"2014-03-18T00:00:00"^^ . "0"^^ . . "1"^^ . "3"^^ . "0"^^ . "I am saddened by this review. Captivated by the idea of finally getting a great bowl of ramen in Cleveland, I ventured across town to check out what others have been talking about. Perhaps my expectations were too high, after enjoying NYC's Ippudo (wow, that is some amazing stuff) earlier last year.\n\nhttp://nearme.seriouseats.com/venue/ippudo\n\nFlying Crane is located about a block or so away from Shaker Square in a small storefront. It is pretty cute- like a coffee shop, very different from what I'd expect a Japanese restaurant to be. I ordered a ramen with pork belly and my friend ordered a rice bowl. Prices weren't bad- $10 for the bowl of ramen. I ordered another one to bring home to the Wife.\n\nI was hoping to get a nice big bowl of rich, deeply flavored broth with chewy, plentiful noodles and perhaps a dallop of oil slicking the surface. Perhaps a flavorful piece or two of grilled pork belly or something like that. That's what I got for $14 at Ippudo.\n\nInstead I got a medium sized bowl filled with noodles which were not that much better than good quality instant ramen. The broth was, for me the most disappointing part, really not much better than what I could get from (again) a good instant ramen. None of that, \"whoa, THAT's why people love ramen in Japan feeling.\"\n\nWhen we were done with our meal, the owner brought a small bowl of pickles. They were nice, but it would have been more helpful to have them with our food. My friend's rice bowel was also \"meh\" and my wife agreed with my take on the ramen. \n\nIt pains me to leave a three star review, because I suspect this place can do it better, but I have to write what I eat. Maybe I'll try it again in the future if I'm ever in the area, but I won't drive all the way there again."^^ . . .