The owners of Santa Rosa’s Bangkok Villa opened Tomi Thai Restaurant in Windsor (26 Emily Rose Circle, Windsor, 707.836.1422, the former Odyssey) with a menu that may be familiar to locals. Pulling from their original location, fans will recognize many of the restaurant’s signature dishes — pumpkin curry ($10.95), Crying Tiger (charbroiled ribeye with spicy garlic sauce, $13.95), Honey Duck ($13.95) and Dancing Prawns (jumbo prawns stuffed with crab and pork, $13.95), along with simpler dishes of pad thai; red green and yellow curry, drunken noodles and vegetarian entrees.
Inside, the restaurant hasn’t changed much since Chef Rudy Mihal left — the same glowing bar (which sits mostly empty, though the restaurant does serve beer and wine), a mute television screen along the back wall and open kitchen (which seems strange with a crew of cooks rather than Rudy).
Mirroring its upscale digs, Tomi Thai seems to be striving for some of the Pan-Asian flavors and high-end presentations that have been successful for Sea Thai’s Chef Tony Ounpamornchai. But the devil’s in the details. Jumbo prawns (Bangkok Dancing Prawns) are lovely to look at, but aren’t easy to eat with shells on and legs baked into the stuffing. Honey duck is beautifully plated with pickled ginger and greens, but too much fatty meat derails its simplicity. Pad Thai looks beautiful, on my visit was sticky and dry. Battered and skewered shrimp paste balls and rings of calamari are tasty, but the tiny portion-size makes $8 a bit dear for an appetizer.
More traditional dishes work better, a mild yellow curry with potatoes and chicken and fresh rolls studded with mint both satisfy. Marinated ribeye steak (Crying Tiger) is nicely done, but needs a bit more char to hit the mark exactly. Homemade peanut sauce is a solid sauce for everything from satay to fried tofu.
Attentive, thoughtful service and mostly reasonable prices ($8.95 for most entrees, $10-$15 for specialties; $4 for soup) make Tomi Thai a solid contender in Thai-scarce Windsor. But it’s all about details if they’re to overcome stiff competition from neighboring Asian kitchens Chinois, Truc-Linh, Sunju and Ume.
Tomi Thai . Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday. tomi-thai.com
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My husband and I eat here one to two times a week and we love it. My husband is a meat eater and the crying tiger is great. I have a hard time deciding what to order because it is all so good!
I’ve been to both Tomi Thai and Baan Thai. Both have great food. Tomi Thai is definitely on the upscale side with very good wine, artisan beer on tap, and elegant plating, and the food is straight up Thai, refreshingly spicy, not dumbed down or sweetened. Baan Thai has very tasty, authentic Thai food at a reasonable price and is more along the lines of family style, casual Thai dining, very friendly service, with good wine and some great Thai beers, like Bangkok Villa in Santa Rosa.
I’m curious- has anyone visited both Tomi Thai and Baan Thai in Larkfield (http://www.baanthailarkfield.com/)? I’m curious how the two compare. My wife and I have been eating at Baan Thai a lot lately and really like it.
That comment was also totally uncalled for.
After reading the positive review in the PD, finally got to try it out. Loved it! I had a delicious Green Curry/Medium Spice and it was perfect. Going back again soon. Prices are reasonable and service was great. Thank you.
Are you the same Eric I know? The grossly over weight EMT that drives around in a BMW that is too small for you?
My husband and I checked out Tomi Thai last night. Great location and loved the modern decor! We had the Pad Kra Tiem-beef sauteed in garlic, onions, and many vegetables and the Pad Himmaparn-sauteed chicken with cashews, onions, mushrooms, celery, garlic and dried red chilies. Very yummy! We chose the mild level of spiciness but next time we go we will go up a notch! This place is reasonably priced, has excellent service, and has an interesting menu. We will be back!
Wow! I love this place. Something about the location and decor with classic Thai cuisine and great wine and micro beer really gels for me.
I had the spicy drunken noodles, spring rolls, and a really spicy duck salad with a great red wine. I will eat here regularly if this first visit is any indication of what’s to come. I have eaten at a few of the “modern” Thai restaurants in the Bay Area and I love Tony’s place (mentioned in the review) though the Thai food there is a little sweet for me, so I am glad that a classic Thai restaurant with the “right” traditional flavors is available so close to home. I think Tomi Thai is building on the flavor experience they perfected at Bangkok Villa, and using Rudy’s stylish utensils and decor (proper for Wine Country), but with classic Thai recipes. There’s no comparison food wise, but Tony has a bigger bar, as does Grand Pu Bah in S.F.! 😉 Great hopes for Tomi Thai!
Been there three times and love it. Gets better each time and the service is top notch. Welcome to the neighborhood!
Finally, a Thai restaurant that offers authentic Thai food for a very reasonable price. My favorite dish is the duck noodle soup (can’t get it anywhere to taste that good except in Laos and Thailand). Tom, the owner is actually in the kitchen cooking up his awesome dishes, using high quality and often organic ingredients. He travels back to Thailand and Laos to bring back the herbs and spices necessary for true Thai cuisine he creates. I’ve been there four times since it first opened and recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to experience authentic Thai food.
Finally, a Thai restaurant that offers authentic Thai food for a very reasonable price. My favorite dish is the duck noodle soup (can’t get it anywhere except in Thailand and Laos). Tom, the owner is actually in the kitchen cooking up his awesome dishes, using high quality and often organic ingredients. He travels back to Thailand and Laos to bring back the herbs and spices necessary for true Thai cuisine he creates. I’ve been there four times since it first opened and recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to experience authentic Thai food.
What did you have that was so great? Would love to know.
We had dinner there tonight. Every dish we had was fantastic. The four of us pulled out our calenders at the end of dinner to find our next open nights so we can plan to go again. We will be back on 9/17.
Service was great and the food so yummy! The BiteCubEats review did not do them justice. Go and try for yourself. You won’t be dissatisfied.
Fantastic food, nice environment. Food is a bit pricey, but worth it!
Love the new Thai restaraunt been there six times this month. Great food everytime I go. I am glad to see you in Windsor and will tell all about your restarant.
I’ve had lunch there twice now. Both times I had the Pad Thai. The first round was delicious. Spicy, moist, lots of flavor….really, just great. The second time it was a bit drier and just the tiniest bit sticky, but was still very flavorful.
I’ll definitely be back and I’m really glad to have another lunch option near work.