Bites Nearby: Baan Thai

Baan Thai, at 659 Main St. in Watham, has been quietly occupying the spot next to The Elephant Walk since 2001. It was previously called Tumrubthai. When owner Chalee Kioechuihe first arrived in the Boston area in the 1970s, "there were 500 to 600 Indonesian kids studying in Boston, and they didn't have a place to eat. I had to figure out how to cook Thai food with Chinese ingredients, because I couldn't find Thai ingredients in Boston." Since then, he has managed several Thai restaurants in the Boston area, before settling in Waltham.

What to eat: Despite its Thai name, there are actually two distinct menus: Thai and sushi. And they get equal attention -- there's a separate sushi chef. The Thai dishes include lots of classic, crunchy appetizers, like crab rangoon, chicken satay, spring rolls, and Treasure Bags, which are little packets stuffed with chicken, corn and spices. There are also many lunch specials, noodle and noodle soup main dishes, house specialties, and of course pad thai. The sushi can be either traditional raw seafood over rice or cooked fish or vegetables wrapped in rice. The crunchy tempura shrimp with avocado and cucumber comes with a spicy barbeque sauce.

The vibe: Pleasant and relaxed with comfortably padded chairs. The music is tinkling and just barely audible.

Cool factor no. 1: The owner not only greets customers but also serves dishes.

Cool factor no. 2: The decor includes miniature bamboo plants and fresh flowers on the tables.

Cool factor no. 3: Customers seem to come from many different places, including Indonesia, India, and the United States. It's always a good sign.