Thai One On

Mmmm... Thai Basil is yummy... But they don't have much of a bar in the restaurant. Problem solved: take the bar out of the restaurant and put it upstairs.

Level Up is one flight of stairs away from Thai Basil but has an energy all its own. The brightly colored furniture is offset by the alternating neon strip that wraps around the window seats overlooking J Street. The walls are adorned with a changing array of local art. I hear a DJ spins at night, but I've never been there that late to witness it myself.

I think I'm burying the lead here, but happy hour, they call it Mingle Hour, goes until 8:00! That's a lot of happy hours!! As noted in the happy hour quick list (http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheers.html), Level Up offers $2.25 & $3 beer, call $4.50, wine $5.50, signature cocktails $6.50 and $6 appetizers. You really have to have the lychee mojito. It's seriously out of this world. The appetizers, ranging from coconut and satay chicken to lettuce wraps and tempura vegetables are great for sharing. It's fun to have happy hour appetizers that vary from calamari, nachos and spinach dip. They also have a full menu available with favorites like Pad Thai, Korean short ribs and lamb chops. Another intriguing element... they start serving breakfast at midnight.

I mentioned the DJ later in the evening. Maybe that's when the crowd comes because during the handful of times I've been there, I've been one of the only people in the place. It may not be the place for a raucous after work party, however, if you're just in the mood to try something new, it's a good bet!

Level Up is located at 2431 J Street (http://www.leveluplounge.com/). It is closed on Mondays.