Tag: curry

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Duck Choo Chee from Basil n’ Spice

Duck Choo Chee from Basil n' Spice on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Duck Choo Chee from Basil n' Spice on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Worcester Foodies’ October pick was Basil n’ Spice, a Thai restaurant tucked behind Funky Murphy’s on Shrewsbury Street. The atmosphere is welcoming, bright, and clean with a trendy Asian-inspired décor.

I ordered a Mai Tai to start the beverage train rolling. I thought it was better than average. It was definitely good enough to order a second one.

I chose the Thai wings for my appetizer. In a word, boring. Deep fried. Over cooked. No flavor.

For my entrée, I went with my Thai standby: Duck Choo Chee. Many times this entrée is not be on the menu, but Thai restaurants usually have duck and several types of curry-based Choo Chee sauces so they can always put it together.

My duck was a little on the dry side, however, the Choo Chee curry was the best I’ve had around Worcester. I once read that a good Choo Chee curry should have a very prominent coconut smell with some red coconut oil on top. Well, this had both, along with a nice flavorful spice, which made up for the dry duck.

The menu is reasonably priced. Our service was excellent. Two waitstaff along with the owner tended to our group of hungry foodies with coordinated and thorough attention. I will give Basil n’ Spice another try, but on this round I was moderately impressed.

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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!