Watami is positioned within the underground area previously occupied by Pedro O’Hara’s off Brunswick’s Maine Avenue. Photographs by Leslie Bridgers
Not solely can you discover an abundance of worldwide cuisines represented on Brunswick’s Maine Avenue, for a lot of of them, you may have a couple of possibility.
In a stretch of lower than a mile, there are two Indian eating places, two Vietnamese eating places, two Greek eating places (in case you depend the one across the nook on Mill Street) and three Japanese eating places – 4 when Mr. Tuna’s sushi truck parks within the Brunswick Mall in the summertime.
The three brick-and-mortar Japanese eating places are in an much more concentrated space, inside about 500 ft of one another. The most recent, Watami, moved into the spot beneath German restaurant Richard’s that had been occupied by Pedro O’Hara’s, which closed in 2020 (to not fear, different choices stay for Mexican and Irish meals on the town).
It’s a crowded market, little doubt, however every appears to have its personal lane. Whereas Aki presents hibachi and Little Tokyo places sushi entrance and middle, Watami highlights its ramen, in addition to its non-Japanese choices – poke bowls, which come from Hawaii, and bubble tea, which is Taiwanese. (I assumed the latter could be the unfilled area of interest its homeowners present in Brunswick, however no, there’s one other bubble tea spot a block up the road within the Tontine Mall.)
Regardless of all of the competitors, there was a energetic lunch crowd at Watami on a latest Saturday afternoon. The eating room had an informal really feel that appeared kid- and school student-friendly, with cubicles and plain decor, apart from some vacation tchotchkes on the sushi bar.
The service was equally to the purpose, and inside minutes of ordering my ramen lunch, a small salad was in entrance of me. Although the few items of iceberg lettuce have been lackluster in look, the ginger dressing was tasty, and I used to be happy to get a recent little freebie with my primary course. My lunch date additionally acquired a starter, of miso soup, along with his poke bowl order.
Tonkotsu ramen from Watami.
The tonkotsu ramen ($16) was a properly sized lunch portion crammed with a colourful assortment of toppings, in addition to half an egg and crispy rounds of pork. I misinterpret the menu and didn’t notice I needed to request spicy chili oil, which might have added a welcome taste enhance. Because it was, the broth had a pleasing style however wasn’t as wealthy as I’m used to – one thing I appreciated extra afterward.
The ahi tuna poke bowl ($19), nevertheless, was on the decadent aspect for that dish, courtesy of the creamy home sauce, and the mix of elements, together with edamame and pineapple, labored surprisingly nicely collectively.
The ahi tuna poke bowl at Watami in Brunswick.
The menu consists of a number of different ramen and poke choices, although sushi occupies essentially the most area within the type of items, rolls, platters and lunch combos – two rolls for $15 or three for $18, served with miso soup. That’s a pair {dollars} greater than the lunch combo at Little Tokyo and fewer than at Aki, in case you’re the sort who’s inclined to buy round.
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