I've been watching Iron Chef since its inception. I've seen challengers fall by the dozen, and I've cheered when they have overcome adversity. I have often dreamt of eating the creations of an Iron Chef and just recently that dream came true.
Obviously you've heard of Morimoto -- everyone has. Everyone has a friend or at least a friend of a friend who has been there. Any way you look at it, Morimoto is the It place to go. With its modern art, undulating light show and bamboo-cloaked ceilings, Morimoto is a perfect hybrid of that Steven Starr tact and that undeniable chic. Needless to say, I was super-psyched. I would be coming face-to-face with one of my heroes: Iron Chef Morimoto.
Morimoto is like Pod on steroids. Immediately, you are surrounded by avant-garde furniture and an enormous screen. After a few moments of sensory readjustment, I was reawakened to the cold, cold glare of Ice Queen hostess. Let's just say I didn't exactly fit in at Morimoto. I scanned the crowd. Unfortunately, a.) I'm under 50, b.) I don't have a pot belly or a briefcase (gasp,) c.) There is absolutely no fur on my coat, none, not even on my hood.
When I was finally seated, I was excited to see what my hero had concocted. Morimoto transcends your typical sushi bar favorites with its innovative Japanese-fusion menu. Tempura in Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce ($11) and Oyster Foie Gras (steamed oysters and sea urchin with seared foie gras and teriaki jus) ($18) -- those are just a couple of Morimoto's pleasingly exotic dining options.
My favorite Pod dish, the Rock Shrimp Tempura ($14), even made an appearance at the top of the menu. However, for all the vegetarians out there, the Yosedofu (fresh tofu prepared at your table) ($14) was quite good. I did miss some more noodle options -- though the Cha-Soba noodles ($12) (chilled green tea noodles) were seriously delightful. But of course when you come to Morimoto you come for the sushi -- especially if you're willing to put down some big money for Iron Chef's own omakase tasting menu, which features the most fresh and tasty ingredients of the week. It comes in three sizes: $80, $100 and $120.
In the end, my pilgrimage to Morimoto proved that Stephen Starr may don many different themes, but they always come out the same: uncomfortably trendy atmosphere, over-priced yet delicious food and rock shrimp.
