One of our favorite restaurants in central Sonoma County, Tomi Thai Restaurant in Windsor, has a cozy, intimate dining room of 28 seats. On a regular day, you need a reservation. So this week’s blog is kind of like a PSA, because if you want to get in to try their three-course $29 prix fixe menu during Sonoma County Restaurant Week, March 18-24, you need to make your reservations today. Right now.
Why are you still here?
Our friends Ken and Donna Brandt introduced us to the restaurant a couple of years ago, and the incredible food and warm service have made us repeat and enthusiastic customers. We are always greeted like family by Diana Thomawong, the general manager and wine buyer, and her brother, assistant manager Kelvin Khamvongsa.
Tomi Thai is truly a family affair.
The restaurant in picturesque old downtown Windsor was begun almost four years ago by Diana, Kelvin and their parents, Tom and Mimi Khamvongsa. Tom and Mimi were both chefs in Thailand before they joined the corporate world of the biomedical industry here in the United States. Ready to quit the corporate world and share the food they still enjoyed cooking in their home, Tom and Mimi put their heads together with Kelvin and Diana, whose background was in the hospitality industry, and decided to open the restaurant. Tom and his brother, Khamphet, run the kitchen, while Mimi sees to the bookkeeping and whatever else needs to be done.
What the family comes up with to serve us lucky Sonoma County residents is truly mouth-watering. Clay and I can never begin a meal without Goong Gaborg, elegant sticks of prawn and cilantro wrapped in egg roll skins and deep fried. We like inviting friends just because it gives us an excuse to ask for two orders. Other favorites include the Crying Tiger, a grilled rib-eye steak in a Thai-style marinade and the Thai Fried Rice, which is the best fried rice ever made. Ever.
Some of Diana’s favorites include the Drunken Noodles, the Seafood Panang and the house-made peanut sauce. “We make all of our sauces from scratch. We’re really proud of that,” she said. “We serve up what we would eat.”
Diana and her family plan to serve up some new items for their Sonoma County Restaurant Week prix fixe menu, like a Bangkok-style curry noodle made in the night-market style. Don’t know what that is? We don’t either. But we’re making our reservations right this second so we can find out.
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