Jade Café, 129 Church Avenue, Florence, CO 81226 (719) 784-3888 . Hours: 11 am – 9 pm every day
If you live in a town of over 3,500 in Colorado, chances are you’ve got a Chinese restaurant somewhere nearby. Salida’s got one, Buena Vista has two, as do Gunnison and Alamosa. Leadville may well lay claim to being the highest city in the U.S. where one can order moo goo gai pan. Florence, Colorado, population 3,881, is no exception. The Jade Cafe, just west of downtown, has been in business for fourteen years and is operated by the Youhuan Xiang family.
Being that this reviewer makes a least one visit to San Francisco every year, where one can find some of the finest Asian food in the country, I approach a review of a small-town Colorado Asian eatery with a grain of rice – er – salt. Some border on the barely edible, while others serve up pretty much the standard Fried Rice and Szechuan Beef dishes. The Jade Café has both of these, of course; but having dined there on multiple occasions, this reviewer gives it a thumbs up, not only for the quality of food but for the service as well.
From the outside, the green, one-story building sort of resembles a 1950s diner, which it very well may have been at one time. Inside, the decor can only be described as Shanghai mishmash, clean and efficient but lacking ambience. I have yet to hear any Far Eastern Muzak emanating from tinny speakers embedded in the ceiling – only the hustle and bustle of a busy restaurant. The food, on the other hand, is tasty, fresh and very reasonably priced. Lunch specials run from $4.95 to $5.95 and include either Wonton, Egg Drop or Hot and Sour Soup, plus an Eggroll, and Steamed or Fried Rice. Lunch selection vary from Szechuan Tofu for the non-carnivores to Shrimp with Lobster Sauce. I’m a big fan of Hot and Sour Soup and give the Jade’s four out of five stars. Most of the dinner dishes are priced under $10 and include exotic Chef’s Specials such as the Jade Cafe Special Scallops, Beef and Scallops on Sizzling Hot Plate, and Triple Delight with Tofu Hot Pot. Family meals are also available, which include soup, appetizers, rice and main courses. I’m also a big fan of Chinese duck and there are four duck dishes offered on the menu, although this reviewer has not yet tried one.
The next time you are in Florence, whether to do some antique shopping or to visit an incarcerated relative, make sure and stop by the Jade Café. It’s not Chinatown, but it is pretty darned good for the lower Arkansas River valley.
