Basil Cucina: What's drawing customers to the new Forest Avenue food concept

By Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com | Posted June 08, 2018 at 07:00 AM | Updated June 08, 2018 at 07:01 AM

Basil takes root in Port Richmond.

Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Basil takes root in Port Richmond.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- By 10 a.m., Basil Cucina's pizza oven starts cranking out giant garlic knots rolls for sandwiches. The phone starts to ring non-stop for lunch delivery and catering orders for the upcoming weekend.

Basil Cucina is catering operation based in a storefront with a casual restaurant and pizzeria. The store -- located at 1685 Forest Ave., Port Richmond; 718-448-1087 -- delivers within a three-mile radius. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friends open a restaurant

Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

Friends open a restaurant

Joseph Alayon and his business partner Tony Marzook say it's been busy since they've opened on Friday, April 13. The pair's first enterprise, Joseph maintains, has seen a crowd almost daily since Day One.

(Courtesy of Joseph Alayon)

"And from that day on it's been great. What I really like is if you read all of my reviews [online] people say the food is good and what I appreciate is that the people take the time to say that," Joseph said.

He plans to post snippets of the reviews on the front window. The excitement comes for the build-your-own salads put together by Tony or a staff member behind the counter. Soups, assorted cold and hot "gourmet" sandwiches plus panini, burgers, pizzas and kid food are part of the extensive menu. Breakfast items such as butternut frittatas, potatoes and eggs and "Breakfast Quesadilla" are served all day.

(Courtesy of Joseph Alayon)

Joseph, in particular, loves the freedom he feels as an entrepreneur. He went into business for himself to have more flexibility and time with his family. Sundays the whole operation is closed.

"It's a day of worship," said Joseph. And he's firm on that matter, turning down catering orders as they come in for the day.

Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com

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