Sweet Basil — Restaurant in Paint Township

Updated review 3/4/22: I am leaving my one star review as my follow up meal was not impressive. I ordered baked haddock, fries, green beans, and a side salad with the house Italian dressing. I ordered the food to go and ate it quickly after pick up.

The fish was over cooked, lacking flavor. Green beans were not the fresh kind, probably frozen, and nothing special. The fries were in my to go container with all my other food and the steam and juice from the fish and green beans left all the fries soggy. The salad at least was a bed of mixed greens and had cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, onion and croutons. The croutons taste homemade but between the herbs in the croutons and the dressing, it’s just too much. I love flavor, I love seasonings but too much can just be too much.

I’ve ate here a few times in the past and was never blown away but will occasionally order food from here about once a year as restaurant options are limited in the area. My family and I visited on a weekday night and it was by far the worst food we have had here yet. We ordered the mushroom patch appetizer, fettuccine Alfredo with a side of two meatballs and a side salad with house Italian balsamic, and an Italian sandwich with a side of fries. I tried everything. The Alfredo and fettuccine wasn’t bad but the meatballs were over seasoned, over cooked, and hard. The Italian sub seemed basic enough that it couldn’t be bad, but the bread it was served on was so thick, lacked veggie toppings and not nearly enough dressing as it was dry and hard to eat, we didn’t bother asking for any dressing as there was not a good ratio of filling to bread as is. The fries were fine, not seasoned but were fine with a side of ketchup. The mushrooms were shriveled up on the outside but moist on the inside. The were also just fine, but I felt they had more cream crumbs than crab mixture and if there was spinach artichoke dip in them per the menu, it couldn’t be distinguished or tasted. We were all hungry and higher expectations based on the recent expansion and local reviews. Our meal was $40 for the two dishes and one side. I think it would have been priced right for higher quality and better tasting food.

The two other things that I noted I wanted to share. If you enter the restaurant from the left side, be prepared to stand and wait forever as you are only seated if you go to the right side of the restaurant. You would only know this if someone told you this. There are no signs to indicate the proper entrance for being seated.

The other thing that turned me off completely while I was eating was the fact that the staff uses bleach in a spray bottle to clean off the tables in a small and not well ventilated area. This is not ideal for anyone to be breathing in, especially pregnant women and children of which we were. I would have walked out if I had had the opportunity to get my check and leave. There were 7 instances of this cleaner being used before and after receiving our meal.

In summary, my review is the restaurant is overpriced, lacking, and an unenjoyable experience. I unfortunately have no plans to return in the future unless major changes happen with how they clean and how they prepare their meals. I was so disappointed and had hopes that this meal would have been great based on local reviews. The local palette is lacking and I believe the reviews improperly reflect that. I would have much rather went to a restaurant chain as in Olive Garden and had a better...

Sweet Basil may not grab your attention from the outside — it’s located in a former Pizza Hut building that could really use a fresh coat of paint. But don’t let the exterior fool you. Step inside, and you’ll find a clean, cozy, and charming Italian restaurant with a surprisingly warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The main dining area features exposed brick walls, wood-beam ceilings, and neatly arranged tables, giving it a homey, rustic feel. A row of plants adds a touch of life and freshness to the space, and the setup makes for an intimate dining experience. Just off to the side, there’s a separate full bar area with a relaxed pub-like vibe, flat-screen TVs, and dark wood finishes — perfect if you’re looking to unwind with a drink or watch a game. The thoughtful separation between the bar and dining room keeps the restaurant versatile and appealing to both families and casual diners.

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5) Our waiter, Ralph, was fantastic — friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. He guided us through the menu and made us feel right at home.

Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5) Before the meal, they bring out a complimentary basket of bread — and let me just say, it’s awesome. So fresh and soft, I could have eaten a whole basket of it and been completely satisfied.

We started with the Cheese in the Cradle, which was a pleasant surprise — not your typical mozzarella sticks, but a deep-fried block of mozzarella served on a bed of marinara. It was creamy, stretchy, and very filling — a cheese lover’s dream.

For the main course, I had the lasagna. It wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, but it was still solid and satisfying. The standout dish, though, was the grilled chicken salad in a bread bowl — a fun twist where the “bowl” is actually a cheesy, baked pizza crust. It felt like a cross between pizza and salad and was bursting with flavor. A unique and very tasty option.

Location: Sweet Basil is located just off Route 322, not far from Clarion, PA — making it a convenient stop if you’re passing through the area.

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Final Thoughts: If you can look past the tired exterior, Sweet Basil delivers a surprisingly strong dining experience. With great service, a diverse menu, fresh complimentary bread, and a cozy atmosphere, it’s a hidden gem worth checking out. Whether you’re grabbing a drink at the bar or settling in for a hearty Italian meal, this place has something...

This used to be our favorite restaurant to stop at while at our camp. We have not been there in a year so a little surprised with the food. Service was great and waitress was great. No complaints there at all. The food on the other hand not so much. Again not the worst, but for the money not good. 2 of my daughters got fettuccine alfredo. One was shrimp which came with five shrimp on a skewer and was lacking in the Alfredo area. Not a great flavor, and not worth $27 dollars, Just bland. The other daughter got chicken alfredo, it also was bland. The chicken was breaded and was decent but not $24 dollars decent. Other daughter got a burger, said it was decent but nothing to brag about. Said she's had better burgers at home. The fries were saturated in grease but decent taste not sure on price. I got the pierogi lasagna, which was not bad and again none of the food was bad. The perogie lasagna had good flavor, but not worth the $15 I paid for it. My wife got a bread bowl chicken. The salad was good. The chicken was bland with no flavor, the croutons tasted like they were saturated with salt brine. She ate it and enjoyed it, but it was not at all what we were used to eating at sweet basil. The spinach and artichoke dip for an appetizer is still just as good as always. And again, the service was great. I cannot say anything bad about our waitress. She was wonderful. But for $110 bill I was really disappointed in the food. But I know everything's more expensive these days so it is what it is. Just don't know if I'll be back to sweet basil in the...