Sawasdee-ka!
Having a memorable trip to Thailand last year, I was grateful to see its charm and taste its authentic food. With this, whenever I see a Thai restaurant, this evokes nostalgia and I can’t help but crave Thai food.
Our order
After our first dose vaccination at Cuneta Astrodome, Pao and I set out for lunch at SM Mall of Asia. Since we seldom dine together, we decided to skip the usual lunch in fast food chains. We searched for a unique restaurant to eat at until we reached the Entertainment Mall in North Wing, and decided to eat at Basil, a Thai Restaurant.
Satisfied eaters haha!
NCR is under MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine) at the moment. Guidelines are strictly imposed on food establishments. It was somewhat alarming to stroll around and eat inside restaurants due to the covid-19 virus threat, but Pao and I were so famished. We braved eating in a restaurant praying for our safety.
Ongoing vaccination is done in North Wing. It was already mid-afternoon and there were few people roaming around. When we went inside the restaurant, a sudden gush of nostalgia hit me! Happy memories of my travel to Thailand suddenly flashed into my mind. We chose the table at the farthest end to avoid having close contact with other people.
In celebration of Father’s Day, they have a promo from June 18 to 20, 2021. They offer free Pad Thai for a minimum purchase of P1,000. Wow, that’s cool!
About Basil
Basil which came from ‘Sweet Basil’ is opened in 2012. Their food is based on the Thai principle of balancing five tastes: Sweet, Spicy, Sour, Salty, and Bitter.
Cute food holder
Their Menu:
1) Beef, Pork, and Chicken – Emerald Chichen (P325), Chicken with Cashew Nuts (P325), Thai Pork BBQ (P350), Spicy Beef Short Ribs (P525), Beef with Holy Basil (P385), Crispy Garlic & Pepper Pork Chop (P375) and Thai Sizzling Sisig (P375).
2) Curry and Vegetables – Chicken Green Curry (P350), Thai Red Beefy Curry (P495), and Thai Red Shrimp Curry (P495).
3) Rice and Noodles – Pad Thai (P385), Thai Bagoong Rice (P325), Thai Heavenly Pineapple Fried Rice (P385), Fried Rice with Shrimp (P285), and Jasmine Rice (P55).
4) Seafood – Crispy Fish with 3-flavored sauce (P870), Prawns w/ Garlic & Black Pepper (P460), Prawns with Lemongrass & Black Pepper (P460), Thai BBQ Prawns (P460) and Deep Fried Fish with Chili Sauce (P870).
5) Soup, Salad & Appetizer – Tom Yum (P375), Crispy Spring Roll (P275), and Thai Crispy Fish with Green Mango Salad (P395).
6) Thai Feast – Thai Feast Padthai (P950), Thai Feast Emerald Chicken (P790), Thai Feast-Bagoong Rice (P850), Thai Feast-BBQ 18 pcs-(P950), Thai Feast-Fried Rice with Shrimp (P750) and Thai Feast-Pineapple Rice (P950).
7) Dessert – Sticky Rice with Mango (P150).
We only ordered a handful of dishes since we were only two.
Our order:
TOM YUM (Php350) – I had tasted this dish near Wat Arun in Thailand but I wasn’t satisfied much. I’m not a fan of spicy food so I made a request to the staff not to put chili. The presentation was visually appealing. The soup was placed in an aluminum bowl with a stand to keep the soup piping hot. I was surprised when I tasted it, the soup was creamy and flavorful. The shrimp and oyster mushrooms were just enough for my bud taste. Surprisingly, it was more impressive than the one I ate in Thailand. Why is it so?
THAI BAGOONG RICE (P325) – This has a big serving that’s why we divided this into two. This has long-grain rice flavored with Thai shrimp paste, onion, chili, fried dried shrimp, sweet pork, and topped with a thinly sliced fried egg. As I’ve tasted, this has less salty flavor compared to our local version. I guess the only difference is the herbs and spices used. It was flavorful and heavy on the tummy.
CRISPY GARLIC AND PEPPER PORK CHOP (P375) – This is also a big serving and is good for sharing. The deep-fried pork was perfectly marinated in special Thai sauce with fried garlic and shallot (small onion). This was tender and so crispy that it should be eaten once served to savor its crispiness.
PAD THAI (FREE) – For me, no Thai meal is complete without my favorite Pad Thai. I’ve tried this dish at Soi Restaurant here also in SM Moa and of course in Thailand. Surprisingly, both were so delicious. Here in Basil, I wasn’t disappointed as this was also good because of its sweet-savory fusion. It has shrimp, stir-fried rice noodles, bean sprout, scramble egg, lime, and crunchy peanuts which makes it complete.
Our drinks, THAI ICED TEA
Ambiance
It was so relaxing to get inside the restaurant because of its homey and serene feel. It was so comfortable to while away time at the seating area and look at the elegant chandeliers as they brighten up the mood. There are no extravagant interiors but with a minimal touch of Thai culture.
Service
The serving was at a moderate pace. The staff was courteous and attended attentively to our needs.
The elegant chandelier
Verdict
For P1,000 food spending, it was good enough as we were fully satiated and satisfied. Pad Thai was really good. Oh, I just can’t wait to eat my favorite Thai food in another Thai restaurant. The serving was big that we can’t fully consume. We have leftovers and asked the staff to wrap the food.
Notes:
1. Due to the current pandemic situation, one has to observe the proper protocol when dining inside the restaurant.
2. Cash and card accepted.
You may order ONLINE here.
BASIL
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