see anything. So I trusted my instinct and walked on in. It's a weird set up. Once you walk pass the foyer, you walk into the bar/kitchen area. The dinning room is just behind the front of the bar. I couldn't see the size of the dinning room, because it was damn dark in there. They were actually relying on the sun to light up their establishent and thing is, they don't have that many windows in that place. I guess they were trying to conserve energy, but not so much where I have to use a flashlight to find a seat. The bar itself was pretty big with liqour bottles, wine bottles, and mugs hanging down. Those mugs are for their mug of the month club patrons. Again, the bar is pretty big, but the whole area seemed narrow and crowded.

The service here was average. The best part was when I asked the bartender what the seasonals were, he turned around and handed me two free samples. They weren't that good, but they were free. It was funny when bartender kept yanking back the beer menu back to its original place. Every time I looked at the beer menu, I inched it toward me and then the bartender came by and yanked it back to its original spot. They were hell bent on keeping that beer menu in its original position. For their beer knowledge, I have no idea. I didn't ask because I had hard time understanding them, but since they work in a brewpub they have to know a little something. Right?

What can I say about their food? Let's just say it's expensive. It's almost impossible to find anything under $13. I know the area can get pricy, but during lunch time? Come on! I did happen to find something under $13 and that was their Artisian bread. The bread was good and you do get alot of it for $5. That was good enough for me.

Their beer selection consists of 6 to 7 brewpub taps. 4 to 5 taps are main stays, while another 1 to 2 are just seasonals. Their beers are mostly basic styles. They offer a Red Ale, Pale Ale, Irish Dry Stout, and a few more basic styles. If there is one beer to try, it's their Maxwell's Irish Dry Stout. That beer is absolutly delicious! Every other beer they offer is either medicore or way below average. It looked and tasted like they should stick to making dark roasted beers instead of making light basic styles.

I didn't care that much for this brewpub. The food is expensive, the beer is medicore (except for the Irish Dry Stout), and it's too dark. At least pay your electric bills once in a while so your customers don't have to sit in the dark. If I do go back here, it would only be for the Irish Dry Stout. It's a good thing that is one of their main stays beers! If you do plan on going here, bring lots of money and a flashlight. You're going to need it!
May 03, 2008
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Reviewed by gkatsoris

3.79/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3
At: A really comfortable Brew Pub. The entire brewery is in full view. HUNDREDS of their mug club mugs are everywhere...kinda made me want to join.

Qua: Very clean. The Brewer cleaned everything right there in the public and even took time to shoot the bull w/ me while she was working (which was pretty cool I must say).

Serv: Friendly friendly friendly. The bar tenders were talking about the regulars which made it seem super homey. Prompt and courteous!!

Sel: Not too great of a selection.

Price: Although I didn't sit down for a meal or any drinks (I bought a growler of their Porter), the prices on the menu were very reasonable.
Nov 29, 2007
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Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

3.55/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
An Italian place that is also a brewpub...interesting. The dichotomy was obvious throughout. It seemed a bit schitzophrenic, but not in a completely bad way. I first went to the left, in which there is a bar. It's large and very dark. There was alot of room for the bartenders in the middle, but not much area for the customers. I was looking at the sign that said "trading post" - seemed like I was in a different world than the restaurant side , which I will get to.
There were 6 beers on tap - Stout, Pale, Porter, Wheat, Red and Brown. I stayed with the Stout (and a porter). My friends had others, which I took tastings of - they were all at least decent (the wheat being a bit different than expected - but can't honestly say from just tastings). The laminated menu was outdated.
It was near the end of happy hour, so there was some tasty free food out. I didn't see how much the beers were for happy hour, but the regular cost is 6.50 a pint. The growlers were unmarked - nice looking, but with no name. Expensive - Twenty-something (22?) a piece. About 12 bucks a refill. The beers were a bit too cold, especially for the kinds that they had - porter and stout in particular. The bartenders were friendly enough and seemed somewhat knowledgeable about the beers.
After a couple of beers, I moved into the next realm. Completely different world. It was a semi-fancy Italian restaurant. Again, a bit pricey. The menu was completely Italian. The table had wine on it, and the brewpub atmosphere seemed far-removed. The waitress was not knowledgeable about beer, but could offer suggestions on wine...oh. What you would expect from an Italian restaurant. The food was like home-made Italian dishes. I had to go to the men's room and that was a chore. I had to go back to the brewpub area and try to squeeze around the tight area - and this was a weekday night.
A nice experience overall, I could see stopping in for a beer or two during happy hour with some frequency, or going there for dinner if I was in an Italian mood once in a while, if I lived in the area. It didn't seem like a place to go out of the way for, though. But, if you are in the area, stop by. The beers were decent or better. And, free food during happy hour is always a plus.
Jan 28, 2007
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Reviewed by 86sportster883 from Maryland

3.65/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5
I hadn't been to Basil T's in a number of years, but decided to give it another try after seeing that they had won a gold medal at this year's GABF. I stopped in the day after Christmas for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The place hadn't changed much, but the beer seemed better than I had remembered.

I sat at the bar, ordered a sampler of beers and the Turkey Lettuce Tomato (TLT) Panini. When I first walked in around noon the place was practically empty, but a lunchtime crowd quickly filled most all of the comfortable stools around the large square bar (~25 seats). ESPN was silently broadcast on the large flat panel displays, and a Jazz mix played prominently throughout the bar area.

The service was quick and my lunch came out lightning fast. The Panini was excellent and came with a side of fries and a handful of sliced cherry tomatoes w/ fresh basil. I was there for the beer, but will return for the food and service. The beer sampler included their Wheat, Red, Porter, Stout and a seasonal winter with a black licorice finish. They were out of the pale ale, so the bartender offered me a pint of my preference when finished with the sampler.

The beers were better than average and subtly more complex than what I remembered. After the sampler, I ordered the porter, although I could have just as easily gone for more of the stout.
Dec 27, 2006
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Reviewed by BillyB from New Jersey

3.66/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4
The 4 beers I tried were very good. The Rocket Red was smooth and very easy drinking. The sidewinder IPA had a nice bitterness and very good floral hop aromas. The Belgian Brown was my favorite. Dark fruit aromas and tastes mixed with some burnt candy sugar. The dry stout was also a good example of the style. Nothing great, but good.
The thing that intrigues me about Basil T's is that they're a brew pub that doesn't have a very "beery" vibe. They seem to just be an italian resturaunt that also makes there own beer. They don't focus on the beer. Also the help wasn't very knowledgeable. You could tell that the bartender had memorized her speech for each style but knew nothing about beer beyond that.
Aug 12, 2006
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Reviewed by doppelmeup from North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
I visited Basil T's several times while staying in Red Bank on a business trip.

The bartenders were friendly, and the restaurant had a nice atomosphere. Over 900 mugs hung above the bar, which belonged to locals who could join the beer club and lended a nice feeling. Several TVs with sporting events playing were around the bar.

For dinner my first visit I had a gnochi and sausage dish that was very good, although a bit on the pricey side. The service was satisfactory. I also ordered the beer sampler, and it arrived with one beer missing. They were out of Pale Ale, so the server said he would bring me another sampler glass of whichever other beer I wanted. I chose the stout.

I wasn't a big fan of the beer. There were three wheat ales which I didn't really care for, a red ale that was decent and the stout which was decent as well. But none of them really excited me. I'd recommend the red ale if I had to choose one.

Overall, I found this to be a nice location to hang out. There is free wireless in the bar, and the people were friendly. The food was pricey, but it is kind of a touristy area so I wasn't all that surprised.
May 12, 2006
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Reviewed by EStreet20 from New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +18.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
What a great place. Recommended by fellow BA and good friend Thetachibro. Took the girlfriend for dinner tonight.

A - The bar area looked cool from the outside and was quite crowded for a Tuesday night. The atmosphere in the restaurant is great. Beautiful woodwork, quiet atmosphere, just a great look and relaxing cozy place to sit and eat.

Q - Had the beer sampler. Each of the beers I tried were pretty good, only had four on tap though which I'll get to in selection. Still the beer were nice and tasty and decent sized taster glasses. Obviously no formal reviews yet as I only had the sampler and no full pints but I'll be back.

Ser - Great. Our waitress was quick and friendly. She also acknowledged that the sampler was short two beers because they didnt have the summer seasonal brewed yet and the porter keg had just run out. So she told me to drink the four on the sampler and then pick two I liked the most for her to get two more tasters of. She then apologized again for the problems with beer selectiona nd was extremely friendly through the whole meal.

Sel - Well from the looks of what they had on tap in the menu the selection was great, a bit of something for everyone with a summer light, a wheat, an APA, a red ale, a porter and a stout. However the porter being out and the Summer light kind of shrank the selection on this particular visit but I won;t knock the score too bad for that as it seems on any night they do have a wide variety. I personally could go for brewpubs always having an IPA on but that's just me. Either way nice selction of beers.

F - Amazing Italian food. I got the gnocchi dish and it was a pasta bowl loaded with gnocchis as well as a great robust marinara, tons of fresh basil and uncased Italian sausage. A real treat. The fried calamari appetizer consisted of nice light and tender calamari with a great marinara as well. Definitely good food, presented nicely and delicious.

Overall: Check this place out, a tad pricey but worth every penny. I definitely want to get back and sit in the bar room for a few beers.
Apr 19, 2006
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Reviewed by Chadbrew from Delaware

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Spent about an hour and a half here as the beginning of a Red Bank pub crawl so I was able to have a couple of brews and sample some of the food also.
The bar area looks pretty good, maybe a little on the dark side, but everything looked very clean. The bar is situated right next to the brew house and separated by glass. The brew house looked very good; a custom built system by The Pub, and everything seemed very well kept.
The service was great, very quick and friendly and they seemed to take pride in their jobs, knowledgeable about the brews too.
Speaking of the brews, I had the house Pale Ale, and the house Wheat and both were definitely quality solid drinks.
I had the calamari and it was very good and there was plenty of it.
Apr 02, 2006
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Reviewed by thetachibro from New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +8.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
met some friends here on a saturday night
it wasn't as crowded as i thought it would be...there were some empty seats around the bar but because of the size of the bar area it was still a little cramped but comfortable...the first thing i noticed were the amount of mugs hanging for participants in their mug club...i saw numbers on the mugs in the range of 900..a very nice green marble bar...they had 5 beers on tap...i enjoyed the dry stout along with the rocket amber ale...both very tasty...pints were $5.00 each...you could also purchase a 6oz taster as well as a giant 24oz mug which a couple people around the bar were enjoying...i didn't get a chance to eat but i noticed some people eating the bar pies which look very appetizing...i will definatley head back soon to get some grub.
Mar 20, 2006
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Reviewed by czechsaaz from Washington

4.05/5  rDev +8.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
Lunch visit on a business trip.

Walked in, nice dining room on the right, bar area on the left. By myself so I went to the bar. Big marble square shaped bar. The bar area probably seats about 35 and there were never more than a couple empty seats while I was there. There were lots of numbered ceramic steins hanging from the bar for regulars, and more than a few people were drinking from them.

They had 5 permanent drafts on tap and a seasonal which at this time of year is a rye beer. The rye was pretty good with a definite flavor of rye. Some rye beers try to make it subtle but this was much more aggressive. Like a liquid light rye bread. Very tasty. Also had the "Dry Stout." If this were a competition, I wouldn't rate the dry stout very highly, but as a sweet/import or milk stout, it was really good. Creamy and full bodied. It would need more roasty character and less sweet to be a dry stout IMO but it was a solid tasty beer. Only had time to have these two but from my opinion of them, the brews here are well above average quality.

Long list of sandwiches and pastas at lunch time. Pasta's seemed a little on the pricey side for lunch. I had a really good toasted panini sandwich. Came with fries that were pretty much perfect. Crunchy outside, soft inside and with the right amount of salt. My order got to me really fast considering how packed the place was.

Service was good. It was clear that most of the people at the bar were regulars. The bartender knew most of them by name and knew what they were drinking.

I'd give the quality a 4.5 except that the beer glasses are stored on ice. This is a bigger sin to me than cold beer glasses from the fridge/freezer. Having them on ice not only makes them too cold but will also leave behind water residue diluting the beer slightly.

Overall, a nice place with pretty good beer and good food.
Oct 21, 2005
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Reviewed by Nutleybeer from New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Not your typical brewpub...Basil T's is an Italian restaurant, pretty unusual for a brewpub. Stylish and clean. Located just a mile or so from downtown Red Bank. Parking used to be an issue, but they expanded their parking lot in the last year or so.

The beers are always fresh and crisp. Their standards are a wheat, pale ale, red, porter and stout. Each is good. A sampler can be purchased to try them all. In the summer, their is a summer ale....as well as the customary seasonal offering. The last time we went it was a cherry stout. It did not disappoint.

The bar is decent sized, but often gets packed; really packed. The best time to go in Friday happy hour, 4-6pm. Get there closer to 4pm and you'll get a seat at the bar...as well as a free buffet. Not just wings or the same old type of finger foods. They usually serve penne vodka, some type of fancy chicken salad, 2 kinds of cold salad, and a varying 2nd hot dish. The food keeps coming too, until happy hour ends. You can't beat it.

If you stay for dinner...the food is really good, albeit pricey...even the basic pasta type dishes. The menu is not huge. We had a pizza for $15.50. Most main courses are in the $20 range, although they do have 2-3 sandwiches available. Regardless of what you choose, though...it is always good. (personally, I think the food is a little better and somewhat cheaper at the Basil T's in Toms River).
Aug 20, 2005
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Reviewed by BikeNick from New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +18%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
As you can see by the ratings, I love this place. Easily the most consistant Brew pub, I've never had a disapointing visit in my 40 or so visits. The award winning Stout is always great. Pale, great...Porter, great...the Red and the Wheat are good (I rarely try them with the other stuff available) The seasonals have been slightly below par, but that's a small negative considering. The atmosphere is lively, especially during football season, with everyone sitting around a square bar and looking at many large flat screen TVs. The food is mostly Italian and always high quality.
Aug 07, 2005
Photo of JMH_
Reviewed by JMH_ from New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +10.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Which Basil T's to choose, Red Bank or Toms River? It depends on what you're looking for, but overall the RB location has the edge, and certainly with it's beer, which always seems fresher and more adventurous than the TR location. The standards are a Stout, Porter, Pale Ale, Red Ale and a Wheat brew. All are good to excellent. The remaining taps are usually devoted to a seasonal or two, and they're usually some pretty cool choices: I've seen/had a Spiced Apple brew, there's a Rye brew on now, the Pumpkin Ale is quite tasty, etc. Service is a bit hit or miss, though never bad. Alot of times the bartender/waiter won't know much about the brwes on tap, but will be able to make a recommendation based on what you tell him/her what you usually drink. A decent starting block, but I'd want the bartenders and waiters to know anything and everything aboout the beer at my brewpub. Atmosphere is very chill in the bar area, with large plasma TV's surrounding the bar. The dining area is very nice and, though quieter, can get a bit loud on the weekends. The food is really all very good, though the menu here is much more limited (and a bit pricier) than the TR location, especially at the bar where you can only order apps and pizzas. I thoroghly enjoy the food, brews and the time that I have each and every visit I make. I would recommend Basil T's to anyone.
Dec 09, 2004
Photo of Citadel82
Reviewed by Citadel82 from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This place is eclectic yet awesome. The food that we have had on our five visits has been superb. I especially recommend the antipasto platter, it comes on a long thin pizza peel and is a meal for two by itself. Pair it with a pizza and a couple of the seasonal brews and it is a feast. My wife is not a beer person but she loves the atmosphere and the food as do my three kids, all under twelve. If you are in Red Bank you can't miss with this place. I have had the lasagna and the egplant parmiagana, Both were excellent. My wife feels the house wines were superb. My kids devoured the kids meals of pizza and spaghetti and meatballs.
Nov 15, 2004
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Reviewed by vladtheimpaler from New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Made my first visit in many years. Being sort of out ot the way for me, trips down to these parts are rare. But having the urge to see how this place is after becoming more in tune with the beer world is a must.

The atmosphere is rather appealing. Squate bar with HD TV's all around. A wine room with hundreds of bottles of wine in storage next to the bar was rather neat. The kitchen was somewhat exposed with Italian decor and parafanalia all around.

We only had an appatizer of calamari and it was quite good. The menu had a nice selection food that was tempting, but we weren't that hungry at the time. The beers were all well made.

The barkeeps were helpful and friendly. So no complaints.

The beer selection is generally on the mainstream side. Nothing strong or unusual. But there were no real flaws in the brews. Well made.

Overall, worth a visit for the dining or haning out at the bar experience, but I wouldn't go there often unless I lived nearby.
Aug 24, 2004
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Reviewed by PopeJonPaul from Oregon

3.38/5  rDev -9.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
Well, this place ran the gamut of emotions for me. Could have been a chain Italian restaurant as far as atmosphere, but the "personal" beer mugs over the bar were charming. If the one numbered 960 was any indication, there must be quite a few regulars.

The selection was pretty good, 6 beers on tap, nothing really above 6% though. Had a sip of the Cherry Wheat (uh...no) but the Maxwell's Stout was good, I'd go back for that. The food was awesome (I had the Sunday Sauce, a.k.a. the Giant Meat Marvel,) if I only had room for dessert I'd have gone after the cheesecake.

Unfortunately, the service was really lacking here. Granted, we were a table of 9, but it wasn't busy (late Sunday afternoon.) We barely saw our waiter, and it took an hour or more for our food to show up (one group that sat at the same time as us paid their bill before we got our food.) Never asked if we wanted more bread, never asked if we wanted another round of drinks, and we had a devil of a time getting someone to pick up the check.

Not a bad place, but soured by the service. If I'm in the neighborhood again I'd go back for a second chance though.
May 25, 2004
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Reviewed by TheJudge from New York

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
The only drawback: the beer selection was limited. But the quality of the beer was outstanding.

I was here for lunch on a Monday, having gotten done in court for the day. Never been here before, but read the reviews. This is a nice looking place, more restaurant than bar, but I was very comfortable sitting at the bar reading the newspaper. Started with the Red Rocket, and had the PaleAle, Belgian Brown, Cherry Wheat, and Dry Stout. I must say I enjoyed every one of them. Theservice was acceptable, got the 4th as a buyback, and they had pleasant jazz in the background. I was surprised that I enjoyed the Belgian as much as I did, but Gretchen the brewmaster seems to have a good handle on things. 4 kettles brewing at the time, they consider porter a seasonal beer, which I find a problem. They also filtered the wheat beer, and it did not taste very good. I had only a taste of that and opted for a beer with fruit instead ( the unfiltered cherry wheat)

While the selection could be better, this was definately a place to return to.
As an aside, I understand that the other location south of here has a limited license to use the name only, and that expires soon. It is apparently not the same beer, and soon willl not be the same name.
Apr 26, 2004
Photo of slander
Reviewed by slander from New York

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Been there twice now. Once after a visit to Heavyweight, the other after a recent Heavyweight open house. I was in much better shape this last time around. Dinner and drinx with FeloniousPhil, Yen and Vidaloca. Aimlessly wandering up Rte 35, a turn here, a turn there, and Basil T's...
It's an Italian restaurant. Yes, you're in the right place. To the left of you, a large square bar with angled corners. Bar seating for upwards of 3 dozen. Nearly a thousand ceramic mugs hanging in groups from the ceiling on all sides of the bar for the mug club populous. The length of one side of the bar is a row of fermenters behind a glass wall. Along the next wall is a small room with a single table which seats roughly 6 to 8, and the walls in this room, well... the room is like a giant wine rack. I don't know if they actually let people sit in here to dine or if it's just for show or what, but it's cool, dig it? Cool. Along the next wall is an open face food cooking area. Chillin' and grillin' and lots of it. Meanwhile, on the restaurant side, there's a small prep food area in the middle of the room. It's an island with baskets of onions, tomatoes, zuccinni, and they've got meats, garlic and other vegetables hanging from the canopy. Nicely done. The food here was very good. I had the split pea soup with a giant crouton floating and the penne a la vodka with shredded grilled chicken. Just a great damn meal. Yen orders soups AND the calamari, because he is a calm and patient man. Service was very polite and patient, as well.
The beer sampler holds 5 regular beers and a seasonal. Ms. Lucy's Wheat was very light, even for a filtered wheat but was clean. Rosie's Pale Ale was perfumey, crisp and nicely hoppy. Big Vic's Short Order Porter was chocolatey with a nice hop bitterness. Rocked Red Ale was lightly malted, not sweet but hoppy and slightly bitter. Maxwell's Dry Stout had a dry roasted bitterness about it with a creamy coffee flavor. The seaonal, the Ornery Gnome Belgian Ale came in at 5.25% and was lightly spicy but lacked overall depth, I felt. They've also got a nice selection of single malts, single barrel bourbons, cognacs, grappas, ports and vodkas. Good show. More of a good Italian restaurant that makes beer than a brewpub, where the focus is the beer. I'm curious to see what the Tom's River location is about.
Apr 12, 2004
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Reviewed by PudTinkler from New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -12.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
As mentioned earlier, this place seems focused on being a quality restaurant moreso than a place to stop for great beer, but they brew their own and are worth a test drive.

They keep four beers going year-round, and none are earth-shattering, so if you're choosing one my recommendation would be the rocket-red. The stout is OK but not as hearty as you'd hope for if you're a stout-drinker.

I will mention, however, that the time to stop here is Sept-Oct because they make a very, very good pumpkin ale. The food is above average, but the beer is average.
Apr 07, 2004
Photo of RonfromJersey
Reviewed by RonfromJersey from New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +10.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
This is not your typical brewpub. Or at least not my typical brewpub. Basil T's is a casual-to-fine Italian restaurant, besides being a brewpub. The dinner menu features some creative entrees, which are priced reasonably for a somewhat upscale Italian restaurant in a gentrified community. It also features a fairly extensive list of pizzas. The dinners my wife and I have had have all been quite good. Service has been quite satisfactory.

From what I understand from my visits, the beer menu consists of four permanent brews (pale, red, stout, and I believe a wheat); two which trade off between cold and hot weather (porter and "light"); and a seasonal/speciality. It is not heavy on experimentation. On my recent visit I had some of the last of the English Brown, which was nicely done, if a bit more "weak stout-ish" than a typical mild. The house beers are solid, not spectacular. The stout is my favorite, followed by the Rocket Red.

On my recent visit, I noticed on my way out that the bar was packed with a lively crowd. There was a buffet set-up, free for happy hour perhaps? I was just glad to see a crowd separate from those having dinner - a good sign for long term life of the brewing side of the business.

While a long way off from home, I will gladly visit again if opportunity arises.

PS: I believe the two Basil T's have severed ties. The Red Bank location being the original, and remains with the original owners, and retained the formerly shared brewmaster.
Jun 07, 2003
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Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +16.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
The Basil T's in Redbank is much nicer than the one in Tom's River - that was my first impression. They're very different. The other location seems like it was a long-standing Italian restaurant that was taken-over and had a brewpub added (but remains very comfortable); while this one seems more formal, yet airy. Regardless of that, the beers and food seemed better at this location. That said...
The tiny brewery is tucked alongside the bar on the front parking lot side. It's a 7 bbl system with 4 fermenters (all 7 bbl as well). Serving tanks are not visible, and I assume there's something going on in the basement. There beers were quite spectacular considering the space allocated. Gretchen's doing a great job! I tried had the sampler before settling on the pale ale with my meal and enjoyed all of them. The restaurant is nicely appointed with a marble-topped bar that features small lamps and a huge assortment of 1,000 mug club mugs., The dining room is divided into several small sections, and it's well-lit by lots of windows. At night it has a much more romantic feel - oh, la, la! The tables and chairs are straight-forward and nice; but the paper on the tables (rather than linen) gives it a more casual feel. I enjoyed antipasta and pizza on my last visit and both were very good. The menu is varied with a good selection of soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees; and they offer a full bar in case you'd like a glass of Chianti with your Italian dish, or possibly a Scotch afterwards. I enjoyed it and intend to stop back as often as possible to enjoy some good food and the new seasonal beers.
May 03, 2003
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Reviewed by rotsaruch from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Four BAs, including myself, met at Basil T's for lunch and some brews before going to the Heavyweight Open House. Located in the heart of Red Bank, it has stylish brewpub/bar area on the left as you enter and a generous dining area to the right of the entrance. The brewing area is visible through a a glass partition in the pub area. Ms. Gretchen Schmidhausler brews up five house brews, including the award-wining Maxwell Stout and usually one seasonal brew. The Pale Ale and Porter were my favorites. The menue of Italian food is impressive. We all enjoyed the homemade pizzas. It appears to be a very popular place. If you are in the area, you won't be disappointed by either the brews or the food.
Jan 26, 2003
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Reviewed by beerluvr from Canada (ON)

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Visited on a Sat. night & found it jam packed (luckily we had made reservations...you should too!) and jumping. Brewing equipment is on display in the front windows as you enter. Great atmosphere with subdued lighting & dark wood accents make for nice surroundings. Menu is heavily slanted towards Italian specialties (chicken/pizza/pork), with the odd burger availiable too. Prices are just a bit on the steep side, but the beers are fresh & very well made and worth the trip for them alone. A great place to check out if you are in the area...and are hungry and in the mood for some good beers!
Dec 02, 2002
The Original Basil T's in Red Bank, NJ
Brewery rating: 3.36 out of 5 with 79 ratings