terrific food, shame about the venue (Wagamama)

Member Name: nimue

Product:	Wagamama
Date:	15/07/01 (1103 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: wonderful food

Disadvantages: noisy, lacking in privacy, lacking in comfort

Sorry, my review is more up to date than Dooyoo's categories which have not realised that Wagamama opened in Nottingham about two months ago, and seems to have met with resounding success, since the place is fairly full most times that I pass it.

The basic concept is healthy eating, Japanese style. The menu is mainly based on noodles. Ramen consists of noodles in soup, with the addition of vegetables and meat, fish, chicken or tofu. The advice on the menu is that you should slurp up the soup and noodles, because the extra oxygen you suck in while doing so adds to the taste! Tepppan-fried (ie cooked on a griddle) noodles, garnished with combinations of vegetables, chicken, fish and tofu, are less soupy and served on a plate rather than in a bowl. Those who do not like noodles have a choice of Japanese curry with rice or two other rice dishes. Side dishes include fried chicken, prawn or vegetable dumplings, grilled prawns, chicken or vegetables, steamed soya beans, miso soup and salad. Wine and beer are available, but the freshly-prepared juices are undoubtedly a highlight of Wagamam. You can have orange, apple + orange, apple + orange + passionfruit, carrot or “raw” juice. The latter is made from carrot, cucumber, tomato, orange and apple, and tastes deliciously different each time. Green tea is available at no extra cost. The orders are transmitted electronically to the kitchen and brought to the table in no specific order as soon as they are ready.

The food is very well prepared and tasty. I was pleasantly surprised at the spiciness of some of the dishes, which contradicts my previous experience of Japanese food both in the UK and in Japan. I wonder if this is authentic, or an attempt to modify some of the dishes to suit a wider range of palates. Authenticity is maintained in the fact that chopsticks are the default option, but knives and forks are available for fainthearted or desperately hungry diners. I was highly amused on on
e visit to see a couple eating there: a western man was struggling valliantly with chopsticks, while his Japanese companion was using a knife and fork!

Prices range from about £4.50 to £8 per dish, and the juices are about £2.40. Therefore, it is possible to eat cheaply if you order one of the lower-priced dishes and accompany it with the free green tea. On the other hand, if you select a higher pricd dish, add in a juice or beer, and one or two side dishes between two people, you can end up paying £15 per head. This is way too high for a fast-food chain.

The fast-food ethos of Wagamama is its worst feature. The eating space is large, and the design is minimalist. You sit on benches at a communal table in a white-painted barn-like space. This is not a place for an intimate meal with a treasured companion, or even for an extended celebration with a group of friends. There is no décor, no fabrics to absorb the sound, so it can get very noisy. The restaurant promotes itself as “family-friendly”. Unfortunately, that means parents of ill-mannered children do not feel the need to control the excesses of their offspring. Just one shrieking brat can make the whole place unbearable.

I go to Wagamama occasionally because I like the food. If the restaurant would provide a quieter and more comfortable eating space, even at a higher cost.

Summary: