The name 'Mori' may already ring a bell. If you have ever been to the Foodhallen on the Kop van Zuid, you may have come across Mori Sushi Bar. In addition to this successful formula, Mori can now also be found on the other side of the Maas and you can now visit Mori Japanese Bistro at Van Oldenbarneveltstraat 156A.
Mori, chef Maurice's Japanese nickname, has a fiery passion when it comes to Japanese cuisine. That passion was already clearly evident in the Sushi Bar, but in addition to the sushi “as you are used to”, he started to feel more and more itchy to open a second business where he could put his own stamp on it. With this Bistro, that mission has certainly been achieved. At Mori you will be introduced to a more refined Japanese cuisine.
The chef is full of inspiration and has devised no fewer than 150 dishes. However, the menu will never be larger than 1 A4. It changes every season. Not only the food, but also the drink selection has been carefully selected. An extensive range of sakes and whiskeys is served, with detailed advice on how or when it is best to drink them. In addition, the cocktails are also nicely designed. You will find a combination of cheerful Japanese variations on well-known classics, but also unique Eastern flavour combinations.
As with many Asian cuisines, we also practice shared dining here and try a little bit of everything. The tone is immediately set with the Beef Tataki in a beurre blanc, which is generously covered with freshly grated summer truffle. A beautiful picture to look at with deep dark red beef, topped with some caviar. The taste is intense; the meat and the truffle complement each other nicely.
This is followed by a Clam Miso Shiru. Simple at first glance, but this dish also scores points. The miso creates a mysterious cloudy effect in the soup that settles on your tongue as a soft mist. It is almost velvety, but above all deep in taste. The clams at the bottom are also a pleasant surprise. It's actually a shame that it is such a small bowl.
Another surprise are the Yuzu Kosho Wings: deep-fried chicken wings stir-fried in butter and yuzu, the popular Japanese citrus fruit. Creative how Mori knows how to pimp this simple snack into a restaurant-worthy dish. But not only that, the next piece of chicken, the Negitoro from the Japanese Robata grill, is very tender and the unique Mori tare varnish makes the chicken cluck in your mouth again.
Truffle lovers pay attention, because there is more: the Tamagoyaki Truffle. Make sure you don't skip this! Mastering the balancing act for this dish requires the dedication of a samurai: you have to make sure that the egg is cooked enough to roll up, but not so much that it turns brown. The result is a beautiful yellow flavour bomb where every bite leads to a spectacular fireworks show for your taste buds. The freshly grated truffle again makes this combination phenomenal.
Finally, we conclude with the North Sea Crab Oshi, one of Mori's signature rolls. This is also different than you are used to. Before the sushi rice and the crab salad are formed together into a roll, the rice visits the fryer. The result is the great combination we all love: crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The combination with the fresh and sour crab and a little caviar comes out so well.
At Mori you get a top-shelf culinary Japanese experience where everything is taken care of down to the last detail. Each dish is carefully prepared and served to perfection. Nothing is left to chance here. The price may be a bit higher than average, but know that quality can't be had for nothing. This craftsmanship must be rewarded. In any case, I am already curious about the new menu and I can highly recommend that you take a look.