We went to Basil’s for the first time last night.
I’ll post a review of the other Thai restaurants soon, but for now, Basil’s is the only Thai food I can think about… it was soooooooo tasty!
We’ve been to about 5 or 6 different Thai restaurants here in the Franklin/Cool Springs area.
What We Ordered
To be able to compare “apples to apples” (or would that be “bamboo shoots to bamboo shoots”?), we each decided to order the dish that seemed most similar to our all-time favorites at the other Thai restaurants we go to.
For me, it was “Basil’s Chicken”, along with “Wonton Soup” as an appetizer.
Basil’s Chicken is stir-fried vegetables (bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions), along with a sweet-tasting brown sauce, served atop a heaping bed of rice.
For Jim, it was “Panang Chicken” and “Summer Spring Rolls” for starters.
Panang Chicken is a combination of bamboo strips, bell peppers, zucchini, and squash mixed – all in a soupy sauce of coconut milk, red curry, and chili pepper — and served on a tall bed of rice.
Our Review of Basil’s Asian Bistro
We both agree that the vegetables (and even the rice) in the main dishes seemed much fresher at Basil’s than at the other restaurants. As a result, the flavor was much more pleasant.
The appetizers also seemed freshly made, and prepared just for us. Often at other restaurants, it seems that they prepare the most popular items ahead of time, then simply “warm it up” before they bring it to your table. Not at Basil’s.
We both like spicy food… really spicy food! So we ordered the “hottest” they had on the menu, and while our mouths were pleasantly tingly after we finished our dishes, we might have enjoyed a even a bit more “hot”.
I will say, however, the spices seemed more well-blended than at some of the other Thai restaurants we’ve been to. By that I mean, each and every bite had the exact same amount of spice. Whereas, at some other restaurants, some bites could be really spicy, while others lack spiciness altogether. (This is usually due to the paste or whatever they use to spice up the dish at the last minute.)
The Thai food at Basil’s also seemed to be a tad more “authentic” Thai, and a bit less “Americanized” than we’ve found at other Thai restaurants.
Because we order “extra-spicy” entres, we tend to drink a lot of soda when we eat Thai food. At Basil’s they serve tea and soda in extra-large glasses, so you’re never thirsty.
Customer service is to die for at Basils! They aim to please you in every way possible. They refill your drinks before you’re bone dry. You don’t have to wait a long time to be served your appetizer (or your meal).
There was only one server working on the night we went, along with one guy from the kitchen who helped her on occasion. These two had some hustle in their step, and they never took a breather.
We were comfortable wearing jeans and t-shirts, even though the atmosphere inside is very classy, which is a nice change of pace for a nice, yet inexpensive dinner.
We definitely felt like we were given first-class treatment at Basil’s. And they knew nothing of this upcoming review.
Inside, it’s more like a bluesy, jazz nightclub. There’s an amazing looking bar, and soft pleasant music piped in over the speakers. I’m told they also have “live music” at times, but we haven’t seen it yet.
This is the only Thai restaurant where we’ve been asked if we want white rice or brown rice. We chose white, but we look forward to trying the brown next time.
The prices were right in line with all of the other Thai restaurants we’ve been to. Roughly, $8 or $9 for the main dish, plus $3-$4 for each appetizer.
When we left there, we both commented that the food seemed “healthier” for us than some of the other Thai food we’ve had. (That probably had something to do with how fresh it was.) And, to top it all off… while we both were served a lot of food, we didn’t feel fat or bloated when we left!
Overall, this was among the best Thai food we’ve ever had. We can’t wait to go back!
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