Japanese cuisine is one of the best things when you are exploring Japan. For some travelers it’s the main event! Japanese food has its roots reaching back in time but as the time passed, it adapted itself into a more refined and a more sophisticated style of cooking. Japanese food has not only become an exotic part of modern day gastronomy but its health benefits only adds to its appeal. Which is why, several five star hotels are investing a lot in Japanese gastronomy by bringing in the big guns. For instance, Taj Hotel aimed to invite Nobu to Indian shores but after the negotiations fell through it settled with Masaharu Morimoto, who was the first executive chef of the New York Nobu. This is how the exclusive ‘Wasabi By Morimoto’ came into the picture.
The restaurant is known for its modern Japanese cuisine and has developed its own brand of cooking aside from Nobu. But if you ask nicely, the chef will cook you something from Nobu menu and offer you New York style Nobu experience sitting right here in Mumbai. Wasabi By Morimoto has only elevated the popularity of Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where the restaurant is located. The prices will take your breath away, be warned. A celebrity dining here is a common sight. Start your Wasabi dining experience with an assortment of appetizers such as, calamari tempura salad, yellowtail jalapeno carpaccio, chicken shio yakitori, Japanese ocean oysters, spicy king crab and aburi pork kakuni. A wonderful spread of sushi and sashimi is also worth looking into. For mains stick to, momen tofu steak, surf & turf, lobster with spicy negi sauce, black cod miso and roasted duck.
Sip on a glass of wine or a cup of delicious coffee blend to complement the dessert course. Wade through a delightful array of exotic desserts such as, green tea chocolate moon, sakura peach compote, anmitsu water cake, ume shu sorbet, waguri mont-blanc, yukimi daifuku and kuro goma mille feuille. The restaurant seats about 50 covers so it is filled pretty quickly. We recommend you to book in advance. The modern stylish aspect of the menu shines through the décor, which you will find to be just as elegant. Warm wooden tones are merged with European lines to design the space. During the day, the restaurant is flooded with natural light. Overall, a glamourous contemporary dining space.
- The signature dish at Wasabi is the White Fish Carpaccio: thin slices of raw fluke which are cooked on the plate when a warm oil-based, spicy dressing is poured on them. Delicious!
- This is a small restaurant (under 50 covers) and fills up quickly so always book ahead. In recent years, Wasabi has not been as well-managed as it once was, so be ready for a few hiccups
- If you are vegetarian, don't worry. The Taj's masterchef Hemant Oberoi, has created a whole vegetarian section whose dishes outsell Morimoto's creations
