A method of making a tissue basesheet includes: (a) forming a nascent web from an aqueous furnish of papermaking fiber; (b) applying an aqueous composition of nanofibrillar cellulose to a surface of the nascent web; and (c) drying the nascent web to provide the tissue basesheet. Typically the basesheet is constructed with a tissue substrate of cellulosic papermaking fiber having applied to a surface thereof a layer of nanofibrillar cellulose, the tissue substrate having a basis weight of from 15 g/m2 to 30 g/m2 and the layer of nanofibrillar cellulose having a coatweight of from 0.25 g/m2 to 3 g/m2. The product may be incorporated into 2-ply or 3-ply bath tissue.