Friend House 2 (CLOSED)

This second location of Friend House is sleeker than the first, with waterfalls in the front windows and a mod color scheme of clementine orange and lime green. And while the restaurant on Third Avenue turns out a more varied Pan-Asian menu, this one narrows in on Thai cooking. The menu is typical of most Thai restaurants, but the dishes themselves are not: There’s less oil, more tasty garnishes and artful presentations all around. Start with the ginger-packed dim sum or the crisp spring rolls with plum sauce and pickled vegetables. The eggplant with basil—a house favorite—is flavored with garlic and chili and served on a lotus leaf, and lemongrass red snapper is complemented by bell peppers. Polish off dinner with creamy mango ice cream.