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| - For our Tuesday night dinner, the wife and I made our way downtown to Itsy Bitsy Ramen and Whisky. It had been on my radar since it first opened, but we hadn't made it there until now. However, since it specialized in two things that I love, ramen and whisky and we had a bought a Groupon to use, which saved us a little money on an otherwise already reasonably priced meal, we couldn't pass up a meal there this trip.
I had the Spicy Miso Ramen ($10) with thick noodles and a pour of Nikka Coffey Grain Japanese whisky ($18). I received a generous sized bowl of noodles and broth. It was topped with green onions, chashu, bean sprouts, and a soy cured egg. The broth was seasoned perfectly and possessed definite spiciness. I love things hot, but in hindsight after sipping the wife's plain miso ramen, I should've selected the plain miso broth instead. Through no fault of the kitchen, just my choice to test the heat tolerance of my palate, the broth's spiciness, while not tongue blistering, became the dominant note overwhelming the other subtle, diverse, flavors in the bowl. Compared to other bowls of ramen I've had, the amount of toppings doled out by Itsy Bitsy seemed a little less than I'd received at other ramen shops. However, Itsy Bitsy's ramen was still a hearty, very tasty bowl of ramen, and at $10, an outstanding value. Itsy Bitsy Ramen and Whisky was definitely a locals' place. I enjoyed my food and the friendly, welcoming environment presented by the friendly staff and fellow diners who were obvious regulars that struck up a nice conversation with us. Itsy Bitsy Ramen and Whisky was my kind of noodle joint. It offered something you likely won't find on the Strip at twice the price.
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