Sarasota’s North Trail dim sum spot now open, and the news is good, very good
June 10th, 2009 by Cooper Levey-Baker in Editor's Desk, Food and Drink, News, Sarasota-Manatee
On April 17, we posted a brief news item about construction underway at the site of a long-since-closed Kentucky Fried Chicken on North Tamiami Trail. The remodeling was newsworthy for only one reason: the massive fabric sign covering the old KFC marquee that read, “COMING SOON: CHINESE DIM SUM RESTAURANT.” Dim sum? In Sarasota? I was so enamored of the possibility I a) very nearly swerved into ongoing traffic, and b) immediately reached for the camera to snap a photo of the sign, to reassure myself it was real, and not some cruel mirage.
Well, I ate at the spot last night, as soon as the neon “OPEN” sign started broadcasting, and the news is good, very good. Gold Dynasty may not match the dim sum presented by Bradenton’s Lucky Star (which our very own Brian Ries recently christened the best Chinese on the Suncoast), but Dynasty definitely knows how to sling some siu mai and steamed buns, and its rice paste might actually top that found at Lucky Star.
Sadly, the creativity at Gold Dynasty doesn’t extend much past the dim sum menu. Unlike Lucky Star, the restaurant’s main dish menu features the same ol’ same ol’ you’ve come to expect at Suncoast Chinese spots, without a trace of XO sauce to be found. Still, when you want dim sum, and you don’t want to cruise all the way to Cortez Road, Gold Dynasty’ll scratch that itch.
June 13th, 2009 at 8:38 am
The non dim sum items may be same ol’ same ol”, but what we have had has been damn good.
Last night, son David and I shared Singapore Egg noodles with pork, chicken and shrimp and the Seaood Delight — shrimp, scallops, squid and various fresh, crunchy veggies served on sizzling platter. Both were excellent.
We have both lived in San Francisco and New York many years, and it is a real joy to finally have really good Chinese in Sarasota.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
[...] — Gold Dynasty serves some solid North Trail dim sum. [...]
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:48 am
I agree with John Lucas – non -dim sum items we ordered were delicious (beef with broccoli and beef lo mein). Finally – good Chinese in Sarasota! The dim sum are GREAT – potstickers and steamed shrimp and pork buns BETTER than either TC Choy in Tampa or Ha Long Bay in Pinellas Park. Prices great, service good and friendly and dim sum available all day! Wonderful! Crying happy over this – and the restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. EVERY DAY!