Split Decision

Can't decide on Japanese or Thai food? A recent addition to Sandpoint's dining scene means you can have your curry and eat it (with chopsticks), too.

In addition to fried tofu ($5.50) and fried spring rolls ($4.50) Thai Nigiri offers lighter appetizers like seared Tuna Tataki on daikon ($9.50) and baked green mussels with (imitation) crab, masago and green onion ($9.95).

Thai and Japanese influences mingle among soup and salad offerings. Try Thai coconut soup ($4.50-$6.95) or yum woon sen salad with glassy noodles, shrimp and lime-chili dressing ($10.95), as well as Japanese sunomono salad with octopus, crab and shrimp ($7.95).

Traditional Thai dishes vary from noodle- to rice-based, while curry options include red, green, yellow or milder Panang style. Further customize your dish with chicken, beef, tofu, mixed vegetable, shrimp or seafood ($11.95-$15.95), or try the house special: duck, seafood, soft-shell crab, grilled salmon or walleye with your choice of five sauces, including ginger teriyaki and sweet basil ($15.95-$16.95)

On the Japanese side, choose nigiri or sashimi, either a la carte or in combo platters ($15-$23). On the specialty roll menu, "In" refers to the interior of any of two dozen rolls, while "Out" is the external topping, such as the TNT roll's spicy tuna and cucumber topped with spicy salmon, scallop and green onion ($13.95). Although the crab featured in a majority of the rolls is imitation, our Spider Man roll was a wonderful mix of spicy tuna, soft-shell crab, cucumber, avocado and eel ($11.50).

Thai Nigiri is the first restaurant for Uma and Tim Tientong, who liked Sandpoint so much, they specifically relocated to the area from Colorado earlier this summer. In addition to their dinner menu, Thai Nigiri has a large lunch menu featuring plentiful dishes from $7.50 to $10.50, as well as a reasonable range of beer, wine and sake served hot or cold. ♦