Detroit's Katoi Makes My Tongue Dance

A few weeks ago I ran into a friend at an event and he asked me if I had tried Katoi yet. I explained that I hadn't and he immediately encouraged me to leave the event to check it out with him, he even offered to pay. I assumed at the time that he was joking, but after I tried Katoi, I realized that he wasn't. This place is so good that you will dream about returning the second you finish your meal!

Katoi is Detroit's newest "Thai" restaurant. But, what they serve up isn't your traditional Thai fare. They create one of a kind Thai inspired dishes that I have never experienced anywhere else. Their menu features items like mussels, brisket, and grilled mushrooms, as well as a few more traditional items, like curry and noodle dishes. To my delight, each dish that we tried was better than the last.

We sat at the community table so that we could take in the full experience and also take a look at what everyone else was eating. We started the night out with some of their house made craft cocktails and a tofu appetizer with the most mouth watering sauce. I scooted the cilantro to the side and went to town on this one.

Next up we decided to try the hen. I can't say that I have ever ordered hen before, but it was added to the menu that day and it sounded good.So I had to give it a try. As it turns out hen is just a fancy name for chicken and I was given a large bowl of what I can only explain as the best "bbq" style chicken I have ever eaten. It was spicy with a tangy kick. My dining mate order one of the curry dishes and she loved it, especially the fresh bread that was served with the dish,

Finally, we finished out our meal with the the twice cooked sweet potatoes. We choose the sweet potatoes because every other person sitting at the community table told us that we had to. I didn't think that anything would be better than the chicken, but the sweet potatoes were the perfect way to take the poultry off my mind. They were crunchy, sweet and covered in a special sauce that made my tongue dance.

Needless to say, this was the most enjoyable meal I have had in a long time. I loved the environment, was impressed by the service, and was more than pleased by the food and the drinks. I have been dreaming about going back since the second I left. I have no doubt that no matter what you get, it will be good.  

Katoi doesn't take reservations and they have limited hours. They also have a radio show that broadcasts from the space once a week. Follow them on Facebook to keep up with the details and specials! 

~S