After strolling around Midtown you’re suddenly hit with a craving for some curry – well the best place to get your fix is at Thai Basil. The food there is fresh and exciting. It’s no wonder Sacramento Magazine has named it the Best Thai Restaurant in Sacramento since 2001.

If coconut milk, lemongrass and basil sound appealing to you, besides the association of a pleasant candle scent, then Thai Basil (corner of J and 25th streets) won’t be threatening. The menu is full of exotic flavors and fresh ingredients. The restaurant itself is comfortable. The tables aren’t cramped. The walls are decorated with ornate pictures and traditional Thai carvings; however, there is a modern twist to the restaurant with a full bar and plasma TV. The service was just the kind I prefer. The waiters were attentive, but they aren’t at your table every five minutes.

The Food:I started with the Sa-Tay (chicken skewered and grilled in a peanut sauce) and the Tom-Yum soup, which is the Thai version of Hot and Sour soup. The soup was very interesting – not exactly something you find in a Campbell’s can. It was made of coconut milk, lemongrass, onions and mushrooms, just to name a few ingredients. The blend created a unique and exotic flavor.

The Entrées I ordered were two very standard Thai dishes: the Pad Thai (noodles mixed with tofu, eggs and bean sprouts) and the Chicken Curry. The Pad Thai was by far the best I’ve had in Sacramento – slightly spicy but not too overwhelming. If you don’t like curry this is probably one restaurant that you’ll have trouble finding something that fits your palate. The curry at Thai Basil isn’t too strong however.

Many of the dishes have peanuts incorporated in them. Whether it was whole crumbled on the top of the Pad Thai or in the sauces, peanuts are a prominent ingredient in Thai food. So if you have a peanut allergy definitely let your waiter know.

My favorite dish was definitely the dessert. Make sure to save room for the sweet rice with fresh mango. The blend of the rice and the mango is just so good; it’s the kind of dessert you don’t want to share.

The Price:The average price is about $8 a plate. The restaurant serves a la carte. One entrée isn’t really enough for two, and for the college student living off Top Ramen it can add up. During lunch time, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Thai Basil offers a smaller portion, but for a less expensive price than the dinner menu.

The Perks:A nice thing about Thai Basil’s menu is that it comes with many options for vegetarians. Many dishes that are served with beef or chicken can also be substituted with tofu. The vegetables are very fresh, and the restaurant has a full bar of exotic cocktails, as well as a wine list. If you really enjoy the food and want to learn how to cook the dishes you tried, Thai Basil offers cooking lessons for $65.

Adina Zerwig can be reached at [email protected]