Morimoto Napa
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Having dinner at Morimoto Napa was as much about dining out as it was enjoying a nice meal. The staff was professional, and courteous without being stuffy. I felt safely distanced from other patrons. The dining room was exquisite. The wagyu carpaccio was well marbled and the excess oil seemed unnecessary. The tuna tacos were small which is fine but it through off the ratio of meat to crunch. And it was on the bland side. Sticky ribs were a little over cooked but had good flavor otherwise. My guess was that they were individually sliced halfway through the cooking process which explains why the entire rib was covered in a crust, which is non traditional. And that's fine too. Tamarind is a natural choice for ribs and a wise pick for the American palate. The relish that is served with it gives it a good tang as well. We had the duck confit fried rice which I think used basamati rice (or other long grain rice) instead of a traditional Asian rice. It felt a little harder than what I expected. The duck was dry and not tender. We also had Toro and big eye snapper sashimi which were both excellent. The Toro luxuriated in fatty acids that lingered on my palate long after the fish was gone. The big eye was lean but had a sweet clean finish. Desserts were the big surprise. I had the lime white chocolate ganache which was complex and elegant. Full of chewy, fluffy and rich textures. A delicately sweet and tart joy layered in an adventurous surprise at the bottom. We also had the macha cake which I didn't like but my dining companion loved. She didn't like my dessert either so we were both delighted. Looking forward to seeing the menu expand as restrictions relax. We could not have had better, faster, more professional service. What a divine treat!
Donna FongDonna Fong
00
This visit to Morimoto was slightly disappointing. The last time I came here I left with wonder and amazement. It was a meal I described to many and always recommended. Get the omakase! It's been 5 years since I was able to return. I should point out omakase is my thing. I go and review them whenever I can. I was able to pull up pictures of my previous omakase and compare it to the current one. There were many similarities, however the changes were not for the better. The first 3 dishes were nearly identical but 2 were missing some of the extra artistry of my first visit. The chawan mushi included a lobster tail in the first one (along with more flavors). This chawan mushi was more mundane. The nigiri chosen for the first one was more expensive, better fish. The presentation of the surf and turf was just not appealing. It tasted fine but I expected, again, more artistry and creativity. The dessert was the same. (A dish of coconut foam with mango sorbet and pop rocks) On my first visit they had also presented a bonsai tree dessert as a bonus which really elevated the experience. The second time, it was the omakase with no variations. For this price point I expect a lot more. I have been to less expensive omakase that were better in presentation and flavors and more expensive ingredients. I think Morimoto stagnated a bit which was disappointing when it comes to their omakase. (So many repeats from 2014) Currently I would not choose to go there and have it again. Service was excellent. The food tasted good, but at that price point, I expect more as I've seen others do better. If I didn't have a direct comparison with themselves, my review might not sound as negative. They still get 4 because of service and the fact that the food tasted fine.
Wai ChanWai Chan
00
Morimoto's is large, and mostly concrete, and large and if you walk through it like I did, packed with people presumably celebrating their freedom to eat out again on a Saturday, you'll think "huh, this place is packed, and also really large". The exposed concrete is part of his design aesthetic for his 15 restaurants around the world. Seated by wait-staff who looked very overwhelmed (you did great by the way!), Morimotos proceeded to bore me completely, with a brief break during the miso soup for something that was almost interesting. Nothing was 'bad', it just wasn't special at all, and yet the place was packed. And also pricey. It was getting sushi from your local 5-seat place, except with a 75% price markup and 5000% more seats. Were they all bored? Did all the throngs of loud people (concrete has great acoustics) have different food than I did? Have they not eaten at any one of the 75 Japanese restaurants the Michelin guide thinks is worth noticing in California (none of which are this one)? Maybe they'd just been drinking all day? I grew up watching Morimoto win Iron Chef, and I should have remembered that he's a celebrity chef. A TV chef. He has 15 restaurants and a large corporate crew to deliver sushi to the hundreds of people who come to eat "Morimoto's" food now that we can eat inside again. The thing is, he's not back there cooking. This is, almost by definition, a cover band of the band you really wanted to see, and it tasted like a cover band. Except because it's an "official" cover-band, you paid the full ticket price. Also almost every piece of nigiri had so much wasabi smeared on it under the fish that my girl actually gagged. Something tells me the food was done in great haste. TLDR; Not bad, not good, expensive, and you're paying for a name and a really mediocre setting where you're a cog in Morimoto's fish slicing empire.
Lena SongLena Song
00
My friend made a reservation for 6 on the same day at 2:30PM. Upon entering the restauraunt, the hosts gave us judgy looks and weren't very welcoming. Our hostess didn't even greet us, she just handed us our menus and that was it. Front house service was very off and unfriendly. Our party and I thought it was because we appear to look on the younger side (mid-late twenties). Our waiter on the other hand was very friendly and informative about the dishes and gave us recommendations. We ordered the spicy salmon roll and the soft shell crab roll which both came first. The soft shell crab roll was okay, but we enjoyed the spicy salmon roll more. Our duck confit fried rice and toro tartare came next; the fried rice was very crispy like it was deep fried. I really liked the toro tartare and there was different sauces and toppings to pair with it. It was an unique appetizer and the presentation was very pretty. My boyfriend and I ordered the $100 sushi combo that comes with 20 sushi pieces. We were very disappointed with the sushi, upon presentation we could tell that the fish wasn't fresh and looked dry. Some of the nigiri had a dull color and my boyfriend even said one of the fish tasted off. Saba nigiri is my absolute favorite nigiri and I was so disappointed with Morimoto's. Mackerel sushi is usually oily and full of flavor but theirs was SO dry. I had a hard time eating the ebi (shrimp) nigiri because the shrimp was so tough and chewy. It was very rubbery. All of nigiri pieces had sushi rice that was too vinegary and dry. You're better off going to the city if you want better quality sushi- heck even Fairfield has better sushi than here. Overall I would give our experience a 2.5, we for sure would not return. The high reviews gave us high expectations and we were very disappointed by our experience here.
Shannon TShannon T
00
1 Star for our arrival and host experience. The only issue we had was being told our party of 4 adults and 1 child could only be accommodated outside. Although there were 2 heat lamps, this really dampened the experience. This was my inaugural dining experience at Morimoto Napa, but our dining companions have already made it their go-to spot for special occasions. Their enthusiasm was evident, and now I understand why – the exceptional service, impeccable attention to detail, and outstanding cuisine have clearly earned MN a loyal following. Morimoto Napa exceeded our expectations, delivering a truly exceptional fine dining experience. Every aspect of our meal was impeccable. 5 Stars for Outstanding Service. Our server, Oman, was phenomenal, providing attentive and knowledgeable service throughout the evening. The food runners deserve special recognition for their impeccable presentation skills, earning an A++. The server assistant worked seamlessly with Oman, ensuring a flawless dining experience. 5 Stars for Impeccable Table Maintenance. The table maintenance was perfect, with every detail meticulously attended to. 5 Stars for Overall Experience. Marimoto Napa has set a new standard for fine dining excellence. We can't wait to return and experience it again. 5/5 stars! Overall a Culinary Perfection. Needless to say, our meals were truly spectacular! Each dish was expertly prepared, presenting a harmonious balance of flavors and textures that delighted our palates.
Fair reviews Based on my ExperiencesFair reviews Based on my Experiences
00
I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Morimoto Napa, and I can confidently say it was one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment we arrived, the service was nothing short of impeccable. The staff were not only professional but also warm and genuinely welcoming, making us feel like VIPs from start to finish. They were knowledgeable about the menu, offering great recommendations and ensuring that we had everything we needed throughout our meal. The food was simply divine. Each dish was a work of art, bursting with flavor and expertly prepared. From the freshest sushi to the creative fusion dishes, every bite was a delightful surprise. The presentation of each course was stunning, showing the attention to detail that Morimoto is known for. It was clear that the chefs take great pride in their craft, and it truly paid off in the quality of the food. As for the drinks, they were flowing all night long, and the cocktails were expertly crafted. Whether you’re a fan of classic drinks or looking to try something new, their bar menu has something for everyone. The mixologists are top-notch, and each drink was as delicious as the last. Overall, my experience at Morimoto Napa was exceptional in every way. From the outstanding service to the incredible food and drinks, I couldn’t recommend it more highly. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and dine here—you won’t regret it. Five stars all the way!
Rebecca CRebecca C
00
Nearby Attractions Of Morimoto Napa
Napa Valley Wine Train
Kastner Honda
Andaz Napa, by Hyatt
Archer Hotel Napa
The Westin Verasa Napa
Fuller Park
Napa Ford
River Terrace Inn
Uptown Theatre
Napa River Inn
Napa Valley Wine Train
4.5
(1.7K)Click for details
Kastner Honda
4.7
(735)Click for details
Andaz Napa, by Hyatt
4.4
(632)Click for details
Archer Hotel Napa
4.6
(524)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Morimoto Napa
Gott's Roadside
Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ
Grace's Table
Napkins Bar and Grill
Don Perico Mexican Restaurant
Allegria
Cole's Chop House
Hog Island Oyster Co
Zuzu
Filippi's Pizza Grotto
Gott's Roadside
4.5
(1.5K)Click for details
Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ
4.5
(767)$$
Click for details
Grace's Table
4.4
(724)Click for details
Napkins Bar and Grill
4.4
(708)Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
610 Main St, Napa, CA 94559
Map
Phone
(707) 252-1600
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Website
morimotonapa.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.4
(895 reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Inventive, high-end Japanese fare & artful cocktails presented in glamorous yet Zen surroundings.
attractions: Napa Valley Wine Train, Kastner Honda, Andaz Napa, by Hyatt, Archer Hotel Napa, The Westin Verasa Napa, Fuller Park, Napa Ford, River Terrace Inn, Uptown Theatre, Napa River Inn, restaurants: Gott's Roadside, Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ, Grace's Table, Napkins Bar and Grill, Don Perico Mexican Restaurant, Allegria, Cole's Chop House, Hog Island Oyster Co, Zuzu, Filippi's Pizza Grotto
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