TriBeCa Canvas. Location: TriBeCa. Church and Walker. Scene: Trendy. Food: Comfort Food. Lotus Root Chips. Shrimp Nachos. Braised Pork Ribs. Whole Fish. Fried Rice Risotto.

Chek Recs:

1. Pan Con Tomate: Housemade Pancetta, Spicy Habanero Aioli, Sweet Soy, Grilled Tomato (1st pic)
2. Sea Bass with Creamy Farro (3rd pic)

TriBeCa Canvas is famed Iron Chef’s Morimoto’s newest hotspot down in TriBeCa. The bizarre menu has a comfort food style shying away from his signature sushi and seafood focused menu and instead dropping dishes such as: a Kurobuta Corn Dog, Shrimp Nachos, Fish and Chips, Duck Duck Cous, etc. The four cheese Mac & Cheese topped with a fried egg is exciting, wacky and intriguing (2nd pic). The breadcrumbs surrounding the dish give it that crunch that all mac ‘n cheese deserves, however, once the egg broke and yolk oozed out all over the place, things got weird. I tried so hard to enjoy the dish but really just felt a bit sick and regretful. Lose the egg and we can be friends again. Next up, the Pan Con Tomate which was what I was actually least excited for was absolutely amazing. It tasted more like a flaky pastry from a bakery with a savory kick equaling a definite and classy comfort food. Skip the Tuna Tostada (4th pic) and don’t waste your time on the Brussles Sprouts (sigh followed by sadness). We waited patiently for the Sea Bass and Creamy Farro, and boy was this dish worth it. It was buttery, a tad sweet, a great size fish and finally showed a true reflection of the Morimoto we all know and love. If you decide to come here this is the only thing you need to get for satisfaction. 

The decor is pretty cool with light fixtures that look like branches and a crowd that seems as if it was transported directly from the Meatpacking District giving it a trendy and “poppin’ bottles” kind of vibe. It’s definitely fun, and I’m sure will get better as the weeks go on. It’s always risky trying a new place in the first few weeks, but since Morimoto was there, I was a bit surprised that it was just ok.

Dear Morimoto, you woo me with your fish and amazing knife skills – I’ve never seen someone sear a tuna the way you did at New York City Wine & Food Festival, but did you try those Brussels Sprouts that tasted like absolutely nothing? Maybe let’s leave the comfort food to Guy Fieri…(wink)?

See you at Morimoto on 10th ave for sushi!