Lime and Basil Thai Restaurant — Restaurant in Alfonso

First time here. We've been meaning to dine here for a long time because reviews online were quite positive.

What we ordered: pad thai (chicken & shrimp), red curry pork, fresh spring rolls, calamari, and affogato.

I was excited to try their pad thai (P490) because who eats at a Thai restaurant without trying pad thai first, right? But to my dismay, the noodles were soggy, chicken was unbelievably dry and overcooked (I think it was the toughest chicken breast I've ever had), shrimp was pre-cooked and tough as well, the whole dish is almost flavorless. I've had better pad thais at a cheaper price. Not to mention, it wasn't served hot.

The red curry pork (P450) was good, though. It kind of lacked spices - you know, the Thai-ness? To be honest, although it was good, it was not THAT special. It just tasted like sinantolan, and you could definitely come up with something better at home for the same price. The pork was soooo crispy, I guess that's what we liked the most. We were expecting the Thai basil to be more present, but it was so subtle that it was almost unnoticeable.

Their fresh spring rolls (P250 on the menu, P350 on the receipt 🙄) were the highlight of our dining experience. The sweet red chili relish was a delight, and you could really taste the freshness bursting in your mouth.

Their calamari (P320)... where do I begin? The squid was most certainly pre-cooked. It was rubbery af! Even with utensils, it was so tough to eat. Jeez Louise. And for six (6) pieces of tough, rubbery, tasteless appetizer? Not worth it. Not even a dash of seasoning on the squid itself. Not appetizing at all! The only redeeming factor here was the dip.

Boy, oh boy. Their affogato (P150) didn't taste like coconut at all - it was just like a vanilla soft serve. Although their espresso shot was good, I don't think it was enough to say that it was worth what we paid for. Could've easily gotten a coffee float somewhere nicer and cheaper.

We spent almost 2k PHP (service charge included), and I'd say it was not a very pleasant experience. I'm just glad that we tried it, so we now know that we will not be coming back. There was nothing "Thai" to the food. The execution was poor and lazy and a total waste of hard-earned money. Kanto-style Thai food are WAY BETTER than the food that they serve here. None of the food was at least aromatic. No umamis.

I think it's commendable that the serving time is short, but I would've appreciated it if the food was served hot. It seemed like everything was all ready to go, and they didn't even bother heating the food at the very least. We were there at 7:30 PM, dinner time. And the food was not even freshly cooked? Damn.

I'm not sure if the branch location is a factor here, but this branch is definitely NOT it. Portion-wise, sure, they're generous. But the food quality sucks, and it is not...

I have long considered Lime and Basil one of my favorite spots in Tagaytay, so it’s disheartening to say that my recent experiences have been nothing short of disappointing. During my latest visit on Sunday for lunch, I was excited to enjoy the dishes I’ve come to love—Tom Yam, Pandan Chicken, Pad Thai, Chicken Satay, Grilled Pork, and Jasmine Rice. Unfortunately, the meal fell far short of the standard I’ve come to expect from this restaurant.

It started with an unusually long wait time. Our food took nearly 40 minutes to arrive, which I initially attributed to the dishes being freshly prepared. However, when the food finally reached our table, everything was at best room temperature. The rice had the telltale signs of having sat out for an extended period—dry and slightly hardened, losing both flavor and texture. The Pandan Chicken, Chicken Satay, Pad Thai, and Grilled Pork were all served barely warm, to the point where they were no longer enjoyable. Even the Tom Yam, which should have been served piping hot, was lukewarm at best, dulling the flavors significantly.

At that point, I considered returning the food, but given the long wait and the fact that we were well past lunchtime, we were too hungry to send it back and wait any longer. We reluctantly ate the meal, though it was far from the experience we had been hoping for.

Unfortunately, the service issues didn’t stop there. I ordered an additional cup of rice, but after waiting 20 minutes with no sign of it, I eventually canceled the order altogether. This lack of attentiveness added to the frustration of an already disappointing visit.

It’s particularly disheartening because Lime and Basil has always been a place I could rely on for high-quality food and service. However, the inconsistency in food temperature and the below-par service during this visit were glaring and cannot be overlooked. Serving food at inadequate temperatures after such a long wait not only compromises the dining experience but also raises concerns about food safety.

I sincerely hope this feedback is taken to heart because I know Lime and Basil is capable of so much better. I would love to continue visiting and recommending it to others, but consistency in both food quality and service is crucial. I hope to see improvements on my next visit, as I believe this restaurant has the potential to return to the high standards...

Update 09/30/25

I would like to clarify the confusion: My original review was mistakenly posted under Lime and Basil Tagaytay Highlands. However, upon checking Google, that branch is permanently closed. This is why I updated my review here—because this was the actual branch where we dined. We came in as walk-in customers, not by reservation. Your Google listing indicated that walk-ins are accepted, which is why we went directly. This explains why you will not find my name on your reservation or registration list. My review was not “copy-pasted” without reason. It was transferred here to reflect the correct branch where our experience happened. The feedback I shared is accurate and based on our actual visit.

Please note that under the Consumer Act and online review policies, customers have the right to share truthful accounts of their experiences. My review was written in good faith and with the intention of informing other potential diners.

I trust this clarifies the situation.

Previous review: We had a very disappointing experience yesterday. Some dishes on the menu are labeled as vegan, best-seller, new, or spicy, with options like mild, regular, and spicy. We ordered the crispy pork krapao, krapao nua, pad thai, and another dish that looked like fried spring rolls (I can't remember the name). The staff took down our order without asking about the spice level, so we assumed the food we ordered was not spicy. When the food arrived, the first dish, crispy pork krapao (which was meant for my son), looked like it had chili peppers. I took a small bite to check, and it was very spicy! I asked the staff if they had brought the wrong dish, but they confirmed it was indeed our order. I pointed out that the crispy pork krapao wasn't labeled as spicy on the menu, which was why we ordered it. Then the krapao nua arrived, which also wasn't labeled as spicy on the menu, yet it, too, had chili peppers and was very spicy. I expressed my concern to the staff, saying that the menu was misleading. They admitted it was their mistake but didn't offer us any options to change our order because it would have come out of the staff's pay. We wouldn't recommend this restaurant, especially if you're new to it or don't...