Sripraphai Thai Restaurant

If you google: Thai Woodside Queens, Sripraphai is the first to be listed on your search. And you're most likely looking for Sripraphai. Not often do I frequent a restaurant twice if unless it was superb the first round. That was the case for Sripraphai. For me Sripraphai was love at first sight; solid Thai family style fare, no frills, gathering locals and unfamiliars to this authenic Thai establishment.

When you're the most well known Thai restaurant in NYC and have ny'ers from all over coming to Queens just for you, it must be good. But fame has its shortcomings. It's a pity when a place gets so popular that it loses its grip on the food-- at least that was the case on my recent visit. Sripraphai is becoming more like a mere attraction than what it was orginally known for.

The seafood papaya salad was pre-made, dull in color which made the tropical salad boring and stale. The quality control on freshness was not considered nor implemented moreso it looked like food that was sitting in critus marinade for some time. Damp in texture and barely a crunch factor, the salad was everything but refreshing.

Disappointing frog legs. Very much like leftovers being cooked over again. Tough juice-less meat stir-fryed with pepper and chilies-- relying too heavily on the chilies thus overwhelming the supposedily delicate meat. Apt out on experimenting or being adventurous on this dish if you're not acquainted with the natural taste of the amphibian. As I did with my dining companion and failed to impress, miserably.

There are good things to note: For an appetizer the sweet and sour pork fits the bill-- flavorful and safe (for the non-adventurous). The notable Shrimp Pad Thai was on point as the shrimp was tender and perfectly cooked served with a side of raw bean spouts and crushed nuts accompanying the noodles--the way it should be.

Even though my second date with Sripraphai was far from prefect, I still believe every Thai lover should make a stop to this Queens destination. Despite its popularity, Sripraphai has proven to have the basic Thai fare down. Granted it's not haute Thai or convenient by any means yet that does not stop people from coming back.


Sripraphai Thai Restaurant 6413 39th Ave, Woodside, NY‎ (718) 899-9585‎ www.sripraphairestaurant.com/

Sidecar Brooklyn

Sidecar works. Its bar and restaurant is cohesive; creating a laid back atmosphere that fits unanimously with Park Slope. On a Friday night, the bar is occupied by crowds of young twenty-something year olds. For dining, seating options are booths and a long high stool counter overlooking all the kitchen action. The décor is casual-Brooklyn but with great intention and an eye for solid comfort food. The menu is American with a twist of bistro fare i.e. rare oysters, pate, etc. Its turkey bacon signature club featuring granny smith apples and cave aged gruyere is different and scores points. The menu consists of common and familiar food but if you look closely at the ingredients it’s much more exciting and refined. It's choice on grass fed beef for its signature burger was not a random draw moreover its level of food consciousness.

No need to dress up, Sidecar wants you to dress down and be down with its casual yet keen veneer. It’s a place to come back more than once to relax, drink and be merry.

Sidecar 560 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 369-0077

Little Havana

Not too many Cuban dining choices in NYC. So when one finds a place and sees 'authentic,' one feels joy. Tucked in the middle of Cornelia street, a petite size room that holds no more than 20 people makes some feel like home. A tight space--where one server can cover the entire evening shift--creates a nice intimate atmosphere as couples whisper. The modest and simple decor accommodates very well to the family style dishes. Neither pretentious nor sophisticated yet the prices are.

I had mistaken my Jumbo Shrimp Ceviche for a lunch salad, initially. The dish did not showcase the shrimp at all, in fact the petty shrimps of four were buried under a bed of greens--resembling a generic salad--which lost its appeal and essence of the ceviche. I did enjoy the shrimp as it was nicely cured in lemon.

If there was one dish to praise, it would be the side dish: maduros. The sweet plantains fried in perfection, literally; leaving a caramelized layer over the sweet tender center that will have you coming back for more.


Little Havana 30 Cornelia St (between 4th St & Bleecker St)
New York, NY 10014 (212) 255-2212
www.littlehavananyc.com