April 6, 2011: Sweetness Basil

Cindy in addition to I were swanning roughly South Yarra in addition to took the chance to endeavour out Cheap Eats' recommended vegetarian house for the inner-south: Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine. Unlike many Thai places where 'vegetarian' may good hateful "includes fish sauce in addition to shrimp powder", Sweet Basil are on move past times of our meat-free requirements. They've got a specific vegetarian department inwards their carte du jour amongst to a greater extent than than 20 options to direct from.

The house itself is fitted out amongst a fighting to a greater extent than flat than the fluoro Ying Thai (or indeed many of the inexpensive in addition to cheerful Thai places roughly Melbourne). They were really serenity past times the fourth dimension nosotros turned upward in addition to then the service was highly attentive - H2O spectacles were topped upward equally presently equally we'd sipped from them in addition to everything arrived speedily.

We decided to only convey an entree in addition to a top dog betwixt the ii of us, starting amongst the the Tofu Tord (lightly fried tofu served amongst a crushed peanut in addition to plum sauce, $8.90).

The sauce that came amongst this was an fantabulous combination of sweet, tangy in addition to peanut flavours, but I would convey liked to convey it soak into the tofu a fighting to a greater extent than somehow. Dipping didn't actually move that good - the frying of the tofu chunks had given them a crispy in addition to impermeable skin.

We went amongst faux-meat for our main, if solely because it's rare to detect a Thai house that has anything other than tofu (aside from the fantabulous Peace Harmony inwards Sydney of course). The mock-duck served inwards a cerise curry sauce amongst vegies in addition to lychees ($21.90) was in all likelihood only adequate.

Wu-Chung canned duck, in addition to the curry itself was a trivial on the sweetness side for my tastes. The lychees were an interesting demeanour upon but I recollect I'd to a greater extent than frequently than non prefer a slightly sharper flavor than what Sweet Basil were serving up.  To endure fair, nosotros didn't specify a spice flat in addition to then they were in all likelihood going slowly on us only inwards case.

Sweet Basil is the virtually veg-friendly Thai house we've been to inwards Melbourne in addition to is clearly shooting for a classier Thai sense than virtually other local options. Still, at $20+ for a main, I was hoping for something a fighting to a greater extent than impressive. We'll in all likelihood laissez passer on it some other shot, if solely to sample from the broad array of choices.

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There's only i spider web log review of Sweet Basil out there, a positive write-up from A-Pluz.

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Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine
209 Commercial Road, South Yarra
9827 3390
licensed amongst BYO vino only
veg entrees $8.90, mains $15.90-$21.90
http://www.sweetbasil.com.au/index.html

Accessibility: Looks proficient - a apartment entry, plenty infinite in addition to tabular array service.