Basilico, a restaurant with well-known roots in Juárez, is getting a benvenuta with its first location on El Paso’s Eastside.
The Italian restaurant, opened at 12900 Eastlake Blvd., Suite A106-10 recently, and is already becoming a regular spot for the business community as well as a good choice for a memorable dinner date or family celebration.
Borderland restaurateur Jorge Enriquez owns three Basilico restaurants in Juárez — one express style business, one undergoing remodeling, and the other inside the Four Points by Sheraton hotel — and was encouraged to bring his restaurant model to El Paso. He is celebrating nearly eight years in business.
General Manager Victor Estrada, who has several years of experience opening restaurants, has paired up with Enriquez to create a fine dining experience with budget-friendly prices. Faux greenery hanging from the ceiling and over the bar and hardwood tables with custom chairs create a chic but cozy ambience.
“I love opening restaurants and I love owners that are involved and I like building teams. And he’s super involved,” Estrada said.
In an email, Enriquez said opening a restaurant in El Paso has been an achievement made with effort, time and determination of his staff and their support.
“Our main objective is the complete satisfaction of our customers, based on high quality products made with the best ingredients – together with a warm atmosphere and careful attention, which exemplifies our slogan “quality with warmth,” he said.
Estrada said there has been a learning curve between the two, as he has been introducing the owner to an American point of sale system, and he’s been learning the various key Mexican ingredients used in the restaurant, such as Mexican crema instead of whipping cream, and finding appropriate vendors.
Basilico makes a great impression with the interior, and the friendly staff continues the good experience by bringing a complimentary dish of bruschetta slices and a fresh vinaigrette with herbs. It’s a good start while perusing a multi-paged menu with appetizers, main entrees of chicken, salmon or rib eye, plus a variety of salads, pizza, and pasta, as well as desserts — such as crepes, pecan pie, Tiramisu, and Creme Brulee, that are made in house.
We started our midday meal with two appetizers, the Portobellos 4 Formaggi, ($15.99), three Portobello mushrooms almost floating in a super creamy and savory four-cheese sauce; and a Caprese Salad, ($12.99) with just the right drizzle of balsamic vinegar and a touch of pesto on fresh mozzarella and tomato slices, and three perky basil leaves.
The restaurant offers a great lunch special for $10.99 that includes a salad, a choice among pasta dishes and refillable fountain drink. We got to try the creamy Fettuccine Chipotle pasta, which had a light sauce with a good kick, which I relished, and a good portion for lunch. And we managed to squeeze in a pepperoni pizza, ($14.99) which had a nice crispy finish.
The restaurant can seat up to 49 people, including 10 bar seats, so expect a wait time on weekends. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
“It’s a very nice spot to come in midweek for dates and lunch times. We’re seeing a lot of girls’ nights and family parties,” Estrada said. On evenings, they may add music to enhance the nighttime outing.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok
Dining and Cooking