Tee-Jay Thai Sushi Restaurant
- reviewed
by Tim Slivinski
It was long awaited, but Tee-Jay Thai Sushi
finally opened its doors a couple months back in the Shoppes of
Wilton Manors, and the diners have been coming in steady streams
ever since. The transformation that took place in the location
they selected is quite amazing. It is a large dining area that
is subdued in color scheme and divided by banquettes that
provide seating for larger parties. The colors are soothing
while at the same time offering a hip, upscale look. Smaller
tables for two and four surround the larger tables, or a
customer can choose to eat at the bar and watch the sushi
masters in action.
On
a recent Saturday night, we arrived to find the place bustling
with hungry patrons. We were able to snag a table in minutes and
settled in with a glass of wine to accompany our perusal of the
rather large menu offerings. After some discussion, we decided
on spring rolls, a traditional favorite, and a summer roll—after
all Labor Day was approaching, the traditional end to summer.
Both appetizers were delicious. The spring rolls were packed
with crunchy fresh vegetables and the lightly fried delicate
crispness of the exterior almost melted in your mouth. I could
become addicted to the spring rolls. The summer roll was wrapped
in rice paper and filled with shiitake mushrooms. Delicate,
flavorful and light, it was a perfect accompaniment to the
crunchy spring roll.
When it came to determine our entrees, we
had so many options that narrowing our selections down took us
some time. Tee-Jay offers traditional Thai
and Japanese entrees, several noodle dishes, sashimi, and
various types of rolls. Everything is described in an appealing
way, which saw us changing our minds often. Ultimately, we both
decided to order from the grilled entrée selections. I was in a
poultry mood so ordered the chicken breast while my partner was
taken in by the grilled tuna.
When
the entrees arrived, we loved the three selections of dipping
sauces that accompanied our perfectly grilled choices. A
teriyaki sauce, a wasabi cream sauce, and a traditional peanut
sauce allowed us to mix and match flavor profiles with our
entrees from the hot—but not too hot—zing of the wasabi to the
cool slight sweetness of the teriyaki to the smooth creaminess
of the peanut sauce. We discussed the different flavor palates,
and I decided that I preferred the wasabi cream while my partner
was more partial to the teriyaki. His tuna was perfectly seared
on the exterior and wonderfully ruby on the interior, just as
tuna ought to be. My chicken breast was moist and jucy and fork
tender. Wonderful sides of jasmine rice and
crispy sautéed mixed vegetables accompanied our grilled entrees.
One hint: I actually enjoyed using the teriyaki sauce to
flavor the rice. Try it for yourself and see what you think.
We enjoyed the ambiance of the room as we
chatted and determined we need to return to try many of the
delicious sounding options on the menu. If you are planning to
go to Tee-Jay with a larger group of friends or colleagues, you
might want to consider ordering one of Tee-Jay’s boats.
A table of six gentlemen near us opted for
the boat, and I must say it is an impressive presentation. The
boats can be ordered in various sizes, and they offer an array
of delicious choices, including rolls, sushi, and sashimi,
depending upon the size you order. And yes, all the delicacies
do actually arrive at your table in a boat.
Tee-Jay offers beer and wine, and my partner
clearly liked the selection of Asian beers on the menu. He
enjoys their lightness and the slight sweetness on the palate.
Tee-Jay’s clearly seems to have hit its stride along the Drive,
judging by the number of happy diners and the quality of their
food. We look forward to a return visit. If you have not yet
stopped by for lunch or dinner, make it a
point to do soon. A well-appointed dining room, great
appetizers, delicious entrees—what more can you ask for?
