Discovering the Culinary Essence of Basso in Cresco
Nestled in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, Basso stands as a welcoming destination for those who appreciate the art of thoughtful dining. Located at 6525 PA-191 in Cresco, Pennsylvania, this establishment has become a familiar landmark for both local residents and travelers exploring the scenic beauty of the region. The restaurant is built upon a foundation of hospitality, aiming to provide a comfortable environment where guests can disconnect from the bustle of daily life and focus on the simple pleasure of a well-prepared meal.
The philosophy behind Basso is rooted in the belief that dining should be an approachable yet memorable experience. By prioritizing a relaxed atmosphere, the restaurant invites patrons to linger over their food, engage in meaningful conversation, and enjoy the company of friends and family. Whether you are stopping by after a day of outdoor activities in the nearby forests or seeking a reliable spot for a quiet evening out, the setting is designed to accommodate a variety of occasions with grace and ease.
The interior reflects a commitment to comfort, blending functional design with a warm aesthetic that mirrors the natural charm of the surrounding Pennsylvania landscape. Every element of the space is curated to ensure that guests feel at home from the moment they walk through the doors. It is this dedication to creating a genuine sense of place that distinguishes Basso within the local community, making it a cornerstone of the Cresco dining scene.
What Defines the Basso Experience
A Focus on Regional Hospitality: The team at Basso prides itself on a service style that is both attentive and unobtrusive, ensuring that every guest feels welcomed and valued throughout their visit.
Atmospheric Comfort: The restaurant offers a carefully crafted environment that balances modern convenience with a cozy, rustic charm, making it an ideal setting for intimate gatherings or casual social outings.
Commitment to Quality Ingredients: By emphasizing the importance of fresh components, the kitchen strives to highlight natural flavors, resulting in dishes that are both satisfying and consistent in their preparation.
A Convenient Pocono Location: Situated directly on PA-191, the restaurant serves as a perfect waypoint for those traveling through the Poconos, offering easy accessibility without sacrificing the tranquility of its mountain setting.
Beyond the physical space and the menu, the true spirit of Basso lies in its role as a gathering place. In an era where digital distractions are constant, the restaurant serves as a physical anchor—a place where the pace of life slows down, and the focus shifts to the immediate joy of a shared meal. The staff understands that a great dining experience is not merely about the food on the plate, but about the entire narrative of the evening, from the initial greeting to the final farewell.
As the seasons change in Pennsylvania, so too does the character of the surrounding landscape, and Basso remains a constant presence through it all. Whether it is the vibrant colors of autumn or the quiet stillness of a winter evening, the restaurant provides a consistent backdrop for creating memories. It is this reliability, combined with a genuine passion for hospitality, that continues to draw people to this specific corner of Cresco.
For those who value consistency, warmth, and a connection to the local community, Basso offers a refined yet unpretentious approach to dining. It is a testament to the idea that when you combine a welcoming space with a sincere desire to serve, the result is a lasting impression that encourages guests to return time and time again. We invite you to experience the unique character of our establishment and become a part of the ongoing story that defines our presence in the Poconos.
Looking Forward to Your Visit
We believe that every meal is an opportunity to celebrate the simple things in life. At Basso, we remain dedicated to maintaining the standards of quality and service that our guests have come to expect. We look forward to welcoming you to our home in Cresco, where the doors are always open to those seeking a pleasant atmosphere and a dedicated approach to the culinary arts. Whether you are a long-time regular or a first-time visitor, your presence is what makes our work truly meaningful.
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Reviews Basso
Brian Mcguire
30-05-2026
Always a great dining experience when we go there. Our waitress works very hard and so does the chef for the perfect taste! Recommended. To make reservations in advance. Staff is always polite! More
Jenna Lasky
30-05-2026
the so called “steak” was mystery meat at best, cooked far longer than it should’ve been. fettuccine alfredo was complete liquid and had milk. i would never in my life recommend this to a single soul. the waitress refuses to even give us a … More
Taylor Prothero
30-05-2026
Phenomenal day back. It was our first visit since they’ve reopened, we live just a skip and a hop down the road. You can tell they put so much care and detail into reopening. Our waitress was friendly, and explained everything including the … More
Ye Aung
30-05-2026
This restaurant should be in the middle of manhattan! Flavors are outstanding and the decor is beautiful! Server David was very attentive and polite!
Ian Macmillan
30-05-2026
This place was great! Service was awesome, and the food was even better! Cocktails were good, too.
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Barb Parz
30-05-2026
Great place for a night out with friends. The food is amazing, very generous portions. Friendly service. More
Betty Kish
30-05-2026
There were three of us extremely disappointed. I must say to begin with that the server was great. However we can’t say that about the food. We ordered clams oreganata. It came out with so many small clams it as hard to find any of them and … More
David Bourn
30-05-2026
Very disappointed I have heard such good things about this place I said let me c for myself. Anyone who knows anything about Italian food knows pasta fagioli isn't a thick red sauce that u call soup that's not how my grandma made it there … More
Susn No name
30-05-2026
OMG!! That pretty much sums it up. The food here is outstanding!! ,5star quality at 3star prices. Try the cheese polenta, it's to die for. Everything we ate was so delicious, we wish we had a restaurant like this near home! More
Jay Patel
30-05-2026
I always make it a point to stop in here for a meal when I travel for work. Great environment. Friendly staff (who remembers you btw). Awesome food. … More
Sami
30-05-2026
Amazing is an understatement! The food is fantastic. The people are amazing. You have to come here. Everything is so good!!! More
Timothy Coffman
30-05-2026
Price to quality is obsurd, had better tasting and properly cooked food at Perkins. Everything was either over or undercooked. Fish was fishy tasting and hard. Found a gum wrapper in the soup and couldn't even comp it for the measly $8. Ended up with food poisoning, what a joke. Would not recommend just wasn't worth it. More
Amanda Scolo
30-05-2026
The food was FANTASTIC! Service was good. Waitress super nice and informative. Nice, little, quiet, italian "nook" in the Poconos. More
Brandon Kester
30-05-2026
Food was good, went in without a reservation and they found room for us. Was an amazing place even though its on the smaller size but everyone is so friendly even the customers. More
Tammy McDonald
30-05-2026
I give the food 4 stars but the service gets 3. I get we are still reeling from restaurants not having enough wait staff but I appreciate those establishments who admit that at the start. This one didn't so it seemed there were enough staff … More
Olivia Ryan
30-05-2026
This place is amazing!! From the cozy atmosphere, great service and top tier food!! This is probably one of my new favorite places, highly recommend
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Sheila Hofmann
30-05-2026
We really enjoyed everything! The server was fantastic. The food was amazing. I had the chefs special butternut squash ravioli which was amazing. Looking forward to going back. More
ben goodyear
30-05-2026
From the minute we walked in to our leaving we were impressed. The staff was on their A + game. Our waitress Samantha knew the menu top to bottom. Our drinks were very tasty and a good value. The Calamari was delicious, the soup special was … More
Brie
30-05-2026
Overwhelmingly impressed by the quality of the food. Every part of the meal was authentic Italian cuisine and absolutely delicious. We ordered a Caesar salad which was perfect, linguini white clam sauce & tortellini with vodka sauce. The … More
Ben Kuhn
30-05-2026
The definition of a hidden gem. Super high quality and delicious food, tremendous service and a cozy atmosphere. Would highly recommend! More
Des KF
30-05-2026
While out of town for work, I stopped in this restaurant. I parked in the restaurant lot. I walked in and sat at the bar. Valerie was my bartender. I started with the limoncello martini and didn't care for it, so I switched to the espresso … More
Samantha Beatty
30-05-2026
Best Italian food I have ever had. The atmosphere is beautiful. The bar and restaurant have a great Italy theme. I'd love to be a repeat customer if I lived in the area!
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Norcairis Ulloa
30-05-2026
If you’re a person of color, do yourself a favor, just don’t go. Racism at its finest. Take your money elsewhere. Honestly, it’s hilarious we still go through this. To paint the picture, the place we are staying at recommended a list of places to visit during our stay. We visited four of them so far, absolutely incredible. We decided to try Basso for dinner because so far the recommendations did not disappoint. As we got there, we helped a waitress grab a can since she was struggling cleaning a table from outside, we walk inside, waited for about 5 minutes. Employee walks behind the bar and serves a drinks, proceeds to peek behind the wall and speaks to someone. Now the other lady walks up to us, greets us, asked us if we have reservations. I said no. She said “Oh so sorry, we are only by reservations and are completely fulled tonight.” I just smiled. The bar was completely empty, just two plates from previous guests that still wasn’t cleaned. Front tables were empty, there was an outside table also empty. She then told us to visit their sister restaurant the Pour House. There were only white people in there; just staring at you as if you have 3 heads. I definitely should’ve read some reviews before going. Other people experienced the same and Basso hasn’t even responded to the reviews.
Sarah Ratka
30-05-2026
Went here after years of hearing how good it is and it did not disappoint in the slightest. I got a plate of seafood pasta that was bigger than my head and cooked perfectly. Highly recommend the Zuppa di Pesce and the Shrimp 390, the garlic sauce in the latter was insanely good. Meatballs and Eggplant Capone were also amazing but you’ll 100% be coming home with at least a few boxes. Tiramisu was some of the best I’ve had, very intense coffee flavor and delicious marscapone topping. Also had amazing service from Samantha, she was very helpful, explaining multiple of the items on the menu for us. 10/10 would highly recommend
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Donna Gaffney
30-05-2026
This was by far the most incredible all around Italian meal we’ve had in some time. Hot, flavorful food. Well crafted drinks. Friendly, top notch service. We truly enjoyed the atmosphere for our anniversary dinner!
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Moderate noise
Special events
Not sure
Wait time
No wait
Parking space
Somewhat difficult to find parking
Parking options
Free parking lot
Alan McKay
30-05-2026
We came across this restaurant on a trip to The Poconos. They had an Osso Bucco stuffed Ravioli as a special the night we were there. Probably the best appetizer I’ve ever had. Also had fusilli as a noodle option, which is not that common to see and one of my favorites. I highly recommend this place if you are anywhere in a 100-mile vicinity. Start to finish, this was a perfect meal, food and service!
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Wait time
No wait
Eric Pitzer
30-05-2026
It's the perfect place that gets you away from your normal restaurants that push customers through. Valerie is a great bartender, hostess, and everything else! Great for conversations with friends and family.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Group size
Not sure
Wait time
No wait
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Bar area
Dental Center
30-05-2026
Just perfect! We came without reservations and sweet lady accommodated us in a perfect spot. Attention and food was delicious and menu options very good. Bottle of wine excellent price and service. Good preparation was outstanding. Thank you very much for a great dinner experience.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Lee Crowell
30-05-2026
I’ve tried just about every Italian restaurant in the poconos. Last night was my first visit to Basso and was very impressed. The attractive bar and dining area built out in elaborate wood trim and Italian tile. I ordered the pork cutlet special with a side of sautéed spinach. The cutlet was fried and covered with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella. It was served with penne vodka. Included was Italian bread with olive oil and bruschetta style spread. Everything was delicious I’ll be back very soon. For now Basso is number one!
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Wait time
No wait
Leanna Rhoads
30-05-2026
We were staying at the GWL and for our last night we wanted a nice dinner and went with this gem based off of reviews and I’m so glad we did! The ambiance was beautiful and relaxing. It had an intimate feel while still being kid friendly. Our server was so welcoming, attentive and informative. We ended up choosing 2 dishes that were the chefs favorites to prepare (Salmon Pescatore & Zuppa di Pesce) and he actually came out to say hello and make sure we were enjoying our meals. Portions are very generous and flavors were amazing. I can’t recommend this place enough. Thank you for making our last night in PA memorable one.
Price per person
$50–60
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Noise level
Quiet, easy to talk
Group size
3-4 people
Wait time
No wait
Reviews Basso