Last night, Daily Info were very lucky to be invited to sample the delights of Shoryu's brand new Easter Set Menu. The menu focuses on Gudetama, a popular Japanese cartoon character famous for being Hello Kitty's lazy egg friend - making Gudetama the ideal buddy for Easter dining out.
The three course set menu boasts the usual high-quality ramen and steamed buns, with added decorative flourishes, where the character pops up many times: the buns are golden-coloured to reflect Gudetama's yolky hue, while the ramen is garnished with egg (which can be omitted for vegans, of course!). I particularly enjoyed my Chicken Karage bun - but then, I am a sucker for anything with fried chicken in it. The veggie option for the bun, with a Pumpkin Croquette, was also fabulous, as was the delicately-flavoured ramen broth. The mains can be washed down with a choice of refreshing soft drinks, and are topped off by a host of sweet treats: mini Mochi ice creams and a bar of handmade chocolate from Creighton's Chocolaterie, based in our neighbouring county of Buckinghamshire.
Diners can also pick up some merchandise, from Shoryu and Gudetama's limited edition range, which we got a sneak preview of last night - the Gudetama tea towel is now brightening up the DI office! Some of the merchandise can also be won in Shoryu's concurrent competition: see their website for details.
These touches of frivolity against the restaurant's trendy interior combine to make for a memorable, fun dining experience, and there was certainly a party atmosphere at the restaurant for the launch of this exciting pop-up menu.
The menu is available from 1st-21st April 2019 at Shoryu Ramen in the Westgate Centre.