Bosso Ramen Tavern Review: Musee de Modern Culinary Art

Warm, chic, and welcoming in its newly-renovated space, Bosso Ramen Tavern is a Harvard Square newcomer. Walking in with the first group of excited restaurant-goers, the tables steadily fill as each party is seated to a chorus of “Welcome to Bosso!” from staff members and the jovial ambiance of a healthy, bustling, organic restaurant grows. The menu boasts a creative and exciting set of dishes, all worth sampling. Edamame Shiromiso Hummus — a successful work of chips, spices, and creativity provides a delicious appetizer. Washed down with a glass of rose, just one choice from an impressive suite of sake and wine options, the first pass is a delightful introduction to Bosso Ramen Taverns simple elegance.

On to the sushi: Plate by plate, Harvard Square veterans are guaranteed to find a new take (and taste) on sushi unlike anything else in the Square. Spicy salmon arrives nestled in a sheet of nori, under a bed of rice and spicy mayo; a garnish of radish and cilantro tops off another top-quality cut of fish. The vegetarian options surprisingly do not disappoint: the vegetarian roll is a flavorful mix of noodles and rice, accompanied by a crunchy outer shell.

Bosso Ramen Tavern does not shy away from the performance and spectacle of dining. Guests await their meal while watching chefs steadily build mouth-watering bowls of ramen and sushi, while a blowtorch is set off here and there and the waiters and waitresses bustle throughout the cozy but energetic space.

Perhaps the secret star of the show and closing act that will call for another visit to Bosso Ramen Tavern is the dessert:] culinary intelligence shines here, highlighting the masterful execution of a simple but ambitious menu. Black sesame ice cream with sweet potato ended an already impressive meal with equal flair and ambition.

Bosso Ramen Tavern has cleverly filled its own niche in Harvard Square, providing a culinary experience and atmosphere that compliments the larger restaurant ecosystem. The Square has recently seen a boom in ramen establishments: Menya Jiro, One Ramen & Sushi, and Hokkaido Ramen Santouka all offer visitors mid-range, fast-casual ramen and sushi experiences. Perhaps this dense population of ramen shops is an attempt to profit off the stereotypical college-students-living-off-ramen trope. Instant ramen has a reputation for being cheap and easy, and these college neighborhood ramen shops emphasize higher quality ingredients while preserving comfort and ease. Bosso Ramen Tavern, while perhaps benefiting from the university association, thoroughly rejects the dorm-food trope. The atmosphere is posh, with an unapologetic air of sophistication and caters towards a crowd much older than the average Harvard student. The prices are well out of the range of a student looking at Tasty Burger or El Jefe’s, ensuring a much yuppier crowd.

Bosso Ramen Tavern is catered towards creating an immersive experience as much as it is about serving food. The servers all share a bit of the restaurant's history and cultural roots, and the story of each ingredient is served along with its tasting notes. This positions Bosso Ramen Tavern as an immersive and intimate experience that goes beyond the menu (and artisan volumed servings) to offer portage to a culturally-charged experience. The food itself, though high quality and rich in flavor, is portioned in modest sizes compared to many of the late-night oriented Harvard square favorites (like El Jefe's gargantuan burritos…). Bosso Ramen Tavern’s plating — like its experience — is artistry, a well-curated fabric of greetings, staff, lighting, stories, and smells. The long lines queuing up across from the Smith Campus Center are here to stay for the foreseeable future, and Bosso Ramen Tavern will assuredly cement its reputation amongst diners in Harvard Square.