Megan and I were just dying to visit Rhea. The menu and cocktails seemed super creative and we both love Asian fusion and unique dishes. We had a table on a Thursday night and the restaurant was buzzing! It is a beautiful space right in the middle of downtown Saratoga Springs.
We were seated immediately and had consistent and friendly service from our server, Francesca. We started with cocktails! We had plenty of drinks throughout our visit, and they were all super creative. We definitely enjoyed some more than others. My favorite of the night was the Saratogarashi. It was insane and like nothing I've ever tasted. Bourbon, chilis, plum, ginger, salt. It was almost savory. I will definitely order this drink again next time I come. Megan loved the Dunes of the Cape, which had lychee and was an absolutely stunning drink. Too many other cocktails to name!
Then, there was the food. We ordered three shareables and we each ordered a ramen dish.
French Onion Wontons were just as they sound. This was a super delicious dish, rich with deep onion flavor, delicate wontons filled with short rib, topped with melty cheese. The broth is delicious, but they do not serve this with a spoon which makes you miss out on the broth unless you ask for one, and while it was under "shareable", we found it difficult to share - that didn't stop us though.
The Tuna Tartare was decent, but kinda missed the mark for us. We were expecting something a little different than what was served.
The Udon Carbonara absolutely knocked me off my feet. We both fell in love with those fluffy noodles in this amazing Asian twist on a classic Italian dish. This dish was incredible. The noodles are thicc and fluffy, the sauce is an umami bomb, edamame replaces peas, thick cut bacon adds the perfect amount of salt, topped with cured egg yolk. It was perfectly seasoned. I couldn't dream up a better dish. The whole menu speaks to my Asian fusion loving heart, but I will be thinking about those noods for a long time.
The Seafood Ramen was excellent. I hadn't tried seafood ramen before so I was excited to see this on the menu and it sounded perfect. Clam broth, lots of mussels and shrimp, thick cut bacon, corn, old bay butter. I added an egg and a side of chili oil. The flavor of the broth was deep and rich and everything in the soup was perfectly cooked. I was a bit confused as to how thick the broth got. It was very creamy and heavy, I would prefer if the broth was a little thinner like a traditional ramen broth, but that's just my opinion. The ramen bowl was huge, delicious and generous, and I had plenty to take home.
Megan's review of her ramen and our dessert:
I've been on a Birria kick lately and knew I needed this ramen from the moment I saw the menu released: braised short rib, ancho chili broth, red onions, sliced jalapeno, cilantro, radish, cheesy tortilla... I mean, what more could you ask for? A thoughtful and bold cross between Mexican and Japanese cuisine; I'm all about it! The portion was HUGE. I, too, added a miso cured egg (duh...how could you not?!) and chili oil on the side. The short rib was plentiful and there were noods abound. The cheesy tortilla soaked in the broth was an amazing touch. I will say, I am a salty girl, and when I think rich broth, I think sodium. It could've just been my taste/preference, but I would've liked a touch more salt. The presentation was beautiful and I, too, had plenty to take home.
We topped the night off with the Chocolate Chinese Five Spice Eclairs, which were finished with togarashi peanuts and whipped cream, and it really did put the cherry on top. The eclairs were fluffy and filled with an abundance of cream. The taste reminded us both of a Nestle Drumstick/Sundae Cone These were truly fantastic and perfect for sharing.
Over all, we both highly recommend trying out Rhea and getting a bunch of different plates to share. The cocktails, apps, and ramen were all excellent and we both cannot wait to return. read more