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Category: American (New)
Neighborhoods: Fulton Market, West Loop, Near West SideGrand (Blue O'Hare)
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Moto is not a restaurant, it's an experience. You do not go to this place to eat, you go to escape into a culinary warp zone. Go ahead and make a reservation, you will leave a changed person (by the way, I called 1 week ahead and was able to get a reservation for 2 on a Saturday night).
The restaurant is located in the seedy bowels of Chicago. Specifically located in the meatpacking district, It is off the beaten path, and the food represents this nonconformist mentality also.
As you walk into the restaurant, you see a very meticulously calculated interior design with mod overtones. No wild colors, just very basic shades that allow for no distraction from the food that is about to be served to you.
From a food standpoint, the highlights of our meal were as follows:
Instant risotto- as instructed by our server, the rice krispy-like risotto was dropped into a savory broth forming the most delicious and creamy risotto
Cuban cigar- shredded pork tightly wrapped in a leafy green (to resemble Castro's tobacco product of choice) with the ashes of the cigar being a spice mixture that enhanced the meaty goodness
Sunny-Side Up Eggs- a passion fruit puree formed to look like an egg yolk surrounded by a coconut cream to resemble the egg white. Sweet and delicious
Cherry Bomb- a play on a childhood firework, this chocolate dessert was served with an actual wick that was lit and sparked. Creative and a nice way to finish the meal.
As I ate these dishes, I began to unconsciously become nostalgic. I was transported to my childhood. Maybe it was because I was allowed (and encouraged) to play with my food. Maybe it was the play on universal comfort foods. Maybe it was the laughter that the food elicited. Regardless, I left Moto feeling happy and content, with no worries in the world. Definitely don't go to Moto to eat, go to experience.
Of note:
-Definitely get the wine pairings if you go
-Be prepared to spend money (it's worth it)
-My wife is vegetarian and had a wonderful time as well (just let them know when you reserve)
I could never, ever afford to eat at Moto, so my friend and I went for drinks here tonight. Oh my gosh....what an experience!
First of all, don't be fooled by Otom. Yes, I'll admit it. We first walked into their sister restaurant, Otom, and thought Moto was trying to be cool and just spell it backwards. We sat down and ordered a drink. Although my lychee martini was AWESOME, we had not yet met our goal. We quickly guzzled our drinks and went 2 more doors down to MOTO....duhhh.... it was RIGHT there!
What I expected: mysterious drinks in beakers, accompanied by oozing dry ice fog, and the edible paper they are known for
What we received: my martini in a martini glass (ohh...booo), an awesome, talkative and friendly bartender (yay!), a free shot of absinthe in a test tube (very cool), and no edible paper (major boo), but the chef also surprised us with a free chocolate bomb (holy amazing!)
To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the drink I ordered. I got the "Falling Leaves" martini. It was too.....I'm not sure....strong.. and the flavors were not to my liking, I guess, but the "leaves" in the drink were little crispy pieces of citrus, yum!
If we had just had the drinks, I might have been a little disappointed. Moto is absolutely known for their super creative food, so I am sure it is a completely different experience. Alas, I will never be able to afford it. The chocolate bomb with a liquefied graham cracker center and the marshmallow fuse was such a nice surprise. It was my fav part about getting drinks here (besides the cool bartender!)!
My husband took me here for my 29th birthday and it was the best meal we have ever had. My husband called ahead for the reservation of a 10 course meal and to request my meal be vegetarian. They were happy to do so.
The staff worked like clockwork. I think every server in the place tended to our table at one point or another during our 3 hour meal. The courses felt like an adventure - everything was a delightful surprise. A lot of dishes you expected to be sweet were savory and vice versa. I don't feel like creativity or flavor were sacrificed at all for the vegetarian versions of these courses. They were just all so fantastic I had to keep myself from licking the plates clean.
We will make Moto an annual tradition from now on.
I was excited and having been saving for YEARS to eat here. What a disappointment. I made reservations the week of, and they had availability Saturday night which surprised me. Nonetheless, we took an earlier reservation instead of later to enjoy 15 courses costing $150 per person.
The food quality level was poor. Nothing from farms as the website hints. The food was interesting at best, but certainly not amazing. The first course is your edible menu that tasted like salty, stale bread. Another course was french onion soup that was served luke warm. There was nothing molecular about luke warm soup and a "fun-onion" as the server described. The wait between courses was dreadful. Sometimes waiting 2 minutes and sometimes waiting almost 15 minutes for "Ruben lasagna." What a poor play on my favorite sandwich. The 1000 island was like glue, the pasta tasted like rubber. The beef was definitely not corned beef by any means. The only proteins that were served was chicken (they call it capon), pork, brisket, then two small shavings of beef, and duck. I could buy those animals a whole foods and spend less! The desserts were average- tasty but nothing memorable.
The service didn't add to the experience. I thought someone might notice we were annoyed and pissed, but they didn't seem to have time. The uniforms (suits) were dirty and some even torn. The servers were less than polished or proficient.
We felt like we had to order the wine pairings because the wine list has 4-8 choices for bottle selections. Very poor selections, everything listed by the bottle was on the pairing list! The wine descriptions were poor, and felt rushed. I felt that I was ripped off for the price of the wine pairings.
Overall, I clearly will not return. Its all about the shock value. I felt the food does not meet the caliber of this restaurant. The service needs to be 20 X more professional. Especially, when the restaurant adds an additional 18% service charge. It is insulting to the guest, and should be stated when calling to make reservations. The wine program needs work or for that matter a selection.
Try Alinea, Schwa, or Graham Elliott's!
I feel compelled to write a review for the benefit of others because my wife and I had heard so many "wonderful, beaming" reviews that on the occasion of the visit of our friends from Austria we decided to dine at Moto.
In short, a major waste of time and money. For 4 people, the 20 course with wine accomp. was $1600.
Halfway through the meal, my friend told the waiter that the quality of the food was a low quality and so were many of the wine choices. The entire meal was for show and that while some of the flavors and preparations were interesting, nothing (not the ingredients, location nor the decor) justified the buzz nor the price tag.
It was extremely insulting and arrogant that the restaurant added 18% gratuity for a party of 4. That was the final straw - we had the manager come over and remove that and left nothing.
For people who have had the pleasure of eating at the finest places and who can tell the difference between a great chef and marketing, avoid this place. I'm really at a loss at how people can be so impressed with this place, other than the typical nonsense that they must say glowing things to justify to themselves how much money they just wasted.
For an example of modern cooking done right, give Graham Elliott a try - we've been there at least a half dozen times in the past year and had a great experience every time.
You literally eat the menu, enough said... well except for "Adult" mac and cheese that has quail and the remainder of the deconstructed moleculear gastronomy you'll enjoy.
I love food. I love creativity with food. So first, my applause and appreciation for Executive Chef Homaro Cantu, Pastry Chef Ben Roche, Chef De Cuisine Christopher Jones and Sous Chef Darrell Nemeth who imagined, created, and teased me with good food. And Sommelier Matthew Gundlachdrink? You have impeccable taste. I bow to your alcohol pairing and taste for they were delicious (and ultimately got me drunk!) It was good meal (I cannot deny that) but it had it's highs and lows. Here is a play-by-play of my June 2009 meal.
INSTANT risotto
Laurent Pierrer, Brut L-P, tours sur marne, brut, NV
~ Simple but wonderfully made. The idea of making "instant" risotto in your bowl (as each ingredient was separated until you mix them together yourself) was a fun idea and the champagne pairing was a good start to the meal.
DENVER OMELET & muffin
Dr. Heidemans-bergweiler, Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett, Riesling, mosel 2007
~ My friend liked this course. I wasn't a huge fan. The riesling was delicious though.
GRUYERE &onions
Bodegas botani, Moscatel, Sierras de Malaga, 2008
~ The French Onion course was really good. Period.
HOUSE-made pequin capon
Unibroue, La fin du monde, Chambly
~ This was my friend & my favorite course. We were given edible paper and we more-or-less made our own buffalo chicken wings (boneless of course!). And the beer was amazing with the course. In fact, I got back to NY and bought a few bottles just for my personal at-home consumption.
CUBAN cigar
Catherine & pierre Breton, Franc de pied, cabernet franc, bourgueil 2005
~ I liked the idea behind this dish. It was made to look like a cigar in an ashtray and yes, it was a fun dish but the flavors didn't work for me as well as I would have liked. My friend loved it!
REUBEN lasagna
Escarpment, Pinot noir, martinborough 2006
~ Interesting.
MEXICAN cannoli
Truchard, zinfandel, carneros 2005
~ This was a fun course. A savory cannoli.
YOGURT Happy Face
~ Good.
BLACKBERRY & corn
Domaine de Durban, muscat de beaumes-de-venise 2006
~ This dessert blew me away. The muscat paired with the blackberry and corn components made this a delicious dessert.
CHOCOLATE - Milk Chocolate Forms
Sutton Cellars, Vino Generoso Pagano Vineyard, Russian River Valley 2006
~ I am not a huge fan of chocolate but to have three desserts to end a meal is not something to cause me to give complaint. Plus, an explosive end to a meal? NICE!
Overall, the service was top-notch from start to finish. The food was well-prepared and creatively carried out. But only hesitation is the fact that the meal underwhelmed me. It was good but I left saying "eh" to myself. But that's my opinion. Come form your own!
I'd been thinking about Moto since I heard of it a few months ago, so in honor of my birthday a week or so ago, a friend and I went for dinner.
As a food science major, I was really able to appreciate all the bizarre forms the food came in, and I especially loved how most of the food was not at all what you expected from the appearance.
For instance, the mexican cannoli looked like a fantastically plated dessert, with chocolate sauce drizzled artfully over the cannoli and the plate, and whipped cream surrounding it... But it wasn't chocolate sauce, it was mole, and the whipped cream was a white powder that melted as it touched your tongue, and the cannoli itself was a crisp dough filled with duck legg, with sour cream on the ends.
I think the experience absolutely was worth the money, as you're not only paying for the food, but the interesting methods of preparation and plating.
However, I have one complaint, and I think it's somewhat significant. We ordered the 10 course meal, because when we checked the menus on their website, the 10 course had some stuff we really wanted to try, and while the 20 course had some interesting things as well, we really wanted the cuban cigar which wasn't on it.
But when we got to the restaurant, we noticed that the table near us that had the 20 course option was getting all the same courses as the 10 course tables, plus more. Checking the menu again, we learned that yes, in fact the 20 course menu does include most if not all of the 10 course options, but with different names. It seems like they're trying to trick their patrons into coming back a second time making them think they'll have a completely different menu.
So anyone having trouble deciding between the two, know this. If you have five hours and $175 to spare, go for the 20 course. The 10 course is great, but you might regret missing out on the 'strawberry flakes?' dish that makes you blow smoke out your nose.
(Seriously.)
I've been hearing about Moto since it opened, tantalized by Mad Culinary Scientist Homaro Cantu in the kitchen and his fabulous creations. Finally we decided to do it for my husband's recent birthday.
Pricewise it would be steep (@ $110 for 10-courses and $70 for wine pairings), if it weren't for how perfect each course is, how on target the service, how gorgeous the dining room.
Best menu I've ever eaten! Saving my pennies so we can go back...
It was what I expected. Small portions (tasting size) that were creatively prepared but over priced. I did not like the dessert course. Doughnut soup is not good. Think of eating uncooked bisquick. The service we had was good.
We only did the five course with pairings. Overall it was a fun and new experience but spending 300.00 on the meal we had was bit excessive.
If foam, liquid nitrogen, edible paper and coleslaw ice cream don't sound like elements of a fun dining experience to you, stop reading this review right now. Spend your money on a "safe" dinner at a steakhouse or an Italian restaurant.
If the above items sound intriguing to you, what are you waiting for? Make a reservation! Just be prepared to put all of your inhibitions aside and trust Homaro Cantu and his staff.
My boyfriend and I enjoyed an early Saturday night dinner at Moto. Not because we waited until the last minute to make reservations, but because we decided to go all the way and experience the GTM. The GTM is 20 courses and takes anywhere from 3 to 6 hours to complete. Our meal was around 5 hours long.
We went without the wine pairings because a) I'm kind of a light weight and b) I wanted to remember my dining experience. That many pairings would be way too much for me to handle. Instead, we ordered 2 drinks each. They were all good but the winner of the night was definitely my Martini Library, which consisted of approximately 4 different types of martinis served in pipettes sitting in a glass of ice. Very clever idea, and my martinis stayed nice and chilled without getting watered down.
I'm not going to go through all 20 courses in my review; instead I will describe a few of my favorites. Some courses were more memorable than others, but none of them were really disappointing.
- Greek salad. This course came in a pipette, just like my Martini Library. It was a clear liquid but it tasted just like eating a Greek salad. Amazing. I tried to ask our server for a clue on how they did it, but she just replied "magic."
- Cocktail snow & shrimp. A small dish of what looked like shaved ice with a large shrimp on top. The ice was a perfect replication of cocktail sauce. Tasty!
- Smoked brisket & cornbread. The highlight of this dish was the coleslaw ice cream. Weird but good at the same time.
- Burger with ketchup. This was definitely the cutest dish of the night. It was a little "burger" (that was really dessert) wrapped in foil and served with sweet ketchup and mustard impostors.
We also got to try the Cuban cigar and Roadkill of fowl that Anthony Bourdain had during his visit to Moto, which was cool since I am a big fan.
We really enjoyed our meal at Moto, but I'm not sure if I would go back again. It was fun to experience once, but there are other restaurants that I'd like to visit first before coming back for a second meal here.
This is hands down the best meal I've ever eaten. The service was spectacular and an so on the dot, the food was luxurious and playful all in one. The meal was full of surprising twists and turns but with quality to back it up. If you have to eat one nice meal in Chicago, you MUST go to Moto!
Wow, wow, wow.
Moto is absolutely fabulous. Its creative, its fun, service is amazing and the food is outstanding. Yes, its quite expensive, but its certainly well worth it for a special occasion.
We chose to go with the 10 course tasting. My biggest fear is thinking that I'd be hungry after 10 course of small bites. Not so, we were absolutely stuffed after and wondered if we could of survived the 20 course offering.
The 10 courses led us through a progression from starters through deserts with each placing emphasis on amazing taste, creativity and science. In some way, each dish played with your senses, whether it was smell, sight, touch, etc., the food really jumped out in some sort of unique way. For example, who knew that eating a cuban cigar in a dirty ash tray could taste like a gourmet burrito. Or feeling like you're at a sports bar chowing on buffalo wings after eating a piece of paper with a flying buffalo on it.
Each of their dishes were unique and complex, yet the flavors were very down to earth and welcoming. I tasted everything from breakfast food and smores to mexican food and french onion soup. Presentation and textures were so complicated yet the tastes were so amazing, and yet so familiar. Absolutely love it and I'd recommend it to anyone who really wants to have a fun and unique experience.
My friend Liam was in town, and since he was treating for dinner, I decided to pull out the stops and pick a place that I knew Scuba Steve would not want to try (not because he doesn't have good taste, but because he likes food in large quantities!).
Here's the menu for the 10 course we were served that evening:
Menu (yes, the menu is edible, served in a garlic and parmesan crostini)
Instant Risotto (the risotto was something like rice krispies, which you mixed into a rick yet light cream base with dried peas - good, but I was waiting for better)
Denver Omelet and Muffin (this was AMAZING - the "muffin" was light as air - LITERALLY it instantly melted in your mouth)
Gruyere and Onions (Moto's version of French-Onion soup - light, delicious, and not too salty, which is a common complaint I have with this soup)
House-Made Pequin Capon (the capon was sooooooo tender - delicious)
Cuban Cigar (it came out in an ashtray - the "ash" was ground sesame seeds, the cigar was a mini cuban sandwich the size of a cigar wrapped in a collard green with an edible paper cigar ring - FREAKING AMAZING and so tasty)
Reuben Lasagne (what it sounds like - good, but nothing to write home about)
Mexican Cannoli (looks like dessert, but filled with duck - yummy!)
Happy Face (honestly can't remember- hell, I was a few courses and glasses of wine in!)
Blackberry and Corn (this was a delicious little dessert offering with various berry parings)
Milk Chocolate Forms (the s'more bomb was DA BOMB - they light the little wick on fire, and while is doesn't explode on your plate, the flavor explodes in your mouth!)
Wine Pairings:
Laurent Perrier Brut
Domdechant Werner Hocheimer Holle Kabinett Riesling
Tandem, Richie Vineyard Chardonnay 2005
Unibroue, La Fin Du Monde (yes, a BEER!)
Catherine & Pierre Breton, Franc de Pied Cabernet Franc 2005
Escarpment, Pinot Noir 2006
Alma Negra, Malbec/Bonarda 2006
Domaine De Durban, Muscat 2006
Sutton Cellars, Vino Generoso Pagano Vineyard 2006
(This comment goes for all the wines - PERFECTION. Not just the pairing, but the wines themselves. I am going to buy at least one bottle of each to have on hand at home, and to give as gifts!!!!)
I only gave 4 stars because while the food was good, taste-wise it wasn't excellent (like Sola is!), but the presentation and pairings were so creative that I had to give 4 stars. Plus, the service was stellar - we had a different server present each course, explain the wine, and everyone was vey friendly.
Like the governor of Cali, my homeland, would say, "I'll be BACK!"
It's a little hard to write a review on a place where there are only two options to choose from: 10 course or the 20. If the other reviews are not enough...? I really loved this place. If you are a kid at heart and would like your senses to be magically pinched into happiness, (and have a little disposable income..), come for the experience. He plays with his food and allows you to come in the fun.
Yes, what you have read..is true, you will eat your menu, paper, a cigar, and like a magic show, yes, food appears and disappears like a poof in your mouth. And it tastes good.
One thing I would like to add is to not think tooo much about what you are eating and enjoy each dish as is as if it were a different act in the same magic show. The 10-20 dishes deserve specific attention, are enjoyed, and then the next dish comes to entertain. Let the wait staff explain and suggest...
Have fun!
I first found out about this restaurant through a friend's youtube link that reminded me of what my wd-50 experience should have been, had I not gotten food poisoning the night before. Naturally, this was the first, and only thing I planned prior to going to Chicago on a weekend romp.
Without getting into too much details about each of the 10 courses, it's easily the most creative meal I've ever had. Somewhere along the lines though, a mixture of the food could have caused some funny reaction in my stomach, that I like to think is pretty iron clad. As I'm sure putting together 10 courses that mix well together is a daunting task, trying dishes that range from italian, french, to cuban was overwhelming.
Now, whether that is the intent of the chef, I'm unsure, but my 3 stars is strictly on taste. Had I been rating on creativity and presentation, it'd easily be 4.5-5.
My favorite dish of the night: "House Made Pequin Capon", which is fancy word for buffalo wings. I first was instructed to eat a paper that had a printed flying buffalo on it. This was the start of a delicious course that involved capon (castrated chicken to which I've had oh so many delicious encouters with..) and pulled pork, complemented by the tasty paper that tasted EXACTLY like buffalo wings.
My favorite dessert of the night: "ACME s'mores". This was a little chocolate bomb (it was literally shaped like a cartoon bomb) that was lit on fire. With a thin outside shell of chocolate and a graham cracker caramel type concoction in the inside, this was a bite sized delicious explosion in my mouth.
All in all, I cherished and very much enjoyed the experience, but the food and tastes were nothing I've never had before.
My wife and I dined at Moto the other day after hearing and reading about it. Personally I'm not quite sure why anyone would spend money to dine here. It almost seems like a gimmicky restaurant more then a fine dining place. If it's presentation you're looking for then I would suggest going here but if you're looking for quality food I would look elsewhere.
The best example of the presentation you should look for is a "cuban sandwich" that looks like a cigar. Another is a savory cannoli which looks like a real cannoli but is actually braised duck. But the flavor lacks on almost all dishes and for the amount that they charge the quality and flavor isn't near what I expected. In fact it was quite disappointing. There were four entree type courses, a buffalo wing course that used capon, the cigar, a reuben lasagna and the cannoli. The capon was the only course with real pieces of food on it. The cigar seemed like the pork was mashed to a pulp and piped onto some bread, the lasagna was a horrible tasting play on a reuben sandwich and the cannoli was decent but again it seemed like we were eating mashed meat.
The desserts were far better then the savory courses. The first was a passion fruit and raspberry sorbet that was in the shape of a smiley face. The corn cake was probably the best rendition of a corn dessert I've ever had and then the chocolate mousse course was lacking a little (especially after the corn cake).
The service was quite good considering they are not professional servers. We were told that they are all chefs that do rotations in the front of the house which is a unique idea.
Our total bill was almost $500 after they automatically added 18% onto the bill (which I won't get started on that other then to say I think restaurants that do that are scamming their customers).
Overall I could think of plenty of other restaurants that would have provided far more quality dining experience then Moto did.
This was an amazingly entertaining and fun dining experience. I had heard about MOTO from many foodies and from watching far too much Food Network and decided to try it for myself. I didn't know what to expect but was happy to find out that the atmosphere was relaxed and light and fun. No stuffiness here!
Our party of 3 had the 10 course meal - which actually turned out to be 12 courses if you include the edible menu and a surprise at the end. Each course was a joy to see, smell, eat and laugh about. The service was fantastic and the meal is long and enjoyable. Drinks are just as fun as the food and I highly recommend that you try one.
This is a dinning experience and I won't ruin it for those that have not yet had the chance to go by detailing each course. Needless to say, I will be returning to MOTO next time I am in Chicago.
To quote Anthony Bourdain, "Things are different now".
It was the Friday after my birthday. The entourage was partying in Vegas without me. I elected not to go to. Instead, I was in Chicago wrapping up work thinking to myself, "What was I thinking turning down a Vegas B-Day trip"!?!
Well, I was thinking Moto.
And that's when I realized that things have indeed changed.
I'm a corporate manager now. My paycheck is about 4 times what it used to be. Now, the only interaction I have with food during the week is a vending machine in Building G or the corporate cafeteria.
4 years ago, I would have been giddy at the prospect of dining at Moto. So it was quite alarming that my feelings towards my B-Day dinner at Moto were no different than my feelings towards that vending machine.
My dining experience at Moto helped me find that passion and excitement again.
THE REVIEW
Moto is located along Fulton St in Chicago's Meat Packing District. A shimmering Green light distinctly demarcates Moto. The front is very minimalist and pretentious---especially in its surroundings. It's a similar sensation to approaching the Comme des Garcons store in Chelsea, NY. It's a witty move that dramatizes what's to come.
The restaurant is very small and intimate. There were only 5 other tables seated; mostly 2 tops. We were seated along a banquette.
Moto is owned and operated by a very talented Chef, Homaro Cantu. He won his battle against Iron Chef Morimoto 2 years ago. He owns several patents and runs a consultancy, Cantu Designs. Every food company from Kraft, General MIlls, and Pepsi has approached this young chef to learn his secrets.
Moto is tasting menu only. There are 2 menus to choose from: the 10 Course and the Grand Tasting Menu (GTM- 20 courses).
I chose the 10 course menu because the server had warned me that the GTM requires 4-5 hours of dining time. The 10 course, by comparison, only requires a slender 2 hours.
I ordered a playful cocktail because the name intrigued me: Martini Library. What could this be? What would it look like?
When my martini, or martinis, arrived I knew this evening would be special. It was a "liquid Google".
The cocktail is a library of different flavored martinis each distinguishable by colors resembling Gatorade: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow. Each flavor comes in a miniature plastic beaker. There were 2 beakers per flavor all kept ice cold on the rocks. My faves were the classic and lime.
The menus arrive as your first course. This is the tastiest damn menu you'll ever eat! Literally. The menu was printed on a thin sheet of edible paper adhered to a fresh tortilla shaped like a tabulet. It came accompanied with lime creme fraiche, fresh guacamole, and fresh salsa. Dee-lish! Honestly, some of the best tasting chips and salsa I've ever had.
Liquid Nitro Scallop was injected with butter and came with liquid nitrogen lemon powder, saffron and orange. The scallop was beautifully cooked and exploded with its own juice and butter in your mouth. Meanwhile, cold-smoke drifted from your mouth as you swallowed the lemon powder.
Greek Salad was nothing more than a tube of clear liquid that captured the pure essence of a Greek Salad: olives, feta, onions, lettuce, and tomato. Yet, none of these items were physically present.
Seared Buffalo Hot Wings came with another edible piece of paper dusted with Buffalo Seasoning spice. Doritos should steal Chef Cantu's recipe for seasoning their Buffalo Flavored chips.
Cuban Cigar! This dish was AWESOME! A metal tray arrives with a glass test tube with neon green liquid and an ashtray with a burnt "cigar". The green liquid is a lime mojito minus the alcohol. The "cigar" is actually cooked collard greens wrapped around braised pork trotters. They add vegetable dye to give the collard greens the appearance of a cigar. Finally, they dry the cigar in a convection oven such that you may grab it without getting your hands dirty. The "ashes" were ground black sesame seeds which complimented the pork flavor quite nicely.
The evening progressed much this way. Perhaps, the least successful dish is the most widely publicized dish: RoadKill (duck confit). It wasn't plated properly and just looked like a pile of mush with marshmellow sauce and ketchup. The flavors weren't as harmonious as in the other dishes. The final savory course was named "Chicago's smallest steak dinner". Desserts were yummy too! I enjoyed the pumpkin pie dessert and the coconut and ginger milk was insane.
This was an overwhelmingly positive experience. I had 15 courses! The wine pairings were fantastic and the servers were professional yet every bit as playful as the chef's whimsical creations.
Moto has its share of critics. I ain't one of them. Moto helped me regain the joy of eating out. I will definitely be returning.
THANKSOMOTO.
i really enjoyed our meal at moto. i toyed with giving it a three star rating but just couldn't due to the fact that i haven't experienced anything remotely close creativity wise.
the food was very very good. but i'm not 100% convinced it warrants the high price tag. i think the creativity of the dishes slightly pulls the wool over your tastebuds, the look is better than the actual taste, but i think your eyes convince you that its amazing. when in reality the food is just really very good. not great.
i thought that the creativity of the presentation deserved an A+. for goodness sake, i ate something that looked like a real cigar with ashes! amazing. speaking of the cigar, it may have been my favorite dish. the flavor was great the the presentation was spot on.
we went with our usual group of 6 (max and i have 4 friends that we try to eat out with once a week),
we made our reservation about two weeks in advance. and requested special consideration for two of our friends who don't eat pork. they were extremely accommodating and nice. when we arrived, we were seated right away and had a great table.
we ordered a few bottles of wine and the journey began.
we opted for the 10 course rather than the 20. it just seemed a bit overwhelming.
we were very happy with our choice. it was a nice amount of time and all of the courses were great.
the service was good overall, although the kitchen did have a slight problem and there was a decent amount of time between courses 7 and 8. when we asked (very politely) about the delay, instead of just apologizing, our waitress suggested that "we'll just plate your last 2 courses on the same plate since you are in a hurry", we were not in a hurry at all. and she made it seem like we were complaining when really we were just curious what was going on. so this was just a little off-putting. but really this was pretty minor. overall very good.
i would absolutely recommend trying moto at least once. it is truly an experience. i'm just not sure if i would go back. at least for another few years.
Was in Chicago on business and had heard about MOTO, so our group (6) decided to go.
Tucked away in the meatpacking district sidestreets, it was absolutely amazing! To start with, the service was everything you would expect from a boutique fine cuisine. Homaro Cantu's imagination and tasteful palate serves well!
We decided on the 10 course with wine pairings, A must!!!! Each pairing accommodates each course perfectly. Each course was well-thought and perfectly ordered. As it is a tasting presentation, most are served amuse busche.
Having the pleasure of dining out frequently, this remains and will remain one of my top 5 picks.
Obviously the price is not cheap, but neither is the quality of dishes, vintage of pairings or quality of service. Well worth the investment!
A perfect night for dinner with clients, a special occasion or just a fun evening.
Ben
As fine dining goes, Moto underwhelms
My wife and I went for our 7th wedding anniversary and were looking forward to the creative and inventive menu. We opted for the 10-course and the wine pairing.
While the dishes fulfilled the deserved reputation for playfulness and creativity, my wife and I both commented to each other on the first few courses the flavors would have come together so much better had the food been hot, or even warm. We mentioned to our server that we liked the flavors, but wondered how they were meant to be served temperature-wise and were told warm to hot, at which we mentioned our food was coming out room temperature to cold. Our server said that was definitely not right, that the french onion soup (onion & gruyere on that night's menu) in particular should have been hot. She promised to tell the chef.
So fine, I expected things would get back on track and our food would start coming out hot, whimsical and delicious. Not so. The next dish was also cold. We mentioned it to the next server, who again said it should have been warm to hot and promised to tell the chef. At which point they said they chef would add a few courses to our menu. A fine gesture, but unnecessary. Just serve what I ordered hot. Or warm. Or lukewarm. When another soup (one of the bonus courses) came out ice cold, we did not finish it. Another server, when clearing our plates giggled minnie-mouse-like and said, "How was it? Not your favorite I guess?" at which point I said, "No, as we've mentioned twice already tonight, the flavors are interesting, I just wish everything wasn't coming out cold. Especially soup." Again she promised to tell the chef, who I am sure was well sick of hearing about it by now. I am not a chef, but I would have thought at some point he would have told the kitchen to make sure the next course came out piping hot. Send us bubbling molten lava on a plate or something - trust me we would have gotten the joke. The last thing I would send out at this point is more cold food. But that is exactly what happened. Not one dish all night even room temperature. Not one.
Add that I felt a few dishes were underseasoned and a lot of them could have used more acid, and I was left feeling the food could have been stunning, but just wasn't.
Had it been stunning, one could forgive the clumsy service (pouring two different wines into the same glass, not clearing plates and glasses promptly). One could forgive the poor lighting. One could forgive automatically adding 18% to every bill. One could forgive wrinkled tablecloths (on every single table). Great food covers all manner of minor issues such as these, but just okay food in a place that can't serve a hot plate of food charging $110/pp for a 10-course tasting menu and $70/pp for wine pairing is more than a little disappointing.
At roughly this price point much better options in Chicago include Avenues, Alinea, Tru, Trotter's, Arun's (where the spectacular food does overwhelm the quirky decor and clumsy service), Spring, Les Nomades and many more.
Wanted to love it, but won't be back soon.
I've been to Moto 4 times in the past 2 years. I've tried both the 10 course (3 times) and the 20 course (once). The 20 course is worth trying once but it requires a large time commitment as well as a big dent in the wallet especially if you also get the wine pairing.
I have never been disappointed in any of my visits here. I really love how the waitstaff, who also help prepare the dishes, are so knowledgeable about the dishes. They provide a great description of each dish and can answer detailed questions about each dish. On one visit, my group was provided a tour of the kitchen. It was amazing seeing all the unique kitchen equipment that they use. I grew up in Chinese restaurant kitchens and the contrast between the two were day and night. Moto's kitchen was more like a test kitchen crossed with a mad scientist's lab complete with flashing yellow lights and the chefs were headsets to communicate.
The menus change seasonally but there are some dishes that tend to stay longer or are rotated in more often than others. My favorite dishes are the braised duck, the Southern Style BBQ, and the cotton candy balls. The cotton candy balls explode in your mouth. Some of my least favorite dishes are the Greek salad and some of the dessert dishes. For the Greek salad, they take a Greek salad and puree it. They do something else to it to intensify the flavor and the salad is served in an eye dropper. It still tastes good but not one of my favorites. As for the dessert dishes, they tend to be very sweet and intense. Sometimes it actually hurts my teeth to eat them.
Having tried the tasting menus at Alinea, Morimoto's (in Philadelphia), Everest, and other places I would rate Moto's as having the 2nd best tasting dishes on their tasting menu. The best being Morimoto's. In terms of presentation, Moto's is by far the hands down best. Each dish is served in a unique and usually custom made plating. For example, there is one dish (can't remember the name) that comes out in a Battleship (the game) style plating.
I would just like to point out that I called the 2008 stock market demise in this review.
To all those who got out in time..
You're welcome:)
(For those who are dying send me monetary gratitude checks... just message me so I can give you my mailing address!)
I went from reviewing a 6 dollar meal to 200 dollar meal... kinda like, well, OPPOSITE of the Dow… Read more »
An experience that you will never forget - promise! If you are seeking a cheeseburger well, this is not the place for you but if you are adventurous and curious - please try moto.
I came with friends and we were blown away! We participated in the 10 course meal (which will take 2-2.5 hours) the other choice is the 20 course meal (which will take 4-4.5 hours). Don't worry, the 10 course allows you to have 3 dessert options! You have your choice of pairing up the wine or choosing from their amazing cocktails!
Some of my favorites of the night were: the greek salad (ok, how do you drink a salad and still feel fulfilled? the house-made chile pequin quail and nitro liquip scallop were amazing! I would say that every course was beautiful in the presentation, the service was incredible and everyone was very helpful as I wasn't sure how to eat everything.
The restaurant will accommodate special dietary needs (non-dairy & vegetarian options) are available but notify them when you make your reservation.
What a fun place to go for that foodie friend we all have. For me, it is my lovely partner who has all the material things in the world, so for a very special birthday treat we enjoyed the gastronomic exeperience of a 20 course meal plus wine pairings at Moto.
I know the price is a lot to "swallow," but imagine the price of dinner and a show or concert and you're pretty much in the same ballpark. This dinner is entertainment, so it's a two-in-one, if you ask me.
We had a lot of fun - the menu is whimsical and each course has a fun story and mind-bender way about it. We still can't believe we ate sesame "ashes" in an ash tray with a pork "Cuban" cigar. Or that we blew campfire smoke out of a beaker before drinking a smokey mulled wine. It felt like being in Alice in Wonderland for a few hours -- fun surprises that trick the senses.
Some of the dishes were delicious, others left more to be desired, but as a whole package it made for an incredible night that I would highly recommend for that person who actually appreciate this stuff and can name at least six famous chefs.
Seeing as there are plenty of extensive reviews of Moto, I'm going to try to keep this short and to the point.
If you're looking for a creative, delicious meal, Moto will not disappoint.
We had the twenty course offering which while delicious, was a little overwhelming. If we had the opportunity to do it over again, we'd definitely have gone with ten course offering.
Although prices are somewhat high, a dinner at Moto is definitely a worthwhile endeavor.
Service was excellent. The servers were incredibly attentive to our needs, and explain each dish as it is served. After accidentally leaving my jacket at the restaurant, it was personally delivered by an employee back to our hotel. Service doesn't get any better than that.
So, five stars for a very delicious, inventive meal.
I've been dying to go to Moto since I saw Chef Homaro Cantu on Iron Chef. So when one of my friends, a Chicago native, said that he was planning a trip home, I said I'd come along for the ride.
I can honestly say I've never been this excited to experience a meal in my life. And I can start nit-picking on the decor, the atmosphere and the waitstaff, but I won't.
Moto is an experience I will never forget. Icing on the cake...Chef Cantu was nice enough to come to our table and say Hi :-) AND give me the extra helping of dessert I requested. I'm smitten.
I am officially fat and happy. I truly enjoyed the Moto experience, and yes, it is an experience. Allow at least 3 1/2 hours to partake and enjoy these creative, delicious works of art.
When I arrived, the host was friendly and took my coat and bag. When I was settled in, I asked for a cocktail and the bartender just made up a citrus cocktail with citrus vodka, a citrus base, and then a syringe-looking thing that had maraschino cherry juice inside so that I could control the sweetness. The menu was printed on a garlic cracker and customized for our group. One of the things that stood out to me was a "Cuban cigar" - pork rolled up in some greens, with sesame "ashes". One of the desserts was like a warm, sweet corn cake with caramel in the middle, garnished with a blackberry sauce and little blackberry pods. I seriously could have licked the plate. We all cleaned our plates. There were a couple of dishes that looked and felt like eggs, but were created and filled with fruit fillings.
One area where they excelled is accommodating people with food allergies/dietary restrictions. I'm allergic to shellfish, and we had a vegetarian and a lactose intolerant person at our table. What a group! They customized dishes for each of us and they were all still wonderful.
The service was excellent. When I left, they remembered which coat and bag belonged to me- I didn't get a claim ticket for these, so they were very attentive.
If you want a memorable dining experience, go to Moto. I will definitely be back.
I loved my experience at Moto!
I went with my gf and another couple. We enjoyed the experience! We had the 10 course meal and that ran about 2.5 hours. After each course we'd compare thoughts on what we just ate and ranked them.
The place was maybe a little cramped but was a great experience overall.
I took my boyfriend here for his 29 birthday. I wanted to take him somewhere unique, fun and exciting. Moto delivered on all three. Moto's menu is always changing but is the menu itself is always edible, literally. You can eat the menu. The courses were diverse and interesting. We had everything from a salad we could drink to a dish called road kill which included braised pork belly, collard greens, liquid cornbread and an amazing sauce. I wanted to ask the server if I could take home a gallon of the cornbread. The only course I did not like was a piece of edible paper seasoned like a hot wing and a pheasant wing which was a little to fatty for my taste. The ambiance was good although the tables were a little too close together for my taste. Moto is not necessarily a romantic restaurant but certainly an adventure for all of your senses. With our meal and wine pairing we paid about $400. Yes it is expensive. I love to go out to eat and I have never been anywhere like this. Moto is not somewhere I would go on a weekly or monthly basis but is a great place for a special occasion.
My hubby took me here for our anniversary. It was pretty rad, my husband knew this was on my "list" of placed to eat before I die, and I am glad that I went, the ambiance was lovely and soothing. Plus, you don't need to bust out your Sunday best, just dress chic. As for the food: I loved the buffalo quail leg and the weird martini in eye droppers...but there were a few mis-steps...
They went outta the way to print "Happy Anniversary Matthew" on our edible menu...but they didn't go outta the way to print my name on it. He wouldn't have that anniversary without me...
Also, the service-albeit good was somewhat robotic. Since you sit so close to other tables, you could hear the exact same scripted service going on all around you. The drawback to the service...or maybe it's the kitchen, I went to the ladies during dinner (god forbid) and it took another *half hour* to get our next course. I thought this was odd, then it happened to the couple sitting next to us. I know it takes time to hand-craft beautiful food, but sheesh, I felt like we were punished because I have a tiny bladder.
The food was interesting, and mostly good, but somehow dare I say it, contrived. (A course that looks like ROADKILL? Jeez.) Also I hated the liquid truffle. I almost booted then and there-it was a texture thing.
Anyhoo...it was overall a nice experience. I am glad I tried it, and now, I can cross it off my list.
It has been a year and half since I went to Moto. My girlfriend and our two best friends took me for my birthday. It was right after I started culinary school, so it was kind of special. Normally, we would never have went somewhere quite so outrageous.
The atmosphere at Moto is awesome. It almost felt like you were in a movie based off of a William Gibson novel. Very modern, almost futuristic... and a bit Asian. It was cool.
As for the food, We chose the ten course meal with the wine pairing. It was amazing. A lot of people have complained about portion size, or that it isn't really food, or that it isn't even cooking. It doesn't matter. You don't go to Moto because your hungry. You go as a form of entertainment. What Moto does is create dishes based almost entirely on flavors and / or appearances. It is utterly surreal when you take a shot of liquid that tastes like a Greek Salad.
Anyway, everything about our experience at Moto made it a little easier to swallow when the bill came. .It was a lot. Never before, and never since, have we spent so much on a meal. But when we think back about it, it was completely worth every penny.
I'm going to say this upfront: Go to Alinea.
I'm very critical when it comes to the restaurant reviews, so I'm sure I sound snobby, but let me opine once for all. Yes, you do get to experience the emerging molecular gastronomy and get to see very creative presentations beyond your wildest imagination. But if you want "good food," that's not what you will taste here.
I opted for the 10 course because I figured that I would not have the endurance for the 5 hour 20 course GTM. Out of the 10, the best dishes were the pallet cleaner (mint/lime juice shooter) and the last desert, s'more (ok, I got to admit. This s'more was really good). Others were pretty to look at, but not worth the money and time.
And if you're going for the culinary adventure, go with someone who shares the same kind of attitude and interest - then you can actually discuss about the dishes (flavor, texture, the wine ... you know, those things..) - I think that'll be fun and a worthwhile thing to do.
Interested in Dishes. Me and my husband had the 10 course meal.
I'm disappointed the sweet potato and pork course.
Pork is really good but sweet potato were too salty....
The short rib was the best dish but I was too expected at this place.
We spend $500 but I think just OK meal.
Service is good but not excellent.
Am I willing to give it a try? Not sure....
4
4
I went into Moto with much anticipation, I have been to several tasting menu restaurants so i was excited to try a new one. However Homaro Cantu's desire to experiment with new flavor's ultimately leaves the food falling a bit short. While some dishes are very good others just fall flat and don't work. While some may be impressed with his presentation the food is average.
Excellent service, overrated food.
I should have written this a month ago when I went, so now I will just throw in my few cents here and there to have done it.
Moto is a great, fun, wonderful experience - so worth the price. I am sure the wine pairing would be a *blast* too - but as I had an interview the next day, and wanted to be able to *taste* and *remember* the food, we just slowly shared one bottle of white.
We opted for the ten course tasting.
Of course by now u all know the menu is edible. A crunchy yummy chip served up with a side of some sort of sauce. fun :)
The CO2 Lemon and Sunchoke (scallop with liquid center) was decadent and delicious, though the 'carbonation' in the lemon was a little lost on me. Still, great first course.
The "Greek Salads" were actually two fun salads - an octopus salad which was very good, and a tube of liquified cucumber you squeeze into your mouth. We were delighted children
The "House made chile pequin quail" was one of my favorites. It came with another edible piece of paper that tasted like chili powder - unnecessary. But the quail was so juicy and lovely. Good job!
The Cuban Cigar was, well, garish. It was served with an overly sweet "virgin" mojito that came in a glass with a huge ugly syringe in it. The cigar itself as clever - the ashes being sesame seeds. Oily in my opinion but my date loved it.
Mozzarella caprese - very interesting take on this dish. It worked in a decadent way but floundered in the textural foundation ;) Still a good dish.
BBQ beans and slaw - Miss miss miss! I was so looking fwd to this - being from Texas and love Texas brisket and beans. The brisket was just awful, the beans bland, and their frozen, dried, refrozen coleslaw took all the fun (and taste) out of the slaw!
Braised duck - Thank god in Heaven for this dish! So delicious! Did I mention it looks like 'road kill'?? Now you tell me what fine dining establishment you can go to and get served what looks like the remains of a small animal broken, mauled, and bloodied on your plate, brain thrown off to the side? Now tell me where you can get it and have it taste exquisite. Salty, sweet, partially creamy. Another favorite. And a blast!
Desserts came next.
Raspberry forms is about right. - I wasn't fond of the little frozen raspberries, nor of the sorbet (not my thing), but the gelatinous raspberry on the spoon (which the waiter told my date "That's a one-biter!") was super and fun :)
Blueberries & Cream - I adore blueberries and this was presented beautifully. Very good also, nice textures all around.
S'mores - such the rage right now ! And these came with a truffle! Fun take on smores, to be true, but I missed the graham cracker crunch :)
They also gave us a complimentary glass of port. Thanks guys! Anyone up for the GTM?? :D
*Heart* Moto - You do it up right :)
I had the pleasure of eating at MOTO in July. Quite an amazing experience. Had the GTM with wine pairings. My fave courses were the kalamata olive octopus, the roadkill, the foie gras, the biscuit creme brulee and the seared Quail hot wings. The other courses were good just not as memorable. Plus everything I had has been reviewed in detail over and over. My servers were outstanding and the wine pairings were creative and unique. The Sommelier(Amie) even changed some of the pairings after we talked about my preferences.
The only negative and the reason this review is not 5 Stars is the 18% charge on all bills. To me this is sneaky and uncalled for. I just think that they should charge the entire cost of the meal upfront. The Food and service at MOTO made for an amazing evening that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Absolutely brilliant -
simple & complex,
sophisticated yet playful,
precise, composed, balanced, beautiful
and completely unexpected.
Artist/composer/chef/scientist - a Renaissance man at your disposal. Every component is both simple and complex - playing a significant role in the success of each dish through texture, temperature, flavor, and color creating a masterpiece: beautiful not only to the palate but to the eye and to the mind. Combining carefully selected elements proved the whole to be greater than the sum of its parts.
With a wait-staff equally trained as chefs (or perhaps, chefs trained as wait-staff), no component goes unexplained, no question unanswered.
The curious diner is welcome and encouraged.
My husband and I ate here during our trip to Chicago to celebrate his birthday. We decided to splurge on the 5 hour, 20 course meal and it was worth it!
The food was very cleverly presented, tasted great, and the service was impeccable. The staff had a great attitude..they seemed to have fun there. One of servers explained that also do the prep, so they generally provide great descriptions of each course.
There were some amazing courses and some so-so, but nothing bad. My favorite ones:
* Cuban missile crisis - looks just like a cigar; tastes great and comes with this wonderful "faux-jito" drink from a chemistry beaker
* Roadkill of fowl - I had read about this course from other reviews and was hesitant, but it tasted great. Moist, tender and sweet
* Liquid center scallop - light, well balanced flavor.
* Savory creme brulee - ah, the beauty of a truffle brulee and bacon biscuit.....BACON!
*smores - loved the texture of the liquid graham cracker with the chocolate shell
This dinner was such a treat and made our Chicago visit very memorable.
American Table Menu
Neighborhood: West Loop
Weekend Brunch
Neighborhood: The Loop
Neighborhood: Fulton Market
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: American (New)
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Category: Seafood
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