Cross trendy Asian cuisine with weird, modernist decor in a bustling urban neighborhood and what do you get? A hit. That was the path to hipster Shangri La for many sushi bars, and now Denver's Thai restaurateurs seem eager to follow. Case in point: the emergence of quirky places like Spicy Basil, a downtown Asian bistro that specializes in Thai cuisine and trippy decor. Its abstract wall-hangings and sculpture appear to owe less to Bangkok and more to an acid hallucination -- but who cares? Plenty of sushi chefs have struck pay dirt amid outrageous decor. At least Spicy Basil's prices are more in sync with a bohemian's budget.

Thai dinner options include curry noodles, the always-popular pad Thai and "One Night in Bangkok" -- breaded soft shell crab sauted in curry. Although the Thai grub gets top billing (spicy basil chicken, shrimp and duck are house specialties) it's joined by an extensive selection of pan-Asian cuisine, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese tempura.

Categories: Restaurants

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