MayRee

"If you want to try the food of southern Thailand’s Malay Peninsula, check out MayRee. On a darkened block, the premises is similarly subdued in its lighting scheme, and jars of spirits infused with Thai flavorings line up on a bar at the rear. Roti nam keang, a pair of flaky flatbreads served with a bowl of peanutty chicken curry, is similar to the roti canai found in area’s Malaysian restaurants." - Robert Sietsema

"Chef/Owner Orawan Sawangphol tells us a story of southern Thai cooking at Mayree, named for a character from the Thai folktale, Twelve Sisters. The space is cozy and charming, as is the compact menu. Spice levels are far from timid, and all of the dishes, including Isan specialties, showcase great personality. Park mor plates rice crepe dumplings with a sweet chopped peanut filling topped with coconut milk and fried garlic. Kua kling is a dry, southern-style roasted curry made with ground pork that really brings the heat and displays incredible flavors. After a fiery meal, refresh your palate with coconut ice cream served in a coconut shell. Sek Saraboon runs the serious cocktail program, while all of the creative sips are named for Mayree's sisters." - Michelin Inspector

"MayRee opened in mid-September on the same block of First Street as the legendary Prune in the East Village. The owner and chef, Orawan Sawangphol, grew up in Phang Nga, a province on the west side of the Malay Peninsula in Southern Thailand, distinguished by its beaches and rocky islets. The restaurant’s name is in reference to a figure from a folktale called “Twelve Sisters”; she’s one of an ogress’s 12 daughters who’s both sweet and gentle. The menu focuses on the food of the peninsula, in common with Thai Nara, a Woodside restaurant that offers the cuisine of the region’s Muslim minority." - Robert Sietsema