China Town Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Camdenton

Seeing that Chna Town closed in Camdenton at 9 pm, and we were in Lake Ozark, my fiancé and I hurriedly placed a substantial order at 8:25 pm... A combination order of Beef Lo Mein with white rice, a combination order of Kung Pao beef with white rice, one order of shrimp fried rice, an order of four crab rangoon, two egg rolls with extra soy sauce, and two sets of chopsticks. The kindly sounding woman on the phone seemed a bit apprehensive as I ordered so much food, so close to closing time as she asked me for reassurance that I would actually come to the restaurant and pick up the food. I surmised they have fallen prey to costly pranksters and profit loss through food waste was a concern. I told my accommodating phone hostess that since a) I like Chinese take out, a lot, and 2) I hadn't eaten all day, we would be there with time to spare. At nearly 5 till 9, I parked on the China Town's lot and strolled quickly in to find busy staff members preparing to close for the night and my hostess manning the register with a smile as she asked if I was Robert. At my affirmation, relief flooded her face as she thanked me for coming to get the order. With my stomach providing running commentary, I thanked her for preparing my delicious smelling dinner. Her smile broadened as she mildly blushed and informed me that it was her husband who cooked and not herself. We shared a chucklez she handed me my receipt, and amidst more "thank you's" from staff, I hurried out to leave them to their tasks. Now I don't know for sure if it was a hunger-driven perception, or China Town's experienced Chinese cook, but everything on our order was hot, aromatic and very tasty. At around $20/ person, we felt our expectations for good Chinese take-out he'd been met and surpassed. If I was of a mind to cast aspersions on any single aspect of the meal, it would've been a request for more peanuts in an otherwise great tasting and filling Kung Pao Beef. Thank you China Town, for a wonderful taste of oriental cooking right here at the lake. We'll return with...

Second time (after 15 years or so) for my wife and I to visit this restaurant. After hearing so much recent accolades about the food we decided to give it another try. Unfortunately, the food and service hasn't improved much since our original visit. Service was slow as before, mainly because it appeared they only had a single server. Once we did get our appetizer of pot stickers, they were barely warm at best, and served cold after our main meal was on the table. Drink refills were were non-existent unless we physically stopped and asked the hostess, bus person or tried to get the waitresses attention. As for our main meal, which was Shrimp Lo Mein, which was also served warm at best as if waiting to be delivered to our table for a long time, had little or no flavor. My wife and I shared our appetizer and main meal and still could not finish neither do to not tasting very good and being warm or even cold when they arrived. We (and noticed others too) never received our bill for the meal. Like some, we just went to where the cash register was, waited for someone to actually notice us standing there, asked if they could please tell us what we owed and then just paid so we could leave. We wish for someone to open a new quality Chinese food restaurant here at the lake so we can again enjoy this type of food without traveling to KC, Springfield, Boonville, Columbia, or Jeff City to find it.

Would not recommend...

Okay, let get real. Did you ever eat in the American Chinese Restaurants from the late 1950s and early 1960s? If you did, this is a throwback to that era.

So the short history review. The place is fantastic, time has stood still for this 54 to 64 seat restaurant. The Chinese food is straight out of the past (American Chinese) and for that time period, it was tasty, wonderful and delicious. So is this restaurant if you look back in time. the place was packed for lunch, all seats filled, parking lot was filled.

The serving plate which looks like a sliver flying saucer on a pedestal, and you take off the top, voila!!!, there is the food. I haven't seen a serving dish like that in over a quarter of a century if not over half a century.

How do I know this is a throwback, because my Dad owned and operated a Chinese American restaurant back in the late 50s an early 60s, and I worked at my dad's restaurant in to my teen years.

This restaurant is a living breathing replica of my Dad's place. The only thing different is my Dad's menu was more extensive. It included: turkey dinner, minute steak, french fries, roast chicken as well as "Chinese Food"

Thumbs up for a piece of Chinese Americana History. Don't expect today's Chinese food in...