BASIL AND MINT
Sydney, NSW

Even the name of this Thai and Vietnamese restaurant is enough to get the mouth watering. Basil is said to represent Thai cuisine while mint is a staple of Vietnamese dishes, and this restaurant serves the best of both. Family owned and run, Basil and Mint is spacious and airy in design, making stepping through the door a welcome relief from the non-stop rush of traffic along Military Road. Set over a split level, statues of Buddha smile happily and lush plants add to the soothing atmosphere.

The menu at Basil and Mint is extensive to say the least. There are 81 dishes to choose from which span not only Thai and Vietnamese favourites but some more exotic dishes as well. You might begin with the banh xico, a crispy pancake filled with prawns, mung beans and fresh Vietnamese herbs. Basil and Mint have a number of signature dishes that are worth testing on your tastebuds and these are all clearly marked throughout the menu. The campfire beef is as messy as it is delicious; marinated slices of beef are cooked in a wok at your table before you have a go at rolling them up in rice paper rounds. The set dinner menu for two is available Sunday to Wednesday nights and offers excellent value, with three courses and a bottle of house wine to share.