THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Basa

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Basa Restaurant Review:

Brothers Michael and Steven Ton, the former is chef and the latter manager, preside over this casual bistro offering a menu that reflects Vietnam’s French colonial days. Basa dining room's dark walls and spare décor will strike a Zen note with some, a stark one with others. Among the starters are mussels simmered in yellow curry served with a crispy baguette, fried calamari with smoked paprika and roasted garlic, and pork-and-shrimp spring rolls with rice vermicelli and mint. Shaking beef, consisting of cubed tenderloin with garlic and watercress atop jasmine rice, is one of the signature entrées. Another is the catfish clay pot with smoked bacon, Vietnamese celery, bean sprout and tomato. If you are in a burger mood, try the house grilled version. Have the Asiago-dusted frites on the side. House-made ice cream or ginger cake may finish the meal. The wine list is short but well-chosen and -priced. Efficient servers are ever helpful and unobtrusive.