"After you walk past the open kitchen at Morimoto Napa, you’ll see the bar — a hidden gem for inventive cocktails and creativity. Helmed by globe-trotting beverage manager Josh Weed, whose background includes Le Cordon Bleu and international bar openings, the drink program goes far beyond the expected with “culinary cocktails.” The wagyu beef Old-Fashioned draws a cult following, pairing perfectly with standout bar bites like sticky ribs, rock shrimp tempura, and the secret off-menu yellowtail carpaccio." - Vincent Vitale
"Morimoto is a long-standing restaurant that scratches any itch for high-quality Japanese food, with an over-the-top Vegas-style presentation that includes tuna sashimi made to look like rosebuds served on a bed of crushed ice. The vast dining room feels like Napa’s version of TAO and gets just as loud as the nightclub when packed. You can easily rack up a sky-high dinner tab with rounds of lychee martinis and the omakase on a night out with friends, or keep it more subtle (and affordable) by heading in for lunch. The rock shrimp tempura and hamachi tacos are practically mandatory, but there are plenty of non-seafood options sprinkled in as well, like wagyu and duck confit fried rice." - christina julian, lani conway, jasmine alexandra
"Morimoto is a long-standing restaurant that scratches any itch for high-quality Japanese food, with an over-the-top Vegas-style presentation that includes tuna sashimi made to look like rosebuds served on a bed of crushed ice. The vast dining room feels like Napa’s version of TAO and gets just as loud as the nightclub when packed. You can easily rack up a sky-high dinner tab with rounds of lychee martinis and the omakase on a night out with friends, or keep it more subtle (and affordable) by heading in for lunch. The rock shrimp tempura and hamachi tacos are practically mandatory, but there are plenty of non-seafood options sprinkled in as well, like wagyu and duck confit fried rice. photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp Pause Unmute" - Jasmine Alexandra
"Masaharu Morimoto is best known as the original Iron Chef, though his restaurants are actually even better than the TV hype. The vibe here is more urban than you'd find at other restaurants in the valley since it's right downtown in Napa. Meanwhile, the Asian food is also a nice way to break up the local California cuisine."
"How do you make a burger better? Fry it. Morimoto’s Menchi Katsu Burger has long been a BottleRock staple that can’t be missed year after year. Topped with a combination Asian slaw, tarter, and barbecue sauces (plus a side of housemade kimchee), there’s a literal world of flavor in every bite." - Jess Lander