Location: 225 North Main St., Urbana
Contact: (937) 652-1050
Background/Overview: Dale Tai and Carol Yu were born and raised in Taiwan. Their homeland is now officially titled The Republic of China. Many family members had relocated to the United States before Dale to open restaurants, so he knew exactly what he wanted for Carol and him. He searched for their new beginning and found Urbana to be the perfect place.
Dale and Carol soon married in the Champaign County Courthouse just across the street from the building they leased to open their new business in May of 1988. Dale loved the expression, “Spring March, April Showers, Bring May Flowers,” hence he named their new restaurant Mayflowers Chinese Restaurant.
This year marks an important milestone for the couple and Mayflowers. After leasing the space for their restaurant for more than a quarter century, they purchased the building in 2015. Their family company includes Carol’s nephew Sam, who helps with service and management. Mayflowers has always served the Hunan/Szechwan-style food the owners grew up learning how to craft. Now, they’ve added “Dale’s Gourmet Specialties,” which are an intricate integration of Chinese and American influences designed to please the palate of each guest.
The Menu
Beverages: Coffee or Pepsi-Cola products - $1.89; Beer - $2.50 Domestic/$2.95 Imported; Wines - $3.25 Glass/$16.95 Liter; Sake - $4.95.
Appetizers: Crispy Eggroll - $1.50 with meal/$2 as a meal; Crab and Shrimp Puffs (6) - $4.50; Beef Potstickers (6) - $5.95; Combination Platter (two person minimum) - $5.95.
Soups: Egg Drop Soup, Hot & Sour Soup, Wonton Soup, or Vegetable Soup - $2 with meal/$2.50 as a meal; Seafood Rice Soup (for two) - $9.95.
Beef: Beef Broccoli - $8.95; Beef Lomein - $8.95; Orange Beef - $8.95; Willow Beef - $8.95.
Chicken: Chicken Fried Rice - $8.50; Garlic Chicken - $8.50; General Tso’s Chicken - $8.95.
Pork: Mongolian Pork - $8.50; Pork Chopsuey - $8.50; Pork Chowmein - $8.50; Mushu Pork - $8.95.
Seafood: Hunan Shrimp - $8.95/$12.95; Szechwan Scallops - $9.95.
Vegetables: Green Beans or Mandarin - Mix Vegetables - $8.50.
“Dale’s Gourmet Specialties:” Tofu Vegetables - $9.50; Cinnamon Pork Loin - $9.95; Beef and Scallops - $10.95; Best Fish in America - $10.95; Salt and Pepper Calamari-$10.95; “Happy Family” is a combination of shrimp, scallops, lobster tail, and fish tempura, sautéed w/fresh vegetables in wine sauce-$19.95.
Special Sauces: Homemade Yellow Horseradish Sauce or Homemade Sweet Cherry Sauce.
Desserts: Carrotcake, Cheesecake, or Rothchild’s Raspberry Sundae-$4.95.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m.; Saturday 4:30-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-8 p.m.
More Information: Off-street parking is the only option to the entrance. A 24-hour advance reservation is asked for parties of five or more. There's seating for 70 patrons. Special orders are available upon request and those prices are determined by those orders. The restaurant will be open on Father's Day.
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