When instantaneous ramen turned a school staple, the demand for noodle dishes started to take off throughout the nation, transferring past dorm quick meals to stylish Asian eating places. Now the slinky ramen noodles are a mainstay, elevated in additional elaborate dishes.
On the new Midtown Noodles Bar on Monroe Avenue, the pan-Asian menu options ramen noodle combos with pork stomach, steak, vegetable or miso, however the menu goes additional afield.
The restaurant has solely been open since Aug. 2 however it’s already turning out an thrilling menu that displays the Chinese language heritage of the homeowners but additionally the Vietnamese recipes of their shut mates, stated supervisor Angela Chen. Japanese, Korean and Thai dishes additionally spherical out your selections.
“Traditional with a twist,” stated Chen.
We’ve had our share of restaurant and bar closings because the pandemic, so it’s a good feeling to be welcoming resilient homeowners who’re opening new eating places.
Native homeowners Li Hong and Deric needed to push again the opening as a consequence of Covid-19 however they’re now settled of their new dwelling of the previous Seineyard Restaurant within the Publix Tremendous Market at Lake Ella Plaza, at 1660-6 N. Monroe St.
The inside has a smooth, hip look with a gentle gray backsplash, gold accents, twinkly lights and a mixture of black couches and tables. You may dine in, get take out (cease inside or get curbside pickup) or supply from Uber Eats or DoorDash.
“We haven’t had the power to do any massive promotions but,” stated Chen.
Phrase is slowly getting out nonetheless. We heard raves in regards to the place so we have been desirous to attempt it out. We wished a peek inside so picked up our meals on the counter.
We got here throughout so many intriguing dishes it was robust to make a choice. We ended up getting three starters. Vietnamese summer season rolls ($5) are a scrumptious escape from the warmth, smooth translucent rice paper wrappers packed with shrimp, lettuce, basil and herbs. Dip these plump rolls into a creamy peanut sauce and you’ve got an explosion of recent flavors.
Our starter of ramen kaarage hen ($5) brings small bites of fried hen in a batter blended with ramen items to present it extra of a crunch; spicy mayo on the aspect. It’s remindful of an Asian-style hen nugget. Crab rangoon ($5), a typical model however tasty, has a wealthy filling of imitation crab and cream cheese in a won-ton wrapper that’s deep-fried.
Our entree of katsu hen curry and rice ($11) was terrific. It’s price it to pay $1 additional and get the fried rice, dotted with corn and peas, as an alternative of white rice. The katsu brings a number of slices of panko breaded hen tenderloins, the meat juicy and tender. The crowning contact is the Japanese curry sauce. That is milder than Thai or Indian variations, a roux-based stew with chunks of potatoes and carrots. It got here in a separate container so no messiness. We might have slurped all of it up.
Our different entree was additionally a hit — zhajiang noodles ($11). The plate options a mound of grilled pork in a hoisin peanut sauce nestled atop wheat flour noodles that resemble spaghetti, with skinny slivers of cucumbers and carrots plus mushrooms and a garnish of inexperienced onions.
There are such a lot of dishes we should return to attempt. The famed Vietnamese soup pho (pronounced “fuh”), is one other star on the menu. Different temptations embody pad Thai, dumplings, hen satay, barbecued brief ribs, udon noodles, Korean japchae (clear stir-fry noodles with greens), buns (pork stomach, beef or hen) and jjamppong (ramen noodles with mussels, clams, squid, shrimp, and fish desserts in a spicy seafood broth).
In addition they have boba tea, juices and for dessert, mini cheesecakes.
Midtown Noodles Bar is price many repeat visits for addictive, unique and inexpensive fare. International however native.
Whenever you go ….
Midtown Noodles Bar
1660 N. Monroe St.; 850-999-3023
Open 11 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
