Holding true to its all-encompassing name, the Oriental Cafe offers a variety of Chinese, Japanese, and Thai dishes as well as a full sushi bar. Sandwiched between Chuck E. Cheese’s and Food Lion, the locale does not create a romantic ambience for the restaurant. Once the door opens, however, and the sounds of soft jazz and a small, elegant waterfall enter your ears, previous misconceptions disappear.

Traditional oriental decor characterizes the interior design, with large stained-glass overhead and paper lamps that gracefully light the tables along the walls. A red, silken kimono embellishes the slightly elevated section of tables to the left. The booths and tables are each adorned with a glass vase of lucky bamboo. The chef behind the bar carefully prepares brilliantly colorful Chirashi, Unagi Don, and Kappa Maki to place on the Japanese sushi boat ready to sail to the lucky consumer.

The staff smiles in dressy-casual attire to greet the customers, taking drink orders, which may be selected from the house wines and Japanese sake at $3.75 a glass, Japanese beers such as Asani, and even specialty drinks, such as a Mai Tai or the “Suffering Bastard” for around $6.00. A quick glance over the menu, sub-divided into Chinese, Thai, and Japanese cuisine, reveals that only vegetable oil is used in their meal preparations.

For those connoisseurs who desire a meal that includes an appetizer or a soup before the entree, the menu begins with Egg Rolls, Barbecued Beef, and Steamed or Fried Dumplings, all for around $5.00. The soups range from Wonton to Egg Drop to Bean Curd and Vegetable, with prices for one at $1.50 and for two at $5.25, in case customers care to split a soup with that special someone across the table.

From the Chinese portion, there are options for Cantonese classics such as a fried rice dish prepared with small peas and a choice of pork, chicken, beef or shrimp. The more expensive Chef’s Specials include the $10.95 “Fruit Chicken” and most expensive $13.95 “Volcano Steak,” in addition to others.

The Thai Cuisine boasts a section where you may create your own combination, or choose one of their options. The “Sweet and Sour Chicken Thai Style” is thinly sliced pieces of white meat chicken drenched in a burnt orange sweet and sour sauce mixed with fresh zucchini, onions, peppers, tomatoes and pineapple chunks for $8.95. In the corner of the square white plate, the presentation contains a beautifully constructed flower made of the pale flesh of radishes bound by two toothpicks, arguably making the plate a work of art. In an Asian rice bowl, the server places a small pilaf of white rice to accompany each entree.

The Japanese section contains an extensive sushi menu with various entrees and a la carte rolls, ranging in price from $1.25 to $5.25 for a la carte items and from $8.95 to $45 for the entrees. Of particular interest to many young daters out there is the “Love Boat for Two,” which offers 8 pieces, 2 rolls and 20 pieces of sashimi for $33.95. These can be ordered sitting at the table, but seats at the sushi bar would satisfy the sushi fan even more so because they can observe the chef’s keen abilities from less than one foot away.

The dessert options are scarce, but the meals hardly leave room for them anyway. The choices are Fried Banana, Fried Ice Cream, Coconut Cake, and Ice Cream, all priced under $4.00.

The Lunch Menu is served Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with different lunch specials on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.. The menu offers many options under $8.00, including Bento boxes, the Japanese meal on the go.

With a trip to the Oriental Cafe, not only will you leave full of bursting-with-flavor food, but also with money in your pocket. Lunch for two can easily cost under $20.00 and a full dinner could remain under $30.00. An excursion to this restaurant is one you do not want to miss.