We went on a Sunday evening and the place not packed whatsoever. We tried a little bit of everything to give this place a fair shake, and it was worth it. The decor was so unique, I could not stop looking around. The service was erring on the slower side once we actually ordered, but the food itself came fairly quickly. The sushi was on par with the best sushi places in Philly, though it didn’t stand above anything I’ve had to date. They have a wide selection of delicious Sake’s which I encourage anyone to try (and try it warm too!) My wife had the seabass and THAT was the best seabass we both have ever had.
If you want to impress someone, this is definitely a place to go. Anyone can find a unique menu item that they will love, and the atmosphere is memorable.

Simply amazing. I was afraid the Iron Chef would fail to live up his name, but he more than exceeded his reputation. Morimoto’s doesn’t look like much from the outside, and the decor might shock you initially. However, once you’re sitting down and enjoying the Iron Chef’s creations, you know you’re someplace special.

Each dishes from the chef’s tasting menu (Omakase) was original and delicious. My favorites were:
halibut tartare – this was the perfect start to omakase. the tartare was extremely refreshing and the textures went together perfectly.
panko-crusted lamb chops – probably the best dish of the night. the dish sounds simple, but somehow the chops made me so so happy.

By far, one of the best experiences I’ve had outside of NYC. This place was well worth the two hour drive down there. (The best part is picking up some cheesesteaks on the way back.) I ordered the omakase which is the chef’s choice of several dishes. Every dish I had was spectacular, especially the tartare. I took a star away because the dessert they gave me was utterly disgusting. It was vanilla ice cream in beer with licorice flavoring. (at least that’s what it tasted like.) DISGUSTING. I would still order the omakase, but if they handed me the same dessert, I’ll just skip it.

I also got to see Morimoto himself! And someone got proposed to. It was very sweet :]

Food Quality: Absolutely top of the line food. Chef Morimoto does a fantastic job fusing traditional and modern Japanese cuisine while at the same time likening it to the foreign palate. This is not to say he can’t stand his ground with a traditional japanese chef. The sushi is absolutely top rate. Tuna and Yellowtail are particularly good. Also, Morimoto restaurant is only one of three restaurants that can make the sushi rice perfectly seasoned. Try it!

Food Presentation: Astounding. You get what you’re paying for in terms of taste and style.

Service: Service was a bit slower than many restaurants… but I didn’t mind hanging around since I was shelling out nearly 80 dollars for a meal. Waiters are incredibly knowledgeable yet seemed a bit pretentious at times. Finally, if you’re lucky, you can meet Morimoto. He walks around the restaurant on occasion! I haven’t washed my hand since.

Atmosphere: Another ultra-chic restaurant in philly… no surprise though as it is a Steven Starr restaurant… he tends to go all out. Check it out on the website.

Overall Impression: Definitely worth at least one trip. The restaurant is similar to some of the upscale dining I’ve seen in Tokyo and does a great job at presenting new unique culinary works of art.

Visited: 2 times

Price: 40-80 per person

Possibly the best meal i’ve ever had. Over cooked my steak on the first try but the waiter was very apologetic and nice. I wouldn’t be surprised ( but im not expecting) that morimoto was back there cooking himself.