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YUP THIS IS THE SPOT TO GO FOR A VIBY YUMMY SCRUMPTIOUS DAY!!!! Fresh-homemade ramen--vibes that make you feel like you're in a bougie, upscale place in New York but lo and behold you're sitting in Providence, Rhode Island??? OH YEAH BABY Where do I even start with this review? THEM DAMN WINGS HAD ME LICKING MY FINGERS AND THE PLATE!!!!! UGH BEST FREAKING WINGS I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE I SWEAR. A mix of spicy but then sweetness but not much and then the green sauce that almost tastes like chutney...perfection Then the green curry ramen??? YOOO I WAS SLURPING THAT LIKE CRAZYYYYYYY. Gotta be one of my top ramens EVER. You need to go. Like trust me. Look at their menu on instagram (changes quite often) and you will not regret going. Genuinely looking forward (maybe salivating a little tto my next time going
My partner and I went to Pickerel for their special collaboration with FEEL and Cafe Mochiko. This was my first time visiting, as they normally do not take reservations, and I was blown away. Upon walking in, the restaurant has a beautiful ambiance- the lighting is low (not too dark), and the decor is well curated. The event had one special ramen option, which was absolutely amazing- it was delicious, comforting, and overall the perfect bowl. They also had some wine, beer, and other spirit options; I opted for a white wine with notes of apple and it was yummy. Lastly, we got a carrot blondie with ice cream to-go; it was such a delicious and unique dessert, and definitely something you cannot get anywhere else. Lastly, the service was great and all the staff were kind and attentive. I 100% will be coming back to experience their regular menu.
I felt as if it wasn't really worth the hype. I was told by multiple coworkers that this was the go to ramen location of PVD.. unfortunately, I'm going to have to say no. The noodles were not very "ramen" like, even though the menu lists them as such. The pork and broth had flavor which was scrumptious although I did think the broth had a flavor missing. I enjoyed the ambiance! However we waited an hour for a table, but there was no where to wait inside, and with parking being a pain in providence we had to walk all the way back to our car to wait one hour. It's a small place, they could benefit from a larger location, less need to have people wait. I also would have enjoyed a larger menu of options, I feel like there's so many things you can do with noodles, and I was not impressed. Maybe I need to come back and try again? Maybe order a different noodle? Not sure if it's worth the wait though.
There was a lot of hype for this place, and I honestly wanted to love it and have a go-to ramen shop for my winter cravings. Maybe I got the wrong thing (tonkatsu ramen), but we left feeling like it was good but not great. The broth and pork were flavorful, but I would've liked a bit more of a char. The original tonkatsu comes with dehydrated noodles, which I wasn't the greatest fan of; they were not bouncy and chewy enough for me and just left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. We arrived at 6PM and had to wait an hour for a table with no indoor waiting area and limited street parking nearby. Quite frankly, maybe I've been spoiled with exceptional ramen in California and Hawaii, so I wasn't particularly impressed with Pickerel. It's maybe worth another try with different noodles and with some more appetizers -- We'll see if Pickerel just didn't make a great first impression.
Came as a group of 4, and my partner and I ordered the menma rice, shio v2 bowl, carpenter st bowl, chocolate chip cookie, sandy road ice cream, tom yummy ice cream, and shibuya banana bread (daily special) - TASTE: 5/5 - the shio might be my favorite ramen now w its super rich & satisfying chicken broth and fatty pork chashu. Every dessert was truly excellent too -- from the loaded dark & milk chocolate in the cookie and the indulgent bananas foster topping w the banana bread, to the strong black sesame and coconut flavors in each ice creams. Would come back to try more of their rotating menu TEXTURE: 4/5 - crisp menma bamboo shoots w soft rice, (thinner than I expected) al dente noodles w fatty chashu, and moist banana bread w smooth ice cream PRICE: 4/5 - higher price points w $19-20 ramen bowls SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - satisfied us for dinner SERVICE: 4/5 - arrived shortly before the 5pm opening, and a line of ~10 people were already waiting outside. Thankfully the folks in front of us were smaller parties, so we were able to secure the only 4-top table (largest available). Our food started coming out 25min after ordering ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - tight space w bar seating and a dark & moody vibe PARKING: 4/5 - wasn't expecting Pickerel to be in a residential area. Got a free street spot right on Carpenter St
Hands down the best ramen in RI. There are some other decent places around but not on this level. Brought me back to ramen shops in Japan or NYC. **Be warned- it's tiny and busy- go right when they open. Eat everything on the menu. You have failed if you do not order dessert. -Get the menma rice (simple yet life changing) and good god the cabbage caesar cannot be missed. -Lastly, the person who makes dessert specials here also waited on us and seemed awesome...she honestly should get the award for best restaurant desserts in RI (next to made-to-order Al Forno, of course). Orgasmic is the word that comes to mind.
This place has been around for a while now and this is my second visit. This time around I arrived early to grab a seat since they don't take reservations. We were promptly seated and ordered the spicy sesame and a drink special that I think was called "pearl", but I think it had more to its name. The pearl drink had gin, and had a minty taste to it that was refreshing for the summer. The ramen was soup-less and cold, and it was ok and flavorful, but I couldn't say it was amazing. It was cold ramen with no soup. I needed something more for it to make an impression but that doesn't mean my experience was bad. My partner had the green curry and I wish I ordered it. It had such a great base and warmed you up with its light spices and spicy kick. This place is small so make sure you arrive early for a seat! Everyone was prompt and kind and attentive.
Rating 4.3 2nd time trying the place. Decided to leave a review this time. Pickerel is a primarily a Bar in providence that offers interesting ramen and bar food menu likely inspired by Japanese Izakaya. The place is relatively small and has limited seating and usually busy so wait time may be long during dinner time. They also have menu that constantly change so experience may be quite different every time you visit. Personally, I don't drink so I did not order any drinks however they do offer interesting options and certainly something to try for those that enjoy alcoholic beverages. I ordered green curry ramen with side of egg. The ramen was very flavorful with what seems like a broth consisting of curry spices, bonito dashi, chicken or beef stock, ginger, and cilantro. Noodle is slightly chewy and on the softer side. It also had menma which is fermented bamboo shoots which was good and likely homemade as they also offer as side dish with rice. Overall the place has good food, services and offers a unique experience of bar with changing seasonal menu. As a Japanese foody who visited Japan and had authentic Ramens before, I think that ramen here is probably one of the better if not the best currently in Rhode Island that I know of with limited option available in RI especially after Ganko Ittetsu closed. Downside of this place is that it's usually busy with limited seating, menu changes a-lot so what you like may not be on the menu when you come back, and the price is in the higher side. Personally I enjoy ramen noodle that is firmer and thinner. Ramen served here is not a traditional or authentic ramen but more funky and unique style that fusions different cultures thats a bit different and offers unique experience.
First time experience We arrived to Pickerel around six thirty . Knowing how busy it gets and its first come first served basis we were luckily able to get seated in about 15 minutes . We started with the curry buns which were soft and delicious, perfectly complimented by the rich shiitake scallion butter . We then each got our ramens . The shoyu ramen was light and flavored of soy sauce . Not too heavy or overpowering. A light chili oil provided a small kick of heat . The noodles were light and springy and the egg was cooked to perfection . The toppings seemed fresh and crisp. The spicy sesame ramen had noodles that were soft and chewy . The spice was well balanced with the richness of the sesame paste . The arugula added a change is texture and the bitterness was a nice touch . The raw onion ( a topping ) caught me off guard a bit but that's a preference. We also got the two cocktails the Allston handshake was an intriguing use of Mountain Dew code red . Once paired with the modelo it reminded us of a Shirley temple . The subtle eddy reference was fizzy and refreshing. Great way to ease the palate between bites We did get the cookies to go and they were both excellent. The ambiance was very intimate with such a small space to work with. I do wish the staff was slightly more interactive and attentive but our needs were met nonetheless . Would absolutely go back again for another date night.
This is a cute little Ramen shop on the West Side. We stopped by a couple times early on a Friday night and were able to get seated. We tried the cabbage caesar and the shoyu ramen! It's a small shop so perfect for solo or couples. We've caught a pop-up here and it was great! Pro Tips: - No reservations so come early - Try the counter seating - the Cabbage caesar is to die for - Great for solo dining or small parties
This summer 2024, the chef added a new green curry ramen to the menu and it is honestly the best bowl of ramen I've had in Providence so far. It's fragrant, slightly spicy, and the meat is fall-apart. It's honestly so good. I would come back again and again for this bowl of ramen. I've come previously and have thought the other ramen bowls were pretty solid but nothing that got me that too excited. The dipping ramen is pretty good. But this new green curry ramen bowl is definitely my favorite. If you've already come to Pickerel but haven't tried the green curry ramen, you need to come back to try it! Vibes are always cool, lighting is on the darker side. It's a small space but they have lots of hidden hooks to help you hang up your bags or jackets. Service is overall good, sometimes on the slightly slower side bc it can get busy, since there isn't a ton of seating. Def not friendly for families, as they don't have high chairs. But overall a really cool place with pretty solid ramen.
Recommended by a foodie friend, my family and I, a group of 3, came here for dinner around 6:30pm. A great choice for the rainy day that it was. It's a very small restaurant. Maybe holds about 25 people if that much. There is one booth that holds 4 people and 3 2-seater tables, then the rest of the seats are by the bar. This is a great spot for a date or a small group of friends. At the time we went, the wait time was 45 minutes so we put our names in and went across the street to The Avery, a bar, to have a drink to pass the time in the rainy weather. We got seats at the corner end of the bar which was great to chat with each other. The ambiance is nice and the servers were friendly. Our main server was very helpful with the menu. I don't know how else to say this but I really liked her energy, it was very chill in the way she answered our questions. We ordered the cabbage Caesar and corn &pork chashu fritter to share. These were nice light starts. We surprisingly struggled to finish the cabbage. Then my husband and I shared the Littleneck Shio with extra chashu pork. I tried the broth first- oh man, the flavor! Then I tried the noodles- best ramen noodles I've ever had- they were firm yet chewy. Then the pork- the char, the thickness, the flavor- Oh. My. God. So juicy, so flavorful, so yummy. It came with an egg but I didn't want any so my husband had it. For dessert we shared the Barley Brownie icecream and my brother got the black sesame latte icecream. In the Barley brownie I tasted notes of coffee at first then I when I got in on some of the brownie action it was hard not to have it all to myself. I tasted the Black Sesame Latte and it reminded me of a nutty salted caramel. I was contently full but if we didn't share any appetisers I definitely would have gotten my own bowl of ramen. Definitely a hidden gem worth trying.
21 days ago
Cool spot for some yummy modern ramen! Went here a few days ago with a friend. I got a bowl, I unfortunately did not write down the name but I am almost certain it had the word Brick in it. The broth was yummy and I enjoyed the three types of meat that topped the noodles. One note, my friend and I did pay extra for an egg, I believe almost two dollars. I just wish the egg had been marinated for a longer period, in terms of it being a ramen egg, it fell short. Overall, a good place for some cool bites and friendly staff too! read more
Food: I tried the Carpenter St. Ramen and appreciated the generous portion size. My egg was a bit undercooked for my liking, and I found the broth a little mild in flavor. My friend originally wanted the Green Curry Ramen, but it was out of stock, so they tried the Spicy Sesame Ramen instead. It was decent, though not particularly memorable. We also shared the cabbage salad, which was crisp and tangy--a definite highlight. If you're looking for ramen that's very traditional or bold in flavor, this might not fully hit the mark, but there are some tasty options to try. Service: Our waitress was friendly and polite, though we noticed she didn't check in as often as we might have hoped. We did have to go to the bar at one point to request the bill, but overall, she was pleasant. Ambiance: The restaurant is cozy and intimate. There's a sign and curtain near the entrance that says "wait to be seated," which was a little confusing at first, but a regular customer kindly guided us around it. Inside, the seating is a mix of a long bar and smaller two-tops along the walls, so it works best for smaller groups rather than large parties. read more
YUP THIS IS THE SPOT TO GO FOR A VIBY YUMMY SCRUMPTIOUS DAY!!!! Fresh-homemade ramen--vibes that make you feel like you're in a bougie, upscale place in New York but lo and behold you're sitting in Providence, Rhode Island??? OH YEAH BABY Where do I even start with this review? THEM DAMN WINGS HAD ME LICKING MY FINGERS AND THE PLATE!!!!! UGH BEST FREAKING WINGS I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE I SWEAR. A mix of spicy but then sweetness but not much and then the green sauce that almost tastes like chutney...perfection Then the green curry ramen??? YOOO I WAS SLURPING THAT LIKE CRAZYYYYYYY. Gotta be one of my top ramens EVER. You need to go. Like trust me. Look at their menu on instagram (changes quite often) and you will not regret going. Genuinely looking forward (maybe salivating a little tto my next time going read more
1 year ago
My partner and I went to Pickerel for their special collaboration with FEEL and Cafe Mochiko. This was my first time visiting, as they normally do not take reservations, and I was blown away. Upon walking in, the restaurant has a beautiful ambiance- the lighting is low (not too dark), and the decor is well curated. The event had one special ramen option, which was absolutely amazing- it was delicious, comforting, and overall the perfect bowl. They also had some wine, beer, and other spirit options; I opted for a white wine with notes of apple and it was yummy. Lastly, we got a carrot blondie with ice cream to-go; it was such a delicious and unique dessert, and definitely something you cannot get anywhere else. Lastly, the service was great and all the staff were kind and attentive. I 100% will be coming back to experience their regular menu. read more
I felt as if it wasn't really worth the hype. I was told by multiple coworkers that this was the go to ramen location of PVD.. unfortunately, I'm going to have to say no. The noodles were not very "ramen" like, even though the menu lists them as such. The pork and broth had flavor which was scrumptious although I did think the broth had a flavor missing. I enjoyed the ambiance! However we waited an hour for a table, but there was no where to wait inside, and with parking being a pain in providence we had to walk all the way back to our car to wait one hour. It's a small place, they could benefit from a larger location, less need to have people wait. I also would have enjoyed a larger menu of options, I feel like there's so many things you can do with noodles, and I was not impressed. Maybe I need to come back and try again? Maybe order a different noodle? Not sure if it's worth the wait though. read more
There was a lot of hype for this place, and I honestly wanted to love it and have a go-to ramen shop for my winter cravings. Maybe I got the wrong thing (tonkatsu ramen), but we left feeling like it was good but not great. The broth and pork were flavorful, but I would've liked a bit more of a char. The original tonkatsu comes with dehydrated noodles, which I wasn't the greatest fan of; they were not bouncy and chewy enough for me and just left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. We arrived at 6PM and had to wait an hour for a table with no indoor waiting area and limited street parking nearby. Quite frankly, maybe I've been spoiled with exceptional ramen in California and Hawaii, so I wasn't particularly impressed with Pickerel. It's maybe worth another try with different noodles and with some more appetizers -- We'll see if Pickerel just didn't make a great first impression. read more
8 months ago
8 months ago
1 year ago
Came as a group of 4, and my partner and I ordered the menma rice, shio v2 bowl, carpenter st bowl, chocolate chip cookie, sandy road ice cream, tom yummy ice cream, and shibuya banana bread (daily special) - TASTE: 5/5 - the shio might be my favorite ramen now w its super rich & satisfying chicken broth and fatty pork chashu. Every dessert was truly excellent too -- from the loaded dark & milk chocolate in the cookie and the indulgent bananas foster topping w the banana bread, to the strong black sesame and coconut flavors in each ice creams. Would come back to try more of their rotating menu TEXTURE: 4/5 - crisp menma bamboo shoots w soft rice, (thinner than I expected) al dente noodles w fatty chashu, and moist banana bread w smooth ice cream PRICE: 4/5 - higher price points w $19-20 ramen bowls SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - satisfied us for dinner SERVICE: 4/5 - arrived shortly before the 5pm opening, and a line of ~10 people were already waiting outside. Thankfully the folks in front of us were smaller parties, so we were able to secure the only 4-top table (largest available). Our food started coming out 25min after ordering ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - tight space w bar seating and a dark & moody vibe PARKING: 4/5 - wasn't expecting Pickerel to be in a residential area. Got a free street spot right on Carpenter St read more
Hands down the best ramen in RI. There are some other decent places around but not on this level. Brought me back to ramen shops in Japan or NYC. **Be warned- it's tiny and busy- go right when they open. Eat everything on the menu. You have failed if you do not order dessert. -Get the menma rice (simple yet life changing) and good god the cabbage caesar cannot be missed. -Lastly, the person who makes dessert specials here also waited on us and seemed awesome...she honestly should get the award for best restaurant desserts in RI (next to made-to-order Al Forno, of course). Orgasmic is the word that comes to mind. read more
This place has been around for a while now and this is my second visit. This time around I arrived early to grab a seat since they don't take reservations. We were promptly seated and ordered the spicy sesame and a drink special that I think was called "pearl", but I think it had more to its name. The pearl drink had gin, and had a minty taste to it that was refreshing for the summer. The ramen was soup-less and cold, and it was ok and flavorful, but I couldn't say it was amazing. It was cold ramen with no soup. I needed something more for it to make an impression but that doesn't mean my experience was bad. My partner had the green curry and I wish I ordered it. It had such a great base and warmed you up with its light spices and spicy kick. This place is small so make sure you arrive early for a seat! Everyone was prompt and kind and attentive. read more
Rating 4.3 2nd time trying the place. Decided to leave a review this time. Pickerel is a primarily a Bar in providence that offers interesting ramen and bar food menu likely inspired by Japanese Izakaya. The place is relatively small and has limited seating and usually busy so wait time may be long during dinner time. They also have menu that constantly change so experience may be quite different every time you visit. Personally, I don't drink so I did not order any drinks however they do offer interesting options and certainly something to try for those that enjoy alcoholic beverages. I ordered green curry ramen with side of egg. The ramen was very flavorful with what seems like a broth consisting of curry spices, bonito dashi, chicken or beef stock, ginger, and cilantro. Noodle is slightly chewy and on the softer side. It also had menma which is fermented bamboo shoots which was good and likely homemade as they also offer as side dish with rice. Overall the place has good food, services and offers a unique experience of bar with changing seasonal menu. As a Japanese foody who visited Japan and had authentic Ramens before, I think that ramen here is probably one of the better if not the best currently in Rhode Island that I know of with limited option available in RI especially after Ganko Ittetsu closed. Downside of this place is that it's usually busy with limited seating, menu changes a-lot so what you like may not be on the menu when you come back, and the price is in the higher side. Personally I enjoy ramen noodle that is firmer and thinner. Ramen served here is not a traditional or authentic ramen but more funky and unique style that fusions different cultures thats a bit different and offers unique experience. read more
First time experience We arrived to Pickerel around six thirty . Knowing how busy it gets and its first come first served basis we were luckily able to get seated in about 15 minutes . We started with the curry buns which were soft and delicious, perfectly complimented by the rich shiitake scallion butter . We then each got our ramens . The shoyu ramen was light and flavored of soy sauce . Not too heavy or overpowering. A light chili oil provided a small kick of heat . The noodles were light and springy and the egg was cooked to perfection . The toppings seemed fresh and crisp. The spicy sesame ramen had noodles that were soft and chewy . The spice was well balanced with the richness of the sesame paste . The arugula added a change is texture and the bitterness was a nice touch . The raw onion ( a topping ) caught me off guard a bit but that's a preference. We also got the two cocktails the Allston handshake was an intriguing use of Mountain Dew code red . Once paired with the modelo it reminded us of a Shirley temple . The subtle eddy reference was fizzy and refreshing. Great way to ease the palate between bites We did get the cookies to go and they were both excellent. The ambiance was very intimate with such a small space to work with. I do wish the staff was slightly more interactive and attentive but our needs were met nonetheless . Would absolutely go back again for another date night. read more
1 year ago
This is a cute little Ramen shop on the West Side. We stopped by a couple times early on a Friday night and were able to get seated. We tried the cabbage caesar and the shoyu ramen! It's a small shop so perfect for solo or couples. We've caught a pop-up here and it was great! Pro Tips: - No reservations so come early - Try the counter seating - the Cabbage caesar is to die for - Great for solo dining or small parties read more
This summer 2024, the chef added a new green curry ramen to the menu and it is honestly the best bowl of ramen I've had in Providence so far. It's fragrant, slightly spicy, and the meat is fall-apart. It's honestly so good. I would come back again and again for this bowl of ramen. I've come previously and have thought the other ramen bowls were pretty solid but nothing that got me that too excited. The dipping ramen is pretty good. But this new green curry ramen bowl is definitely my favorite. If you've already come to Pickerel but haven't tried the green curry ramen, you need to come back to try it! Vibes are always cool, lighting is on the darker side. It's a small space but they have lots of hidden hooks to help you hang up your bags or jackets. Service is overall good, sometimes on the slightly slower side bc it can get busy, since there isn't a ton of seating. Def not friendly for families, as they don't have high chairs. But overall a really cool place with pretty solid ramen. read more
Recommended by a foodie friend, my family and I, a group of 3, came here for dinner around 6:30pm. A great choice for the rainy day that it was. It's a very small restaurant. Maybe holds about 25 people if that much. There is one booth that holds 4 people and 3 2-seater tables, then the rest of the seats are by the bar. This is a great spot for a date or a small group of friends. At the time we went, the wait time was 45 minutes so we put our names in and went across the street to The Avery, a bar, to have a drink to pass the time in the rainy weather. We got seats at the corner end of the bar which was great to chat with each other. The ambiance is nice and the servers were friendly. Our main server was very helpful with the menu. I don't know how else to say this but I really liked her energy, it was very chill in the way she answered our questions. We ordered the cabbage Caesar and corn &pork chashu fritter to share. These were nice light starts. We surprisingly struggled to finish the cabbage. Then my husband and I shared the Littleneck Shio with extra chashu pork. I tried the broth first- oh man, the flavor! Then I tried the noodles- best ramen noodles I've ever had- they were firm yet chewy. Then the pork- the char, the thickness, the flavor- Oh. My. God. So juicy, so flavorful, so yummy. It came with an egg but I didn't want any so my husband had it. For dessert we shared the Barley Brownie icecream and my brother got the black sesame latte icecream. In the Barley brownie I tasted notes of coffee at first then I when I got in on some of the brownie action it was hard not to have it all to myself. I tasted the Black Sesame Latte and it reminded me of a nutty salted caramel. I was contently full but if we didn't share any appetisers I definitely would have gotten my own bowl of ramen. Definitely a hidden gem worth trying. read more
2 years ago
Stopped in for the first time to check out what the hype was about and ordered the spicy sesame ramen. It was a honestly a little bit watery and definitely not spicy. The vibe of Pickerel is trendy and there is a great ambience so it felt weird to sit in a hip spot pretending to enjoy watered down ramen that does not taste very authentic. The service was also pretty average and impersonal but it wasn't bad either so I have no complaints there. Would I come here again? Yes, if my friends want to go. Would I suggest it to my friends? Probably not. The best part of my visit here was the mood, but not the food. read more
2 years ago
Pickerel, the place you go to when you think you understand how good ramen can be only to be blown away. Buckle up, I have a lot to say on this one. Hole in the wall describes this place perfectly, you walk in and there is bar seating going the length of the space with tables line up along the wall and just about every single seat will be filled, for good reason. They have heavy a heavy metal grungy playlist on, it's loud, it's busy, it's hectic and I love the atmosphere. You ain't coming here for a nice quiet relaxing frufru dinner with candlelight and a French waitor with an accent. Instead, you get Spencer behind the bar cranking out drinks for the endless stream of patrons and his positive, happy demeanor. Now, the food. My wife and I started with the cabbage Caesar salad with yuzu dressing. Lordy, you got 2 and a half salads, for the price of 1. It was a perfect thing to kick off the meal. It's fresh with a perfect amount of richness from the ponzu dressing and parmesan cheese. I would recommend sharing this because if you get it for 1, the flavor can probably get a little redundant by the end. Personally, I would crush the who thing but I also eat straight up undressed shredded cabbage with my meals at home mixed into rice and stuff, so ymmv. The ramen: I thought I knew what amazing ramen was. It turns out, I knew only what great ramen was. Give me a bowl from Ebisu, Yagi, Boru, New Wave kitchen any day of the week and I will be one happy guy but when I took my first sip of broth, I knew I was in for something on an entirely different level. There was a special for Yokohama ramen which was suggested to me over the green curry ramen simply because as Spencer said, "the Yokohama is really a special ramen". This broth was so silky, rich, and flavorful that I was taken back at the first taste. This bowl looked simple, but you immediately realize that it's anything but. The pork was tender and sliced perfectly, the veggies were the veggies- great, but not why we're here. Now, the noodles. This is one of the components that takes a bowl from good to great. I don't know if they're made in house but they sure tasted like they were. Cooked perfectly, maintaining an exceptional balance of chew and spring, they were as good from the first bite to the last. I think the only thing I would do differently in this bowl would be to use a soy egg and have more of a soft boiled texture. Personally, it's my opinion that a custardy egg yolk and egg that's been marinated in shoyu and mirin with a still-tender white is perfect for ramen. Regardless, easily the best bowl of ramen I've had so far in my life and I don't say that lightly. Lastly, we had to get dessert. They had a churned French style ice cream that had corn cobs steeped in the cream and had blueberry and corn bread chunks folded into the base. Now, sounds delicious right? Honestly, this fell very short for me. Pickerel did everything else so above and beyond, I had high expectations going into their home made ice cream but it had a slightly icy texture, the corn bread chunks were crunchy and lacked any sweetness. I would have expected a condensed pound cake-like texture, except with corn bread. Maybe the occasional corn bread "ripple" with broken up pieces of corn bread from the mixing process. But alas, next time we'll try the brownie or their cookie or something else. Overall, above and beyond my expectations for the ramen and appetizer. Thoroughly enjoyed my first visit here and will absolutely be back because now that I've had a taste, I don't really want ramen anywhere else in RI. 5/5 if you couldn't tell. I usually talk about pricing in my reviews.. Just know that it's worth every penny here. The salad was about $11-12, the ramen was between $19-23 and the icecream about $6. I would spend all that again in the blink of an eye. A little pricy on the surface for ramen? Sure, but you taste quality and care in every single bite. A side note, if you see a pork based bowl, get it. They apparently don't do ramen with pork based broths often. Don't walk, run to Pickerel if you share a love for ramen. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
I finally was able to try Pickerel after hearing so much praise about it. You definitely need to get there right as they open - there was a full house when I arrived. They do, however, have a waiting list. For appetizers, we ordered the Menma Rice, which was delicious, and the Curry Buns, which were just okay. I ordered the Spicy Sesame ramen and my friend ordered the Shio V2. The spicy sesame ramen broth was really flavorful, consisting of shiitake dashi and sesame paste which paired really well together. I ordered an extra side of noodles, which I thought would already be mixed into to the bowl but they gave it to me on the side. I was able to take leftover broth and noodles home. The ramen also had seared tofu, which complemented well with the rest of the dish. My friend's broth was also good. We then went crazy on desserts. My favorite was the "bye buddy, hope you find your dad" eggnog flavored ice cream with potato chips and muddy buddies. Loved the sweet and savory mix. The canadian bread pudding, with shokupan purin bread, vermont maple syrup, and maldon salt was also delicious. Service was a bit slow, but I continued to peak into the kitchen and saw the craftsmanship and passion that goes in every dish so it was worth the wait. Due to space, I would only recommend visiting with one other person. I would definitely come back, as their menu rotates every season. read more
10 months ago
Small cozy restaurant,. The broth very rich and complex, with slight salty favor, bamboo add a nice crunchy texture, the pork was thinly sliced tender and flavorful; the noodles gave a nice chewy taste.The egg was done perfectly and with a little brightness of fresh cilantro. Service was great. Definitely a must try. read more
Wow, finally an amazing ramen place in providence! This small, and cute spot in PVD has a rotating menu. It's very small, so come early if you want to be seated right away! They do not do reservations. I ordered the carpenter st with chili oil and it did not disappoint, yum! read more
I was so excited to find out a new restaurant had taken over the space that big king left behind, doubly so when I found out it was a ramen place. Tried out the Carpenter St. ramen and would say it's a ~3.5 stars rounded up to a four. The noodles were on the thinner side (slightly overcooked), and out of the two chashu pork pieces, only the top one had a smoky blowtorch char to it. The redeeming characteristic was the broth, which was full-bodied with strong dashi notes - perfect for a chilly Providence. They do have a rotating menu so would come again to try out their other offerings. They have a fun dessert menu too with interesting housemade ice-cream flavors (e.g. curry ice cream). read more
2 years ago
Fantastic food, music, interior design, and calm patient staff that let me enjoy a Friday night casually Quickly seated for one, and accommodated kindly read more
4 years ago
Once you walk into Pickerel, you can smell the ramen and it makes you feel at home. There is a long bar with chairs surrounded by two-seater tables and a 4-person table. I sat at the bar and it was a nice experience. The menu is ever changing and given to you on a piece of paper. I had the Classic Shoyu. The ramen was cooked perfectly and the broth was delicious. I really enjoyed both pieces of pork, but the charred pork belly was very flavorful. I enjoyed this dish and would get it again. For dessert, I had their strawberry cloud pudding. It was very fluffy. My husband had their cookies and cream ice cream and he enjoyed it. The ice cream comes in pints and you can either eat it there or take it home. Definitely worth checking out! I came early and was able to get seated right away. As we were consuming our meal, the waitlist for tables was growing. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
We came here around 6:45P on a cold slippery Saturday night and still had to wait about 40 minutes. It was still worth it! The place has a speak easy vibe. Settled in between residential homes, with a very inconspicuous sign and dim lighting. I will admit that I'm not the biggest fan of ramen as it is often so heavy but their broth is so full of flavor and yet light. My sister got the rhode island red: spicy chicken and dashi, pork chashu, house chili crisp and oil, menma, scallions, and nori which was absolutely delicious. The broth had a full chicken flavor with a hint of smokiness which really enhanced the flavor. I got the spicy sesame, a vegan ramen which was also quite good but the chicken and dashi broth knocked it out of the park. They sold out on a dessert we wanted so we opted for the chocolate chip cookie and the molasses cookie. The cookies were warm and the chocolate chips were oh so gooey. The chocolate chip had a sprinkle of sea seat. 10/10 one of the best chocolate chip cookies! Can't wait to go back when we're in the area! read more
8 months ago
Great spot to get a bowl of ramen! Cozy spot with a hipster vibe. They have a few cocktails and other drinks but none really caught my attention. The menus change quite often. I got the Rhode Island Red bowl. The broth was full-bodied and spicy although the best part was the noodles. They were cooked very well. They also have really interesting desserts. Their tomato and cheese ice cream is a must-try. Overall very good experience. The service was great. Since it's a small space, it's not great for groups. Would come back and try other dishes on their experimental menus. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
Hands down the best ramen i've ever and probably will ever have. Drooling while typing this. I had the Rhode Island Red ramen with an egg, and my partner had the green curry ramen. Both were incredible. Every aspect. Even down to how thick the scallion was cut. The broth in the Rhode Island red had so much depth and richness, all while being perfectly balanced by the perfectly prepared chicken and pork. 10/10 ambiance. Our server was on aux and not only was his music taste immaculate, but the way the staff is able to comfortably move around their space was so welcoming and amazing to see. Ownership knows what they're doing through and through. Shout out to every single who has contributed to the experience of Pickerel. read more
8 months ago
A solid 3.5 stars for food, bumped to 4 for service. Visited this place on a weekday evening; there were already a few patrons at the bar seats. There are a few tables for two but otherwise no real seating for groups. The carpenter ramen had a nice dashi broth which was decently salty and savory. It included menma, nori and pork chashu and I added an egg. Overall, it was a good bowl of ramen but not really worth $18. There just wasn't enough complexity of ingredients or flavor to justify the price. I also wish the second piece of chashu was grilled as well? I was satisfied but I wish there was more to it. The seasonal dessert menu was a nice touch- I had the miso ice cream which was similar to salted caramel- delicious!! Overall this place is promising but I wish it offered more for the price point. read more
Pickerel has been on the top of my New England food bucket list for a while and we finally made the trip out to Providence to try it! I had a wonderful experience and will certainly be back. We came before the restaurant opened at 5pm and there were a couple of other groups that came then too. There is not much seating since it's a small place, but service is pretty quick. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the food and drink. We got two of the cocktails. Since I like sweeter things, none of the drinks we tried were particularly sweet, but they were still refreshing. Out of the ones I tried, I would say the glass cannon and the highball du jour were pretty good, but not my favorite drinks. Overall it was cool that they had a lot of different liquors and it seems to be a main focus of the restaurant. I got the Carpenter St ramen ($18), which was delicious! I absolutely loved the broth, which was light but also so flavorful with depth, and each one of the meaty/seafoody elements of the broth shined. It's probably one of my favorite clear ramen broths ever. The noodles were delicate and slurpable. The ramen egg was yummy. There was one thick charred piece of chashu which was tender and not too fatty, so it was great! There was also a thinner piece of ham. The bamboo was a bit thick so it was stringy to bite through, but I wouldn't say it detracted from the dish. Overall this was a really delicious ramen and I will be thinking about that broth for a while. We also got the spicy sesame mazemen ($18) which is vegan if you omit the egg, but of course we had to get the onsen egg. I've never had vegan ramen before but this was awesome. The sesame makes it really rich and creamy while the lack of animal products prevents it from being too heavy. The noodles were thick and chewy, and were perfectly coated in all the sauce. There was a good spice kick from the chili oil and it was bursting with savory flavor. I definitely wasn't expecting to like this one as much as the Carpenter St ramen but I did! It was really delicious. We also got the Vote for Jello dessert ($7) which was excellent! It looks like a fancy panna cotta and tastes delicious. It has all the different textures from the wild strawberry jello to the creamy layer to the crunchy candied cornflakes... It was a tiny bit too sweet for my tastes but was absolutely delicious, and more than worth the price. Overall I thought this was a really excellent ramen experience -- I've certaintly never had better dessert at a ramen restaurant. I will 100% be back when I'm in Providence, and I'm sure it will be one of the main reasons I return in the future. It seems like the menu can change from time to time, but I don't think you can go wrong -- Pickerel does ramen very very well. Looking forward to coming back soon! read more
2 years ago
Great ambience and authentic ramen house vibe with side bar. Love especially the menu rotates daily. Highly recommend the cornbread read more
1 year ago
Lovely small restaurant in Federal Hill in Providence. There are maybe 20 seats and they feature ramen. We had two curry buns to start and we enjoyed the light curry touch. The ramen was good -- not great -- as we prefer thicker and chewier noodles and the broth could have had a more intense flavor. It was a clear shio style broth, and my wife and I prefer a thicker broth -- I'll try a different bowl next time. The char sui was very good. There was an EXCELLENT coconut/lemon sorbet that had a very clear distinct flavor, and we had chocolate chip cookies straight out of the oven. The decor was tasteful and the staff very friendly. We'll likely be back. read more
2 years ago
Intimate and cozy spot. We got the Dirty Shoyu and New England Shio. Both broths were flavorful and unique. The noodles were perfect texture and the pork tender. Every ingredient was purposeful and thought out. This is the most talked about ramen in the city for good reason. Come here on a hot or cold day with an appetite for a warm, hearty bowl of noodles. read more
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3 years ago
Pickerel - ramen - Updated August 2026
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