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Craving the tangy-sweet deliciousness of Pad Thai? How about a cold and refreshing glass of O-Liang (Thai Iced Tea) to wash it all down? If that’s you, keep your eyes peeled for December in Bangkok, a small family-style Thai restaurant set to open up at 612 Main St., the space Joe’s Pizza used to occupy.
After being granted a common victualler and restaurant wines and malts beverage licenses by the Select Board on July 15, the sentiment has been “all hands on deck” for December in Bangkok, as the team ambitiously aims to open up shop by the end of September.
Founded by Tisanamadee Szarkowski, or Titi as friends and family call her, a Thailand native aiming to share the wonders of Thai cuisine with Winchester, December in Bangkok is the third establishment she has kickstarted thus far.
Intending to utilize her family values of hard work and teamwork to make Winchester’s new Thai food establishment a prosperous one, Szarkowski said she was drawn to the beautiful community.
“Winchester is a town we have been looking to work for. We are happy to be part of the community, we work hard to offer authentic dishes and ensure our customers feel like they are eating in our hometown,” she said. “With the quality of our food at a reasonable price, we hope for a warm welcome and great experience for everyone.”
If you’ve ever been to The Bangkok in Melrose or Kin Dee Thai & Pho in Lexington, you’re familiar with the type of Thai cuisine Szarkowski has already brought to locals. A quick Google search reveals the Melrose location is sitting at a jaw-dropping 4.6 stars across 367 Google reviews while the Lexington location has 4.7 stars across 123 independent reviews.
The Melrose and Lexington locations feature a diverse selection of world-renowned Thai specialties, ranging from tamarind duck prepared fresh on the grill to a diverse array of 11 vegetarian tofu options.
What to expect
Coming from “a small family who has a passion for food,” Szarkowski’s “inspiration comes from all the unique food from our hometown.” Yet, though all of the food offered at the various restaurants she runs, Szarkowski let Winchester News in on her personal favorite dish.
“My favorite dish is Hung Lay Pork,” she said. “This is a northern-style stewed pork belly with Thai herb.”
For those who don’t know, Szarkowski said Hung Lay Pork is a Thai platter consisting of pork belly and ribs slowly stewed into delectable tender fatty pieces. The signature flavor in this dish is tamarind, which gives the meat a tangy sour taste.
Hung Lay Pork, she said, is just one of the many “flavorful recipes that have been passed on for generations” within the family.
What makes December in Bangkok special?
Notably, Szarkowski’s third and newest Thai restaurant will be a novel and exciting addition to the growing Winchester culinary scene. With new establishments such as the Bagel Bar having opened this summer, and more to come, such as ramen franchise “Kyuramen” set to open in town sometime soon, Winchester residents will have many establishments to choose from.
Szarkowski hopes as Winchester’s new Thai establishment, December in Bangkok will stand out from other restaurants because of its “team and family environment.”
“If everyone is happy to work together, the outcome is enjoyable for everyone involved,” she said.
Setting up shop soon with a new and improved menu combining the most popular dishes from her Melrose and Lexington locations, Szarkowski anticipates December in Bangkok will take Winchester by storm.
This article has been corrected to reflect that December in Bangkok is not Winchester’s first Thai restaurant. It Rains Fish, another Thai restaurant, was once located on Thompson Street.
