Sisters Thai is finally cooking in Tysons, almost three years after its expansion plans were announced.
The local chain known for its cozy, bespoke decor will launch its biggest restaurant yet tonight (Monday) at 7735 Capital One Tower Road in Capital One Center. Service will start at 5-9 p.m., with a limited menu available during the soft opening, founder Tammie Disayawathana says.
Envisioned as Sisters’ new flagship location, the 8,300-square-foot Tysons restaurant will serve many of the same traditional and street food dishes like pad Thai, drunken noodles and curries found at other sites.
Disayawathana and her uncle and longtime chef, Prasert Limsumang, known affectionately as “Chef Moo,” also have new offerings planned, including sea bass, lamb chops and crab cakes. The menu will include items that Limsumang served when he was invited to the White House as a guest chef in June, according to his niece.
The expanded menu is designed to demonstrate how the Sisters concept has evolved since its original “living room cafe” opened in Old Town Fairfax in 2013. With a name inspired by Disayawathana’s then-1-year-old daughter and 6-year-old niece, who she says were like sisters to each other, the business now has locations in Merrifield at the Mosaic District, Old Town Alexandria and Cabin John.
In December 2017, the team introduced Magnolia Dessert Bar and Coffee, which can be found paired with the Alexandria restaurant and as a standalone establishment in Vienna.
“It’s just like Sisters Thai has grown up, and then, whoever watched me from the beginning, they see how I’ve grown up,” Disayawathana told FFXnow. “… Once I get to see my longtime customers, they’re so proud of me. It just makes my day. It just makes [me feel] like we want to do it. We want you guys to be proud.”
With the Tysons launch, Sisters will unveil a rebranding of its dessert cafe. Located on the restaurant’s second level, Flore Cafe will serve Disayawathana’s “new-concept desserts” — including pastries, crepes and a line of gelato — as well as all-day coffee, brunch and afternoon tea.
The location will also deviate from its predecessors by offering two private rooms that can collectively fit 75 to 80 people, including one called Flore Parlor that’s intended for events. The restaurant’s overall capacity is about 200 seats, according to its founder.
The private rooms were a key part of Disayawathana’s vision for Sisters Thai’s flagship restaurant, which she had always wanted to bring to Tysons after growing up in the area and now living in Oakton.
So, it turned out to be a win when Capital One Center Managing Director Jonathan Griffith asked if she would be willing to relocate within the development, allowing Starr Hill Biergarten to open a new pub in the 5,029-square-foot suite that Sisters originally leased. As soon as she saw the larger space offered as a replacement, Disayawathana agreed to the swap.
“With this space — 8,300 square feet — I get everything that I always dreamed,” she said. “… I got two private dining rooms. I got a mezzanine and everything.”
Changing locations prolonged the construction process, but Disayawathana is eager to show off the end result. Like at the other Sisters, the interior design was influenced by her husband, Drew Srirote, who will often “have something come up in his head” once he sees a new space.
Aiming to open ahead of the winter holidays, Disayawathana anticipates spending about two weeks in soft-opening mode before tackling a grand opening.
“I’m excited for people to come see [the restaurant], because it’s beautiful,” she said.
Operating times will vary throughout this week before regular hours begin on Monday, Nov. 25. Sisters Thai will be closed for Thanksgiving (Nov. 28), according to Capital One Center.
- Tuesday, Nov. 19: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. for lunch service, 5-9 p.m. for dinner service
- Wednesday, Nov. 20: 8:30-9:30 a.m. for coffee and breakfast, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-9 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 21: Closed
- Friday, Nov. 22: 5-9 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 23: Closed for a private event
- Sunday, Nov. 24: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-9 p.m.
