Basilico Ristorante - We Bring Italy to You

Redefining authentic Italian cooking starts by creating an artisanal experience. Basilico Ristorante creates rich and diverse dishes that reflects the history, culture, and traditions of the central and northern regions of Italy.

Basilico Ristorante

For over 15 years, Basilico Ristorante has been delighting patrons with genuine central and northern Italian flavors. Nestled in the heart of downtown Olympia, our restaurant offers an oasis for indulging in unhurried dining experiences. From our meticulously crafted hand-made pastas and delicate ravioli, to our slow-simmered sauces and braised meats prepared for hours, every element reflects our unwavering commitment to exquisite detail and a profound passion for creating memorable flavors in every single bite.

Discover our Menu

Making Regional Italian Dishes from Scratch

Making pasta from scratch is important to us for different reasons. It's about controlling the production of flavor and freshness. For us that means cooking from scratch. Making pasta by hand provides our diners with an artisanal experience – you’re enjoying dishes specific to the Umbria region in Italy where Chef/Owner Giampaolo Falchetti grew up. Hand-made pasta typically has a rougher texture which allows the sauces to cling better to it, so Giampaolo makes and cuts our pasta by hand, with only an electric roller to flatten the fresh pasta dough into long, ultra thin sheets ready for cutting and shaping.

Diners should expect that scratch-made pasta is not always consistent, which is actually part of its charm. The finished pasta will vary slightly on a day-by-day basis based on things like air temperature and humidity. When you make a product by hand, it will naturally be subtly different every time you make it. There is actually true value in this kind of inconsistency – in this case it is the proof of our authenticity.

This dedication to culinary craftsmanship makes running a restaurant exciting, but also more challenging. Learning to make pasta by touch takes time. It’s easier and less expensive to use commercially made or imported ingredients, but that's not the experience you'll find here at Basilico.

Our Wine Program

Just as much thought goes into the wine program at Basilico’s as goes into our food. You’ll find a well-stocked bar at with thoughtful specialty cocktails, beers and ciders, but the highlight is our extensive list of imported Italian wines, which pairs better with Italian cuisine as they share the same regional characteristics and flavors.

Italian wines tend to match the richness, acidity, and spices of Italian dishes. For example, a bold red wine like Chianti Classico Riserva from Fattoria di Felsina goes well with a hearty meat dish like steak Florentine, while a crisp white wine like Roero Arneis from Piedmont complements lighter vegetarian dishes.

Savor the Basilico Ristorante Experience

Cultural expectations around dinner in America tend to encourage people to grab a “quick bite”, and tables are turned quite frequently. When you come to Basilico Ristorante, we encourage you to linger, relax, and savor the experience. If you’ve ever been to Italy, you know the importance they place on food that takes a bit more time to prepare, and we honor that effort by truly taking the time to enjoy it.

Visit Us

Basilico is currently open for take-out and indoor dining. Reservations are not required, but are recommended, particularly on weekends. Address: 507 Capitol Way S, Olympia, Washington 98501

You can order take-out by telephone (360) 570-8777, or get delivery through Door Dash.

Reservations
To make a reservation, book your table online through our reservation app, or call (360)570-8777, or email basilicooly@gmail.com

For parties of 6 or more people, please make your reservation by telephone or email, as we do not accept large party reservation requests online.