In the heart of Northern Virginia’s vibrant dining scene, two distinctive establishments have captured the hearts of locals and visitors alike—Magnolia Dessert Bar & Coffee in Vienna and Sisters Thai, which has expanded to multiple locations across the region. What many diners may not realize is that these beloved restaurants share a common thread: they are both the brainchildren of Sumontita “Tammie” Disayawathana and her husband, Jaturon “Drew” Srirote, a dynamic couple committed to bringing authentic Thai culture and cuisine to the Washington, D.C. metro area.
The Visionary Owners
Tammie Disayawathana, a Bangkok native, arrived in Falls Church, Virginia, in 1996 with dreams of continuing her education and building a life in America. After earning a communications degree from Bangkok University, she pursued ESL studies at Georgetown University and later completed an MBA at Southeastern University in D.C. in 1999. While working part-time at Crystal Thai restaurant in Arlington during her studies, she met her husband Jaturon, a longtime soccer player, in 2000. Together, they would go on to create what is now known as Sisters Group, one of the largest Thai casual dining establishments in the DMV area.
The culinary expertise behind the Sisters franchise comes from Chef Prasert Limsumang, affectionately known as “Uncle Moo,” who is Tammie’s uncle and a former soccer coach from Thailand. His authentic cooking combined with Tammie’s vision for creating warm, inviting spaces has become the hallmark of their restaurant empire.
Magnolia Dessert Bar & Coffee: A Thai-Inspired Sweet Retreat
Located at 431 Maple Ave W in Vienna, Virginia, Magnolia Dessert Bar & Coffee opened in 2017 as a unique concept in Northern Virginia’s dessert landscape. Tammie created Magnolia to fill a void she noticed in the area—the lack of Thai-inspired dessert cafes that reminded her of her homeland. The two-level cafe is designed to resemble a Bangkok dessert bar, featuring whimsical decor that evokes a quaint overgrown garden meets hidden library nook, complete with vibrant colors, framed artwork, hanging artificial flowers, books, and decorative objects.
Quality and Specialties at Magnolia
Magnolia specializes in Thai-inspired desserts alongside Korean and Japanese treats, all presented with Instagram-worthy flair. The signature offering is their Original Honey Toast—a hollowed-out bread loaf filled with ice cream and various toppings. Popular variations include the Nutella Addict Honey Toast, Pocky Strawberry Honey Toast, and Matcha Green Tea Honey Toast, all priced at $16.99. Other standout desserts include Lychee Raspberry Cheesecake, the traditional Mango Sticky Rice with a colorful twist, and Milo Bing Bing, a chocolate malted ice dessert.
The menu also features waffles, croffles (croissant-waffles), crepes, and an extensive selection of specialty coffee drinks and teas, including the eye-catching Purple Potato Latte and Blue Hawaii Sparkle soda. For those seeking something more substantial, Magnolia offers savory options like chicken and basil pesto crepes and breakfast items.
Service and Atmosphere
With a 4.1 rating from over 1,300 reviews, Magnolia has built a loyal following. Customers consistently praise the cozy, relaxing atmosphere—particularly the upstairs seating area—and the generous portions that are often perfect for sharing. Reviews highlight the friendly service, though some note that during busy weekend periods, wait times can be longer. The cafe operates daily from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and of course, dessert.
Sisters Thai: Authentic Flavors, Homey Atmosphere
Sisters Thai began in January 2013 when Tammie opened her first location in Old Town Fairfax, originally called “The Living Room.” The concept was simple but powerful: create a space that feels like home where families could enjoy authentic Thai cuisine in a comfortable, welcoming environment. The restaurant now boasts five locations:
- Fairfax (University Dr): 4004 University Dr #6804, Fairfax, VA 22030 (Rating: 4.3/5 with 935 reviews)
- Fairfax/Mosaic (District Ave): 2985 District Ave Unit 130, Fairfax, VA 22031 (Rating: 4.3/5 with 1,105 reviews)
- Alexandria: 503 Montgomery St, Alexandria, VA 22314 (Rating: 4.4/5 with 922 reviews)
- Potomac, Maryland (Cabin John): Also featuring a Magnolia outpost
- Tysons (Capital One Center): 7735 Capital One Tower Rd, Tysons, VA 22102 (Rating: 4.0/5 with 311 reviews)—the flagship and largest location at 6,350 square feet
Menu Highlights and Specialties
Sisters Thai’s menu showcases authentic Thai street food alongside popular favorites. Signature dishes include Drunken Noodles, Pad Thai, Tom Kha soup (praised as some of the best outside of Thailand), Tom Yum soup, and Pad Kra Pow. The restaurant also features specialty items like Kana Moo Grob, Khao Soi, and boat noodle soup, along with diverse curry options including Green Curry and Panang Curry. The celebrated Crab Fried Rice and Sisters Fried Rice are customer favorites. Appetizers like Chive Dumplings, Curry Puff Pastries, Chicken Satay, and Papaya Salad round out the menu. The restaurants also feature specialty cocktails and their own craft beer, Joy Boy Craft Beer, available at all Sisters locations.
Quality, Service, and Community Involvement
Across all locations, Sisters Thai maintains ratings between 4.0 and 4.4 stars, with customers consistently praising the authentic flavors, beautiful presentation, and welcoming atmosphere. The restaurants’ distinctive design—featuring bookshelves, chandeliers, leafy vines, and paintings of Thailand—creates an intimate living room feel. Many reviews note that Tammie herself is often present, greeting customers personally and treating guests like friends.
Beyond their culinary success, Tammie and Drew are deeply committed to community engagement. They actively sponsor multiple U.S. and Thai soccer teams and tournaments, reflecting Drew’s background as a soccer player. Tammie serves on the board of the Thai Association of America and has partnered on numerous embassy events to promote Thai culture in the United States. Through Sisters Entertainment, they maintain cultural partnerships with Thai musicians, artists, and chefs, building a strong Thai network in the D.C. area despite the relatively small local Thai population.
The Sisters Group Vision
Today, the Sisters Group encompasses over eight outlets in the DMV area, including the newest Flore Café concept at the Tysons location, which offers French-Thai fusion desserts and an elegant high tea experience. Tammie’s approach has always been personal and authentic—every design element, from the $10 Home Depot chandeliers in the first location to the $10,000 fixtures in newer restaurants, reflects her personal taste and vision. This independently owned and operated restaurant group continues to thrive by staying true to its founding principles: quality food, exceptional hospitality, and creating spaces where customers feel like they’re dining in their own living room.
Fairfax
4004 University Dr #6804
Fairfax, VA 22030
Mosaic
2985 District Ave Unit 130
Fairfax, VA 22301
Cabin John
7995 Tuckerman Ln
Potomac, MD 20854
Alexandria
503 Montgomery St
Alexandria, VA 22314
Tysons
7735 Capital One Tower Rd
Tysons, VA 22102
Sources
This article was written with the assistance of AI
