Serving the bold specialties of Northern Thailand from a spot on trendy Ballard Avenue, Pestle Rock achieves a balance between being cool and modern, and serving the traditional flavors of its homeland. Grilled wild boar collar and house-made herbed pork sausage share menu space with deep-fried fish-sauce-marinated chicken wings, and diners can wash down the kao soi—coconut chicken curry soup with egg noodles and pickled mustard greens—with herb infused vodka, or a drink marrying the flavors of tom yum soup into a cocktail. NAOMI TOMKY