Mystery Diner: Dao explores sushi and Thai cuisines

OAKBROOK TERRACE – Finding a restaurant that delectably delivers on its promise of multiple cuisines in one menu can be an arduous task.

Far too often, restaurant owners spread the bill of fare too thin by offering a wide array of dishes from a number of countries, most of which fall short of the precedents set by single-focus sushi bars, Mexican restaurants and Brazilian steakhouses.

But Dao Sushi & Thai bucks that trend. Billed as a restaurant that specializes in both Japanese and Thai food, Dao's Oakbrook Terrace location not only fulfilled its promise, but exceeded my expectations.

As we sought refuge from a bitterly cold evening, Dao's ambiance and decor made my companion and me forget the temperatures outside. Upon entering, we immediately took note of the crowded bar and lounge area, which was furnished with a 15-foot black stone bar top, with additional tables.

As we were led to our seats – a semicircle booth nestled in one of two cozy dining rooms – we passed a 5-foot Buddha statue, an impressive fish tank and a sushi bar with two chefs.

We sat down, promptly ordered edamame and king crab rangoon as starters, and then spent the next 15 minutes dissecting the menu. The appetizers were delivered in under 10 minutes. The edamame arrived warm and portioned with just the right amount of salt, and the crab rangoon dumplings were some of the largest I have ever encountered.

The three-page menu – with everything from soups and salads, to signature rolls, house specials, rice dishes and a select array of Thai noodle entrees – can be daunting to anyone unfamiliar with the two cuisines. But overall, it is very similar to what you would encounter at any high-end Japanese and Thai restaurant.

We settled on a tuna roll (six pieces), a Bears roll (eight pieces), the tempura combo and an order of chicken pad Thai.

I like to consider myself a sushi connoisseur, and I can wholeheartedly say that the Dao rolls hold their own against some of the best sushi restaurants in the western suburbs. For me, the highlight of the evening was the Bears roll, a perfectly balanced, textured bite of sushi that exploded with flavors of avocado, shrimp and soft-shell crab.

The tempura combo included lightly battered pieces of shrimp, onions, sweet potato, zucchini and eggplant, and was served with a soy dipping sauce. The chicken pad Thai was a savory mix of long, thin noodles sauteed with egg, scallions, bean curd and peanuts, garnished by cabbage.

Both entrees were generously portioned, and splitting one would have been more than enough after an appetizer and a flight of sushi.

The service was attentive, courteous and efficient: Our water glasses were always more than half full, and idle plates were removed promptly.

With appealing aesthetics and ambiance, Dao proves to be an inviting destination on two culinary fronts.

The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at Suburban Life Media. The diner's identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or during the meal. Only positive dining experiences will result in published reviews.