Steaming Pots West Africa Cuisine — Restaurant in Tampa

Substandard restaurants serve food, exceptional establishments provide not only a meal, but an EXPERIENCE. I am new to Tampa and wanted to take advantage of the fact that this city is a cultural melting pot. I have never tried West African food or any African food for that matter, but was excited because I finally had an opportunity. A quick google search led me to Steaming Pots. There was no website and not many reviews. This ambiguity compelled me to embark on a quest to not only satisfy my hunger, but also to uncover the truth about this mysterious place. I arrived at the location and as soon as I entered the restaurant, I was greeted by Miriam (one of their many fantastic employees) with a warm smile and a vibrant hello. Before even asking for my order she looked me in the eye and asked how I was doing, and how my day had been. We began having an engaging conversation before I remembered why I had come in the first place. I informed her that it was my first time and asked if she could give me a recommendation. She patiently asked me what I liked, if I had any dietary restrictions, and so on. I decided to get the peanut soup as well as some of the desserts that are called puff-puff. She showed me to the dining area that had a very peaceful and stylish ambiance, Hard wood floors, tables, and chairs, dark stained paneling, and tasteful artwork with personality and sophistication. I was taking in my surroundings when Miriam arrived and brought me my food with a flourish. She carefully placed my food on the table and asked if there was anything else I needed to make my experience more enjoyable. I smiled and told her I was alright and proceeded to get her out of my hair because at this rate the compelling smell of the dish was filling me with conviction! I started with the puff-puff. It was a light round, yet dense ball of fried dough. It was a rich brown in color, and I was captivated to try it. I bit into it and my mouth was flooded with a sweet yet subtle flavor. The dough was chewy and stretchy, yet melted in my mouth with ease. Two bites. That’s all it took ha ha. It was the perfect dessert for me as I am not a huge sweets person, but the mild flavor was just right. Now, it was time for the meal in question, the peanut soup. I was looking forward to trying fufu, but when it came to a soup made with peanuts, I was a bit skeptical. Yet, I had faith in Miriam/s recommendation. I tried the fufu first by itself. I formed it into a ball and popped it into my mouth. It was easy to swallow and had an unobtrusive flavor that served as a good base. I tried to broth alone first. My mouth was instantly wrap;ped in a deep, rich, and mildly sweet flavor, the peanut butter taste was definitely different but flawlessly executed. It was earthy, and I could taste faint undertones of different spices that were unfamiliar but undoubtedly delicious. The consistency was thick, but went down very smoothly. I tried a bit with the fufu and together these two foods melded seamlessly. The peanut soup coated the fufu and it took on the flavor of the soup with ease. I began to hack away at my portion and soon realized I had not tried any of the protein. I decided on goat because I had never had it before. It was cooked perfectly and it was saturated with the flavor of the soup. It was roasted to perfection, tender, succulent, and fell off the bone. When the fufu, soup, and goat joined forces, they were a force to be reckoned with. My meal was gone before I knew it. And I sat there full, content, and honestly grateful to be introduced to a new culture and cuisine. I almost went to sleep in my chair. That is the only aspect of this restaurant I would caution someone about. This food can put you to sleep!! I definitely will be returning to Steaming Pots, not only for a meal, but for an undeniably enjoyable experience. I hope...

My husband and I drove 40 minutes to come and try West African food SPECIFICALLY from Steaming Pots and it did NOT disappoint! We saw reviews and Tik Toks of people eating at steaming pots in Tampa and we finally decided it was time to try the infamous Fufu and Egusi. From the moment you walk in you are greeted with open arms, our server was Jen and she was absolutely amazing. She was informative and brought out samples of all the soups they offer for us to try (apart from the pepper soup, if it gets on their hands it's impossible to get the spice off so if you love hot food get the pepper soup!) My husband loved all of them but his heart was set on the Egusi soup with goat. Me on the other hand I was stuck on EVERYTHING! I loved all of them so Jen said they offer a 50/50 so you can try 2 soups for only 3 dollars more, how could I resist? So, I got the Peanut soup and Efo Rio with goat. After I did a split soup my husband changed his mind and added Banga soup with his order which he LOVED! I had the hibiscus drink; it was refreshing, sweet, tart, and just the perfect drink to have with dinner. My husband got the mango juice, it was fresh and slightly sweet. Julie brought our meals out to us and made sure everything was to our liking. She was very kind and truly wants to make sure your dining experience is enjoyable. My husband devoured his food he was over the moon about it and completely satisfied. I loved every bite of my food and im sure I'll love the left overs just as much later. Jen was so funny and attentive she even gave my husband a sample of authentic spicy Jollof rice which isn't normally on the menu (Jollof rice is supposed to be spicy normally but most cant handle spice so they tone it down a bit so it can be enjoyed by everyone) he usually doesn't like rice but he loved it, I tried a little and MAN I can't take the heat but the flavor was amazing. Every Sunday they do a buffet. There's food options that aren't on the menu like the spicy jollof rice 😉 if we didn't live so far away we'd be back tomorrow for the buffet to try more! All I can end this with is Steaming pots is a wonderful place to get West African cuisine and the people they hire are just as amazing as their food. You can feel and taste the love in that building. Thank you to everyone at Steaming Pots for opening those doors and sharing your food, culture, and hospitality to Tampa and the...

I heard about this spot from several friends and seen reviews on Instagram, so I couldn't wait to try it and I'm so glad I finally did! I had no idea what to order, except that I wanted to try Fufu. Upon entering we were greeted with friendly smiles by the staff. Once we mentioned that this was our first time the lady behind the counter gave us an overview of the dishes. Eli, a teenager and one of the staff members, took us around on a little tour, to see the lounge and also the patio, which both are beautiful! He took his time and asked what kind of food we liked or didn't like and gave us suggestions. He explained what his favorite dishes were and why they were his favorite. He patiently answered our many questions about, ingredients, texture, etc all while smiling genuinely. He left a great impression on us! We ended up ordering the Egusi with Beef and Jollof Rice with Fried Turkey and also some Puf Pufs to share. We loved each and everything he suggested, and it was actually too much food to eat there, so we had a nice portion left over. The Egusi and Fufu was an experience to eat with our fingers. While the Fufu has no taste really, toether with the Egusi everything was so flavorful and seasoned. Eli explained that it's cooked with fish stock (I think) to add flavor and he was right, it gave it an amazing flavor. The Turkey wings were fried and seasoned perfectly, with a crunchy skin and tender juicy meat. The Jollof rice, was my favorite. It had a tomato base and together with the fresh sauteed peppers and onions, it was simply delicious. The side salad was a fresh addition to the plate. Lastly, we tried the PufPuf, which were nice and fluffy and not too sweet. However, we were so full we could barely take one bite. All in all, I loved the entire experience, the establishment, the staff, the food, the vibes (Afrobeats playing in the background) as well as the beautiful decor! I will...