<b>By Pamela Brownstein</b>

The appeal of the Chinese buffet at Jade Garden lies in the sheer variety of food available to hungry diners. The Lunch Bunch was eager to join the bustling crowd last week at the restaurant on Boundary Street.

[caption id="attachment_18530" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-18530" alt="Coconut shrimp appetizer" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-2-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Coconut shrimp appetizer[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_18528" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-3-e1409835363741.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-18528" alt="Crawfish appetizer" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/photo-3-e1409835363741-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> Crawfish appetizer[/caption]

Truly, the buffet offers such a selection — from sushi to stir fry to fried bananas — there is something for everyone. And the glory of it is that you can return as many times as you like to fill up your plate and try something new.

With so many choices, we each tried to narrow down our favorite dishes.

The crawfish appetizer was a plate piled high with the red crustaceans. Laura, who had never tried crawfish before, said they were delicious.

Elizabeth said her favorite is always the Crab Rangoon. She also liked the crunchy garlic green beans.

Nikki thought the Fried Flounder appetizer was really good, and she was also a fan of the clams at the buffet.

Kim Turner declared the rice noodles were fabulous as well as the mushrooms in a surprising sweet sauce.

[caption id="attachment_18529" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/DSC_0053.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-18529" alt="A plate from the buffet filled with garlic green beans, an egg roll, chicken and broccoli, rice noodles and sushi." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/DSC_0053-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" /></a> A plate from the buffet filled with garlic green beans, an egg roll, chicken and broccoli, rice noodles and sushi.[/caption]

I enjoyed the Coconut Shrimp appetizer, the variety of sushi rolls and the shrimp and broccoli.

The warm sugar donuts received rave reviews as the top pick for dessert by everyone, even baby Selah.

We also got a kick out of our fortunes, some were either funny or a little bizarre. Laura’s had one word on it: “Relationships,” which she jokingly took to be a foreboding sign. Then Irene’s fortune was pretty much the best one I’ve ever heard: “As you slide down the banister of life, make sure the splinters don’t point your way.” Words to live by! We all thought it was hilarious. Reading fortune cookies is always a great way to end a delicious meal.

Jade Garden is located at 2317 Boundary Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902. Open for lunch and dinner, takeout available. Call 843-522-8883.

[caption id="attachment_18531" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/DSC_0054.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-18531" alt="A plate from the buffet with vegetables, clams, and lo mein noodles." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/DSC_0054-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> A plate from the buffet with vegetables, clams, and lo mein noodles.[/caption]

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