Basta — Restaurant in Boulder

World-class neapolitan pizzas, but don't overlook the rest of the delightful menu, desserts, or cocktails. Michelin-worthy service and a refined yet cozy atmosphere make Basta a whole package deal.

Basta has the best tasting crust of any pizza I've had in my life, and for good reason. Chef Kelly Whitaker takes ingredients seriously. For example, you'll find a planter outside growing small samples of heritage grains and herbs throughout the year, and winning varieties are grown at nearby farms for use at the restaurant. Grains are carefully selected for each pizza and ground in-house. The setup is impressive, and your server can tell you all about it. They obviously have a proper wood oven, and the texture of my crusts has been consistently great, though never the focal point of my experience.

The pizza menu isn't extensive, but there's always a variety of base sauces and meat, fish, and vegetarian pizzas. The small selection ensures that ingredients are in-season and fresh, and every pizza is beautifully composed. You really can't go wrong, so just follow your heart.

It'd be easy to stick to the pizza here (mostly because I love pizza), but the rest of the menu is just as impressive. Remember that grains are Basta's specialty, so any appetizer or entree featuring grains is going to be something truly special. The meat and fish dishes I've tried have been perfectly cooked and incredibly delicious, but it's not the recommendation I'd make for your first visit here.

No matter what, order at least a scoop of ice cream. Better yet, bring a friend and try multiple. They're not super huge, but oh my gosh. The flavors are deep and enchanting. The smoked vanilla will evoke memories of sitting around a camp fire. If you're lucky, they might have mint available. Remember that planter outside? That's there the mint ice cream is born. The flavor is on another level.

The service and ambiance put the perfect bow on the experience. While the location is rather hidden away in an odd venue, the interior is immediately inviting - refined and hip, but intimate and cozy at the same time. The entire staff is incredibly knowledgeable and excited to make recommendations or answer questions. You'll never be interrupted mid-conversation by a server looking to take your order - they pay attention to things like that. If you need something, you'll get attention within seconds. And when all is said and done, someone will notice you standing up and make sure that someone is there to open the door and wish you a good evening.

This is what restaurants are all about. The attention to detail, the passion, and just darn good food made with only the best ingredients. I can't recommend this...

My family and I recently had the pleasure of dining at Basta, and it was a truly wonderful experience. It's not often you find a restaurant that can impress a diverse group including my wife, my mother, and my mother-in-law, but Basta did so with ease.

We started our meal with a selection of appetizers that set a high bar for the rest of the evening. The burrata was incredibly fresh and creamy, a perfect complement to the rich, smoky flavor of the olives. But the real star was the focaccia bread—warm, airy, and with just the right amount of salt, it was impossible to stop at just one piece.

For our main courses, we chose two pizzas and a vegetable dish. The zucchini was a fantastic addition, with the fresh, crisp vegetable elevated by the vibrant basil romanesco and the satisfying crunch of the breadcrumbs. The clam pizza was a delightful surprise, with the briny clams and a hint of lemon perfectly balanced against the smoky, blistered crust from the wood-fired oven. The Daisy pizza was a testament to the restaurant's philosophy of using high-quality ingredients; simple yet perfect, with a wonderfully flavorful tomato sauce and creamy mozzarella.

To finish our meal, we decided to indulge in all of their desserts, and we were not disappointed. Each one was a perfect ending to our dinner. The Campfire vanilla ice cream had a unique, smoky sweetness that was balanced by the vibrant and refreshing orange and beet sorbet. The sweet corn ice cream was an unexpected and delicious highlight, while the rich chocolate budino with pistachio butter was pure decadence. And of course, the donuts were a warm, fluffy, and perfect final touch.

Basta’s combination of a warm, inviting atmosphere and truly incredible food made for a special and memorable night. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, adding to the overall great experience. We left feeling completely satisfied and already talking about when we could return. I highly recommend Basta for any occasion, whether it's a date night or a special family gathering.

Special thank you to Suzanne and Chef Alex for creating such a...

Second adventure: similar reflection. Worth returning. Piada is so good!

first time and a good time, I will return for another adventure

the ambiance is cozy and intimate and is well matched by attentive service in line with expectations. the menu was focused, relevant and interesting. It was perhaps a bit more ingredient forward than my little pallette is tuned for. a touch of salt and pepper on the table and turning everything flavor oriented up just a bit, would be welcome. the opt out 22% tip feels like a removal of power. yes please to fair wages, but also yes please to maintaining my autonomy without a staff facing opt out. for a 500 dollar meal, I want just a touch more flavor combined with feeling empowered to opt in to social norms and performance driven tip culture, rather than out.

cocktails: inspired combinations! wine offerings: numerous and in line with cuisine offerings

smoked olives: firm and fantastic castelvetranos. the smoke was a nice touch, but surface level. you loose the butter of the castelvetranos, but the smoke is still nice enough

burrata: excellent, delicate, and balanced.

chicken liver mousse:perfect texture, but a flavor a bit too mild

baby lettuce: a lovely and balanced salad.yes please!

Ceasars salad: excellent dressing, but a touch too much dressing

fish for two: nice crispy skin, reasonable potato bed, slightly overcooked flesh

caccio e pepe: not actually caccio e pepe. al dente fantastic pasta, over salted and thin / broken sauce

smoked vanilla ice cream. very nice flavor, but a bit thin. A little more fat would balance nicely against the...