Photo by Peter McCradyThai restaurant sees new opportunities for 2014
Rommanee Swasdee, owner and founder of the Thai restaurant Satay, is thrilled to see what 2014 is going to bring to her 26-year-old business. The restaurant has been busy since the summer with customers, events and even being part of a cooking show, said Swasdee, who is also known as Foo.
"[The show producers] asked if I would do the show because we've been here for a long time, and they asked if I needed any help getting more customers," Foo said. "Of course! Anyone in the business would need more customers."
The show, called "Restaurant Redemption," airs on the Cooking Channel and focuses on Asian restaurants. The show featuring Satay premiered Jan. 28.
The inside of the restaurant was redone for the show, and Foo said Satay is going to have "Cooking Channel specials" on the menu. Some of those dishes include various kinds of pan-seared dumplings, a new curry and a garden pad thai.
Foo said she hopes to bring in more young professionals who have moved to Austin but have never heard of Satay before. One way Satay is looking to draw more attention to the restaurant is by possibly establishing a food trailer concept in 2014.
"People have said, 'It's about time you had a food trailer out there,'" Foo said.
Satay, 3202 W. Anderson Lane., 512-467-6731, www.satayusa.com, Hours: Mon.–Thu. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9:30 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–10:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
