THE EATBEAT: Don’t let China Moon’s no-frills service keep you away

• Marilyn Hagerty

Marilyn Hagerty

Talk about it

CROOKSTON —- We took the 22-mile drive from Grand Forks to here and found China Moon at 114 S. Broadway in the main shopping area.

It was a Saturday evening, and we had plenty of time. So, we seated ourselves at one of several empty tables and waited — and waited. Finally, a man who seemed to be a steady customer came over to our table. He gently pointed out that you wait on yourself at China Moon.

I was with Mary Glessner (MG) and Tammy Howard (TH) who are Eatbeat buddies. We laughed about our sitting and waiting as we went up to the counter and paid $7.50 for dinner plus 80 cents for a beverage. Somehow, for me, Chinese food calls for a cola rather than tea.

Then, we began to explore the vast array of Chinese foods that was waiting on a buffet table.

I have always marveled over the number of choices on Chinese restaurant menus. On the one at China Moon, there are 148 along with another 25 special combination plates.

The buffet doesn’t have that many choices, but it was an adventure. There were appetizers including egg rolls, wontons, dumplings and fried chicken wings. A creamed cheese wonton was probably the best I have ever eaten. It was put together so well with a thin crust. The broccoli featured with white rice and chicken, shrimp, beef or pork was done to perfection. All too often broccoli is done too little or too much. MG and I agreed that somehow the cooks at China Moon have it just right.

Chopsticks are available. I like to use them in my own inept fashion.

We enjoyed sampling and picking and choosing. It’s a place where there are no frills, just pretty good food. The dishes awaiting customers seem fresh with the food crisp. And that probably is why it has withstood the test of time in downtown Crookston.

There are several versions of chow mein and chop suey, which are really more American than Chinese. But the food is authentic with choices of pork, beef, seafood, chicken. There’s lo mein and egg foo yung along with sweet and sour choices.

China Moon’s menu also has Cantonese dishes such as lemon chicken and shrimp with cashew nuts. There are hot and spicy dishes. And there are special combination plates with the main dish, fried rice and egg roll for $6.75.

The prices are very reasonable in these times. And they attract a steady following.

The restaurant itself is large. There are booths and tables. There is nobody tending the tables, and our table had not been thoroughly wiped off. We also found the unisex restroom adequate, though not inviting.

We noticed China Moon was doing a fair amount of carry-out business. We enjoyed the food, and TH said she could see coming in from the nearby lakes for a meal here.

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