MORIMOTO - New York 9.10.2010

Designed by architect Tadao Ando, Morimoto is located directly underneath New York's exciting Highline project. The stoic steel façade is highlighted with an archway and the largest traditional Japanese noren curtain ever created to welcome guests. The bi-level restaurant is separated into a 160-person seated dining area and a 40 person lounge in the lower level. Ando achieves a Zen-like serenity throughout the space by using glass privacy walls between tables, rice paper walls, and an organic ceiling that resembles the raked sand of Eastern rock gardens. Morimoto boasts a 1,500 square foot exposition kitchen, surrounded by a 24-seat wooden sushi bar, where diners can watch Chef Morimoto prepare his signature dishes. Overlooking the exposition kitchen is the omakase bar, a table where eight very fortunate patrons will enjoy a true Japanese culinary experience. Each guest is to remove their shoes as is tradition and be seated, and then Chef Morimoto and his chosen team will specially select and cook the meal for the table – The Omakase, or chef's tasting menu. Leading guests downstairs to the lounge is a sparkling sculpture - a wall made of 17,000 Tynant spring water bottles that weighs nearly 9 tons. Furniture for the restaurant was designed by Ross Lovegrove and produced by high-end furniture maker Poltrona Frau. Famed lighting designer Arnold Chan of Isometrix is responsible for the lighting throughout the entire space.

Morimoto brings together Japan's most esteemed chef with Japan's most award-winning architect. This is the first of architect Ando's projects in New York. He has created high-profile projects in Japan, Europe and the United States including the Buddhist Water Temple in Awaji Shima overlooking Osaka Bay, and fashion designer Tom Ford's New Mexico home. Some of Ando's other esteemed public spaces include the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth [Texas] and the Pulitzer Museum in St. Louis. In 1995, he was named the eighteenth Laureate of The Pritzker Architecture Prize, his profession's highest honor.

Morimoto is located at 88 Tenth Avenue in New York City. For reservations call 212-989-8883. Morimoto seats 160 and is 12,000 square feet. Dinner is served everyday from 5pm until midnight, with the bar and lounge open until 1am.