Royal Thai Cuisine, Chesapeake

Although crisp tablecloths and wood-paneled walls lend Royal Thai Cuisine's dining room a formal air, an attentive waitstaff and old-style Thai recipes help to keep the atmosphere homey. As guests peruse the menu of fragrant curries, stir-fried chicken, and roasted fish, servers patiently answer questions about specific dishes' ingredients and spice levels, which can be made mild or fiery. For added visual flair, some entrees arrive in a hollowed-out half-pineapple or the arms of a cardboard cutout of Cary Grant.