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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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Flying Rhino’s Grill Special

Grilled Chicken and Asparagus Over Pasta from Flying Rhino on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Grilled Chicken and Asparagus Over Pasta from Flying Rhino on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Entering Flying Rhino I got the feeling of a fun upbeat atmosphere.  I was greeted promptly by a friendly server who immediately made me feel welcome.  My husband and I headed to our table and joined our friends.  Our server was right behind us as we sat and was quick to inquire if we wished a beverage to start our night off.

We started with the lettuce wraps for an appetizer. My husband and I splitting them. They came with coarsely chopped chicken, shredded red cabbage and thinly shredded carrots. Two dipping sauces accompanied the dish. A peanut sauce and a soy based sauce. Both were very good. The lettuce provided was a soft “bib” lettuce and did well for wrapping the items. It was a little messy to eat but I found it very refreshing and an excellent start to my meal.

I ordered the “Grill special.”  The meal started off with a side kale salad, I almost didn’t order it. Kale to me is very rough and course and quite honestly doesn’t appeal to my sense of taste.  I’m very glad I took a chance. This small side salad had finely chopped kale, a touch of goat cheese and slivered carrots all tossed in a tasty dressing that moistened it just perfectly. I completely enjoyed my kale salad and would recommend it to those who wish to try something a little bit out of the ordinary. My main course came next with grilled chicken and asparagus in a light cream pesto sauce over pasta. It was very rich and flavorful. The chicken was grilled to perfection and although I found my pasta to be a tad overcooked I thought my meal was very good.

I would go back and I would recommend this to my friends. There is something for everyone here. -RL