Kim WB

Went to Morimoto last night to celebrate my b-day. What a perfect dining experience. And I don't use the workd perfect lightly! On the ride home, bob and I were trying to figure out how it could have possibly been better..only if we had noticed the valet sign outside the restaurant and didn't have to park next door! ( Suburbanites are so spoiled when it comes to parking!) The restaurnt has a very distinctive exterior, we were focussed on that! Upon entering this place, you immediatly "get" the feeling they are trying to convey. Flooring, ceiling, walls and tables work together to envelop you in the "wave". Very effective. We requested sushi bar, and were brought directly there. While the bar is pretty and I like the "fish cases" being flush to the work area ( as opposed to the other side, which has been noted has a vertical fish window which impedes the view) this is definitely a "working" sushi bar. The minimilism apparant throughout the restaurant goes out hte window here... every surface other than the cutting boards are filled with bowls, mandolins, sauces, spices..its quite cluttered. Though the economy of movement that each sushi chef displayed must mean that there was indeed a method to their madness! We started with cocktails, Asahi beer and the Sakemartini, with the Japanese cucumber. I was suprised at how dominant the cucumber flavor was, with the vodka and sake combo. We had a conversation with a helpful and enthusiastic waiter, who suggested a sake for us from the list. We explained that we usually have warmed sake, and needed some guidance on selecting a smooth chilled wine. He gave us descriptions and differences between the choices, and steered us towards a wonderful carafe. The sake was served in bamboo carafes and cups, very fun and distinctive from the usual ceramic. We ordered the Omakazee, the top one. After questions about our likes and dislikes, ( no eel, or at least none with that awful sticky sweet sauce on it! ) the show began. The sucshi chef who was to make our meal spoke with the waitress, got our attention, nodded, smiled and began. Our first course was a toro tartare, with a very generous dollop of oesetra. The tartare had fried shallots in it, for a great texture and crunch. The waitress described the dish, and suggested that we have a bit of caviar, toro and sauce with each bite. This was not done in a condescending way, but rather in a very open, friendly manner. My husband, who hates to be told how to eat by a waiter, was not offended at all. And to clarify, we are 2x a week sushi eaters, so we're not novices. At my first perfectly balanced bite, I knew we were in for quite a meal. You know, the kind of taste wehre you just start smiling as soon as you swallow? This dish was served with a small red furry raspberry... and the waiter was summoned to identify this "japanese mountain peach". It had a pit, and had a sweet/sour taste. Next, Oysters 4 ways..the ceviche was best, husband like the red pepper vinegar. Creamy, tiny oysters..the kind you get in a lot of sucsi places, my mind is blanking ont he name. Starts with a K. Abalone with tomatoes, 5 spice dust on the plate, excellent. The dust, though sparse, packed a wollop. Mackeral sushi with bonito flakes ( they have a very cool wooden flaking box, looks like a hardware tool form Jr. High woodworking class..a plane, I think? and pressed mullet roe. The roe was very salty and flavorful, and needed to be eaten with other ingredients..it was a little gummy and hard to do witht he chopsticks, so I resorted to the fork for this one! Wasabi sorbet with beignet. grilled lobster with citrus creme fraiche. Judicious and perfect use of the spice powder. The creme fraich was way to sweet, it did nto cut the spice of the lobster, but over powered it. Kobe beef, almost carpaccio it was so rare, with foie gras, fantastic soy based sauce that I wish I could have sucked up off theplate. Also served with Jap Sweet potatoe and scallions. sushi: mackeral, salmon,toro, sardine and egg. dessert: trio of yam cake, japanese tiramisu, and rice pudding cake w/ green tea ICream. Also, a japanese mountain peach sorbet. Mine had a candle in it! The rice pudding cake was excellent, I ate my husbands but hey, its my birthday! Morimoto was there, behind the bar, changing the blade on t he mandolin and laughing with the chefs, testing hte sharpness of the one chef's blade, speaking seriously to him and sharpening the knife himself. He took pictures, walked throught the dining area a number of times, smiling and all round looking very happy to be there. The service was perfect, the food was perfect, the night was perfect. Really, every once in a while you just have the ultimate dining experience,a nd this was it. 2 Omakasee, 2 caraffes of Sake, 3 sakemartini, 2 Asahi, $370 before tip. However, we noticed that the sushi and sashimi prices were just a buck or two more than the prices at our local place in Princeton, so its possible to get out of there for much less..but this experience is worth it!

In my kid's school, a kid who brings this stuff for lunch would sit at the lunch table all alone!

Just to be more precise, do you mean Brother's Moon in Hopewell Borough? I agree, I have had some above average food there, but the service, while polite and sincere, is very young and inexperienced. What other places do you like in the Princeton area?

I feel you have been striking a perfect balance, between the "this is what I did" reporting, and the "this is what I feel/think" reporting. Make any adjustments that you need to in order to complete the diary with the same enthusiasm you began with...it really is something that many of us look for each day, waiting for hte next installment. Even if we don't always post or reply!

Rachel, the color you chose for the Silestone really pulls the shade of wood from the cabinets together with the stainless appliances and sink. Great choice!!

So much effort..do you think the cute Asian girls will be receptive to a 20 dollar bill?

The Mountain House in Princeton, if its under 100 people. The Westminster Boys Choir in Princeton also has beautiful grounds and a pretty house they rent out, probable can do 120 people.

Yes, just request the sushi bar (chef's table) and tell them you don't the side the fish display case is on - you want the main side. I'm going again next month - I can't wait I just called to make resrevations for the 15th, and was told they can make a note that it is my preference to sit at the sushi bar, but cannot guarantee it. Any suggestions? Will there be a maitre'd at the door that I can palm? It's my birthday, I want to sit at the sushi bar only.

Fiends who like Ribs enjoy HR Ribs in Pennington...but this is not a personal reccomendation, just heresay!!

Welcome. What are your favorites in the Mercer/Southern Middlesex area? Nope, don't have any more info about Penang, just what the Banzai waitress told me...I'll ask her for more details next time, I know she lives more north.

My husband and I much prefer bottled sparkling water. Pelligrino has the finest bubbles, and we prefer that, but will order whatever they have. We ALWAYS order it, and it would affect our opinion of the place if they did not have large bottles. I personally feel that seltzer or club fromt he tap looses its fizz much quicker, but this might be just me. No, don't list them on the menu.

thank you, thank you....I might need to add a brethalyzer to my keyboard...no typing past the first bottle!!!

Actually, in the initial post I didn't say David reviewed it...I knew it was in the SLedger. But then , after Paul's comment to me, I switched it around in my head. I am so sorry... my sons and husband rented some testosterone Action flick Sunday night, and I sat int he family room with them, just drank wine and typed all night long! I should be more careful of the details, I know how easy it is to pass along mis information! Apologies, again!

David C. mentioned that he tries to relate to the average diners experience, but admits that he can only comment on the experience he had. Usually, I would just agree we hit the place on diffrent nights..but after reading the review, I'm not sure if we were at the same place! Our visit was in June, 2001, so unfortunately, I am unable to respond on a dish by dish basis. Here are my general recollections...wish I had my original review fromthe old foodbytes forum. Plus, it would be interesting to see how my memory had "jelled'the event. To begin: ambiance...we called on a Fri eve, on our way home from a fundraiser in Spring Lake. No problem, come on in, etc, etc. Got htere at about 8:45, to a blank expression and "what are you, crazy? " kind of look. They said they had no avail tables in the DR, we could sit in the (smoking) lounge area. OK, we took it. Absolutely the worst Dean Martin campy Lounge singer, we couldn't hear ourselves talk. Service: abysmmal. Our first two wine orders were denied, "out of that one"...my husband and I were very involved in a heated strategy arguement about the fundraiser we were at, and the waiter was hoovering before he had the skill to interrupt to ask for another wine order. Our apps and entrees came at different times, the meal had no flow. DH went for a duck dumpling and a VR steak...the waiter said he could not serve a VR steak tonight...would MR be ok? yikes!! I had some traditional planked salmonkind of dish...unremarkable. i ordered dessert, DH just coffee and VSOP...he was done with both before mine arrived.and it was some lemon ice concotion not worth the wait. THEN... antoher couple fromthe fundraiser must have come in during our dinner, and was on their way out when we saw them. WE invited them to join us...( Um, this guy is the chair of the Monmouth Cty Party there, and a state Senator...) and the staff made us feel like we asked for their first born children. Hate that. Calling 10 minutes bifore your reservation on a Sat night to turn your 4 into a 6 is an issue...adding two chairs for a dring to your table, on a slow Fri, is just customer service. Finallyk,the check was all wrong. We had entrees that were not ours, and 4 sambucas that were not ours..I am not a licorice kind of gal. Hey, everyone makes mistakes, but they did not respons ro apologize..it was totally brushed off..."sorry, worng check " kind of thing. Anyway, I like a DC review, and I dont' want to jeopordize any opportunity where he might invite me as a dinner companion, so nuff said!!!LOL

I appreciate that...my inclination should not be that of a noted reviewer...looking forward to your reply to Jason's question about NJ being the "step sister" to NY...related to my post, in a way...by the way, Harvest Moon, Ringoes. Mountain view Inn, Ewing. Hamilton Grill,Lambertiville. Brothers Moon, Hopewell. Wish you had reviewed RATs, in Hamilton, I would have liked your impression. Thanks for your reply.

Tonight, I had to pick up son # 1 from the ER, where he hyper extended his knee 1 day after football camp..at a family picnic with a trampoline...having had a great JV scrimage the day before, complete wtih interception and tackle...and had to pick up son # 2 at Newark (LIBERTY??) airport, after doing a READY_SET_COOK filming with his dad on some Island by Jacksonville fla....made a chix stock earlier, but husband didn't drain it right thru the chessecolth while I wa at the airport..its in the freezer, and I'll salvage it, but not tonight...so, tired, hungry, 2 weeks out of a pneumonia diagnosis that I am still on drugs for...I opted for Patsy's, vodka sauce..over rigatoni, LOTS of parmesan, a chopped spicy pepper from the garden, and red wine. Chopped romaine hearts with Wegmans' jarred ceasar, again with the parmesan loaded on top....oh, did I mention the red wine? Dropped off daughter # 1 on Friday at college..OK

Ugh. That place is terrible. Can't believe it garnered a "good". It tries to be allthings to all people..never trust a place that serves sushi , dry aged beef and rack of lamb..its just a 2000 version of steaks, chops and seafood.

oh., save the Opus for the birth!!! Whens' the due date? First? Ninth?

I recall that =Mark once posted about how he needed to really convince the chefs/waiters at Mei Thai ( or another Thai place??) that he REALLY meant spicy..and now he has them "trained". Perhaps becoming a regular, if the place has promise, will solve the spiciness/heat issue. My local Sushi waitress. who is a trendy/punky/urban chic kind of gal, informed me that Panang, from the Edison area, is opening up a place in my neck of the woods, Lawrenceville. Anyone been? ( to the Edison locale??)

In 2000, I went with 32 other people on a trip to China, to adopt my beautiful neice. We were in the southern provinces of Nanning and Guanzhou...about 45 miles from the Thai border. Talk about lack of adventure...most of these future parents were crazed about staying healthy in order to care for their new daughters. And without generalizing...but I am..most of the group were the kind of folks who thought the Olive Garden and REd Lobster were high end dining. Smart, caring, loving and able....but diners, they were not. There was only one another couple, from the Portland area, who were as equally interested as I in soaking up the culture and the food...but as a group, we were a conservative bunch, to say the least. Everyone use bottled water...for drinking, teeth brushing, etc. 75% of the group never opted for a food choice outside the hotel DR...there wre no Hiltons and Hyatts..just Chinese owned luxury palces. There were two sts of parents that, after going out on the streets to a mandatory adoption meeting with their new daughters. would return to the hotel and shower off their stroller with bottled water...not joking. Out of this most conservative group ( which included my highlyt allergic to seafood sister-in-law) at least half suffered from dysentary, nausea and assorted complaints. Personally, I think they went expecting to get it, and did. These were the same set of parents that brought a pharmacy with them when they travelled..and nothing helped. Now, granted, as only an aunt, with a single parent sister in law determined to be supermom, I knew my role would be limited..so I was more adventurous. Now, after all this info, I can share the true secret of feeling fine in a foreign land: Find the local beer. Drink two when you get there. Drink two before, two during every meal. I think I pickled my food...but seriously, I ate amazing dishes, seafood, meats and poultry, breakfast lunch and dinner. On the second day, I was a little "loose"...hello, with this group, either yours or the baby's BM was a MAJOR subject of conversation...but plowed through and had a great trip..and a great, once in a lifetime culinary adventure.

But what's with the taking two days to drink it? I'm not sure, SpongeBob, but I think you can loose e-gullet membership over something like that!!

That's what I consider a "big" cab...my favorite. Not sure if its an official wine term, but I refer to these types of cabs as "big"...Viader, Cakebread, Gunlausch Buncheau, also.

When reviewing a restaurant, I assume that you judge its merit based on a particular set of standards and criteria you hold. However, is there ever an inclination to review it based on its local competition and geography? For example, I will often find myself saying, " XYZ is a great restaurant, for Cape May." Or, " For Princeton Thai food, it's as good as it gets." Especially since NJ is broken into three rather dissimiliar types of areas, North, Central and South, does where in the state a restaurant is located effect its review in any way?

Interesting article. My regular sushi bar serves us a small bowl of "real" wasabi, which is only for their regulars..everyone else gets the regular bright green stuff..I was amazed at the difference in taste...

Certainly, you don't need to be concerned about being labeled a dilletante! I admire your determination, and give you credit for your study habits...for example, you knew that knowledge about how to butcher the chicken is different than actually doing it, and you took the initiative..even having to borrow a kitchen...to practice. And I'll bet that a good portion of your educated guesses on the written test were correct...tahns again for repoprting so thoroughly, and timely, about your experience. I found myself wondering how you were doing on Friday...co-dependenly wondering if you'd miss your train!!