Atmosphere was good neat and clean. Service was okay. We ordered beef pho noodles, spring rolls and padthai and fried rice. Pho soup broth was really good when it compared to Vietnamese town's , meats were good too ,but rice noodles in it over cooked, and meat balls were extremely smelly, I almost threw up when I took a bite of it. Spring rolls were quite fresh and good but it would be more better , if the rice noodles were not over cooked. Padthai was okay taste but noodles were also overcooked and too oily. Fried rice was oily too and chicken meat were too tough. read more

We got takeout from here during the pandemic and I fell in love w the lemongrass tofu. It is simply one of the best vegetarian dishes in Appleton - period. I rate this restaurant a 5 on the VegScale™. There are lots of very tasty options for vegetarians, which is not always easy to find in the Midwest. I was back in town, visiting family in Appleton, and I knew I had to go back. We called the restaurant at 6 to see if there was a wait and if we could get in at 6:30. The reason we wanted to call ahead is that our parents are older and have some mobility issues. Going out to eat is a big deal for them. The restaurant said to wait to come til 7, and they'd have a table for us then. We asked if they wanted our name and they said to just tell them that we were the people who called for the 4-top at 7 PM. When we arrived at 7, we told them that we were the folx who had called and they said, "It's going to be 30 minutes." The host was unapologetic and dismissive. I understand, as a former restaurant manager myself, that you can't always predict customer flow. I also understand that a busy restaurant means they have good food. Basil Cafe, if you don't take reservations, then just say THAT on the phone. We opted to go to another restaurant and we had to get my parents back in the car, and repeat the whole process of moving them. So I am docking 2 stars, one for each parent - life is already difficult for people with mobility issues, and Basil made it even more difficult. This experience was incredibly frustrating and avoidable. It's probably best to order takeout from this restaurant, and avoid dining in person. read more

Good experience here- I found this place while I was traveling for work and I was actually looking to go to Koreana, but it's closed since the last time I was in the area. This place looked like it had a good menu and good reviews, so figured I would try it. Myself and my coworker were not disappointed. We were seated promptly, even though it was relatively busy for a Wednesday night. Our server was pretty quick and very pleasant as well. I got the green curry and very much enjoyed it. It's hard to screw up green curry . I got a glass of wine as well and all was good for us with our experience! No complaints at all. read more

Basil Cafe - Green curry - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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Top notch ambiance and service. Tilapia and masaman curry entries were flavorful and unique for the valley. Overall, a gem.

I've gone twice to Basil Café and both times the food and service was great! They start you off with coconut infused water which is great. You can also ask for regular water if coconut infused water isn't your thing. Very clean and very professional. The food comes out quick, hot and tasty! The bahn mi so far is my favorite thing. We tried the lemongrass chicken, the pho, the nam khao, the papaya the pad thai and the thai iced coffee ALL WERE GREAT. This is definitely authentic. And for sure not a hidden gem because everyone raves about it. It's a great spot and deserves all the spot light. I took my family of 20 when they came from out of town to visit and they handled it with grace. Loved it. Keep up the great work guys! We will be back for sure. read more

It's more like 2.5* I used to really like Basil Cafe. I've brought a ton of my co-workers here for lunch and dinner. The Good: - I love the fried quail appetizer paired with a side of sticky rice. I normally use this as my meal. They serve this with a sweet and sour dip. Delish! - The owner. He noticed that I've been there with a number of people several times and he brought out some mango sticky rice on the house. - Service is usually prompt. The Bad: - The pad see ew is way too mushy. I've had it once. I've told my co-workers not to order it but there's this stubborn co-worker that wanted to prove me wrong. He ordered it twice on two separate occasions. I guess, I can say the place is consistent. - The coconut infused water: this was no good. I had them give me fresh water. I suggest cucumber or just lemon. - We went there for lunch today for my birthday lunch around 12:15. It was pretty packed. There were four of us. They had two 6 tops and about two 2 tops. The male waiter said that it would be about 15-20 mins before he could give us a table. I asked if he could put two of the 2 tops together. He said no, it'll block the walkway. My co-worker asked if we could use one of the 6 tops and before he could finish, the waiter interrupted him and said, "it's going to be 15-20 mins". That was extremely rude. It's lunch time - how many people do you know have more than an hour to sit down for lunch? read more

Very Good Food in Appleton area. we like coconut flavoured water and soup and basil fried rice.

This place is just awesome. Key highlights 1. Very prompt and professional service 2. Awesome tasty food.. You can try anything and it is amazing. 3. The Vietnamese cuisine and varieties are great. 4. Best part they can make anything vegetarian. 5. Clean and no fancy decor. Must visit if you are around this area. read more

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Always amazing, delicious food and staff are always wonderful! Parking is a nightmare but worth it!

Had a great dinner of mixed vegetables and shrimp in a garlic sauce tonight while my companion had a Pad Thai vegan entree. The waiter was very friendly and attentive, and the food came very quickly. The carafe of water at our table was infused with coconut and I have never tasted anything quite like it and was very happily surprised. The atmosphere is casual yet authentic to a Thai restaurant and is able to accommodate large party groups. read more

Basil Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Used to love this place--super delicious & incredibly kind staff! I hate to write this review because Larry is the best, but, well, the truth must be told. :-/ The last 3 times I ordered take out, the food was super bland and dry. My vegan phó & Vietnamese spring rolls were virtually flavorless (spring rolls were missing the chive, carrots, and dipping sauce, & were stuffed full of iceberg lettuce; the Phó had regular broccoli instead of Chinese). Pad see eew also came with regular broccoli instead of Chinese, and was flat out missing the sauce it should have been served in. The pad Thai with tofu also had no sauce or flavor, and was full of random vegetables that I've ever seen in pad Thai before. The peanuts seemed to be missing as well. I'll definitely still dine in, even though the ambiance isn't great, but I just can't seem to win with carry out. :( read more

I've eaten here a million times since it's open and it deserves all the praise it gets. Not only is the food great, but it's been consistently great every time I've had it no matter how busy it is. The staff has always been amazing as well. One of, if not the best restaurant in Appleton. read more

Can you give zero stars . Our food was gross . Not sure why people go here . Chicken tasted like it's been in a freezer past it expiration date . Would be nice to have a decent Thai place in Appleton . Basil pretty overpriced . read more

It was jaaam packed .....it was full and it was 5 mins to closing time ... I have never seen sooo full a restaurant... The food was good ....I was traveling Soo I got the leftover back with me coz it was good ... read more

Amazing food and even better server! Started with their amazing coconut water...YUM!! Mason was our server and was very attentive and friendly! I had the Kow Boon and it was so delicious and the perfect amount of heat. Not to mention the enormous amount you get! It was our first time here and I'm bummed I've never tried this place sooner, definitely will be back! read more

Basil Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Three of us spent a good hour looking online for an affordable restaurant that could meet my GF, Dairy free, and meat free needs. Basil Cafe was one of the most recommended and seemed the most promising. It had a menu that included a wide array of options and had all the GF items marked. We decided to give it a shot and for the most part we were pleased with that decision. When you first arrive it seems a bit hole in the wall and the building reminds me of a shady bar. However, once you walk in it is easy to tell that this is not the case! The place is actually rather nice and seems pretty fancy. I enjoy the colors used as warm tones promote excitement, hunger, and energy amongst the guests. I will, however, say that it is poorly laid out for people with social anxiety. There are a lot of tables and they are all crammed pretty close together. There are no booths available for privacy and even the corner tables feel as if they are at the center of attention. I definitely would not recommend this restaurant for their atmosphere. That being said, the service was decent enough. Our server was kind and seemed to know what they were doing. They were timely and not overly talkative. They performed everything I expect from a server. Now on to the part you truly care about; the food! My partner had the Mok Fish dish, their mother had the fried egg noodles with tofu and vegetables, and I had the GF vegan pho. My partner said that the fish was delicious but certainly not worth the price. The portion size was much smaller than the other dishes and this lead to second dinner when we arrived home. Their mother was very VERY pleased with the egg noodle dish. It was a huge mound of noodles nearly overflowing from the plate and had a very pleasantly sized mound of tofu and vegetables in the center. She was unable to finish as it was simply too much for her! The vegan pho is what truly brought me to Basil Cafe. I was so intrigued by this as pho is traditionally beef based. Now don't get me wrong, this was an absolutely delicious dish but I would not call it pho. The flavor profile was not very developed. It felt more like a fancy instant rice noodle ramen than anything. I did enjoy their presentation though and as I said before, it was tasty. I would rate this establishment a 3 off of atmosphere, a 5 for service, a 4 for quality of food, and a 3 for value. Overall I suppose it deserves 4 out of 5 stars. Basil Cafe is a very tasty treat but it certainly would not be one of my regular spots. If you're in the area and want to try something new I do recommend giving it a shot. P.s- The coconut infused water was my favorite part of the meal. Delicious! read more

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Seriously the best Drunken Noodle I have ever had. Amazing. The water with the drop coconut oil is a super nice touch - wow. Fantastic service. If I lived here I would come here a lot! Thanks!!! read more

Congratulations, Basil Cafe! This may be my favorite restaurant in all of Appleton. The decor is eye-catching, the ambiance is warm, the food presentation is excellent, and the price is right. But, above all, the food is absolutely delicious. We came here on a weeknight when my nose was kind of stuffed up and my boyfriend insisted I needed to try pho, which he said would be the perfect comfort. He was definitely right! I got the vegetable pho with beef broth and was blown away by how delectable it was. There were a ton of vegetables and tofu, and I enjoyed dipping the tofu in the sauces provided, and adding the veggies provided. I had a ton left over, so I was able to fill myself up for another meal the next day! I really look forward to trying Basil Cafe again. What a delicious place! read more

Basil Cafe - Veggie pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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Basil's location is easily accessible and parking is bountiful. Outside seemed dull. It was confusing that it had 3 doors (one in the front and two at the sides): FYI - only the side doors are open. Inside is updated and very spacious. Its Asian fusion: bright and vibrant, Hilltribe feel, a TV and bar area as well. Lots of eye candy. I really like it. Music was not loud. The waitstaff wore black so it was easy to spot them. Now to the food. If you are here for Pho, it's not the best. It's lacking in flavor and their condiments are limited. You have to flag down the waitresses to get nampla, hoisin sauce, or even scriracha. Herb and sprouts came on an individual side. The broth is ok but nothing to blog about. I'm Asian and one whom eats pho more than the average person off the street so I know what I'm talking about. In addition, I ordered the Vietnamese Bun Salad. I asked for pork. The meat was some kind of jerky beef like texture. It was not pork. All in all, the sauce was flavorful: sweet, sour, salty, a tad of spice. The portions are small for what you pay. It's a $1 extra to add egg rolls to the salad. Basically you're paying extra for the ambience. Service is ok. They were helpful in bringing us drinks and extra condiments. Nothing memorable. read more

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Freshly made spring rolls, Tom Yum soup, spicy basil chicken, and for desert we had sticky mango rice! Incredible food and fantastic service! Our waitress was incredibly attentive and very helpful with our selections. Definitely going back again. read more

Basil Cafe - Spicy lemongrass with seafood - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

We went here for lunch and had one of the daily specials and an order of pad Thai. The food here is excellent. Fresh ingredients, bold flavors, great quality and portions. Our server was extremely nice and helpful, and we loved the coconut infused water. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and clean. I've been to Basil Cafe three times since that day and I will seek it out if I'm ever in the Appleton area. OVERALL: Basil Cafe has excellent food with good prices and portion sizes. Everyone is friendly and the atmosphere is welcoming. If you're in the area definitely give this place a try! read more

I do not intend to brag, but I've been to Thailand on six separate occasions. I bring this up simply to emphasize that when I say this is the absolute best Thai food in the Appleton, WI area, I mean it and fortunate enough to have real experience to back it up. One of my favorite dishes of their's is the Tom Yum soup. For those of you who have never tried it, the only way I can describe it is that it is literally a potpourri of flavor with each bite tasting different than the last. If you are one that likes spicy food as I do, then make sure that you ask for it extra spicy. That way the chef will include Thai chili's in it to add its own special flavor, as well as including one heck of a kick to drive home how good it really is. This dish is sure to stimulate every taste bud within your hungry mouth! read more

Good attempt at authentic Vietnamese food. The spring rolls were almost a double portion and were stuffed with fresh crispy lettuce, basil bean, carrot and mint (i would have liked more mint). The crab rangoons ( about 3 orders in total) all appeared a little over fried. The chicken pho was hearty, but the side of basil was limp and small. Solid broth, although some more ginger, cinnamon or coriander or anise would have made the broth pop! However, it is still a worthy bowl of noodles. We dined with a large group and Basil was nice enough to split check (i would have told us NO), so that was appreciated. read more

Basil Cafe - Sides for Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

I stopped by for a quiet dinner after a very busy day at work. With their recent remodeling, they added a few new items to the menu. I decided to try their Basils Signature Tilapia and Red Curry Sauce. Their plate presentations are always great. The tilapia was lightly breaded and generously drizzled with red curry sauce. The meal certainly satisfied my palate along with a nice glass of their house merlot. Their waitstaff is friendly and very prompt, and always pay attention to detail of the customer's needs. I'm always impressed with Larry, the manager, who is very articulate on explaining any of the menu items. I always look forward to exposing the new customers I bring to Larry's knowledge of the food and drink they serve. We are blessed to have so many great restaurants in the Valley and Sou and Larry, yours is right up there on my list. read more

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The ambiance is nice and the restaurant is clean. We used to go here often enough and service has gone downhill. Our last few visits we have felt so rushed and have been greeted with, "Have you decided?" The food is good, not excellent and the entrees were out before our spring rolls were gone. The bao buns were awesome when they came out but were changed and now are possibly deep fried and are gross. My masaman was very mild and my guests noodles were a bit spicy (he asked for extra spicy). Bit expensive for what we got and to be completely rushed. read more

Wonderful restaurant, clean, good music, knowledgeable staff. I had the pad Kee Mao with pork (spicy savory gooey delicious) and avacado boba tea (sweet and creamy) I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for something different. read more

Basil Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Super friendly, professional staff. I am gluten and dairy free and they are understanding and accommodating. read more

Basil Cafe - Gluten and dairy friendly. Professional, friendly staff. If I could eat here every day I would! - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

I stopped in Appleton when I was in the area for work, looking for vegan options before I headed back to Madison. I noticed that Basil Cafe had one item marked (the vegan pho) so I figured they would have other options that were not marked, and I was right! We went about 30 minutes before they closed for lunch hours, and the service was very fast, but nice and not rushed. I had the pad thai with tofu and veggies (made vegan, which my server knew was possible right when I asked them), and my co-worker had a veggie garlic sauce dish that she enjoyed as well. Plus, the portion was huge and I got an extra lunch out of it! I'd definitely stop back if I found myself in Appleton again. Thank you for serving vegan options!! read more

Basil Cafe - Pad thai with veggies and tofu, vegan style. It was delicious! - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Spring rolls were fresh but the lettuce inside was starting to brown. The beef Pho was on the brown side and the noodles were not fresh. A very cheap cut of thin sliced beef. Only thing good was the meatballs. Expensive for the quality and I expected much better. Service is great and the restaurant is nicely decorated. read more

Basil Cafe - Beef Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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I have been to Basil many, many times now and it has always been wonderful. From the coconut infused water you are brought when you first sit down (How do they do this?! It's not sweet at all but has a light natural coconut flavor) to the amazing food, you cannot go wrong here. The #1 All-star on their menu for me is the Tom Yum soup. They describe it on their menu as "slightly spicy" which I will warn is "slightly wrong." It is decently to very spicy and not for the faint of heart. But if you like spicy, tangy things like I do, you will crave this soup. If you order the bowl, you will receive a huge tureen of soup. It's magnificent. Other favorite items: House garlic sauce (sounds boring but has more flavor than anything you will find at the average take-out place), House peanut sauce(again....so much flavor!), Egg rolls (my favorite fried egg rolls in the Valley), Masaman (coconut curry....so dreamy!), and Kow Boon (Curry soup....also fantastic!) The only thing I ever got that wasn't my favorite was the Beef Pho. But in Basil's defense, it was my first ever Pho and I don't usually go for the warming spices. I like brighter, acidic things. I think if you are a Pho lover, you'd be very happy. I also want to note that the service we've received has always been stellar. For example: I do not eat cilantro, so I always order my Tom Yum without it. Then I ordered my entree. The waiter returned to our table while he was putting our order in for the kitchen to ask me if I also wanted the cilantro out of my entree, which I forgot to ask for. Now that is attention to detail! We will always keep coming back to Basil. read more

I wasn't too impressed with Basil Café. I've been wanting to come here for a while too... One of the workers behind the bar kept staring at us, it was awkward. The place was very busy too. I wasn't a big fan of the open seating. I might try coming again but there are so many better options in Appleton alone. The Mee Krob was pretty good, especially the sauce. The spicy basil seafood combo was very pricy and had a very small portion. It was very hot and tasted ok. I didn't feel well after eating here for about a day. I ate leftovers and didn't feel well after that either. read more

Basil Cafe - Mee krob - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

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We love basil cafe! In our most recent order we had masaman and the beef pho. You also have to order their water which sounds crazy but it's coconut Infused and SO AMAZING! They are handling the pandemic great with very easy mobile ordering. read more

I have been here a number of times, even have brought a few friends over. Don't let the façade deceive you. Inside, the ambiance is cozy. I have tried the Pho and Mee noodle soups, which always "hits the spot" specially during winter. The Pad Thai and Pad See Eew are worth coming back for. read more

The best thai food in the area. I docked one star because of my experience the first time I went. They sat us down and didn't take our order for 20 minutes and our order didn't come for another 50 minutes. However, gave this place another try and service was much better and food was great. Tried the basil fried rice, pad thai, teas, and more. They were all fantastic. Have also ordered from this place a couple times and it was quality food! read more

Ok so the pho is definitely not what I'm used to. It looks good and it has all the right ingredients but the broth was bland to my taste. I'm used to a real beefy full flavored stock but this one was so-so. I do think the broth was prepared very well tho. It was light and didn't leave an oily or heavy after taste. The beef flavor just needs to be kicked up a notch. We did order some crab Rangoon and those were delish! And the pad Thai was so good we ordered an extra order to go! The flavors of the pad Thai was like an explosion in every bite. Probably the best pad Thai I've ever had. We also ordered the mango sticky rice dessert and that was very good too! Mangos are definitely ripe and sweet! The service was great! Even though it was pretty busy when we came in our waitress still did a really great job of keeping our waters full and checking up on us. Overall the ambiance was really great. More than I would expect in my hometown area. I didn't have restaurants like this growing up and it's been a while since I've been back to visit the family. It's nice to see how the city has grown and is starting to get more diverse with the food industry. This place is packed and it's obvious why. The food is great, service is great, the restaurant is clean and decorated well. All it all it was a really great experience. I'm sure we'll be back again in the future. read more

Basil Cafe - Pho n pad thai - Vietnamese Near Me - Appleton, Wisconsin

Here from out of town. Pho was amazing! We got here right at open and it was already pretty full so get there early! Definitely will be back to try the pad Thai and a few other dishes! read more

This is the best restaurant in the Fox Cities. The food is always on point, and the service is friendly. Though the prices are fair, some items I wish were a little less expensive.. But only so I could visit this restaurant more often. Love it! My favorite dishes include (In order): Basil Fried Rice, Pad Kee Mao, Pad See Eew, Pad Thai, Mixed Veggies in Peanut Sauce. read more

Great pad Thai! Really love this little gem and have been back a few different times.

My family always orders take out from the restaurant. The food is delicious and everything I've ordered off the menu has been satisfying! My favorites are the pad see ew and the vermicelli salad. The spring rolls and egg rolls are also delicious. The place is always busy, but they do a good job of moving people in and out without making you feel rushed. Everyone who works there is friendly! I would definitely recommend trying out Basil if you are in the area! read more

If you are looking for Thai food in fox cities, this is your best option. I am a die hard Thai food fan and need to have it at least once a week. This isn't the best Thai food I have ever had but you won't get better than this in the area. read more