In Short Set in a warehouse-sized room bathed in dark bluish light, Republic is one of the hottest restaurants in Union Square by virtue of its nouvelle take on affordable Asian cuisine. The noodle dishes (the best is a spicy chicken in a coconut milk-based broth) and the appetizers are a harmonious hodge-podge of Thai, Japanese, and other East Asian cuisines. Benches surround communal, lunch-hall tables, and the din in the high-ceilinged room can become deafening.
