The iconic May Restaurant & Lounge (1612 N 45th) abruptly closed its doors and spent last weekend taking down signage, removing decorations, and cleaning out the interior. A sign on the door announces the opening of a new restaurant Sisi Kay Thai. May Restaurant confirmed that the space is under new ownership that wants to do something new.
In 2006 May Restaurant transformed a Craftsman lot into a 2-story neon-blue pagoda with brilliant aluminum adornments. They opened to much fanfare and excitement.
Several years after the restaurant’s opening, the namesake founder May Chaleoy left and started an extremely popular restaurant on Vashon Island called May Kitchen & Bar. While Wallingford’s May Restaurant kept the traditional lavish décor and commitment to serving an authentic Pad Thai, it seems that they struggled to maintain the momentum.
I will miss the exceptional Pad Thai. May Restaurant cooked their Pad Thai with homemade tamarind sauce and served the noodles wrapped in a banana leaf. At the table, a server expertly mixed in banana blossom, chili flakes, sugar, and lime. I always appreciated the mixing precision and use of banana blossom stems to cordon off any extra chili flakes.
May Restaurant’s closure is certainly disappointing, but I look forward to trying whatever Sisi Kay Thai cooks up.
