I moved to Mason a month ago and had friends help us move. As a "thank you", I asked my friends " I want to take you guys out to a late lunch, where would you like to go" and the unanimous answer was "Thai food". A quick Yelp search revealed that Banana Leaf was just a hop,skip and jump away from my new place, so off we went. Now we were under dressed for this place. It is in an old home and is beautifully decorated. The server and the hostess were warm and inviting and we were promptly seated. I ordered a Penang Curry with rice and of course, I can handle spicy so I asked it with max spice level. The curry was delicious and it was presented in a beautiful dish. The quantity was adequate. Overall, this is a great place for a casual dinner, a date night dinner or a birthday party. I would go there again...
(4)
Katie K.
The food was good, but nothing stood out with our meal. The staff was very friendly and the ambiance was nice. Our lunch took a very long time to come from the kitchen, and we were the only ones in the place for 20 minutes. It was also very expensive for the portion size. I wouldn't object to go back, but I am also in no rush.
(3)
Eric R.
Good Thai food with a bit of a different twist. The best way to describe this place is fancy Thai food. Basically it's like a nice bistro style applied to signature Thai dishes with a few different takes thrown in and wrapped up with a finer presentation. The setting is nicely placed in a re-purposed old house. The service is handled with an attempt at a higher attention to detail and the customer in mind (fine dining approach). I was pretty pumped to try the mango sticky rice and while the presentation was good... it wasn't all that exciting in the flavor department.
(4)
Mitch H.
First time at Banana Lead and it was a great experience. Went there for lunch and they were on top of the service and didn't have to wait long for our food. Server was great giving us an overview of the restaurant and selling me in an infused tea that was made by the chef and delicious. Food was seasoned and cooked perfectly and was outstanding. Will definitely return
(5)
Bridget S.
After searching for a halfway decent Thai restaurant in Cincinnati the past year, I finally found my go-to near my work out in Mason. I came here for lunch during the week and ordered the pad Thai dish (spicy level 2 out of 0-5). The service wasn't very quick, but it was worth the wait. The restaurant is actually an old house and they have tables in the rooms upstairs and downstairs.
(4)
Jamie S.
Very good Thai food. Cute, old house. Cozy room with 5-7 tables, patio dining available, too. Mango bubble tea - sweet and refreshing. Pad Thai very flavorful; nice portion but not a huge "American sized" portion. Panang curry perfect blend of flavors. Spicy scale 0-5. 2 was a good balance of spicy but not too spicy.
(4)
Adrienne A.
Let me start out by saying that this is Americanized Thai which is fine if that's what you're craving but don't expect anything too authentic. I came here for lunch with some friends. The place itself is pretty nice except I can't say too much for the indoor seating since we sat at the patio. The plants surrounding you outside was a nice touch. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the food itself. I ordered the Thai iced tea I thought was really sweet, but I just prefer stronger iced teas so I was overall neutral about it. I also got the pas csee iew which was so salty which completely overpowered any other flavor. I really wanted to like this place but the salt completely ruined the experience for me. My friend got a Thai salad which was bigger than my noodles but it definitely wasn't worth the $18 she spent and that's considered a lunch special. The leeway to my rating mainly goes to my waitress who was nice and happily took a couple pictures of us. I also want to add that Banana Leaf rates their spice levels from 1-5 and knowing that I do like spicy food, I got a 4. The 4 was not spicy at all to me, just spicy enough that I tasted it but that's all. If you like spicy food too, don't be afraid to go for a 5.
(2)
Ken M.
Nice date spot if your are still in the dating , but if you are a couple or a married , just go to noodles and company. We had good service , and a nice waiter but the Pad Thai was pretty average .
(3)
Leif H.
Banana Leaf would be considered more of an upscale Thai restaurant. The ambience is the only portion of the upscale part that holds true. They do take reservations, which is a plus. The food is tasty, but not for the price that they charge. The service could use some work. We began with the lettuce wraps. They were good, but overpriced. For entrees, we had the yellow curry fried rice and the banana leaf pad Thai. The yellow curry fried rice was excellent. I would order it again. The pad Thai fell short of what was expected. The peanut flavor overpowers anything else in the dish. The restaurant is cozy and on a nice day, the patio would be a pleasant change from inside. If you want a nice evening, this would suffice. If you want good Thai food at a good price, I would recommend checking your yelp app.
(3)
Patrick H.
You know that "evil Hercules" gif where Kevin Sorbo is just screaming "disapPOINTed" at the sky? That's how I feel. We got there at 6:30, were seated relatively quickly. We got to place our order around 7, then got our food around 7:30. The food was competent but not special; it was CERTAINLY not worth the price. Then I got an email from OpenTable chastising me for not showing up for my reservation, which I had to contest. Jerks.
(1)
Kimberly J.
My boyfriend and I stopped by on a whim while passing through Mason. It's situated in an older building on the corner and has some very pretty landscaping outside. We went during lunch time on a Saturday and were virtually the only ones inside. However, the server was wonderful! We chatted about his recommendations and finally settled on the Banana Leaf Sampler to start. It comes with chicken satay, spring rolls, summer rolls and papaya salad. Plus 3 really cool and really yummy sauces that went with everything! It was all very tasty and beautifully presented but the papaya salad was my absolute favorite, really fresh interesting flavor. A must try, for sure. We had the spicy mason noodle. It was unbelievable. We also tried bubble tea for the first time at our server's urging. It was such a fun and fresh tasting drink. We decided on the honeydew melon flavor and would absolutely try another flavor. I can't wait to return, hopefully when the weather is warmer so I can enjoy the outside patio, and I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to everyone.
First off I would like to say the food is excellent! However everything else was poor at best. The service was slow, waitress unpleasant, and prices kinda high. I went with a group from work about 6 of us and it took over two hours to get our food.
(2)
Leah M.
Soooo disappointed! We were seated right away but then waited 20 minutes before we finally complained and our waiter appeared. The wine suggestion, their new cab, was completely tasteless and lacked body. Two of the three people in our party received their food while the third waited another 5 minutes for his. The noodles were mushy and over cooked and the chicken was dry. After he took our order, we didn't see our waiter again until he brought the check. We told him we were disappointed and he responded "sorry to hear that. Next time let your server know how you like it cooked". We weren't aware we needed to ask for our food to be prepared correctly... None of the meal was comped and no one seemed concerned that we were unhappy. My advice? Don't go to the Banana Leaf in Mason. I wish it was possible to not give any stars.
(1)
Amanda R.
This place is too cute. Awesome decor, great service (Waitress Molly was delightful) and an amazing energy. We ordered the Panang Chicken Curry Spice Level 5 and Chicken Pad Thai spice level 4. It was a beautiful presentation and the flavors were out of this world. Hats off to the chef !!! We will be returning and I recommend this place to people who love lots of amazing flavors.
(5)
Quan D.
Quick Review: A cozy environment with a delicious menu. Great place to come for a nice night out with a date or some friends. This cozy restaurant situated on the corner near 'downtown' Mason, has a very elegant and fanciful feel it, with a delicious cuisine to match. I'm told that the restaurant is in a former home (lending to the limited and eclectic seating arrangements) and that the third floor is even possibly haunted(?)... as long as the ghosts don't take my food... they don't bother me! Having read a few other reviews and seeing the limited seating, and due to the fact we were in town during a big tennis tournament, we made reservations via open table and were seated fairly close to our reservation time. Because it was a home, you'll find that there is no big dining room and there's on a few tables in each space, spread out through the house. This is nice to create a more intimate experience a minimize cross chatter from other guests. We opted for outside seats, which they have in their backyard, or on the side of the house, which is nice to get away from the sun. The only drawback to sitting outside... mosquitos... something I forgot about, having lived in CA for the past 10 years. Anyways, to the important things... the food! We opted for a duck curry dish and the pad thai with the egg netting. Both were delicious and prepared excellently with the amount of heat we requested (which was on the mild side, since I was dining with the lady... her taste buds are more delicate than mine). The curry was bold in flavor but not overwhelming the duck, and it was a nice consistency to pour over some rice. The pad thai was also nice prepared, the egg netting was kinda unique, doesn't add much to the flavor of the dish, but does enhance the visual appeal to a dish that's normally a mix. I complemented the meal with a nice lemongrass ale from KY... perfect for thai flavors! Very much recommended. I was also impressed with their selection of craft beers... did not expect that in this small town. All in all it was a good night, they seemed a bit overwhelmed since it was a small operation and probably a lot more people out due to the tournament in town. But they were courteous and just as I thought they forgot about us... there the sever came... would be glad to come back and see what else they have to offer!
(4)
Jarrod K.
Good food but overpriced for the quantity of food received. The spice level 0-5 is on the low side, so order a little higher than normal. Fancy environment and plating.
(3)
P B.
We tried lot of thai restaurants around Cicninati area. This one is the best so far. Bit pricey, but food was great. They dont make any dish sweet like other thai restaurants. But their service is not that great, probably because they have less people to serve. You will have to wait or call them by finding them from other tables. Not sure if others faced this. But I went their twice & faced the same prob. Anyways the quality of food matters to me. So 4 star. Definitely recommend others.
(4)
Megan H.
Ordered takeout, the food was good but a bit expensive. We will definitely try it again and eat at the restaurant next time!
(3)
E L.
We enjoy Banana Leaf every time we go. We also get carryout often and the food is always consistent. Pad Thai Goong with prawns is our favorite. Their specialty cocktails are also very good. This is a great place for date night (not a great place to take the kids) due to how tight the tables and dining spaces are. Love this original in the sea of chain restaurants in Mason and surrounding area.
(5)
Brandon W.
A long time ago when I came out to Ohio to visit my dad we went here for lunch. That was when he lived out there. (He has been wanting to write a review but keeps forgetting so I will do it). $80 dollars for two lunches. To completely different things. They looked exactly the same. The shrimp was like rubber. Took awhile to get our appetizer, drinks and food. Wasn't even busy. The net that was made with the egg was cool. I don't remember much but that's what I remember.
(2)
Lisa M.
Pros: love the ambiance, friendly waiters and good food. Order the Siam Basil...you won't regret it. Cons: small portion sizes and expensive prices. Also, the place has a limited number of seating, so if you're going for dinner or lunch, it's best to make a reservation. Overall, a great place to meet for business lunches, but you'd go broke eating here often.
(3)
Melissa O.
It was Mother's Day. I made a reservation for me and my daughter. We got in and seated very quickly. We were placed at a table for two that felt like we were in the main walk way. It didn't feel as comfortable as it could have. There was a table in the corner near the window that we would have preferred but they gave that table to a couple with a small child. The room and decor was very nice. The roses on the table were nice. I got a dish that was $24.00. It was very good but the portion size was small for $24.00 I dished out. The "bang bang" shrimp equivalent that my daughter got was $13.00 and should have come with a complimentary serving of rice for that price. The food tasted very good. It was very well put together and beautifully presented. If the prices were a little more reasonable I would probably go again and bring my husband. The outside of the restaurant was well done. I love the fountain and little spring with the flowers in it and the statues. The wait staff was friendly, but not overly so. The gift for mother's day was a chocolate dipped fortune cookie. I would have preferred free dessert and coffee. :) All of the food we got was delicious.
(3)
Peter G.
To start let me begin by saying we had a large group. 11 Adults and 1 infant. We had reservations so we were escorted to a room upstairs that accommodated all of us. Once seated we waited about 10 minutes before our server came and went over the menu items and then took our drink and dinner order. Most of us had looked at the menu and were ready to order. The server took the drink and dinner order and then disappeared for 35 minutes. No drinks, no one looking in to see if we were being taken care of. Finally the drinks arrived, nothing fancy to prepare, and we were all served. About 15 minutes later the appetizers arrived. They were tasty and not all of us ordered appetizers so there was not a large amount to serve. We are now about 1 hour into our 'dinner', and still no main dishes had been served, no one checked to see if we needed drinks refilled or if we wanted water. Finally about 1:20 min into dinner our main course started to arrive. This was totally disorganized, the servers did not know where the dishes were supposed to go, and to top it off, instead of all the meals arriving at the same time, or even reasonably close together, they trickled in one by one over a period of about 15 minutes. The excuse was that the chef was still preparing the last of the dishes that were to be served. My wife received her meal 15 minutes after I received mine. The food was good, unfortunately not all of us got to eat a hot meal while waiting for the other meals to be served. Once we all were close to finishing our meals, then another server appears and asks if anyone would like some water. Again, too little, too late. To sum up, I would not recommend this place just based on the service received. And the 20% tip they added to the bill is not justified for the lousy service. Yes it was a large group, but the expectation is that restaurants are no strangers as to how to with with such large groups, and they could have had more than one server working the area. The entire dining experience is a combination of good service and good food. My recommendation, order take-out.
(1)
Ritchy T.
1st time, also last time visit. Food was mediocre and extremely pricey for lunch. Both rice entrees were mushy with no flavor. Special sauce on Pad Thai was overpowering and spice level is weak. They stated a level 2 was medium, more like low to none. Presentation is above average but that's not what I would come back for. Modern Thai = Bad Thai.
(2)
Lizz R.
We randomly decided to stop in for an early Saturday dinner. I'm so glad we did! Great food, great service, and such an adorable interior. Definitely will return whenever I'm in the area.
(4)
Wendy R.
Stopped in for lunch. Both my hubby and I ordered curry. The flavors were very good but their service could use a lot of help. I was one of 3 tables and it took her a good 5 min to greet me. Then it took forever for her to come back for our orders. Coming from the service industry myself, it was pretty unacceptable to the 1.5 hours for lunch.
(3)
Shon M.
Very over priced! Very slow service. We have lived in Mason for over 10 years and finally decided to try Banana Leaf - big mistake. Restaurant was more than half empty and we had to search for our server any time we needed anything. No water and warm beer.... very disappointing!
(2)
Danielle T.
I will preface this review by saying that I have been coming here for several years generally for lunch and I have always enjoyed the food and service is always pleasant. That has not been the case my last 2 visits. I came for lunch several months a ago and it took 45min before I even had a water and I ended being there for 2hrs. Mind you this was during the week so I was going back to work. But the server was very apologetic and explained they were understaffed that day...so I figured it was an anomaly and didn't make a big deal of it. Today I returned with my sister and son and we had a terrible experience. Our appetizer was extremely salty, then our entrees arrived and I think we each had 6 noodles on our plates. My sister had the "lunch special" for $14 only $2 cheaper than the dinner portion but it was half the size of the dinner entree...which is why a lunch special usually includes a soup or salad. My entree was again extremely salty. I brought this to our servers attention and her only response was that she will let the chef know. No apology or any other offer to make it better. When we showed her how few noodles we had in our NOODLE dishes she told us they weigh the noodles. Again I have probably eaten there 20 times and I never had a lunch portion so small, especially considering the price. I will definitely not be back, we spent $60 for 2 lunch entrees and 2 appetizers and left hungry and even worse felt the customer service was awful. It's too bad they didn't treat a loyal customer better so they just lost one.
(2)
Rick H.
Red Curry. mmm mmm good.
(4)
Jamie B.
HOLY COW! Seriously the BEST food on the planet. Far and away our favorite Thai food, and probably our favorite restaurant in all of Cincy! If you haven't experienced Chef Pom's creations yet, GET OVER THERE!!!!!
(5)
Christina C.
For a Thai restaurant, this place is super overpriced! There was 5 of us in our party and the bill came out to $160! The restaurant has a good selection. For apps we ordered the sampler and the pancake. Loved the pancake and all the sauces with the sampler. The peanut sauce was my favorite! A few of us ordered the $24 pad Thai goong at different spice levels. I got it with a spice level of 5 and it wasn't spicy, it had more of a sweet taste from the peanut sauce that was in the pad thai. But the portion was a good size with huge prawns and a fried egg nest on top. The service was great and our waitress was very attentive. The food came out pretty fast as well, which was great. Without considering the price, I would give this place 4 stars but took it down 1 star because the menu is overpriced.
(3)
Stacy S.
When we arrived, I was so in love with the atmosphere. The outside decor is so cute and covered in lights, really attracting your eyes when driving by. When we went in, they asked if we had a reservation and they had informed us that they were typically reservation only, but they would see if they could fit us in. Luckily we only waited for about 10 minutes despite how busy they were, they seated us very fast for a Friday night with a full building. I ordered strawberry bubble tea, and it was the best bubble tea I have ever had in my life to date. The entree was very good as well, I ordered the Pad Csee Iew and my date had the Yellow Curry Fried Rice. Very good. Always highly recommended.
(5)
Curt M.
Good food and service. A little pricey. Needs a bar area. They have two tables in the "living room" with no ambiance. REALLY high on the alcohol and small pours on the wine. If I am paying $13 for a glass of wine that is $25 a bottle at the store, at least give me a generous pour?!
Spice was on for the most part. Ask for the 5 -Thai hot. Then if you are a true Thai lover ask for more peppers. Price was high. Flavor is right on. Staff is friendly. Aesthetics of the place were pleasant and In a nice town. Would definitely return.
(4)
Mark C.
What a pleasant and delicious meal. I had the yellow curry special and the veg and sauce were expertly prepared. Appetizer of summer rolls was light and tasty-and it had avocado inside which was a nice twist. Waitstaff was excellent and very helpful. Restaurant decor was attractive and the place was very clean, including the bathroom. My only suggestion would be to lower the volume of the music a little. I look forward to eating here again on my next visit to Mason!
(4)
Lauren L.
Overpriced and too sweet. No one in my family could finish their meals because they were overly sweet.
(2)
C Z.
Make a reservation! I counted only 6 tables here. ...and plan to be there a while. This is more than dinner, it's and event! We were there 3 hours!!! From what I could tell, this is a husband and wife (???) owned restaurant. The wife sat us and took our order, the husband is the cook and server...thats it, no one else. The great thing about this is they really know their food! They were able to answer all my questions about their menu and their food and give great recommendations. It was evident they really cared about making you feel welcomed and about your satisfaction. Everything is prepared and made there. You can taste the freshness in every dish. It is a bit pricey...for an appetizer, 2 curries, 2 ginger beers, and 2 thai teas it was $70. Great place for a special occasion.
(4)
Kurtis D.
Ordered Tom Kha Soup (Coconut milk soup) today during lunch. It was overpriced and too sweet. I was having really strong cravings for this soup and was highly disappointed. I give 3 stars for ambience and 2 stars for the soup. It was a take-out order, therefore, I cannot comment on the service. Except that I wasn't given a bag, napkin or spoon for my soup. I'll let you be the judge.
Creative and delicious. 10 min. from parks - a wonderful break from the fare food.
(5)
Phil S.
Beautiful decor, obvious attention to detail in every regard, exemplary service and hospitality and original inventive inspired food. From the chef to the wait staff we felt immediately at home. This is a place that cares about it's patrons and cares about food. The highlight of our visit to The Mason, West Chester area
(4)
Chris G.
We came here here shortly after it opened, but had not made it back until recently. We decided to go back for lunch. I made an Open Table reservation in the late morning, but when we arrived the host/waitress told me they didn't have one and didn't accept ones under 24 hours. (However, Open Table contacted me on behalf of Banana Leaf to ask why I didn't show up!) The restaurant was busy, but not packed and yet only the one host/waitress. The food was amazing. Five stars! (It was amazing on our first visit way back, too.). However, with only the one employee it took awhile to order, get food, refills, check, etc. It has improved since our first visit, as the food arrived at the same time for all tables. This is an improvement, but there is still work to be done in the service area to equal the food.
(3)
Keith M.
I stopped by Banana Leaf to get a "to-go" order so I can't speak about the service. But the lady at the front was not very nice. I walked in and she was just kind of rude, and told me to wait for the host. I did. Two minutes later she came back (same woman) and asked how to help me. It was odd. She was not friendly and I thought her attitude belonged more in retail than in a small restaurant. I ordered Pad-Thai, and it was $18. I was floored. That is NYC prices in Mason, OH (where?). I guess the prices go along with the high class attitude. But really? $18 for a plate of noodles? The male server was much friendlier and nicer. Now, for the food. The Pad-Thai was good. But NYC good? Absolutely not. I've had better Pad Thai for $8. The portion was also small. I was still hungry and stopped at Subway later. I can't recommend this place based on price, and the poor service. It was decent food at a very high price with nominal service.
(1)
Brandi C.
absolutely delicious and flavorful food! I have always been pleased with their service. portions are a bit on the small side; recommending appetizers.
(4)
Andy N.
The terrible service and atmosphere outweigh the great food. The "service" at Banana Leaf is terrible. We had reservations, and were seated immediately, but service from there on was beyond poor. It is really a shame because the food was outstanding. Just for reference, our appetizer arrived 15 minutes after eating a meal that our beverages were empty for the duration of. The server practically ignored us and didn't deliver on our requests.
(1)
Gary R.
This is a great Thai restaurant located in old Mason. The building is historic and they have done a nice job converting to a relaxing and classy dining ambiance. They have all the typical Thai dishes. I have eaten here several times and enjoyed every dish. Service is a bit on the slow side and the price is double what I typically expect at other similar Thai restaurants. This is all that keeps the rating down to 3 stars. It will also slow my return visits with other good Thai places nearby.
(3)
Shannon Q.
I'm not sure why I haven't been here before last night, but I have definitely been missing out! The curry special had such great flavor and presentation. I also loved sharing the tofu tower with my table mates. Everything was so good, fresh and the perfect temperature when it came out to us. Even though it's really good, I still think it is a bit pricey, but I can justify it for a special night or a once a month lunch. Yum! I'll definitely be heading back soon.
Ok, this place is nice. There isn't a lot of seating, and the parking was easy to miss. It's like a hundred year old house has been retrofitted into a restaurant. This gives it a ton of character, but really isn't the most efficient use of the square footage. But enough about the architecture... what about the food? I go the pad thai and coconut bubble drink. I asked for it as hot as they would make it, and maybe it was the cold coconut drink, but I could have used some extra hot oil. Still, it was an acceptable level of heat and really great flavor. The portion was a little small, but I guess we were ordering off the lunch menu. I feel that last comment is a bit misleading. It was a good amount of food for lunch, and at a good price. I think my perception has been skewed by places that give you enough food for lunch and dinner (and at twice the price...) I don't want to give the impression that it was inexpensive, like dollar menu at fast food place inexpensive, but for the atmosphere I felt it was a good deal. That, or I've been eating downtown too long! My only complaint was that my coconut bubble drink had too much ice instead of drink. The bottom line is, this is a charming place for a good thai meal!
(4)
Steve T.
My first dining experience at Banana Leaf on Saturday night was a disappointing one. The restaurant offers an intimate decor with an upscale touch. The service was solid with lots of recommendations on the specials of the evening. However, the food was quite underwhelming. I had the masamun curry chicken and ordered a spicy level 4 (0-5 was offered). I found the curry dish to be non-flavorful, the sauce on the thin side and the spice level was a 3 at best. It was even less spicy than our wife's level 3 pineapple curry. Here is a breakdown of the overall experience: Decor - 4 stars Service - 4 stars Food - 1 star
(2)
Bree P.
OK, a couple of things you must know first before going. Plan to be there for awhile. This is no in-and-out type of place, nor should it be for the price. That said, the food is amazing. We reserve this spot for date night because with kids (3 of them) the bill can get up there. The massaman curry is so incredibly good that I will not order anything else. My husband has, however, and his dishes have been equally flavorful. We have had the pineapple fried rice, drunken noodle, and another eggplant curry (can't remember the name) and all were impressive. I've also come here with my mom for a nice lunch and she was so impressed she took my father for lunch there that same week.
(5)
Mike L.
The food here was delicious. I had the Pad Thai Goon. Highly recommend this dish to those who like fresh shrimp. The dishes here are put together nicely. My only negative review would be that the service was slow. Allow plenty of time.
(4)
Steve A.
Every time I come here the food is great. The atmosphere in the redone house is always a little weird but still comfortable and inviting. I absolutely love the pineapple fried rice served in a half pineapple. Good wine selection also.
(5)
Elizabeth E.
Visited Banana Leaf for the first time last night. Had a great experience. Ordered duck tacos for an appetizer and these were great. For my dinner I ordered the pad Thai goong and it was pretty good. Loved the restaurant setting in the old house. It was very cool. Service was pretty good and the chef came and personally asked us how we liked the meal which was very nice and made our experience even better. I will be back.
(4)
Jennifer H.
What a cool place. We brought our two boys and they loved it. Started out with the Bird Nest Shrimp appetizer and it was a hit. All of our dishes were very good. Love the atmosphere too
(5)
Steve S.
Had lunch today with a business friend, service was excellent, spring rolls perfect and curry was just right. Will try a little more spice on scale next time on the Panang curry but it exceeded my expectations. Great vegetables cooked perfect(not over cooked )
(5)
Nate G.
The food was ok, way over priced, and you don't get what you pay for. I ordered the cashew chicken. I'm sure there's other good items. But I haven't been back since the first time I tried it, it's been a couple years. There's just too many other places to satisfy an Asian cuisine craving.
(2)
Guy B.
Hope the owner reads this. I don't want to just complain but hope he can make changes to make this a great experience. My son and I have been to Thailand and really love the food. Came on a recommendation and was so disappointed. Waitress was clueless and didn't know to ask what level of heat we wanted. We asked her where the scale started and she said 0. Ordered Tom Yum soup. ($12 for 2) Watery and too little flavor. Followed with order of Pot Stickers. 4 very small ones were served. Again little flavor including the dipping sauce. Couldn't take any Ginger. Ordered Green Beans with garlic Sauce (Amazingly $11) At that price expected something special. Think again, very little sauce and no trace of garlic flavor. Final dish was Special Beef ($19). A huge disappointment. Claimed it was marinated but virtually no flavor. Supposed to be grilled but seemed to be stir-fried. Tough and flavorless. Should have used Flank Steak or Filet but it was something less. Virtually no heat which is one of the pleasures of Thai food. This was also served with green beans but there was NO sauce. Must have been steamed not stir fried. Conclusion, the owner is taking advantage of people who don't know any better. I think he is someone who hasn't tasted his own food in a loooooooooog time. At these prices, patrons deserve better.
(2)
Linda S.
Beautiful restaurant, excellent food. Best Thai we've eaten in area.We had the seasonal lettuce wraps appetizer with mango and shrimp.They were both good sized and very fresh and flavorful.We ordered the salmon and ginger rice seasonal special and chicken pad Thai. Both were superb. The salmon steak was cooked to perfection and the ginger rice was so unique and delicious. Pad Thai was excellent as well. The food presentation is also beautiful. Katie was our sever. She's a sweet recent high school grad who was attentive and knowledgeable. The owner/chef Pom came out later to ask us how our meal was and welcomed us as first time guests. Very nice man. Don't go there and later complain about the prices or how long you waited for your entrees. on Yelp. This isn't Thai Express. It's gourmet Thai food that is prepared to order by a real chef.
(5)
M Z.
So incredibly disappointed with service. Food is excellent but customer service needs LOTS of help. I have been a regular customer for almost a year and they don't even know who I am.
(1)
Wayne F.
We are from Chicago and have plenty of options for Thai food. Banana Leaf blows the places in Chicago out of the water!!!! The curry is unbelievably flavorful and the options for spice are great. The vegetable rolls are wonderful. Our server was extremely knowledgable and helpful without being obtrusive. The kitchen was a little slow but each dish is made fresh. Decor was very inviting. An absolute must if staying in the region. What a find!!!
(5)
Krystyna C.
I went here with a co-worker for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon a few weeks ago. I was really craving some pad thai and figured this place would be a good bet to find it. Banana Leaf is really a more "upscale" Thai place with the white linen tablecloths and fancy tropical tea. The layout of the restaurant is really goofy because it is an old house that was converted so the tables feel really cramped together. You definitely need to be okay with close quarters when you come here. The pad Thai was really good. It came out steaming hot and I was able to get the heat level I wanted. Our server though, she really ruined it. As my co-worker and I were finishing lunch, three fairly large groups were seated in our area and she quickly focused her attention to them and forgot about us: the two women sitting in the corner with napkins on plates, credit cards in hand, ready to pay and get out of there. It took us 10 minutes to get her attention and another 10 to get her to bring us back our cards. When you only have an hour for lunch, this is unacceptable. Luckily for me, I won't be working in Mason for much longer, so I won't worry about getting in and out for lunch again. But I wouldn't mind coming back for dinner, if I was in the area, and didn't have a time constraint.
(3)
Rory B.
i went in a few days ago and it was up to par. the food was still great but this time the staff was far more attentive and kept everything moving. two younger girls were taking care of the tables and i couldn't be happier with, in my humble opinion, the new and improved banana leaf. i will go back far more often now!
(4)
Courty B.
We'd been eying this place in downtown Mason for awhile. We had heard the haunted stories, the name and menu looked interesting, and we love the historic building. We finally visited, and while the food was above average, we weren't blown away. Service was a little slow and awkward (please don't make me ask for water, then make me ask for a refill every time!!!). I can usually overlook sub-par service, but the restaurant's prices are too high for crappy service. In fact, the prices are our #1 complaint. Servings were a bit small, although tasty. If we order a beef dish, it should at least come with rice. Please don't make us pay extra for a side of sticky rice or bok choy. Kind of ridiculous at an Asian restaurant, especially when they are a dime a dozen in the rest of Cincinnati. Stick with some of the other Thai places around town - they may be a little less refined in decor and presentation, but the prices and portions are more reasonable.
(3)
Chris O.
We made a reservation for dinner. They did not seat us when we arrived, but did seat a group of our exact size who walked in after us without a reservation. The hostess literally gets into an argument with us about the time of our reservation, until she looks it up in her book and realizing we were correct. I understand mistaking the time but it's just weird and awkward to argue with us about it. This should have been a sign for things to come and we should have simply left. After we were sat it was 30 mins till we received drinks, an hour and a half till we received our appetizers. When the entrees arrived two of them were cold. The whole dinner took just over 3 hours and I received one refill. It's a shame because the building is very nice, in a nice area, and the food (when served hot) is good. NOT worth putting up with the service!
(1)
Rene B.
I cannot get enough of this place - I wish it was closer to the city! They make their noodles by hand every morning, the peanut sauce is to die for and the service is usually very attentive. They have a beautiful water garden outside to enjoy in the summer. It is by far the best Thai food I have found in Cincinnati, better than any of the good Thai places in Hyde Park or Clifton.
(5)
Cobblestone Village V.
We dined at the Banana Leaf for the first time as a party of four and found it superb! The way the chef blends flavors together is outstanding! We had a variety of choices from the menu and each one was excellent! Keep up the good effort we will be back. One more thing... Nancy, our server gave us excellent service as well.
(5)
Glen G.
My favorite local thai restaurant is located in an old house that was the site of many previously failed restaurants. Supposedly haunted, the staff here can tell some good stories about the ghost and happenings... The food is excellent and the first place I ever tried a bubble tea. Definitely an acquired taste and I can't help almost choking on the tapioca balls when I suck them through the enormous straw. Big fan of the red curry and a mid-high spice level. The staff is spotty at best, though, which is the only drawback to this wonderful little restaurant. It's gotten better since it has opened but finding good waitstaff for a non-chain restaurant (meaning you have to know how to do your job) is difficult I assume. Definitely go... just don't be in a hurry and if you find a good weather day sit in their back patio which has just a couple seats. Great place to have a mid-day lunch with the wife!
(4)
Steve L.
GO! Service was perfect. Food could not have been better...all four in our party agreed. A bit pricey, but we got what we paid for and more.
(5)
Irish F.
First the good...beautiful little place in an old building with limited cozy seating. Hostess was also lone server and very well versed at items and up-selling the menu. The bad...you will pay a lot for a little. Food is good but not a stand out. Pad Thai (chicken) was $15 and portion small. Must have been that banana leaf underneath to warrant the cost. Server pushed the Thai Grilled Beef ($19) and mentioned that chef recommends baby bok choy and sticky rice with it. This entree was actually about 5-6 oz of sliced beef that was nothing special served on a large lettuce leaf with a side of thai type dressing for dipping. The sides were served without request or disclosure of cost. 3 pieces of bok choy and sticky rice with a very hard exterior. $8 added to the already way overpriced entree on the bill. You will be still hungry after that $27 dish. The rice was inedible with that exterior crustiness. Skip the pricey food and go to enjoy the very elaborate rock garden installed in the back. Banana Leaf Modern Thai will likely not make it unless it expands the seating capacity and lowers the prices while improving the service.
(2)
Will H.
Wow I really wanted to love banana leaf... we were passing through mason looking to have lunch. Our initial stop was closed (Wildflower Cafe) so we thought this place looked cute which it certainly is! They have very pretty outside garden and the decor inside is very modern in an antique house for a very interesting look. We were seated promtly by a very friendly waiter who was obviously busy. We took a look at the menus and were wide eye'd shocked. Thai food for $13-20 per plate. woah! I expect things like that for a dinner menu but not for lunch. my bad for not doing my research on yelp first i guess. I had the "drunken noodle with shrimp" dish. I've had similar dishes in the past and they have been very good. This dish had a lot of potential, fresh veggies, fresh herbs, nicely textured flat and thick noodles, deliciously large shrimp. This dish had the potential to be delicious and actually quite healthy. But then the entire thing was drowned in oil of some sort, there was probably a good 1/8" pool of oil in the bottom of my dish when I was done... it hid the potential flavor of the dish i feel. Plus for $17 I felt like the portion was pretty small. My sister-in-law's eggplant dish seemed very similarly prepared. While the dishes were good, I feel like a "less is more" approach would have made the dishes even better. That being said, my wife ordered some sort of curry dish with rice that was fantastic. the rice was fluffy, the portion was very generous and I couldnt stop trying to steal bites from her plate (she wasn't very sharing!). If you are a first timer, the curry wasnt overwhelming like some places, you should definitely try these dishes. Our server was friendly and attentive and did a good job working the tables he had. And they were willing to split a check which is always nice.
(3)
Deb M.
Slow service and the rudest waiter. Wouldn't crack a smile to save his life. Pad Thai was burned and way too sweet. Quaint doesn't cut it. You need more than a cute old building in Mason to have a good business.
(2)
Amanda F.
Visited on a Saturday evening around 6:30 with my husband and in laws. We had a reservation and were seated quickly in our own small dining area upstairs. We were immediately greeted by our server, who come to find out was also the owner. She was very polite and offered suggestions and help with the menu. Over all the meal was excellent. I really enjoyed the Banana Leaf Pad Thai which was way more than I could eat. I like that you can select he heat level of each dish from 1 to 5. We will be going back to hopefully sit on their lovely (but small) patio outside.
(4)
Stacy K.
Very cute place operating in an old house in downtown Mason, with stylish, spare decor inside. I joined two friends here for lunch on a Sunday; we ordered pad thai, curry fried rice, and summer rolls. The flavor was excellent - one of my friends proclaimed the pad Thai to be some of the best he'd had not only in Cincinnati, but also in other cities. The main drawback for me was the steep prices compared to other Thai restaurants - as in not much under $15 even for meatless versions (unless you are doing apps or soup). The portions were small given the higher prices - unlikely that you'll leave with leftovers. We were forced to order from the dinner menu as the lunch menu is only available Monday-Friday. I plan to go back during the week for lunch. Highly recommend this place if you are looking for a more upscale Thai experience. The prices and portion sizes keep me from giving it 5-stars, but without a doubt one of the best Thai restaurants in Cincinnati. Although there was seating in the upstairs area, it seems to be a smallish place - would recommend reservations if you are going at a busy time!
(4)
Trisha K.
Banana Leaf is in an old house in downtown Mason with convenient parking around back. The restaurant is so cute from the outside and inside! The staff was VERY friendly and fun from the moment we walked in the door. They escorted us up to the 2nd floor to dine in the 'Purple Room', which was the perfect atmosphere for our girly birthday celebration! We started off with a white wine blend, then ordered the appetizer sampler. I really enjoyed the spring rolls and chicken satay, not to mention all 3 of the delicious house-made sauces. The Papaya Salad was an interesting blend of flavors, but if I never had it again, so what. Then we ordered 2 entrees to share; Spicy Eggplant with Cashews and Panang Chicken Curry. I dislike eggplant, so not surprisingly, I wasn't a fan, BUT the Panang Curry was AWESOME. I wanted to eat more, but had no room. They make it very saucey and it was thicker than I expected, which I LOVED! You had a choice of brown or jasmine rice and the jasmine rice was excellent. I definitely need to return and I am thinking very soon! WARNING: We ordered a spice level of 2, however, it felt more like a 6. Again, I want to mention how friendly and fun the staff is at Banana Leaf. Everyone from the hostess to our server to the person who dropped off our food. Everyone made an excellent impression! GOOD JOB ALL!
(4)
Fei X.
Really cute place in a remodeled old house. It's very cozy and modern. The food is good but a little pricy. Good place to go for a date.
(3)
Brad R.
We had a very nice dinner here on a Saturday night. Made reservations with open table and were seated right when we arrived. Had the chef special pumpkin curry with pork and a Pad Thai with shrimp. Oh, and a chocolate lava cake - friendly helpful staff and we were greeted by the chef on the way out - spent a few minutes talking about his growing up in Thailand and our vacations there.
(4)
Greg F.
I've been to Banana Leaf several times spanning from shortly after it opened until as recently as this week, so I feel the sample size is large enough to form a strong opinion; and my opinion is that it is, unfortunately, just OK. I say "unfortunately" because, living in Mason, I really would like this unique restaurant to be successful, but over the course of that time I don't see them having addressed the same issues that have been noted in so many reviews to date: slightly overpriced for good, but not great, food and below average service. Don't get me wrong, I gave it 3 stars because it is unique, the food is good, and the service is friendly. The problem is that friendly service does not equal good service, and plenty of others on this site have accurately provided specifics of the service issues, so I won't bother repeating them. So my fear is that people won't be willing to pay these prices for merely good food when the service is spotty. I hope it makes it, and I might go back because it's local, but 3 stars is as generous as I can be.
(3)
Brian H.
I recently moved out to the 'burbs with my girlfriend and we were trying to find a good Thai restaurant. Well after many unsatisfying trips to a few strip mall places whose main dish was chicken fried rice, we came across Banana Leaf. I've had Thai food from all over the world and this place nails it. The atmosphere in the old house is very laid back but the patio on the back is a little noisy considering its right next to a busy intersection. Anyways, the food is fantastic. Pad Thai, which is a dish so popular that most places have "made to order" is actually amazing at Banana Leaf. I've had 85% of whats on the menu and everything is great. The staff are also very friendly and in the dozen or so times we've been there, have never had an issue with service. My only gripe about the place are the prices. I feel the only reason the restaurant is so expensive is because it's located in an upper middle class suburb. The sad part is this place is never busy and since it doesn't cater to families with kids, it probably won't last too long in Mason. Hopefully the owner plans on opening another location.
(4)
Tim P.
Pretty good Thai food. Not sure if the prices are justified, but the food was good. Services is also friendly and quick. It would be nice to see this restaurant take off in the town centre, but the prices should really be adjusted a bit down.
(3)
Tara B.
In short: lacking atmosphere, too expensive, pushy staff. Tried this for the first time during a night out with the husband. We were the only ones in the place. Took 10 minutes to get our water. Room was eerily quiet. Owner came in to change batteries in other tables' fake candles while we were sitting there. Annoying, considering it was so quiet in the room and she could hear everything we were saying. Then she tried to sell me on an expensive dish assuming I loved freshwater prawns and a fancy egg lace on top of the pad thai. Not interested. Food was good but not knock-your-socks-off good, which it should be for the price. Waitress was nice but tried to take my husband's plate away while he was still eating and we were left with no water most of the meal. We won't be back.
(2)
Lisa K.
We tried this restaurant for the first time last Saturday. Took a long time to get drinks, then the food came and it was all cold. We didn't stay to actually try it. I would not recommend this place.
(1)
Jenni S.
Banana Leaf is housed is in a cute 2-level house on Main St. in downtown Mason. Plenty of parking. The menu is quite extensive! My husband had an amazing Tom Ka soup (spiced perfectly at level 4) to start. I ordered the Tom Yum soup that was good but not the best I've ever had (and not spicy enough to be a 4 out of 5!). For entree, my husband ordered the roasted carrot curry with brown rice. It was simply divine. I ordered the Banana Leaf sampler, which included 2 summer rolls, 2 spring rolls, 2 chicken satay skewers, and a papaya salad, along with 3 dipping sauces. I really enjoyed everything but the fried spring rolls (too greasy for my liking). The peanut sauce was clearly the best of the 3 choices. My favorite part of the meal was the papaya salad. Tasty and unique. Good wine selection too. Our server was super nice albeit a little clueless. The service was pretty slow, but we tried not to fret about it. We'll definitely go back!
First off, it's Thai, not Taiwanese. And this is the real deal - real Thai food. Not generic Thai food. This is, bar none, the best Thai food in SW Ohio. Maybe farther. The Pad Thai is incredible and Curry is as good as I have ever had. They grow their own herbs, everything is from scratch and high quality, the outside seating by the water garden is lovely. I couldn't recommend this place more. The staff were perfect and the chef even came out to talk to us. The entrees are moderately priced ($15-19), but quite reasonable given the quality and portion size - first rate in all respects.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Ameet C.
I moved to Mason a month ago and had friends help us move. As a "thank you", I asked my friends " I want to take you guys out to a late lunch, where would you like to go" and the unanimous answer was "Thai food". A quick Yelp search revealed that Banana Leaf was just a hop,skip and jump away from my new place, so off we went. Now we were under dressed for this place. It is in an old home and is beautifully decorated. The server and the hostess were warm and inviting and we were promptly seated. I ordered a Penang Curry with rice and of course, I can handle spicy so I asked it with max spice level. The curry was delicious and it was presented in a beautiful dish. The quantity was adequate. Overall, this is a great place for a casual dinner, a date night dinner or a birthday party. I would go there again...
(4)Katie K.
The food was good, but nothing stood out with our meal. The staff was very friendly and the ambiance was nice. Our lunch took a very long time to come from the kitchen, and we were the only ones in the place for 20 minutes. It was also very expensive for the portion size. I wouldn't object to go back, but I am also in no rush.
(3)Eric R.
Good Thai food with a bit of a different twist. The best way to describe this place is fancy Thai food. Basically it's like a nice bistro style applied to signature Thai dishes with a few different takes thrown in and wrapped up with a finer presentation. The setting is nicely placed in a re-purposed old house. The service is handled with an attempt at a higher attention to detail and the customer in mind (fine dining approach). I was pretty pumped to try the mango sticky rice and while the presentation was good... it wasn't all that exciting in the flavor department.
(4)Mitch H.
First time at Banana Lead and it was a great experience. Went there for lunch and they were on top of the service and didn't have to wait long for our food. Server was great giving us an overview of the restaurant and selling me in an infused tea that was made by the chef and delicious. Food was seasoned and cooked perfectly and was outstanding. Will definitely return
(5)Bridget S.
After searching for a halfway decent Thai restaurant in Cincinnati the past year, I finally found my go-to near my work out in Mason. I came here for lunch during the week and ordered the pad Thai dish (spicy level 2 out of 0-5). The service wasn't very quick, but it was worth the wait. The restaurant is actually an old house and they have tables in the rooms upstairs and downstairs.
(4)Jamie S.
Very good Thai food. Cute, old house. Cozy room with 5-7 tables, patio dining available, too. Mango bubble tea - sweet and refreshing. Pad Thai very flavorful; nice portion but not a huge "American sized" portion. Panang curry perfect blend of flavors. Spicy scale 0-5. 2 was a good balance of spicy but not too spicy.
(4)Adrienne A.
Let me start out by saying that this is Americanized Thai which is fine if that's what you're craving but don't expect anything too authentic. I came here for lunch with some friends. The place itself is pretty nice except I can't say too much for the indoor seating since we sat at the patio. The plants surrounding you outside was a nice touch. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the food itself. I ordered the Thai iced tea I thought was really sweet, but I just prefer stronger iced teas so I was overall neutral about it. I also got the pas csee iew which was so salty which completely overpowered any other flavor. I really wanted to like this place but the salt completely ruined the experience for me. My friend got a Thai salad which was bigger than my noodles but it definitely wasn't worth the $18 she spent and that's considered a lunch special. The leeway to my rating mainly goes to my waitress who was nice and happily took a couple pictures of us. I also want to add that Banana Leaf rates their spice levels from 1-5 and knowing that I do like spicy food, I got a 4. The 4 was not spicy at all to me, just spicy enough that I tasted it but that's all. If you like spicy food too, don't be afraid to go for a 5.
(2)Ken M.
Nice date spot if your are still in the dating , but if you are a couple or a married , just go to noodles and company. We had good service , and a nice waiter but the Pad Thai was pretty average .
(3)Leif H.
Banana Leaf would be considered more of an upscale Thai restaurant. The ambience is the only portion of the upscale part that holds true. They do take reservations, which is a plus. The food is tasty, but not for the price that they charge. The service could use some work. We began with the lettuce wraps. They were good, but overpriced. For entrees, we had the yellow curry fried rice and the banana leaf pad Thai. The yellow curry fried rice was excellent. I would order it again. The pad Thai fell short of what was expected. The peanut flavor overpowers anything else in the dish. The restaurant is cozy and on a nice day, the patio would be a pleasant change from inside. If you want a nice evening, this would suffice. If you want good Thai food at a good price, I would recommend checking your yelp app.
(3)Patrick H.
You know that "evil Hercules" gif where Kevin Sorbo is just screaming "disapPOINTed" at the sky? That's how I feel. We got there at 6:30, were seated relatively quickly. We got to place our order around 7, then got our food around 7:30. The food was competent but not special; it was CERTAINLY not worth the price. Then I got an email from OpenTable chastising me for not showing up for my reservation, which I had to contest. Jerks.
(1)Kimberly J.
My boyfriend and I stopped by on a whim while passing through Mason. It's situated in an older building on the corner and has some very pretty landscaping outside. We went during lunch time on a Saturday and were virtually the only ones inside. However, the server was wonderful! We chatted about his recommendations and finally settled on the Banana Leaf Sampler to start. It comes with chicken satay, spring rolls, summer rolls and papaya salad. Plus 3 really cool and really yummy sauces that went with everything! It was all very tasty and beautifully presented but the papaya salad was my absolute favorite, really fresh interesting flavor. A must try, for sure. We had the spicy mason noodle. It was unbelievable. We also tried bubble tea for the first time at our server's urging. It was such a fun and fresh tasting drink. We decided on the honeydew melon flavor and would absolutely try another flavor. I can't wait to return, hopefully when the weather is warmer so I can enjoy the outside patio, and I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to everyone.
(5)April P.
Such a disappointment! Entrée s came out one at a time. After waiting 10 min the last meal had to be sent back bc it didn't meet the medical requirements requested....sauce on side due to sodium after heart surgery. 20 minutes later while all meals were cold the meal arrived. When we arrived there was an unhappy couple and a table complaining about not being waited on. That should have been a sign. Beautiful building and water fearure.
(1)Matthew C.
First off I would like to say the food is excellent! However everything else was poor at best. The service was slow, waitress unpleasant, and prices kinda high. I went with a group from work about 6 of us and it took over two hours to get our food.
(2)Leah M.
Soooo disappointed! We were seated right away but then waited 20 minutes before we finally complained and our waiter appeared. The wine suggestion, their new cab, was completely tasteless and lacked body. Two of the three people in our party received their food while the third waited another 5 minutes for his. The noodles were mushy and over cooked and the chicken was dry. After he took our order, we didn't see our waiter again until he brought the check. We told him we were disappointed and he responded "sorry to hear that. Next time let your server know how you like it cooked". We weren't aware we needed to ask for our food to be prepared correctly... None of the meal was comped and no one seemed concerned that we were unhappy. My advice? Don't go to the Banana Leaf in Mason. I wish it was possible to not give any stars.
(1)Amanda R.
This place is too cute. Awesome decor, great service (Waitress Molly was delightful) and an amazing energy. We ordered the Panang Chicken Curry Spice Level 5 and Chicken Pad Thai spice level 4. It was a beautiful presentation and the flavors were out of this world. Hats off to the chef !!! We will be returning and I recommend this place to people who love lots of amazing flavors.
(5)Quan D.
Quick Review: A cozy environment with a delicious menu. Great place to come for a nice night out with a date or some friends. This cozy restaurant situated on the corner near 'downtown' Mason, has a very elegant and fanciful feel it, with a delicious cuisine to match. I'm told that the restaurant is in a former home (lending to the limited and eclectic seating arrangements) and that the third floor is even possibly haunted(?)... as long as the ghosts don't take my food... they don't bother me! Having read a few other reviews and seeing the limited seating, and due to the fact we were in town during a big tennis tournament, we made reservations via open table and were seated fairly close to our reservation time. Because it was a home, you'll find that there is no big dining room and there's on a few tables in each space, spread out through the house. This is nice to create a more intimate experience a minimize cross chatter from other guests. We opted for outside seats, which they have in their backyard, or on the side of the house, which is nice to get away from the sun. The only drawback to sitting outside... mosquitos... something I forgot about, having lived in CA for the past 10 years. Anyways, to the important things... the food! We opted for a duck curry dish and the pad thai with the egg netting. Both were delicious and prepared excellently with the amount of heat we requested (which was on the mild side, since I was dining with the lady... her taste buds are more delicate than mine). The curry was bold in flavor but not overwhelming the duck, and it was a nice consistency to pour over some rice. The pad thai was also nice prepared, the egg netting was kinda unique, doesn't add much to the flavor of the dish, but does enhance the visual appeal to a dish that's normally a mix. I complemented the meal with a nice lemongrass ale from KY... perfect for thai flavors! Very much recommended. I was also impressed with their selection of craft beers... did not expect that in this small town. All in all it was a good night, they seemed a bit overwhelmed since it was a small operation and probably a lot more people out due to the tournament in town. But they were courteous and just as I thought they forgot about us... there the sever came... would be glad to come back and see what else they have to offer!
(4)Jarrod K.
Good food but overpriced for the quantity of food received. The spice level 0-5 is on the low side, so order a little higher than normal. Fancy environment and plating.
(3)P B.
We tried lot of thai restaurants around Cicninati area. This one is the best so far. Bit pricey, but food was great. They dont make any dish sweet like other thai restaurants. But their service is not that great, probably because they have less people to serve. You will have to wait or call them by finding them from other tables. Not sure if others faced this. But I went their twice & faced the same prob. Anyways the quality of food matters to me. So 4 star. Definitely recommend others.
(4)Megan H.
Ordered takeout, the food was good but a bit expensive. We will definitely try it again and eat at the restaurant next time!
(3)E L.
We enjoy Banana Leaf every time we go. We also get carryout often and the food is always consistent. Pad Thai Goong with prawns is our favorite. Their specialty cocktails are also very good. This is a great place for date night (not a great place to take the kids) due to how tight the tables and dining spaces are. Love this original in the sea of chain restaurants in Mason and surrounding area.
(5)Brandon W.
A long time ago when I came out to Ohio to visit my dad we went here for lunch. That was when he lived out there. (He has been wanting to write a review but keeps forgetting so I will do it). $80 dollars for two lunches. To completely different things. They looked exactly the same. The shrimp was like rubber. Took awhile to get our appetizer, drinks and food. Wasn't even busy. The net that was made with the egg was cool. I don't remember much but that's what I remember.
(2)Lisa M.
Pros: love the ambiance, friendly waiters and good food. Order the Siam Basil...you won't regret it. Cons: small portion sizes and expensive prices. Also, the place has a limited number of seating, so if you're going for dinner or lunch, it's best to make a reservation. Overall, a great place to meet for business lunches, but you'd go broke eating here often.
(3)Melissa O.
It was Mother's Day. I made a reservation for me and my daughter. We got in and seated very quickly. We were placed at a table for two that felt like we were in the main walk way. It didn't feel as comfortable as it could have. There was a table in the corner near the window that we would have preferred but they gave that table to a couple with a small child. The room and decor was very nice. The roses on the table were nice. I got a dish that was $24.00. It was very good but the portion size was small for $24.00 I dished out. The "bang bang" shrimp equivalent that my daughter got was $13.00 and should have come with a complimentary serving of rice for that price. The food tasted very good. It was very well put together and beautifully presented. If the prices were a little more reasonable I would probably go again and bring my husband. The outside of the restaurant was well done. I love the fountain and little spring with the flowers in it and the statues. The wait staff was friendly, but not overly so. The gift for mother's day was a chocolate dipped fortune cookie. I would have preferred free dessert and coffee. :) All of the food we got was delicious.
(3)Peter G.
To start let me begin by saying we had a large group. 11 Adults and 1 infant. We had reservations so we were escorted to a room upstairs that accommodated all of us. Once seated we waited about 10 minutes before our server came and went over the menu items and then took our drink and dinner order. Most of us had looked at the menu and were ready to order. The server took the drink and dinner order and then disappeared for 35 minutes. No drinks, no one looking in to see if we were being taken care of. Finally the drinks arrived, nothing fancy to prepare, and we were all served. About 15 minutes later the appetizers arrived. They were tasty and not all of us ordered appetizers so there was not a large amount to serve. We are now about 1 hour into our 'dinner', and still no main dishes had been served, no one checked to see if we needed drinks refilled or if we wanted water. Finally about 1:20 min into dinner our main course started to arrive. This was totally disorganized, the servers did not know where the dishes were supposed to go, and to top it off, instead of all the meals arriving at the same time, or even reasonably close together, they trickled in one by one over a period of about 15 minutes. The excuse was that the chef was still preparing the last of the dishes that were to be served. My wife received her meal 15 minutes after I received mine. The food was good, unfortunately not all of us got to eat a hot meal while waiting for the other meals to be served. Once we all were close to finishing our meals, then another server appears and asks if anyone would like some water. Again, too little, too late. To sum up, I would not recommend this place just based on the service received. And the 20% tip they added to the bill is not justified for the lousy service. Yes it was a large group, but the expectation is that restaurants are no strangers as to how to with with such large groups, and they could have had more than one server working the area. The entire dining experience is a combination of good service and good food. My recommendation, order take-out.
(1)Ritchy T.
1st time, also last time visit. Food was mediocre and extremely pricey for lunch. Both rice entrees were mushy with no flavor. Special sauce on Pad Thai was overpowering and spice level is weak. They stated a level 2 was medium, more like low to none. Presentation is above average but that's not what I would come back for. Modern Thai = Bad Thai.
(2)Lizz R.
We randomly decided to stop in for an early Saturday dinner. I'm so glad we did! Great food, great service, and such an adorable interior. Definitely will return whenever I'm in the area.
(4)Wendy R.
Stopped in for lunch. Both my hubby and I ordered curry. The flavors were very good but their service could use a lot of help. I was one of 3 tables and it took her a good 5 min to greet me. Then it took forever for her to come back for our orders. Coming from the service industry myself, it was pretty unacceptable to the 1.5 hours for lunch.
(3)Shon M.
Very over priced! Very slow service. We have lived in Mason for over 10 years and finally decided to try Banana Leaf - big mistake. Restaurant was more than half empty and we had to search for our server any time we needed anything. No water and warm beer.... very disappointing!
(2)Danielle T.
I will preface this review by saying that I have been coming here for several years generally for lunch and I have always enjoyed the food and service is always pleasant. That has not been the case my last 2 visits. I came for lunch several months a ago and it took 45min before I even had a water and I ended being there for 2hrs. Mind you this was during the week so I was going back to work. But the server was very apologetic and explained they were understaffed that day...so I figured it was an anomaly and didn't make a big deal of it. Today I returned with my sister and son and we had a terrible experience. Our appetizer was extremely salty, then our entrees arrived and I think we each had 6 noodles on our plates. My sister had the "lunch special" for $14 only $2 cheaper than the dinner portion but it was half the size of the dinner entree...which is why a lunch special usually includes a soup or salad. My entree was again extremely salty. I brought this to our servers attention and her only response was that she will let the chef know. No apology or any other offer to make it better. When we showed her how few noodles we had in our NOODLE dishes she told us they weigh the noodles. Again I have probably eaten there 20 times and I never had a lunch portion so small, especially considering the price. I will definitely not be back, we spent $60 for 2 lunch entrees and 2 appetizers and left hungry and even worse felt the customer service was awful. It's too bad they didn't treat a loyal customer better so they just lost one.
(2)Rick H.
Red Curry. mmm mmm good.
(4)Jamie B.
HOLY COW! Seriously the BEST food on the planet. Far and away our favorite Thai food, and probably our favorite restaurant in all of Cincy! If you haven't experienced Chef Pom's creations yet, GET OVER THERE!!!!!
(5)Christina C.
For a Thai restaurant, this place is super overpriced! There was 5 of us in our party and the bill came out to $160! The restaurant has a good selection. For apps we ordered the sampler and the pancake. Loved the pancake and all the sauces with the sampler. The peanut sauce was my favorite! A few of us ordered the $24 pad Thai goong at different spice levels. I got it with a spice level of 5 and it wasn't spicy, it had more of a sweet taste from the peanut sauce that was in the pad thai. But the portion was a good size with huge prawns and a fried egg nest on top. The service was great and our waitress was very attentive. The food came out pretty fast as well, which was great. Without considering the price, I would give this place 4 stars but took it down 1 star because the menu is overpriced.
(3)Stacy S.
When we arrived, I was so in love with the atmosphere. The outside decor is so cute and covered in lights, really attracting your eyes when driving by. When we went in, they asked if we had a reservation and they had informed us that they were typically reservation only, but they would see if they could fit us in. Luckily we only waited for about 10 minutes despite how busy they were, they seated us very fast for a Friday night with a full building. I ordered strawberry bubble tea, and it was the best bubble tea I have ever had in my life to date. The entree was very good as well, I ordered the Pad Csee Iew and my date had the Yellow Curry Fried Rice. Very good. Always highly recommended.
(5)Curt M.
Good food and service. A little pricey. Needs a bar area. They have two tables in the "living room" with no ambiance. REALLY high on the alcohol and small pours on the wine. If I am paying $13 for a glass of wine that is $25 a bottle at the store, at least give me a generous pour?!
(3)Heidi T.
Fabulous and full of flavor! Sat outside on sun patio, great atmosphere. No reason to sit on the shade patio... It's in an alley and there are umbrellas on the sun patio. Really, really good... Unfortunately I did not save room for dessert, the coconut creme brûlée looked awesome!
(5)Robert W.
Spice was on for the most part. Ask for the 5 -Thai hot. Then if you are a true Thai lover ask for more peppers. Price was high. Flavor is right on. Staff is friendly. Aesthetics of the place were pleasant and In a nice town. Would definitely return.
(4)Mark C.
What a pleasant and delicious meal. I had the yellow curry special and the veg and sauce were expertly prepared. Appetizer of summer rolls was light and tasty-and it had avocado inside which was a nice twist. Waitstaff was excellent and very helpful. Restaurant decor was attractive and the place was very clean, including the bathroom. My only suggestion would be to lower the volume of the music a little. I look forward to eating here again on my next visit to Mason!
(4)Lauren L.
Overpriced and too sweet. No one in my family could finish their meals because they were overly sweet.
(2)C Z.
Make a reservation! I counted only 6 tables here. ...and plan to be there a while. This is more than dinner, it's and event! We were there 3 hours!!! From what I could tell, this is a husband and wife (???) owned restaurant. The wife sat us and took our order, the husband is the cook and server...thats it, no one else. The great thing about this is they really know their food! They were able to answer all my questions about their menu and their food and give great recommendations. It was evident they really cared about making you feel welcomed and about your satisfaction. Everything is prepared and made there. You can taste the freshness in every dish. It is a bit pricey...for an appetizer, 2 curries, 2 ginger beers, and 2 thai teas it was $70. Great place for a special occasion.
(4)Kurtis D.
Ordered Tom Kha Soup (Coconut milk soup) today during lunch. It was overpriced and too sweet. I was having really strong cravings for this soup and was highly disappointed. I give 3 stars for ambience and 2 stars for the soup. It was a take-out order, therefore, I cannot comment on the service. Except that I wasn't given a bag, napkin or spoon for my soup. I'll let you be the judge.
(3)Aria M.
Get in your car and go to Banana Leaf now, you can thank me later! This is the perfect place for date night! I'm am obsessed Banana Leaf Modern Thai. This is was my first experience with Thai food and now I want to kick myself for not trying it sooner. After my first visit I suggested this place to everyone I know. I went for the first time last week and I just had to go back again less than a week later. I got the same waitress for both visits, unfortunately I can't recall her name but I can tell you she's wonderful. Everything I have eaten at Banana Leaf has been perfect. The first time I went I had the veggie rolls as a starter.The veggie rolls were wrapped in rice paper and stuffed with basil. They looked a little strange and I wasn't sure if I'd like them....but they were DELICIOUS! The rice paper was chewy, the bell pepper inside was crisp, and the avacado was perfectly ripe. The contrasting textures were amazing and the flavors were so fresh. The dipping sauce served with the rolls really complimented the dish. On my last visit I had the duck rolls as my appetizer and they were delicious as well. The first time I had the Pad Thai Goong which my server recommended. The peanut sauce was fantastic and the egg netting on top made it look so special! My server told me the prawns in the Pad Thai are flown in fresh daily and I could taste how fresh they were! I had a bite or three of my fiancée's pineapple fried rice. I can't even begin to explain the fried rice it was so flavorful. On my next visit I ordered the Siam Basil with beef and jasmine rice. Once again, it was perfect and so flavorful I can't do it justice. During my second visit I went with a friend and tried her steak wraps and plantain fries, like everything else from Banana Leaf it was delectable. During my first visit I had macaroons for desert which were fantastic, my server told us that they are shipped in from a bakery in NY. On my second visit I had the lychee ice cream. I had never eaten lychee anything before and I have to say the flavor was heavenly. During my second visit the Chef came out and asked how dinner was. He was very sweet and that's so nice for him to personally check on his guests. The restaurant is in a beautiful historic home in downtown Mason that is supposedly haunted. When you're in downtown Mason you forget you're in Ohio just north of Cincinnati. Downtown Mason reminds me of the town from Gilmore Girls, it's so quaint and sweet! Outside, there is a gorgeous garden full of orchids and other beautiful plants. There is even a sweet little fountain and mini creek right under the back porch. Above the porch they have hung adorable little string lights. They were even recognized by the botanical society for their work! Inside, you can see that they have won awards for their food as well. Inside on the first floor the walls are painted a seductive red and there are huge windows that look out onto the street below. Long story short, you must give this place a try, it's my new favorite restaurant!
(5)Anna O.
Creative and delicious. 10 min. from parks - a wonderful break from the fare food.
(5)Phil S.
Beautiful decor, obvious attention to detail in every regard, exemplary service and hospitality and original inventive inspired food. From the chef to the wait staff we felt immediately at home. This is a place that cares about it's patrons and cares about food. The highlight of our visit to The Mason, West Chester area
(4)Chris G.
We came here here shortly after it opened, but had not made it back until recently. We decided to go back for lunch. I made an Open Table reservation in the late morning, but when we arrived the host/waitress told me they didn't have one and didn't accept ones under 24 hours. (However, Open Table contacted me on behalf of Banana Leaf to ask why I didn't show up!) The restaurant was busy, but not packed and yet only the one host/waitress. The food was amazing. Five stars! (It was amazing on our first visit way back, too.). However, with only the one employee it took awhile to order, get food, refills, check, etc. It has improved since our first visit, as the food arrived at the same time for all tables. This is an improvement, but there is still work to be done in the service area to equal the food.
(3)Keith M.
I stopped by Banana Leaf to get a "to-go" order so I can't speak about the service. But the lady at the front was not very nice. I walked in and she was just kind of rude, and told me to wait for the host. I did. Two minutes later she came back (same woman) and asked how to help me. It was odd. She was not friendly and I thought her attitude belonged more in retail than in a small restaurant. I ordered Pad-Thai, and it was $18. I was floored. That is NYC prices in Mason, OH (where?). I guess the prices go along with the high class attitude. But really? $18 for a plate of noodles? The male server was much friendlier and nicer. Now, for the food. The Pad-Thai was good. But NYC good? Absolutely not. I've had better Pad Thai for $8. The portion was also small. I was still hungry and stopped at Subway later. I can't recommend this place based on price, and the poor service. It was decent food at a very high price with nominal service.
(1)Brandi C.
absolutely delicious and flavorful food! I have always been pleased with their service. portions are a bit on the small side; recommending appetizers.
(4)Andy N.
The terrible service and atmosphere outweigh the great food. The "service" at Banana Leaf is terrible. We had reservations, and were seated immediately, but service from there on was beyond poor. It is really a shame because the food was outstanding. Just for reference, our appetizer arrived 15 minutes after eating a meal that our beverages were empty for the duration of. The server practically ignored us and didn't deliver on our requests.
(1)Gary R.
This is a great Thai restaurant located in old Mason. The building is historic and they have done a nice job converting to a relaxing and classy dining ambiance. They have all the typical Thai dishes. I have eaten here several times and enjoyed every dish. Service is a bit on the slow side and the price is double what I typically expect at other similar Thai restaurants. This is all that keeps the rating down to 3 stars. It will also slow my return visits with other good Thai places nearby.
(3)Shannon Q.
I'm not sure why I haven't been here before last night, but I have definitely been missing out! The curry special had such great flavor and presentation. I also loved sharing the tofu tower with my table mates. Everything was so good, fresh and the perfect temperature when it came out to us. Even though it's really good, I still think it is a bit pricey, but I can justify it for a special night or a once a month lunch. Yum! I'll definitely be heading back soon.
(4)A G.
a good ambiance, good staff, great serving style but overpriced. Food is good but not out of the world. Great place for a date night but not with kids . we ordered pad Thai , Thai ice tea and coconut cream brulé. dessert was little disappointing as they serve cream brulé on a coconut shell, which is not worth the price.
(3)Greg O.
Ok, this place is nice. There isn't a lot of seating, and the parking was easy to miss. It's like a hundred year old house has been retrofitted into a restaurant. This gives it a ton of character, but really isn't the most efficient use of the square footage. But enough about the architecture... what about the food? I go the pad thai and coconut bubble drink. I asked for it as hot as they would make it, and maybe it was the cold coconut drink, but I could have used some extra hot oil. Still, it was an acceptable level of heat and really great flavor. The portion was a little small, but I guess we were ordering off the lunch menu. I feel that last comment is a bit misleading. It was a good amount of food for lunch, and at a good price. I think my perception has been skewed by places that give you enough food for lunch and dinner (and at twice the price...) I don't want to give the impression that it was inexpensive, like dollar menu at fast food place inexpensive, but for the atmosphere I felt it was a good deal. That, or I've been eating downtown too long! My only complaint was that my coconut bubble drink had too much ice instead of drink. The bottom line is, this is a charming place for a good thai meal!
(4)Steve T.
My first dining experience at Banana Leaf on Saturday night was a disappointing one. The restaurant offers an intimate decor with an upscale touch. The service was solid with lots of recommendations on the specials of the evening. However, the food was quite underwhelming. I had the masamun curry chicken and ordered a spicy level 4 (0-5 was offered). I found the curry dish to be non-flavorful, the sauce on the thin side and the spice level was a 3 at best. It was even less spicy than our wife's level 3 pineapple curry. Here is a breakdown of the overall experience: Decor - 4 stars Service - 4 stars Food - 1 star
(2)Bree P.
OK, a couple of things you must know first before going. Plan to be there for awhile. This is no in-and-out type of place, nor should it be for the price. That said, the food is amazing. We reserve this spot for date night because with kids (3 of them) the bill can get up there. The massaman curry is so incredibly good that I will not order anything else. My husband has, however, and his dishes have been equally flavorful. We have had the pineapple fried rice, drunken noodle, and another eggplant curry (can't remember the name) and all were impressive. I've also come here with my mom for a nice lunch and she was so impressed she took my father for lunch there that same week.
(5)Mike L.
The food here was delicious. I had the Pad Thai Goon. Highly recommend this dish to those who like fresh shrimp. The dishes here are put together nicely. My only negative review would be that the service was slow. Allow plenty of time.
(4)Steve A.
Every time I come here the food is great. The atmosphere in the redone house is always a little weird but still comfortable and inviting. I absolutely love the pineapple fried rice served in a half pineapple. Good wine selection also.
(5)Elizabeth E.
Visited Banana Leaf for the first time last night. Had a great experience. Ordered duck tacos for an appetizer and these were great. For my dinner I ordered the pad Thai goong and it was pretty good. Loved the restaurant setting in the old house. It was very cool. Service was pretty good and the chef came and personally asked us how we liked the meal which was very nice and made our experience even better. I will be back.
(4)Jennifer H.
What a cool place. We brought our two boys and they loved it. Started out with the Bird Nest Shrimp appetizer and it was a hit. All of our dishes were very good. Love the atmosphere too
(5)Steve S.
Had lunch today with a business friend, service was excellent, spring rolls perfect and curry was just right. Will try a little more spice on scale next time on the Panang curry but it exceeded my expectations. Great vegetables cooked perfect(not over cooked )
(5)Nate G.
The food was ok, way over priced, and you don't get what you pay for. I ordered the cashew chicken. I'm sure there's other good items. But I haven't been back since the first time I tried it, it's been a couple years. There's just too many other places to satisfy an Asian cuisine craving.
(2)Guy B.
Hope the owner reads this. I don't want to just complain but hope he can make changes to make this a great experience. My son and I have been to Thailand and really love the food. Came on a recommendation and was so disappointed. Waitress was clueless and didn't know to ask what level of heat we wanted. We asked her where the scale started and she said 0. Ordered Tom Yum soup. ($12 for 2) Watery and too little flavor. Followed with order of Pot Stickers. 4 very small ones were served. Again little flavor including the dipping sauce. Couldn't take any Ginger. Ordered Green Beans with garlic Sauce (Amazingly $11) At that price expected something special. Think again, very little sauce and no trace of garlic flavor. Final dish was Special Beef ($19). A huge disappointment. Claimed it was marinated but virtually no flavor. Supposed to be grilled but seemed to be stir-fried. Tough and flavorless. Should have used Flank Steak or Filet but it was something less. Virtually no heat which is one of the pleasures of Thai food. This was also served with green beans but there was NO sauce. Must have been steamed not stir fried. Conclusion, the owner is taking advantage of people who don't know any better. I think he is someone who hasn't tasted his own food in a loooooooooog time. At these prices, patrons deserve better.
(2)Linda S.
Beautiful restaurant, excellent food. Best Thai we've eaten in area.We had the seasonal lettuce wraps appetizer with mango and shrimp.They were both good sized and very fresh and flavorful.We ordered the salmon and ginger rice seasonal special and chicken pad Thai. Both were superb. The salmon steak was cooked to perfection and the ginger rice was so unique and delicious. Pad Thai was excellent as well. The food presentation is also beautiful. Katie was our sever. She's a sweet recent high school grad who was attentive and knowledgeable. The owner/chef Pom came out later to ask us how our meal was and welcomed us as first time guests. Very nice man. Don't go there and later complain about the prices or how long you waited for your entrees. on Yelp. This isn't Thai Express. It's gourmet Thai food that is prepared to order by a real chef.
(5)M Z.
So incredibly disappointed with service. Food is excellent but customer service needs LOTS of help. I have been a regular customer for almost a year and they don't even know who I am.
(1)Wayne F.
We are from Chicago and have plenty of options for Thai food. Banana Leaf blows the places in Chicago out of the water!!!! The curry is unbelievably flavorful and the options for spice are great. The vegetable rolls are wonderful. Our server was extremely knowledgable and helpful without being obtrusive. The kitchen was a little slow but each dish is made fresh. Decor was very inviting. An absolute must if staying in the region. What a find!!!
(5)Krystyna C.
I went here with a co-worker for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon a few weeks ago. I was really craving some pad thai and figured this place would be a good bet to find it. Banana Leaf is really a more "upscale" Thai place with the white linen tablecloths and fancy tropical tea. The layout of the restaurant is really goofy because it is an old house that was converted so the tables feel really cramped together. You definitely need to be okay with close quarters when you come here. The pad Thai was really good. It came out steaming hot and I was able to get the heat level I wanted. Our server though, she really ruined it. As my co-worker and I were finishing lunch, three fairly large groups were seated in our area and she quickly focused her attention to them and forgot about us: the two women sitting in the corner with napkins on plates, credit cards in hand, ready to pay and get out of there. It took us 10 minutes to get her attention and another 10 to get her to bring us back our cards. When you only have an hour for lunch, this is unacceptable. Luckily for me, I won't be working in Mason for much longer, so I won't worry about getting in and out for lunch again. But I wouldn't mind coming back for dinner, if I was in the area, and didn't have a time constraint.
(3)Rory B.
i went in a few days ago and it was up to par. the food was still great but this time the staff was far more attentive and kept everything moving. two younger girls were taking care of the tables and i couldn't be happier with, in my humble opinion, the new and improved banana leaf. i will go back far more often now!
(4)Courty B.
We'd been eying this place in downtown Mason for awhile. We had heard the haunted stories, the name and menu looked interesting, and we love the historic building. We finally visited, and while the food was above average, we weren't blown away. Service was a little slow and awkward (please don't make me ask for water, then make me ask for a refill every time!!!). I can usually overlook sub-par service, but the restaurant's prices are too high for crappy service. In fact, the prices are our #1 complaint. Servings were a bit small, although tasty. If we order a beef dish, it should at least come with rice. Please don't make us pay extra for a side of sticky rice or bok choy. Kind of ridiculous at an Asian restaurant, especially when they are a dime a dozen in the rest of Cincinnati. Stick with some of the other Thai places around town - they may be a little less refined in decor and presentation, but the prices and portions are more reasonable.
(3)Chris O.
We made a reservation for dinner. They did not seat us when we arrived, but did seat a group of our exact size who walked in after us without a reservation. The hostess literally gets into an argument with us about the time of our reservation, until she looks it up in her book and realizing we were correct. I understand mistaking the time but it's just weird and awkward to argue with us about it. This should have been a sign for things to come and we should have simply left. After we were sat it was 30 mins till we received drinks, an hour and a half till we received our appetizers. When the entrees arrived two of them were cold. The whole dinner took just over 3 hours and I received one refill. It's a shame because the building is very nice, in a nice area, and the food (when served hot) is good. NOT worth putting up with the service!
(1)Rene B.
I cannot get enough of this place - I wish it was closer to the city! They make their noodles by hand every morning, the peanut sauce is to die for and the service is usually very attentive. They have a beautiful water garden outside to enjoy in the summer. It is by far the best Thai food I have found in Cincinnati, better than any of the good Thai places in Hyde Park or Clifton.
(5)Cobblestone Village V.
We dined at the Banana Leaf for the first time as a party of four and found it superb! The way the chef blends flavors together is outstanding! We had a variety of choices from the menu and each one was excellent! Keep up the good effort we will be back. One more thing... Nancy, our server gave us excellent service as well.
(5)Glen G.
My favorite local thai restaurant is located in an old house that was the site of many previously failed restaurants. Supposedly haunted, the staff here can tell some good stories about the ghost and happenings... The food is excellent and the first place I ever tried a bubble tea. Definitely an acquired taste and I can't help almost choking on the tapioca balls when I suck them through the enormous straw. Big fan of the red curry and a mid-high spice level. The staff is spotty at best, though, which is the only drawback to this wonderful little restaurant. It's gotten better since it has opened but finding good waitstaff for a non-chain restaurant (meaning you have to know how to do your job) is difficult I assume. Definitely go... just don't be in a hurry and if you find a good weather day sit in their back patio which has just a couple seats. Great place to have a mid-day lunch with the wife!
(4)Steve L.
GO! Service was perfect. Food could not have been better...all four in our party agreed. A bit pricey, but we got what we paid for and more.
(5)Irish F.
First the good...beautiful little place in an old building with limited cozy seating. Hostess was also lone server and very well versed at items and up-selling the menu. The bad...you will pay a lot for a little. Food is good but not a stand out. Pad Thai (chicken) was $15 and portion small. Must have been that banana leaf underneath to warrant the cost. Server pushed the Thai Grilled Beef ($19) and mentioned that chef recommends baby bok choy and sticky rice with it. This entree was actually about 5-6 oz of sliced beef that was nothing special served on a large lettuce leaf with a side of thai type dressing for dipping. The sides were served without request or disclosure of cost. 3 pieces of bok choy and sticky rice with a very hard exterior. $8 added to the already way overpriced entree on the bill. You will be still hungry after that $27 dish. The rice was inedible with that exterior crustiness. Skip the pricey food and go to enjoy the very elaborate rock garden installed in the back. Banana Leaf Modern Thai will likely not make it unless it expands the seating capacity and lowers the prices while improving the service.
(2)Will H.
Wow I really wanted to love banana leaf... we were passing through mason looking to have lunch. Our initial stop was closed (Wildflower Cafe) so we thought this place looked cute which it certainly is! They have very pretty outside garden and the decor inside is very modern in an antique house for a very interesting look. We were seated promtly by a very friendly waiter who was obviously busy. We took a look at the menus and were wide eye'd shocked. Thai food for $13-20 per plate. woah! I expect things like that for a dinner menu but not for lunch. my bad for not doing my research on yelp first i guess. I had the "drunken noodle with shrimp" dish. I've had similar dishes in the past and they have been very good. This dish had a lot of potential, fresh veggies, fresh herbs, nicely textured flat and thick noodles, deliciously large shrimp. This dish had the potential to be delicious and actually quite healthy. But then the entire thing was drowned in oil of some sort, there was probably a good 1/8" pool of oil in the bottom of my dish when I was done... it hid the potential flavor of the dish i feel. Plus for $17 I felt like the portion was pretty small. My sister-in-law's eggplant dish seemed very similarly prepared. While the dishes were good, I feel like a "less is more" approach would have made the dishes even better. That being said, my wife ordered some sort of curry dish with rice that was fantastic. the rice was fluffy, the portion was very generous and I couldnt stop trying to steal bites from her plate (she wasn't very sharing!). If you are a first timer, the curry wasnt overwhelming like some places, you should definitely try these dishes. Our server was friendly and attentive and did a good job working the tables he had. And they were willing to split a check which is always nice.
(3)Deb M.
Slow service and the rudest waiter. Wouldn't crack a smile to save his life. Pad Thai was burned and way too sweet. Quaint doesn't cut it. You need more than a cute old building in Mason to have a good business.
(2)Amanda F.
Visited on a Saturday evening around 6:30 with my husband and in laws. We had a reservation and were seated quickly in our own small dining area upstairs. We were immediately greeted by our server, who come to find out was also the owner. She was very polite and offered suggestions and help with the menu. Over all the meal was excellent. I really enjoyed the Banana Leaf Pad Thai which was way more than I could eat. I like that you can select he heat level of each dish from 1 to 5. We will be going back to hopefully sit on their lovely (but small) patio outside.
(4)Stacy K.
Very cute place operating in an old house in downtown Mason, with stylish, spare decor inside. I joined two friends here for lunch on a Sunday; we ordered pad thai, curry fried rice, and summer rolls. The flavor was excellent - one of my friends proclaimed the pad Thai to be some of the best he'd had not only in Cincinnati, but also in other cities. The main drawback for me was the steep prices compared to other Thai restaurants - as in not much under $15 even for meatless versions (unless you are doing apps or soup). The portions were small given the higher prices - unlikely that you'll leave with leftovers. We were forced to order from the dinner menu as the lunch menu is only available Monday-Friday. I plan to go back during the week for lunch. Highly recommend this place if you are looking for a more upscale Thai experience. The prices and portion sizes keep me from giving it 5-stars, but without a doubt one of the best Thai restaurants in Cincinnati. Although there was seating in the upstairs area, it seems to be a smallish place - would recommend reservations if you are going at a busy time!
(4)Trisha K.
Banana Leaf is in an old house in downtown Mason with convenient parking around back. The restaurant is so cute from the outside and inside! The staff was VERY friendly and fun from the moment we walked in the door. They escorted us up to the 2nd floor to dine in the 'Purple Room', which was the perfect atmosphere for our girly birthday celebration! We started off with a white wine blend, then ordered the appetizer sampler. I really enjoyed the spring rolls and chicken satay, not to mention all 3 of the delicious house-made sauces. The Papaya Salad was an interesting blend of flavors, but if I never had it again, so what. Then we ordered 2 entrees to share; Spicy Eggplant with Cashews and Panang Chicken Curry. I dislike eggplant, so not surprisingly, I wasn't a fan, BUT the Panang Curry was AWESOME. I wanted to eat more, but had no room. They make it very saucey and it was thicker than I expected, which I LOVED! You had a choice of brown or jasmine rice and the jasmine rice was excellent. I definitely need to return and I am thinking very soon! WARNING: We ordered a spice level of 2, however, it felt more like a 6. Again, I want to mention how friendly and fun the staff is at Banana Leaf. Everyone from the hostess to our server to the person who dropped off our food. Everyone made an excellent impression! GOOD JOB ALL!
(4)Fei X.
Really cute place in a remodeled old house. It's very cozy and modern. The food is good but a little pricy. Good place to go for a date.
(3)Brad R.
We had a very nice dinner here on a Saturday night. Made reservations with open table and were seated right when we arrived. Had the chef special pumpkin curry with pork and a Pad Thai with shrimp. Oh, and a chocolate lava cake - friendly helpful staff and we were greeted by the chef on the way out - spent a few minutes talking about his growing up in Thailand and our vacations there.
(4)Greg F.
I've been to Banana Leaf several times spanning from shortly after it opened until as recently as this week, so I feel the sample size is large enough to form a strong opinion; and my opinion is that it is, unfortunately, just OK. I say "unfortunately" because, living in Mason, I really would like this unique restaurant to be successful, but over the course of that time I don't see them having addressed the same issues that have been noted in so many reviews to date: slightly overpriced for good, but not great, food and below average service. Don't get me wrong, I gave it 3 stars because it is unique, the food is good, and the service is friendly. The problem is that friendly service does not equal good service, and plenty of others on this site have accurately provided specifics of the service issues, so I won't bother repeating them. So my fear is that people won't be willing to pay these prices for merely good food when the service is spotty. I hope it makes it, and I might go back because it's local, but 3 stars is as generous as I can be.
(3)Brian H.
I recently moved out to the 'burbs with my girlfriend and we were trying to find a good Thai restaurant. Well after many unsatisfying trips to a few strip mall places whose main dish was chicken fried rice, we came across Banana Leaf. I've had Thai food from all over the world and this place nails it. The atmosphere in the old house is very laid back but the patio on the back is a little noisy considering its right next to a busy intersection. Anyways, the food is fantastic. Pad Thai, which is a dish so popular that most places have "made to order" is actually amazing at Banana Leaf. I've had 85% of whats on the menu and everything is great. The staff are also very friendly and in the dozen or so times we've been there, have never had an issue with service. My only gripe about the place are the prices. I feel the only reason the restaurant is so expensive is because it's located in an upper middle class suburb. The sad part is this place is never busy and since it doesn't cater to families with kids, it probably won't last too long in Mason. Hopefully the owner plans on opening another location.
(4)Tim P.
Pretty good Thai food. Not sure if the prices are justified, but the food was good. Services is also friendly and quick. It would be nice to see this restaurant take off in the town centre, but the prices should really be adjusted a bit down.
(3)Tara B.
In short: lacking atmosphere, too expensive, pushy staff. Tried this for the first time during a night out with the husband. We were the only ones in the place. Took 10 minutes to get our water. Room was eerily quiet. Owner came in to change batteries in other tables' fake candles while we were sitting there. Annoying, considering it was so quiet in the room and she could hear everything we were saying. Then she tried to sell me on an expensive dish assuming I loved freshwater prawns and a fancy egg lace on top of the pad thai. Not interested. Food was good but not knock-your-socks-off good, which it should be for the price. Waitress was nice but tried to take my husband's plate away while he was still eating and we were left with no water most of the meal. We won't be back.
(2)Lisa K.
We tried this restaurant for the first time last Saturday. Took a long time to get drinks, then the food came and it was all cold. We didn't stay to actually try it. I would not recommend this place.
(1)Jenni S.
Banana Leaf is housed is in a cute 2-level house on Main St. in downtown Mason. Plenty of parking. The menu is quite extensive! My husband had an amazing Tom Ka soup (spiced perfectly at level 4) to start. I ordered the Tom Yum soup that was good but not the best I've ever had (and not spicy enough to be a 4 out of 5!). For entree, my husband ordered the roasted carrot curry with brown rice. It was simply divine. I ordered the Banana Leaf sampler, which included 2 summer rolls, 2 spring rolls, 2 chicken satay skewers, and a papaya salad, along with 3 dipping sauces. I really enjoyed everything but the fried spring rolls (too greasy for my liking). The peanut sauce was clearly the best of the 3 choices. My favorite part of the meal was the papaya salad. Tasty and unique. Good wine selection too. Our server was super nice albeit a little clueless. The service was pretty slow, but we tried not to fret about it. We'll definitely go back!
(4)Lisa M.
Service was terrible right off so we should have left, but we were hopeful. The appetizer was a frazzled lump of minced fish, which after one bite we did not eat. After a long wait the entrée's arrived and further disappointed us; flavorless, small portions, no "kick" in the spicy dishes we ordered. I have had Thai food all over the US, so I'm no rookie. Sorry--would have loved to be able to post a + review.
(1)Tara S.
We had lunch here on Saturday around 2:00. When we first arrived there were 4 tables in the small downstairs dining room, and the tables are pretty close together. It was so quiet! Like everyone was whispering because of the small space and close proximity. But eventually it seemed that everyone loosened up a bit through our meal, and it got less uncomfortable. We started with a bottle of the only Chardonnay they had on the menu (they have a very limited wine list), but luckily it was great! We also started with an order of the spring rolls, which were excellent. Lots of yummy vegetables inside with a nice, crispy shell. The menu is large and sounds fantastic, so we both had a difficult time choosing our meals, but I ultimately went with the Spicy Mason Noodles, and homage to the city where they're located. They were awesome. My husband and I have a hard time finding restaurants that will actually make our food as spicy as we like it... We always have to order extra hot sauce on the side, but on a scale of "1-5" our server suggested a 4, and that she would bring extra spicy sauce on the side in case we needed it... We didn't! It was a PERFECT spice level! The noodles are wide rice noodles, not what I was expecting, but I loved them. My husband got the garlic pepper entree with beef and chicken, also a 4, and he was also very pleased. The beef had a smoky, almost grilled flavor, that was perfect. The only part of our meal that was a disappointment was dessert. The coconut creme brûlée was just odd, strange texture, not as smooth and creamy as a creme brûlée should be... And we found a big, long piece of what I assumed was real coconut meat in the dessert, which would seem like a good thing, but it wasn't. But after how much we enjoyed the rest of our meal, we barely noticed dessert! We will definitely be back, there are so many menu items that we can't wait to try!
(4)Glenn P.
First off, it's Thai, not Taiwanese. And this is the real deal - real Thai food. Not generic Thai food. This is, bar none, the best Thai food in SW Ohio. Maybe farther. The Pad Thai is incredible and Curry is as good as I have ever had. They grow their own herbs, everything is from scratch and high quality, the outside seating by the water garden is lovely. I couldn't recommend this place more. The staff were perfect and the chef even came out to talk to us. The entrees are moderately priced ($15-19), but quite reasonable given the quality and portion size - first rate in all respects.
(5)