LaMeiZi Hot Pot & BBQ 辣妹子火锅烧烤 — Restaurant in Tampa

LaMeiZi Hot Pot & BBQ, conveniently located near the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL, provides an accessible dining experience with plenty of free parking. The restaurant's all-you-can-eat Hot Pot and BBQ offering, priced at around $50 per person, showcases a delightful array of flavors and ingredients to cater to diverse tastes and preferences.

The quality of ingredients is commendable, with a diverse selection of fresh vegetables and meats available for both the hotpot and BBQ options. The flavors, while generally satisfactory, can vary between dishes. The option to combine hotpot and BBQ creates a versatile dining experience that accommodates different palates and preferences.

Indoor seating is comfortable, offering a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. However, it's worth noting that for larger groups of more than 5 people, seating can be somewhat tight, which may impact the overall comfort of the dining experience. Despite this, the restaurant's commitment to cleanliness and organization ensures a pleasant dining environment.

The staff members are attentive, friendly, and hospitable, contributing to a pleasant and accommodating dining experience. It's important to be aware that for larger groups, an automatic gratuity is included in the bill.

While the sushi options are somewhat limited, the diverse menu compensates with a variety of other dishes, including a range of fresh vegetables, fruits, and dessert selections. Additionally, the availability of alcoholic beverages enhances the overall dining experience, making it suitable for those seeking a comprehensive dining experience.

The relatively recent opening of LaMeiZi Hot Pot & BBQ is evident in its well-maintained premises and the enthusiasm of its staff. Overall, the restaurant is recommended for individuals and smaller groups looking to indulge in an all-you-can-eat hotpot and BBQ meal in Tampa, especially for those who prioritize quality ingredients, friendly service, and a welcoming environment, with the caveat that larger groups may find seating...

I will say, even though the reviews are good I felt like from reading the Google reviews, I did not know what to expect and I was a little hesitant coming here as I could not see all the food options. I was pleasantly surprised. This was unique that their hot pot bowls were sunken in the table, I never saw that before. It made it soooooo much easier to get the food out. They did have a good selection of food. Some unique things that I never saw before like black tripe, beef throat and some other things. For an adventurous eater, this was totally worth it.

Things they did well: • The servers were extremely knowledgeable. They wanted for you to have the best experience and they were extremely attentive but not overbearing. • The food selection was fresh. The whole time they put new things out and were cleaning out the wilted greens. It was definitely appreciate. •*I will note is that it was busy, there were many occasions where food was empty in the buffet style. We had to wait 10-15 minutes sometimes to get what we want. For the price of not having to wait for food, we think it was worth it

Things we did not like: • If one person had the hot pot, they charge everyone. I understand that it's for assurance purposes, but we did not like this as we would not have dishonored the rule if only one person had to pay. • Some of the meats did not seem fresh. The Squid was rock hard and it was quite disappointing

If you come here: • There was a decent wait when we left. We got in at 630 on a Sunday with no issues. They only do reservations that are over 8 people. • If you don't love seafood, this probably isn't for you. We have been to many different hot pots before, this one by far had the most limited amount of true hot pot meat we have ever seen. Yes there is something for everyone, but still. If you do Korean BBQ (which we did not) they had the most amount of meat I have ever seen. Which was kind of crazy to believe.

If you are gluten free, the only broth you can have is the pork bone. It was good but I would have liked...

This isn’t the first hot pot & bbq I’ve been to, but this was my first visit to this location and it was a disappointing experience. To start, there was no explanation how the hot pot works. At other locations, the first thing they ask if are you new and explain the menu, the different bases for the hot pot, etc. If I was a first timer to a hot pot that could be very confusing for new customers.

Then once you go to the food station, there’s no structure of where to start and it’s a large rectangle food station. The lack of structure can feel chaotic when there’s a lot of people like it was during my visit. There were too many people at the station at the same time and the line was going in two different directions at the same time. Overwhelming compared to other dining experiences at hot pots.

The food was okay not the best I’ve had, but it’s good especially if this is your first time to a hot pot & bbq. However, my table had water and the water was NOT CLEAN. There were floaters in the water and we asked them to change it twice. Everyone in my party had water with floaters. You wouldn’t notice it unless you took your straw or some other utensil to stir the water before you drank it. Thankfully, my sister just happened to stir her water which is how we saw the floaters in the water. It should not take multiple glasses of water to get a clean glass. Separately, if you choose to do the bbq they don’t change out the paper you use to cook. At other locations, this is something they monitor and switch during the meal so you are not cooking your food over burnt crumbs that may break off during cooking.

As far as atmosphere, they did have some nice music which made it a somewhat of an enjoyable dining experience. The music and the food are the only reasons why I gave this place 2 stars. My family and I collectively agreed we will not be returning. I hope they make some adjustments cause they got some competition on the same street so a dining experience here should be flawless for...