A ‘Farm to Wok’ Chinese Style Bistro Chain
Tampa, Florida, United States
Cuisine Style: American Chinese, Sushi, Bistro, Chain
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 0.5/5
Dined in: April 2018
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
P.F. Change’s Rating on Zomato:
Executive Chef:
Taryn Durham
Throughout 2018 P.F. Chang’s part of the parent company Centerbridge Partners headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona where Paul Fleming and Philip Chiang opened the first location is now celebrating 25 years in business. With over 200 stores spread across 41 American States (nineteen of which are in Florida), and over 100 in twenty-two countries worldwide from Canada, Mexico, all over the Middle East, South Korea, and the UK. In 2017 they opened there the first location in China. P.F. Chang’s in Tampa like the other 300 plus chains is an Asian-themed American recipe styled Chinese casual dining restaurant with an assortment of Asian beers, Japanese Sake, wines, and cocktails. Tampa now has two locations, with the main store on Westshore Plaza, and the other which my wife and I ate at in the Tampa International Airport.
The company advertises as having a ‘Farm to Wok™’ food philosophy and that their chefs hand-roll the dim sum, hand chop and slice all vegetables and meats, handcraft every sauce and wok-cook each recipe, every day in every restaurant using wholesome, fresh ingredients. I suppose ‘farm to wok’ is loosely described considering they have a Sysco truck parked out back like most restaurants to have there food delivered. When I read about ‘farm to wok’ I thought farm to fork that specializes in getting local and mostly organic farm fresh quality ingredients. Sysco does have a small organic farm fresh branch but the question does need to be posed; is P.F. Chang’s ‘farm to wok’ part of this special branch of local organic farms or Monsanto GMO’d farms?
Menu:
- Family Meals
- Gluten Free
- Salads and Soups
- Street Fare
- Dim Sum
- Market Sides
- Sushi
- Main Entrees
- Desserts
- Kids menu
The P.F. Chang's in Tampa serves a variety of Asian-inspired dishes, including Vietnamese-style soups and bowls, family style noodles, and rice. The restaurant is known for its Chang’s Lettuce Wraps, and with the 25th Anniversary are offering with a 25 cent lettuce wrap special plus other birthday sweepstake specials. The recipes focus on American style Chinese dishes and other signature classics that include Mongolian beef and Thai curries. The online menu is updated with the FDA Food Code Nutritional guidelines, along with a coded system to indicate gluten-free dishes, lighter fare, vegetarian, and others. The wine list is advertised as an important part of the dining experience at P.F. Chang’s.
They say that the wine list which does slightly differ by location to showcase a wide range of styles, growing regions, and varietals. Yet when I look at the list I see the same wines you get in most restaurants as coming from major distributors offering the same names like Chateau Ste Michelle, 14 Hands, Beringer, Kendall-Jackson, J Lohr, and La Crema. I’m sorry I had to stop typing so that I could yawn. What is it about these restaurants, especially chains, and a lot of Florida restaurants that do not have good wine-lists from a cult or small farmed vineyards, but only big named wineries.
When my wife and I dined at the airport location things like that wine list, some of the food quality and the lack of good customer service killed the overall rating that I gave to P.F. Chang’s and here is why. We were not greeted at the entrance but told by a busy server to just find a seat. We found two seats at the bar but were ignored by the bartender for a good portion of time, and when finally acknowledged, service was mediocre at best. We shared some appetizers, sushi rolls, and dumplings, yet honestly, we had been to one or two other Chinese chains that had better food quality. If it was ‘farm to wok’ like they say, then it was not noticed in taste.
I had a few local Florida beers from the Cigar City Brewing Company, one of my favorites of theirs called Jai Alai (high lie) IPA, while my wife started with the extra large winery called Duckhorn in Napa Valley that buys its grapes from many smaller farms from all over California to meet its mass-produced brand of Sauvignon Blanc. According to the winemakers' notes on the webpage, the wine is a rich and elegant blend of Sémillon to add depth and complexity. Fermented and aged using both stainless steel and French oak, it offers ripe citrus and tropical flavors, refreshing acidity and Sémillon-driven silkiness.
We began with the dynamite shrimp from the ‘street fare’ portion of the menu which was a tempura-battered and “I suppose” wok fried, then lightly tossed with a sriracha aioli. It had very good flavor, golden brown, nice texture, served over an Asian slaw. This was then followed up by an edamame appetizer lightly steamed and tossed in salt. There was nothing exciting about this dish, though if the service was more on the enthusiastic side, then maybe that would have changed our mental opinion about the dish. Though the orange scent and ginger did enhance normal edamame recipes that you get on most Chinese restaurant menus.
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| PF Chang's / Dynamite Shrimp |
My wife switched over to a 2014 Albarino from Fillaboa vineyards in Rias Baixas, Spain which is one of the only wineries in Rías Baixas that makes its wines from 100% estate-owned fruit. The winery is part of the “Grandes Pagos de España,” or “Great Estates of Spain,” an esteemed wine-growing association that promotes the culture of estate-grown wines. According to the winemakers notes the nose is very aromatic with notes of pineapple, apple, stone fruits and hints of citrus that is slightly reminiscent of yogurt. On the palate, the attack is smooth and elegant, with great structure, good balance of flavors and well-integrated acidity. A lush, smooth and elegant wine with a lingering aftertaste.
Next, we shared a kaleidoscope roll of Ahi tuna, avocado, mango, seaweed, and rice. A very lite dish, that did go down well after the first two item tastings. Finally, we shared what I thought to be the best dish of our visit, that being the steamed pork dumplings with rich spices, and wonderful mouth-watering flavor. After these dishes, I had to catch my flight. I would be open to trying them again to see if the rating I gave them can be improved. I don’t always target chain restaurants with bad ratings, as some do a great job to get a higher rating, but not all.
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| PF Changs / Pork Dumplings |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
United States:
California:
European Union:
Spain:
Other Noteworthy Chinese Bistro Articles and Restaurants similar to P.F. Chang’s:
Basil Asian Bistro Pan-Asian favorites from China to Vietnam with sushi specials in Canton, Ohio
Chinatown Restaurant Classic Chinese dishes in Chinatown, San Francisco, California
Junsui An eclectic taste of Asia with buffets at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Morimoto Asia Japanese and upscale Pan-Asian fare with sushi at Disney Springs Orlando, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Tampa restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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A Few Florida Favorites:
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Contemporary Twist on American favorites
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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Vibrant Southern cuisine & BBQ
St Augustine, Florida USA
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Beachside Victorian-Style seafood restaurant
Pass-a-Grille / St Pete Beach
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give P.F. Chang’s a 0.5 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were a very basic dining experience based on what I felt was not the best quality or seen as a ‘farm to wok’ and the very bad customer service.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for P.F. Chang’s
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Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
|
9
|
8
|
1
|
Food quality
|
11
|
6
|
5
|
Plate presentation
|
10
|
8
|
2
|
Customer service
|
9
|
4
|
5
|
Alcohol and other beverages
|
10
|
6
|
4
|
Total regular points awarded
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49
|
32
|
17
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.653061224489796
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“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
Total bonus percentage
|
0
| ||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.653061224489796
| ||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
|
0.5
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
|
0.5 of 5 Stars:
65% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
A Very Basic Dining Experience
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Wine List:
| |
Wine rating:
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4 of 10
Old World selections:
Italy, Spain
New World selections:
Argentina, California, New Zealand, Oregon, Washington State
|
Corkage fees:
|
This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
|
Restaurant style:
|
Casual dining
|
Cuisine Style:
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Asian, Bistro, Chinese, Sushi
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-free, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
|
Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
|
Dress code:
|
Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops!
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Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
|
Experiences:
|
Contemporary, Modern, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem
|
Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Private lot
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Wifi
|
The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
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Smoking:
|
P.F. Chang’s is a non-smoking restaurant
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Patio or terrace:
|
No patio at the airport location
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
£
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€€
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Alcohol prices:
$35.00 USD
PF Chang’s:
Westshore Plaza
219 Westshore Plaza Tampa, FL 33609
Tampa International Airport
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
| |
Corporate Office:
Local Number:
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+1 480-888-3000
+ 1 (813) 289-8400
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Online reservations
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Website contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
|
Daily: Mon-Sun
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades for P.F. Chang’s:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
French-American Fine Dining
Yountville, California, USA
|
Elegant Modern Australian with Molecular Gastronomic
Melbourne, Australia
|
Acclaimed high-concept inspired Farm to Table tavern
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
|
Other Pictures of P.F. Chang’s:
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| PF Changs / Sushi |
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| PF Changs / Edamame |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
