Italian Fine Dining in Dixon, Illinois: Basil Tree Ristorante
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Mike and I were in Dixon visiting family and we wanted to try out this new restaurant that people have been raving about. Most of the time, we dine at a local deli called Arthur’s which is great but we wanted to try something different. We love Italian food so we planned a date downtown at the Basil Tree Ristorante. As one of the few fine dining restaurants in the area, we were eager to see what all the hype was about.
This local gem is located downtown near the Rock River – the perfect location for a romantic night out. I recommend taking a stroll over by the river before or after your meal (the views are great and there is a nice Reagan statue).
The elegant dining room provides a nice setting for a special occasion or night out. This is the nicest dining ambiance we have experienced in this area. The setting is more upscale like something you would find in downtown Chicago, which makes this a wonderful place to celebrate any type of birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion.
Big city Italian in a small town!
The menu features chicken, seafood, steak entrees, appetizers, and more. One of the highlights is the “Create your pasta dish,” which enables you to pick your own pasta noodle, sauce, and addition (your preferred choice of meat or vegetables).
We ordered the special appetizer of the day (breaded mashed potato), which sounds strange, but tasted absolutely delicious! This was a nice alternative to the typical cheese sticks you find at most Italian establishments. I really loved this app and would definitely order it again if we ever dine here again.
I ordered the Manicotti, a vegetarian option consisting of marinara pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese. The dish was great, although I am not a huge fan of ricotta cheese and there was a lot of it. I probably should have gone with something non-ricotta based. Mike and I ended up switches our entrees as he loves ricotta, so it all worked out.
Mike went with the “Create your own pasta dish.” He ordered the Cheese Ravioli noodles with the Quattro Formaggi Sauce (four cheese sauce). We ended up switching dishes as I preferred the ravioli.
Both entrees were served alongside a fantastic bowl of homemade soup. We chose the minestrone over the beef option. You will also be treated to some delicious bread and olive oil for dipping.
The highlight of the restaurant was definitely the classy service. Our server was knowledgeable, courteous, and professional. The ambiance was beautiful and we loved the location near the Rock River. I would definitely dine here again. This local Italian restaurant has everything you are looking for in a great night out: great service, elegant decor, and delicious food!
Additional details
- Address: 123 1st Street Dixon, IL 61021
- Hours: 4-9pm (Closed Sundays).
- Check out the current menu for more offerings
UPDATE: For anyone new to the area, I recommend checking out my Dixon tourist guide. In addition to the famous Reagan house, I’ve highlighted the best local restaurants and parks in the area.
