Ramen at Healdsburg’s Shimo Modern Steakhouse (RIP)
News that Partake, the café and wine tasting lounge from Kendall-Jackson, is slated to open shortly, made me think about Shimo, the previous inhabitant of the space and its brief ramen venture.
http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2013/03/12/partake-of-the-preview-menu-at-patrake-kendall-jackson%E2%80%99s-new-healdsburg-cafe/
“rubadubgdub” raved about the foie gras dumplings in ramen from Cyrus Chef Doug Keane’s walk on the Japanese side,
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/854847#7416888
I did not have the pleasure of trying that delicacy but I did eat at Shimo twice. I was the only customer at lunch on both occasions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/6392718547/
Here’s what the noodle menu looked like on July 7, 2011.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/6392717895/
To start, a fabulous custardy egg-tofu with pickled wild mushrooms, $1.75, or about 50¢ per spoonful. I’m so sorry I can’t eat this once more.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/6392718257/
I went with a straight-forward shoyu ramen bowl, $7.95, the first time. Way too much bean sprouts and the nori was not toasted. The stock was too simple and had a bitter finish. Noodles softened too much.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/6392719113/
But the beautifully cooked to jelly stage, but not marinated, farm egg, $3.00, almost made up for it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/6392719415/
And the pork belly, $4.50, was especially gorgeous on the first visit with some singe marks kicking up the flavor.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/6392719713/
The next time was October 8, 2011, a month before Shimo eventually closed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/6392719985/
Tried the miso stock this time, adding the pork belly again and shishito peppers. The sloppy presentation showed lack of pride and carelessness in preparation.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/6392720529/
The pork belly was not nearly as good as my first visit. Luscious fat but way too much of it, and no browning or grilled highlights.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/6392720829/
Adding pickled, charred shishito peppers to my ramen was a mistake. They clashed heavily with sweet fermented flavor of the cloying miso stock.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniew...
PERSONAL RAMEN RANKING
1. Ramen Halu, 375 Saratoga Ave Ste M, San Jose
2. Tsujita, 2057 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles
3. Himawari, 202 2nd Ave, San Mateo
4. Orenchi Ramen, 3540 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara
5. Santouka, 675 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
6. Maru Ichi, 368 Castro St, Mountain View
7. Izakaya Mai, 212 2nd Avenue, San Mateo
8. Gaku Japanese Charcoal Grill, 5152 Moorpark Ave, San Jose
9. Yonsei Ramen Shop @ Hopscotch, 1915 San Pablo Ave, Oakland
10. Ajisen Noodle, 47890 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont
11. Maru Ichi, 530 Barber Lane, Milpitas
12. Ramen Dojo, 805 South B St, San Mateo
13. Shalala, 698 W Dana St, Mountain View
14. Tanto, 1063 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale
15. Izakaya Restaurant, 1335 N 1st St, San Jose
16. Alexander’s Steakhouse Lounge, 10330 N Wolfe Rd, Cupertino (closed)
17. Santa, 1944 South El Camino Real, San Mateo
18. Do-Henkotsu House of Tokushima Ramen, 4330 Moorpark Ave, San Jose (closed)
19. Ramen Tenma, 487 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
20. Ryowa, 859 Villa St, Mountain View
21. Orson Restaurant Bar + Lounge, 508 4th St, San Francisco (closed)
22. Sumiya, 2634 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara
23. Gen Ramen, 47890 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont (closed)
24. Hana Japanese Restaurant, 101 Golf Course Dr, Rohnert Park
25. Ken Ken Ramen, pop-up at The Corner, San Francisco (closed, moved)
26. Kyora Japanese Restaurant, 1217 Wildwood Ave, Sunnyvale (closed)
27. Sobo, 988 Franklin St, Oakland
28. BY Grill, 3226 Geary Blvd, San Francisco (closed)
29. Norikonoko, 2556 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley
30. Dohatsuten, 799 San Antonio Rd, Palo Alto
31. Hana, 4320 Moorpark, San Jose
32. Ozumo, 2251 Broadway, Oakland
33. Men Oh Tokushima Ramen, 5120 Geary Blvd, San Francisco
34. Muracci’s, 244 State St, Los Altos
35. Katanaya, 430 Geary Blvd., San Francisco
36. Tadamasa, 34672 Alvarado Niles Road, Union City
37. Masa's Sushi, 400 San Antonio Road, Mountain View
38. Ippuku, 2130 Center St, Berkeley
39. Nombe, 2491 Mission St, San Francisco
40. Gochi, 19980 Homestead Rd, Cupertino
41. Shimo Modern Steakhouse, 241 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg (closed)
42. Oyaji, 3123 Clement St, San Francisco
43. Ramen Misoya, 3541 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara
44. Chubby Noodle, 570 Green St, San Francisco
45. Ame Restaurant, 689 Mission St, San Francisco
46. Yu-Raku, 104 S El Camino Real, San Mateo
47. Namu, 439 Balboa St, San Francisco (moved)
48. Halu Restaurant, 312 8th Ave, San Francisco
49. Sanmi, 3226 Geary Blvd, San Francisco (closed)
50. Hatcho, 1271 Franklin Mall, Santa Clara
51. Kahoo, 4330 Moorpark Ave, San Jose
52. Tomoe, 810 3rd St, San Rafael (closed)
53. Ringer Hut, 1072 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
54. Noodle Theory, 3242 Scott St, San Francisco (closed)
55. Watami Shabu Shabu and Ramen, 5344 Geary Blvd, San Francisco (closed)
56. Where’s Buta by Elgin Espiritu and June Lee, Eat Real Festival, Oakland
57. Kumako, 211 E. Jackson Street, San Jose
58. Japanese Restaurant Hoshi, 246 Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara
59. Ramen Club, 723 California Dr, Burlingame
60. Saiwaii Ramen, 2240 Irving St, San Francisco
61. Ryowa, 2068 University Ave, Berkeley (after ownership change)
62. King Won Ton, 1936 Irving St, San Francisco
63. Tazaki Sushi, 3420 Judah St, San Francisco
64. Ramen Rama, 19774 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino (closed)
65. Ogi-San Ramen, 10789 Blaney Ave, Cupertino (closed)
66. Kaimuki Grill, 104 S El Camino Real, San Mateo (closed)
67. Tanto, 1306 Saratoga Ave, San Jose (now Dan Izakaya)
68. Okazu Ya SF (Noriega), 2445 Noriega St, San Francisco
69. King's Garden Ramen, 39055 Cedar Blvd, Newark (closed)
70. Sushi Bistro, 445 Balboa St, San Francisco (closed, moved)
71. Genki Ramen, 3944 Geary Blvd, San Francisco
72. Mitsuwa Hokkaido festival booth, 675 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
73. Dan Izakaya, 1306 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
74. Lakuni, 325 E 4th Ave, San Mateo
75. 100% Healthy Desserts, 1155 Taraval St., San Francisco
76. Mifune, 1737 Post St, San Francisco
77. H2A Noodle, 42318 Fremont Blvd., Fremont (closed)
78. Iroha, 1728 Buchanan St, San Francisco
79. Miraku Noodles, 2131 N Broadway, Walnut Creek
80. Manpuku, 2977 College Ave, Berkeley
81. Tanpopo, 1740 Buchanan Street, San Francisco
82. Sushi Yoshi, 39261 Cedar Blvd, Newark
83. La Shang Niang Ramen (OEC), 42 Dixon Rd, Milpitas (closed)
84. Oidon, 71 E. 4th Avenue, San Mateo
85. Taraval Okazu Ya, 1735 Taraval St., San Francisco
86. Suzu Noodle House, 1581 Webster Street, San Francisco
87. Bushido Izakaya, 156 Castro St, Mountain View
88. Fresh Taste, 2107 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
89. Asuka Ramen, 883 Bush St, San Francisco (closed)
90. Sapporo-ya, 1581 Webster St, San Francisco
91. Tokyo Ramen, 678 Barber Lane, Milpitas (closed)
92. Kamakura, 2549 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda
93. Mama-san!, 312 8th Ave, San Francisco (closed)
94. Katana-ya Ramen, 10546 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito
95. Hotei, 1290 9th Ave, San Francisco
96. Bear's Ramen House, 2521 Durant, Berkeley
