Sripraphai, finally

I've been meaning to go to Sripraphai in Woodside, Queens, alleged to be the best Thai food in New York, forever. Last weekend I got to experience it living up to expectations.

We ordered an array of starters and mains for five people, including the unique barbeque pickled pork, which came with lettuce wrappers, a tender duck salad and the ubiquitous drunken noodles. (Frank Bruni approves of each.)

Here are some of our other great finds:

Fried nuggets of watercress - yes, watercress! - topped with cashews and accompanied by a tangy, spicy seafood mix (and a chili sauce that had me scraping my plate)

Gorgeous red curry with shrimp and mini Thai eggplant, with a side of coconut sticky rice

(Really) crispy fried pork with shaved Chinese broccoli

This place is worth the trek out to Woodside, so get yourself a zip car. 64-13 39th Ave, near 64th St.