"If you live near Bushwick, use this casual Thai spot like a DJ uses house samples—often and skillfully. Tong’s dining room looks like a miniature Cost Plus World Market where someone might take a yoga class or read in a hammock, and the wooden outdoor structure around its partially-covered sidewalk patio is wrapped in string lights. The menu has a section dedicated to small plates (like gai tod and grilled calamari), and all of them deserve your undivided attention. If you need a casual spot to meet up with a few friends or have a luxurious solo dinner, come here." - neha talreja, hannah albertine, bryan kim, sonal shah, willa moore