Will MONGOLIAN BEEF help revive the North Trail? 
a commentary & restaurant review by LeslieSRQ




If you have been in Sarasota for any length of time, you know that the North Trail (N. Tamiami/41) has seen its share of challenges!!  

At one time, this part of Sarasota was what you would refer to as the 'main drag'.   North Tamiami Trail was virtually the 'Street of Tourism'!  As a visitor, you flew into the SRQ Airport, got in a car and embarked on your TOUR of Sarasota starting on the North Trail!  Sarasota ALWAYS makes an excellent '1st impression' to our visitors.  

Shortly after embarking South on the trail, visitors are treated to the 'grandeur' of the RINGLING Art Museum! Back in Sarasota's Hay

Ringling Museum of Art

Day", the RINGLING name was a significant draw for visitors!!  Other Florida cities had “BEACHES”, but Sarasota had the CIRCUS!!
Speaking of the Circus, you would also pass by the "Circus Hall of Fame" where a big CIRCUS Wagon was on display in a large glass building.

Circus Hall of Fame

If you were driving, you had barely gone a mile and already Sarasota was living up to its promise of "Stardust, Spangles & Dreams"!

Continuing south, you would more than likely be heading to one of the many little “Mom & Pop” motels that dotted the trail.  Many of these motels exist today and very few look any different than they did when they were first built!  One can only assume, these small, independent motels are ‘eeking’ out a living.

Allamanda Motel

Continuing south a short distance, Sarasota's Main Street is just a left turn.  There was a brief time when this area ALSO declined.   I  am happy to report that it currently has been lovingly and creatively restored to its former glory!  

Continue south and literally find yourself at Marina Jack which has just continued to get

Marina Jack (earlier days)

better and better over the years!  Marina Jack was and still is kind of the 'demarcation' point of where the N. Trail ends.

Make a right before you get to Marina Jack and you find yourself navigating bridges to Sarasota's holy grail "Lido Beach".

SO.......what happened to the North Trail?  It breaks my heart when I see the buildings in disrepair and the businesses that now are vacant and abandoned!  Furthermore, from a purely business marketing sense, why doesn't Sarasota recognize that the North Trail is STILL the 'gateway' to the riches of Sarasota?  It certainly does not bode well for our community when our visitors arrive and their 1st introduction to Sarasota is a street that is paved with "LOST DREAMS"! 

OK,  this article is not written to invite a debate about this (maybe another time), but rather about HOPE!!  

I was heading back from IBE Barter (a viable business on the North Trail) and realized that I had not eaten lunch yet!  I had heard about a new restaurant called “the YUMMY House” (3232 N. Tamiami Trail) and was pleased to find myself driving by it while heading back north on

YUMMY House

the trail.

It was relatively early (about 11:30 a.m.) but the restaurant was already filling up.  I was immediately greeted when I entered and promptly escorted to my table.  When I looked around at my surroundings, I had to immediately grab my camera and get up from my chair!  

The décor was tastefully & beautifully done!  The bar in the front side of the restaurant looked like something out of an ‘upscale nightclub’!

bar/kitchen @ YUMMY House

Hunger prevailing, I returned to my table to review the lunch menu.  The Yummy House is Chinese cuisine and the requisite ‘chop sticks’ had been placed on my table.  What I did NOT find was the usual little condiment ‘cart’ of plastic pouched sweet & sour and a bottle of Soy Sauce!!  The YUMMY House is proud to present themselves as an ‘Authentic Chinese Cuisine’ establishment, so this did not surprise me. 

There were some nice ‘surprises’ on the lunch menu but also some familiar selections such as ‘Sweet & Sour Chicken’.  When I saw the lunch ‘prices’………..I thought this has got to be one of the BEST deals in town!!  Prices ranged from $6.99 - $8.99 and INCLUDED Jasmine Rice and a beverage.  

 I’m not going to pretend to have much ‘expertise’ when it comes to Chinese cuisine (in fact, I confess I use a fork and have a tendency to order the ‘tried & true’).   However, I was intrigued when I glanced at their regular (and very extensive) menu!!  Two things in particular caught my attention:  “Clay Pot entrees” and

Mongolian Beef

“Salt & Pepper" prepared entrees.  While my vivid imagination conjured up images of these items, I refocused back on lunch and ordered the “Mongolian Beef” (beef w/Crown Broccoli in an Oyster Brown Sauce).

My dish was placed in front of me and I immediately liked the way it was presented!  Two (2) mounds of fluffy Jasmine Rice were placed to one side.  So often Chinese food is presented in such a way that all the components are on top of each other!  The beef portion had its own ‘place on the plate’ and I found that pleasing!!!  Not too spicy but definitely NOT bland, the dish was perfectly seasoned.  The broccoli ‘crowns’ were cooked perfectly, the beef was tender and the portion was generous!


SO………will the “YUMMY House” help revive the North Trail?  We certainly hope so!!

NOTE:  There are, indeed, some viable & thriving businesses on the N. Trail.  Notably among them is McCurdy's Comedy.