The Connection

With its bookcase-lined walls, artfully-arranged floral pillows, bone china tea cups and fresh flowers, the newest restaurant in Old Town Fairfax seems more European bistro than Asian contemporary.

And that’s the point.

“I did not want the décor to feel commercial. We want people to feel like they’re in their living room. Very cozy and comfortable,” said owner Tammy Disayawathana.

Disayawathana, who worked in food service and hospitality management at the Hyatt Regency, said she and her husband Jaturon Srirote always wanted to open a restaurant that reflected their aesthetic and love of Asian cuisine. Her husband came up with the name “sisters,” because it symbolizes the positive familial relationship Tammy has with her sister, but also the sisterly bonds between her 7-year-old niece Madolyn Disayawathana and her 13-month-old daughter Janita Srirote.

“This was the right time and the right space. We love the ‘old town’ style of the space,” she said.

Disayawathana worked with designer Sucha Khamsuwan, president of Studio Ideya in Fairfax, to create the bright and inviting space.

“We were thinking about the theme, almost like a little girl’s house, with special touches everywhere. We like to think of this as the living room of Fairfax,” she said. “The Thai theme does not have to show up in the décor for customers to know it’s a Thai restaurant. We hope they will know once they taste our food.”

And customers know, based on the rave reviews on foodie websites such as Yelp, Grubstreet and Epicurious. Open for just eight weeks, Sisters Thai already has a loyal customer base.

“I could sit here all afternoon, because the space is so cozy and inviting,” said Catherine Read, a city resident and frequent customer. “I’ve brought several people here for lunch and dinner, and everyone is impressed with the genuine hospitality and fantastic Thai food.”

The menu offers a variety of traditional Thai soups, entrees and curry dishes, such as roasted duck curry, spicy eggplant and Pad See Ew. Sisters Thai also has a colorful dessert display case, in the style of a French patisserie, with colorful cupcakes, tartes, fruit-flavored mousse and cheesecakes.

Read said one of her favorite items is not on the menu. It is the menu. The cover of every handmade menu has an heirloom silhouette of Madolyn created when she was 3 years old. “When you see their one-of-a-kind-menu, it shows the care and thought behind the entire restaurant. It’s the perfect start to a great food experience,” Read said.

“We want everything here to be creative and inviting. If I’m happy, I have energy and I can send that energy to everyone who comes here. I’m having a good time,” Disayawathana said.