Holy galanga root: Let's eat at Hot Basil

Three Thursdays ago the club gathered for our May outing. Becky picked Hot Basil, a Thai joint out in Overland Park. I won't hold the Kansas against them too much.

Luke and I were the first to arrive with Grandpa and Beth right behind. We were led to our large table for eight, which was in a room all by itself. The vibe wasn't anything to write home about, but it is Kansas after all (sorry, I have to get in a few jabs).

The service was outstanding. Our server was attentive and informative, and best of all, our water glasses were consistently refilled--a must for spicy Thai dishes.

Several folks treated the group to different appetizers. Like Beth, I really enjoyed the spring rolls. The fried tofu and crab rangoons were good too.

At Thai places, I spring for the Thai iced tea. It's delicious--dessert in a glass, really--and serves as an effective extinguisher against the spicy heat. Hot Basil's version was terrific, and Luke must have agreed since he drank a quarter of mine.

Hot Basil offers lots of entrees, making for a difficult choice. I settled on the Thom Kha soup with tofu. The broth had a coconut milk base and was perfectly creamy and silky. Our server explained that medium-level hotness is what they consider "American spicy." I ordered the medium but felt a little weak (bring on the Thai hot! I can take it!), but it ended up being the right choice.

I have to say I've never had galanga root before: it floated in the soup and looked like shreds of bark. The soup was delicious so it must have provided great flavor.

I gave Hot Basil four stars.

Well this is my first time posting a review, my wife has posted reviews but I have not.  Here it goes, last month we went to the Thai Place down on Westport.  I had the shrimp fried rice and it was delicious, probable the best I have ever eaten.  It was very tasty, the rice was not gummy or hard it was cooked perfectly.  The shrimps were regular size, not like most restaurants that use the small baby shrimp and the flavor was very good to my taste.  I ordered my shrimp fried rice medium or mild, so it was not spicy.  Just the way I like it.  The decor was very nice, it was not like most Chinese restaurants that have a lot of gaudy pictures, statues and a fish tank.  It was classier and cleaner.  The service was very good, the waitress was attentive but not overwhelming.  I gave it a 3.5 out of 5, only because food wise I went safe on this trip, but I would recommend this restaurant.

Thai: Food with a KICK

Babies love Thai food too!

Last week the GAS dinner club ate at Thai Place in Westport. This isn't any Thai Palace, mind you: just plain ol' Thai Place. It was very tasty, with good service and a nice setting. Easy parking in Westport is also a plus.

I started with a Thai iced tea, the perfect beverage to accompany spicy food. I ordered the Galanga soup, which, according to their menu, is "a bowl of rich coconut broth reduced with galanga roots, lemongrass and kaffir lime with sliced fresh mushrooms, onions, scallions and cilantro." It had some serious kick to it, which is good because, let's face it, who wants mild Thai food? Bonus: for $3 more, you can get your soup served in a fancy metal dish heated with fire. (I passed on this option since Baby Luke was at our table. His first restaurant outing shouldn't involve open flames.)

I sampled my fellow Gassies' entrees and enjoyed them all. Portion sizes were generous. A plus for folks with small children: we ate in a small semi-private room, which was convenient since Luke decided to cry toward the end of the meal.

This was Becky's pick, so now everyone in the club has had a chance to select a restaurant. We start over next month, which means I'll get to pick once again!