Namo means respect in Thai, which is one of the founding principles that Namo Thai Cuisine’s owner, Tahch Dejativong, and his team had when opening up their restaurant. They came from traditional Thai families and wanted to be true to their heritage by serving up authentic Thai food. But the presentation is full of modern twists, especially with the signature dishes. The pad thai comes topped with a lobster tail and a scrambled egg made to look like a net, and the crispy duck breasts sit beneath a heap of pineapple slices and fried basil. Order the crab sticks for something unusual; the chefs here stuff the pastries full of mozzarella instead of the typical cream-cheese filling.

Described by the restaurateurs as “Bangkok-meets-Brooklyn,” Namo’s decor also has contemporary flair: an urban-style loft decorated with light fixtures made from old fishing baskets and Pop Art installations fashioned from bamboo rice holders. The Chicago Reader writes that “Namo splits the difference between tradition and a modern interpretation of Thai, and it largely gets it right.” You can see this as much in the look of the place as its food.

The restaurant doesn’t have a liquor license, but it is BYOB so you can feel free to bring your own libations. Or, for something non-alcoholic, try the homemade lemongrass-ade.