Latest visit: Apr 2025
First visit: Nov 2018
Personal history: The first visit was solo and was a fine experience, but circumstances didn't allow for an easy follow up. The second try was last year with Mrs. RJG, and we enjoyed it immensely. We're back again one year later.
Location: Basil & Barley is not too far from our house, a few blocks east from The Promenade shopping area. The restaurant is in a nice setting in a modern strip center. Perhaps too much natural light but one doesn't have to squint while eating here either.
Food: I was initially reticent to take Mrs. RJG here because Italian styled Napoletana pizzas were a real mixed bag back in DFW. They started with a bang but it seemed each restaurant lost their luster as time went on. If you have the will and time to research, this blog is filled with places like that: INZO, Cane Rosso, Spin!, Cavalli, Pazzo!, Campania, Apeizza e Vino. The latter three spectacularly crashed and burned, especially Campania (literally). INZO was the only place we continued to visit but we had pivoted away from pizza towards Italian food. So with that backdrop, I knew Basil & Barley would be a tough sell for my better half. But finally she relented. Their pies are just a little bigger than a "individual" pizza, but not large enough for two. We can take home the leftovers. Mrs. RJG asked for the basic margherita and I ordered their spicy offering The Diavola. A few minutes later out came our very-hot-to-the-touch pizzas. I patiently awaited Mrs. RJG's feedback. It was a huge hit! She loved it. Perfect dough, slightly chewy and crispy, not mushy. Great sauce and first class ingredients. Best pizza she's had in town and she wants to go back soon! So you never know... I enjoyed mine as well, exactly for the same reasons.
Drink: On my first visit they served local Deuces Wild beer exclusively. But now they have more variety. Not quite as well researched as Walter's303, but better than most of these kind of places. We each ordered a beer on the lager side, and they weren't cold enough, which is inexcusable really. That didn't get us off to the best start (2024). Fortunately they seem to have fixed this error and our beers were appropriately cold (2025).
Overall: Stays in the RJG Rotation. It's a little on the pricey side, but the pizza is some of the best in town. Call it a splurge meal.
Anecdotes: We celebrated Mr. RJG's 60th birthday on the 2024 visit!
11/16/18; 9/11/24 (new entry); 4/22/25
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