Il Basilico is a family run Italian restaurant in central Bedford. Its dining room is intimate and inviting, perfect for all occasions, from business lunches to birthday celebrations.
The evening a la carte menu centres on favourites from Italian cuisine. To start, there’s the likes of tomato or mushroom bruschetta, caprese salad and calamari. The Italian antipasto board is a great way to sample everything on offer. This is cured meat, cheese and a variety of vegetables and £9.50 for a single person or £17.95 for the sharing version.
Main course options are pizza, pasta, risotto, meat or fish. The pizza line up offers something to suit most tastes, from margherita to calzone bolognese. Pasta dishes are equally as broad and, like pizzas, don’t stray far from the classics. Spaghetti bolognese and carbonara both feature, as does lasagne and penne all’arrabiata. There’s also tagliatelle with salmon and mixed seafood spaghetti.
Risotto takes two forms: caprino (goats cheese sauce with spinach and mushrooms) or ai frutti di mare (a selection of seafood in a tomato sauce). Pork tenderloin in a creamy brandy sauce and pan fried salmon are the pick of the other mains.
Side dishes include garlic pizza bread (available with cheese) and a rocket salad with parmesan and olive oil. A range of desserts round out the main menu. Alongside traditional Italian options like gelato, panna cotta and tiramisu, there’s brownies and ice cream and chocolate fondant.
Il Basilico also offers a lunch menu. This is served Tuesday to Friday between midday and 3pm and includes a range of paninis and a hot drink for £7.95.