Basil Leaf

08/12/08

Good Food - Nice Ambiance - A Bit Pricey

by vipassana at Citysearch

I generally like the food there, the service is very good, and the ambiance is relatively warm and quiet. While it may not be "authentic" Thai food, I rather like what I'd term their California Thai cuisine. While the prices are a bit steep, I find it's worth it from time to time.

12/22/07

sublime asian haute cuisine in N'awlins

by hollybelles at Citysearch

We have savoured Kelly (Metairie native) and spouse Bank's restaurant since they started in Metairie about 10 years ago. When we return to N'awlins, it is our one "must do" restaurant. The service complements the sublime, distinctive Thai cuisine. Fresh ingredients contribute to alive flavors, and Bank brings back selected spices and seasonings from his native Thailand. A meal of multiple appetizers is a very good idea, but save room for dessert (e.g., sticky rice). Not typical N'awlins fare, but worthy of a cherished place amid the haute cuisine. As info, we lived in N'awlins for 5 years and were inveterate, assiduous fine diners... Basil Leaf ALWAYS impresses new friends/guests. Our college-age prodigy progeny have also loved it for years.

Holly and Craig S.

• Pros: Food, ambiance, service, convenient access
• Cons: None

05/29/07

BIG Disappointment

by hurrik8 at Citysearch

This restaurant is in my neighborhood, so I was anxious to try their food. I LOVE Vietnamese food, and after relocating from Hawaii, where good Vietnamese food is easy to find, the only place I really had enjoyed was Nine Roses on the West Bank. I took a stroll over to the Basil Leaf a few weeks ago, and while I was encouraged by the gracious enthusiasm of our server - the food itself fell far short of the mark. First of all, there was not a fresh basil leaf (or any other herb, for that matter) in sight!

The food was under flavored, boiled, over (or under) cooked and just generally yucky. I ordered the "Laab" first, because it is one of my favorite dishes - usually full of fresh herbs and chilies and topped with toasted ground rice. This boring version was practically inedible - I asked for fresh lime and hot chili paste and fish sauce to try and coax out some flavor, but the absence of fresh herbs (or toasted rice) made it impossible to acheive. We also tried that evening's special - something with coconut and eggplant (undercooked) and served in a half coconut shell. It was just awful - we took one bite and that was enough.

Our waiter, who was so terrific at the beginning, never returned to the table once our order was placed. He wasn't busy helping other diners - he was just lurking in the back. A very polite non-English speaking busser (not Vietnamese) dropped off the check.

I will never go back and I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone, ever.

I am so surprised that this restaurant has ever won "Best of" anything. Maybe it used to be good?