Sukothai Restaurant

Joe and I ate at the Sukhothai Restaurant last night in New Tampa. We were celebrating his last PUP bonus with the Bank which he received yesterday (don't ask....). Let me begin by saying that the place is "on Campus," as our friend Don would say, which means we didn't have to cross Bruce B. Downs Blvd. to get there. Now, we didn't walk there either, but I guess it is about 2 1/2 miles from home. Anyway, it is a combination restaurant and sushi bar. We opted to eat at a regulation table although you can eat at the bar or on the floor on mats without shoes, for a more authentic Asian feel.
We got there about 6:30pm and we were the only people there. I know, we must be getting old to eat that early. I ordered the plum wine and Joe had his normal, boring Sterling Cab. The server was a perky Asian female, reasonably attentive.
We started with the pan fried dumplings as an appetizer. Joe ate a lot of these in Taiwan when he was stationed there in the Air Force and together we have eaten and prepared a lot of them over the years and consider ourselves connoisseurs. These dumps were EXCELLENT. They were light, crispy, and flavorful with just enough filling. The dipping sauce was perfect, not too much soy.
For dinner I had the Panang Beef (sliced beef cooked in red curry and coconut cream) and Joe had the Goong Gub Pla (grouper filet topped with shrimp and ginger). He had his prepared medium spicy and I had mine "hot, but not VERY hot." Well, it was VERY, VERY HOT!! But that said, it was delicious and the presentation superb. They use those nifty square plates with the turned up corners, very cool.
I needed water and another plum wine to offset the heat of my dinner and they were delivered promptly. It was a great experience and we will go back again. Please add your comments if you have eaten there.
http://www.sukhothairestaurant.net