Marco Welcomes New Thai Sushi Restaurant

Exciting new flavors have arrived on the Marco Island restaurant scene, and people are eager for a taste!

Surasak Selarat and his wife Kathaleeya Chitchop recently opened their restaurant, Thai Sushi on Marco Island, following a long, two-year wait. The restaurant was the next logical step for Surasak Selarat, who for 14 years worked for the Sushi Thai restaurants in Naples, his last position as general manager. Finally, last August space became available on Marco Island when restaurant Finn Bistro changed its location. Thai Sushi opened December 5, and ever since, it’s enjoyed a full house of diners.

Thai Sushi’s menu offers the best of both Thai and Japanese cuisine.

For appetizers we ordered Thai Spring Rolls and a Spider Roll, enjoying jasmine tea as we waited. The Thai Spring Rolls were served hot and crunchy with a tasty filling of shredded cabbage, carrots and celery, served with plum sauce. The Spider Roll, featuring tempura soft shell crab, sushi rice and vegetables, was delicious.

For the main course, we ordered Pad Thai and Green Curry Chicken, considered “comfort” foods, and perfect when you are craving something Thai.

Pad Thai is basically stir fried noodles seasoned with ground peanuts, eggs, scal- lions, and bean sprouts, with the option of adding chicken, pork, tofu, seafood or vegetables. With Pad Thai it is all about the noodles — thin and flat rice noodles. If the noodles are overcooked and soggy, there is little you can do to save the dish. It is easier to adjust the seasonings. Pad Thai is not spicy, and when it is prepared correctly, the blend of seasonings -sweet, sour and salty – are in perfect proportion. The Pad Thai at Thai Sushi was served “just right!”

The Green Thai Curry with Chicken (mild) was prepared with bamboo shoots, bell peppers, Thai basil, green curry paste and coconut milk. The green curry had enough kick to let you know it was there without overpowering the layers of subtle flavors and aromas. If you prefer more “heat” in your curry, order a spicier version.

The restaurant offers other curry flavors, prepared with your choice of chicken, pork, beef, tofu or mixed vegetables and shrimp. Red curry, made with a curry paste of red chilies and coconut milk, is a good alternative to green curry. Panang curry is considered to be less spicy and the added ingredient of peanuts gives it a sweeter flavor. Massaman curry is a sweeter curry, a hint of its Indian influence.

Sushi Thai also has an impressive list of sauces, such as Fresh Ginger, Garlic, Basil, and Sweet and Sour, which may be added to your choice of seafood, beef, poultry or noodles.

The Japanese menu offers a good selection not just from the sushi bar, but also the kitchen, including tempura, teriyaki and noodle dishes.

Overall, Thai Sushi is worth a visit to enjoy a flavor-filled meal while you welcome the new owners and friendly staff to their new “Marco hood.”

Thai Sushi is located at 317 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island. The restaurant is open daily from 4 to 10 PM for dinner, and open for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays starting at noon. Takeout is available. For more information call 239-970-2625.