On occasion the Hungry House Hunter will go upscale.
This was one of those occasions.
Our peckish property perambulator had been hearing about Pasta Ramen for months and its unique (for Montclair at least) mashup of Italian and Japanese noodle cuisine.
An easy concept to understand – noodles, whatever country they hail from, can be very accommodating.
However, nabbing reservations at Montclair’s reigning “It” restaurant? Not so easy. We’d been trying for months.
So we were delighted when on a whim one spring evening we poked our head into the murky interior and asked, without much hope, “Table for one?” and “Yes,” came the reply.
Throwing caution to the wind, our eager eater ordered the “Omakase Menu” – a five-course tasting selection.
Here, one might expect an amuse bouche, but alas none was forth coming.
However, the first course, a crispy wanton cracker layered with umami sauce, salmon and tuna sashimi, avocado, Limone, herbs and Calabrian crema, on was a delicious combination of tangy, sweet, salty, crunchy and soft.
The dish’s presentation -– the cracker and its load of scrumptiousness was served on a pile of pebbles – reminded us of the small rock garden we had seen in the backyard of one of the homes we’d toured recently.
But where was the pasta? we wondered.
We didn’t have to wait long.
Temomi Ramen Shrimp Scampi, our second course, did not disappoint. The wavy temomi noodles blended perfectly with the citrusy ponsu and garlic and the shrimp were small and deeply flavored.
Course three - Mochi Ramen Carbonara Tsukemen – brothless noodles smothered in egg yolk, sesame, togarashi, limone, Parmigiano – also did not disappoint. Were we in Florence or Fukuoka?
A hard act to follow, we thought.
But then came the Black Cod, steeped in miso, limone, furikake, served with a wicked little side salad of edamame and seaweed.
Dessert – ice cream filled mochi skins – our last course, was adequate but rather pedestrian and melted rather quickly into a soupy mess.
Was the experience worth the $90 plus tip? Yeah, sure. The service was good. The cuisine is novel, the portions aren’t too big, and the favor combinations – “oishi” and “delizioso” - give the taste buds a run for their money.
6 S Fullerton Ave,
Montclair, NJ 07042
info@pastaramen.com
DINNER:
Monday - Thursday
5 pm - 10 pm
Friday - Saturday
5 pm - 11 pm
Sunday
4 pm - 9 pm