After a tumultuous 18 months that included stops and starts to its dining services, the chef-owner of Senae Thai Bistro announced Wednesday that she was closing the restaurant for good after five years in downtown Tucson.
Senae Thai, at 63 E. Congress St., joins a list of notable downtown restaurants that have closed since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. Among them was Café Poca Cosa, which closed in October, and Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails, which followed two weeks later.
Chef-owner Amonwadee “Dee” Buizer said she made the decision during a three-week road trip with her husband, Jim, earlier this month. The couple closed the restaurant for the month and by the time they reached California’s Bay Area, she had pretty much decided the time was right.
“I decided that this is the time for me to retire,” said Buizer, who turns 60 this year. “I’m going to celebrate my 60th by retiring.”
A sign on the door of Senae Thai Bistro, 63 E. Congress Street, states the restaurant is closed for the month of July. But it has closed permanently.
Buizer said she struck a deal with her landlord to walk away from the restaurant, which she opened in 2016 to showcase the upscale side of Thai cooking that she learned in her native Bangkok.
Diners had been spoiled by Buizer’s house-favorite lemongrass soup and rice noodle dishes wok-fried with tofu or chicken and seasoned with sweet Thai basil or a garlicky dark soy sauce. Her pan-seared duck breast in a coconut milk red curry sauce and variety of noodle and curry dishes won over a devoted fanbase, including vegetarians who raved about the versatility of her dishes that could be prepared with or without meat.
Amonwadee “Dee” Buizer opened Senae Thai Bistro in 2016 to showcase the upscale side of Thai cooking.
Two years in, the government of Thailand tapped Buizer and her restaurant to participate in the country’s prestigious Thai Select Project and THAIFEX 2018 International Trade Exhibition in Bangkok.
But the pandemic has not been an easy ride for Senea Thai and many Tucson restaurants. Buizer offered takeout and limited outdoor and indoor dining since the start of the pandemic. When restrictions were lifted in early summer 2020, she and her limited staff attempted several times to reopen the restaurant fully with COVID social distancing protocols in place including last June during social justice protests that spilled into downtown and left several businesses vandalized. The protestors sidestepped Senae Thai, although there was damage to neighboring restaurants.
Senae Thai Bistro earlier this year tiptoed back to in-person dining initially by reservation with only six socially distanced tables. Buizer said they lifted the reservations requirement a couple months ago and allowed walk-in diners.
Buizer said she has no plans to open another restaurant, although she could decide in the future if she will offer cooking classes or personal chef services.
