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Let’s Talk About Pad Thai

Pad Thai from Basil n Spice on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Pad Thai from Basil n Spice on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

As someone who works in downtown Worcester, I’ve driven by Basil n’ Spice countless times since it opened. To say I was excited I’d finally be trying it would be an understatement.

I love restaurant spaces that are tucked away and not overly conspicuous. This little nook blends the best of both worlds with a subtle location that is easy to spot from the hustle and bustle of Shrewsbury Street. Inside, the mixed-material walls (exposed brick and painted yellow walls) set a warm and welcoming tone.

On to the food. The menu was substantial with many authentic Thai dishes rather than unnecessary filler items. There were several appetizers I wanted to order, but I didn’t want to fill up before my meal.

I made up my mind before going to dinner that I would order one of the six curry dishes. I must confess, I heart curry–all varieties of curry. I am a lover of spice and heat too. But when I learned it was National Noodle Day, I broke down and opted for the Basil Pad Thai with chicken. What can I say? I’m a sucker for gimmicks.

You know that feeling of regret after your server walks away and you instantly think, “I’ve made a mistake. I wonder if there’s still time to change my order?” Yup, guilty as charged. Fortunately, my concerns were unfounded.

When my stir-fried plate of noodles came out and the aroma hit my nose, I knew I made the right call. The presentation was beautifully balanced with a lot of colors. This dish was a little spicy, but the menu indicated as such. It had perfect pockets of heat and just the right amount of fresh basil leaves cooked in.

Usually, Pad Thai is heavy, however, these rice noodles were pretty light. The sprinkle of peanut-crumble topping and the side of fresh red cabbage, carrot, and bean sprout slaw added a nice crunch. This was easily some of the best Pad Thai I’ve ever had.

The service team was very friendly and patient toward our big group. At least four servers waited attentively on us. My water glass never made it less than half-full–I’m more of a half-full than a half-empty person–and the wait time between ordering and receiving our meals was pretty quick.

The food was so delicious that I almost forgot to mention my cocktail. I am a red wine girl, but I decided to try something a little different: a Lychee Mojito. While it was a tad sweet for my palate, but all of the sugar paired perfectly with my meal.

I’ll definitely return to Basil n’ Spice… I still have six curry dishes to devour!

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Drunken Noodle from Basil N’ Spice

Drunken Noodle from Basil N' Spice on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Drunken Noodle from Basil N' Spice on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Basil n’ Spice is tucked away in the back of Funky Murphy’s where Surya Indian Cuisine once was. I was very impressed with the remodeling. The low ceilings and old, outdated interior have been replaced with high ceilings, exposed brick, modern lighting and light-colored paint, which created a refreshing change. The bar area was beautiful–a great spot to grab drink.

We sat in the back at a long table where two waiters served us. They were courteous and quick. One of our waiters was actually an owner. She is a truly delightful woman. We could see that she takes pride in the food and enjoys running the restaurant.

It was difficult to decide what to order because there were so many appealing options.

To start, I ordered the Spring Fresh Rolls. These rice-paper wrapped rolls come with shrimp, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, fresh basil leaves and rice vermicelli along with peanut hoisin sauce. They arrived quickly and didn’t skimp on the shrimp, which I appreciated. The serving was enough for an appetizer although I would have enjoyed a bit more dipping sauce.

For dinner, I chose the Drunken Noodle. It’s a stir fried wide rice noodle with red and green bell peppers, carrots, onions, broccoli, and basil ‘n spicy sauce. I requested it extra hot.

It was a large portion–enough for two. I had never had this dish before and I found it delicious. I loved how the vegetables and tofu far outweighed the noodles. All of the vegetables were fresh too. The sauce tasted flavorful as well, but it was not spicy at all, which was disappointing because a hot chili displayed on the menu indicating heat. Plus I asked for it extra spicy. I will order this again and ask for it extra, extra, extra hot.

I can’t wait to return here for more Drunken Noodle and to try new menu items. Two highlights for me included seeing several vegetarian dishes and a responsive, pleasant staff. Plus the modern remodel made it a fun space to be in. I’ll definitely go back!