CUAISRITNE
AUTHENTIC ASIAN CUISINE
Ivory Chinese Bistro
By Margaret Word Burnside and Aaron R. Fodiman
Photography by Gram
The Honey Walnut Shrimp with broccoli is one of the dishes
that we always like to order at the Ivory Chinese Bistro.
MARCH/APRIL 2017 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 171
We once knew this
conveniently located
restaurant as the Ivory
Mandarin and consistently
enjoyed dining there. The new name did
not change a thing. The food, atmosphere
and service is still first-rate, and the menu
continues to offer our favorite selections.
Even the prices seem to be exactly what we
remembered, which makes eating here one
of the most economical fine dining choices
you can make in the Tampa Bay area.
In addition to a full array of appetizers
that includes a number of Salt and Pepper
Mix-Fresh items (green onion, cilantro,
roasted garlic and minced chili) with
seafood or chicken, there are standards
such as crab rangoon, egg rolls, seaweed
salad and wasabi shrimp that are meals
within themselves.
The soup offerings vary from egg drop
and wonton to hot and sour seafood and
chicken corn, among others. There is
rice and an egg roll or a cup of wonton, egg
drop or hot and sour soup for less than $7.
You can order most of these combination
plates for about $10 during dinner. These
are unbelievable bargains whenever you
order them. The restaurant’s dishes can
be eaten in their large comfortable dining
room or ordered to go, for takeout.
There was a time when it seemed as if
quality Chinese restaurants were overly
abundant in the Tampa Bay area. That
has changed over the years, and we were
happy to find a top quality Chinese
restaurant that reminds us why we grew
up loving such tastes while sharing food
and friendship in a pleasant atmosphere. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ivory Chinese Bistro is at
2192 Main Street (State Road 580) in Dunedin,
just west of Belcher Road, (727) 734-3998.
They are open seven days a week.
a variety of barbecued duck, pork and
chicken preparations, such as crispy
honey glazed and Hong Kong style. The
27 seafood dishes range from shrimp with
lobster sauce to grouper with asparagus
garlic sauce. Chicken is prepared in
18 different ways from General Tso’s to
Kung Po. More than 20 beef dishes are
offered from spicy Hunan to beef with
curry sauce, along with pork dishes and
vegetable offerings such as string bean
with garlic and braised tofu. In addition,
there are rice and noodle selections in a
wide variety of styles and flavors.
A special section of the menu features
Clay Pots and Sizzling Plates, such as
beef short ribs with asparagus and Eight
Treasures Pot. Each one is a gourmet
delight.
Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and
includes a luncheon special of combination
platters that include many of Ivory’s most
popular dishes with jasmine rice or fried