Despite a lovely server and pleasant refurb of the premises, the food was a mixed if somewhat disappointing bag at this new Japanese restaurant, says our critic
Clockwise from left: Prawn gyoza, takoyaki, yasai tempura and agedashi tofu. Photo: Lucinda O’Sullivan
“The people of Monkstown like their ramens light,” I was told rather frostily by one of the owners of the new Nagomi Japanese restaurant. We’d commented, on departure, that while the starters were nice, they needed to ramp up what had been the bland soapy tasting broth that was the all important base of their seafood ramen, which my friend found impossible to eat.
Well, as a very long-time resident of Monkstown, who’s seen more restaurants come and go down the decades than you could count, including in said premises, that was a new one on me. We’d already mentioned it to the friendly young girl looking after us at the table, as she removed an almost full bowl, for which we paid without demur, yet no nominal allowance or apology was offered. Although we’d ordered generously to try out a variety of different dishes, our view had clearly gone down like a lead balloon.