Basil & Cheese Cafe — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I was in DTLA to meet my family for brunch and they suggested this cool little cafe called Basil & Cheese. It was a rainy day and the cafe was packed. We managed to order and find some seating. My experience left me feeling like I was in a metropolitan city for once. I didn’t feel like I was in LA. It was probably the rain, but DTLA is changing so much, it really is starting to feel like a downtown area. Let’s hope it keeps going.

The cafe’s decor is somehow both professional and personable. The owner’s personality and care really come through in the details of the cafe. You see photos of their dog, the restroom key is a dog toy, I was amused by all of this. When you delve a bit deeper into their presentation elements from their website, the menu, coffee cups, pastry + dessert display cases, everything is just really cohesive and well thought out. Whoever figured this out really cares and wants to do right by their customers.

As for the food and coffee- I don’t think you can find a cafe that can do both really well. Definitely not in DTLA. Somehow they’re doing it here. Sure we waited a bit for our food to come out, but the wait was well worth it. And come on, it’s a small cafe, have a little grace and patience. You’re not getting a burrito as good as their machaca burrito at Verve or an espresso shot at Sonoratown (I love Sonoratown, I am not hating on Sonoratown right now). Give this cafe a shot, I don’t think...

I came to this place with high expectations after following them on Instagram for a while. The food looked clean, healthy, and aligned with my fitness goals. I was excited to give it a try and even brought a friend along, thinking we’d both enjoy something new.

Unfortunately, the experience was completely disappointing.

The girl who took my order didn’t seem interested or attentive at all. I was very clear with my instructions — I asked for no cheese, a boiled egg on the side (not in the omelet), and extra arugula. None of those were followed. Instead, my omelet came with cheese, no arugula, and the egg was included directly in the dish. I had to wait even longer for it to be corrected.

This isn’t just about a messed-up order — it’s about lack of care and customer service. When you’re paying nearly $60 for breakfast (plus LA parking), you expect basic attention and respect. Sadly, we received neither. My friend and I left with a really bad impression of the place.

There are so many great restaurants in LA that offer better food, better portions, and better service — places like Urth Caffé, for example. This spot, Basil & Cheese, unfortunately, does not live up to the image they project online. Maybe the place has potential, but poor service like this ruins it completely.

I won’t be coming back, and I definitely don’t recommend it. Unless you’re okay with poor service and being ignored, I’d say...

A classic case of doing a lot, but none of it well. Most of all, the coffee beverages are really bad—and they’re really expensive at that. I paid ~$7.50 for a 24oz “cold brew” that tasted sour. It was clearly just leftover old coffee from the day before (or worse). Undrinkable.

The person there was nice enough to swap it for an iced dirty chai, but that wasn’t much better. Way too sweet, not good quality chai, and their espresso is made just like you would make it at home with a simple machine. I couldn’t drink more than a few sips. I love coffee, and I would NEVER order it from here again, even if I was desperate. I really don’t like how they call themselves a cafe and charge high prices without bothering to become an expert at it—or even moderately good. Either lower your prices for cheap drinks or learn your craft.

The people behind the counter are kind, but management has done them a disservice by not training them well. We asked about gluten in dishes and they were very unfamiliar with the menu, even on a basic level of knowing what dishes were (had no idea what quinoa was even though it’s in several items). The wrap I got was pretty good, but the salmon we got was way overcooked and way too salty.

The tables were dirty and covered in crumbs. We had to clean them before sitting down even though staff wasn’t doing anything. Again, training.

There are too many wonderful cafes in LA to...