So glad they are using the wide flat noodles instead of the bean thread noodles at the atwater location.
4 Likes
On my walk home recently, I picked up their new lunch menu at the SaMo branch. Planning to try lunch next week, will report back.
11 Likes
hah! We went for lunch today. It’s solid - an in between of Atwater and downtown.
7 Likes
what’s your holy basil rankings?
1 Like
Finally popped into Holy Basil Santa Monica for dinner last night. Even though it’s a neighborhood restaurant for me, I’m disinclined to visit much because of the lack of vegetarian and kid friendly options for the rest of my family. Worked well as a solo diner though.
Official hours, not posted on website.
Current dinner menu. I was disappointed to learn (as a pescatarian) that the risotto is made with chicken stock.
“Chefs counter” was lively. Felt like I was getting my eyebrows singed.
Lhon was great, but the pervasive mild green curry flavor was probably unnecessary given the quality of the ingredients.
“Thai anchovy salad” was actually just a lovely Caesar salad (this was pretty clear from the menu description, but I could see someone getting irritated that they don’t acknowledge it more clearly).
Shrimp aguachile was the most flavorful dish of the night. Bright, lots of garlic chives. I really enjoyed this one.
Crab fried rice. Kinda bland. Even the sauce was understated. Used the aguachile sauce from the shrimp to dress it up and it still felt mild.
Got both deserts. The coconut panna cotta was comically small. Maybe a tablespoon. The key lime pie had a really pleasant crust, but the filling was insufficiently bright and tangy. Kinda got overwhelmed by the whipped cream.
Overall, it was a very pleasant $90 solo meal. I wasn’t overly full, I wasn’t blown away, but I was impressed by the quality of the ingredients and techniques. There was a line of about six folks outside when I left.
The couple next to me repeatedly sent dishes back (the fried rice and the eggplant and squash dish) with a request that the kitchen “add something spicy.” I didn’t feel comfortable taking that course… but I definitely understood the sentiment.
11 Likes
Had an ok meal (santa monica location) on sunday lunch.
Did not know the menu was so limited so that was my bad, go for dinner for their full repitoire. Lunch seems to be really just stir fried takeout style dishes.
The delicious kaeng shrimp curry, the mamas fish rice always stellar and the egg rolls were really fun.The less stellar eggplant and kabocha (eggplant undercooked and and one small tiny piece of kabocha), crab rice was too moist I think the rice needs to be dried more, khao soi pacheri was off and noodles over cooked. Spicing seems to be off and wok hei was lacking in quite a few of the dishes, they also did not have any dried chilis only serranos in vinegar which I found a bit odd.
I think they are new so consitency issues might be the culprit and trying to dial in what the neighbhorhood might like taste-wise, I have noticed that when its not the A-team or sergio the consistency seems to be a little scattered.
Still I would encourage everyone to go for dinner because when its on Holy Basil is one of my favorite restaruants in the city and they are charging super affordable prices compared to other places. Deau and Joy aren’t only great chefs but also really kind and nice people.
12 Likes
Do you know them well enough to give feedback? It’s a shame to hear about some of the issues since I thought it was pretty stellar when the Sergios were in.
1 Like
they read the thread and take all discussion to heart!
7 Likes
Can they bring back the sauced version of their wings lol?
3 Likes
Also tried the boat noodles—it’s delicious, rich, complex loaded with tender meat —but different from your typical boat noodle—not livery or irony, more cinnamon and anise flavors reminiscent of Chinese beef soups or Viet Bo Kho even . Def something to share. Most pieces of meat was tender chunks or slices of angus beef.
Jook was nice and thickly and creamy, nice brunch dish to share.
Nem tar tartare was very fun way to introduce raw fermented pork to diners unfamiliar with nem.
fun amuse passed out by chef, slices of Cara Cara with just touch of shallot chile fish sauce. Sweet, tart and touch of savory.
11 Likes
Nice! Lunch or dinner?
brunch
2 Likes
I gotta get back to the main holy basil outpost
3 Likes
new spring menu. the calamari and pad kee mao with ridiculously tender hanger steak was some of the best i’ve had.
other hightlights
- the crispy fried scales on the rock fish was always good as fried amadai. and it got even better the more sauce it soaked up.
- lamb biryani
- kaeng kari curry
- moo tok krok
- yum kao
@SithLord @Spicyshlomi @562 review upcoming?
prik kler, farmer market fruits plate
halibut crudo
yum kao, three types of rice, peanuts, naem
lhon, crab meat, lemongrass coconut cream, puri
salted egg brown butter, local calamari
moo tod, traditional fried pork patties, garlic chips
nam tok tataki, lightly poached angus beef, fresh herbs
nam phrik num
thai anchovy salad, lettuce, parmesan
moo krob, 48 hours cured pork belly then fry
lamb biryani
pad kee mao, grilled west holme australian wagyu, hanger tender
pla tod, santa barbara fried vermillion rock fish
kaeng kari curry, charcoal grilled tiger prawn
moo tok krok
panang, sm farm pork collar
28 Likes
Damnnn looks good!
3 Likes
Chef deau’s cooking getting matured!
Looks really good!
8 Likes
Wow he’s making his own naem.
I wonder if the biryani is his play on khao mok gai. If so it usually comes with a really good dipping sauce
6 Likes
That sauce should be dubbed Holy Mole…
3 Likes