Slurping Turtle

Main dining area- we were in one of the upstairs tables.

For Adam's birthday I wracked my brain to find a restaurant that was new, fun and just his style. We're taking a break from the "gastronomic Olympics" that are mutl-course extravaganzas such as Next and Goosefoot for a variety of reasons. I know he likes Asian food a lot. So when I found Slurping Turtle, nominee for best new restaurant of the year for the 2012 Time Out Eat Out Awards behind Next, I knew it had to be good. And the laid back style and reasonably priced food was just what I was looking for.

Walkway to the door.

Slurping Turtle is the brainchild of Chef Takashi (of the renewed Takashi restaurant) and his goal was to re-create the "culinary experiences" of his childhood in Japan, essentially "Japanese Comfort Food". From our sampling of the menu, he definitely succeeds.

The space is very cute- an all glass, two story front, a fun walk down a interesting hallway to get to the inner front door. The restaurant is modern and sophisticated, full of light wood and glass, yet extremely comfortable- a place where adults could go before a night out or after work or where young families could bring their (well-behaved only, please) kids for a family dinner. We were seated in one of the handful of booths upstairs that overlook either the restaurant or the street.

We started with the Duck Fat Fried Chicken and the Pork Belly Snack, both of which were wonderful. The Pork Belly Snack is a MUST HAVE. Each was garnished with delicious vegetables and sauces to create complex flavor profiles, unique with each bite. So good.

Pork Belly Snack on Rice Bun

Adam then moved on to the Takashi roll composed of Wagyu beef and the usual rice, veggies, etc with foie gras on top. It was excellent. I had the Miso Ramen Dish with miso broth, braised pork shoulder (SOO GOOD), bean sprouts and a multitude of other delicious garnishes. It was really good and HUGE. Definitely recommend splitting just 1 noodle or soup dish and trying a sampling of sides and appetizers to get the most of of your tasting experience here.

For sides we had the pickled cabbage which Adam liked (I was plus/minus) and the fried brussel sprouts which were AMAZING and another MUST HAVE. I do like brussel sprouts in general, but I don't think you have to like them usually to LOVE them in this form. They were gently fried with soy sauce making them crunchy but still light and delicious and still veggie-like. Absolutely amazing. I seriously considered ordering a second helping and our server noted that frequently people do. You can't miss out on these brussel sprouts (and how often do you hear that?).

Quail egg "shot".

We sampled three (small) desserts to round out the meal. Adam had a quail egg, which was a new (and good) experience for him. We also had a sampling of 3 macaroons and the sea salt ice cream. All were good, but no must haves in the dessert arena so go ahead and get an extra appetizer or side instead when you come!

All in all, this was a great dinner place with really excellent food in a comfortable, but still cute and urban environment. We will be back!

Happy camper.

Slurping Turtle strives to recreate for our guests Chef Takashi's childhood culinary experiences in Japan, the essence of Japanese Comfort Food. The turtle is a symbol of longevity in Japan. We invite you to join us in our quest for the Everlasting Noodle.

Slurping Turtle strives to recreate for our guests Chef Takashi's childhood culinary experiences in Japan, the essence of Japanese Comfort Food. The turtle is a symbol of longevity in Japan. We invite you to join us in our quest for the Everlasting Noodle.