When it comes to a night out, Basil T's Brewpub and Italian Grill in Toms River covers all the bases.
Co-owners and brothers Peter and Petro Gregorakis are 25-year veterans of the restaurant business, and they have been operating Basil T's together for 10 years. You can say it's in their blood: Their dad opened up an eatery in Newark after immigrating to the United States from Greece.
But a lot has changed since the brothers first entered the business, said Peter Gregorakis, sitting at a table in his restaurant's lounge.
"It's evolved," he said. "It's not like it was 25 years ago."
With Basil T's, which is not affiliated with the Red Bank restaurant of the same name, the brothers aimed to change with the times, attracting people who were looking for more from their neighborhood restaurant than just great food. Besides a menu brimming with Mediterranean- and American-inspired dishes, the restaurant brews its own beer, has a separate bar and lounge area and offers members access to a private cigar room. There's even Wi-Fi, so you can surf the Web while you're there.
Membership gets you other perks as well: rewards points and discounts, plus preferred seating if it's a busy night.
Décor
Two dining areas -- one sprawling, one slightly smaller -- are separated by the restaurant's own brewery, where you can check out the giant stainless steel brew tanks. There are loads of tables and booths, but it feels convivial, not crowded. Stuccoed arches and columns add to the Mediterranean feel, and attractive touches such as potted plants and seasonal decorations are everywhere.
The bar and lounge area is populated with smaller tables and has a number of flat-screen TVs. The members-only smoking lounge, grandfathered in when New Jersey's smoking ban went into effect, feels like an upscale living room-plush seating, warm lighting and a huge TV of its own. A humidor houses fine cigars, and a filtration and purification system keeps the room from getting smoky.
Drinks
The bartenders can serve up just about anything from the fully stocked bar, including an impressive number of wines. But the must-try is the establishment's own brewed-in-house beer, crafted by the restaurant's brewmaster, David Hoffman.
The beers, served from an elaborate-looking old-fashioned tap on the bar, include popular standbys like a light ale and an Irish-style red ale as well as seasonal offerings, like a fall pumpkin porter. The West Coast I.P.A. is a well-balanced, amber-colored brew that pairs beautifully with a spicy appetizer like hot calamari.
Crowd
Basil T's please-everyone approach attracts a steady flow of diners and drinkers of all ages, and the ever-changing specials list and member rewards program -- you get points whenever you spend -- encourage plenty of regulars. On any given night, you're likely to find happy crowds in the restaurant, small groups gathered around tables in the lounge, couples drinking at the bar and friends kicking back in the cigar room.
Entertainment
A DJ spins on Fridays at Basil T's, and live bands play on Saturdays. Recently, the restaurant added comedy nights to its lineup, too.
Food
Basil T's menu is brimming with a range of offerings from head chef Steven Farley, and is dominated by Italian- and Greek-inspired dishes, such as calamari, Spanikopita, Mediterranean roasted salmon, eggplant and chicken parmigiano and specialty pastas. Other offerings get more adventurous with ingredients, like the linguine with clams, chorizo, bacon and cannelloni beans.
Five different salads come with the restaurant's own tantalizing homemade dressings, which include basic balsamic vinaigrette, bleu cheese and honey mustard, but also creamy parmigiano, cabernet sauvignon and ginger-soy and cilantro.
For more casual meals, there also are pizzas, angus burgers and chicken breast sandwiches, which you can order topped with everything from cheddar and bacon to freshly sautéed broccoli rabe. The regular menu is available no matter where you choose to sit, and there's also a separate menu of smaller plates on offer in the bar and lounge area.
Bottom line
You can get great eats and drinks at Basil T's, but the restaurant offers more than that. With its membership options and welcoming staff, you can make it your own private club and have exactly the night you're looking for: a laid-back evening in luxe, leather-upholstered privacy, a dinner with ten friends or just a place to stop in for a bite on your way home.
