This morning, Ramen Shop passed city inspections, and owners Sam White, Rayneil De Guzman, and chef Jerry Jaksich breathed a collective sigh of relief, leading into the restaurant's official opening to the public tomorrow. So, let's take a look at the design a la Wylie Price, shall we? The 18-seat counter sits at the front of the 48-seat space, tricked out in reclaimed Oregon Douglas fir from start to finish. White's girlfriend, Jessica Niello, hand-crafted each ceramic bowl on a pottery wheel, and also created the hanging piece of art depicting a "stylized Delta smelt." With a high-ceilinged, boisterous bar up front, and a cozier, low-ceilinged dining area in back, White and co. seek to replicate the feel of most ramen shops in Japan, where part of the experience is waiting in line outside.
The opening menu combines the teams' experiences in Japan and at Chez Panisse, using locally farmed animals and vegetables in two ramen variations. Eventually there will be four ramens total: one with a heaver pork broth, one with a lighter riff on the typical yuzu broth, made with Meyer lemons, and a vegetarian option. For starters, there's a little gem salad dressed in creme fraiche and house-marinated steelhead roe, and fried rice with wild nettles and squid. Visit Ramen Shop for dinner starting tomorrow and everyday at 4 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.
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