Basil

270 Kingston Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
http://www.basilny.com/


Today is the first day of my food blog!! I'm super excited and can't wait to see the adventures it will take me on! 
Let's get straight to the good stuff, shall we??

After hearing about this restaurant from a number of sources I decided I must experience it myself! So, after dropping my kids off at their respective schools, off I went, to (hopefully) discover a hot, new restaurant. 

The restaurant is located right off of Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue, on the corner of Lincoln Place. The impression upon walking in is a modern look. I chose to sit by a window (stupid of me because it was quite drafty :-/) and took a look at the (relatively new [three weeks to be exact]) breakfast menu. It was quite impressive, different from what I normally see on a "breakfast special" menu. I settled on poached eggs accompanied with sauteed spinach and sage potatoes and a coffee. 
After I ordered, I got up to look around and (of course) the fresh pastries caught my eye. Fresh scones, blueberry, cranberry, chocolate chip...fresh croissants....and then I saw the muffins. Chocolate chip and carrot cake, to be exact. I ordered the carrot cake muffin because, as an avid baker, I know it's difficult to get the consistency light enough without it being too oily. I also thought it was bold to serve it without any frosting at all, like they would have nothing to fall back on if the pastry itself was not good, most places accompany carrot cake with cream cheese based frostings...I sat back down and waited.
About three minutes later the coffee and carrot cake muffin (warmed, at the suggestion of the server) arrived. The first thing I noticed about the muffin was how it made my mouth water just from the smell alone. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint! It was amazing; moist, light, with just the right amount of carrots and walnuts.
After I inhaled the food in front of me I tasted the cranberry scone my friend had ordered. I'm not such a big fan of scones or baked cranberries but she said it was baked to perfection and, after my carrot cake experience, I believed her.
About ten minutes later the "real" food arrived. I was just about to dig in when I noticed that the ciabatta bread my eggs were served on looked a little well done and when I felt it, it was cold to the touch. I (being me) dug in anyway (I was STARVING!!) 
I started with the eggs, which were velvety and delicious. The spinach that accompanied it was unbelievable! It was so full of flavor I was sure they had used some special oil or spices but when I asked the server they said it was cooked in olive oil, salt and pepper...The potatoes were good, but that spinach...!! Lol


As a side note, a few minutes after our food had arrived someone came over to check if everything was okay. I informed him about the cold bread and he immediately ordered me a new bread AND a new poached egg (because one of the ones I got were cracked a little). THAT i was impressed with. 


All in all, the food was delicious. I sneaked a peek at their main menu and actually saw things I want to go back and try...THAT doesn't happen often for me ;)