We love the green and panang curries...just the right amount of sweet and spiciness. And the spring rolls are tasty. The peanut sauce that they provide is also good.
Being a “seasoned” food editor, I didn’t blink an eye when Olga Kwasniewski, owner of the new Thai Island restaurant in Holden, explained that people who like Thai food are fiercely loyal to Pad Thai. It’s one of Thailand’s best known noodle dishes, after all.
First-time customers at Thai Island have told Kwasniewski, “If your Pad Thai is good, then everything is good.”
No pressure on the kitchen. Yikes!
Kwasniewski, who is Korean, grew up in the Republic of Uzbekistan, a country in Central Asia that once was part of the Soviet Union. She came to the United States seven years ago.
Kwasniewski holds degrees in literature from schools in Uzbekistan and has a degree in psychology and early childhood from Worcester State College. While at Worcester State, she worked part time at a Thai restaurant in Webster.
Two years later Kwasniewski’s dream of owning a restaurant came true.
Kwasniewski and Sinasone work the front end of the restaurant and are more than happy to answer any questions about the menu. Sinasone also helps out in the back of the house, if needed. Family members also work in the business.
The restaurant, located in a plaza, seats 58; beer and wine license only. Check out the Thai beer and wines, or better yet, the Thai iced tea (a glowing orange) with lots of jasmine and lavender.
I won’t recite the entire menu. Too many choices. You will find appetizers, soups, salads, Thai curry dishes, meat and vegetable choices, noodles and fried rice, seafood and vegetarian appetizers, and entrées. If you take your special Valentine out to lunch this weekend you’ll find a Lover’s Scampi (fried shrimp marinated with garlic and pepper sauce, lightly sautéed and served on a bed of cabbage and vegetables) for $7.50.
Another tidbit about the owner: Kwasniewski is a professional model who has strutted on New York runways. She appears as an extra in the “Edge of Darkness,” a movie with Mel Gibson, not yet released.
I say, first order the food at Thai Island and then get the dirt on Gibson.
Finally, Holden gets a Thai restaurant! Having grown up on what I still believe to be the best Thai in New England at Lemon Grass in West Hartford, CT and its long gone sister store, Amarin in Avon, CT, I am thrilled to have thai available down the street in my new home. Holden was my first home away from one of my favorite cuisines and I have missed it. Husband and I had to try it right away and called up for a hefty take-out order.
We tried the app sampler and were not disappointed in it. The satay was standard, but very tasty. The sauces were delish. The winter shrimp (which I will forever call shrimp in a blanket) were yummy too. The spring rolls were good too. Nothing phenomenal, but they certainly hit the spot. We then had to each try our favorite soups, Tom Kai Gai (coconut-lime) and Glass Noodle. While the broths were delicious, we were put off by the addition of several fresh veggies which detracted from the soup itself. Also, Glass Noodle is much better enhanced with shrimp than the chicken used here.
Our meals were both very good, but again, somewhat overwhelmed by random vegetables (button mushrooms and green peppers, in particular). I had Ginger Soft Shell crabs...extremely reasonable at $12.95. The crabs tasted as good as they can in January, and the ginger sauce was warm, spicy and fresh tasting. I would absolutely order this again, asking them to hold off on some of those green peppers. Husband of mine had his usual fried rice and was unhappy because he's a picky veggie eater and didn't expect the barrage of everyday garden variety staples exploding out of his rice meal. Another gripe we had was the lack of steamed rice with my meal.
Overall, we were happy. Was it a phenomenal meal? no. Was it worth the money? yes. Will we order again? definitely. It's 5 minutes away and it hits the craving for Thai food.
I ate at the Thai place in Holden a few weeks ago. One thing stood out.
The food was perfectly cooked. At many restaurants, the food either arrives cold, or overcooked with mushy vegetables and dried out meat. The food here was piping hot, and cooked just enough to soften the vegetables without sacrificing the crisp nature associated with fresh produce. The meats were tender and juicy, and the spring rolls avoided any greasiness. Best of all, the food was lightly sauced instead of served swimming in pools of seasoning which overwhelm the dish.
I wish the pad thai had more stuff in it, but that's a minor concern.
I do hope that this standard of cooking does not get sacrificed when the crowds pick up in volume.
Finally, good Thai food only 20 minutes from home! My husband and I enjoyed the Pad Thai, Lemon Grass Chicken, mini Thai rolls, and Panang Curry. They were all fantastic! Dinner was very affordable (only $49 including drinks and enough leftovers for a couple more meals) and absolutely delicious. This place will very soon become a treasured Central Mass destination.
Yeah! Finally, Thai food in Holden! Thai Island is tucked away behind Jed's hardware store in a new "Ecofriendly" building. The food is very good and the menu has a great variety of entrees and appetizers. I think they have their liquor license now too! Great curry dishes and though servings could be larger, the quality of the food is very good. (not the best I've had but still very good!)It is so hard for these small businesses to stay open in today's economy. I hope these guys can stay open --- they're really working hard to make Thai Island a great dining experience
1/15/2010 1 photo The best Thai restaurant in Worcester, I have to say.
The food is great, the ambiance of the restaurant is really awesome and the staff is super friendly. I was quite the regular here with my friends before I moved out of Worcester and the owner knew us by name and was always really welcoming when we'd come in.
Pretty decently priced for some really good food. I would recommend it to anyone, it's definitely worth the drive to Holden from other spots in Worcester.
Finally, good Thai food only 20 minutes from home! My husband and I enjoyed the Pad Thai, Lemon Grass Chicken, mini Thai rolls, and Panang Curry. They were all fantastic! Dinner was very affordable (only $49 including drinks and enough leftovers for a couple more meals) and absolutely delicious. This place will very soon become a treasured Central Mass destination. 
