Thai Suan Thip is the best restaurant in Bellevue. No question. The name apparently translates to "garden of heavens," and that it is.
On that note, the outside patio is so full of lush plants I actually forgot that I was eating along that weird bend of Lincoln Avenue that was a part of my nightly walk for most of my life. The inside restaurant is just one room--cozy but not cluttered. Great atmosphere all around.
Second, the food is fantastic. I'll admit it: I prefer less spicy foods, so Asian restaurants can be tricky for me. But not only did I enjoy the pad thai, but so did my friend who loves red-hot-three-alarm-fire-chili. There are levels of spiciness to accommodate the most timid eaters as well as those who eat jalapeno peppers as party tricks (you know who you are). The portions are also very large--especially for the price--so I got a nice dinner PLUS a lunch of leftovers from the entree.
And for the trifecta, the service is amazing. My water glass was never less than half full thanks to a conscientious server, and the chef was roaming around to check on meals. Bravo!
Note: Bellevue is a dry borough, so it's BYOB.