I have had a bloody saga with this place. It went from being the first ever top rated restaurant, to one of the worst in less than a year. When I went, the prices were unreal, best value for money in the city. But, times have changed. Let’s see how Marugame is fairing these days.
This used to be a sign that would delight me. It used to be a literal translation of high quality, fair valued udon noodles. Now it is more akin to: ‘ok … if you are lucky’. A massive shame in my eyes. It is very rare for a successful chain not to fall into the trap of retaining profit margins, rather that providing high quality food for everyone to enjoy.
So this is what a standard bowl looks like. I have to caveat that with the fact that I have thrown in a few additions which you can pick up for free at the ‘additions bar’, which is a nice touch. Nowadays the broth will be watery, complimented with a limited quantity of udon. The noodles themselves are great, they always have been, but they used to be much better value compared to what they are now.
Conclusion – Marugame
It is a little heartbreaking to do this review. I used to recommend Marugame to everyone I met. Whenever there was a suggestion for lunch, Marugame would be the answer. Today though, I can’t say the same is true, I really miss the way Marugame used to be.
| Flavour | 3/10 |
| Quality | 4/10 |
| Interior | 5/10 |
| Service | 7/10 |
| Value | 5/10 |
| Total % | 48% |
| Rating | C+ |