Hot Basil in Overland Park

Hot Basil
7258 W 119th St
Overland Park, KS 66213
Website

HOW I FOUND IT:  Heard about it through the grapevine (Cyndi's co-worker mentioned that the Pitch voted this place as having the best soup).  Liking soup, liking Thai, and liking Thai soups, we decided to give it a go.  Our first visit was actually the day after Christmas, in horrible snow, and they were open!

ATMOSPHERE (SCORE: ***):  It's hit and miss really.  The building itself is actually in a strip mall around the corner from a Price Choppper, and next to an eye doctor's office.  Unless you knew it was there, it's highly unlikely you'd notice it from the road.  Once inside, you'll be surprised at how small the place is, seating maybe 25-30 people. Nice white tablecloths, clean and stylish silverware and glasses, this place looks clean and neat without seeming stuffy.  The only issue I had with decor was the tiki style bar at the back of the dining room that I've yet to see someone sitting at.  It seems out of place when taken in the context of the rest of the dining room.  Also, a minor annoyance, but their placement of the dining room's only TV is just downright baffling.  It's down the hallway on the way to the bathroom.  The only reasoning behind it I could think of was since there's a window from the kitchen looking into the hallway, maybe it's there so the kitchen crew can watch it.  Other than that, maybe it's to entertain you while you walk down the hall to use the facilities.  Who knows?

FOOD (SCORE: *****):  Oh damn.  I don't even know where to start.  Our first visit we ordered their famous Thom Yum, which is rumored to have healing properties.  None of us were sick at the time, but after a few spoonfuls of the pungent broth with chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, and chunks of galangal, our nasal passages were mighty clear.  It was delicious, but we preferred the coconut milk creaminess of the Thom Ka we got on our second visit.  After the soup, we had an order of crab rangoons, which (GASP) actually had a lot of crab in them, instead of cream cheese filler!

The menu is full of traditional and non-traditional items, and I've already planned out subsequent visits to try it all.  I've had the Siam chicken in a rum-based sauce that was light and aromatic, and the Gapow, a stir-fry dish served over rice with 2 fried eggs on top.  I had enormous hopes for the Gapow and it was indeed good, but the pork that I ordered with it was more of an italian sausage flavor, not the fatty chunks I had expected.  Still good.

Cyndi and her brother got the Phad Thai and Fried Rice, respectively.  Cyndi's Phad Thai was amazing.  The seasoning was spot on, it was hot enough to make you breathe a little heavy but not make your head explode, and they didn't dump a whole bottle of fish sauce in it.  To be honest, I had lunch entree envy.  And her brother's fried rice was among the best I've ever had.  You could tell the chef actually gave a damn about it, and took the time to make it right, not just make it an afterthought like many non-chinese asian restaurants do.

And then the dessert.  Oh God the dessert.  After the chef came out and chatted with us for a bit, explaining the desserts (to represent French colonial influence on Thai cuisine, he makes chocolate mousse stuffed 'rangoons'!), we decided on the traditional Thai dessert of mangoes and sweet coconut sticky rice.  I'm normally not big on fresh mangoes, but Cyndi urged me to do the combo bite:  combine the mango, sticky rice, and coconut custard on the fork and eat it all together.  It was a perfect bite.  Add to that some "Thai iced tea" and Thai Coffee, both with a fair helping of sweetened condensed milk, and we were stuffed and satisfied, and then some.

SERVICE (SCORE: *****): Our first visit, our server was the chef/owner's daughter, a very friendly young woman who told us all about the place and was overall great.  The second time was a different server who was just as friendly and attentive.  Granted, both visits were during a pretty slow time, but regardless we were pleased with the service. What really put it over the top is when the chef came out after we had eaten our entrees to talk for a bit.  We could tell his heart was really in this operation and he was a genuinely friendly and charismatic individual, who just wanted to make great food and make people happy.

VALUE (SCORE:***1/2):  This one's a bit tricky.  The first visit was during lunch, where your entree comes with a soup and crab rangoon.  Combined with the portion size and food quality, it's a pretty good deal with a average of $9-$10 per entree.  The dinner menu has mostly the same items, but for a little more money and without the soup and rangoon.  Given that it didn't seem the portions got much bigger (They are still quite ample regardless), the dinner menu prices on some items seems disproportionately higher.  Still, with the amount of food you get (had plenty to take home for drunken fourthmeal), you could do far worse for you money.

OVERALL:  We were thrilled with this place.  Too many times I read about a restaurant, get all excited, only to be let down by uninspired food (or worse, just plain bad food), crappy atmosphere, douchebaggy clientele, or poor service.  Hot Basil exceeded my expectations in every way, and it was good to talk with a chef who may be a bit older, but is in no way burnt out, and better yet, HAPPY with what he's doing.  Because when the kitchen is happy, the food just comes out better, dammit.

OVERALL SCORE: ****1/2