Lantern Thai
photo: Ryan Charles
With dramatic, gold-leafed trees, floor-to-ceiling windows that fold open and a sleekly lit bar, Gramercy Park's affordable Lantern Thai (an offshoot of the same-named but more modest Brooklyn Heights original) is a stylish arrival in a formerly bland space; its lunch and dinner menus are mostly traditional with a few modern twists, while brunch is served on weekends; N.B. it's BYO for now.
311 Second Ave.; 212-777-2770