5 /5 Pete Bray: I am of a certain age where I remember when the first iteration of Somkit, came to Dixon. It was called Touch of Thai, and if you timed your visit just right, the practice of martial arts upstairs and associated noises, accompanied your meal.
Now as then, a visit to this family owned and operated restaurant is always a treat. When I took a business class many years ago, I remember the cautionary wisdom of the instructor trying to steer any of us away from becoming restauranteers as the failure rate was obnoxiously high in the first handful of years. Somkit has staying power and for good reason!
Last night, a family member needed a hand in Dixon, and upon wrapping things up, my daughter and I were both a little hungry. It was an easy choice to wander downtown and a glimpse through the restaurant window, showed the dinner rush had passed.
Grabbing a seat, my daughter and I perused the menu. As we are on the cusp of a trip to Spain, she stretched her palette in preparation for trying new foods and ordered sushi she normally wouldn’t try. I also mixed things up and instead of ordering my go to Tom Yum, I ordered the Thai Chicken Noodle Soup with the seaweed salad as a starter.
On a side note, before posting a review, I don’t typically read previous reviews, but today I did. Many people posted about slow service. Again, I have had multiple meals with this family through the years and feel the need to add my .02. I have never felt the service was particularly slow. Having lived overseas and traveling fairly extensively, the speed of the service aligns with higher end restaurants the world over that understand part of the experience is the interconnectedness of the ambiance, people and anticipation; it is not to be rushed but savored.
And the anticipation has always paid off and it did last night.
As I mentioned above, I switched things up and went with the Thai Chicken Noddle. When the bowl arrived, the smells emanating from it were intoxicating. The garlic and cilatro fought for primacy, interwoven and enticing but as I took the first bite, it was the broth that won the day!
The broth was silky and sublime, which one would not expect from a $10 bowl of soup. It was Garlic forward, but constructed so that it did not overpower the nuanced flavor profile. Digging in for a full bite with broth, noodles and chicken was combination I could eat day in and day out. It was perfectly balanced and satisfied any and all anticipation!
My daughter tore through her sushi quickly, enjoying it and, as she has since about the age of 2, asked if she could taste mine which is code for her asking to share it!
As with all great meals and companionship, it ended too quickly. We made our way back home, wrapping up another day.
As you make your restaurant choices, do so with intention. Look for places that make time stand still, if but for a moment, where connections can be strengthened, renewed or started. Seek out places like Somkit!
