⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Basta — Where Calories Don’t Count (Especially for Mom’s 93rd!)

Nine of us rolled into Basta to celebrate my mom’s 93rd birthday — because clearly, she’s living proof that good olive oil and red wine are the secret to longevity.

First tip: they don’t take reservations, so unless you enjoy hangry crowds giving you side-eye, show up early. Parking’s easy in the attached lot, which is good because you’ll need an escape route after eating your body weight in burrata.

Inside, the place is gorgeous — chic but cozy, with a wine list that makes you want to “accidentally” order a bottle (or three). We started with martinis and wine, because hydration is important.

Then came the salads — yes, plural, because restraint is for amateurs. The Arugula and Burrata was creamy, tangy, and basically salad’s sexy older cousin. The Romano Cacio-Pepe was like Caesar salad went to Rome for a semester abroad and came back cultured. And the Basta Greek Salad? Bright, fresh, and probably the healthiest thing we touched all night.

For mains, the Margherita Classic pizza was the gold standard of simplicity — perfect crust, molten cheese, basil doing its basil thing. The pappardelle with vodka sauce and salmon was pure comfort in pasta form. The Jidori rotisserie chicken was so juicy and flavorful it deserves its own fan club, and the grilled branzino looked like it swam straight into a Michelin star. The Angus short ribs? Fall-apart tender and deeply satisfying. And let’s not forget those fingerling potatoes with mascarpone and parmesan — basically adult mashed potatoes that got a culinary degree.

Dessert was a victory lap: butterscotch pudding (smooth and nostalgic), chocolate cookie sandwich (because who says no to that), and peach cobbler cheesecake, which might actually be what angels eat.

Mom was thrilled, everyone was full, and we all agreed on one thing — we’re definitely coming back. Preferably before she turns 94.