Very tasty Thai food, Tom Kha Gai, Chicken Fried Rice and Chicken Penang were excellent, but the Pad Thai was average. Overall, excellent food, great value and ambience. Will definitely go there again.

Sweet Basil is a welcoming place, features friendly servers and an attractive menu, but seems hesitant to offer the spark and excitement of Thai cuisine to ordinary diners. My entree - a routine Pad Thai dish -was nicely presented but somehow quite unremarkable for taste or spiciness. Compared to other ethic eateries in Bethesda, Sweet Basil seems almost devoid of an ethnic identity in the one meal I had there. If "bland" is too extreme a description, so is "spicy". There was nothing specifically wrong with the meal; but there was nothing specifically noteworthy.

I picked up some carry-out on a Friday night, and the place was quite busy. I attribute much of its popularity due to diners actually being able to carry on a conversation without screaming. They've paid attention to the sound factor, putting carpet on the floor and keeping the background music light and at a very low volume. Lighting was bright so you could read the menu easily.

When I got home and tasted the food it was quite good. So my rating is based heavily on the observed ambiance.

My wife and I were about to take advantage of the buffet at the Indian restaurant Haandi, located next door, when we notice the lunch special at Sweet Basil - for $10.95. It turned out to be an excellent experience and we will be back. For $10.95 you select a drink, an appetizer, and the main course. My wife had a special Thai tea (which she really liked), the wonton soup and the Pad Kra-Prow Gai. I had a diet coke (which was large), a curry puff pastry, and the Panang chicken. The Pad Kra-Prow was very good, and the Panang was excellent. Overall, this was an excellent lunch...and the price was more than reasonable.