Sisters Thai in Alexandria, VA

Can we please just talk about Mango and sticky rice for a moment? Now, I have 100% bias with this dessert. It's a Thai dessert and if it's on the menu, I'm ordering it. I've yet to be disappointed in a version from any restaurant, except the one time the place I ordered from had unripe mango which was annoying. Other than that, the sweetness from the condensed milk against the bland white rice and a little sharp tang from Mango (which aside from Chamoy I could easily live without) is the perfect dessert. I don't know why the one from Sisters Thai is green but it doesn't matter. It is delectable. It is everything I expect it to be. I think the colors are amazing. Everything in this presentation is wonderful. The piece that's cut, that's because I began to dig in before I took a shot. Then realized what I am supposed to do as a food reviewer... take the pic before I eat!

The first item I tried was the ham and cheese croissant. It's fine. It's not amazing. I could probably eat it again but I don't feel like it's a main attraction. The croissant was somewhat bready to me. It reminded me of a bread trying to be a croissant. The top was crisp, likely from an egg wash and the parmesan was a welcome addition. The whole presentation was nice but the cheese is cheap American cheese (not like that delectable Land O Lakes cheese - why isn't anyone talking about the missing Native woman anymore?) and the ham reminded me of school lunch. Again, I'm not saying it terrible, even though as I describe it I might sound like I am but it just wasn't spectacular. It was only okay. I didn't hate it. I'm sure my kids would've enjoyed it... but they have no palette. The mixed greens... I wasn't sure if it was only for presentation and I had more food on the table so I didn't do anything with them. I just left it as it was.

Water was placed on the table as soon as I sat down. I ordered this Thai Iced Coffee which was really good. It wasn't overly sweet which is my preference. The ambiance was nice and welcoming for a cold misty day in Alexandria, VA. I've never been this far East and wish I knew someone or hired a tour guide because I'm sure Tiktok could only offer me so many places to go within the timeframe I was visiting. As a general scaredy cat, I think the Magnolia restaurant I wanted to go to, which is attached, was too overwhelming. Sisters Thai was a good solo start for my day. When I walked in, I was met with "how many in your group" and I said "just me" and I was brought to, what I felt was the best seat in the house. I was at a giant window, all alone, in solitude, away from anyone else. A bookshelf with backward facing books was my back rest and the song Stand By Me by Ben E. King played on the overhead radio. They played oldies. Like the good ones. I felt so comfortable. Did you know... of course you don't... this song was a song that I had with an ex-boyfriend. I remember walking with him in the dark, going home, saying hey, we don't have a song. I don't remember if this is something that happened or if it was in my head but for the sake of the story I'll say it happened this way. A car passed by ad Stand By Me was playing. I asked if this could be our song, he obliged and we broke up a few months later. C'est la vie!

So, the thing worth eating and absolutely the reason why I could go back (aside from mango and sticky rice) is the Strawberry and Sweet Cream crepe. It was perfect. I felt bad that my kid wasn't with me because it's his favorite food. I also didn't feel bad because I got to enjoy it fully, all alone. It was sweet but again, not overly sweet. The strawberries were perfectly ripe and fresh and just the way I want fruit to be when it's hidden in a blanket of sweet cream sauce and housed inside of a crispy but somehow soft, crepe.

I think it's worth a visit if you're in Alexandria, but don't waste your time on the Ham and Cheese Croissant sandwich... there... I said it.

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