On the south side, I found a local Vietnamese place, which instantly raised my spirits. But it closes in half an hour (the place is empty but for one table that’s finishing up), so now you’re that bad customer showing up as workers prep to close, and have to write a review based on an understandably rushed experience, which isn’t fair to the people working there.
The woman working the front of Windermere’s Sweet Basil Vietnamese Kitchen seems like she couldn’t care less what time we showed up (when we need “just one more minute to decide,” she bows, smiles big and says thank you), and whoever’s working the back can whip up great Vietnamese dishes in minutes.
We have the Vermicelli Bowl with chicken and a succulent fish sauce, and the Black Bean stir-fry with chicken as well. I’m probably a bad black bean sauce judge, because I basically love every black bean sauce dish I’ve ever tried. But Sweet Basil’s seems slightly thinner than most and, to this Westerner who’s only ever had restaurant-made black bean sauce dishes, more authentic. I’m honestly not sure, but it’s savoury and spread well over the stir-fry that’s loaded with chicken and vegetables.
The woman wraps our leftovers to go, and smiles again when we apologize for being so last-minute. As we pay at the till we hear the door open as two even later customers arrive. Ever the epitome of politeness and efficiency, she bows, smiles once again, and greets them with an eager, “Welcome!”
Sweet Basil Vietnamese Kitchen
Windermere | 5588 Windermere Blvd NW, Edmonton | 780.988.0821 | sweetbasilkitchen.ca
