There is no denying that a good weekend must start with brunch at either a Jersey diner or cafe. From pancakes and French toast to grilled cheese and wraps, there is a little something for everyone at brunch and at Sweet Basil’s Cafe, located at 498 South Livingston Avenue in Livingston, that rings true. This family-owned cafe and restaurant serves scrumptious brunch, lunch, and dinner. Keep on reading to learn all about Sweet Basil’s Cafe in Livingston, New Jersey.
About Sweet Basil’s Cafe
Sweet Basil’s Cafe is owned and operated by husband and wife Allan and Mari Platt. In 1996, the couple opened Sweet Basil’s Cafe along busy Eagle Rock Avenue in West Orange’s Pleasantdale neighborhood. They kept the shop there until 2012 when they moved just a town over to Livingston. The move came with the desire to serve more customers and strengthen the dinner menu.
This establishment is open seven days a week and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner and offers off-site catering and on-site private parties. Sweet Basil’s Cafe features indoor and outdoor seating and for those interested in takeout, there are curbside pick-up and delivery options through UberEats and DoorDash.
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Located at 498 South Livingston Avenue in Livingston this cafe features a gluten-free and vegan menu. The main menu features pancakes, French toast, smoothies, omelets, salads, sandwiches, tacos, burgers, chicken dishes, pasta, and so much more. Sweet Basil’s Cafe also has a kid’s menu for children under 12 years old.
The breakfast and brunch menu includes a variety of pancake dishes like tiramisu, wild berry, and of course the best flavor of all — chocolate chip. For something more savory, we suggest ordering the Chorizo Potato Croquettes (pictured above) from the Specials Menu. This dish features two mashed potato cakes with chorizo and parsley, topped with two poached eggs, and covered in hollandaise sauce and scallions. It is served with a choice of house salad or home fries. This is a one-of-a-kind dish and a must-try in the North Jersey area for chorizo lovers.
For dinner, Sweet Basil’s serves tacos, burgers, salads, sandwiches, fish dishes, and meat dishes. Starters include fried calamari, mac + cheese, poke nachos, mozzarella sticks, and Bang-Bang Shrimp. The main dishes feature a variety of seafood and meat dishes like Chicken Giambotta, Chicken Francese, Pesto Salmon, Branzino Piccata, and Seafood Paella.
For those following a gluten-free diet, Sweet Basil’s Cafe serves up numerous omelets, tacos, sandwiches, burgers, salads, soups, and sides. Diners can sample hearty sandwiches like roast turkey, club sandwiches, and BLTs served on gluten-free bread and paired with a house salad. Gluten-free soups include split pea, vegan vegetable lentil, and cream of apple, and the sides feature fresh cooked vegetables like roasted brussel sprouts and garlic sauteed spinach.
The vegan menu features several salads, tofu-based dishes, sandwiches, soups, and burritos. We suggest the Tofu Sausage Scramble, made with vegan sausage, peppers, onions, spinach, and cheddar cheese, and served with a side of toast and a choice of a house salad or pasta. Diners can also try Sweet Basil’s Vegan Veggie Tacos, Vegan Eggplant Pasta, and A “Pulled Pork” Oyster Mushroom Sandwich. This dish contains shredded oyster mushrooms in house-made barbeque sauce, topped with spicy coleslaw, and served with a house salad or pasta.
For breakfast, the kid’s menu has a smiley face pancake topped with whipped cream and fruit, chocolate chip pancakes, or scrambled eggs served with meat and potatoes or apples. Lunch includes chicken tenders, every kid’s favorite, and grilled cheese. For dinner, chicken fingers, grilled chicken, burgers, and grilled cheese are paired with French fries. Kids can also order Spaghetti with a choice of red sauce or butter.
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Brunch and specials at Sweet Basil’s Cafe are available between 10AM till 3PM, lunch is served from 10AM to 4PM, and dinner is offered from 4PM to 8PM. Sweet Basil’s Cafe does not take reservations for brunch and lunch, instead operating on a first-come, first-served basis for customers. The only exception is for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. For dinner, reservations are accepted for parties of any size. This is a BYOB establishment allowing customers to bring in beer, wine, and champagne only.
