Basta Pasta delivers comforting Italian in Oakbrook Terrace
You probably don't need a research firm to tell you Italian ranks among the top three ethnic cuisines Americans crave. For the record, the other two are Chinese and Mexican, says Chicago-based Technomic Inc., which keeps tabs on such matters.
So the recent opening of the 250-seat Basta Pasta (translates to: enough pasta) in Oakbrook Terrace comes as a welcome addition to the west suburban dining scene.
A family business, Basta Pasta is owned and operated by experienced restaurateur Tino Antonacci, joined by sons Tony (general manager) and Patrick (chef/expediter). Their new restaurant picks up from where the now-shuttered Basta Pasta in Chicago left off.
In this incarnation, diners sit at tables or booths in the softly lit dining room. The walls are tastefully adorned with large black-and-white photos of prominent Italian celebrities.
If you want to start with a libation, the restaurant maintains a well-stocked inventory of spirits. Its wines are mostly American labels with a few Italian imports in the mix. Major beer brands are available as are a few regional craft beers.
On to the fare. Familiar Italian-American dishes dominate the menu, from a sausage and peppers antipasto to made-in-house four-finger cavatelli in a tomato cream sauce to a handful of veal preparations.
A recent dinner began with an appetizer-sized order of sushi-grade sesame-crusted ahi tuna accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi and ginger. It was a lovely dish, if an indulgence at $10 for a small serving.
Next we shared a pleasing house salad from the a la carte menu. Kudos to the kitchen for thoughtfully splitting it in two. The romaine, dressed in a balsamic vinaigrette, came with cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and shredded carrots.
A build-your-own-pasta option served as a satisfying main course. Happily, the fettuccine in an oil-and-garlic sauce was cooked al dente, or firm to the bite. Adding sea scallops further enhanced the dish and was worth the extra $8 splurge. Other possible add-ons include chicken, sausage, clams, mussels or shrimp.
My dining partner raved about how well the kitchen prepared her halibut fillet, cooking it to the exact temperature required and not a minute longer. The fish came to the table in a buttery, lemony sauce with olives, capers and bits of tomato.
Also available are pizza margherita and other pies such as prosciutto and asparagus or four cheese pepperoni. Gluten-free crust can be had for an extra $4. Other enticing dishes included such favorites as filet medallions served in a brandy peppercorn sauce, veal limone and chicken Vesuvio.
Turn to the desserts column and you'll find old favorites reign: biscotti, Key lime pie, spumoni, and strawberries stuffed with cinnamon and mascarpone. I can vouch for the ricotta cheesecake, a dense confection that's creamy and subtly flavored.
One of the take-aways that's worth noting is Basta Pasta's servers adjusted the pace of the meal to suit our preference, which we appreciated.
Thinking about heading here on a weekend night? You'll probably want to make a reservation. And know that as the evening crowd swells, so does the decibel level. Plus, live bands entertain most Friday and Saturday nights.
Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.
Basta Pasta
1919 S. Meyers Road, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 495-0200,
Cuisine: Italian-American
Setting: Clubby, Italian-infused atmosphere
Prices: Appetizers: $7 to $10; salads: $6 to $9; meat, pasta, fish: $6 to $17
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday; 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday; Happy Hour from 3 to 6 p.m. in the bar
Also: Private party room. Free valet parking and live entertainment on weekends. Brunch with Santa from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11.