Sura, Broadway just south of 101st Street

I met a friend for appetizers and warm winter drinks at Sura on a south of 30 degree day.  At 5:30 in the afternoon, the charming, postage stamp size restaurant was quiet and inviting.  Slate tiles line the floor and walls.  Candles glow on the tables.  A dozen or so tables are lined in front of a long banquette with opposite facing chairs.  A bar with seating lines the opposite wall.

I ordered the saki/plum wine drink -- expecting it to be served hot.  When it came over ice, the waiter obliged me by returning it to the kitchen, taking out the ice, and heating the concoction in a ceramic saki vessel with a brined plum (wonderfully sweet and salty) in the tiny saki cup.  Very nice way to warm up.  And Natasha ordered a wine/apple cider drink that was served hot in a wine glass.  We toasted to warmer days.

We ordered a fried chive pancake and chicken satae.  Both were delicious.  You dip the chive pancake into a chili-soy sauce and bite through the fried crust of the chive pancake into gelatinous rice flour shell that holds a pocket of chives.  The chicken satae served on a stick was moist and served with a yummy peanut sauce - good for sopping with the corners of toast served on the side.

We each took home a green papaya salad with peanuts -- crisp, pleasantly tangy.  And I also brought home a chicken pad thai -- the standard I order at a Thai restaurant.  This particular dish was full of rice noodles, ground peanuts, bits of scrambled egg, and chunks of chicken.  A hearty meal for two -- with leftovers for a third!

We look forward to returning and trying out more selections.