Our visit to Kyuramen for their much-hyped ramen was met with mixed feelings. While the restaurant had a cozy interior and convenient parking, the overall dining experience left much to be desired.

Location & Parking: Kyuramen x TBAAR is located at 988 Franklin Ave, Garden City, NY 11530, with a parking lot accessible via 9th or 10th street. It's wheelchair accessible.

Interior: Upon entering the restaurant (from the parking lot), you'll find a bubble tea take-out area before walking down the hallway to reach the dining area. The interior has a warm oak color, and seating options include booths, tables, bird cages, and a bar. Servers are dressed in black, and the atmosphere is cozy and comfortable.

Table Setting & Menu: We ordered the #1 Tonkotsu Ramen, which was listed as "Tokyo Tonkotsu Shouyu" on the menu. The server didn't seem very familiar with the dishes and had trouble understanding our orders. My partner ordered the "Sapporo Miso Ramen", but there was no option for customizing the noodles. I was disappointed that they didn't have the chicken Kara-age I was hoping for, and settled for the Ika Geso Kara-age (Fried Squid). The chopsticks were square-shaped and long, typical of the Chinese restaurant.

Serving: The ramen arrived before the appetizer, which was unexpected. The server also held the bowl with one hand, with his thumb touching the inside of my bowl. Not very sanitary or professional.

Taste: The Tonkotsu Ramen with black garlic (which cost an extra dollar) lacked the deep flavor I was hoping for, and the pork slice was below average. The Sapporo Miso Ramen was decent but nothing special, and the soup was cooler than expected. The Ika Geso Kara-age was fishy and oil not well-drained. The absence of any dipping sauce was also disappointing.

Overall Thoughts: While the ramen came out quickly, the overall dining experience was underwhelming. Kyuramen is definitely not for ramen enthusiasts, and the prices (around $50 for two bowls of ramen and an appetizer) are steep for the quality of food served. While this is the only Kyuramen franchise I've been to, if you're looking for a casual dining experience, then Kyuramen may be worth checking out. However, if you've visited some of the nicer spots in Manhattan, you may find this restaurant to be disappointing.

While Kyuramen has its charms, the ramen experience left much to be desired. If you're looking for high-quality ramen, there are other options in the area worth exploring.