Wagamama, one more time
I'm always willing to give people or things a second chance, and equally so when it comes to a restaurant. So this weekend harlzen and I decided that it was time that I could perhaps venture forth to Wagamama's without my tastebuds shuddering in fear. For him, it's the first time, so I thought it would be an interesting experience to see what he thought of it.
As some of you might recall, I had a rather negative reaction to Wagamama's the last time, stemming from what I believe to have been an excessive use of MSG in the cooking. Fortunately this time I was much luckier and didn't end up with a parched throat. I shared the gyoza and edamame with harlzen, which were actually quite pleasant (lightly salted and crunchy to the bite). I think I'm getting a taste for edamame. But I have to say, it never fails to remind me of Zing and her Edo-mame doujin (from Full Metal Alchemist). The fruit juice was fairly refreshing and after having spent a couple of hours pounding the pavements of Rokeby Road, it was a welcome relief in some ways.
But hunger called and I decided to have the Chicken Cho-han this time. Rice is good, it fills you up when you're hungry! Must be my years of being conditioned to think that way. :P With such an auspicioius start to the meal (mmmm, edamame...), I thought I was finally on the right track. But yet again, I was sorely disappointed: Chicken Cho-han, with 2 tablespoons of excess oil floating around at the bottom of the bowl. I tried to soak it up with the table napkin and was thoroughly put off my food by that point. I was seriously not impressed. When I told the wait staff, she appeared indifferent and grunted a non-commital response. The least I expected was some comment about how she'd bring it to the attention of the chef... so I guess I expected a little too much.
The ramen was equally unimpressive. Other friends had the ramen the first time I visited, and this time harlzen decided he would too. The first time, I recall that people commented that it was salty; and the more I look at it, it's not really much different from if I dumped ramen into a hot pot of miso and fish stock. Indeed, Wagamama is gimmicky and its very hip, modern ambiance belies its rather average food, and to pay that much for something that was only average galled me terribly. I'm Asian enough to be cheapskate, but also westernized enough to appreciate the value of well cooked food being equivalent to the price one pays. Its touches of cleverness lies in sharp marketing and equally sharp interior decorating skills. harlzen appeared impressed with their bathrooms, and I seem to recall being similarly awed, but I don't choose a restaurant according to what it can offer me in the latest sanitary comforts. I want good food. And I want it now!
As some of you might recall, I had a rather negative reaction to Wagamama's the last time, stemming from what I believe to have been an excessive use of MSG in the cooking. Fortunately this time I was much luckier and didn't end up with a parched throat. I shared the gyoza and edamame with harlzen, which were actually quite pleasant (lightly salted and crunchy to the bite). I think I'm getting a taste for edamame. But I have to say, it never fails to remind me of Zing and her Edo-mame doujin (from Full Metal Alchemist). The fruit juice was fairly refreshing and after having spent a couple of hours pounding the pavements of Rokeby Road, it was a welcome relief in some ways.
But hunger called and I decided to have the Chicken Cho-han this time. Rice is good, it fills you up when you're hungry! Must be my years of being conditioned to think that way. :P With such an auspicioius start to the meal (mmmm, edamame...), I thought I was finally on the right track. But yet again, I was sorely disappointed: Chicken Cho-han, with 2 tablespoons of excess oil floating around at the bottom of the bowl. I tried to soak it up with the table napkin and was thoroughly put off my food by that point. I was seriously not impressed. When I told the wait staff, she appeared indifferent and grunted a non-commital response. The least I expected was some comment about how she'd bring it to the attention of the chef... so I guess I expected a little too much.
The ramen was equally unimpressive. Other friends had the ramen the first time I visited, and this time harlzen decided he would too. The first time, I recall that people commented that it was salty; and the more I look at it, it's not really much different from if I dumped ramen into a hot pot of miso and fish stock. Indeed, Wagamama is gimmicky and its very hip, modern ambiance belies its rather average food, and to pay that much for something that was only average galled me terribly. I'm Asian enough to be cheapskate, but also westernized enough to appreciate the value of well cooked food being equivalent to the price one pays. Its touches of cleverness lies in sharp marketing and equally sharp interior decorating skills. harlzen appeared impressed with their bathrooms, and I seem to recall being similarly awed, but I don't choose a restaurant according to what it can offer me in the latest sanitary comforts. I want good food. And I want it now!