Room Service Restaurant, 8th Avenue

From the dimly lit, stylish dining room and playful menu, Room Service (166 8th Ave., 212-691-0299) is clearly aiming to be Chelsea's coolest - and gayest - spot for innovative Thai food, and it succeeds in just about every way. The space is sleek and abuzz with chatter, and the kitchen turns out terrific food - springs rolls with grilled corn and a plum-sake dipping sauce, Thai-spicy tuna salad, salmon grilled with a chile paste and kaffir lime leaves. There's also more typical fare, such as chicken Masaman curry and shrimp pad Thai, but NYC has enough of the usual Thai food. Why not spring for something different when you have the opportunity? It's part of the long list of successful restaurants along 8th Avenue, among them Viceroy Restaurant and Better Burger.