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| - I finally got to try the fabled Cherry Blossom Noodle Cafe, and I will say that I am a fan now, but there were a few glaring inconsistencies that really keep this place from shining.
First off, the goods: Delicious beverages, and a menu that is completely out of this world. I can get clam linguine in a white wine sauce, along with spicy Korean bbq beef in soba noodles, which is exactly what we did one night. The flavors were excellent, although a little muted, and the amount of clams were amazing. There was a little bit of sand in some of the clams, but to me, that shows the dedication to having a fresh piece of seafood on the plate.
I also thought that my wife's clams were swimming in the sauce, as there was a TON of it on her plate. Conversely, while my plate was cooked well, I felt that 1) the beef needed to be spicy, and 2) there needed to be more of it. I really felt like I was eating more noodle than anything else.
And that's what keeps this place from getting a 5. The little things, like a lack of spice, too much sauce, the absolutely dreadful & schizophrenic decor, and, well, on our night, the single server handling the entire restaurant.
There are some nice little touches though. They serve you some of the best banana bread that I have had in a long while, their green tea is tasty, and the menu selection is above and beyond what I was expecting. I'll come back, that's for sure, and you should definitely give this place a try.
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