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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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Lavraki: Mediterranean Sea Bass from Meze Greek Tapas

Lavraki Mediterranean Sea Bass from Meze on Shrewsbury Street

Lavraki Mediterranean Sea Bass from Meze on Shrewsbury Street

This month’s Worcester Foodies venture brought us to the recently opened Mezé Greek Tapas Bar & Grille on Shrewsbury St. I began my journey with the Tzatiki which was loaded with flavors of garlic and cucumber and served with warm pita bread. The dish was prepared well and of good portion. I also ordered a side Village Salad based on our server’s recommendations. This was little more than a traditional house salad. Unfortunately there was nothing extraordinary about this. In fact, I felt it lacked any flavor beyond the oil and vinegar it was topped with. I saw spices at the bottom of the bowl, but I didn’t taste any. For an entrée I chose the Lavraki, or whole Mediterranean Sea Bass. The dish was presented as described on the menu, over a bed of lettuce with shredded cabbage on the side. There was little loose flesh to eat without working around tiny sharp bones. The flavor of the fish unfortunately did not make up for the extra efforts needed to obtain a bone-free bite. The fish was charred, and although the menu states it’s served with a light lemon juice and olive oil, nothing stood out past the charred flavor that overwhelmed the dish. I also tried some of my fellow Foodie’s dishes including Calamari which was prepared cut into large pieces and grilled. Much like the sea bass, this was overcooked and overwhelmed with a burnt, charred flavor. The Grape leaves that were passed around were good, but nothing extraordinary. In all, I’m sad to say I was disappointed with Mezé Greek Tapas Bar & Grillee. I felt the foods I sampled were very basic preparations, which is certainly in line with traditional Greek cooking, but they were not very well prepared. When I dine out I look for food preparations that I cannot do on my own. I just didn’t find any at Meze.

Due to the tapas style eating, photos may not match the foodies review or description.