A little variety is the spice of life, and that is just what Spicy Basil restaurant offers.
Spicy Basil located on Broadway, just south of First Avenue has a menu featuring an eclectic mix of Pan-Asian food.
The menu boasts food from all parts of Asia with a Thai focus. There are five different kinds of soup, including hot and sour, miso and a few different types of wonton.
All dishes in this section are served with white rice. The menu has sections featuring beef, pork, seafood, chicken and vegetables. In addition, a large variety of rice and noodle dishes; including several different versions of Pad Thai, is available.
The miso soup and hot and sour soup are equally tasty. The miso soup had lots of tofu and less seaweed. The broth was light but flavorful. I could have almost made a meal out of it.
The hot and sour soup, which is vegetarian, is full of tofu and a delicious mix of exotic mushrooms.
The broth had a rich flavor that was neither too sour nor too hot, a perfect balance that had a small burn that didn’t mask the taste.
One of the specialties is Spicy Basil fried rice. This is one of the best fried rice dishes I have ever had and it wasn’t greasy.
It had all the traditional ingredients rice, vegetables, choice of meat, and egg but the twist is fresh jalapeCB1os and basil. It gives the rice a pleasing kick.
I asked for “light on the jalapeCB1os” which was perfect because they did not overpower the other flavors in the dish. The basil added a whole new dimension and the shrimp were fresh.
Another scrumptious dish was a spicy beef with broccoli. The sauce was not too heavy and had a zesty flavor.
I had this with a little less spice than usual which let me actually taste the food. The beef was tender but the best part was the fresh broccoli that was in large pieces and not soggy and overcooked.
Two soups and two main dishes are under $20, definitely within the college student’s budget. And the portions are huge. All of this food made three full meals for me.
The portions are not just big when delivered (free to DU!), which was prompt and accurate, but also in the restaurant where it can be smaller.
At the restaurant the food is served on a mish-mash of dishes instead of the usual set of dishes. They are all colorful and distinctive in appearance. At the end of the meal everyone can compare dishes.
The ambiance of the restaurant is contemporary but cozy.
The restaurant is full of metallic furniture, but some of the tables have couches on one side of the table. It promotes intimate conversations and makes it a place to hang out with friends.
When you are tired of the restaurants around campus and feel like you need to spice up your life, give Spicy Basil a try I am pretty confident you won’t be disappointed.
