The Washington area has lots of Thai restaurants, but not many are downtown. Fewer still offer such good food in such pretty quarters. Haad Thai is a short walk from the MCI Center, and surrounding hotels. Plants and a pink and black mural of a Thai beach decorate the dining room. The standards are the best, including pad thai, panang gai (chicken sautéed with fresh basil leaves in curry, with peanut sauce), satays, and deep fried snapper with spicy bean sauce. All dishes are flavorful and only mildly spicy; speak up if you want your food spicier.