Entertainment | Dining Guide | Jade
Jade Chinese Restaurant, Abbey End, Kenilworth
BEING situated in Kenilworth’s notoriously drab ‘Shabby End’ does not seem to have a negative effect on the popularity of this establishment.
There were so many people crammed into the tiny rectangular dining area. In fact, it was so packed it gave the restaurant the ambience of a railway station cafe.
This was further exacerbated by the countless bodies popping in to collect pre-ordered take-aways, the counter for which also served as the restaurant’s bar.
First impressions last, and just as we were seated at a table just inches away from the next party of diners, a member of staff began a full-blown argument with a dissatisfied take-away customer.
Those already seated tried to ignore the finger-pointing and raised voices, but it was clear my partner and I were not the only ones left feeling uncomfortable and uneasy.
All this before we had even browsed the menu.
I chose the chicken and noodle soup, which would not have been my first choice, but when I saw the chicken satay was £9, I was immediately put off my first choice. The soup was about £4 - a much more reasonable price for a starter.
My partner went for the yuk shung, which we shared and agreed was quite satisfactory but not the best we had sampled.
The main courses looked enormous and smelt delicious - but for me, this was as good as it got.
Perhaps I had made a mistake by going for something as unadventurous as saute chicken with waterchestnuts and bamboo shoots, but it was no better than an average Thursday-night-in takeaway. Except for the price, which left little change from £10.
A mid-price bottle of white wine cost about £14.
However, my dining companion went for the duck in plum sauce. Knowing how difficult it is to cook duck just right, he was very pleased with the result. After tasting his dish, my opinion of the restaurant did improve, but I still found it a little over-priced for a casual, informal dining experience such as this.
Desserts were 1980s favourite the banana split and some mouth-watering coconut ice-cream.
The whole meal, including wine, came to more than £60, which was just too much for a rather mediocre meal in somewhat bland surroundings.
Maybe Jade’s loyal customers (and it clearly does have some) will disagree, but it would do better to focus on the thing it appears to do best - takeaways.
Our rating: 2/5 (Reviewed October 2001)
