Tag: thai

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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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Seafood Combo Basil Pad Thai from Basil n’ Spice

Seafood Combo Basil Pad Thai from Basil n' Spice

Seafood Combo Basil Pad Thai from Basil n' Spice

Going into this Foodies event blind, I really didn’t know what to expect. I hadn’t browsed the menu before arriving, but I trusted my fellow Foodie’s choice.

I was pleasantly surprised to find Basil n’ Spice is located behind Funky Murphy’s on Shrewsbury Street. A small front door led into a quaint dining area with a tucked-away, corner bar.

After reviewing the extensive menu of Thai staples, I decided to order a familiar dish so I could compare it to others I had tried. I went with the Seafood Combo Basil Pad Thai, which includes mussels, squid, shrimp, and scallops. The perfectly cooked noodles come with egg, scallion, bean sprouts and basil doused in a spicy sauce. I chose a red chili sauce to kick up the heat to my preferred spice level.

The calamari and shrimp were bright and fresh. The mussels were served in half of their shell. There was plenty of seafood to go with every bite, however, I could have used a few more scallops. I only found two on my plate.

At the end of the night, I realized I did not have anything to bring home. To my surprise, I ate my entire dish! I didn’t have low expectations, but I haven’t had much Thai food. Overall, the Seafood Combo Basil Pad Thai was comforting, hearty, and enjoyable.

The waiters managed a nice balance of attentiveness without being too overbearing. This is the exact type of service I love to have at a restaurant. It’s nice when waiters understand the need to check in periodically for refills and questions.

This casual spot is the perfect place to grab lunch, come for a date night, or bring a group of friends. If you’re looking for a delicious alternative to the norms that Shrewsbury Street provides, I would highly recommend Basil n’ Spice for a taste of Thailand in the heart of Worcester.