I recently visited Morimoto in NYC’s Chelsea neighborhood (morimotorestaurant.com), and was so excited by the had there.  It is a fantastic spot located in Chelsea, with a huge building, original artwork (sustainable too), and a sleek and modern design.  I was excited by the look and feel, and was definitely enthralled by the original glass (made of glass bottles) lighting in the space.

When it came to the meal, there are certain parts of it which I find especially memorable.  First off, the tuna pizza.  What can I say about this, but magnifico!  They basically take tuna tartar and elevate it to an Italian style pizza experience, by placing it on a thin sheet of flour tortilla (baked crisp), and adding a drizzle of aioli, with tomatos and olives, and cilantro for a bite.  It’s an awesome mix of japanese meets italian, and is a must try at Morimoto. 

I also loved the traditional Japanese tofu, made fresh at your table. This was the first time I have seen tofu made, and it was cool to watch our waiter pour “magic water” into a hot soy mixture, cover and serve 10 minutes later.  What I liked best was the mushroom broth and crunchy rice to mix in, a blend of flavors which was unique and very tasty. Honestly, I dream of eating this again soon!

For dinner we had a few of the fresh seafood catches, including the miso black cod and a special halibut dish for the evening.  I liked the appetizers more than the entrees I think, but I would goback for both, and hope to soon.

Besides eating at an Iron Chef’s restaurant, this experience is sure to provide you with an amazing NY dining experience as well!

bottle lighting – photo from aiany.com