Basil Leaf

Last week my fiancee and I had dinner at your Basil Leaf Thai Cusine restaraunt in Mandeville, Louisiana between 7:00 and 7:45. The food was good but we were very dissapointed with some things that took place both while we were trying to enjoy our meal, and also afterwards when we had signed our bill and were waiting to leave. more

I generally like the food there, the service is very good, and the ambiance is relatively warm and quiet. While it may not be ""authentic"" Thai food, I rather like what I'd term their California Thai cuisine. While the prices are a bit steep, I find it's worth it from time to time. more

We have savoured Kelly (Metairie native) and spouse Bank's restaurant since they started in Metairie about 10 years ago. When we return to N'awlins, it is our one ""must do"" restaurant. The service complements the sublime, distinctive Thai cuisine. Fresh ingredients contribute to alive flavors, and Bank brings back selected spices and seasonings from his native Thailand. A meal of multiple appetizers is a very good idea, but save room for dessert (e.g., sticky rice). Not typical N'awlins fare, but worthy of a cherished place amid the haute cuisine. As info, we lived in N'awlins for 5 years and were inveterate, assiduous fine diners... Basil Leaf ALWAYS impresses new friends/guests. Our college-age prodigy progeny have also loved it for years. Pros: Food, ambiance, service, convenient access more

This restaurant is in my neighborhood, so I was anxious to try their food. I LOVE Vietnamese food, and after relocating from Hawaii, where good Vietnamese food is easy to find, the only place I really had enjoyed was Nine Roses on the West Bank. I took a stroll over to the Basil Leaf a few weeks ago, and while I was encouraged by the gracious enthusiasm of our server - the food itself fell far short of the mark. First of all, there was not a fresh basil leaf (or any other herb, for that matter) in sight! more

I'm very picky about my food. I consider myself a decent cook and I refuse to eat at any restaurants in New Orleans that I can find elsewhere. I mostly stay out of the Quarter since the food doesn't have to be great since it's mostly aimed at tourists and it's usually a little price, especially for a student like myself. Pros: Food, Service, Price, Ambience Cons: Exterior is lacking more

...and unfortunately after you pay the bill, you realize the joke is on you. basil leaf is unique in that it is not only the worst thai ive ever had, but also the most expensive. beware the ""specials"" -- they dont mention the price; double that of menu items. the eggplant napoleon app was $13, cant imagine why. the coconut curry entree special mentioned by another is $23. twenty-three bucks!! for: rice, watery red curry, few small shrimp, few small scallops. now, at a fine gourmet restaurant i dont mind paying for quality entrees. but this? this is like the Denny's of thai -- it could be your sixteen-year-old kid back there slopping out the curry. i doubt there is anyone thai related to this kitchen. lastly, the ""atmosphere"" mentioned elsewhere is quite pathetic. completely mis-matched & lacking in any of the charm one would expect in a metro & worldly city. basically looks like a pizza parlor -- complete w/ hokey murals and fake, painted-on stucco-and-brick walls. man, i still cant believe i spent 20 bucks *more* than what i spend on sushi for two at Wasabi's. unreal! (our meal was $84: half-priced wine, 1 app, 2 entrees, cup of soup). Pros: pleasant wait staff Cons: lousy food, horrendously over-priced more

While the ambience is nicer than your average Thai place, the food itself was overpriced. Over $10 for pad thai is absurd. While my friend ordered the special and it was presented well and portions are large, overall I spent about $20 for chicken pad thai and a water. I do not plan on returning to this establishment. Pros: Uncrowded, peaceful atmosphere Cons: Overpriced more

I used to love the Basil Leaf, and frequently took out of town guests there. The vegetarian options were better than most places in this town (I'm vegetarian). I don't know what has happened in the last year or so (even pre-K, but even more so now), but their food has really gone down hill. We went there last night and ordered to vegetarian entrees: a vegetarian Drunken Noodles and a vegetarian Phad Thai. They both practically tasted the same and worse: tasted like generic americanized chinese food! It didn't even taste like Thai at all. The food wasn't *bad* per se, it was definitely edible. It just wasn't very Thai. If you want the best thai food in town, go to Sukho Thai in the marigny. Pros: inexpensive, good location, service Cons: not very Thai! more

We usually expect a language barrier when eating our favorite cuisines, not here. I was so impressed with the wine list, not to mention hal price wine on Tuesday's. Basil Leaf is not open for lunch, but they make up for it with nightly promotions. more