Kitchen - Wagamama Flinders Lane
i like this photo :)
i should have removed the condiments from view before taking this shot though...
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David, Kenny and I ended up at Wagamama after walking past Mini (menu didn't look great), Cecconi (mains from AUD40!), Kura (empty), and even Yu-U (no reservations, no chance).
Julia and I had been introduced to Wagamama when we were in London quite a few years ago. We quite liked the buzzy canteen feel to it, but the food, while good, wasn't that authentic Japanese. There is nowhere in the world you can get ramen, especially Kyushu-style milky-white pork bone soup that defines tonkotsu ramen. It was with this expectation that us boys walked in.
The decor was modern and tres chic. I loved the open airy spaces afforded by the high ceilings which was given further emphasis by the long cylindrical shiny metal lamps. David remarked that, had it been a Chinese operation, they would have added a mezzanine floor to increase seating area! Kenny wondered what the turnover would need to be to sustain the business given the location and ambience. We all agreed that Wagamama probably did quite well during lunch, where busy business types breezed in and out after a decent serve of food.
Our charming waitress talked us into having a few drinks despite the promise of complimentary green tea with our meals. Kenny got an apple, mint and lime juice that was refreshing, but was to lead to supper because of its appetising properties! David fell for the Shikoku Island Iced Tea, their version of a Long Island Iced Tea, and I got an excellent house-made lemon iced tea.
The duck gyoza was deep fried but light. Filled with an amazingly fragrant minced duck and spring onions with a hint of five-spice. It was served with a plum sauce that, when combined, was like having Peking Duck :)
Onto the ramen. David and I both loved the slurpy noodles that were smooth and chewy. We all had to try the various broths, and our verdict was that it tasted pretty much what we'd expected, good, but it was not authentic. The miso, pork and chicken broth in the Chilli Beef Ramen was probbaly the best.
Kenny's curry seemed to be thickened with coconut or evaporated milk, a nice touch, but sent it into the non-Japanese realm.
All in all, Wagamama Flinders Lane was a chillin' place to hang out with decent-sized serves of Westernised-Japanese food. Price-wise, well, it's a bit on the pricey side, but given the service, decor and ambience, you can't really complain.
Wagamama Flinders Lane
11-37 Exhibition St Melbourne 3000
Reviews:
- Wagamama St Kilda, by John Lethlean, The Age, Epicure 2008.11.30 - Wagamama St Kilda closed a few years ago.
Photos:
- Kitchen
- Decor
- Apple Mint Lime Juice, Lemon Iced Tea, Shikoku Island Tea