Red Flower — Restaurant in Big Stone Gap

I was in town, visiting family when we decided to stop in to have dinner together. I had never eaten at the Red Flower Chinese Restaurant before but the family had and had never had any issues before. We arrived two hours before closing with the intentions of eating the buffet. We went in and had to seat our selves. A minute later, our server came and took our drink order and then walked off to fill it. We then went to the buffet to get a plate of food. They were low on plates, having only a couple left and had an odd mix of metal and plastic silverware. As we proceeded to move along the buffet it was quite noticeable how bare it was. Most pans were either empty, near empty, or had been sitting there for some time.

This was fine at first as we assumed that the cooks were working on fixing more. However... this ended up not being the case at all. More customers came in, intending to partake in the buffet and were promptly informed that the buffet was closed... an hour and a half before close and that they could only order from the take out menu. There were no signs stating this nor were we told this as we had our drink order taken. We were allowed to assume that the buffet was open and being refilled.

there was only one pan that was refilled and sadly... it didn't last long as there were several families eating at the location. None in my family ate more than a small handful of food and still paid full price for the buffet. The food was good for what it was... but I've had better at most any other restaurants of similar types. Nothing special and not something that would draw me back in for more.

Our server was not seen often though when she did come by she made sure to make sure that we had plenty to drink. This place definitely needs to take a look at how they're running their business. Get rid of the buffet if you can't keep it filled with variety. Focus on take out. I do not recommend this place nor will we be back. We had to go to another restaurant afterward to actually get something to eat after leaving...

This is a great little hole in the wall place. I have eaten at Chinese buffets from coast to coast and have never found any that can compare. The food is pretty basic and the menu is limited, but IT IS GOOD. The sweet and sour chicken is like no other sweet and sour, as is the rice, four season, egg rolls, etc. They also have a sweet jalepeno chicken dish that I haven't found anywhere else. The lunch buffet runs about $6 + a drink, $8 for dinner. I travel a lot for work, and it's always a must to drive 50 miles to eat at The Red Flower when I get home. No, it' probably not authentic, they serve the same thing all the time, but that's what I love about it. They have really got a good thing going and I don't want it to change. My family and I have been eating here for years. It's also clean. They wash out the buffet every night, the bathrooms are clean too. I've never been disapointed here and don't expect to ever be.

No, Gary Clark, you are the shill from the other buffet in Norton, which is average at best. I honestly can't see how you came up with...

It was a very run of the mill, small town Chinese restraunt. The servers do not sit you, nor do they bring your silverware. They literally pay a girl to bring you drinks, and that's it. On my visit, she had a hard time with even that. The buffett is one single bar, and all the food is mediocre Americanized Asian fare. Nothing really stood out as being particularly good, but it also means nothing stood out as being particularly awful either. But word of advice, never go here later in the evening expecting a buffett. You aren't in a city anymore. Not the worst small town Chinese restraunt, but not the best. Firmly in the luke warm middle, and worth the stop if your in town because your options for the area are...