Little Serow
Way back in 2012, before Bad Saint had four-hour waits and Rose’s Luxury had people snaking down the block, there were dozens of people lingering outside a nondescript door for the chance to eat some of chef Johnny Monis’s fiery Thai-inspired cuisine. Once you’re inside the 28-seat restaurant, though, the dining room is far from overcrowded. It has a pleasant low hum to it and is almost…relaxing. Well, until you start sweating from all the chiles. The $49 seven-course menu (the best deal in town) changes weekly, but you can always expect Monis, who first made a name for himself at his high-end Greek restaurant, Komi, to bring the heat. Pray that there’s laap on the menu (the spicy minced-meat salad is almost always there) and get ready to start downing that Singha.
PRO TIP: Order the rice milk about halfway through your meal. It’s delightfully sweet and the perfect anecdote to all the spiciness.
THE DETAILS: Closed Sunday and Monday. Little Serow opens at 5:30 p.m., but expect a line to start forming a bit before then. If you’re up for a late dinner, try strolling in at and seeing if they can seat you then, rather than waiting for hours on the early side.
