The Elephant (CLOSED)

An East Village favorite for over a decade, this informal French-Thai bistro—inspired by Chef Eric Lagrange’s (Casimir, Pigalle, Tempo) time spent in Thailand—serves standard Thai fare alongside Asian-accented French dishes. The subtly flavorful salmon tartare and the cool but spicy green papaya salad star among more traditional Thai appetizers. But it’s the French dishes that really show inventive twists: Duck confit is served with a smooth sweet potato and lychee puree; the pork chop with Asian vegetables is charcoal-grilled and spiced with curry; and the tiramisu is scented with jasmine.