Basil Leaf

08/12/2008 Posted by vipassana

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.

12/22/2007 Posted by hollybelles

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

05/29/2007 Posted by hurrik8

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?

02/25/2007 Posted by scnnola

I'm very picky about my food. I consider myself a decent cook and I refuse to eat at any restaurants in New Orleans that I can find elsewhere. I mostly stay out of the Quarter since the food doesn't have to be great since it's mostly aimed at tourists and it's usually a little price, especially for a student like myself. I highly recommend the Basil Leaf. My girlfriend and I were heading to Jacques-Imo's one night and passed it and decided to try it when we had the chance. Since Jacques-Imo's was closed for a party we decided to try it. The atmosphere isn't fancy, but it's clean, quite and charming. The prices are very reasonable. Most appetizers are $6-8 and all but one or two entrees are $14-16. As one person pointed out, the specials are quite a bit more. But if price is an issue, then it's usually wise to ask about special prices. Food is explosive, you taste all of the separate ingredients, yet they all blend so very well.

Pros: Food, Service, Price, Ambience

Cons: Exterior is lacking

01/02/2007 Posted by mdelvecchio

...and unfortunately after you pay the bill, you realize the joke is on you. basil leaf is unique in that it is not only the worst thai ive ever had, but also the most expensive. beware the "specials" -- they dont mention the price; double that of menu items. the eggplant napoleon app was $13, cant imagine why. the coconut curry entree special mentioned by another is $23. twenty-three bucks!! for: rice, watery red curry, few small shrimp, few small scallops. now, at a fine gourmet restaurant i dont mind paying for quality entrees. but this? this is like the Denny's of thai -- it could be your sixteen-year-old kid back there slopping out the curry. i doubt there is anyone thai related to this kitchen. lastly, the "atmosphere" mentioned elsewhere is quite pathetic. completely mis-matched & lacking in any of the charm one would expect in a metro & worldly city. basically looks like a pizza parlor -- complete w/ hokey murals and fake, painted-on stucco-and-brick walls. man, i still cant believe i spent 20 bucks *more* than what i spend on sushi for two at Wasabi's. unreal! (our meal was $84: half-priced wine, 1 app, 2 entrees, cup of soup).

Pros: pleasant wait staff

Cons: lousy food, horrendously over-priced

07/23/2006 Posted by pitterpat7

While the ambience is nicer than your average Thai place, the food itself was overpriced. Over $10 for pad thai is absurd. While my friend ordered the special and it was presented well and portions are large, overall I spent about $20 for chicken pad thai and a water. I do not plan on returning to this establishment.

Pros: Uncrowded, peaceful atmosphere

Cons: Overpriced

04/18/2006 Posted by misterbeans

I used to love the Basil Leaf, and frequently took out of town guests there. The vegetarian options were better than most places in this town (I'm vegetarian). I don't know what has happened in the last year or so (even pre-K, but even more so now), but their food has really gone down hill. We went there last night and ordered to vegetarian entrees: a vegetarian Drunken Noodles and a vegetarian Phad Thai. They both practically tasted the same and worse: tasted like generic americanized chinese food! It didn't even taste like Thai at all. The food wasn't *bad* per se, it was definitely edible. It just wasn't very Thai. If you want the best thai food in town, go to Sukho Thai in the marigny.

Pros: inexpensive, good location, service

Cons: not very Thai!

03/31/2005 Posted by kellpifany

We usually expect a language barrier when eating our favorite cuisines, not here. I was so impressed with the wine list, not to mention hal price wine on Tuesday's. Basil Leaf is not open for lunch, but they make up for it with nightly promotions.