Aaron suggested that we visit Momofuku for dinner tonight. We headed down to 2nd and 13th and found the restaurant on the corner. We thought that it would be a dead at 6pm, but it was packed. Luckily we got a seat after 5 minutes at the bar. This was the start of a fabulous meal.
We did the tasting menu ($70) without the wine flight. We stuck to beer this evening. I had some tasty Japanese beer that I had never heard of before in an overly large bottle.
The atmosphere was great; busy but not so loud that you couldn’t talk, with a warm wooden yet modern atmosphere. There is a bar area where you sit cafeteria style. Where we sat ran into the service area so we sat side by side but to the right of Aaron is where the table extended and you could sit across from your dinner partners.
Looking at the menu we opted for the tasting menu. We were told that it was 7 courses, but it actualy turned out to be 8 courses… and fully worth it. I ate things that I wouldn’t normally eat, and everything was fantastically delicious. The food prompts people sitting next to you to ask what you got because everything looks so delectible. Talking to the guys next to us the Bread and Butter ($8) was fantastic since it was served with Lardo and course salt. So they even made that different then the norm.
Overall, the food was fantastic and I would definitely return. I think Brad would have loved it too. We definitely did it right by getting the tasting menu… since we got to try a lot more food than we would have if we had ordered 2 or 3 dishes. Plus a lot of the dishes were rich so the amount you get in the tasting menu was perfect. We really enjoyed every piece of food we put in our mouth tonight!
So here is a rundown of the food we ate… for pictures of the food please click on the thumbnail below!
Course 1
Malpeque oysters with kimchi consomee and crab claws with harissa mayo
Wild striped bass with charred leeks lime purée and pink lady apple
Course 2
Raw Scallop with pineapple and miso broth (Steven’s Favourite)
Honeycrisp apple kimchi withbacon maple labne and arugula
Course 3
Malpeque oysters with kimchi consomee and crab claws with harissa mayo
Wild striped bass with charred leeks lime purée and pink lady apple
Course 4
Scallop with pineapple and miso broth
Honeycrisp apple kimchi withbacon maple labne and arugula
Course 5
Sichuan beef tendongreen mango peanuts
Beef tortilini with gruyere garlic and pine nuts
Course 6
Lamb sweetbreads chestnuts mushroom and radish (Aaron’s favourite)
Ham & pickle plate coffee mayo
Course 7
Brussell sprouts mint scallions fish sauce vinagrette
Steamed buns pork belly hoisin cucumbers scallions
Course 8
Cod with maitake mushrooms turnips carrots
Monkfish savoy cabbage kimchi pastaschio
Course 9
Duck with spaetzl , cheddar brussel sprout
Pork shoulder steak parsnip treviso ramp ranch
Course 10 – Dessert
PB&J concord grapes saltine panna cotta
Pear sorbet pumpkin ganache gorgonzola dolce