by Corey V. on The Ms. and I finally got here for a little dancing. There is a Thursday night salsa class and a Saturday one as well. It's great for couples and single folks alike because you change partners throughout the class. We spent two hours having cocktails and learning a little salsa. Left before it got too crowded and had a lovely evening. They have a happy hour and two for one coupons on their website.
by O'Shea J. on This is the LA hipster scene gone awry, complete with Johnny Depp lookalike. Girls on stage twirling LED hulahoops, really? The chicks who actually dressed in harlot attire, whether employed by the venue or not, was a bit tacky. And it seemed like every dude in here was wearing those fuckin Middle Eastern-inspired scarves. That shit's so 2008 or rather 2000-late. FAIL. The place itself is a-ok, I just don't agree w/ its clientele.
by Janet Greenman on Well, I figured it was finally time I write a "real" review for my beloved Morimoto & update my original entry of: "Ah...Morimoto, how much do I love thee, let me count the ways... 1. rock shrimp tempura (I've dreamt about it at night, no joke); 2. ishi yaki buri bop; 3. tasty tasty cocktails; 4. loungey atmosphere and tunes; 5. incredible decor; 6. JUST GET YOUR ASS A RESERVATION ALREADY!!!! Every time I go, its just as amazing as the time before. Never have I been anything but completely delighted by my experience!" So, here goes. In my humble opinion, Morimoto has got it pretty much all spot-on right. The ambiance, the design, the service, the drinks & of course, the food. In all my experiences at Morimoto I've never had any complaints or disappointments, in fact each visit seems to be even more enjoyable than the time before. I always try to order different foods off of the menu from visit to visit so that I can experience everything there is to offer. The one exception being the rock shrimp tempura appetizer - I order it every time. Its the best rock shrimp tempura I've ever tried & always prepared to perfection. Of all the entree's I've tried each has been fantastic in its own right. The food is always fresh, beautifully presented & full of interesting flavors & textures. I can't even chose a favorite, however I can say that my boyfriend's fave is the ishi yaki buri-bop & indeed is is pretty damn wonderful. Its prepared in front of you at your table in an exceedingly hot stone bowl to cook the egg & help sear the fish (or kobe beef if you like - I've not tried the kobe version as my last visit was the first time I saw it on the menu, but I opted for the omakase). Morimoto's omakase is an experience not to be missed. There are various price ranges fir the omakase - I was told that the varying prices mean the more you pay, the more exotic are the items which you are served. If there's anything you absolutely do not want to be served, just let your server know & you won't have to worry about finding it on your plate. My omakase included seven amazing courses over the matter of about two and a half to three hours. The portions are by no means huge, but I don't think you'll leave hungry. I was presented everything from monkfish liver to kobe beef, Thai lobster bisque to chocolate noodles. Of course we also had a nice serving of sushi which were all delectable pieces of fish. Amazing, amazing, amazing. I have always found the staff to be very friendly, accommodating & helpful. Generous, too, at least in the case of my New Years Eve trip there when the complimentary champagne just kept on pouring after midnight! ;) I would definitely recommend arriving before your reservation time so that you can enjoy some cocktails & conversation in their funky bar overlooking the dining area. I love the sake cocktails! I'm honestly not a huge fan of sake, but you'll find some very yummy mixtures here. My current Morimoto cocktail fave however is the MC Squared (champagne, Midori & lime juice)! I've not yet tried lunch at Morimoto but have plans to in the very near future (which I'm sure I'll make an updated rateclubs about, natch). If its half as tasty & enjoyable as my dinner experiences I'll be very pleased indeed.
