AFURI 中目黒 (Nakameguro)

I have walked by AFURI quite a few times during visits to Nakameguro, a popular area for strolling and shopping. Maybe I'm really an old man inside, because the ramen shops that I enjoy are usually small, slightly crowded and full of old men and/or teenage boys. AFURI is anything but that. It is clean, modern, and as its sign boasts "fine ramen":

AFURI is adorned with bare bulbs and an expansive natural wood counter encloses a spotless stainless steel kitchen. This is the kind of place that looks like it belongs in Manhattan, or somewhere that isn't exactly Tokyo. As I have learned, this kind of shop attracts a more varied clientele and I observed fashionable young ladies as well as mother and son. Your general salary man ramen shop this is not. However, this atmosphere encouraged me to use my new camera and try interesting angles to capture their ramen in all of its beauty:

Beautiful right? Of course beauty does not make the bowl. I ordered the yuzu ramen. For those unfamiliar yuzu is a citrus fruit popular in Japan that has a sweeter lemon taste. It is really lovely.
The yuzu was the real standout of this bowl, elevating a simple, light base. Apparently this is their signature dish and have been doing it from their flagship in Ebisu for over 10 years. AFURI uses a nice grainy tonkotsu style noodle and I was excited to see some mizuna (a japanese mustard green) as a topping. Delicate as it was I should not have been surprised that there was only one half of an egg and a very thin slice of chashu. I can understand aesthetic, but I think this was all just far too delicate for me! Despite the hip atmosphere and great yuzu taste I'll have to give AFURI a 4/5. There was just something lacking that I can't put my finger on. Maybe I truly am an old man, more comfortable in a back alley shop than anywhere else!

Links to the tabelog, Time Out Tokyo's review of their flagship in Ebisu, and a map to their shop in Nakameguro!