Isle Thai

One of the more creative new Thai places in Manhattan, this innovative and intimate restaurant has interesting furnishings, from oil paintings of boats to an enormous birdcage-like installation (minus the birds). With a wide-open storefront allowing al fresco dining in the warmer months, the creative menu features a wide variety of Thai standards and more unusual dishes such as Volcanic Chicken (served with a flaming sauce) and honey duck. The lunch specials are a great deal, most at $7 including appetizer. Unlike some other Manhattan Thai places, asking for your food spicy here fortunately actually does work.