Orchid
The first time I passed by this venue, it caught my attention immediately. I went back to dine here about two days later and had no idea what I was in for. The food here was sooooo flavorful. Every single bite was just…..wow. During my visit I ordered the Pad Thai and Massaman Curry. I enjoy Pad Thai as a dish and this one was impressive and easy to love. It had flavor throughout the entire dish without moments of boring, sauceless noodles.
Now, can we pleaseee talk about this Massaman Curry. This curry had me speechless from the first bite. You have no idea how refreshing it is when you have high expectations about a restaurant and it not only meets, but exceeds your expectations. You also have the option to add more spice to the dishes that range from mild to spicy. You can have whateva you likeeee *in my best T.I. voice* (well, whatever you life as far as the spices go) If you’re looking for high quality Thai food, I personally recommend a trip to Orchid. I'm not a Thai food connoisseur and I won't pretend to be, but I know what good food tastes like and Orchid is definitely worth a visit. If you're in the city, make sure you stop by!
Price: Very reasonable. The average meal was $11-15. They have lunch and dinner portion sizes and the lunch portion was more than enough. I had leftovers AND shared a little bit of my meal. So if you come during lunch, don’t be extra, get the lunch portion.
Decor: It was okay. I'd put more emphasis on the food over any other factors, which is fine. I thoroughly enjoyed the positioning of the outside seating but this only works on a day that the weather is pleasant or you'll most likely avoid this seating option. The view that the outside seating gives you is excellent, but Park Ave is gorgeous so it's no surprise that the scenery is obviously satisfying to say the least. The outside dining tables were located on both sides of the sidewalk, in plain view of all foot traffic, but it wasn’t too obnoxious.
Occasion: Any occasion. If you want a tasty lunch/dinner, come here. The noise level here is pretty low/mostly quiet, so it's easy to meet with people and have a conversation about literally anything. Orchid would also be great for a small celebratory event here, but probably wouldn't be ideal for large parties.
Dress Code: During the day, casual wear. At night, a little extra effort, but still casual overall. I would say dress for whatever mood you're in at this venue. It'll be a great experience either way.