Today I decided to visit Community Grocery and tryout their popular ramen bar. You pick a prepackaged ramen, choose your add-ins, and cook it yourself at a hot water station. As someone who gets genuinely excited when Corpus gets something different, since food and activity diversity here is pretty limited, I was really looking forward to checking this place out.
Aesthetically, they did a great job. The interior is cool, modern, and thoughtfully designed, and the overall concept feels like something you would expect to see in a bigger city. From a visual and idea standpoint, it is refreshing for Corpus and a welcome change.
Where the experience fell short for me was the customer service. The staff definitely seems aware that this is a trendy spot, and it came across as a bit of a too-cool-to-engage attitude. It was not rude, but it also was not warm or welcoming, which was disappointing because good energy and friendliness go a long way in a place like this.
As for the food, it is hard to truly review since you are essentially cooking the ramen yourself. The experience is more about the novelty and customization than the quality of the meal itself. They do have food they prepare for a grab and go and also make there but I didn't try it.
Overall, I am glad this concept exists in Corpus and I think it will appeal to people who enjoy trying new and Instagram-worthy spots. That said, between the self-cooked ramen and the lack of a welcoming atmosphere, I am not sure it is somewhere I would personally go back to. It was interesting to try once, but not necessarily a repeat visit for me. read more