Writes of Passage

1441 E Fletcher Ave #107
Tampa, FL 33612

… more pix n video on Google Maps, Yelp, TA

Probably will return.

We passed by this place a few times and did take out today after our lunch at Flaming Mountain.

Good decor, service and food. We ordered

1. string beans
2. pork knuckles
3. lamb stew

Meats are tender but string beans are over cooked, too soft.

There are a quite few restaurants at this strip, mostly Asian plus the Florida west coast Chinese chamber of commerce, on the 2nd floor.

The CCC has just opened recently (1 to 2 years). The previous owner of the stripe was a Chinese who allowed up to three Chinese restaurants to open here.

13520 University Plaza St
Tampa, FL 33613
USF

… more pix and video on Google Maps, Yelp & TA (added)

Probably will return.

We made a wrong turn from going to Beijing House, so ended up here.

No frill decor, decent food and good service, with one young man serving.

Per the Michelin guide, this restaurant operates by husband & wife team, Hongfeng Li and Ling Wu who are from Shenyang 沈阳, the provincial capital of Liaoning, one of three northeast provinces that collectively called Dongbei 东北, the rust belt.

Xinjiang, in the northwest, has sandstone hills, named Flaming Mountains 火焰山. Not sure they’ve any relation. But skewers 烤串 are popular in both regions.

The kitchen seems to extends to the front. I hear the clunking of the wok but don’t smell any cooking fragrance – good ventilation.

We’ve

1. A4 Malatang 麻辣烫
2. E22 Grilled eggplant 蒜蓉茄子
3. D3 Chongqing spicy chicken 重庆辣子鸡

A4 is way too salty, even for me, a salt lover. Three whole shrimps (with heads and tails) have thick black veins, are over cooked.

Eggplant and chicken are very flavorful.

Initially we ordered Spicy noodles 鱼香面 The chef yelled from the kitchen that he doesn’t have it, in Chinese. So both I and the server laughed, who doesn’t have to relay it to me.
“What doesn’t he have?” I asked
“The spice.” The server said.

They serve beers.

1441 E Fletcher Ave #107
Tampa, FL 33612

The small strip has many restaurants, three are Chinese, including Beijing House. Above Red Bowl Sichuan (Szechuan) 川味龙, is this chamber of commerce.

The second floor has two doors. The double door has blue background with white letters: Union 301,  美国佛州西岸华人商会.

The door is unlocked. When I pushed it open, a man leaning on the sofa to the left, is playing with his mobile phone. To the right is a larger room, with couple of MJ tables. I thought he was sleeping, so I left without saying anything. It doesn’t look like an office.

According to the staff at Beijing House, they just moved in a year or two ago.

“What does it do for you?” I asked.

“Nothing. It’s mostly for Wenzhou people, who come here to play majiang … ”

When I google florida west coast Chinese chamber of commerce,   this is what I got.