Unlike the Baltimore Greyhound station, the Philadelphia Greyhound station is located very conveniently downtown, just a couple of blocks from our hotel. (One of the perqs of gentrification.) Morgan had just parked the car when I got in, so we met outside the Greyhound station and walked to the hotel.
After changing for dinner (and getting an iced coffee from the Starbucks in the hotel lobby, to keep me awake form our late dinner: I had gone in to lab early to make up for having to leave), we walked the couple of blocks to Morimoto.
I had first heard about Morimoto from Danni, but we didn't get around to going until this past weekend to celebrate Morgan's birthday.
We arrived a little early, so we waited in the bar upstairs, which overlooks the restaurant. Morgan got the Morimoto Martini (junmai morimoto sake and rain vodka garnished with japanese cucumber slices). When our table was ready, the hostess carried our drinks for us down the stairs to our table. The restaurant looked like it was underwater to me: curving lines suggested waves, and the bar floated over it like a little submarine. It was also quite dark (as the deep ocean would be), so my camera wasn't doing so well.
We got the Morimoto Omakase ("'chef’s choice': a multi-course tasting menu designed to allow you to
experience the essence of Morimoto’s cuisine"), but, because it was Morgan's birthday, he decided to spring for the higher price point. I also got the beverage Omakase (the lower priced one).
I thought it might be tacky to take notes, and I couldn't quite understand the server who brought out the first course (the restaurant was still quite loud then), so I'm not entirely sure what the first course is. It's a mixture of fish and vegetables with sauce, and mine was made of white fish, whereas Morgan's was made of tuna belly (as I called it, the bacon of the sea):
And it was immediately apparent that you do indeed get a much higher quality meal for the more expensive Omakase. Mine was delicious, but Morgan's was phenomenal. (It really did taste bacony.)
The first course was paired with a Spanish sparkling wine (I can't find it on the menu now, and, as I said, I thought it would be tacky to whip out my phone and take notes):
The booths were made of acrylic that glowed with colored lights that changed gradually over the course of the evening, but fluoresced an odd green color with the flash of the camera. As I said, it was very dark.
The sparkling wine was probably the best of the beverages: next time, I'll spring for the higher price point, I guess.
The first course came with a little fruit that was supposed the clear the palate:
The next course was a special course that just Morgan got: three oysters.
From left to right: with Japanese salsa; ceviche-style with lime juice, garlic, and cilantro; and Thai with jalapeno. Morgan took pity on me and let me eat the middle one: it was the best oyster I'd ever had, and I don't even like cilantro.
Next course: for me, seared tuna with an excellent sesame-seed-based sauce with greens, paired with a sauvignon blanc:
And for Morgan, some other kind of fish. No, I don't remember, but it was delicious:
Next, we had some sangria soda to clear the palate. I think the "sangria" here just referred to the fact that it had fruit juice in it; I don't think it was alcoholic at all:
Next, I had an excellent salmon dish that included the most perfect spear of asparagus I have ever eaten, paired with a very dry Riesling:
And Morgan got half a lobster, with his own healthy share of vegetables, and a spicy sauce:
Next, we got some towels to clean up (especially from the lobster):
And then my next course was duck, with a scallion pancake and carmelized onions, paired with a pinot noir:
And Morgan got the legendary Kobe beef:
Next, a selection of sushi, paired with sake (I had started to eat mine before I remembered to take a picture):
and Morgan's sushi:
Morgan also ordered a sake that tasted like bananas.
Final course: espresso, dessert wine, and blueberry cheesecake:
In conclusion: very fancy, delicious, and generous portions, but if you go to Morimoto, spring for the more expensive tasting menu: it'll be worth it.
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