I love a really good restaurant and Philadelphia doesn’t dissappoint when it comes to finding somewhere wonderful to dine. I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying such places as Oloroso, Talulah’s Garden, Vedge, Little Nonnas, Parc, and so on. Some have been pricey and some have not. I love diners (boy, do I LOVE a good diner), holes-in-the wall, fine dining, and casual, There are so many wonderful places in the World and right around the corner. I collect recommendations like some people collect travel souvenirs. It’s not just about the food but about the company and the experience.
Morimoto is on 723 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. The location is within walking distance from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. It is also a mile from the theatre. Google Maps took us right there and lcukily there is parking 400 feet from the restaurants on 8th and Chestnut. It has an understated street presence and we missed it the first time we walked by. Honestly, I was looking the other way because I was reading a historial marker. The sign is small and on the wall next to the doorway.
The decor is modern and clean. The undulating wall serves as art work and the wood ceiling serves as an understated back drop to the modern seating. Contemporary lighting which cats a funky blue and red glow. Even though the restaurant has been around since 2001, the interior does not feel dated or out of style. The bar is upstairs and is just a sleek and modern. I found it a comfortable place to dine
Morimoto is no exception to good Philly dining. I recently attended a play at The Academy of Music and this was our choice. The bestie and I love Asian cuisine and I am a fan of Iron Chef Morimoto. I have watched him for 20 years on everything from Iron Chef Japan to Iron Chef America. I must say that I fanned girl a little bit when we sat down.
The entrance to Morimoto is understated. We actually walked past the 723 Chestnut Street location. The decor is modern and clean. The undulating wall serves as art work and the wood ceiling serves as an understated back drop to the modern seating. Contemporary lighting which cats a funky blue and red glow. Even though the restaurant has been around since 2001, the interior does not feel dated or out of style. The bar is upstairs and is just a sleek and modern. I found it a comfortable place to dine.
The menu is made to walk through the meal. This food is meant to eat a reasonable pace so do leave a bit of time to enjoy the food here. It is not an eat and run kind of restaurant. Our waitress guided us on how to order and even made some suggestions. There were only a few special drinks and a nice selection of wine and sake. After perusing the menu, I knew we were in for a delightful meal and evening
The food was incredibly good and was made to eat slowly and savor. The meal began with a Heartbreak Hotel (Giffard lychee, Absolut Vanilla, Sparkling Rose, and lemon foam) for me and a Morimoto Martini (Belvedere, Junmai Sake, and cucumber) for my friend. Nice way to start! Mine was a sweet drink and hers was a dry one.
We started with the whitefish carpaccio and the toro tartare. Moved on to the Wagyu dumplings. Enjoyed the black cod miso and yellowtail ishi yaki bop and finished with sushi which was a crunch yellowtail and tuna. I must say it was all excellent. The only dish that we were not wowed with was the ishi yaki bop. The table side presentation as you can see was lovely but it did not have the superior taste of the rest of the meal and we felt that it was just average compared to the other dishes. My favorite was the cod and the carapaccio. The quality of the seafood and the execution were exception. It begged to be savored and we did.
We loved Morimoto Philadelphia. Yes, this was a pricey meal. We felt it was worth every penny given the service, quality and flavor. Will we go back? Yes. Will I recommend this place? Yes. Do I still fan girl over Morimoto? Even more so. Morimoto Philadelphia has earned it’s place on my list of a must go to in Philadelphia for fine dining. Bon appetit!
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