Writes of Passage

823 Water St C100,
Tampa, FL 33602

Def will return.

Location: 5
Ambience: 5
Service: 4
Food: 5
Picayune: sleeker wine glass

… more pix & vid on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

For a light lunch, we’ve:

– NE oysters
– Parmesan baked clams
– Garlic shrimps
– Benvolio Pinot Grigio

The open kitchen churns out delicious foods. The horseradish is freshly grind (right?).

Their oyster repertoire is extensive, from both coasts: Washburn (Cape Cod), Miyagi (Pacific oysters, from Japan but nowadays … fm Washington’s Hood Canal), Olympia (fm the Puget Sound area), etc. We stayed with NE, while still thinking the NW at Oye in Durango. Theirs are fresh, skinny, which I like!!!

Baked clams and shrimps are very flavorful but not greasy. The shrimps are succulent. (The plate for the clams is too shallow, risky of spilling. Maybe in a soup plate?) Both sauces are perfect for dipping, even their breads are to die for on their own. (Thinking to take the sauces home… ha ha ha … I might leave without a husband if I asked.)

It’s Wimbledon semi finals day. Taylor Fritz is playing. We passed by Boulon but didn’t see any tv monitors. So The Pearl it is. I asked for it and the hostess is very kind, immediately changed the channel – thank you so much.

Part of Cameron Mitchell and a Michelin Guide restaurant, this location has high ceiling, relaxing atmosphere, tasteful decor, and is near the Riverwalk. Electrical outlets under the bar counter.

Walco utensils look bit fussy for the deco. The Peroni beer glass is sleek and beautiful: it’s simply not fair, how could a beer glass outshine the wine glass -:)

It’s a pretty large restaurant, with multiple sections, corners and seating arrangements. The path to their bathrooms remind me of Sixty Vines in Miami, even how the staff huddled together for a quick meeting. No light switch in the bathroom tho. For my aging eyes, it’s a little too dark.

There are many hocks on the walls. I tried to figure out where were they from, perhaps from the docks (?) but the bar tender said it’s above his pay grade.

The bill is presented inside a real book, like at The Library. A little odd but I did find “Let’s Go Islanders” comments on the front page – Amalie Arean is next door. Love Tampa’s Lightning but Ya, let’s go Islanders 😉 this place is probably packed on the games day or night.

Fritz lost in four sets just as we were sitting down, unfortunately. (Sinner took out Djokovic in three if anyone cares.) Now I’ll concentrate my cheering for Amanda Anisimova tomorrow. Do help me out, TIA.

7004 W Hillsborough Ave,
Tampa, FL 33634

… more pix on Google Maps

Surprisingly, a great experience: courteous staff, clean office, efficient service, and ample parking spaces.

A gentleman, like hotel concierge, standing by the front entrance, with great smile and kind manner. First asking if we’re in the correct office, then directing us to sign in, at the two kiosks.

The waiting crowd is very quiet.

The agent called us 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled time, who is a mild manner and soft spoken, Harley Davison type of guy, with a painter’s cap. Behind him is a modern office. He is patient, knowledgeable and solved our issue effortlessly.

The bathroom is spacious and clean. As I was trying to open the door, Mr Concierge said, “just push it.”
Once inside, I didn’t see the lock function. Thinking geeee, maybe it’s also auto detected? So I asked him about it. He explained that there is a lock … “… don’t know why did they give us this complicated door knob. …”

We made an appointment days ago. The waiting time was all but five minutes. Now I’ll have to think where to spend the budgeted time before my lunch.

3808 W Swann Ave
Tampa, FL 33609

… more pix on Google maps

Got this organic basil $4.49 from Trader Joe’s … also got Zhoug spicy sauce, which is good, as usual.

I’ll see how long this pot of basil will last in my brown thumbs. Picked leaves right away, and repot into two the following day. Hope it will grow a little longer than one time thing.

They’r promoting Butternut Sauvignon Blanc 2021 @ $3.99: it’s pretty good – dry.

339 19th Ave NE
Ruskin, FL 33570

… more pix on Yelp, TA

Another lunch here with my fellow book clubers.

I’ve the Mini Devil Crab, which has a little more than Devil Crab, the small plate. I also tried skipper’s Cuban Sandwich – delish and it’s my next lunch! Thanks

The best part is, we’re seated in the middle of the room, facing the two tv monitors above the bar, both are turned to Wimbledon: left is Alcaraz def British Norrie (2,3,3), and right side monitor is showing Amanda Anisimova (2001-) defeating Anastasia “Nastia” Pavlyuchenkova (1991-) 6-1, 7-6 ^11:9 a tight second set.

I watched AA’s debut match at Roland Garros in 2019 – she was very shapely, sharp featured and moved like chetah. I instantly felt in love with her. … then her father passed away and she dropped out of sight … until 2021 when she lost to my other fave – Karolína Plíšková in the night match @ US Open. I think Pliskova might have retired or about to … Hope AA fare better a.k.a. wins a slam or two or three.  GO AA, all the way.

Thanks Skipper -:)

They’re quick to contact me, but VERY irresponsible in the end.

^{Posting this review on TrustPilot isn’t easy: first it picked on me because I used names; then it wrote “getopenlaw.com has flagged your review because they don’t think it’s based on a genuine experience.” I challenged it, but has not received reply, as of today, July 10. So I’m reposting it, with the screenshots of text messages with OpenLaw from last November 2024.}  

I got a mail from them in Nov 2024, in all caps, stating:

Action required: Pop n Sons Diner filed a lawsuit against you …

At the time, I didn’t know Pop n Sons Diner was Hales Blackbrick (d/b/a). So I dismissed it as another junk mail. But then they followed it up by calling me on Nov 19, the day before I was being served.

The caller (George?) said they usually get to the lawsuits before the defendants are even informed; and that he was a call scheduler, to arrange a call with an assistant (? Sunshine?) who would assign us to an appropriate attorney. I was very relieved and grateful.

He looked at his calendar and offered a slot a few days (or a week?) later.

“We’re leaving the country in two days.” I said.

He was kind enough to schedule us the next day at noon.

Sunshine (?) called the following day, two hours earlier than the scheduled time. She was through. At the end of our conversation, she said an attorney would contact us shortly.

Later that day, I was served.

However, after this call with Sunshine, all contact (phone and messenger text) from them ceased, no matter how many attempts we made.

The problem was, I was about to leave for Asia for a month (part of it were at remote areas without wifi and or internet) – and I told both George and Sunshine about this. The state I’m in, has 20 days max to response to a lawsuit. Should I know their behavior, I would NOT have to count on them, I could have found an attorney within the last two days while still in the country. It was a terrible situation they put me in: 12 hours time difference, plus spotty internet service, making communication to extend the responding of the lawsuit very difficult.

… P.S. Eventually and shortly, we found an attorney online, who extended the extension of time, and ultimately won the lawsuit. Case was closed a week after Helen Freund of Tampa Bay Times wrote about this case that published on June 4th, 2025: She reviewed a Tampa restaurant on Yelp. Then came a lawsuit.

500 Channelside Dr
Tampa, FL 33602
Downtown Tampa

… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp, TA & OT

Will return for the service and the decor.

One of Michelin starred restaurants in town.

Location: 5
Ambience: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Picayune: milk bread is too big

The food is good but could be better:

~ the milk bread is awesome
~ the freebies are all very good
~ spiced tuna: they’re chunks, could it be a bit smaller and more moistened (?)
~ salmon – is very good and tender, but a hair shy from Trump’s link @ Waterfront in Bronx, NYC
~ grouper – tasty, skinned cherry tomatoes are yummy

The hot bread is delicious, but a little to large. It looks like a K2 that I’ve to conquer. Maybe making it half the size, less waste? The texture is croissant-ish,  reminds me of the breads from a bakery in Beijing – Zhongguancu Bakery 中关村茶点 (… after 60+ years and the Cultural Revolution, it has closed down and moved to a new location early this year…)

Lilac means 紫丁香 in Chinese: purple clove. So I put on as much purple as I could but … there isn’t purple in sight (until 6pm when they brought out the snap dragon).

The entrance of the hotel Edition has fake Bougainvillea (why?!?) Large plants filled the narrow high ceiling lobby and the restaurant, like an oasis. Green is the theme of the restaurant: green tiles, green booths and chairs that feel like 1960s or 80s but with clean and modern twist, the large green plants (real) bring me to now, today. (I do have green dinning chairs and love them.)

The restaurant is small: six tables for two, one long table for eight, and six half circular booths that could accommodate up to four. It’s empty from 5 and three more tables filled by 6pm, then by accident or planned, they brought out beautiful snap dragon to tables: thank you.

Many restaurants use Riedel (Santa Fe!) but their water glasses are the best: look ordinary but is extraordinarily delicate – I think I’d three glass of water. The matte tableware Sera by Piet Boon is nice.

The female hostesses is very beautiful, who asked us what kind of occasion this dinner is. It draws a black – nothing really special, just a dinner. But I don’t want to disappoint her, so I said, “I just won a lawsuit.” (… which is turn – I did indeed https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/food/2025/06/04/hales-blackbrick-sues-yelp-reviewer-restaurants-tampa-bay/) She asked me how my day was as she led us to our table, I blah blah blah, eagerly offered that I won all my three set of tennis (it was a hard fought match – my left forearm is in pain!!) … by the time we leave, she congratulated me on the two wins again – thanks sweetie, you’re a dear.

The location is great: it’s cross street from Amelia Arena, a block from the 2.6 miles riverwalk (about 1.5 miles from @ Armature Works / Waterworks / a mile from Straz, where we go often). Across the river (Garrison Channel?) is Watervue Grille @ Harbour Island.

The buildings in the area look young. The large parcel at north of E Cumberland Ave @ Water Street is being developed.

Nearby restaurants:

1. The Pearl
2. New York Pizza
3. Boulon
4. Yard House
5. Cava – a lunch place for the offices (?)
6. Columbia Cafe @ History Center

13025 US-301 Suite #102,
Riverview, FL 33578

… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp, TA (1st), FB

Will return for the delicious food.

Very happy to report, that I’ve found a very decent Asian restaurant (mainly NOT sweet).

Food: great
Service: good
Ambiance: pleasant
Location: off US-301, a busy road
Picayune: fake orchids

We’ve

~ Garlic naan: fluffy & warm
~ Lamb saag: the best
~ Kadai chicken: flavored rice
~ Chicken biryani: spicy
~ Punugulu: light n fluffy fritters, the orange color dipping sauce has the right kick

They do ask for your preferred spicy level. ‘Medium’ for us, which is just right. A few reviewers state their food is “too spicy”, an indication that their seasoning might be right for me.

They’ve just opened about six months ago. From outside, it looks like a dental office. The high ceiling Indian restaurant must have combined two stores (two doors) to create a single canteenish large hall. The bar at the back is empty (perhaps two more weeks to get their liquor license?): in the meantime, you can BYOB. I think they don’t charge corkage fee.

I like their large plastic plates (100% melamine – Milton) – it’s my plan to migrate to, after done with my breakable tableware (except the wine glasses). The utensils are canteen issue.

Another happy event to report is the Blackbrick’s lawsuit against me is finally closed, a week after Helen Freund’s article published on Tampa Bay Times. Thank you for posting Hales Blackbrick’s rebuttal (which has since been deleted).

The restaurant’s claim that I deleted and reposted the review to stay atop the review listings is misleading and disingenuous. For one thing, I have no control over Yelp engine logic for sorting their review hierarchy. Secondly, I have every right to amend my original review. To quote my attorney’s succinct statements made during the hearing:

“… the review that Ms Eng posted is the same review she posted the first time. Why was that review readdressed? Because after this business came out and made a statement ….calling her abusive, she reposted it…” So after the restaurant’s numerous threatening messages and the cease and desist order issued to me, I simply added the screenshots, and revised my rating from 3 stars to 1 to reflect my overall experience with the restaurant. Regarding Yelp’s legal disclaimer, it “…was placed specifically because of their behavior.”

The 3-star review in which I start out by saying, “Probably will return: one of better fusion restaurants in Florida…” hardly merits the vehemency of their reaction, let alone a lawsuit claiming ‘tortious interference’. If there has been anything ‘abusive’ about this whole scenario, one only needs to read some of the restaurant’s responses to other so-called ‘negative’ 1 and 2-star reviews.

I come from China of the 1960’s and 70’s, during the heights of Chinese Communist Party oppression. I refuse to have a muzzle placed upon my thoughts and opinions.

P.S. Sue me over my Chinglish might stand a better chance.

PPS: these who citing Chef Hales’ mobile home license plate in my photo, is a LIAR: produce me the photo. The saddest thing is to see someone without integrity – what a shame!

13149 US 301
Riverview, FL 33578

… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp, FB & TA

Will return: Chicken Katsu is tender.

Good service, food and decor. Clean bathroom with a lovely sink.

Every time I dine at an omakase restaurant, I think of Wags (of Billions). But this one is name only, with a full menu to order from.

We’ve

• Spicy edamame: 避风塘调味 garlic, salt and all – love it
• Shrimp Shumai: purchased, which is rather common.
• Chicken Katsu: tender
• Sashimi sushi combo: yellow tail is very good

The sounds of wok is constant: probably a lot of take outs (?) The lady hostess speaks Cantonese and our serve speaks both Cantonese and Mandarin, and his English is better than my Chinglish.

On 避风塘调味 typhoon shelter seasoning, that usually has fried onion, garlic and hot pepper, is originated from Hong Kong. Typhoon frequents HK, as often as hurricane does Florida. Many shelters around HK provide safety to boats during the disasters. As time goes by, these shelters became the boat people’s communities, where they live, work, and also cook on their boat for people who bring their own seafood (purchased elsewhere nearby). One shelter I used to go was Quarry Bay (鲗鱼涌). The boat owner/cook would ask how would you like your seafood be cooked. I asked for this and steam 清蒸 equally. It’s a little baffling to me that HK even invented typhoon shelter seasoning (good with beers …), given the fact that they love to eat live seafoods, which do not need heavy seasoning. Do enlighten me, TIA. (A little too much blah blah – more of a note to myself.)

Btw, the lawsuit by Pop N Sons Dinner LLC (d/b/a Hales Blackbrick) against me, is closed, a week after the Tampa Bay Times’ article by Helen Freund.

Thank you so much for your overwhelming support in two threads. I totally understand being anonomose. But I think the restaurant weighted in too, anonymously.

WHY hide?

Also would like to thank the person who posted a screenshot of the restaurant’s rebuttal to Freund’s article, which has since been deleted (very typical). On my repost/delete, here is my attorney’s succinct statements during the hearing:

“… the review that Ms Eng posted is the same review she posted the first time. Why was that review readdressed? Because after this business came out and made a statement ….calling her abusive, she reposted it…” So after the restaurant’s numerous insulting and threatening messages, and the cease and desist letter to me, I simply revised my rating from 3 stars to 1 to reflect my overall experience with the restaurant. Regarding Yelp’s legal disclaimer, it “…was placed specifically because of their behavior.”

A few mentioned privacy issue: those who wrote “license plate” repeatedly, are either intentionally lying, or never seen the photo. I attached it here. Photo of the wife, I actually thought she’s a good looking woman. She, her husband and two under age daughters are constantly on their website and Instagram.

I come from China of the 1960s, it was the heights of communist oppression. I refuse to have a muzzle placed upon my thoughts and opinions.

350 2nd Ave N,
St. Pete, FL 33701

… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

A neighborhood square in downtown St. Pete. We stopped by after dinner at the Red Thread.

Part of it vicid green and part of it is a bit dilapidated – common character of a city park.

Palladium Theater
St. Pete, FL

… more pix on Reddit; St. Pete

The last production of St. Pete opera‘s 19th season; and they’ve been in the black. They forewarn of gunshots. It opens with the famous aria Habanera.

Georges Bizet’s 1875 Carmen. Nth time, the same joy.

Who’s your most favorite Carmen? Denyce Graves (1964-) for me. Saw her with the Met in 1997, it was during her prime. No one has come close since.

Again, late comers are allowed to be seated. One of ‘the thing’ at this theater is actors often going through the orchestra section to get on the stage. Tonight, few seconds or a minute after this video was taken at 7:46, the actors walked the same middle isle to the stage. This is a very dangerous situation, aside from the etiquette. Why would the theater allow the late comers to come in?

After the intermission, it will be the can opening symphony: puchi, or pop, the brief but sharp soda cans opening sounds, like in a ball park one after another 此起彼伏 forming its own symphony. I get it that you allow the audience to bring in their drinks. But can you please open the can before handing it to the opera goer? It’s simply disgusting.

… It feels so high school. If you act like a high school, you remain at high school level.

Palladium Theater is about to have a $10m major renovation, that was announced last year (abc; college; my palladium). Hope the new theater would have a better policy re the late comers.

Dinner at Red Thread was wonderful so is to discover a city green space.