Thai Sweet Basil
209 N Main St, Andover, MA, 01810
Thai Sweet Basil Menu
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Address :
209 N Main St
Andover, MA, 01810 - Phone (978) 470-8098
- Website https://www.thaisweetbasilandover.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Meghann F.
Yum! Had to get delivery since I am currently marooned at car-less at a hotel in the area - I was going to walk to an Italian place close by - but wasn't too excited and it didn't have great reviews . . .. So after looking through the hotel recommended restaurants, I came across this little gem! Veggie spring rolls were good and the peanut sauce was perfect. Papaya salad was amazing and they have a couple of butterflied, perfectly grilled shrimp on top. Also comes with sticky rice, which I didn't realize, but did a little happy dance when i realized I had gotten sticky rice!! I tried the Hot Basil Chicken - the flavors were awesome and a nice note of spice - scarfed that one right down! Two nights ago I tried the crazy noodles, and while they were good - I definitely fell for the Hot Basil.
(5)Forrest S.
The go-to Thai place in Andover, especially for lunch. Their Pad Thai is solid, if a little bland. The nice thing about their version is that it includes chicken and shrimp. They are very willing to adjust the dish - add basil, hot sauce, more bean sprouts, etc. The drunken noodles are very good, too.
(4)Gary G.
My sister in law took my wife and I here for lunch. It was a pretty good meal and experience overall. I had sweet and sour chicken and some sort of pudding dessert. I wasn't a fan of the pudding dessert but my sister in law loved her fried ice cream. The place was clean, service was prompt, food was hot and delicious. Everyone took leftovers home except for me...finished mine. They had Crazy Noodles that they've had there previously, so it must be a winner.
(4)Katniss S.
Sweet Basil offers up some great authentic thai food. We love the drunken noodles, the pad thai, the veg. spring rolls.Never had a bad meal here in 10 years. Lots of choices of curries. Prices and service are decent.
(4)Kristin K.
I've never once been disapponted with any choice I've made from this place. Amazingly fresh shrimp in the pad thai, shrimp in a blanket, crazy noodles and the golden bags, whatever they are, rock! And as strange as it sounds, the calamari is some of the best I've had. ...now I'm hungry, dammit! The staff is super friendly, appropriately accomodating (no hovering) and never walk by a standing person without asking if they've been helped. Highly, highly recommended.
(5)chris N.
Love this place. Everything is fresh, delicious and authentic. Everytime I go I try something new and am always satisfied.
(5)Justin B.
Went here late one night. I think it was 9:15pm and they close @ 10pm. Great food. Convenient location. Not too far from Rt. 495. Its been in this location for a while now. And its taken me this long to go. I've been missing out.
(4)Ivan E.
Food was ok...However, charging $4/bucks for delivery, well that would've been nice to know before I ordered over the phone. That said, poor delivery guy got zero tip from me, or maybe the owner is nice enough to give the driver a cut of the $4 bucks.
(3)Chris C.
Veggie Spring rolls are awesome! Crab Rangoons......blah and came out of a box and seemed frozen and stale. Fried Tofu was ok but I would not get it again. So I vote for the Veggie Spring roll things. I would go again though.
(3)Kartik P.
This is a good place for quick lunch or a good dinner. I have been to this place 3 times now and everytime it has been a pleasant experience. The waiters are very attentive and the food is served out quick. Lunches might be busy, so be cautious about that. Plenty of parking, good food and just a nice, neat, clean atmosphere. Would come here for a meal without a second thought. Their green curry and the madras curry are really good.
(4)Gerardo V.
I ordered over the phone for delivery and no kidding in 25 mins, knock knock! the guy was right at the door with dinner! really really fast delivery! Food tasted great, the green chilli curry was a bit hot for me but some of my friends think I too sensitive to hot food, maybe... there is a $4 default delivery charge added to the bill, not sure if that money goes to the driver for gas, salary, etc...? When opened my bag, there was no napkins, plastic fork or straw or menu. Loved the food and the fast delivery, maybe I will check out the place in person later ;)
(4)Barbara P.
Had dinner here with a couple of girlfriends; the food was fantastic. It was very flavorful and the portions made it easy to share. Having food intolerance concerns was not a problem for the server. She and the chef were happy to work with me to find dishes that would work.
(4)Jennifer S.
Absolutely amazing. Everything here is great. The service was also very nice and attentive without being obtrusive and prices reasonable.The restaurant has a good, clean design to it. The food is the closet to real food from Thailand you can get. Hot & sour soup or call the name is Tom Yum Soup. It's a traditional Thai hot and sour soup seasoned with exotic Thai herbs, lemongrass, lime juice, mushrooms and parsley w/choice of chicken (or) Vegetables and Tofu, or Shrimp (our preference). The coconut soup is absolutely the most tasty, authentic and memorable. Pad Thai is the most famous Thai rice noodle stir-fried with shrimp, chicken, egg, bean sprouts, scallions and crushed peanuts. Can be also be had vegetarian. And Crazy noodles , Chiang Mai noodles , Basil fried rice are also amazing. The Thai Iced Tea is delicious. Defiantly the best Thai restaurant around. ***If you like Thai food you have to try Thai sweet basil.***
(5)Michelle T.
There is virtually no food I like in the 'burbs, let alone delivers! This place does and delivers it hot. All the way across town. The best item is by far the Fresh Basil Spring Rolls, but everything on the menu is tasty, I also tip the driver on top of the delivery charge, because he is a sweetheart and loves my dogs. I keep trying different things there and like them all. Is it a Daniel Boloud restaurant, no - is it a really great Thai Restaurant in the suburbs - heck yeah! And they don't disappoint.
(5)Michael L.
Very nice and quiet, with friendly staff... Loved the Appetisers (Shrimp In The Blanket, the Steamed Delight, and Chicken Coconut Soup)... got the Muddy Noodles, but not really for me (too "muddy")
(4)David L.
MUCH better now! After my first negative review here I was contacted by the owner to come in for a refund for which I couldn't be bothered to go get. Then, after my last negative review I got a more urgent request to call him. When we spoke he was extremely apologetic, even saying "I have failed you" and "how can I make this up to your family?". He then proceeded to tell me how on the night of my last dinner his regular cook was out and he had to prepare our pad Thai himself, something he normally leaves to his expert. Besides feeling like a total heel I agreed to give them another shot. Before I returned I received a $100 gift card for my prior troubles. I then used it for a dinner and two lunches. Everything was in order and prepared nicely. A good story worth sharing. It's how a business deals with adversity that shows it, and it's ownership's, true colors. I'll be returning to Sweet Thai Basil again and again!
(3)Claire H.
I have been meaning to write a review of Thai Sweet Basil for years, but just recently got on yelp. I lived in town for a number of years and this was my favorite Thai place around. I have never had a less-than-satisfactory dish here. My favorites are the papaya salad, crazy noodle, vegetable rainbow, and mango with sticky rice (dessert). My husband and I had the rehearsal dinner for our wedding here four years ago ( about 50 people) Winnie, the manager was amazingly helpful. I met with her to discuss menu options and she made wonderful suggestions to ensure that the meal would be pleasing for everyone. They sectioned off part of the restaurant and decorated for us. Their staff was wonderfully attentive and so gracious with a few less-than-gracious members of our party, all while tending to their regular tables. I definitely recommend Thai Sweet Basil for take in or out or special occasions-great Thai food!
(5)Beka B.
This is a popular spot in the area. I am only reviewing the Thai Iced Tea as I am not a Thai food fan but am absolutely addicted to the Thai Iced Tea. It is so delicious and made the same way every single time I go. (Unlike Dunkin Donuts coffee where you never know what you're going to get). If the Thai Iced Tea is all you walk in there for you will not regret it!
(4)Joe G.
One of the best discoveries, on a business trip to Boston. Great flavors, service and price! I have gone back at least 7 times, and plan to go back on my upcoming trip to Andover! The spring rolls are wonderfully flavorful, the steamed dumplings are fantastic!
(5)Sara B.
I've previously gone here for lunch/ dinner and have had great service. It seems that the establishment is either under new management or has just become lax in service. Went here for lunch at noon. My friends got their food in about 15 minutes. I waited 45 minutes for mine and ended up having to get it to go. The server did not seem genuine in her apology to me and still charged me for my meal. Needless to say I will not be returning in the future- maybe not until they get things figured out.
(2)Vicki S.
Happened to be in the area- found a gem! Clean, nicely decorated- best part is the food. I ordered drunken noodles- perfection!
(5)Katrina T.
Atmosphere is pretty casual, it is normally quiet but the staff are friendly and attentive. Great thai food.
(4)Raphael B.
One of the best Thai restaurants around, great food and service. Their curry options are top notch!
(5)Rachel M.
Am traveling around the state for business, my first time to Andover, and as I was approaching the Homewood Suites where I booked a room, I all of the sudden was slapped with the fact that I'm staying in an office park, with NO restaurants in walking distance nor a hotel van! I always look forward to having a nice dinner and when I checked in the hotel the lovely lady at the desk told me that she loves a particular Italian restaurant who delivers to the hotel. Off to Yelp I went, and I found Thai Sweet Basil. While the website indicates that they deliver, when I tried to order on-line I was denied delivery b/c of my location....so I called the restaurant and no problem. I ordered the Duck Panang, which is delicious - meaty and tasty. I also ordered Paradise Garden for the veggie side and that's equally delicious & the veggies are fresh. The only puzzling part is that the sauce for both items is exactly the same - don't know if I missed that in the description or if that's just what happened w/ a delivery. Hands down this was a great choice, and I'm writing as I'm sitting in the "dining area" of the Homewood Suites, not eating in my room (which I NEVER do), and am being stared down by hotel guests who opted for the general BBQ night offerings of the hotel.
(5)Wendy W.
3.5, but I'll round up bc the duck is really delicious. What I had: Thai ice tea: standard Apps: basil spring rolls, reg spring rolls, crab Rangoon. Standard, not really stand out. My biggest criticism was the basil spring rolls didn't have shrimp like I'm used to. VERY small portion, esp if it's just veggies, could've put more basil in there. Don't skimp if it's the name of the place! Basil salad: surprisingly filling w/lots of protein (egg, chicken, shrimp). Light dressing, shrimp could be bigger, crisp salad. Also... More basil! Duck Panang: just the right amount of spice, undertone of coconut & wow, the duck was tender & crispy. Not greasy! Surprising for fried duck. It didn't sit heavy. Overall: clean, great service, price reasonable (not cheap, not too expensive), spring rolls skimpy but the duck made up for the overall avg food. 3.5 stars, extra star for duck but 0.5 star deduction for skimping on basil. If you name a place Basil, food should be loaded w/basil! Not one leaf or two. Will be back for more duck tho.
(4)Kevin S.
Found this place beside my local grocer, and why not try some Asian (Thai) food? I ordered the Siam Duck, and it was great. It was boneless - although it didn't look like it, but everything could be chewed through. The meat was succulent and not dry, and the sweet tamarind sauce was definitely a good add-on. However, the vegetable sides could have been cooked a bit more. Also, if the rice portion could have been more, this would be a certain great value for money. Nonetheless, it was a good dish to have. I would say it's relatively cheaper than what other restaurants would charge. Ambience is nice, and I've noticed that it got pretty crowded on weekday nights. I went on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn't crowded - pleasant lunch. I will come back to try the other dishes, seem promising!
(4)Sarah K.
I'm sorry but not a fan. Found their sauces too thick/sugary for my taste. My mom loves this place, though and adores the duck. So personally, not a fan but I know others that love this place.
(2)HyunJoo K.
Love coming here during lunch hours ... when I can! :) I usually make it a point that if I decide to eat here to be here right when they open at 11:30 to beat the work lunch rush. I usually get the Tom Yum soup, chicken yellow curry, the thai rolls, and sometimes the banana dessert :) All very good! I have also tried a couple other dishes. There used to be this yummy thai salad that had cucumbers, egg, fried tofu, chicken, etc ... but not longer see it on the menu :/ Service is generally good and never really had to wait long for my meal!
(5)David G.
Our favorite take-out order: crazy noodles and basil rolls ... very satisfying, nice heat, and they will prepare it vegetarian if you want. Always very friendly.
(5)Brian D.
Great food and a wide menu of appetizers, soups, and entrees. My favorite is the Tom Tom Noodle Soup and Crab Rangoon. Delicious orange/honey tea is also very good. Friendly staff and pricing is reasonable. Busy at lunch time.
(4)John T.
Sweet Basil in Andover is a wholesome place to eat. The location/inside is nothing incredible, but the food is worth it. I think its sort of healthy, because you feel good after eating their as opposed to Taco Bell. The appetizers are about $6 and the meals are $10 to $15. Went on New Years day 2012, and got Crab Rangoons and Shumai as appetizers. For the entree I told the waiter to just hit it off with whatever he'd get. He got a Duck Panang for me. I'm not sure if thats what he'd get, or if it was the most expensive thing he could think of LOL. I never had duck before and it was a good time. Kind of feel bad because ducks are legit, but I didn't lose too much sleep over it. The waiters/waitresses are very nice, and the service is amazingly fast. It only takes about 10 minutes to get the food. They also have Thai beer, which is basically coors light in a different bottle. Either way i'd rather support that than coors/bud light. Give them a try, a ton of people get take out from there.
(5)Duane F.
I am not a huge fan of Thai food...but am starting to like it more. I love the Crazy Noodles here. Crazy noodles are mash up of noodles, chicken, shrimp, basil, broccoli and other stuff that is slightly hot, but not super hot like a lot of Thai food. The service here is always pretty good...and the atmosphere...well...nothing special, but it is always clean and neat...like a good strip mall food place should be!
(4)Sara M.
I came here for lunch with some colleagues recently and was pleasantly surprised. Our server was not exactly friendly and a bit absent at times. However, everything came out perfectly with our specific modifications. I ordered the pad thai spicy and it had a nice heat. The portion was large and I only ate half of it but it was still delicious the next day. I wish they put the same veggies as in the crispy pad thai but the meat was cooked well. It was decently priced and I can see myself coming back for my pad thai cravings.
(4)Paul J.
Food was good but incredibly spicy. I normally like spice but the flavors were completely lost in the fire. The dish I ordered was marked spicy, I ordered mild and I couldn't even finish it. Complete contrast to the bland fresh spring rolls.
(3)Asil O.
I don't like their Pad Thai. It's got a fishy taste even when you ask them to hold the shrimp. It's my favorite Thai dish so when I'm in the mood for Thai food, it's always one of the things I like to order... very so often I go back there, but it's always the same. It must just be their recipe. It's just not my taste, but others may find it okay. The staff has always been nice and the service good.
(2)L.P. C.
I have a really delicious but frustrating dilemma in that I am positively enamored with Thai Sweet Basil's chicken panang curry, but it ends up being the only thing I order when I go here! Luckily I keep the company of generous people, so I've had the opportunity to sample many other dishes as well. While it's not too impressive looking from the outside, Thai Sweet Basil is bright, clean, and quaint inside. Just enough decor to feel like a "nice" restaurant rather than a hole-in-the-wall, but not so much that it's overwhelming. It gets a lot of light through the front, and it has a very pleasant atmosphere, making it perfect for a small company lunch or outing with friends (but maybe not for a romantic evening date). Serving sizes aren't ridiculously enormous, but they're still pretty large. The dishes are fragrant, the ingredients taste fresh, and the variety on the menu is broad enough that you won't get bored quickly. Service is hospitable and friendly (don't be surprised if you are flanked by three "Thank you!"s on your way out the door), and the food is not a very long wait. Price-wise it's not dirt cheap, but with entrees running between $6-12 a plate, I'd say that's pretty middle of the road. If you're in the area and looking for your Thai food fix, or maybe just in the mood for something new, give Thai Sweet Basil a shot!
(4)Galahad L.
Two out of three ain't bad is the theme of Thai Sweet Basil. It is one of those restaurants capitalizes on a fancy atmosphere and adequate service, but much of the food is mediocre at best. To be fair, every dish has nice fresh ingredients, and the curries are all excellent, but I am continually disappointed by something each time I go there. This past visit, the Tom Yum (hot and sour) soup had good ingredients, but the broth was seriously flawed and tasted like hot lime juice. The Pad Thai was also passable, had fresh ingredients including chicken and high quality shrimp, but again lacked a flavor that other Thai restaurants definitely have. The spicy beef salad's ingredients and dressing were very tasty, in fact one of the best I've tasted, but the beef was so chewy that even chewing 100 times wasn't enough to digest it. I had to leave small balls of chewed beef on my plate.
(2)Felicia S.
Came here with my mom and dad tonight and we all LOVED the food. The best part about this place is the menu. The have options for everyone. Whether you be a meat eater, vegetarian, vegan, or like gluten free options they have a meal for you. I got the Fresh Basil and Mint Spring Rolls and The Mango Cucumber Salad. Both were so yummy. I don't usually enjoy spicy things, but they did it perfectly with the Mango cucumber salad : ) The service was fantastic as well. All of the food came out extremely quickly. It was probably only 3 minutes after I put in my order and it was already finished : D Definitely would recommend this place to a friend. p.s. I'm coming back to try out the fried bananas dessert mmmm
(4)Steve B.
Crab rangoon was great: full creamy inside and crunchy outside. Yellow curry was good, was a little weak on the chicken portion. Overall, above average lunch.
(4)Swati K.
Went for lunch here. Service was less than average the waitresses seemed bored and absorbed in gossip in their local language. Anyways ordered the usual red curry with chicken, chicken satay and some drunken noodles- called crazy noodles here for some reason. Red curry gravy was watery it barely looked red. Drunken noodles were salty. Chicken satay was alright. Not a bad place but far from good. Price and portions were fair. Thai restaurants are springing up like Chinese restaurants and like the latter losing quality.
(2)Amy G.
My daughter & I went to Sweet Basil on a weekday at 11:45 for lunch. The restaurant was pretty much empty. We ordered an appetizer sampler and a pad thai to split. Our appetizer came quickly, and it was hot and yummy. At $9, the sampler is a fantastic bargain. And then our service came to a complete halt. A couple came in, sat at the table next to us, ordered and received their food, all while we sat there with our empty appetizer plates in front of us. I flagged down our waitress and told her to package our pad thai to go. More people came in, ordered and received their pad thai and still we had nothing. Finally, close to an hour after we arrived, we cancelled our order and asked for the check. Our bill was $9 and change and I left a 10 dollar bill. The waitress, who I was pretty sure had gone into witness protection and taken our noodles with her, actually looked at the $10 and wondered why she didn't get a better tip. I wondered back why I hadn't gotten my lunch. Lots of wondering going on! 2 stars because the appetizers were good and other people seemed to be enjoying their lunch. Plus there was plenty of parking and I'm a sucker for parking.
(2)Kristi Y.
Ordered soup for take out. There was a missed communication on the phone, and I ended up with the clear broth soup with tofu and vegetables (I was aiming for the "yum yum noodle soup"). Surprisingly, the clear broth soup was quite flavorful. There was a lot of fresh veggies (summer squash, zucchini, bean sprouts, broccoli, carrots) that were packaged separate from the broth and tofu. There was certainly enough for 2 meals. Once again ordered the fresh basil rolls, and they were as delicious as always - especially with that magical sauce they come with.
(4)Nick S.
I've been to Thai Sweet Basil countless times for lunch, and it is always consistently good. Usually go for the muddy noodles or crazy noodles. The prices are very reasonable, and the portions for lunch are pretty much spot on (if not a tad bit lacking). I've had better thai food, but for the speed, service, and quality during lunch this place is great!
(4)Min H.
We ordered Pho Thai and roasted duck with curry sauce. Pho Thai tasted exactly as I expected. It was delicious yet not too sweet. The duck was crispy outside and tender inside. It was not that dry with the curry sauce covered around it. On the other hand, the food came fast and the service was good. Note: Stay away from "Muddy Noddles". It is way too sweet!
(4)J W.
Oh my, that was one of the most delicious and enjoyable meals. Had Basil spring rolls, be best ever beef satay pad tie and soups. Prompt, courteous, and regularly checking-in service, delicious food, very reasonable prices, and a totally enjoyable dining experience. I can't wait to return, again and againi.
(5)Riccardo D.
The reason why I enjoy Thai food is that it is more refined and the dishes rely more on subtle flavors than a deep fryer. This restaurant puts out some fine tasting Thai food. If you are a fan of coconut, try their chicken coconut soup as it's spectacular. I've found the other dishes that I have ordered here delicious and satisfying. As for the service, I'm surprised by the number of negative reviews posted here. I have never had an issue with their service; although, I've never dined here at night or dealt with weekend crowds. I know that it's a fine choice for lunch. The portions are perfect and you won't return to work floating in oil as you'll do after dining at most American-Chinese restaurants.
(4)David D.
The best Thai food restaurant around. Love the vegetable pad thai, basil fried rice, and the veggie spring rolls.
(5)Leanna P.
Padthai was alright, a little too much seasoning in their noodles for me. There could have also been a better balance between noodles and chicken/shrimp. Good service though.
(3)Jamie H.
we got takeout from sweet basil last night while visiting our parents in andover, and overall the meal was very good. i ordered the fresh basil rolls to start, and the shrimp papaya salad. unfortunately, they had just run out of that salad, so i got the mango cucumber salad instead, with shrimp instead of calamari - which they easily accommodated for me. this actually ended up being a fantastic choice - the mango was fresh, delicious, and flavorful, and complemented well by the cucumbers and carrots in pineapple sauce. i'm not a huge peanut fan, so i picked out most of them, but the remaining peanuts did bring a nice flavor to the dish. the basil rolls were pretty standard, and i was glad that they came with shrimp and were not too heavy on the vermicelli. my boyfriend got the crab rangoon, mango fried rice, and spring rolls. i thought the spring rolls were just okay since they were a tiny bit gummy and dry. the crab rangoon were good - crispy, with a very (very) creamy filling. the fried rice was excellent, although the mango was really mushy. it was a little strange that his mango was almost inedible, since my pieces in my salad were fantastic, but maybe it was just cooked too long in the rice dish. other dishes included the grilled beef salad (which i could not stay away from! spicy, flavorful, and a great mix of beef, tomatoes, mushrooms, and scallions), lo mein, shumai, shrimp in the blanket and golden bags. the lo mein was excellent and completely hit the spot. the shumai were also very good. overall, everything was delicious, served hot and was ready quickly. prices were also reasonable, and i look forward to going back again.
(4)Shine B.
We recently spent 3 weeks in Thailand and we thought this food was as good as much of the food we got there. We had the red curry, pad thai, and our kids love pad see ew. We were so satisfied with the food. Loved it and ate all of it! We had no problem with the service. Our waitress was very nice.
(5)Samantha L.
I had the worst experience there today. The waitress was very rude and arrogant, and practically asked me to leave. My husband and I go there once every 2 weeks or order out. The last time I was there I talked to the nice young lady there about gluten free choices since I just started the gf diet and she said just to come back and they'll work with me. So today I went there for lunch by myself and asked about gluten free choices, and I was told there are only 2 - curry or pad thai, I ordered the pad thai with no sugar. When I got the dish, I had 3 bites and couldn't eat it - it was too, too salty, it was inedible. I asked the waitress if I can get something else - she said no, no more dish for me in her broken English, and practically asked me to leave. I was stunned to say the least. I left quietly but will never go back there. Update: the manager contacted me, and apologized for the poor service, so I have upgraded the rating.
(3)Jay J.
The dish that I like from this restaurant is Pad Tai. Also, if I order at lunch time I can get a discount. Comparing the price and taste, this place is the best. One of my friends really likes Pad Tai so whenever he comes to my house we order take out. He said the Pad Tai is great with Shrimp.
(4)Tikky S.
Went there with some friends last weekend. The food is exquisite! Best pad thai I've ever had! I highly recommend it!
(5)Calico R.
this is the place I first had pad thai, approximately 8 years ago,and has had me convinced ever since that it's my favorite food--even though I've not loved it at any of the dozens of places across the country i've had it at since. i still get it there once a year or so when i visit and still love it along with most of whatever else ive tried, so the reason for star detraction? back when i was in high school my friend and i came once every couple months or so and usually split a pad thai. often wed take it to go, sometimes wed eat in and if we did get thai coffee/tea to compensate for splitting a single dish, sometimes desert, and tip around 40% I believe it was only even the third time we ate in that, after we ordered, hte manager approached and started going on and on about how we always came and ordered something small. I dont know if she was ordering us to spend more money or if she simply didnt want us to be seen in her restaraunt--but aside from everything we went early and were usually among the few or only customers for our duration. we felt too uncomfortable/unwelcome to return for a long time after
(4)C. F.
My favorite Thai restaurant in the area. I have tried their Pad Thai, Pineapple Rice, Crazy Noodles (my favorite!), as well as several appetizers and other various dishes. I always have enough to take home for lunch the next day, so the portions are pretty decent as well. The food is great, HOWEVER, the service is so hit or miss. They're either very quick or painfully slow. We went a few weeks ago and were one of two or three tables seated, and really, our simple dishes just took forever to come out of the kitchen. With that being said, the food is good enough to keep coming back despite the spotty service.
(4)Jess B.
You know, in past visits I would have given this restaurant three or four stars. The food is pretty good, the service is okay, and, probably best for them and their coffers, it's the only Thai food game in town. During my last visit, however, my group had a completely terrible experience with the wait staff. First, after a meal with competent but not great service, we asked to take home the many leftovers. While we were waiting for someone to help with that, we took care of figuring out the check, and charging the meal, writing out the tip & total. The server took and packed up only two of the many dishes. When he returned he asked several times if we were *sure* we wanted everything else packed up. After saying yes a few times and having him go nowhere, we finally told him to forget it, as it was obvious he didn't want to do any more work. Then the waitress came back with the billing slip and in a very round-about way said something about how the amount we had given her wasn't enough. We all thought she meant we hadn't paid enough even to cover the cost of the bill before tip -- how embarrassing! It seemed strange, because the person who charged thought he remembered giving appropriate tip, but of course with the waitress expressing that concern we immediately apologized and took the check back to recalculate it. However, we quickly realized the waitress meant -- while implying we hadn't paid properly, which really *would* have been terrible were it true -- she did not think we had given her enough of a tip. Holy. Cow. This has never happened to me at any restaurant I have ever gone to. We had given her just over 15% (though it would have been 20% if the service had been better), and hey, that was honestly plenty. And if they wanted more automatically from our large-ish group, then they should have a flat tip policy with that size party, and note such on the menu and bill. When we asked the waitress why she didn't feel she had enough tip (after realizing she was digging for a lot more -- why else would she imply we hadn't covered the bill!) she then revised her story and said, "Oh, I just was asking, was the service okay, because you didn't leave much." Um. No. That wasn't at all what she said. It would have been better for her to own up to the fact that she basically said, "Tip me more -- this isn't enough for me," and either stood by it or apologized and taken the check as is. I cannot stress enough that in years upon years of dining out with a huge range of experiences, this really petulant demand for more tip/trying to fool us into thinking we hadn't paid properly has never, ever happened to me. Really shameful business practice, Sweet Basil. I won't return.
(2)Kristen F.
We went here tonight for take-out. We ordered the steamed delight, pad thai and the chicken panang. The dumplings were standard steamed pork dumplings, but the sauce that came with it was very syrup-y (and tasted like soy sauce mixed with high fructose corn syrup). Pad Thai is one of those dishes that 'shouldn't' be too hard to get right. It's the 'signature' dish after all, right? There was a hint of the Pad Thai that I know and love, but it was very greasy and there wasn't a lot of fresh, crisp bean sprouts. My husband had the chicken panang. I tasted it and it seemed good and spicy. There was a lot of nice color in the dish. He wasn't crazy about the coconut...but I liked it. I do not think we will be going there again.
(2)Gavin E.
Stood at front desk for 5 minutes, it wasnt that busy however I was walked past and ignored for the 5 minutes I stood there. Went to take out desk and waited another 3 minutes while the lady answered call after call and ignored me. At which point 2 people walked in and were immediately greeted and seated? Was I invisible? Did I not enter loud enough? So needless to say my experience sucked so I walked out. I'd rate it 0 stars for being ignored for the best part of 10 minutes
(1)Anthony L.
food was good, but overpriced for portion size. i spent $20 for 1 there and am barely full
(3)Laura H.
My favorite take out restaurant! My first visit to Thai Sweet Basil predates my move to Andover in mid-2007 and I've ordered take out from them at least monthly ever since. Love their basil fried rice and also their tofu panang. Is it fancy, is it glam? No, absolutely not. But I've never had an inaccurate order or flavorless, under-spiced food as others have mentioned.
(4)Barbara M.
Have used Sweet Basil for take out many times. Quick service and excellent food.
(5)Layla B.
Not at all authentic!!! I have been to Bangkok many times and this place is not at all Thai. I hope they work on it.
(1)Rashi G.
I tried basil fried rice with Yellow curry, so far the best... It's spacious, good service and excellent flavour! Would recommend to anyone!!
(5)Jenny C.
The Thai Sweet Basil is stuck in the corner of an average size shopping plaza in Andover, MA. It's surrounded by some pretty regular stores: a nail salon, a Papa Gino's, Rite Aid, Tuesday Morning (an expensive junk store), a liquer store and a Market Basket. But don't be fooled; this restaurant is far better than average. I order the same thing almost everytime I visit the Thai Sweet Basil: - An order of spring rolls (They are absolutely delicious and come with a sweet sauce for dipping and carrots cut in the shape of flowers) - A Thai Iced Tea (Very sweet iced tea with a lot of cream. No need to add sugar) - Siam Duck (Duck in a sweet sauce with vegetables and a side of white rice.) - Thai Custard (A plate of sweet custard, with whipped cream. The custard tastes like a mix of ginger and coconut. Very tastey) If you are ever hungry and in the area, give this place a shot!
(5)Gregory P.
I've only tried about four or five things on the menu, but I have to give this place a five. The "Chicken Hot Basil" is absolutely phenomenal and I get it about once a month since I started working in the area about 18 months ago. I know others have enjoyed the Chicken & Shrimp Pad Thai and other entrees, so I can pretty much guarantee you'll enjoy this place. Service is also good, but unfortunately the restaurant is in an ugly strip-mall. If you can look past that, this place is excellent.
(5)elizabeth m.
My five stars goes to the Tofu Massaman Curry, which I've tried at dozens of Thai places and I think I like this place the best. It's at least my favorite place in the Merrimack Valley. I usually get delivery or take-out. Take is super fast and they're so so so nice. Delivery... not so fast, not especially nice the last time. I mean, I know my boyfriend's house doesn't have a street number on it but there's really no need to yell at me about that. Anyhow... I've eaten here once in recent memory and our service was super good and fast but I'm also pretty sure that we went at like, 8:45 on a Tuesday and it was almost dead... the valley is not the most happenin' place. Our food came out in like, 4 minutes though. Literally. Can't beat that with a stick. My boy got the duck curry something, which he really liked and our friend got muddy noodles something, which he also liked. I'd recommend getting an extra side (or two!) of white rice with your meal. I always do and because there's so much delicious "juice" with the massaman curry one portion becomes two. And it's soo good. Wow, now I really want Thai food tonight.
(5)Nick H.
Just about to put in an order for some Pad Thai and Fried Spring Rolls for my 4th wedding anniversary. Can't wait. Everything this place does is delicious, well prepared and fresh. The sweet chili sauce that comes with the Springs Rolls is good on just about everything other dish.
(5)Ayush G.
I love Sweet Basil and usually go for lunch there every week as I work in Andover itself. I have tried a variety of dishes and never have been disappointed by any of them. Food is served quickly, though sometimes when it gets busy, service can be a little slow. All in all, decently priced restaurant offering a great variety of Thai food which tastes good. Would definitely recommend!
(4)K G.
Sweet Basil is one of the better choices for Thai in the area. Many dishes are better than average, but I think the Pad Thai is too bland for me. The Satay has great meat and curry flavors but I often the peanut sauce is too thick. The service is usually decent to eat-in, but I usually get take-out.
(3)Ashley C.
Good food, not so good service. The food is good, but the shrimp satay was on the menu for months after they stopped serving it...every time they just told me they were out until I asked them if they even sold it anymore. At this point they told me they are no longer selling the food, would have been nice if they just said that in the first place. I get frustrated when the waitresses cannot even understand me when I am ordering, the food is from your menu...you should know what I'm talking about. One example of this is when I ordered a fresh basil roll, I was asked if I wanted chicken or shrimp, I have had fresh basil rolls many times before from here and there is no chicken, shrimp or any meat, its mainly raw veggies. Another problem that I have is that the tax always seems to be rounded, never an odd number that calculates with the bill, because of this I always deduct whatever the tax was rounded up by from the tip, there is no reason for me to pay extra tax on my meal. Overall this is a good place to go for takeout or a sit down meal, just go there for the food, not the excellent service, and always look at your bill, not only is the tax usually rounded off but I have on multiple occasions found pricing for other food is incorrect.
(4)M D.
One of the best Thai places around, and great prices. I LOVE Thai food and regularly get take out Thai everywhere all around Boston and anywhere I am. This place has the best Duck Choo Chee ever, and one of the best Pad Thai. I drop in for take out anytime I'm near the area.
(5)Jody W.
Sweet Basil is a regular lunch spot on my list when I visit an office in the Andover area. Today we stopped in for lunch and had a delicious, inexpensive meal delivered quickly and piping hot. There are lot of standard meat options as well as items that will please those who are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free. My boss enjoyed the chicken and vegetable coconut curry. I had a delicious tofu basil dish. Mine was sufficiently spicy and very flavorful. The waitstaff doesn't stand out, but the food sure does. The restaurant is located in a shopping plaza with plenty of parking as well.
(4)Kupkake K.
The dinner was hot and spicy which was exactly the way ordered it :-). The Pad Thai delicious and I believe this place is authentic and you're not going to get water down version of 4 pepper hotness! I highly recommend it for folks who likes their mouth scorched :-)! I will return, lol!
(4)Brianna R.
most amazing Thai food around! dont bw afraid to try it under the assumption yhat its all spicy! the owner is a sweetheart, the service is fast! they offer takeout & catering. just don't park out front or youll for sure get a ticket!
(5)Peter G.
The food from Sweet basil Thai is _okay_. Some dishes (like the calamari) are very good, but their Pad Thai is almost flavorless and some of their more creative curries (like the mango curry) just don't seem to work. It's great to have Thai as an option in Andover, but there are definitely better places in Massachusetts.
(3)Jack P.
Consistently great food. My favorite is the pla rad pik and house fried rice. Sometimes we pick up dinner for our friends as a surprise. They always love it!
(5)Allie A.
We ordered Pad Thai, Hot Basil Chicken, Chicken Cashew and Yellow Chicken Curry--The standout was the yellow chicken curry. The others were well seasoned but not as tasty as the curry. A solid Thai restaurant.
(4)Cathie H.
Went here with a friend during lunch at work...It was great! the food is incredible, service was great and prices are fine!! Had plenty of time to eat and enjoy and get back to work on time...Clean place great staff....
(5)Cindy W.
Just ordered lunch for a office meeting and I am surprised how quickly our food was ready to be picked up. Every meal looked and smelled great. Pad Thai and some of their curry rice plates are some things I would recommend.
(4)Hui-chin S.
Not really very testly
(2)Just The Facts M.
Pad Thai Perfection. Simple as that.
(5)Justin R.
Loooooove Sweet Basil... Usually stick to the pad thai but every so often I will adventure to something else. My gf loves the mango curry tofu, and they have great apps. All in all good stuff!
(4)Denise L.
Terrific and friendly staff. Excellent appetizers and curries. Don't let the strip mall throw you. The food here is top notch.
(4)Tarkesh M.
Had pineapple fried rice/chicken. The food was cooked nicely but the spices were missing or I can say were wrong. I am Indian and can identify indian spices. I tasted garam masala and other indian spices in it. Thai fried rice has this distinctive thai flavor which was missing. I have had much better pineapple fried rice at other places. The quantity is huge..
(3)Danny G.
Very disappointed with this recommended place. It was crap. Food was alright at best. Ordered shrimp satay for appetizer and they forgot about it. Even after reminding them, they brought it out after serving the entree. It tasted terrible, was cooked weirdly and put me off. The Tamarind Duck entree was ordinary. The meal seemed like it was cooked with MSG because it turned my stomach quite quickly. I will never return. That's a promise
(1)Christine S.
I judge Sweet Basil by the same barometer I judge all Thai food: Crazy Noodles. And they are delicious, perfectly seasoned (just spicy enough!) I usually get take out, and it is usually very, very good. However, there is the occasional chewy Crab Rangoon (not Thai food, I know, but whatever, relax.) or over peanuted Pad Thai. I think I've tried all the Apps, and they are all super :) I haven't eaten in the restaurant recently, so I can't really judge. But as I recall from my previous experiences dining in, the service was prompt and friendly. Apps come out right away and the meal was soon to follow. FYI: Dinner and lunch sized portions are about the same, however the price difference is substantial.... so get there before 3pm to save some cash.
(4)Gaia K.
I used to work here in high school - and at the time this was the best restaurant in town - fresh healthy entrees that were authentic and flavorful. My boss always used to say - look to the pad thai to tell if it is a good restaurant - the dish should be golden-brown and full of colorful vegetables. I personally prefer spicy dishes, which are pretty dismal at this once spectacular location. My boss and I opened Tuk-Tuk down the street in tewksbury in winners plaza. This place is still excellent. I came back to visit Sweet Basil under the different management and I was very disappointed with my meals. Where is the spice? Where are the vegetables? If you really like authentic Thai food, don't bother coming by.
(2)Catherine D.
I've always been very pleased with any meal I have here, Nice atmosphere and service too.
(4)Cris L.
Good Thai food. Simple, reasonably priced, and take out is an option. Dining in is nothing special, but if you're there for the food, you won't be disappointed. Try it for lunch to save a few bucks.
(4)Diane H.
Great Thai food in Andover. We had chicken yellow curry and muddy noodles and both were outstanding! Prices very reasonable for both food and cocktails. Attentive service , too. Can't wait to go back or do take out.
(4)Huan z.
I like the chicken Satay as appetizer. Very tasty! The main dish, Massaman curry was pretty watery, not very tasty, need more salt. Service was very good. Rice was well cooked. The waiter came often to add water for you. Would try again if passing the area.
(3)Jelly B.
Just got take-out here last night... when we got home we discovered (after biting into it) that the chicken satay wasn't thoroughly cooked ... very gross... the chicken curry dish over white rice was good but the damage had already been done.. I will not be returning to this restaurant .....
(1)Michael R.
Have always had a good experience at Sweet Basil since it opened up years ago. Consistently good Thai food in the face of the turnstyle of different wait staff and, i suppose, chefs. Has never disappointed, They even offer brown rice which is a small issue that not many Thai places offer. I like a side order of BROWN rice with my peanut sauce, occasionally. What is a big plus for me, is that in spite of the storefront location, there is plenty of parking, you're not seated up against a window of passersby AND the seating layout is such that you can find a niche or two in which you have some measure of distance and relief from the take out customers and other patrons' noise. Overall the food is good, not outstanding. Never had a problem with wait staff. So many plus factors for me, merit a 5 star.
(5)Lauren R.
Tucked away in a shopping plaza, this Thai restaurant is a delicious hidden gem. The first time I visited the restaurant, I had the Yellow Thai Curry dish with Tofu. The flavor was mouth watering and the sweet pineapple chunks topped the meal off. The dish was so good, I've ordered the same thing probably 4 times and it gets better and better each time. We've gotten sat right away every time and the food is cooked fast. I can't wait to go back again! My favorite Thai food around.
(5)Jerry M.
Thai food like many foods is very regional in flavor and style. So with that here is my review. The Chicken coconut soup was so so and would not order again. I had the Larb for my meal and it was done fairly well. I am used to it served with chinese cabbage leaves but not here, instead it is served with a very sticky rice, which was good. I would order this again since it is so savory and flavorful. The portion was large and could easily serve two if you order an appetizer or soup as well. The place was clean and seemed to be well run with a pleasent wait staff.
(3)Robin W.
I think this place is pretty good, but I'm no expert on Thai Cuisine. I always get the Piking Shrimp because it has exactly what I want from my Thai food-- shrimp, veggies, spicy, orange. I have never been too impressed with any of the apps I have ordered here. Their glasses of wine seem kinda teeny, yet they are reasonably-priced.
(3)Minda H.
It's hard for me to believe that there are so many dissapointed folks here. My experiences at Thai Sweet Basil have always been pleasant and courteous. But, once again, I've found what I like on the menu and generally stick with it, pretty much always ordering the Golden Bags (fried wonton skin that encloses a mash of shrimp, waterchestnuts, and seasoning) as an appetizer and either the Tofu Massaman Curry or Tofu Crazy Noodle for an entree. Have never had wait staff that has been rude or anything less than fully attentive. But have neer been there during the lunch rush, either.
(4)Busy L.
Decent but not great for the burbs! My wife and I enjoy our meals here but we were never wowed. It's one of those safe bet places to go if you're in the mood for Thai and in the neighborhood.
(3)Brian G.
Our food was pretty good. Convenient location for us. Sucks that you face a parking lot. I like the food though. Average and good. My tea tasted like the wood in a steam room though but they gladly got me some green tea though to exchange. Girls that work there are sweet.
(4)Chris T.
I used to go to this restaurant years ago, and loved it, but had't been for a while. A friend was visiting from NY and wanted Thai food, so I though of it. I thought my friend would be impressed, but *I* was surprised, instead. The food didn't taste like anything I remembered! I found out that they changed management at some point, and that may explain it. In any case, the food was average. I tried some sort of chicken coconut soup which was bland, and the pad thai was O.K. The staff was very courteous and pleasant. I guess I have to try it at least one more time, in case I just happened to get them at an "off" night (that happens to everyone).
(3)An O.
Thai Sweet Basil is one of my favorite Thai restaurants. It's not the best Thai I've ever tasted, but it comes pretty close. The crab rangoon there is probably the best I've ever tasted. I think their specialty is probably their fried rice dishes, especially the pineapple fried rice! Other memorable dishes include their delicious grilled salmon dish and the duck was pretty ok. I usually judge Thai places by the quality of their pad thai. The pad thai here is better than average. Sometimes a bit sweet, but overall, Im a fan.
(4)a h.
My favorite Thai restaurant. I have tried to find a place I like as much- no luck yet. The fresh basil rolls are fantastic!
(5)Mary R.
Overall the food is fine, but it's nothing amazing and the service is a little slow. I ordered mango fried rice, a staple on most Thai menus and it was very enjoyable after adding sauce from my husband's dish to give it some much needed flavor. All of the duck dishes my group had last night were solid -- good sauces, but very fatty. And unfortunately they don't serve fried ice cream. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again, but in a pinch if you avoid the Pad Thai (very bland) you can walk out with a decent meal.
(3)Lulu J.
Interesting that L. mentioned checking take out orders.... twice they have made mistakes, and both times, would not take responsibility. One lunch hour, when we had waited for over half an hour for our food, it was delivered ice cold, and when we tried to flag a waitress, she put up both hands, palms faced at us, and said "Not now!" L.Z.
(3)Lance S.
Used to be the best Thai food in Andover, but no longer. Check out Tuk-Tuk on the town line on Dascomb Rd. for more authentic food. Also, if ordering take-out, check your order before leaving! First time they get it wrong, you forgive, second time, you are frustrated, third time - well, you stop going altogether! :)
(3)F V.
"Girls that work there are sweet?" I wish. They were not too attentive at least. I had to chase them down for beverages when we ran out. They did exchange my pad thai when it was yucky and to salty. Very few vegetarian choices from what I saw. I did not ask to substitute tofu for the shrimp/chicken I saw on every dish. Pad thai was actually not good which I did not expect. The rest of the food was OK. Had to ask three times to 2 different servers at least for a side of rice. At the end of our meal our credit card sat for 20 minutes or more before it was picked up and when we were leaving the person paying got a call and forgot to put cash down for the tip (accidentally put it back in wallet instead of on table). We were frazzled after a pretty unsatisfying experience and wondering if we were invisible but someone ran up to me as I sat in the entry to finish a call I was on and angrily stated that I did not leave a tip! I did not even pay at all so why was she telling me this? She really seemed bitter and after all that we did go back and leave a tip bcause it was a mistake. For whatever reason they were pretty untrusting of us al along and the food was not worth the time, money or hassle.
(2)Rachel M.
Am traveling around the state for business, my first time to Andover, and as I was approaching the Homewood Suites where I booked a room, I all of the sudden was slapped with the fact that I'm staying in an office park, with NO restaurants in walking distance nor a hotel van! I always look forward to having a nice dinner and when I checked in the hotel the lovely lady at the desk told me that she loves a particular Italian restaurant who delivers to the hotel. Off to Yelp I went, and I found Thai Sweet Basil. While the website indicates that they deliver, when I tried to order on-line I was denied delivery b/c of my location....so I called the restaurant and no problem. I ordered the Duck Panang, which is delicious - meaty and tasty. I also ordered Paradise Garden for the veggie side and that's equally delicious & the veggies are fresh. The only puzzling part is that the sauce for both items is exactly the same - don't know if I missed that in the description or if that's just what happened w/ a delivery. Hands down this was a great choice, and I'm writing as I'm sitting in the "dining area" of the Homewood Suites, not eating in my room (which I NEVER do), and am being stared down by hotel guests who opted for the general BBQ night offerings of the hotel.
(5)Wendy W.
3.5, but I'll round up bc the duck is really delicious. What I had: Thai ice tea: standard Apps: basil spring rolls, reg spring rolls, crab Rangoon. Standard, not really stand out. My biggest criticism was the basil spring rolls didn't have shrimp like I'm used to. VERY small portion, esp if it's just veggies, could've put more basil in there. Don't skimp if it's the name of the place! Basil salad: surprisingly filling w/lots of protein (egg, chicken, shrimp). Light dressing, shrimp could be bigger, crisp salad. Also... More basil! Duck Panang: just the right amount of spice, undertone of coconut & wow, the duck was tender & crispy. Not greasy! Surprising for fried duck. It didn't sit heavy. Overall: clean, great service, price reasonable (not cheap, not too expensive), spring rolls skimpy but the duck made up for the overall avg food. 3.5 stars, extra star for duck but 0.5 star deduction for skimping on basil. If you name a place Basil, food should be loaded w/basil! Not one leaf or two. Will be back for more duck tho.
(4)Kevin S.
Found this place beside my local grocer, and why not try some Asian (Thai) food? I ordered the Siam Duck, and it was great. It was boneless - although it didn't look like it, but everything could be chewed through. The meat was succulent and not dry, and the sweet tamarind sauce was definitely a good add-on. However, the vegetable sides could have been cooked a bit more. Also, if the rice portion could have been more, this would be a certain great value for money. Nonetheless, it was a good dish to have. I would say it's relatively cheaper than what other restaurants would charge. Ambience is nice, and I've noticed that it got pretty crowded on weekday nights. I went on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn't crowded - pleasant lunch. I will come back to try the other dishes, seem promising!
(4)Sarah K.
I'm sorry but not a fan. Found their sauces too thick/sugary for my taste. My mom loves this place, though and adores the duck. So personally, not a fan but I know others that love this place.
(2)Vicki S.
Happened to be in the area- found a gem! Clean, nicely decorated- best part is the food. I ordered drunken noodles- perfection!
(5)Katrina T.
Atmosphere is pretty casual, it is normally quiet but the staff are friendly and attentive. Great thai food.
(4)Raphael B.
One of the best Thai restaurants around, great food and service. Their curry options are top notch!
(5)Meghann F.
Yum! Had to get delivery since I am currently marooned at car-less at a hotel in the area - I was going to walk to an Italian place close by - but wasn't too excited and it didn't have great reviews . . .. So after looking through the hotel recommended restaurants, I came across this little gem! Veggie spring rolls were good and the peanut sauce was perfect. Papaya salad was amazing and they have a couple of butterflied, perfectly grilled shrimp on top. Also comes with sticky rice, which I didn't realize, but did a little happy dance when i realized I had gotten sticky rice!! I tried the Hot Basil Chicken - the flavors were awesome and a nice note of spice - scarfed that one right down! Two nights ago I tried the crazy noodles, and while they were good - I definitely fell for the Hot Basil.
(5)Forrest S.
The go-to Thai place in Andover, especially for lunch. Their Pad Thai is solid, if a little bland. The nice thing about their version is that it includes chicken and shrimp. They are very willing to adjust the dish - add basil, hot sauce, more bean sprouts, etc. The drunken noodles are very good, too.
(4)Gary G.
My sister in law took my wife and I here for lunch. It was a pretty good meal and experience overall. I had sweet and sour chicken and some sort of pudding dessert. I wasn't a fan of the pudding dessert but my sister in law loved her fried ice cream. The place was clean, service was prompt, food was hot and delicious. Everyone took leftovers home except for me...finished mine. They had Crazy Noodles that they've had there previously, so it must be a winner.
(4)Katniss S.
Sweet Basil offers up some great authentic thai food. We love the drunken noodles, the pad thai, the veg. spring rolls.Never had a bad meal here in 10 years. Lots of choices of curries. Prices and service are decent.
(4)Kristin K.
I've never once been disapponted with any choice I've made from this place. Amazingly fresh shrimp in the pad thai, shrimp in a blanket, crazy noodles and the golden bags, whatever they are, rock! And as strange as it sounds, the calamari is some of the best I've had. ...now I'm hungry, dammit! The staff is super friendly, appropriately accomodating (no hovering) and never walk by a standing person without asking if they've been helped. Highly, highly recommended.
(5)chris N.
Love this place. Everything is fresh, delicious and authentic. Everytime I go I try something new and am always satisfied.
(5)Justin B.
Went here late one night. I think it was 9:15pm and they close @ 10pm. Great food. Convenient location. Not too far from Rt. 495. Its been in this location for a while now. And its taken me this long to go. I've been missing out.
(4)Ivan E.
Food was ok...However, charging $4/bucks for delivery, well that would've been nice to know before I ordered over the phone. That said, poor delivery guy got zero tip from me, or maybe the owner is nice enough to give the driver a cut of the $4 bucks.
(3)Chris C.
Veggie Spring rolls are awesome! Crab Rangoons......blah and came out of a box and seemed frozen and stale. Fried Tofu was ok but I would not get it again. So I vote for the Veggie Spring roll things. I would go again though.
(3)Kartik P.
This is a good place for quick lunch or a good dinner. I have been to this place 3 times now and everytime it has been a pleasant experience. The waiters are very attentive and the food is served out quick. Lunches might be busy, so be cautious about that. Plenty of parking, good food and just a nice, neat, clean atmosphere. Would come here for a meal without a second thought. Their green curry and the madras curry are really good.
(4)Gerardo V.
I ordered over the phone for delivery and no kidding in 25 mins, knock knock! the guy was right at the door with dinner! really really fast delivery! Food tasted great, the green chilli curry was a bit hot for me but some of my friends think I too sensitive to hot food, maybe... there is a $4 default delivery charge added to the bill, not sure if that money goes to the driver for gas, salary, etc...? When opened my bag, there was no napkins, plastic fork or straw or menu. Loved the food and the fast delivery, maybe I will check out the place in person later ;)
(4)Barbara P.
Had dinner here with a couple of girlfriends; the food was fantastic. It was very flavorful and the portions made it easy to share. Having food intolerance concerns was not a problem for the server. She and the chef were happy to work with me to find dishes that would work.
(4)Allie A.
We ordered Pad Thai, Hot Basil Chicken, Chicken Cashew and Yellow Chicken Curry--The standout was the yellow chicken curry. The others were well seasoned but not as tasty as the curry. A solid Thai restaurant.
(4)Cathie H.
Went here with a friend during lunch at work...It was great! the food is incredible, service was great and prices are fine!! Had plenty of time to eat and enjoy and get back to work on time...Clean place great staff....
(5)Jennifer S.
Absolutely amazing. Everything here is great. The service was also very nice and attentive without being obtrusive and prices reasonable.The restaurant has a good, clean design to it. The food is the closet to real food from Thailand you can get. Hot & sour soup or call the name is Tom Yum Soup. It's a traditional Thai hot and sour soup seasoned with exotic Thai herbs, lemongrass, lime juice, mushrooms and parsley w/choice of chicken (or) Vegetables and Tofu, or Shrimp (our preference). The coconut soup is absolutely the most tasty, authentic and memorable. Pad Thai is the most famous Thai rice noodle stir-fried with shrimp, chicken, egg, bean sprouts, scallions and crushed peanuts. Can be also be had vegetarian. And Crazy noodles , Chiang Mai noodles , Basil fried rice are also amazing. The Thai Iced Tea is delicious. Defiantly the best Thai restaurant around. ***If you like Thai food you have to try Thai sweet basil.***
(5)Michelle T.
There is virtually no food I like in the 'burbs, let alone delivers! This place does and delivers it hot. All the way across town. The best item is by far the Fresh Basil Spring Rolls, but everything on the menu is tasty, I also tip the driver on top of the delivery charge, because he is a sweetheart and loves my dogs. I keep trying different things there and like them all. Is it a Daniel Boloud restaurant, no - is it a really great Thai Restaurant in the suburbs - heck yeah! And they don't disappoint.
(5)Michael L.
Very nice and quiet, with friendly staff... Loved the Appetisers (Shrimp In The Blanket, the Steamed Delight, and Chicken Coconut Soup)... got the Muddy Noodles, but not really for me (too "muddy")
(4)David L.
MUCH better now! After my first negative review here I was contacted by the owner to come in for a refund for which I couldn't be bothered to go get. Then, after my last negative review I got a more urgent request to call him. When we spoke he was extremely apologetic, even saying "I have failed you" and "how can I make this up to your family?". He then proceeded to tell me how on the night of my last dinner his regular cook was out and he had to prepare our pad Thai himself, something he normally leaves to his expert. Besides feeling like a total heel I agreed to give them another shot. Before I returned I received a $100 gift card for my prior troubles. I then used it for a dinner and two lunches. Everything was in order and prepared nicely. A good story worth sharing. It's how a business deals with adversity that shows it, and it's ownership's, true colors. I'll be returning to Sweet Thai Basil again and again!
(3)Swati K.
Went for lunch here. Service was less than average the waitresses seemed bored and absorbed in gossip in their local language. Anyways ordered the usual red curry with chicken, chicken satay and some drunken noodles- called crazy noodles here for some reason. Red curry gravy was watery it barely looked red. Drunken noodles were salty. Chicken satay was alright. Not a bad place but far from good. Price and portions were fair. Thai restaurants are springing up like Chinese restaurants and like the latter losing quality.
(2)Jack P.
Consistently great food. My favorite is the pla rad pik and house fried rice. Sometimes we pick up dinner for our friends as a surprise. They always love it!
(5)Claire H.
I have been meaning to write a review of Thai Sweet Basil for years, but just recently got on yelp. I lived in town for a number of years and this was my favorite Thai place around. I have never had a less-than-satisfactory dish here. My favorites are the papaya salad, crazy noodle, vegetable rainbow, and mango with sticky rice (dessert). My husband and I had the rehearsal dinner for our wedding here four years ago ( about 50 people) Winnie, the manager was amazingly helpful. I met with her to discuss menu options and she made wonderful suggestions to ensure that the meal would be pleasing for everyone. They sectioned off part of the restaurant and decorated for us. Their staff was wonderfully attentive and so gracious with a few less-than-gracious members of our party, all while tending to their regular tables. I definitely recommend Thai Sweet Basil for take in or out or special occasions-great Thai food!
(5)Beka B.
This is a popular spot in the area. I am only reviewing the Thai Iced Tea as I am not a Thai food fan but am absolutely addicted to the Thai Iced Tea. It is so delicious and made the same way every single time I go. (Unlike Dunkin Donuts coffee where you never know what you're going to get). If the Thai Iced Tea is all you walk in there for you will not regret it!
(4)Joe G.
One of the best discoveries, on a business trip to Boston. Great flavors, service and price! I have gone back at least 7 times, and plan to go back on my upcoming trip to Andover! The spring rolls are wonderfully flavorful, the steamed dumplings are fantastic!
(5)Sara B.
I've previously gone here for lunch/ dinner and have had great service. It seems that the establishment is either under new management or has just become lax in service. Went here for lunch at noon. My friends got their food in about 15 minutes. I waited 45 minutes for mine and ended up having to get it to go. The server did not seem genuine in her apology to me and still charged me for my meal. Needless to say I will not be returning in the future- maybe not until they get things figured out.
(2)HyunJoo K.
Love coming here during lunch hours ... when I can! :) I usually make it a point that if I decide to eat here to be here right when they open at 11:30 to beat the work lunch rush. I usually get the Tom Yum soup, chicken yellow curry, the thai rolls, and sometimes the banana dessert :) All very good! I have also tried a couple other dishes. There used to be this yummy thai salad that had cucumbers, egg, fried tofu, chicken, etc ... but not longer see it on the menu :/ Service is generally good and never really had to wait long for my meal!
(5)David G.
Our favorite take-out order: crazy noodles and basil rolls ... very satisfying, nice heat, and they will prepare it vegetarian if you want. Always very friendly.
(5)Brian D.
Great food and a wide menu of appetizers, soups, and entrees. My favorite is the Tom Tom Noodle Soup and Crab Rangoon. Delicious orange/honey tea is also very good. Friendly staff and pricing is reasonable. Busy at lunch time.
(4)John T.
Sweet Basil in Andover is a wholesome place to eat. The location/inside is nothing incredible, but the food is worth it. I think its sort of healthy, because you feel good after eating their as opposed to Taco Bell. The appetizers are about $6 and the meals are $10 to $15. Went on New Years day 2012, and got Crab Rangoons and Shumai as appetizers. For the entree I told the waiter to just hit it off with whatever he'd get. He got a Duck Panang for me. I'm not sure if thats what he'd get, or if it was the most expensive thing he could think of LOL. I never had duck before and it was a good time. Kind of feel bad because ducks are legit, but I didn't lose too much sleep over it. The waiters/waitresses are very nice, and the service is amazingly fast. It only takes about 10 minutes to get the food. They also have Thai beer, which is basically coors light in a different bottle. Either way i'd rather support that than coors/bud light. Give them a try, a ton of people get take out from there.
(5)Duane F.
I am not a huge fan of Thai food...but am starting to like it more. I love the Crazy Noodles here. Crazy noodles are mash up of noodles, chicken, shrimp, basil, broccoli and other stuff that is slightly hot, but not super hot like a lot of Thai food. The service here is always pretty good...and the atmosphere...well...nothing special, but it is always clean and neat...like a good strip mall food place should be!
(4)Sara M.
I came here for lunch with some colleagues recently and was pleasantly surprised. Our server was not exactly friendly and a bit absent at times. However, everything came out perfectly with our specific modifications. I ordered the pad thai spicy and it had a nice heat. The portion was large and I only ate half of it but it was still delicious the next day. I wish they put the same veggies as in the crispy pad thai but the meat was cooked well. It was decently priced and I can see myself coming back for my pad thai cravings.
(4)Paul J.
Food was good but incredibly spicy. I normally like spice but the flavors were completely lost in the fire. The dish I ordered was marked spicy, I ordered mild and I couldn't even finish it. Complete contrast to the bland fresh spring rolls.
(3)Asil O.
I don't like their Pad Thai. It's got a fishy taste even when you ask them to hold the shrimp. It's my favorite Thai dish so when I'm in the mood for Thai food, it's always one of the things I like to order... very so often I go back there, but it's always the same. It must just be their recipe. It's just not my taste, but others may find it okay. The staff has always been nice and the service good.
(2)Cindy W.
Just ordered lunch for a office meeting and I am surprised how quickly our food was ready to be picked up. Every meal looked and smelled great. Pad Thai and some of their curry rice plates are some things I would recommend.
(4)Hui-chin S.
Not really very testly
(2)L.P. C.
I have a really delicious but frustrating dilemma in that I am positively enamored with Thai Sweet Basil's chicken panang curry, but it ends up being the only thing I order when I go here! Luckily I keep the company of generous people, so I've had the opportunity to sample many other dishes as well. While it's not too impressive looking from the outside, Thai Sweet Basil is bright, clean, and quaint inside. Just enough decor to feel like a "nice" restaurant rather than a hole-in-the-wall, but not so much that it's overwhelming. It gets a lot of light through the front, and it has a very pleasant atmosphere, making it perfect for a small company lunch or outing with friends (but maybe not for a romantic evening date). Serving sizes aren't ridiculously enormous, but they're still pretty large. The dishes are fragrant, the ingredients taste fresh, and the variety on the menu is broad enough that you won't get bored quickly. Service is hospitable and friendly (don't be surprised if you are flanked by three "Thank you!"s on your way out the door), and the food is not a very long wait. Price-wise it's not dirt cheap, but with entrees running between $6-12 a plate, I'd say that's pretty middle of the road. If you're in the area and looking for your Thai food fix, or maybe just in the mood for something new, give Thai Sweet Basil a shot!
(4)Galahad L.
Two out of three ain't bad is the theme of Thai Sweet Basil. It is one of those restaurants capitalizes on a fancy atmosphere and adequate service, but much of the food is mediocre at best. To be fair, every dish has nice fresh ingredients, and the curries are all excellent, but I am continually disappointed by something each time I go there. This past visit, the Tom Yum (hot and sour) soup had good ingredients, but the broth was seriously flawed and tasted like hot lime juice. The Pad Thai was also passable, had fresh ingredients including chicken and high quality shrimp, but again lacked a flavor that other Thai restaurants definitely have. The spicy beef salad's ingredients and dressing were very tasty, in fact one of the best I've tasted, but the beef was so chewy that even chewing 100 times wasn't enough to digest it. I had to leave small balls of chewed beef on my plate.
(2)Felicia S.
Came here with my mom and dad tonight and we all LOVED the food. The best part about this place is the menu. The have options for everyone. Whether you be a meat eater, vegetarian, vegan, or like gluten free options they have a meal for you. I got the Fresh Basil and Mint Spring Rolls and The Mango Cucumber Salad. Both were so yummy. I don't usually enjoy spicy things, but they did it perfectly with the Mango cucumber salad : ) The service was fantastic as well. All of the food came out extremely quickly. It was probably only 3 minutes after I put in my order and it was already finished : D Definitely would recommend this place to a friend. p.s. I'm coming back to try out the fried bananas dessert mmmm
(4)Steve B.
Crab rangoon was great: full creamy inside and crunchy outside. Yellow curry was good, was a little weak on the chicken portion. Overall, above average lunch.
(4)Amy G.
My daughter & I went to Sweet Basil on a weekday at 11:45 for lunch. The restaurant was pretty much empty. We ordered an appetizer sampler and a pad thai to split. Our appetizer came quickly, and it was hot and yummy. At $9, the sampler is a fantastic bargain. And then our service came to a complete halt. A couple came in, sat at the table next to us, ordered and received their food, all while we sat there with our empty appetizer plates in front of us. I flagged down our waitress and told her to package our pad thai to go. More people came in, ordered and received their pad thai and still we had nothing. Finally, close to an hour after we arrived, we cancelled our order and asked for the check. Our bill was $9 and change and I left a 10 dollar bill. The waitress, who I was pretty sure had gone into witness protection and taken our noodles with her, actually looked at the $10 and wondered why she didn't get a better tip. I wondered back why I hadn't gotten my lunch. Lots of wondering going on! 2 stars because the appetizers were good and other people seemed to be enjoying their lunch. Plus there was plenty of parking and I'm a sucker for parking.
(2)Kristi Y.
Ordered soup for take out. There was a missed communication on the phone, and I ended up with the clear broth soup with tofu and vegetables (I was aiming for the "yum yum noodle soup"). Surprisingly, the clear broth soup was quite flavorful. There was a lot of fresh veggies (summer squash, zucchini, bean sprouts, broccoli, carrots) that were packaged separate from the broth and tofu. There was certainly enough for 2 meals. Once again ordered the fresh basil rolls, and they were as delicious as always - especially with that magical sauce they come with.
(4)Nick S.
I've been to Thai Sweet Basil countless times for lunch, and it is always consistently good. Usually go for the muddy noodles or crazy noodles. The prices are very reasonable, and the portions for lunch are pretty much spot on (if not a tad bit lacking). I've had better thai food, but for the speed, service, and quality during lunch this place is great!
(4)Min H.
We ordered Pho Thai and roasted duck with curry sauce. Pho Thai tasted exactly as I expected. It was delicious yet not too sweet. The duck was crispy outside and tender inside. It was not that dry with the curry sauce covered around it. On the other hand, the food came fast and the service was good. Note: Stay away from "Muddy Noddles". It is way too sweet!
(4)J W.
Oh my, that was one of the most delicious and enjoyable meals. Had Basil spring rolls, be best ever beef satay pad tie and soups. Prompt, courteous, and regularly checking-in service, delicious food, very reasonable prices, and a totally enjoyable dining experience. I can't wait to return, again and againi.
(5)Riccardo D.
The reason why I enjoy Thai food is that it is more refined and the dishes rely more on subtle flavors than a deep fryer. This restaurant puts out some fine tasting Thai food. If you are a fan of coconut, try their chicken coconut soup as it's spectacular. I've found the other dishes that I have ordered here delicious and satisfying. As for the service, I'm surprised by the number of negative reviews posted here. I have never had an issue with their service; although, I've never dined here at night or dealt with weekend crowds. I know that it's a fine choice for lunch. The portions are perfect and you won't return to work floating in oil as you'll do after dining at most American-Chinese restaurants.
(4)David D.
The best Thai food restaurant around. Love the vegetable pad thai, basil fried rice, and the veggie spring rolls.
(5)Leanna P.
Padthai was alright, a little too much seasoning in their noodles for me. There could have also been a better balance between noodles and chicken/shrimp. Good service though.
(3)Jamie H.
we got takeout from sweet basil last night while visiting our parents in andover, and overall the meal was very good. i ordered the fresh basil rolls to start, and the shrimp papaya salad. unfortunately, they had just run out of that salad, so i got the mango cucumber salad instead, with shrimp instead of calamari - which they easily accommodated for me. this actually ended up being a fantastic choice - the mango was fresh, delicious, and flavorful, and complemented well by the cucumbers and carrots in pineapple sauce. i'm not a huge peanut fan, so i picked out most of them, but the remaining peanuts did bring a nice flavor to the dish. the basil rolls were pretty standard, and i was glad that they came with shrimp and were not too heavy on the vermicelli. my boyfriend got the crab rangoon, mango fried rice, and spring rolls. i thought the spring rolls were just okay since they were a tiny bit gummy and dry. the crab rangoon were good - crispy, with a very (very) creamy filling. the fried rice was excellent, although the mango was really mushy. it was a little strange that his mango was almost inedible, since my pieces in my salad were fantastic, but maybe it was just cooked too long in the rice dish. other dishes included the grilled beef salad (which i could not stay away from! spicy, flavorful, and a great mix of beef, tomatoes, mushrooms, and scallions), lo mein, shumai, shrimp in the blanket and golden bags. the lo mein was excellent and completely hit the spot. the shumai were also very good. overall, everything was delicious, served hot and was ready quickly. prices were also reasonable, and i look forward to going back again.
(4)Shine B.
We recently spent 3 weeks in Thailand and we thought this food was as good as much of the food we got there. We had the red curry, pad thai, and our kids love pad see ew. We were so satisfied with the food. Loved it and ate all of it! We had no problem with the service. Our waitress was very nice.
(5)Samantha L.
I had the worst experience there today. The waitress was very rude and arrogant, and practically asked me to leave. My husband and I go there once every 2 weeks or order out. The last time I was there I talked to the nice young lady there about gluten free choices since I just started the gf diet and she said just to come back and they'll work with me. So today I went there for lunch by myself and asked about gluten free choices, and I was told there are only 2 - curry or pad thai, I ordered the pad thai with no sugar. When I got the dish, I had 3 bites and couldn't eat it - it was too, too salty, it was inedible. I asked the waitress if I can get something else - she said no, no more dish for me in her broken English, and practically asked me to leave. I was stunned to say the least. I left quietly but will never go back there. Update: the manager contacted me, and apologized for the poor service, so I have upgraded the rating.
(3)Jay J.
The dish that I like from this restaurant is Pad Tai. Also, if I order at lunch time I can get a discount. Comparing the price and taste, this place is the best. One of my friends really likes Pad Tai so whenever he comes to my house we order take out. He said the Pad Tai is great with Shrimp.
(4)Tikky S.
Went there with some friends last weekend. The food is exquisite! Best pad thai I've ever had! I highly recommend it!
(5)Calico R.
this is the place I first had pad thai, approximately 8 years ago,and has had me convinced ever since that it's my favorite food--even though I've not loved it at any of the dozens of places across the country i've had it at since. i still get it there once a year or so when i visit and still love it along with most of whatever else ive tried, so the reason for star detraction? back when i was in high school my friend and i came once every couple months or so and usually split a pad thai. often wed take it to go, sometimes wed eat in and if we did get thai coffee/tea to compensate for splitting a single dish, sometimes desert, and tip around 40% I believe it was only even the third time we ate in that, after we ordered, hte manager approached and started going on and on about how we always came and ordered something small. I dont know if she was ordering us to spend more money or if she simply didnt want us to be seen in her restaraunt--but aside from everything we went early and were usually among the few or only customers for our duration. we felt too uncomfortable/unwelcome to return for a long time after
(4)C. F.
My favorite Thai restaurant in the area. I have tried their Pad Thai, Pineapple Rice, Crazy Noodles (my favorite!), as well as several appetizers and other various dishes. I always have enough to take home for lunch the next day, so the portions are pretty decent as well. The food is great, HOWEVER, the service is so hit or miss. They're either very quick or painfully slow. We went a few weeks ago and were one of two or three tables seated, and really, our simple dishes just took forever to come out of the kitchen. With that being said, the food is good enough to keep coming back despite the spotty service.
(4)Jody W.
Sweet Basil is a regular lunch spot on my list when I visit an office in the Andover area. Today we stopped in for lunch and had a delicious, inexpensive meal delivered quickly and piping hot. There are lot of standard meat options as well as items that will please those who are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free. My boss enjoyed the chicken and vegetable coconut curry. I had a delicious tofu basil dish. Mine was sufficiently spicy and very flavorful. The waitstaff doesn't stand out, but the food sure does. The restaurant is located in a shopping plaza with plenty of parking as well.
(4)Kupkake K.
The dinner was hot and spicy which was exactly the way ordered it :-). The Pad Thai delicious and I believe this place is authentic and you're not going to get water down version of 4 pepper hotness! I highly recommend it for folks who likes their mouth scorched :-)! I will return, lol!
(4)Brianna R.
most amazing Thai food around! dont bw afraid to try it under the assumption yhat its all spicy! the owner is a sweetheart, the service is fast! they offer takeout & catering. just don't park out front or youll for sure get a ticket!
(5)Peter G.
The food from Sweet basil Thai is _okay_. Some dishes (like the calamari) are very good, but their Pad Thai is almost flavorless and some of their more creative curries (like the mango curry) just don't seem to work. It's great to have Thai as an option in Andover, but there are definitely better places in Massachusetts.
(3)Gavin E.
Stood at front desk for 5 minutes, it wasnt that busy however I was walked past and ignored for the 5 minutes I stood there. Went to take out desk and waited another 3 minutes while the lady answered call after call and ignored me. At which point 2 people walked in and were immediately greeted and seated? Was I invisible? Did I not enter loud enough? So needless to say my experience sucked so I walked out. I'd rate it 0 stars for being ignored for the best part of 10 minutes
(1)Anthony L.
food was good, but overpriced for portion size. i spent $20 for 1 there and am barely full
(3)Laura H.
My favorite take out restaurant! My first visit to Thai Sweet Basil predates my move to Andover in mid-2007 and I've ordered take out from them at least monthly ever since. Love their basil fried rice and also their tofu panang. Is it fancy, is it glam? No, absolutely not. But I've never had an inaccurate order or flavorless, under-spiced food as others have mentioned.
(4)Barbara M.
Have used Sweet Basil for take out many times. Quick service and excellent food.
(5)Layla B.
Not at all authentic!!! I have been to Bangkok many times and this place is not at all Thai. I hope they work on it.
(1)Rashi G.
I tried basil fried rice with Yellow curry, so far the best... It's spacious, good service and excellent flavour! Would recommend to anyone!!
(5)Jess B.
You know, in past visits I would have given this restaurant three or four stars. The food is pretty good, the service is okay, and, probably best for them and their coffers, it's the only Thai food game in town. During my last visit, however, my group had a completely terrible experience with the wait staff. First, after a meal with competent but not great service, we asked to take home the many leftovers. While we were waiting for someone to help with that, we took care of figuring out the check, and charging the meal, writing out the tip & total. The server took and packed up only two of the many dishes. When he returned he asked several times if we were *sure* we wanted everything else packed up. After saying yes a few times and having him go nowhere, we finally told him to forget it, as it was obvious he didn't want to do any more work. Then the waitress came back with the billing slip and in a very round-about way said something about how the amount we had given her wasn't enough. We all thought she meant we hadn't paid enough even to cover the cost of the bill before tip -- how embarrassing! It seemed strange, because the person who charged thought he remembered giving appropriate tip, but of course with the waitress expressing that concern we immediately apologized and took the check back to recalculate it. However, we quickly realized the waitress meant -- while implying we hadn't paid properly, which really *would* have been terrible were it true -- she did not think we had given her enough of a tip. Holy. Cow. This has never happened to me at any restaurant I have ever gone to. We had given her just over 15% (though it would have been 20% if the service had been better), and hey, that was honestly plenty. And if they wanted more automatically from our large-ish group, then they should have a flat tip policy with that size party, and note such on the menu and bill. When we asked the waitress why she didn't feel she had enough tip (after realizing she was digging for a lot more -- why else would she imply we hadn't covered the bill!) she then revised her story and said, "Oh, I just was asking, was the service okay, because you didn't leave much." Um. No. That wasn't at all what she said. It would have been better for her to own up to the fact that she basically said, "Tip me more -- this isn't enough for me," and either stood by it or apologized and taken the check as is. I cannot stress enough that in years upon years of dining out with a huge range of experiences, this really petulant demand for more tip/trying to fool us into thinking we hadn't paid properly has never, ever happened to me. Really shameful business practice, Sweet Basil. I won't return.
(2)Kristen F.
We went here tonight for take-out. We ordered the steamed delight, pad thai and the chicken panang. The dumplings were standard steamed pork dumplings, but the sauce that came with it was very syrup-y (and tasted like soy sauce mixed with high fructose corn syrup). Pad Thai is one of those dishes that 'shouldn't' be too hard to get right. It's the 'signature' dish after all, right? There was a hint of the Pad Thai that I know and love, but it was very greasy and there wasn't a lot of fresh, crisp bean sprouts. My husband had the chicken panang. I tasted it and it seemed good and spicy. There was a lot of nice color in the dish. He wasn't crazy about the coconut...but I liked it. I do not think we will be going there again.
(2)Jenny C.
The Thai Sweet Basil is stuck in the corner of an average size shopping plaza in Andover, MA. It's surrounded by some pretty regular stores: a nail salon, a Papa Gino's, Rite Aid, Tuesday Morning (an expensive junk store), a liquer store and a Market Basket. But don't be fooled; this restaurant is far better than average. I order the same thing almost everytime I visit the Thai Sweet Basil: - An order of spring rolls (They are absolutely delicious and come with a sweet sauce for dipping and carrots cut in the shape of flowers) - A Thai Iced Tea (Very sweet iced tea with a lot of cream. No need to add sugar) - Siam Duck (Duck in a sweet sauce with vegetables and a side of white rice.) - Thai Custard (A plate of sweet custard, with whipped cream. The custard tastes like a mix of ginger and coconut. Very tastey) If you are ever hungry and in the area, give this place a shot!
(5)Gregory P.
I've only tried about four or five things on the menu, but I have to give this place a five. The "Chicken Hot Basil" is absolutely phenomenal and I get it about once a month since I started working in the area about 18 months ago. I know others have enjoyed the Chicken & Shrimp Pad Thai and other entrees, so I can pretty much guarantee you'll enjoy this place. Service is also good, but unfortunately the restaurant is in an ugly strip-mall. If you can look past that, this place is excellent.
(5)elizabeth m.
My five stars goes to the Tofu Massaman Curry, which I've tried at dozens of Thai places and I think I like this place the best. It's at least my favorite place in the Merrimack Valley. I usually get delivery or take-out. Take is super fast and they're so so so nice. Delivery... not so fast, not especially nice the last time. I mean, I know my boyfriend's house doesn't have a street number on it but there's really no need to yell at me about that. Anyhow... I've eaten here once in recent memory and our service was super good and fast but I'm also pretty sure that we went at like, 8:45 on a Tuesday and it was almost dead... the valley is not the most happenin' place. Our food came out in like, 4 minutes though. Literally. Can't beat that with a stick. My boy got the duck curry something, which he really liked and our friend got muddy noodles something, which he also liked. I'd recommend getting an extra side (or two!) of white rice with your meal. I always do and because there's so much delicious "juice" with the massaman curry one portion becomes two. And it's soo good. Wow, now I really want Thai food tonight.
(5)Nick H.
Just about to put in an order for some Pad Thai and Fried Spring Rolls for my 4th wedding anniversary. Can't wait. Everything this place does is delicious, well prepared and fresh. The sweet chili sauce that comes with the Springs Rolls is good on just about everything other dish.
(5)Ayush G.
I love Sweet Basil and usually go for lunch there every week as I work in Andover itself. I have tried a variety of dishes and never have been disappointed by any of them. Food is served quickly, though sometimes when it gets busy, service can be a little slow. All in all, decently priced restaurant offering a great variety of Thai food which tastes good. Would definitely recommend!
(4)K G.
Sweet Basil is one of the better choices for Thai in the area. Many dishes are better than average, but I think the Pad Thai is too bland for me. The Satay has great meat and curry flavors but I often the peanut sauce is too thick. The service is usually decent to eat-in, but I usually get take-out.
(3)Ashley C.
Good food, not so good service. The food is good, but the shrimp satay was on the menu for months after they stopped serving it...every time they just told me they were out until I asked them if they even sold it anymore. At this point they told me they are no longer selling the food, would have been nice if they just said that in the first place. I get frustrated when the waitresses cannot even understand me when I am ordering, the food is from your menu...you should know what I'm talking about. One example of this is when I ordered a fresh basil roll, I was asked if I wanted chicken or shrimp, I have had fresh basil rolls many times before from here and there is no chicken, shrimp or any meat, its mainly raw veggies. Another problem that I have is that the tax always seems to be rounded, never an odd number that calculates with the bill, because of this I always deduct whatever the tax was rounded up by from the tip, there is no reason for me to pay extra tax on my meal. Overall this is a good place to go for takeout or a sit down meal, just go there for the food, not the excellent service, and always look at your bill, not only is the tax usually rounded off but I have on multiple occasions found pricing for other food is incorrect.
(4)M D.
One of the best Thai places around, and great prices. I LOVE Thai food and regularly get take out Thai everywhere all around Boston and anywhere I am. This place has the best Duck Choo Chee ever, and one of the best Pad Thai. I drop in for take out anytime I'm near the area.
(5)Just The Facts M.
Pad Thai Perfection. Simple as that.
(5)Justin R.
Loooooove Sweet Basil... Usually stick to the pad thai but every so often I will adventure to something else. My gf loves the mango curry tofu, and they have great apps. All in all good stuff!
(4)Denise L.
Terrific and friendly staff. Excellent appetizers and curries. Don't let the strip mall throw you. The food here is top notch.
(4)Tarkesh M.
Had pineapple fried rice/chicken. The food was cooked nicely but the spices were missing or I can say were wrong. I am Indian and can identify indian spices. I tasted garam masala and other indian spices in it. Thai fried rice has this distinctive thai flavor which was missing. I have had much better pineapple fried rice at other places. The quantity is huge..
(3)Danny G.
Very disappointed with this recommended place. It was crap. Food was alright at best. Ordered shrimp satay for appetizer and they forgot about it. Even after reminding them, they brought it out after serving the entree. It tasted terrible, was cooked weirdly and put me off. The Tamarind Duck entree was ordinary. The meal seemed like it was cooked with MSG because it turned my stomach quite quickly. I will never return. That's a promise
(1)Christine S.
I judge Sweet Basil by the same barometer I judge all Thai food: Crazy Noodles. And they are delicious, perfectly seasoned (just spicy enough!) I usually get take out, and it is usually very, very good. However, there is the occasional chewy Crab Rangoon (not Thai food, I know, but whatever, relax.) or over peanuted Pad Thai. I think I've tried all the Apps, and they are all super :) I haven't eaten in the restaurant recently, so I can't really judge. But as I recall from my previous experiences dining in, the service was prompt and friendly. Apps come out right away and the meal was soon to follow. FYI: Dinner and lunch sized portions are about the same, however the price difference is substantial.... so get there before 3pm to save some cash.
(4)Gaia K.
I used to work here in high school - and at the time this was the best restaurant in town - fresh healthy entrees that were authentic and flavorful. My boss always used to say - look to the pad thai to tell if it is a good restaurant - the dish should be golden-brown and full of colorful vegetables. I personally prefer spicy dishes, which are pretty dismal at this once spectacular location. My boss and I opened Tuk-Tuk down the street in tewksbury in winners plaza. This place is still excellent. I came back to visit Sweet Basil under the different management and I was very disappointed with my meals. Where is the spice? Where are the vegetables? If you really like authentic Thai food, don't bother coming by.
(2)Catherine D.
I've always been very pleased with any meal I have here, Nice atmosphere and service too.
(4)Cris L.
Good Thai food. Simple, reasonably priced, and take out is an option. Dining in is nothing special, but if you're there for the food, you won't be disappointed. Try it for lunch to save a few bucks.
(4)Diane H.
Great Thai food in Andover. We had chicken yellow curry and muddy noodles and both were outstanding! Prices very reasonable for both food and cocktails. Attentive service , too. Can't wait to go back or do take out.
(4)Huan z.
I like the chicken Satay as appetizer. Very tasty! The main dish, Massaman curry was pretty watery, not very tasty, need more salt. Service was very good. Rice was well cooked. The waiter came often to add water for you. Would try again if passing the area.
(3)Jelly B.
Just got take-out here last night... when we got home we discovered (after biting into it) that the chicken satay wasn't thoroughly cooked ... very gross... the chicken curry dish over white rice was good but the damage had already been done.. I will not be returning to this restaurant .....
(1)Michael R.
Have always had a good experience at Sweet Basil since it opened up years ago. Consistently good Thai food in the face of the turnstyle of different wait staff and, i suppose, chefs. Has never disappointed, They even offer brown rice which is a small issue that not many Thai places offer. I like a side order of BROWN rice with my peanut sauce, occasionally. What is a big plus for me, is that in spite of the storefront location, there is plenty of parking, you're not seated up against a window of passersby AND the seating layout is such that you can find a niche or two in which you have some measure of distance and relief from the take out customers and other patrons' noise. Overall the food is good, not outstanding. Never had a problem with wait staff. So many plus factors for me, merit a 5 star.
(5)Lauren R.
Tucked away in a shopping plaza, this Thai restaurant is a delicious hidden gem. The first time I visited the restaurant, I had the Yellow Thai Curry dish with Tofu. The flavor was mouth watering and the sweet pineapple chunks topped the meal off. The dish was so good, I've ordered the same thing probably 4 times and it gets better and better each time. We've gotten sat right away every time and the food is cooked fast. I can't wait to go back again! My favorite Thai food around.
(5)Jerry M.
Thai food like many foods is very regional in flavor and style. So with that here is my review. The Chicken coconut soup was so so and would not order again. I had the Larb for my meal and it was done fairly well. I am used to it served with chinese cabbage leaves but not here, instead it is served with a very sticky rice, which was good. I would order this again since it is so savory and flavorful. The portion was large and could easily serve two if you order an appetizer or soup as well. The place was clean and seemed to be well run with a pleasent wait staff.
(3)Robin W.
I think this place is pretty good, but I'm no expert on Thai Cuisine. I always get the Piking Shrimp because it has exactly what I want from my Thai food-- shrimp, veggies, spicy, orange. I have never been too impressed with any of the apps I have ordered here. Their glasses of wine seem kinda teeny, yet they are reasonably-priced.
(3)Minda H.
It's hard for me to believe that there are so many dissapointed folks here. My experiences at Thai Sweet Basil have always been pleasant and courteous. But, once again, I've found what I like on the menu and generally stick with it, pretty much always ordering the Golden Bags (fried wonton skin that encloses a mash of shrimp, waterchestnuts, and seasoning) as an appetizer and either the Tofu Massaman Curry or Tofu Crazy Noodle for an entree. Have never had wait staff that has been rude or anything less than fully attentive. But have neer been there during the lunch rush, either.
(4)Busy L.
Decent but not great for the burbs! My wife and I enjoy our meals here but we were never wowed. It's one of those safe bet places to go if you're in the mood for Thai and in the neighborhood.
(3)Brian G.
Our food was pretty good. Convenient location for us. Sucks that you face a parking lot. I like the food though. Average and good. My tea tasted like the wood in a steam room though but they gladly got me some green tea though to exchange. Girls that work there are sweet.
(4)Chris T.
I used to go to this restaurant years ago, and loved it, but had't been for a while. A friend was visiting from NY and wanted Thai food, so I though of it. I thought my friend would be impressed, but *I* was surprised, instead. The food didn't taste like anything I remembered! I found out that they changed management at some point, and that may explain it. In any case, the food was average. I tried some sort of chicken coconut soup which was bland, and the pad thai was O.K. The staff was very courteous and pleasant. I guess I have to try it at least one more time, in case I just happened to get them at an "off" night (that happens to everyone).
(3)An O.
Thai Sweet Basil is one of my favorite Thai restaurants. It's not the best Thai I've ever tasted, but it comes pretty close. The crab rangoon there is probably the best I've ever tasted. I think their specialty is probably their fried rice dishes, especially the pineapple fried rice! Other memorable dishes include their delicious grilled salmon dish and the duck was pretty ok. I usually judge Thai places by the quality of their pad thai. The pad thai here is better than average. Sometimes a bit sweet, but overall, Im a fan.
(4)a h.
My favorite Thai restaurant. I have tried to find a place I like as much- no luck yet. The fresh basil rolls are fantastic!
(5)Mary R.
Overall the food is fine, but it's nothing amazing and the service is a little slow. I ordered mango fried rice, a staple on most Thai menus and it was very enjoyable after adding sauce from my husband's dish to give it some much needed flavor. All of the duck dishes my group had last night were solid -- good sauces, but very fatty. And unfortunately they don't serve fried ice cream. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again, but in a pinch if you avoid the Pad Thai (very bland) you can walk out with a decent meal.
(3)Lulu J.
Interesting that L. mentioned checking take out orders.... twice they have made mistakes, and both times, would not take responsibility. One lunch hour, when we had waited for over half an hour for our food, it was delivered ice cold, and when we tried to flag a waitress, she put up both hands, palms faced at us, and said "Not now!" L.Z.
(3)Lance S.
Used to be the best Thai food in Andover, but no longer. Check out Tuk-Tuk on the town line on Dascomb Rd. for more authentic food. Also, if ordering take-out, check your order before leaving! First time they get it wrong, you forgive, second time, you are frustrated, third time - well, you stop going altogether! :)
(3)F V.
"Girls that work there are sweet?" I wish. They were not too attentive at least. I had to chase them down for beverages when we ran out. They did exchange my pad thai when it was yucky and to salty. Very few vegetarian choices from what I saw. I did not ask to substitute tofu for the shrimp/chicken I saw on every dish. Pad thai was actually not good which I did not expect. The rest of the food was OK. Had to ask three times to 2 different servers at least for a side of rice. At the end of our meal our credit card sat for 20 minutes or more before it was picked up and when we were leaving the person paying got a call and forgot to put cash down for the tip (accidentally put it back in wallet instead of on table). We were frazzled after a pretty unsatisfying experience and wondering if we were invisible but someone ran up to me as I sat in the entry to finish a call I was on and angrily stated that I did not leave a tip! I did not even pay at all so why was she telling me this? She really seemed bitter and after all that we did go back and leave a tip bcause it was a mistake. For whatever reason they were pretty untrusting of us al along and the food was not worth the time, money or hassle.
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