Friend about to drink from dish (3)
I believe the answer is:
lap
'drink from dish' is the definition.
'lap' can be an answer for 'drink' (to lap is to drink up). I am unsure of the 'from dish' bit.
'friend about' is the wordplay.
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'about' says the letters should be written backwards.
'pal' reversed gives 'LAP'.
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lap that I've seen before include "One complete circuit" , "One circuit of track" , "place for small computer?" , "revolution" , "Stage - circuit" .)