Tampopo's menu is focussed closely on noodles. Prices range from just under $5.00 to $10.00; the former is for the shoyu ramen, the latter for the seafood ramen.
I ordered a regular size bowl of shoyu ramen and a small order of gyoza. The gyoza arrived with an empty sauce dish; I blended my own dipping sauce from soy and the fresh lemon wedge. The gyoza arrived steaming from the pan. The wrappers were delicate and the dumplings were obviously hand made. They were a perfect three bite size, brightly flavored with herbs, firm and lovely to look at. They were a pleasure to eat. The only flaw was that two of the six arrived a bit more scorched than I would have liked.
Therefore, the bowl of ramen was somewhat of a disappointment. The noodles were slightly overdone--which is to say overdone. Although the soup came properly garnished with the egg, pork, fish cake and other items, it simply lacked the eye appeal that I look forward to when I sit down to a bowl of ramen. The broth was bland; I wound up adding the remains of the sauce I blended for the gyoza. I would rate this bowl a 7 out of 10, which is rather unfortunate. I would be willing to dine here again, but I would not make it a destination.
There is a full bar available.
(Posted by MKatrinaToo, 2002.8.14)
