Great Ramen, Great Accolades, But Low Score
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Cuisine Style: Japanese
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 1/5
Dined in: December 2018
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Ichicoro Ane Zomato rating:
Ichicoro Ane Executive Chefs and Partners:
Branden Lenz, Noel Cruz, Robert Vergara, and Kerem Koca
Ichicoro Ane at the Station House is a 6,000-square-foot space vacated by the original Station House restaurant, which closed in 2018. Ichicoro Ane is one of three restaurants in the group with Ichicoro Ramen and Ichicoro Imoto both in Tampa being the first two to open. They focus on Japanese Pub (Izakaya) style cuisine and rate in the top Ten TBT 2019 AND Best Restaurant Design in Tampa Bay, they were also voted Best of the Bay “Best Ramen” by Creative Loafing and made the 2018 best restaurants list in Tampa Magazine. The Saint Petersburg location was given the accolade of Florida's must-visit foodie destination by Maxim. With all these accolades why did I give them a low rating at 1 of 5 stars?
My wife and I arrived and were impressed by the ambiance, giving this section a high rating overall. The restaurant had a few tables but was otherwise empty. There were a few servers standing around, waiting for customers to come in. I used to be a server and remember the slow times when all the work was done and you had to play the waiting game. We sat at the bar where my wife had a cocktail with Sombra Blanco mezcal a handcrafted organic agave spirit that respects the traditions of Oaxaca while elevating production methods to be sustainable and responsible for the local environment and local economy. I had a Kirin Ichiban American Lager style beer brewed by the Kirin Brewery Company, Tokyo designed to pair beautifully with Japanese cuisine.
Ichicoro Ane Menu:
- Snack
- Skewers
- Meat
- Seafood
- Vegetable
- Ramen
- Donburi
- Extra
- Desserts
We each had a ramen bowl from the menu starting with the shoyu ramen containing chicken broth, grilled pork belly, soy seasoned egg, seasoned bamboo shoots, toasted seaweed, scallions, and fried garlic. With each ramen bowl, you choose a side of Bakudon which means bomb in Japanese and it has so many different textures it will dance on your tongue. They offered Jalapeño yuzu, koshō, mapo sauce, miso corn butter, and spicy crab to which we chose the yuzukoshō a chili pepper condiment paste for this ramen. The flavors of the ramen were bold, enhanced further by the yuzukoshō with an explosion of complex flavors from the seaweed which being toasted brought out more of a smoky flavor, presented very elegantly.
 |
| Ichicoro Ane / Shoyu Ramen |
The second ramen dish we had was the miso ramen, vegetarian ramen made with mushroom broth, and ground ‘Impossible Burger,' a plant-based patty that bleeds and sizzles when it cooks. It's made using an ingredient called haem (or heme, an iron-containing compound that's abundant in animal muscle) and aims to mimic that basic meaty flavor that smells and tastes like cow. Based on reading about the ingredients, it does contain GMO’s. Setting aside the genetically engineered yeast from the heme as Sciblogs identifies in their article, the soy used may be plant-based and vegan-friendly, but it is grown with genetically modified seeds. In some fashion over thousands of years, food has been modified in one form or another. The outcry for the past forty years or so is the injection of chemicals such as glyphosate into the seeds and some other genetic methods that the W.H.O has said causes cancer.
The ramen also includes charred onions, bean sprouts, seasoned bamboo shoots, garlic, ginger, scallions, and sesame. With this ramen, we got the Bakudon miso corn butter, with a presentation just as impressive as the shoyu, very good flavor profiles with a meaty texture like the ‘Impossible Burger’ advertise, along with strong ginger spice and blended vegetable texture.
The ramen also includes charred onions, bean sprouts, seasoned bamboo shoots, garlic, ginger, scallions, and sesame. With this ramen, we got the Bakudon miso corn butter, with a presentation just as impressive as the shoyu, very good flavor profiles with a meaty texture like the ‘Impossible Burger’ advertise, along with strong ginger spice and blended vegetable texture.
 |
| Ichicoro Ane / Miso Ramen |
The food quality and presentations scored high marks as well, so going back to the start of this article why did I give them such a low score with all those wonderful accolades mentioned. The straw that broke the proverbial camels back, sealing the low score fate for this visit to Ichicoro Ane was the customer service. As we also mentioned there were few tables with plenty of servers around to help the customers. Good service brings back people just as much as good food. The bartender did not have anyone else to take care of, yet was not around. When we needed something and looked around, servers saw us but continued on with whatever conversations they were having. When we were finished eating, and finally got to pay the bill after waiting even longer for the bartender. Several servers plus the hostess did not even say goodbye as we left. They saw us leave, walking towards the exit, yet acted as if they didn’t care at all. The customer service score was so low that it killed all chances of any bonus point structures, which resulted in the lower score. Is this how Ichicoro Ane is normally, or their other sister restaurants? Maybe not, and we might go back to test this theory. Maybe when you visit, you may get a completely different experience, this is what we witness, and how their star rating score was affected by it.
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit, but some items of interest on the menu include the matcha coconut custard with candied pineapple.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other noteworthy Japanese food articles and restaurants similar to Ichicoro Ane:
Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of social and economic changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan (washoku) is based on its emphasis on seasonal ingredients.
5A5 Steak Lounge Modern Japanese steakhouse with chic design in San Francisco, California
Ambrosia Japanese restaurant and saké bar with sushi in Key West, Florida
Basil Asian Bistro Pan-Asian favorites from China to Vietnam with sushi specials in Canton, Ohio
Junsui An eclectic taste of Asia with buffets at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Kuneho (Formally Qui Restaurant) Eclectic global plates and sushi in Austin, Texas
Morimoto Asia Japanese and upscale pan-Asian fare with sushi at Disney Springs Orlando, Florida
Sushi Sleek Japanese eatery with sushi/sashimi at The Grand Hyatt Dubai, UAE
Wat Mongkolratanaram A Thai / Asian market eatery and a Buddhist temple on the banks of the Palm River in Tampa, Florida
Zuma Contemporary Japanese restaurant, sushi, and cocktail mixology in Dubai, UAE
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Saint Petersburg restaurants, and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
|
The second review covers a dinner meal
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Tavern near the Narvaez historical site
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Part of Datz Restaurant Group in the James Museum of Western Art
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
A few Florida restaurant favorites:
|
Upscale locally sourced seafood eatery with ocean views
Vero Beach
|
Casual American eats
At The Westin Harbour Island
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
Buzzy seafood spot and 360-degree views
St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Ichicoro Ane a 1 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were an average dining experience like most basic restaurants, and would have scored higher if the service was not so low in score.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Ichicoro Ane
|
Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
|
Ambiance
|
11
|
11
|
0
|
Food quality
|
10
|
8
|
2
|
Plate presentation
|
11
|
8
|
3
|
Customer service
|
12
|
5
|
7
|
Alcohol and other beverages
|
10
|
6
|
5
|
Total regular points awarded
|
54
|
38
|
16
|
Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.685185185185185
| ||
“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
Total bonus percentage
|
0
| ||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.685185185185185
| ||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
|
0 - 5
|
1
|
**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
|
1 of 5 Stars:
69% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
An Average Dining Experience
|
Ichicoro Ane Wine rating:
|
5 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal
New World selections:
Argentina, California, South Africa
|
Corkage fees:
|
Ichicoro Ane does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
|
Restaurant style:
|
Casual dining
|
Cuisine Style at Ichicoro Ane:
|
Japanese
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-free choices, Low Carb Choices, Organic, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
|
Reservations:
|
Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
|
Dress code:
|
Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops!
|
Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
|
Ichicoro Ane Experiences:
|
Contemporary, Modern, Lounge, Business parties, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Beautiful décor, Classy, Upscale, and Tourist grabber
|
Payments:
|
Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
|
Parking:
|
Ichicoro Ane has street meter parking
|
Wifi
|
The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
|
Noise level:
|
Low
|
Smoking:
|
Ichicoro Ane is a non-smoking restaurant
|
Patio or terrace:
|
No
|
ARE YOU ENJOYING THIS ARTICLE ON ICHICORO ANE SO FAR? PLEASE CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TO RECEIVE NEW POSTS OR SHARING ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA!!
Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
££
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€€
|
Alcohol prices:
$34.00 USD
Ichicoro Ane:
260 1st Ave South
St. Petersburg, Florida
33701
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
| |
Maître d or host:
|
+1 (727) 300-0281
|
Online reservations
| |
Email Us:
| |
Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
|
Tue - Thur
3:00 pm - 12:00 am
Friday
3:00 pm - 2:00 am
Saturday
11:00 am - 2:00 am
Sunday
11:00 am - 12:00 am
Monday
Closed
Happy Hour: Daily
4:00 pm - 7:00pm & 10pm - 12am
|
Social Media
And
Accolades for
Ichicoro Ane:
| |
****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
Upscale fine dining global cuisine
Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE
|
Eclectic French-Asian Tasting Menu
Sydney, Australia
|
Modern eclectic and Nouvelle Latin cuisine
Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa
|
Other Ichicoro Ane Pictures:
 |
| Ichicoro Ane / Dining room |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
