Time to Try Thai
There are so many wonderful and exotic destinations to explore in this great big world. My Travel Bucket List is pretty long, and growing by the minute!
Lack of time and funds may keep many of us from venturing to far-off lands. But we can still get a taste of different cultures simply by enjoying diverse dining experiences.
I don’t have plans to travel to Thailand anytime soon. But a Thai restaurant recently opened in our neighborhood, so I decided it was time to try some Thai food!
Thai Basil
I am not super adventurous when it comes to food, and this was my first experience with Thai food. Having heard good things about Thai Basil, I was willing to give it a try. And my husband was my very willing dining companion.
Thai Basil opened in Brownsburg, Indiana about 7 months ago. Brownsburg is not far from Indianapolis, which has a wide array of ethnic dining options. But Brownsburg itself has just a handful of restaurants that offer menus outside of American, Italian, or Mexican cuisine.
Thai Basil is located in a popular commercial area of town in a free standing building…that was formerly a Long John Silvers.
First Impressions
I have been known to feast on greasy fish at LJS from time to time. But I’ll admit I delayed my first visit to Thai Basil due to low expectations associated with the building’s predecessor.
But that was a big mistake!!
The exterior of Thai Basil bares hardly any resemblance to the former fish franchise, and the inside is quite charming.
Knowing this location was previously a fast food establishment, I wasn’t envisioning fine dining. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the upscale remodel and ambiance of Thai Basil.
Thai Basil is a full service restaurant. No fast food counter here!
The Menu
The menu is extensive with 65 items to choose from, plus desserts and a kids’ menu.
Each item on the menu includes a brief description, which is especially helpful for Thai food novices like myself.
Before arriving I was worried I might not find anything that appealed to me, but I had no problem identifying several options on the menu that I was willing to try.
This was already a good sign that we might be making a return visit.
Drinks
After shedding my preconceived notion that this was yet another fast food joint, I was more than happy to take my time dining. Including indulging in an adult beverage.
Brent and I both opted for a glass of Rose and took our time perusing the extensive menu.
Appetizers
So as to not completely stuff ourselves, but still get to try a variety of options, we created our own 3 course meal to split. With several tasty sounding appetizers I literally could have filled up without ever getting to the main course.
We settled on the Crab Rangoon.
Brent had heard great things about this dish, and I’d like to thank whoever recommended it to him!
Our appetizer consisted of seven lightly crispy shells filled with a creamy crab mixture and a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
It was absolutely delicious, and we will definitely return to Thai Basil just for the Crab Rangoon!
Entrees
Moving on to our entrée took a bit more thought, but we were happy to take our time now that our bellies were already pleased with our first course.
We ended up selecting the Orange Chicken and opted for “Hot” as our heat level.
There are five heat levels to choose from, and Hot is the option in the middle. It provided just the right amount of heat for us, but others who prefer food with a little less kick may want to stick with medium or medium hot.
The portion was very generous! In fact every dish we saw coming out of the kitchen seemed to offer a fairly large serving.
Somehow even with sharing an entrée we still managed to bring home a small box of leftover Orange Chicken. Both the chicken and the sauce were so good we were not about to leave even a nibble behind!
Dessert
When you split an appetizer and entre it is rude not to finish off your meal with dessert, right?!
We selected the fried bananas, and I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. This dessert consisted of pieces of banana wrapped in a crispy fried shell, drizzled with a sweet syrup and toasted coconut.
The fried bananas were the least favorite part of my meal, but I’m glad we tried it.
Just like traveling, dining is about trying new things and deciding what you like and don’t like. As the old adage goes, you won’t know if you like it if you don’t try it! And sometimes it is good to step out of my chocolate rut!
Price
The atmosphere and food were a far cry from fast food and so was the price.
But with the generous portions and quality of the food, Thai Basil is a good value for the money.
Our total bill with tip was just over $50. Not bad for a very enjoyable dining experience with my love!
Overall Impression
I will definitely be returning to Thai Basil! I’m already craving some more Crab Rangoon as I type. And I’d like to try one of the fried rice dishes or some Pad Thai.
Now that my husband and I have found a new local restaurant we enjoy, we will definitely be back for another date night.
I think even my somewhat picky teens would like Thai Basil, so we will be introducing them to Thai food soon. If all else fails, they can feast on chicken fingers and fries off of the kid’s menu, while I enjoy some amazing Thai food!
If you can’t leave the country or even get out of town, broaden your world view and your palate by exploring a new cuisine.
Tell me about your favorite Thai dishes. Any other ethnic cuisines you enjoy? Share your suggestions in the comments below, and help inspire us to experience new cultures one bite at a time!
Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya
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