Lime and Basil: The Best Thai Restaurant in Tagaytay City?

I’m doing a Tagaytay City Food Trip this month. Check out the installments so far: LZM Restaurant

I’ve been trying out more Thai restaurants recently. I’m hoping to visit Bangkok, Lord-willing, this year. For now, I’ll have to indulge myself with local Thai spots. I heard there’s a popular one in Tagaytay (or technically in its border with Alfonso, a municipality beside the city). So I visited Lime and Basil.

Lime and Basil is a vacation/rest house converted into a Thai restaurant. It started out as a hobby by one of its owners, Sigrid Sayos, accepting reservations from family and friends, and opened on weekends only. Because of overwhelming feedback, the hobby eventually turned into a full-time endeavor. It started in Alfonso and they now have branches in Tagaytay Highlands and even in Baguio!

Lime and Basil is committed to serve flavorful Thai food using the freshest and quality ingredients. They even have their own herb garden.

They also sell local products:

While waiting for our food, we were given complimentary fish crackers:

Let’s talk about the food, starting with their Fresh Springrolls, which, as its name suggests, is fresh! LOL. Seriously, it’s fresh and has a variety of textures.

We also tried it’s namesake salad, Lime and Basil Salad, which is delicious. The lettuce is crisp, the peanuts give crunch, the fried soft-boiled egg adds creaminess, and the flash-fried basil gives a subtle taste, dressed in a sweet and salty, tamarind-base sauce.

Of course, we had to order Pad Thai. I like it because it has crispy catfish!

Now on to the mains, starting with Salted Egg Fried Chicken, which is easily my favorite. It’s crisp, tender, and has a nice salted egg coating. It’s a bit sweet and spicy, and the curry leaves add flavor.

A Thai meal won’t be complete without a Thai curry dish. We tried the Kaeng Keiw Wan Nua (Beef Green Curry), which is a bit sweet but stay-in-the-mouth spicy. I just wish that the beef is more tender.

*Kaeng Keiw Wan Nua* or Beef Green Curry (PHP470)

To wash away all the spiciness, we got the House Blend Iced Tea and the classic Thai Iced Tea (milk tea). Nothing beats Thai milk tea, even in a chilly Tagaytay weather!

Left: House Blend Iced Tea (Glass: PHP110; Pitcher: PHP280); Right: Thai Iced Tea (PHP160)

And to end our meal, we got the Kao Neiw Mamaung (Mango Sticky Rice) has sweet and tangy mangoes. But overall, it’s just rightly sweet.

*Kao Neiw Mamaung* or Mango Sticky Rice (PHP270)

Lime and Basil serves good Thai food. In my couple of visits there, I’ve never had a mediocre experience. My only issue is the cost. But prices in Tagaytay are on the high side so it’s understandable.

So is it the best in the Tagaytay area? I think so…because there’s no other Thai restaurant in the area that I know of! LOL. But seriously, if you’re in Tagaytay and would want to skip the usual Bulalo (bone-in beef shank soup) and Crispy Tawilis (a freshwater sardine), then go to Lime and Basil. I highly recommend this place to you.