Sappe

Sappe's bright yellow theater marquee, and servers with earpieces running people to their tables, brings movie premiere party energy. The Thai restaurant from the Soothr team straddles the Chelsea/West Village border, and it’s a perfect place to come for a night full of spicy drinking snacks, frozen cocktail euphoria, Thai pop music, and losing track of the number of skewers you’ve eaten between ceiling mirror selfies.

photo credit: Alex Staniloff

photo credit: Alex Staniloff

photo credit: Alex Staniloff

photo credit: Alex Staniloff

The movie theme continues with the cocktails, all named after characters from Thai film and novels. Go for the lighter, sweeter drinks (which pair nicely with the chili and fish sauce forward salads) and steer clear of the over-the-top $27 cocktails—your money is better spent on options like the somsri, a refreshing frozen tequila drink with guava and lime zest that works much like a fire extinguisher, cooling down some very spicy food. 

Sappe specializes in ping yang and Isan dishes, so expect lots of things off the grill, chili-filled salads, and a rotation of skewers. Order no fewer than three skewers per person (specifically the chicken skin, squid, and okra), a spicy fruit salad kapi, and a fiery and sour laab ped udon that’s completely worth crying tears of heat in front of your friends. Stick with the smaller plates to keep it light and breezy, and go for a shareable noodle dish like the sweet and funky lek klua pla to round out your meal before flashing your camera at the ceiling mirrors one last time.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Alex Staniloff

Ping Yang

If we could only eat one thing here, it would be these. All of the skewers are worth getting, but the chewy squid, perfectly flabby chicken skin, and hard charred okra are the ones to prioritize.

photo credit: Alex Staniloff

Fruit Salad Kapi

A salad that’s equal parts spicy and refreshing. Juicy mango that’s perfectly not-quite-ripe, spicy chiles, plenty of salty fish sauce—this is something that we’d just as happily eat sitting poolside as we do eating it at Sappe.

photo credit: Alex Staniloff

Laab Ped Udon

This laab ped udon has it all: basil-fueled ground duck, and enough spice to light a serious fire in your mouth. The one thing it doesn’t have is enough lettuce to eat it with. Ask for extra when ordering.

photo credit: Alex Staniloff

Lek Plua Pla Ra

A pleasantly sweet noodle dish, which is a nice break from the chiles. Order this, but know that you’ll probably be playing a game of “catch-me-if-you-can” with your fork and the ever-elusive pork rinds.

photo credit: Alex Staniloff

Kaw Moo Yang

While the fatty pork jowl is cooked nicely, it's a bit bland compared to the rest of the menu. Stick to the punchier items.