“Just Ask!” Restaurant of the Month for February - Basilico, Galway

A popular restaurant that has been a destination for lovers of authentic Italian food for over a decade, Basilico is part of an attractive off-street complex in the centre of the Galway suburb of Oranmore. It’s the proud culinary focal point of The Coach House Hotel - a small family-run hotel in the same ownership - and there’s a bar/bistro where a shorter version of the Basilico menu is served, offering stone baked pizza, burgers and pasta from the restaurant kitchen all day.

Since opening in 2008, owners Paolo Sabatini and Fabiano Mulas - executive head chef and restaurant manager respectively - have worked hard to create points of difference in their restaurant, which is given a sense of occasion by the décor and, particularly, original art works by Fabiano which add atmosphere and make a great talking point.

Families are made especially welcome in both the hotel and the various eating areas, and – while the menus offered include a wide range of classic and more modern Italian dishes - Basilico has earned a particular reputation for their pizza which, along with authentic Italian bread, is made every day by in-house baker and pizza chef Marco Tommasi.

Speciality Italian ingredients are used in the baking of course, and an impressive supplier list includes a number of respected Italian companies – but supporting local produce has always come naturally to Paolo and he is a member of the chefs' association Euro-Toques Ireland, whose aims include promoting producers of local and seasonal artisan products.

So well sourced seasonal Irish ingredients are also a point of pride at Basilico and suppliers credited include many trusted names. Brady’s Farm in Athenry supply them with their succulent local grass-fed beef, for example, and they feature Irish Piedmontese beef from Wexford on their monthly specials. Superb free range chickens come from The Friendly Farmer in Athenry and fresh seafood is supplied by Gannet Fishmongers in Galway.

And, since Fabiano and his wife Valerie bought a farm nearby in 2018, the game has been well and truly upped, as many of the fresh seasonal supplies such as salads, tomatoes, kale, potatoes, onions, and herbs are now produced even nearer Paolo’s kitchen – and the home grown produce is topped up by trusted suppliers, including Beechlawn Organic Farm at Ballinasloe (who have also been very helpful to the team on their journey towards becoming commercial growers) and Curley’s in Galway who supply their traditional variety vegetables.

Frequent special evenings have a more regional focus, but the regular main menu offers a wide ranging, seasonally changing choice of Italian favourites – small bites like mixed olives, bruschetta, calamari, cured meats and salami; a plentiful choice of pasta dishes and risotto; mains showcasing all the popular meats, poultry and fresh fish - and with gluten free, vegetarian and vegan dishes included in the mix.

The success of this deservedly popular restaurant is down to many factors (including the ambience, and the friendly professionalism of the staff) but the key is the authenticity of cooking based on a combination of Italian speciality products and the very best fresh local produce. And, not only is their support of local food producers commendable but, true to their sustainable philosophy, they have recently introduced a number of measures to reduce waste, including using waste food to make compost on the farm, and also shredding packaging and other paper waste to use as bedding for farm animals.

All round there’s a sense of development, of a good restaurant getting better. Which is a great way to be.

Basilico Restaurant Suppliers

We're proud to have established long-term partnerships with a number of suppliers, regarded as some of the best in the business.
We'd like to shout out to our suppliers:

NEW Since 2018 our New Farm in Gort, Derrykeel Farm
Fabiano & Valerie’s new Vegetable & Salad Farm is producing:
Potatoes, Leaves, Chard, Kale, Herbs, Cabbage, Tomatoes, Courgettes, Spinach, Peaches, and more....
Check our Instagram and Facebook Page to see all Photos and Videos from last Summer !!

Richard from Brady’s Farm in Athenry
for their succulent local Irish Grass-Fed Beef, Pork and Lamb

Irish Piemontese Beef, Wexford
for their Award Winning Italian/Irish Beef that we use regularly for our Monthly Specials

Gannet Fishmonger in Galway
for their organic salmon and all our fresh sustainable fish

Ronan "THE FRIENDLY FARMER" from Athenry
for his excellent Free Range Chickens that we use on our Monthly Specials

Beechlawn Organic Farm, Ballinasloe, Co Galway
for their Seasonal Vegetables and Salads

Tom from Curley's in Galway
for his Vegetables-keeping old traditional varieties alive

Piggot's Eggs, Galway
for their local FREE-RANGE EGGS

Arrabawn in Co Nenagh
for their fresh Irish Milk, Cream and Butter

Danilo from Cantine Lavorata in Calabria, Italy
for his Italian Wines and Speciality Calabrian products that we Import Directly from their Vineyard

Andrea from Moca Foods in Limerick
for their Amazing Italian Cheeses, Salami and Italian specialities imported from small co-operative producers in Italy

Italicatessen in Dublin
for their amazing Italian cured meats, Salamis and Italian cheeses

K&C Norton in Dublin
for their fantastic Selection of Italian Products

Sandro Sabatini from Viterbo, Italy
a Special Thanks to Paolo's Father Sandro Sabatini in Italy for sending us
Artichokes, Truffles, Chestnut Flour, Pistachios and any other
Special Products directly from our own Artisan Local Suppliers in Italy.
Local is Global

Silvana Sanna from Sardinia, Italy
Fabiano’s Mum has hand crafted all of our bread baskets bring brining our family traditions and culture to the table.

BASILICO RESTAURANT MENU 

APERITIVI-Breads and Nibbles

Italian mixed olives (V)
Marinated with garlic,capers, peppers. and olive oil, served with homemade garlic ciabatta. €4

Rosemary & Polenta chips (V)
Basilico famous polenta chips with crispy rosemary and parmesan shavings served with our Black Truffle Mayo €4

House Made Fish Cakes
served with Italian style Tartar sauce €8

Crostini al Gambero
Grilled Homemade Bread with Basil Pesto, Vine Tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese and garlicky Tiger Prawns, served with Rocket leaves€9

Calamari Fritti
Italian style crispy Line Caught Irish Squid rings served with big wedge of lemon and our own garlicky mayo with lemon and chilli €9

Goat's Cheese Tart (V)
Baked with Apples, Cinnamon, toasted nuts and served with honey & side salad. €8

Buffalo Mozzarella Caprese (V)
Campania Baby Buffalo Mozzarella, Vine Plum & Cherry tomatoes, Basil, Oregano & leaves, Extra Virgin Olive Oil €8

Arancini Porcini (V)
Crispy risotto balls, made with wild mushrooms and smoked mozzarella, served with garlic and safron aioli. €7 PASTA & RISOTTO
Gluten Free Pasta Available on request (extra €1)

Orecchiette Contadina (V)
Fresh Pasta from Puglia Region cooked with Butternut squash, courgettes, peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and basil pesto €13

Penne Amatriciana
Classic Roman Dish made with Smoked pancetta, onion, garlic and chilli served in a rich tomato sauce and grated Pecorino cheese.€13

Spaghetti Bolognese
Pasta tossed in a rich Beef Bolognese sauce made with Brady's Beef of Athenry €13

Lasagna della casa
Layers of Homemade Pasta with a rich Bready`s Beed bolognese and béchamel Served with side salad or chips. €14

Risotto Marinara
Creamy Carnaroli rice cooked with Galway Bay Mussels, Prawns and Calamari, cherry tomatoes, white wine and Italian parsley €17****Pasta Option Available on request, please ask your server***

Risotto Funghi di Bosco
Creamy Carnaroli Rice cooked with Wild and Porcini mushrooms, garlic and parsley tossed with butter and parmesan cheese and served with Rocket leaves€15

Prawn Linguine
Linguine pasta, tossed with Tiger Prawns, Courgettes, white wine, Tomato sauce, chilli, Garlic and lemony Rocket leaves. €16

Orecchiette Gamberi & Asparagi
Fresh Puglian pasta cooked with Tiger Prawns, Asparagus, Chilli and white wine served with a white wine and cherry tomato sauce. €16

Penne di Gragnano "Alla Fabiano"
Penne Pasta cooked with Strips of Irish Beef Sirloin, Porcini Mushrooms, Smoked Pancetta and Tomato sauce €15

Panzerotti ai Porcini (V)
Housemade pasta filled with Wild Mushrooms and Porcini
tossed with Kale, squash, gorgonzola cheese and toasted walntus €14


Cannelloni Ricotta and Spinaci (V)
Baked Homemade Pasta tubes filled with ricotta and spinach, and topped with mozzarella cheese, Béchamelle and tomato sauce.
Served with side salad or chips €14

MAIN COURSE

Fagottino alla Valdostana
Baked Chicken fillet, with ham Fontal cheese and porcini mushroomssauce served with mash potatoes and sesonal vegetables. €17

Lamb Shank
Slow Braised with rosemary, red wine and fresh herbs
Served with butter Mashed potato and saute vegetables €21

Vegan* Artichoke Salad
Valerie's Organic Local Leaves, Cherry Tomatoes and Roasted chickpeas, served with Grilled Baby Artichokes, capers, toasted Almonds- Gluten Free Flat Bread- Lemon Vinaigrette dressing. €10

Spiced Duck Breast
served with homemade Potato Gratin, Saute' Kale and butternut squash Classic Orange Sauce €22

Wild Atlantic Hake
served with Saute' Green Kale, Shaved fennel and toasted hazelnuts
Vine Cherry tomatoes, parlsey and lemon butter sauce
side of roasted baby potatoes €20

Fresh Fish of the Week End
Every Week-End our Chefs prepare beautiful Seasonal Fish
Please check our week end Specials POA

Traditional Italian Pizzeria
9" SIZE GLUTEN FREE PIZZA NOW AVAILABLE


Margherita (V)
Tomato pizza sauce, mozzarella, basil. €12.00


Capricciosa
mushrooms, ham, artichokes, olives. €14.00


Diavola mozzarella, tomato sauce, Spicy Roman Ventricina salami. €13.00


Vegetariana (V)
mushrooms, spinach, courgettes, peppers, basil pesto, olives. €14.00


Napoletana
oregano, anchovy, garlic, black olives and capers. €12.00


Calabrese
Spicy Salame, Sausage, Roast Peppers, Rocket & Parmesan shavings€14.00


Sorrento (V)
Buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, parmesan. €14.00


Frutti di Mare
Gannet's Tiger Prawns, Calamari and Mussels cooked on a Margherita pizza. €15.00


Prosciutto & Rucola
Rocket, Parma ham, cherry tomatoes and Grana Padano shavings. €14.00