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 The low ceilings and old, outdated interior have been replaced with high ceilings, exposed brick, modern lighting and light-colored paint, which created a refreshing change.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!
