Basil's Bistro

Date published: 10/20/2005

By LINDA SALISBURY

For THE FREE LANCE-STAR

There's a country song that says, "too much of a good thing is a good thing." Too much good bread falls into that category--good bread made by Basil's Bistro in The Galleria in downtown Fredericksburg.

Pizza and bread are made inside the tiny Italian bistro, which includes seating that spills out into the corridors of the Galleria and even outside. Friends who like Italian food joined My Dining Partner and me for dinner.

We chose to eat in the corridor because the air conditioning was more evident than inside, where pizzas were under construction. We sat at two little round tables that had been pushed together.

Basil's was recommended by former Fredericksburg residents who ate there often. We were impressed how quickly the tables were filled by families, college students and retirees--and people were willing to wait for tables.

We decided that Basil's popularity was probably due to the ample portions and relatively low prices. And for bread-lovers, the bread.

While there was no breadbasket, bread came with everything--salads, appetizers and entrees. We felt like we had acquired a loaf by the time we had finished.

My Dining Partner decided to skip the salad ($2 extra with dinners) and have two appetizers and an entree. He had his reasons.

Aside from wanting to try the antipasto tray ($6.50), which came with pinwheels of provolone and Genoa salami, parts of artichoke hearts, olives, marinated sliced mushrooms and grated Parmesan cheese, he had spotted an Italian sausage roll, which was described as having a "secret hot sauce."

It was actually two sausage rolls ($4.95), about a foot long, with a sausage and cheese filling. The sausage filled the middle half of each; and the cheese, onions and peppers squeezed into the tapered ends, meaning that there was more bread than filling.

The dipping sauce was the disappointment. Advertised as hot, it was quite bland. Not enough of a good thing is not a good thing.

I ordered tomato bread ($4) as my appetizer. The bread was crisp as described, but I failed to detect the garlic. The two pieces each had two slices of tomato and mozzarella cheese.

BASIL'S BISTRO Address: 909 Caroline St., Fredericksburg, between George and William streets downtown Phone: 540/899-5414 Hours: Monday, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Prices: Appetizers: $4-$6.50 Soups and salads: $3.95-$6.95 Sandwiches: $5.95-$6.50 Dinners: $4.95-$7.25 Children's menu: $3.25 Desserts: $2.95-$4.95 Beer and wine available. Atmosphere: Two seating areas are available in the historic Galleria, one in the hall outside the restaurant, and one inside. The hallway, while busy with pedestrians visiting other shops in the arcade, has a quaint, European feel to it. Wheelchair accessible for hallway seating. Payment: Major credit cards accepted.

Date published: 10/20/2005