Thai Basil

The folks at Thai Basil dressed up a former sub shop with dark wood tables and chairs, muted gold walls, charming vintage portraits, and Thai woodcarvings to make the simple space welcoming to solo diners and small groups alike. The prices are alluring, too. Hardly anything?s over $10, and at lunch, all but two dishes are $6.95. Start off with smooth-as-satin coconut soup (tom kha), or delicate fried spring rolls stuffed with a savory mix of carrots, cabbage, and glass noodles. Papaya salad (som-tum) is full of exhilarating flavors, and is big enough to share or to eat as a main dish. Thai Basil?s curry plates, served with soft piles of jasmine rice, are delicious, as is the soy-and-herb-marinated barbecued pork. And the pad Thai here can be summed up in one word: classic. Read our review.