Traditional Thai cuisine is balanced with an industrial nouveau decor at this small SOMA restaurant.
Authentic Thai cuisine
Modern bistro-style decor
Wine & dessert offered
What sets this Thai restaurant apart is its stylish interior crafted by co-owner Todd Sirimongkolvit, an architecture student at UC Berkeley. The wall between the restaurant and the building next door has been opened up with floor-to-ceiling glass bricks, and the large expanses have been broken up with yellow columns. The concrete-topped bar is backed with a midnight-blue wall; the same color is picked up on the glass shades of arched chrome wall sconces on the opposite wall. White tablecloths covered with white paper, bistro-style chairs, a dark wood floor and huge flower arrangements at the door complete the modern look.
In Short This airy, minimalist eatery offers a bright interior with a chic industrial sheen. The menu is traditional Thai, but the spiciness has been tamed down for American palates. Starters include turnip cakes, cucumber salad enlivened by red onion and slivers of radish, and curried potatoes in a coconut-milk sauce. Grilled dishes, like marinated lamb and half chicken, anchor the entrees.
Basil has a nice, modern, and casual atmosphere. The wait-staff was friendly, the food was delicious, and the prices were very reasonable. While the place is certainly white tablecloth, it's still very casual. An Entree will run you about $10-$15.
Whenever I first go to a Thai place, I always get the Pad Thai. This is the standard by which I measure all Thai places. While I a by no means Thai and have never been to Thailand, I can say in my lay opinion that it was really tasty. The prawns were jumbo and well cooked. A definite thumbs up!
They have a full bar and a mixed crowd. I'd definitely go back when I'm down for Thai, South of Market.
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I've tried lots of Thai restaurants in East Bay and on the Peninsula (Thai Time, Thai Kitchen) and this is my favorite. The ingredients are fresh and wholesome, the food always tasty, and very friendly service. I haven't had one bad dish here....everything from the veggie to fish entrees. I highly recommend the veggie spring rolls and satays -- excellent.On the weekend evenings it can be crowded and loud, especially toward to the back. They are located in SOMA and I have never had a problem finding parking. I've also done take out where I've come to the restaurant and placed an order. They were super quick but invited me to sit at the bar while I waited for the food!
PROS: Moderately priced, good quality ingredients, friendly service
CONS:
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With your typical white tableclothes and wicker chairs, Basil Thai serves up tasty (if not spicy) thai food. It's almost worth ordering off of the appetizer menu alone. Try the fried shrimp egg rolls and lamb satay.
My favorite entree is the kang gai, with chicken cooked in a yellow curry with basil (what else) and bamboo chips. The pad thai is also delicious, as is their spicy seafood soup. In fact, I've heard very few complaints about any of the dishes.
Check it out if you're in SOMA. The screaming fish by the door are also nice.
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Latest reviews by Citysearch:
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One of the worst meals ever
By rakeshlobster
I don't think I've been to a restaurant this bad in a long time. The skirt steak with peanut sauce arrived cold. The meat was charred (ordered medium) and the peanut sauce was a goopy mess.
Other food on our table was similarly bad.
Cons: Awful, overpriced food.
Posted 05/11/09
Unimpressive food, bad service
By jmand
Lacking in flavor and authenticity. They bring out shrimp chips when you sit down, which was tacky. Unless they are for kids, shrimp chips are really only good as a garnish. Our appetizer, the corn and bean cake fritters, was tasteless and cold. I ordered vegetables in green curry for my entree. The curry should permeate the vegetables and provide rich flavor when it's done right, but these vegetables were tasteless. Even worse, the curry did not contain the spices typically found in curry--it was more like sauce with lots of pepper. Worst of all, however, was the service. When you go to an American restaurant, the waiters don't take away your bread basket. These guys wanted to take away the shrimp chips after we ordered. Also, we had a lot of leftovers at the end of the meal, and the waiter never asked us if we wanted a box, just started gathering the dishes without a word. When we informed him that we wanted to take the leftovers home, I mentioned that I wanted to bring my rice as well. The rice never ended up in my box. Avoid this place. There are much better Thai places in the city, like Narin on Clement.
Cons: Poor service, pretentious
Posted 12/26/06
great music, great food
By akfj
My husband and I just went and really enjoyed it. They have a jazz trio that plays on Monday nights which was a total surprise especially when many restaurants are closed on Mondays. We loved the corn bean cakes for an appetizer. I had the pad see ew which was great but my very-picky-Thai-eater husband had the lamb curry and though he said it could've been spicier, it didn't stop him from wolfing down the whole thing. We parked easily one block away. And then continued on to the Metreon for a movie. Great night!
Posted 08/20/06
Very tasty and pretty cozy setting
By manusse
We were a group of six and sat in the end of the restaurant. The food was very flavorful, tasty and the services was great. I will definitely go back there.
Pros: Great Thai food, very friendly wait staff and good value Cons: neighborhood is so so and there isn't really anything around to meet for drinks before or after
Posted 08/14/06
mouth watering
By kasalos
SO GOOD SO GOOD SO GOOD. Great food good service, decent bill. What more could you ask for.Except maybe making parking a bti easier but hey its San Francisco, I'll walk anywhere for good food
Pros: YUmmy tiger prawns Cons: little wait but it was a friday nite
