When asking around where would be a good place for both food and a lively atmosphere in California’s downtown Napa, Morimoto Restaurant frequently came up. It’s not just sushi restaurant as it seems to attract both single and couples alike who want to go out on the town and is into a bit of a hip and trendy “scene.”
The place had a very young energy the night we were there and I didn’t notice many families so it appeared to be one of the main places the early twenty and thirty something year old crowds hung out on weekends.
Pros:
The service was fast and the staffers were courteous. They even served a pot of tea with a smile when so many others around us were ordering martinis and bottles of wine by the boat load.
The ambiance is definitely a win. Although the photo is dark, take a look at the image on the left, which is the backdrop of the bar. Mixing eerie blue with cool branches, you get a very modern look but with the warmth that so many modern designs lack.
Cons:
Expensive. A pizza appetizer is $18, a tuna tartare appetizer is $25 and a frozen iceberg wedge (salad) with not much else in it other than a little bacon was $18. Steaks are $75-80. Yeah, right. My reaction to this was that Napa was so desperate for a scene that the small handful of places who could provide it could get away with whatever price they wanted to slap on things. Plus, it’s Napa, so they are also relying on the romantic getaways where you’re stuck and have limited other options for dining.
The manager on the night (not 100% sure he was the manager but he was wearing a jacket and tie) was rude rather than helpful when I asked about other bars and restaurants in the area. Skipping a quick exchange with him would have improved the overall experience.
My vote is skip the meal and go there for an overpriced drink or two and then head down the street and to one of the restaurants in the rural countryside for dinner. Other restaurants worth trying out include:
- French Laundry
- Bouchon
- Mustards Grill
- Rutherford Grill
- Gott’s Roadside
- Bistro Jeanty
- Bouchon Bakery
- Gott’s Roadside
- Tra Vigne
- Auberge Du Soleil…
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
