If there was 6 stars, I would give it 7… Amazing food! Amazing service! Fantastic atmosphere and presentation! Duncan and Julia and their team catered for my wife’s dietary requirements (Low FODMAP) very well… Calling other restaurants to come and experience what the benchmark is!

23/2/23 - they started making chicken dishes now and their dishes are amazing. Now giving them 5 stars Very good place for Thai food. We have tasted 5 to 6 dishes and they taste really good. Only thing that prevents me from giving 5 stars is that they don’t make chicken dishes and it’s just vegetarian or sea food.

Arrival & First Impressions: My wife and I arrived 10 minutes earlier than our booking. We were checked in via an electronic tab at the door and seated within 10 seconds. The restaurant has nice modern decor, very clean, and every table is spotless with place setting neatly organised. And all staff members (from floor to kitchen) was immaculately dressed. The Staff: Our table was attended by Bella & Mod. We found both of them to be extremely efficient, attentive, and provided their service with a smile throughout our booking. Drinks: The drinks menu clearly shows that they support producers from the Yarra Valley region. We ordered the Napoleone Apply Cider - which came in quite a generous glass and super chilled. The Food: We ordered Myanmar Tea Leaf Salad - very unusual (but in a pleasant way), with plenty of crunch & pop in the texture, and savoury in flavour; Chargrilled Calamari - the calamari was almost marshmallow like in texture (super soft), served with naam jim sauce that was perfectly balanced with sweet/sour/savoury and a hint of heat; Crisp Barramundi Red Curry - crispy and fresh (not frozen) with the richest and creamy red curry; Jungle Beef Stir Fry - plenty of flavour and generous amounts of vegetables & beef; Sticky Date & Logan Pudding - what can I say... that "butterscotch sauce" OMG. Summary: Overall, we thought Holy Basil Thai offered a very good dinning experience. Service, delivery of food (timing), quality & taste of food was very good. Everything was seamless. What impressed me the most was that how well this restaurant is run - the floor staff and the kitchen staff performed like a well oiled machine. All the floor staff provided their service efficiently with a smile, and the kitchen staff was equally as efficient and very professional with each other. I personally take note of these things after dealing with the hospitality industry for almost 2 decades. Credit to everyone!

Ahhh … surprise find after a house inspection in the area. Waiting staff were courteous and friendly, found us a table though they were almost full house. Loved the fusion of Thai-Korean-Japanese sauces with fresh ingredients - all my tastebuds were singing with joy, so to speak 🤩👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ We tried their crispy pork belly and chicken pad Thai, accompanied by margarita and beer. Their sticky date pudding was lovely with ice cream and drizzled in sauce. Their coffee was a beautiful finish to our yummy dinner night. Thank you, chefs and wait staff of HBT; we had a delightful culinary experience ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The food was very delicious and fresh, with friendly staff and a very nice vibe. we love it.

Was highly rated by my Mum so, we went and we were not disappointed. The staff were great as was our seat/s. We were a table of 5 and can't work out why we couldn't do a 2 per "meal deal" and a 3 person "meal deal". There is no extra benefit for the customer or the restaurant. You just have to put the food on the table and then we eat!!! Despite this, we had a great time. So much so, we forgot to take photos!!! (Apart from desert) We are coming back

Lovely place fantastic food amazing experience.

Thai food! You probably think, like myself, that you had Thai many times. Personally, it's my go to Asian cuisine. But after last night experience please remember what I'm telling you: You Didn't Had Thai Until You Try This!!! Holy Basil kitchen is mind-blowing! The guys working there are Gods! Thai Gods! Last night dinner was perfect: - excellent service in the saloon - short cooking time (we were the first table of the day) - amazing food full of flavour, fresh ingredients, balanced tastes! I cannot give 6 stars to this restaurant, but I would! Actually... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the holy basil. The warm and inviting atmosphere while we eat washes a relaxed mood over all customers. Customer sevice very good. Food portioning was so generous we had 3 take away bowls. My lil sister appreciated the complimentry chicken and chips many thanks to Mrs J. Can't wait for our next visit.

Today, I had sticky date desert with coconut ice cream. It was fabulous, beyond expectations and so tasty and delicious. Whenever, someone offer me sticky date deserts, I always refuse because on past I had and It wasn’t good. But today you guyzzz totally changed my thoughts towards sticky date…. Thank you so much Holy basil team for making my day. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Holy moly we always have the best fusion meals from here! The atmosphere is gorgeous, an open space and cosy interior. The flavours on the vegan Thai dishes are jam packed! This is my 4th time here! You have to try the butterfly tonic it is just divine!

This is our third visit to Holy Basil restaurant and once again we were greeted with smiling staff and amazing food. This time I ordered takeaway and as I was sitting waiting for my food I had a couple of staff check in on me and then this lovely smiling lady came and sat down next to me. She turned out to be one of the owners. We had a wonderful chat and stayed with me until my food was ready. This kind of Wholesome interaction and atmosphere is not often found any more, and the food is outstanding.

Everything on the menu is outstanding. A great combination of vegetarian / meat for any dietary requirement. Always great service too!

I highly recommend dinning at Holy Basil (or takeaway), the staff are all so lovely and accommodating. Each dish was an explosion of fresh produce and authentic herbs and spices. After my experience dinning here I can’t wait to come back and try everything on the menu. Definitely try the Pandan & Coconut Sago Pudding! It’s everything you want and more. Great Job Chef!

If I could give 6 stars, I legitimately would. To start with, the food is exceptional. Zingy, unique and rich yet delicate flavours in every dish I've tried so far. And the service....truly second to none. Being able to have a lovely conversation with the owners of such a bustling, successful restaurant is a rarity to say the least, and is the cherry on top of this incredibly well run business. Their ability and willingness to cater to dietary needs is also like nothing else I've experienced before. Couldn't recommend highly enough. Thanks team

My partner and I dined here for the first time tonight and the food was absolutely AMAZING. The best Thai food we have ever had. The food came out so quickly, the staff are wonderful, the atmosphere was great and the food was delicious. I will be recommending this restaurant to all of my friends and family!

We were recommended to go by friends and were absolutely blown away! The food here is INREDIBLE!! It came out super fast, the staff were friendly and attenuative, super clean and amazing vibe. Will visit very often! What a gem in the eastern suburbs, cannot recommend enough!

Always an absolute treat going to Holy Basil! We have been twice now and both times we've selected the set menu option both times. The food is plentiful and tastes amazing. The set menu consists of two entrees, two mains and a side. Pair it with a wine from Vue on Halcyon (a local winery nearby - the Pinot Grigio is to die for) and you're sure to have a very memorable dinner. Without a doubt one of the best upmarket Thai restaurants in the east.

We had an amazing meal, three of us had dinner & we all loved our meal. They even made one of my favorite dishes, that isn’t on the menu now. All the staff are attentive, polite & knowledgeable, Julia & Duncan are amazing hosts. We had Mains - Fish in the garden, Pad Thai with Prawns, Mushroom Larb, & Holy green curry. Entree - Tamarind prawns, calamari & Roti. Also had enough left over for each of us for lunch the next day.

Will keep coming back! Cannot fault the delicious food and cocktails. Staff are super friendly - always up for a chat and I love the vibe of the restaurant. Came in for a date night and was back two weeks later for a girls mid-week catch up, from all over Melbourne - everyone raved about the food! Thank you, as always!

I’ve been to Holy Basil half a dozen times, most recently tonight with a girlfriend who hadn’t been before. Man, were we in for a treat! We decided to have a banquet for 2 which consisted of 2 entrees, 2 mains and a side. We had the two different fritters ( sides) the duck massaman curry and the chicken green curry with coconut rice. Superb! We then topped it off with a drink and shared a dessert- ice cream and banana tart. Amazing high quality food and presentation and 5 star service.

I was going to order Providoor but decided to support local Croydon business. Gosh it was great. Started with prawn Tom yum which is flavourtown, then had duck curry with greens. I can’t fathom how the greens are both tender and crunchy at the same time. How do they do it!! Duck was falling off the bone. Vegetarian pad Thai packed with flavour and vege, I feel like I’m doing myself a favour. Thai basil stir fry is a favourite and finished with the lockdown special saffron pannacotta. Did I mention it was great!?. I always feel guilty that I don’t have holy basil more often because I like to leave it for a special occasion night. But over family dinner tonight it was decided I must order it more often!!! Thanks team

Have been twice now and loved the food! Authentic flavors leaving you wanting more. Every dish looks, smells and taste beautiful. Environment is modern and clean, though a little tight. If you are concerned about social distancing, might be best to book an early dinner. This place becomes full to the max around 7pm onwards. One less star, service needs defining. On both occasions. Whilst in deep conversations staff need to be more delicate in their approach in asking a question as they interrupt often. Asking how our meal once is sufficient. Taking my plate away while others are still eating on the table....a big no no in my book. Especially when sharing. Ask if unsure.

Can't believe they've been there seven years and we've only just found them. The best Thai in the Eastern suburbs!

Best Thai restaurant that I've been to! The design of it is beautiful, open kitchen and really cosy feel to it. The food is delicious and bursting with flavour - plenty of vegan options too! I had the jungle curry. Last, but far from the least their vegan cheesecake is to die for, it's New York style and has that firm but slightly soft texture to it. They also contribute to the community in Uganda and are all for sustainability. What more could you ask for?! Will be back for sure.

Holy Basil's food is simply the best. Flavoursome and topnotch presentation. Love the place! Been back many times! Highly recommended! 5/5🙂👍👍👍

My partner and I had out first dinner at Holy Basil and were very impressed with the amazing staff and the incredible food. We had the Feed Me Now option for two which allowed us to try a good variety of the menu. We will be back.

Holy tamarind prawns the food here is delicious! Especially the tamarind prawns! Felt like w were back in Khao Lak enjoying wonderful Thai food. More special than your usual suburban Thai if you want a nice night out that's close to home.

Amazing Thai food with so many gluten free options (+ some gluten free on request). The size of the servings is perfect to share - my partner and I shared the rice ball salad entree (a personal favourite from here) and shared the green curry and pad Thai and still had leftovers! Definitely in our top 5 places to go for dinner 😍 (Note: I have IBS not coeliac so please always double check the menu with staff)

Sensational food and service. One of the best Thai restaurants on this side of the city. The suitcase and story on the wall at the back is really quite special and we will definitely be looking at checking out more of the Thai restaurants started by Julia and Duncan. First class!

Absolutely delicious! Love the large selection of options for those with dietary requirements. Aside from being a little disappointed that the GF roti was unavailable, everything we tried was wonderful, and the staff we're great too!

Nice spacious dining area. Variety of dishes in menu was good. Food was average.

Went for an anniversary dinner, had a beutiful little note saying happy anniversary! It was quick, thorough and efficient service, fantastic food choices to choose from, beautiful flavours! Staff are friendly & professional and the chef gets involved out on the restaurant floor and interacts with customers which is lovely to see!

I can highly recommend Holy Basil, the food was absolutely delicious and the staff were fantastic. My partner and I are vegetarian and vegan, and it was a pleasure to have such great options. Will definitely visit again.

So very lucky to have this beautiful restaurant so close to home. We have visited on several occasions. The food is sublime and staff are attentive and friendly. We have made a pact with friends to eat our way through the entire menu it's that good. Do yourself a big favour and go to Holy Basil Thai as soon as you can!

We just had the most fantastic meal at Holy Basil. Each dish delicious, layers of flavour. So accommodating of dietary needs. Our waitress Am was the perfect mix of helpful and conversational yet also giving us our space. Every other team member was also great. Am and another lady jumped in so graciously and quickly when my father dropped a fork. Popped a new one on the table and didn’t fuss with picking up the one on the floor, which supported him immensely in not over highlighting what happened. So thoughtful and gracious. We couldn’t fault a thing, five stars all the way!

Loved Holy Basil Thai!! The service was exceptional, the atmosphere warm and inviting, the menu is extensive without being overwhelming and the food is divine. Between us we had the vegan masaman curry, Thai chilli-basil stir fry rice and the pandan/sago pudding. The dessert was beautiful - in flavour, texture and presentation! And the mains a great size and delicious flavours. Cannot wait to come back and try more dishes!

Delicious food cooked with fresh ingredients. I’ve had take take away food from there a couple of times. Probably the best Thai food I’ve ever had.

Sensational. Such a beautiful venue, staff and food. You guys made my week - can’t give enough praise to the quality of the vegan food.

One of the best Thai food restaurant in the area. Quality food with Excellent service. Must try Very delicious Pad Thai noodle and fresh crispy barramundi with mango salad

Mind blowing flavours, 10 star service. So lucky to have Duncan out our way.

Really lovely restaurant. Service was great, well priced and delicious food!! A must see if you’re a local

Was there for an impromptu Friday dinner. Pleasantly greeted by Grace. Food: We tried the Pad Thai, Pineapple fried rice, Crispy Chicken. Fresh ingredients, lovely presentation and taste. Dessert: They served a cocunut ice cream with the sticky date pudding that was light and refreshing. Hospitality: Above and beyond. The Chef, his team and the Staff care. Ambience: probably can sit 30 folks at a time. Be back? For sure.

Had a fabulous dinner at this amazing restaurant last Friday night with friends. It was a special milestone celebration for us & one of our friends. All our first visit & certainly won't be the last. Every dish was sensational & delicious. We savoured every mouthful. The best Thai food we've had in a very long time & that's saying alot as we've been to many Thai restaurants over the years & been left wanting. So thrilled our son & his wife who live close by discovered this gem through takeaways, highly recommended Holy Basil to us. It was lovely to meet Duncan & Julia who were so friendly & welcoming. The staff & service was amazing. A wonderful dining experience.

A very pleasant experience indeed. Ambiance was warm and welcoming. Service was great and cuisine was fantastic. Best Thai restaurant in South East Melbourne. Ordered, the chargrilled squid, pad thai and the crispy belly pork stirfy for a delicious beautiful presented meal for two. We love Thai cuisine and we are so happy that we have found an excellent Thai restaurant we will definitely dine at with family and friends. Can't wait to try out their other tantalising dishes.

While the food was tasty and quick, staff rushed our dinning experience. Every time there was an empty plate the staff wanted to clear the table. I ended up saying, " your rushing us, stop!" Only to find twice more they came over. This mage me annoyed. I would have enjoyed another drink and dessert instead we left early. Frustrating dinning experience 😑