Driving down Jericho Turnpike in Syosset can be an almost overwhelming experience for hungry patrons looking for a casual sit-down dinner. From Chinese to Mexican to Italian, there’s no shortage of restaurants to choose from, but one new spot called T&O Thai and Japanese is worth a try.
As the name implies, T&O presents an array of appetizers, salads, soups, noodles, meat and seafood dishes of both the Thai and Japanese variety. Upon being seated, you are given not one, but two menus, as if it wasn’t already hard enough to make a decision on what to order.
Though it has only been in business for about a year and a half, T&O is already making a name for itself when it comes to its selection of sushi. All sushi is made fresh at the visible sushi bar toward the front of the restaurant. The restaurant’s creative claim to fame is its tuna bomb, a modern take on a spicy tuna roll that is wrapped in thinly sliced avocado rather than traditional white rice and served over a blend of sauces. For those who are not so adventurous in the realm of raw fish, T&O has the usual sushi go-tos such as the California roll, Philadelphia roll, avocado roll and various tempura rolls.
There’s enough sushi choices on the menu to make a hearty meal out of; however when it comes to entrees, customers have been raving about the Thai noodle dishes such as the pad se ew or pad thai. Each can be served with either chicken, beef, shrimp or mixed vegetables, suiting the dietary needs of any diner.
Some of the spicier dishes include the pad kee mao noodles, the Thai fried rice, the mango salad and the Singapore mai fun, which is a stir fried rice vermicelli dish with bell peppers, bean sprouts, onions and scallions, seasoned with curry flavor.
It’s hard to imagine having any room left for dessert, but at T&Os it’s near impossible to deny the sweet treats. Their assorted ice cream flavors, which are as tasty as one would imagine, pale in comparison to their fried banana (which could also be served a la mode). Another fan favorite has been the fresh mango with coconut sticky rice dish, which proves to be both sweet and satisfying.
Manager Alex Wu is confident that although his restaurant is fairly new, satisfied customers will continue to come back and spread the word to their friends within the neighborhood.
With two menus and dozens of items to choose from, it’s unlikely that any visitor wouldn’t enjoy their meal.
T&O Thai and Japanese, 140 Jericho Tpke., 516-682-0688; www.tothaiandjapanese.com.
