Futo Buta

Futo Buta Restaurant Review:

Two-tops are sprinkled in around a long table with communal seating at this buzzy South End ramen shop. Colorful anime art and alt-rock lend the place a fun vibe. Chef Michael Shortino (Baku in South Park) divides the main menu into appetizers, buns, ramen and dessert. Start by sampling the izakaya fare, with starters ranging from edamame and shishito peppers to the inventive rice crispy squares. These are eight small deep-fried rice squares that serve as beds for scoops of marinated spicy raw tuna, complete with wasabi-soy dipping sauce. Buns, soft and easy to share, come two to the plate in three options: pork belly, duck, or eggplant and zucchini. Sushi selections include salmon-belly nigiri, four pieces topped with maple soy, yuzu mayo, tobiko and micro chive. Ramen is the star of the show, though, with such classics as shoyu and tonkatsu. The latter, served in a large ceramic bowl, blends pecan-smoked pork belly strips; fresh, hand-made noodles; scallion; pieces of organic mushroom; and an onsen egg (one cooked at low temperature) floating in a rich pork bone broth with hints of ginger, sesame and garlic. House-made hot sauces and pepper embellishments upgrade the spice-level to the diner’s preference. Don’t miss the amami, house-made soft serve available in inventive flavor combinations, such as strawberry-basil and green tea. Saké is the drink to try, and flights are suggested, but local beers and wines by the glass are also available.