Best Pad Thai

Wonders are usually simple things. So it is with pad thai. The mix of noodles, scallions, raw peanuts, and bean sprouts that Wilai Poin and his cooks stir-fry with ginger, peppers, and other spices at The Thai Orchid is a big, tasty lunch (the Thai Orchid's always-friendly staff will send diners back to the office with a need to nap). Simple in décor but steeped in tradition, the restaurant also makes for an elegant but understated affair for dinner. And no meal, whether it consists of pad thai or the assortment of spicy, traditional Thai dishes, would be complete without The Thai Orchid's Ginger Iced Tea -- itself worth a trip to the restaurant.