Bungalow Bistro

Dinner was spent at a great new French Bistro in Seminole Heights. The Bungalow Bistro, which is on 5137 N Florida Ave is housed in a restored garage. The garage and the adjoining house where originally located on Hillsborough Ave. When the widening project took place several years ago, both structures were actually moved to their present location to preserve them for future use. The house is utilized by Forever Beautiful Salon and Day Spa. The garage, Bungalow Bistro.

So, a friend and I went to this hot new restaurant everyone is talking about. I was really excited to finally go there for dinner, as I have heard great things about the menu.

First of all, let me start by saying that the decor in this place really cool. The whole look and feel of the restaurant gives takes you somewhere other than Florida Ave.

Loving spicy dishes, I ordered the Thai Panang Chicken which is grilled chicken with a spicy red curry and coconut Panang sauce on basmati rice. The chicken was perfect. I loved the texture, the look and presentation of the dish. I especially liked the basmati rice. This was new to me. I have only heard of, but never tasted, this rice. I will definately be trying that in one of my dishes soon!

My friend ordered the Andouilla Studded Tender Steak which is basically a steak with saugsage stuffed inside. It was pretty tasty. Although it was really good, I was pleased with my selection.

For dessert, we ordered a warm apple tort al a mode. It was a sweet end to a lovely dinner.

Would I visit again? Um, yes. I am actually going again tomorrow with my mother for lunch. I'm committed.

La Creperia Cafe

For my friends and me, every Thursday is Ybor Night. A group of us go out, have dinner or dessert and good conversation somewhere down on 7th Ave. Having a place like Ybor City so close by is wonderful. The history of Tampa comes alive as one walks down the lighted street. It's our version of Bourbon Street.
Clubs, Restaurants, night-life, history, culture, celebrations, parades; it's all here just minutes from our neighborhood.

Tonight, we went to a little place called La Creperia Cafe on 1729 E. 7Th Avenue. Tampa, Fl 33605. This place is classified as a French Restaurant, but it is hard to tell from the muzak that was playing. Music usually sets the tone and feel for the atmosphere. Here, the music sounds like Turkish or something middle eastern. During one song that was playing, I was certain a snake was rising out of a basket somewhere.

Now, on to the dinner and service. We were a big group and the wait staff seemed to be pretty attentive in the beginning. As the night went on, however, I could not get the waiter's attention to order dessert or get a refill on my soda.

For my meal, I ordered #48 La French Riviera- which, according to the menu, is filled with cheese, chicken, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, cooked in white wine sauce. If you ask me, the thing is filled with a creamy cheese sauce and some chicken chunks. Thankfully, I split it with a friend. It was OK. Would I order it again? No.

For dessert, a friend and I split #19. This sweet crepe is called "Sweet Special with Ice Cream. It is served hot and filled with Warm Nutella, banana, walnuts and two small scoops of vanilla ice creme. Wow. If you like Nutella- (when warm it is like a drop of liquid chocolate heaven) then you would go for this. I would have to say, the ice cream made the dish. After a while, as nice as Nutella is, it would be too much if it was just that. But the al a mode made it a nice treat. Also, unless you plan on it being your main meal, it is best to split it with someone. This is something I wouldn't mind ordering again.

Now, would I go again? Yes. But I will try something with less cheese. I'm thinking probably just dessert would be fine with me.

Rating- 3 spoons

China Dragon

Well, speaking of dinner, we decided to go to China Dragon on 2513 W Hillsborough Ave Tampa, FL. My usual is an order of Chicken with Garlic Sauce, Fried rice and an egg roll. That would be the special platter for $6.50. Not a bad deal. You pay a little and get a lot. And, if you play your rice right, you will have at least two dinners out of one plate. For my dinner tonight, I ordered General Tao's chicken. As you may not know, I have never veered away from my fave. I am a creature of habit. But fortunately, for the first time at a take-out Chinese place, I ordered something different! At the counter, I ordered everyone else's stuff, but when it came to my choice, I was himing and hawing. Finally, after asking the lady behind the counter to describe some of these other dishes, and looking at the washed out, crazy looking pictures that Chinese take-out joints always have on the wall, I finally made my decision.

Over all, I really enjoyed the General. While I have never ordered the General myself, I have tasted other Generals before. Now, most of the time, there is no sauce and the chicken is sort of sticky. At China Dragon, the General is very moist while remaining crispy. There was just enough sauce to pour on the rice but not enough to make the little rice pieces float. I was hoping for a bit more spiciness, but there was not much of a kick at all.

The egg roll was good, but not as crispy as I usually care for. But, they gave me two
extra egg rolls labeled Free, which was a nice treat!

Tomorrow, Ybor City for dinner.

Take-out Rating- 3 spoons

And so it begins....

As I sit here typing my first blog, I am thinking about dinner. It's a great thing since this blog is mainly focused on Dining out in Tampa. Most of my free time is spent working on the house or the garden. I especially enjoy spending time with friends. Whether they come here to the house or we meet out at a restaurant, food seems to be the central focus that brings us all together; that "breaking of bread" so to speak.

When I cook, I have my specialties. Then, aside from a few brave attempts at something new, I tend to always go back to my favorite few with which I always get great reviews.

This is paralleled when I go out to a restaurant. I tend to always order the same thing. My thought process is that I'm about to spend hard earned money, I know what I like, and I am not about to spend money on something I am not sure I'm going to like. So for years it is always the same thing....

Carrabba's- Sirloin Marsala with Angel Hair pasta w/Alfredo sauce and a glass or two of the house cab.
Macaroni Grill- Pasta Milano with a glass or two of Merlot
Taco Bell- Bean Burrito, extra onions and Meximelt extra Cheese- no drink. Lots of fire sauce.
ABC Pizza-Pepperoni Pizza, Greek Salad w/potato salad.
Take-out Chinese- Chicken with Garlic Sauce and an egg roll. Please, do not be stingy with the damn duck sauce. It is not made out of gold- just give it to me!
Bamboo Club- BC Spicy Chicken- Peach Tea no sugar.
CheeseCake Factory- Spicy Cashew Chicken
McDonalds- Big Mac extra onions, Fries and Coke.
Bo's Ice Cream- Chocolate Banana Shake
Starbucks- Hot Drink: Cafe Mocha Cold Drink: Java Chip Frappuccino, no whipped, keep the drizzle.

And the list goes on. I know I am not the only person in the world bound by fear of the unknown, fear of waste, fear of something new. I type these confessions here so that I may be held accountable for the mundane selections I have faithfully ordered again and again.

Hence, let this blog is my motivator, my passionate search for something that may inspire or surprise me, break me out of my monotonous box and let me see the world.

God, I may even like it.