Oriental Hut

Perhaps the best thing about this restaurant is its consistency. The buffet is invariably the same dishes and the same quality — excellent. I always eat there when I visit Mountain Grove, which is about every other month, and I’ve been eating there for about 12 years so far. I’ve never been disappointed. There is always fried fish and it isn’t catfish, thank goodness. Always green beans too. These are my favorites, along with the egg drop soup, which is thick, flavorful and loaded with vegetables.
The rest of the buffet is also very good, with about a dozen additional hot dishes, a more than adequate salad bar, and usually a baked dessert such as banana bread. The lo mein is nicely done. There’s always tempura vegetables and quite a few chicken dishes.
The place is clean and the staff attentive. Prices are not too high. I don’t know of any other restaurant in Mountain Grove where I wouldn’t hesitate to eat at any time. The only reason I don’t assign five stars is that it’s missing a few elements that I always look for in an oriental eatery. These items include complimentary hot tea, the use of real oriental greens and bean sprouts in at least some of the dishes, chopsticks on the table, and shrimp somewhere on the buffet every day.