With 37 international restaurants and 65 in the UK, it isn't surprising the award-winning chain have recently opened yet another noodle bar in Liverpool. Having visited several Wagamama's before I felt I had to pay this one a visit, so I persuaded a friend to take the trip with me up to the Capital of Culture.
Upon entering I noticed that the layout of the restaurant was strangely similar to that of any other I'd previously visited; which isn't surprising at all really, as they are each designed to look almost identical for that unique 'Wagamama experience'. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing- large windows, good lighting and a simple colour scheme give Wagamama a cool, contemporary feel.
For those who have visited Wagamama before; they will know that the canteen-style seating is a standard feature of these restaurants, but for newcomers this is often unexpected. The idea that diners sit alongside each other on long, wooden benches (and often end up next to a stranger) can be a little daunting at first, but it is something that is easy to get used to providing you aren't overly bothered about the lack of personal space.
Luckily my partner and I were seated next to a quiet couple, but I couldn't help but feel our meal would not have been quite as enjoyable had we shared the fate of the poor people wedged beside a large family, complete with screaming children, on the table opposite. Typical of a fast-food restaurant, there are no smartly dressed waiters to take your dinner jacket but instead a shelf underneath the bench to place coats and other belongings. Although anyone hoping for much better has certainly come to the wrong place!
The menu consists of various different noodle based dishes, including Ramen (noodle dishes) noodle soups, Teppan-fried noodles (i.e. cooked on a grill) as well as some rice dishes such as Japanese-style curries and even salads. There is a separate kids menu and also several vegetarian options too, along with a good variety of side dishes and a small selection of desserts. Prices range from about £6.50 to £10; with specials being more expensive at around £10 to £13, which some might find to be slightly on the pricey side considering Wagamama labels itself as "fast food".When ordering your meal the waiter will write down your order number on the paper ‘placemat’ in front of you and then send the order straight through to the kitchen where it is immediately prepared. This is one of the reasons Wagamama is so quick - your food usually arrives in under ten minutes. However, dishes are sent out as soon as they are ready so your fellow diners might have already received their meal whilst you are left waiting; or vice versa. Chopsticks are the only cutlery provided on the table which creates an authentic feeling, but knives and forks are also available on request for those that are struggling.
As I have been to Wagamama before I went for my favourite dish, Yasai Chilli Men - stir-fried whole wheat noodles with tofu, courgettes, red onions, peppers, mushrooms and mangetout in a spicy sauce. The noodles were soft and well-cooked and the rich, flavoursome sauce had a real fiery kick to it. Buried within the noodles were oodles of chunky vegetables which served as the perfect accompaniment. I, personally, am a big fan of hot food, but I can see how someone else might find the spices slightly overpowering.
After our main we decided there was a little room for desert, so requested to see the menu once more. There was a selection of 7 deserts to choose from, and after much umming and ahhing we decided to go for the White Chocolate and Ginger Cheesecake - a creamy white chocolate and ginger cheesecake on a crunchy ginger biscuit base, topped with even more white chocolate and drizzled in a 'chilli toffee ginger sauce'. Certainly not the most traditional side of Japanese cuisine, and at £4.60 we originally thought this fairly expensive for a simple cheesecake - but boy, were we wrong! The toffee sauce was sweet yet sharp at the same time, and the white chocolate sprinkled with warming ginger turned out to be an excellent combination.
Overall, Wagamama consistently performs well - the staff are friendly and efficient plus the food is delicious, served in record time and makes for a perfect lunch or evening meal. This isn't a place to hang around or whisper sweet nothings across the table; but as far as service and quality goes, Wagamama delivers every time.
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