Skip mimosas for a hot noodle bowl at Ivan Ramen

It's been awhile since I last updated my blog. Since then, I quit my job and ventured to New York, Atlanta and Atlantic City.My recent trip to Manhattan included trying a steaming, delicious bowl of my favorite Japanese dish at Ivan Ramen located in the Lower East Side. I made a reservation through OpenTable and managed to meet a friend who recently moved to the city.Since it was a Saturday afternoon, I managed to choose a signature bowl from the brunch menu, which the eatery offers solely on the weekend (no lunch available). The Tokyo Shio Ramen came with a chicken-based broth, nothing too memorable, but nothing disheartening. The noodles' earn points for solid not-too-soft texture. I threw an extra egg ($2) in the bowl and left with disappointment since it didn't come seasoned. The dish came loaded with scallions and a slices of pork chashu. The broth's seasoning left brown coloring on the edges of the white bowl making it not as "pretty" as one would hope.  It's not cheap ($15) and there's even a bottomless 90-minute all you can drink option for $35. A friend ordered the Tonkotsu Tsukemen (below). A great option for summer, the cold noodles paired with a lightly seasoned broth. It could use more depth, but here's to trying. Maybe it pleases an American, but not my fairly diverse palette.The ambience comes mixed with a contemporary, street-like vibe. It's somewhat confusing because you can't decide if this is a trendy establishment or a keep-to-its-roots joint. It's a good place to catch up with a friend who isn't a huge foodie or a meal with the parents.Will I go back? No. Will I try the Slurp Shop in Hell's Kitchen? Why not. It can only go uphill from here.Ivan Ramen is located on 25 Clinton Street in the Lower East Side of NYC.