Basil Brick Oven Pizza: Italian Food in Astoria

We traveled to Astoria in Queens and encountered this amazing Italian restaurant called Basil Brick Oven Pizza. We’ve read reviews about their pizza and the brick oven they bake their pies in. The consensus is that their pizza is amazing. But what about the rest of their menu? So, this is what we decided to order. We completely neglected their pizza and decided to order the other items on their menu.

The Atmosphere

Located right next to the Astoria Blvd. train station, Basil Brick Oven Pizza is convenient and easy to get to. When you walk in you will automatically notice the brick oven right behind the counter. There are tables in front of the restaurant and there is also an area in the back where we sat. The decor was very simple. The tables were made of dark wood and the walls were made out of brick. Nothing fancy, but very clean.

Our Meal at Basil Brick Oven Pizza

Basil Brick Oven Pizza has a pretty diverse menu. First we were served fresh, warm bread with minced olives with olive oil. This was so amazing that we decided to ask for a second serving.

We ended up ordering their Ribeye Steak with sauteed broccoli rabe with potatoes and their Risotto Funghi. The ribeye steak was seasoned very well and cooked to the temperature that we requested. The chef’s did a really great job of not over seasoning the steak. The natural flavors of the meat with a hint of garlic, salt and pepper make for a perfect combination. The broccoli rabe and potatoes really complimented the ribeye as well. The Risotto Funghi is an affordable dish that’s packed with flavor. This dish is served with a creamy sauce that coats each grain of risotto. Hints of garlic, basil and truffle oil make this plate worth it. If you want to take it to the next level, add some parmesan cheese.

For dessert we had their cheesecake which was baked perfectly and had a really nice texture to it.

For more information on the restaurant, please visit their website here.