Tale' Thai Cuisine, New York

Tale' Thai Cuisine's ambitious menu ventures into many of the Thai style's less frequented flavors, from pumpkin-infused curry to mango and lemongrass salsa. Chefs also instill standard dishes such as duck and filleted fish with classic spices and textures such as Thai basil, cashews, and sweet-and-spicy tamarind sauce. The bright hues of red peppers and broccoli stalks pop against the restaurant's hardwood floors and dark leather chairs, both dominated by a sleek backlit bar that, like every public library, stacks its shelves with bottles of wine and fine liquors.