Basil

Decent food… though asked for spicy above their top level (yes, i like it very hot… thai hot)…but nary a sniffle. The tom yum had good flavor, but was surprised that it wasn’t served in a hot pot. Had the Thai basil fried rice and, as stated, it did not have the heat i was preparing for… but it had the favor. Reasonably priced.

Meh. I have to say, I prefer the Brewery District location. Here’s why:
(1) The service here was pretty terrible. Our waitress messed up our orders profoundly, over and over. For instance, I ordered pad thai without peanuts but she brought me an order with peanuts. When I told her, she left briefly and then came back and there was still a lot of peanut residue all over the meal which leads me to believe she just removed what peanuts she could. Thank goodness I don’t have a peanut allergy. Secondly, she got two of my companions’ meals wrong and by the time we all had our meals, everyone who had been waiting had to eat cold food. She wasn’t very apologetic, either.
(2) We sat in a booth that was somehow crooked. One side was higher than the other so it was like we were sitting at an angle throughout the meal. It reminded me of the crooked apartment in How I Met Your Mother.
(3) The food was the exact same as the food in the Brewery District. Therefore, I could have had the same meal with better service in a nicer setting.
For those reasons, I will stick to the BD Basil.

Decent, convenient, and reasonably priced Thai food in the Short North…
Basil’s food was pretty darn good. I ordered the Pad Thai (extra hot!) with chicken. The noodles were super delicious, but the heat was nothing too crazy. I can handle my spices.
The location is great if you are in the Short North. The location probably isn’t all that ideal if you aren’t. Parking can be a bit dicey, but at least it’s pretty far north on High St.
Prices are pretty reasonable. I can’t complain about a good meal that doesn’t put a dent in the wallet. The restaurant doesn’t feel give off a «cheap» feel. In fact, the interior is rather trendy.
The place is fairly empty during the week. Our party was seated promptly. Service was okay, but edges on the side of slow. It’s most definitely worth a visit if you are in the mood for some Thai.

3.5 stars. Staff was friendly, the décor is awesome (with exception of a TV), but we found the food to be fair. It was hot, tasty and served well … but I felt like it was an average meal for the cost. The service was good and we tipped accordingly. Would return perhaps, but with a Groupon.

Nice restaurant. Excellent food service. Quite expensive for some food items. But I usually go there once a week. Not so out of budget to go once in a while.
I am really sad to see that they have let Lunch special go. It was quite a deal with Soup, starter and Entrée in just $ 8.5. In fact lunch special was one of the reasons I used to go there.
However, due to this change I have reduced my frequency so did my colleagues who were frequent visitors.
Business owner, if you are reading this review — Any way you can bring back lunch special. I miss them so much. So do I think many of your fans.

I’ve been here a couple of times now and really enjoy the food. The cold rolls are wonderful, the tom kha ga was a little on the cool side but I would definitely come back. Cool, funky interior and nice wait staff.

My husband and I came here during restaurant week, so take that into account when reading this review. If I go back during regular times I will adjust/​write another review.
We ordered off the approved menu and were pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and friendliness of the staff. The food was all mostly tasty as well (with the exception of an out-​of-​place gluten-​free chocolate cake for dessert! yuck!). My biggest problem was with the portion size. Now, I get it. It’s restaurant week and prices are lowered for the specialty menu to generate buzz and business, but damn Basil.
We ordered 2 appetizers, 2 soups, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts. The spring roll was an actual spring roll cut in half and we only got the half. Now anyone who has ordered spring rolls before knows that usually you get 2 spring rolls cut in half and served in four pieces. I would have gladly accepted just one spring roll cut in half and served as two pieces, but why only give me a teeny tiny half piece? Where did the other half go? The other appetizer was tempura sweet potatoes, no real complaints though I probably wouldn’t order again. The soups were little cups of soup and were flavorful and fine, I didn’t want a big bowl of soup anyways since it was essentially a second appetizer. The entrée is really where the portion size got me down though. It was easily only half of a normal portion for both of us. I got pad see ew and he got green curry with rice. Both tasty, but very unfulfilling due to size. Then the disastrous desserts! First off, no Thai style desserts, only carrot cake and chocolate cake. But the chocolate cake was gluten-​free. We figured we would order one of each and share, big mistake. The chocolate cake was so thick, fudgy, and impossible to swallow. It had no cake texture whatsoever, more like old fudge mixed with peanut butter. I couldn’t finish it. The carrot cake was alright, but tasted almost store bought.
Anyways, the quality of the Thai food was good and had good spice, however I looked at the regular menu and know it’s a bit pricey and I don’t know if it’s worth it when I can get takeout somewhere else that is just as good and half the price. Maybe if I know the serving size would be appropriate I would go back.

I came here with a friend during Restaurant Week as she had a coupon. First of all, the exterior is kind of grubby-​looking. I don’t need super fancy curb appeal, but when the front door calls to mind a dive bar, that’s a problem. The interior is toeing the line between «chic urban» and just «shabby.»
Our servers were all attentive and friendly, I had no issues with the service. The food, though… bland, bland, bland. I had the vegetable soup, and it was… pretty tasteless. Then we both had the crab cream cheese friend dumplings (aka crab rangoon) and they were so fried that oil literally poured off them when I took a bite. And I tasted nothing so much as a lot of cream cheese. My dinner wasn’t terrible, but again, not much flavor going on. I had tofu in my entrée and they were shriveled-​up little nuggets.
I wouldn’t come back.

I have had a lot of Thai food in my day and this was definitely one of the better times. The food tasted fresh and came in a timely matter.
I have door allergies and the menus is very well marked and the servers well informed about the ingredients. When my meal got to me it was incorrect, but Shelley, our waitress, was very apologetic and accommodating even though it was not her fault.
I would go back and I would bring friends.

This place changed my taste for curry. I absolutely dislike curry from the smell and the sharp taste, but this gave me a different out look on it. I had the yellow curry with pineapple, and hands down, it was amazing!
I came in with a moderately size group, and the service was really quick. I tried all the other food and nothing really stood out besides the curry. I would definitely come back here with a group and the décor adds a nice touch to my experience as well.
Prices were pretty good for the dishes that came out along with the portions. I would recommend family-​style dinner by ordering several dishes and share. Overall, great experience and I didn’t smell like food when walking out!

I wanted to like this place, given how much I love Thai food. Something was just a little off, though. The place was weirdly empty when we went in for lunch, and the Pad See Ew had been spiced with something unusual. It was hot, but not in the way you expect Thai food to be. It was alright, but fairly expensive, and I don’t think I’ll be going back here.

In a debate on whether to try Basil Thai or Nida’s on Thursday, it came down to pricing, and I decided to be a bit cheaper and go with Basil. I was getting take out as well and really didn’t want to get too deep into the Short North, and there’s plenty of places to park on the street near Basil. Now that Surly Girl’s gone, it’s a tad quieter in that area.
I ended up trying the chicken toast for an appetizer and the Pad Ka Praw for my main dish. The order took about 25 – 30 minutes to be ready due to the chicken toast apparently. I was really surprised by the inside of the place, since I’d only ever noticed the aging façade. It was very cool and lively in there and very clean. There were plenty of patrons dining in, and the girls working were very friendly as I waited a little for my ordered to be finished.
I first dug into the chicken toast, and they give you six of them, and they’re super filling, so I only had a couple in order to save room for my entrée. I had my girlfriend try them as well, and we both loved them, especially the vinaigrette that comes with it. We were looking up recipes to recreate that dressing, but I may just have to ask for a bunch of extras next time.
My Pad Ka Praw was a mix of ground chicken, onions, peppers, roasted garlic, and basil in a brown sauce, and it was really tasty. It comes with white rice, and I just poured the dish over the rice, and mixed them all up together. I highly recommend trying this one, and it was definitely enough to last me two meals, but if you’re super hungry, this would be plenty of food.
My usual Thai place is Thai Basils (creative names), which is a bit more downscale and fairly quick, but I think Basil could definitely become a more viable option. It’s closer to my house, only slightly more expensive, and I think the quality of the ingredients is a bit higher. They have an easy to read menu that isn’t overflowing with too many options, and I’m very interested in trying more of it, especially the noodle dishes. If you can’t get up to the Short North location, they have a new one down in Brewery District as well!

Don’t begin to understand the 1 star review. Seems like this guy just doesn’t get it.
The staff was great, friendly and fast. Katy was our server and she couldn’t have been nicer.
We had some happy hour apps to start. I will dream about the Chicken Toast. Seriously WTF good.
The crispy spring roll, also good but still fantasizing about the Chicken Toast.
Both my friend and I had the green curry. I got hot… and it was the exact right spice. So good.
The atmosphere and space is huge and beautiful. Much bigger than I expected.
Maybe since I’ve been in the business I have a little empathy if a place is busy… the one star review guy clearly doesn’t.

Pad Thai noodles were good but not the best I’ve ever had. The real basil is in charleston South Carolina.
The space was very pleasant and staff was very friendly and helpful!
Maybe next time I’ll get the basil fried rice!

I’m kinda baffled by Basil? This was the 1^st time here and probably my last, funny thing is I always wanted to try Basil and finally did. It’s like, I can say I went but won’t come back…
Place seems kinda pretentious for the food not being so great. Staff was was friendly, food quality was definitely there but who ever made it must not be tasting the shit or their love for food got tossed out the fuckin window long time ago. It was good but not great, I honestly thought it was really bland. Either lower the prices or make better food, enough said (drop mic)!
Pad Thai had no flavor, spring roll was ice cold not kinda cool but ICE COLD, pot stickers were straight with some kinda sweet lemon sauce.
Let me back up for a second, not make better food but make it more flavorful. Unless Thai food is super bland and this is news to me?

Basil, what happened to you? I harked to all of columbus your delicious, affordable lunch special, but restaurant week was a disappointment.
I speak for the masses when i say nothing, NOTHING, is worse at a restaurant, than being rushed through a meal. Or being ignored. I was both rushed AND ignored. 10 minutes to take a drink order? Come, now. That’s just ludicrous. And during restaurant week, no less. I would assume the restaurant would have been fully staffed to avoid such disaster. Then, in rapid succession, bam! bam!bam!bam! Four courses in rapid succession. I wasn’t even done with my appetizer before I saw the procession of waiters hurrying our plates to the table. QUICKLY! HURRY! BEFORE THEY FINISH THEIR VEGETABLE TEMPURA. «Are you done with your cake?» I’m sorry. How can I make this clearer: I still have half a slice left and the fork rests in the crevice of my hand. Yes, I am still working on your blasé piece of cake. Please let me eat in peace. By the time we placed our orders, we finished our dinner in less than 25 minutes. Congratulations, Basil. You’re almost on par with tais Asian Bistro.
Regret courses through my veins as I write this review. I have eaten here previously with utmost jubilee and delight. That pad Thai… Oh my. But not on this night. Pad kee maw was spicy for sure, but definitely not flavorful. Hot and sour sauce served with veggie tempura was a bore. Chicken in Tom Ka soup was dry. Edible, but I’m doubtful I’ll be returning.
BUT THAT LUNCH SPECIAL. I’ll throw in another star for that lunch special.

I really enjoy Basil, and they are well-​ensconced with Groupon, so it is a little bit of a money saver, and a great deal for happy hour. Have a half-​price drink, $ 3.95 appetizer, and enjoy the atmosphere — a little upscale but laid-​back. Their Tom Yum soup is some of the best I’ve had. Same with the chicken toasts, deep-​fried, oil-​dipped, it’ll be a challenge to eat just one.
Their entrees are varied and accommodating to vegetarian/​vegan/​gluten free diets (Thai cuisine lends itself to such a menu generally) along with plenty of other protein options. Curry here is exceptional, and very rich. The panang and the green curries are the ones to try if you’re more adventurous with various spicy dishes. Come for happy hour, have a drink and enjoy the atmosphere. The pan-​fried noodles are a decadent and scrumptious option, and a danger to your diet.
I have always had good service, even during busy Restaurant Week dinnertimes.

This was my first time at Basil and my first time trying Thai Food — now I’m a fan! This restaurant is so cozy and nicely decorated with sparkling chandeliers. The crab wontons are FANTASTIC — seriously one of the best appetizers I’ve ever had. For an entrée, I had the pad thai with tofu and egg and it was also delicious. I think the wine is too overpriced, but not out of the ordinary for Short North. Service was somewhat slow because there was a rehearsal dinner going on in the front of the restaurant, but I didn’t mind because I had my crab wontons and good company.
Definitely buy the groupon! $ 10 for $ 20 off the final bill — only counts towards entrees.

Great choice if you’re in the mood for a solid Thai curry!
About every couple of months or so I get in the mood for a spicy red curry, and although I’ve tried several times, I can’t seem to make one that has any flavor. Thus, a trip to Basil is in order. I’m not sure how the non-​red curry part of the menu fares, but every time I’ve had a variation on red curry here, it’s been great. My favorites are the panang and pineapple curries, and their pot stickers and egg rolls are delicious. They always have a solid set of rotating craft beers, and there are always great finds on their wine list. The service is generally pretty good, and sometimes they go above and beyond, like when our waitress let us stick our orders in before a large group. I LOVE the décor, too. The interior is a lot of exposed brick, and it balances the industrial look with beautiful light fixtures. It makes for a perfect date ambiance.
There’s almost always a Groupon deal going on, so make sure to check it out before stopping in.

An advert from Basil in my email reminded me that I had left this hanging from my Columbus reviews. Sadly, Paprika… I mean Saffron… oh shute. BASIL (oops) wasn’t the mind-​blowing Thai cuisine that I had hoped for.
My last meal during my time at Ohio State was settled here with some great friends, and our meal was aiite. Nothing about it really stood out for us. Our server was nice but took a bit for her to get around to us, despite the place being pretty empty for a Saturday lunch hour.
I ordered the seafood pad-​see-​ew and it was good, but not stellar. The flavors weren’t strong enough for me, and the portion size was smaller compared to what i was used to in California. I remember our water needed to be replaced too since it tasted foul when we first received it. (sad)
I hear that the lunch hour specials are much more worth it, so I’d suggest stopping by just for that. Otherwise, there’s likely other places that can offer better Thai fair around Columbus.