oh! Mahgawsse! or, OMKDINNER!
So last night I spent a lot of money on dinner. It was Ant's birthday dinner, plus an opportunity to do something we both had been wanting to do for many years.
We went to Morimoto (http://www.morimotorestaurant.com/) and indulged in the Omikase. They have several different "levels" of omikase. I went for the $120 version, he got the $150 version.
We also opted for the sake omikase to accompany it, although I wouldn't recommend it unless you really do love sake, and have a discerning palate for it. I'm not that person, But it was still lovely.
Here's how I remember it:
Toro tartare - I could have eaten a bowl of this with a Big Spoon and been quite happy with nothing else.
Oysters - 3 each, in a different preparation for each of them. Small northern Pacific oysters. Now, I do not like oysters. But I liked these. No, really, I DO NOT LIKE OYSTERS. My last memory is putting one in my mouth and instantly gagging. These, however, were heavenly.
Carpaccio - he had scallops, I had a white fish, probably yellowtail (I can't remember!!! WAH!!!) I wanted to lick the plate after. AMAZING.
Sashimi - he had a combination of fishes, toro, clam, yellowtail. Mine was just another white fish I can't remember but was delightful.
Lobster Epice - half a lobster cooked in eight spices. OK, not the BEST, but a nice break from raw fish.
Ant then had a triple threat foie gras plate - three tiny servings with three different flavors. He said the last one tasted like apple pie!
Then the beef. I had a "pot rost style" (my description) kobe beef serving, he had another type of more precious beef, sliced and served medium rare. The Kobe was actually superior IMO, and melted, literally MELTED in my mouth.
Nigiri - assorted nigiri, good, appropriately sized biteful pieces. Lovely toro oh toro...
Chocolate cherry cake, which was much more than how it sounds. Oh man was it much more...
The sakes paired with the courses were appropriate, drinkable, and some were way too flowery or fruity for me, not cloyingly sweet or syrupy, but the head on them was on occasions not to my taste, I would have liked nice wines instead. The last sake served with dessert was actually FOUL. It smelled like cat piss. REALLY. It was aged 10 years, had the color of and smelled and tasted like cat pee. Ick I know. But hey. Everything else was WONDERFUL!!!
Service and pacing was very good - it was a 3 hour meal, which, if you know Ant, is next to impossible to achieve. The human vacuum cleaner with food. Servers were knowledgeable, and brought bottles out to show us the sake we were being served with each course. Managers were attentive, both the floor and beverage managers came over to check in. Our primary server was very sweet and friendly and the rest of the folks were unobtrusive but showed great enthusiasm for what they brought to our table. Dishes were cleared immediately as we finished each course so there was no layering of dishes or silverware, OH and the silverware/chopsticks were changed out each time as they were used. Very nice touch.
My only real problem was our seating. We were in a deuce, which was fine and roomy, but in the front of the restaurant (probably due to Ant's crutches). He sat with his back to the door, facing the entire restaurant, while I sat facing the.. stairs down to the bathroom, front entry and him. I felt a bit claustrophobic over the lengthy seating, and would have loved a view of the very soothing, "organic" interior. The interior design, to me, is very comforting, with a wood paneled "wave" ceiling, molded plaster(like material) on the walls, in rounded amoeba-like shapes. No sharp corners (except for the table tops). I turned around as much as I could, but still, I definitely rode bitch on that one.
All told? Including tip $589. Good thing I've been saving my pennies!
We went to Morimoto (http://www.morimotorestaurant.com/) and indulged in the Omikase. They have several different "levels" of omikase. I went for the $120 version, he got the $150 version.
We also opted for the sake omikase to accompany it, although I wouldn't recommend it unless you really do love sake, and have a discerning palate for it. I'm not that person, But it was still lovely.
Here's how I remember it:
Toro tartare - I could have eaten a bowl of this with a Big Spoon and been quite happy with nothing else.
Oysters - 3 each, in a different preparation for each of them. Small northern Pacific oysters. Now, I do not like oysters. But I liked these. No, really, I DO NOT LIKE OYSTERS. My last memory is putting one in my mouth and instantly gagging. These, however, were heavenly.
Carpaccio - he had scallops, I had a white fish, probably yellowtail (I can't remember!!! WAH!!!) I wanted to lick the plate after. AMAZING.
Sashimi - he had a combination of fishes, toro, clam, yellowtail. Mine was just another white fish I can't remember but was delightful.
Lobster Epice - half a lobster cooked in eight spices. OK, not the BEST, but a nice break from raw fish.
Ant then had a triple threat foie gras plate - three tiny servings with three different flavors. He said the last one tasted like apple pie!
Then the beef. I had a "pot rost style" (my description) kobe beef serving, he had another type of more precious beef, sliced and served medium rare. The Kobe was actually superior IMO, and melted, literally MELTED in my mouth.
Nigiri - assorted nigiri, good, appropriately sized biteful pieces. Lovely toro oh toro...
Chocolate cherry cake, which was much more than how it sounds. Oh man was it much more...
The sakes paired with the courses were appropriate, drinkable, and some were way too flowery or fruity for me, not cloyingly sweet or syrupy, but the head on them was on occasions not to my taste, I would have liked nice wines instead. The last sake served with dessert was actually FOUL. It smelled like cat piss. REALLY. It was aged 10 years, had the color of and smelled and tasted like cat pee. Ick I know. But hey. Everything else was WONDERFUL!!!
Service and pacing was very good - it was a 3 hour meal, which, if you know Ant, is next to impossible to achieve. The human vacuum cleaner with food. Servers were knowledgeable, and brought bottles out to show us the sake we were being served with each course. Managers were attentive, both the floor and beverage managers came over to check in. Our primary server was very sweet and friendly and the rest of the folks were unobtrusive but showed great enthusiasm for what they brought to our table. Dishes were cleared immediately as we finished each course so there was no layering of dishes or silverware, OH and the silverware/chopsticks were changed out each time as they were used. Very nice touch.
My only real problem was our seating. We were in a deuce, which was fine and roomy, but in the front of the restaurant (probably due to Ant's crutches). He sat with his back to the door, facing the entire restaurant, while I sat facing the.. stairs down to the bathroom, front entry and him. I felt a bit claustrophobic over the lengthy seating, and would have loved a view of the very soothing, "organic" interior. The interior design, to me, is very comforting, with a wood paneled "wave" ceiling, molded plaster(like material) on the walls, in rounded amoeba-like shapes. No sharp corners (except for the table tops). I turned around as much as I could, but still, I definitely rode bitch on that one.
All told? Including tip $589. Good thing I've been saving my pennies!