Moto
945 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL, 60607
Moto Menu
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Main
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Main
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Address :
945 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL, 60607 - Phone (312) 491-0058
- Website https://www.motorestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Upscale
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Chloe Y.
I've heard great things about this place so I thought it was the perfect place to have Lance's birthday celebration (being that it's a week late, it had to be a good make up dinner) and I was so glad I chose to come to Moto. Lance and I both love asian and asian fusion so moto was a pretty good choice for both of us. The interior was designed nicely so that it was spacious and intimate but without feeling overly pretentious or uncomfortable. Albeit, we had a pretty rude couple next to us who said some very inappropriate things about us when they didn't think we could hear. Rude. However, the food was amazing. And it was really sweet that they personalized the menu with "Happy birthday Lance" and even gave us two copies to take home. The funny thing about moto that I love was that there was no dish descriptions but merely a "title" to the dish. it makes you wonder what's going to come and each time, we're pleasantly surprised. Anyways, here goes: 1. Growroom: a beef tartare with cute curly crispy noodles and their "fresh" greens. Literally, they cut it at the table for us and it was funny because the waiter said "This is literally the freshest salad you will get in Chicago". Two minutes fresh haha 2. Aged Carrot: the carrot was cooked so it seemed and tasted almost like sweet potato fries. And the poached salmon was perfectt. Not overly cooked but not totally raw. Exactly how we love it. 3. Ocean Flavors: the seared scallops were delicious as well as the various other pieces that complimented it. 4. Which came first: lance's favorite dish. Chicken breast and thigh along with an egg with some custard in it. Perfect compliments to each other. Loved the sort of runny egg/custard. Except...I totally broke the shell embarrassingly and tried my best not to make it obvious -_- 5. Allium 6.0: not the most memorable dish being that the title doesn't even really ring a bell but I'm sure the attached pictures will help. I do recall the bit of rabbit (?) meat and I remember commenting that it was quite delicous. So not a bad dish, just not comparable to the others. 6. Fallen log: a cute little: lance thought this was good but I'm not a huge fan of sausage. It was complimented well by the sauce but I personally ended up giving him mine. 7. Thyme capsule: a treasure box with LOADS of thyme and two skewers. One with lamb confit and the other with pork belly confit. Both were absolutely delicious and the play of senses with smell and taste really intensified the experience. 8. Beef and broccoli: this was an interesting dish. The box had three parts to it, so as you were eating the wagyu beef on top, the pho broth on the bottom layer was steaming the broccoli in the middle. Our only issue with this dish was that it seemed overly salty. And that's coming from two people who love salt. 9. Sus Scrofa: omigosh, the pork shoulder in this dish was amazingg. So tender, juicy, and full of flavor. There was so much going on in this dish but not in a bad way. Everything mixed together very well. 10. Picnic: a cute idea. A cheese course with four different cheese made to feel like you were out in the grass (literally there was a column of grass) with picnic napkins. I loved the truffle cheese but lance loved the mixture of cranberry with a white cheese. 11. Strawberries and cream: a good, clean palate cleanser. Approved by both of us 12. Date Cake: Not really a cake but more a mixture of cake-ish crumbs and dates and pear. I devoured all the pears..and well...Lance devoured the rest haha 13. Chocolate Mousse: I LOVED the lemon sorbet and lemon puree in this dish. The mousse itself was good but nothing too distinct. 14. Toasted marshmallows: This was a fun dish because they bring over a piece of log that they light and you get to make your own smores right at the table. The cool part is that it looks like just a marshmallow on a stick but INSIDE the marshmallow, they stuffed chocolate and graham crackers. So creative and delicious!! We were so terribly full after this dinner but NOT complaining at all. It was a very relaxing and amazing evening full of good company and food :) I definitely recommend it! It's worth it!
(4)Matt I.
This is an absolutely amazing experience. The price is a bit high, especially if you do the gtm (grand tour of moto) and the wine pairings, BUT it is an experience you will never forget. The food is amazing, the service is tops. You will not regret it.
(5)foodie c.
** fabulous ** best place in chi-town
(5)Jeanne B.
By far one of the best food experiences I have ever had. The room, lighting, wait staff, wine, food, dishes, utensils even the glasses. All our unique yet planned expertly. We had the 10 course meal and every single one went above and beyond. Next time we are in Chicago it is "must" go to. On a side note went to the museum of sicence and industry the following day and they have an exhibit dedicated to Chef Homaro Cantu!
(5)David L.
Goddammit, this meal was the most interesting meal I've had in my entire life. I loved every minute of the six hour adventure. I gave Chef Cantu a hug.
(5)Dina I.
It's funny that I write this review now, as Moto was one of the first, if not the very first, food centric restaurants I visited when I first started becoming passionate about food (eating and cooking) about 8 years ago. I had just finished undergrad in 2004 and even with my novice palate at that point, I remember not being that impressed. I wonder what I would think about it now. Without a doubt my palate has matured and progressed, but I am sure the menu at Moto has as well in 8 years, so maybe I should give it another shot?
(2)Joe K.
A unique one-of-a-kind dinning experience. The food and service were excellent and the staff very knowledgeable. My only reason for not giving the 5th star is that the atmosphere was a little too formal for my taste and I would have loved to see the staff have as much fun as the food they are serving.
(4)Jen V.
Don't get sent to the basement!! My husband and I were so excited to check out moto, but when we got there we were sent to the basement! The ambiance and atmosphere down there was severely disappointing. While the food and drinks were excellent and the creative menu lived up to the hype, we expected an experience and paid way too much to be in a boring room where we could hear everyone else's conversation - much of which rang similar to ours - "Are there any tables available upstairs??" I see others recently had a similar experience and its all around heartbreaking that such a highly revered restaurant could possibly let so many people experience anything other than the best. Even without the basement experience we feel moto is overrated, but if you do go...watch out where you sit, get ready to pay way too much, if you go on a holiday know that they will jack up the price (12 courses for $175) and whatever you do - don't use the basement bathroom!!
(2)Amber S.
Wow! What a WASTE of time and money! I am absolutely SHOCKED that people are reviewing this place at 5 stars. For the time and the money you have to invest in this place, every single dish put in front of you should be mind-blowing and at the very least, something you couldn't get anywhere else. From beginning to end the food was stunningly average with only one shining stand out - the pork belly - and one dismal low - the final "marshmallow" and pineapple dessert. Maybe the were having off night, but I would NEVER recommend this place and certainly never return.
(2)Joe B.
This place is friggin awesome. I went with friends for the 20 course. Food was entertaining, plating was spectacular, super delicious. The drinks were fresh ideas, well prepared by some dude in huge glasses, and just amazing. If you could somehow make food a carnival, you'd be sitting at Moto. I will return for more and I will bring friends. By far my favorite experience thus far in Chicago. Boom.
(5)Ann K.
I went to moto last week, and expected an amazing experience. The originality of the menu and presentation was amazing. The taste earned four stars, but I knew the experience was the point. The service was terrible. Given that my meal was $375 alone, you'd think they could have looked me in the eye. Instead, they fidgeted, looked across the room, and said their rehearsed script. Lucky for them, they included their tip in the bill. Finally, ladies, flush before you open the lid to the toilet. Otherwise, you may be sorry.
(3)Christine N.
We did the 10 course meal for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Not all of the courses tasted as good as I would have hoped but the overall experience of eating was quite enjoyable. I liked the fact servers each knew special things about the dishes and that they all take turns in creating what the customers end up eating. It was wonderful watching the servers present their courses at the different tables. Quite an enjoyable experience.
(4)Brian E.
I have to leave room for Alinea later this year, but yeah. 10 (+1) course meal took about 3 hrs or so. We got a free extra course because the guy next to me spilled wine on my shirt affording me the chance to try the faux-jita which was ridiculously good. With wine pairings and the inventive/mad-scientist techniques this has been the most fun dining experience that I've had to date. I think where a lot of people get irritated at the cost or what not is the fact that they just want a plate of food, in which case don't bother coming here. To me, food is as much about the experience as anything else and I had a blast. Will have to check out the new spot, Otom next door.
(4)Erick N.
I returned to Moto last night to celebrate my birthday; this was now my third visit to Moto and they have showed steady improvement - I feel they have truly ascended to one of the top restaurants in Chicago. Executive Chef/Partner Richie Farina and Pastry Chef Claire Crenshaw are so motivated and talented and really are delivering at a high level. While Moto used to be known for being on the cutting edge of molecular gastronomy and wildly creative dishes, the knock was that sometimes dishes seemed gimmicky and that taste suffered at the expense of presentation. Moto has really evolved to the point where now the cuisine itself is the star - but plating is still creative, whimsical and entertaining. They have advanced to the post molecular realm where the scientific techniques they use now adds to the taste of the food rather than is merely to make the food different or interesting looking. The biggest challenge of my wife and I partaking in tasting menus is that my wife is somewhat of a picky eater, so unless a restaurant is able to be flexible with substitutions (and not sacrifice quality when doing so) the experience can suffer. I had noted my wife's aversions in our reservation on Open Table and was extremely impressed when our captain first approached us that she spontaneously mentioned my wife's aversions - and had them memorized! Not only did they flawlessly deliver dishes that were comfortable to her, they looked just as beautiful as the regular dish and tasted amazing to boot. This expert accommodation of my wife's special requests was greatly appreciated and is something that will ensure we are regulars at Moto! Be sure to speak up when they call to confirm your reservation if you have any food aversions as they really aim to please and want to ensure you have a wonderful experience. In addition to finding the food much improved from our first visit and moderately improved from our second visit, service also has shown remarkable improvement. Part of it likely was attributable to us being frequent patrons at nearby sister venue iNG (we did receive some perks such as a couple of bonus courses), but the front of the house staff has undergone some changes and definitely for the better. Matt is a wonderful general manager; extremely friendly and very involved in interacting with patrons (when we mentioned we liked a particular wine he even researched to see if there was anywhere nearby where it could be purchased). Service at Moto is extremely polished and attentive; very worthy of a special occasion but at the same time the staff is so relaxed and personable, there is not an iota of pretentiousness and you can even joke around with the staff. We again requested to sit in the downstairs area which is referred to as "the lab" and has such a fun ambiance (as well is a more quiet, intimate space than the upstairs). Miranda (the Sommelier) has really elevated the wine pairings at Moto; interesting small batch wines from all over the world that both tasted well on their own before the food arrived and also paired superbly with the cuisine. Be prepared for a lengthy meal; dinner can easily be expected to last three hours and depending on whether the restaurant is full, the size of your party and the pace with which you eat it may even take closer to four hours. While some are turned off by such a lengthy meal, I loved the leisurely pace. Dining at Moto is truly a special event and with such wonderful staff, delicious food and wines, and nice ambiance we were having such a blast we did not want the evening to end. Since there are approximately fifteen courses expect portions to be on the smallish side, but none are bite sized or comically small (and some are fairly robust); despite having a hearty appetite (and arriving quite hungry) I left quite satisfied. Our meal last night was so excellent I really do not have much criticism to offer. The meat courses have definitely improved, but still have a little ways to go before they are as good the rest of the menu. One other nice touch would be some type of take home treat like some of my other favorite restaurants provide (i.e. Tru and Sixteen hand you a pastry to take home as you leave; it is always so fun to eat it the next day and remember your wonderful meal). With Richie and Claire being so young and passionate they are almost a lock to continue improving with time. If you have not dined at Moto within the past several months it truly has transformed into a much different venue than the Moto of years past; while it retains the whimsical, wildly creative aspect of Moto past, it now in addition offers top notch cuisine and service. If you have never dined at Moto before I highly recommend coming here and if you have not been to Moto in a while it is well worth returning; so much is new and it is very much improved. Full review with photos here: lthforum.com/bb/viewtopi…
(5)Jessica K.
I have to admit, we only made reservations at Moto after being unable to make reservations to Alinea when they switched to their current online reservation system, but we were very impressed. We dined at moto in the summer of 2012. The food was very creative and delicious. I really enjoyed the zen garden, foraging, and uni cone courses. The only disappointment was the server, who we believed might have been a new server. He lacked a kind of finesse the other servers seemed to have, his voice was very loud and he did not seem as knowledgeable about the food. Because the service did not meet our expectations, it hurt a little when we found that an 18% gratuity was added to our bill in addition to Chicago's crazy high taxes, making our experience for 2 almost $500.
(4)Fraggle B.
I took my husband here for his birthday dinner. It was a lovely meal, great drink pairings with fun creative fare. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend any foodie to go. It ended up being about $500 for two which is pricy but worth the experience. In case you are debating between this and Alinea I will note that Alinea is the superior restaurant but also cost twice as much. We went 6 months ago for our one year anniversary and two meal tickets + wine pairings ended up around $1,000. Not a meal you do every day but worth it for a special occasion. You get what you pay for but by no means did this mean I didn't enjoy Moto. I just wish I would have gone to Moto first and then gone to Alinea (not the other way around). First world problems I know :) One thing about the sci-fi dishes - sometimes if felt more like science/art then food. One dish was called roadkill and it literally looked like roadkill. It tasted quite delicious but I was still struggling to eat it as it looked so unappetizing. This didn't bother my husband so maybe its just me.... My only (tiny complaint) is that it felt just a little disorganized. When I booked the dinner they asked what occasion we were celebrating so they could print out a personalized menu. We never got the menu at the end of the meal and there was a little confusion when we checked in. I'm being nit-picky here but when you are dining at one of the best restaurants in Chicago you do expect perfection. Moto is so close to the perfect experience - just a little tightening up and they will be there :)
(4)Lisa K.
This was easily the most expensive meal I've ever eaten, but I do think the cost justified what we received. Our meal was 12 delicious courses long (13, if you include the tasting plate at the beginning). I was expecting crazy things, like to be able to eat the menu, but our meal was fairly straight forward, while at the same time being creative, well done, and absolutely delicious. My favorite courses included "breakfast," which consisted of mini buckwheat pancakes, sweetbreads, small fruits, and maple syrup that needed to be poured out of a small log. I also enjoyed goat four ways, and our table had a lively discussion about which of the four ways was the best. The final course, Make Your Own Cheesecake, was a big hit and it was delicious. I didn't do the wine pairings, but others in my party were and they were blown away both by the wine itself and the knowledge of the sommelier. The service all around was impeccable and the timing of the meal was perfect. After dinner we were treated to a tour of the kitchen were we got to meet Chef Richie Farina of Top Chef fame, and got to see their indoor garden. It was truly a treat dining at Moto, and I have a feeling that 50 years from now it will still be one of my favorite dining experiences ever.
(5)Holly C.
To enjoy this meal, you must love liquid nitrogen. Or at least like it a little. Two dishes were cooked in it and many others used it as an effect. If you are over the liquid nitrogen craze, then you might be a bit annoyed. Me, I can't get enough of it. Even though both dishes burned my tongue. What can I say, I'm a sucker for smoke. I loved that the menu was little bites of what was to come. The representations of each dish were either minor ingredients (e.g. ranch cauliflower in a dish that had much more than that), a representation of the dish (e.g. miso tofu for an Asian-inspired sampling that had absolutely no tofu in it), or a item that would be used for decoration but not eating (e.g. seaweed to represent the oyster course that was served on a large bed of seaweed). This menu stuck out in my brain while we were eating more than any printed tasting menu ever did. Ingenious! Onto the food. Some dishes were excellent. The Tostada with make your own guacamole served with two different kinds of chocolate (one blended with the guac, another served inside the chip) was delectable and totally surprising. I loved that they combined smells with the food, for example the Smell the Glove dessert where you wear a smoked glove to eat a chocolate dish. But there were a few dishes that were definitely form over function. For example, I loved the design of the Zen Garden that others have raved about. Almond sand with camembert cheese and apricot rocks presented with a cute little rake. But holy crap was that dish salty and nasty. Also, before coming here, make sure you tell them about every allergy, aversion, not just types of food or drink you can't have. They use unique ingredients so something that you think would never been in a tasting menu, just might be. (Or might be burned in front of you. For example, pine tree branches and needles. If you are allergic to pine, that could really ruin your evening.) Some of the dishes were alcohol. Didn't just incorporate alcohol, but were an actual cocktail. And speaking of alcohol, they really push the wine pairing. When I refused, they asked if they could still bring me a tiny bit of each because the wine is so much the part of the meal. There was one dish, the Red Wine Salad, where they insisted that I have some just to smell. (My husband said that wine in particular was tannic and horrible. I got zero nose off of it. So we really didn't get the point.) Restrooms. Two single stalls. One for men, one for women. It worked out ok. But I weep for the man who got sat right in front of the door to the restrooms. Super awkward for us all as he was blocking half the door! And he wasn't a big guy, he really had no choice based on the placement of the table. They really need to just get rid of that table. Object if they try to seat you in front of a nondescript door in the back. Definitely check it out. The service was great and it was a great time. The food presentations were amazing. But I don't think it ranks up with wd-50, because the food quality doesn't always match the presentation quality at Moto.
(4)Erin Y.
This is a one of a kind experience you absolutely must try if you get the chance. I won't break down the menu (it changes anyway) but be prepared for an amazing night full of creative, whimsical, and delicious food. Some of the things I ate blew me away. Moto is casual, upscale, fun, and entertaining. You will not be disappointed! Even the menu is delicious!
(5)Mike L.
I rated everything on a 1-5 scale. Purse hook under the table is brilliant idea 5 We enjoyed the music, and loved the acoustics in the room, we were able to have a nice conversation without having to raise our voices. 5 Shot of tea 3 Amuse of 12 courses 5 Didn't really taste like much, but the mystery and intrigue factor is fun. Micro salad 3 Raw fish on the rocks 5 Salmon amazing Melon and shrimp 5 Non alcohol options 0 They really didn't have much in the way of options for non alcohol drinking patrons. My wife had some boring iced tea. It wouldn't be that hard to at least invest in some artisan sodas. Octopus and ham 8 My favorite dish of the night Mushroom duck tongue mahi 4 Pork Mac n cheese etc 5 Best piece of pork ever. Goat 4 ways 7 Mind blowing Breakfast 7 Mind Blowing Rhubard sorbet w/ polenta 7 Stunning Baking 101 5 Wow The wine pairings 7 I really loved the wine pairings and impressive by the glass offerings. I've rated them all on cellartracker (username Mike L.). Portion size 1 I've never had this problem before but the portions here were a little too meager for me. I did leave hungry having drank way way more than I ate. We went for a pizza after. Service 5 Very friendly and attentive, some of the secondary servers were a little rough around the edges at times but they more than made up for it by being very pleasant and not snooty or pretentious. The host was especially awesome, we arrived too early and he escorted us to their sister restaurant next door where we enjoyed a couple excellent cocktails. Then he came back for us. Very Classy! Our head waiter and the somm were also very attentive and receptive. Even though there wasn't enough food for me ill be back. The best things we ate were very memorable, and the wine service was a huge treat for me. The ambience was so comfortable. If you are a fan of predictable food like steak houses, big portions, or don't really care for wine, I think your money would better spent elsewhere.
(5)Steve P.
French Laundry enjoyed the number one spot on our list of top dining experiences.. After dining at Moto and meeting the Chef's who prepared our meal; Moto took, and is solidly in, first place. The entire experience was amazing and it was one of the few meals where every dish was visually stunning and delicious. Opt for the wine pairing; the Som served a wide range of interesting and exotic wines from around the world. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and we were honored to get a tour of the laboratory/kitchen after our meal to get a glimpse of the artists behind the best meal of our lives. We will be back.
(5)Minh C.
I was disappointed. I first heard of Moto from their TV show - I thought the entire culinary team was creative and its creations always looked super tasty. Then I saw two of the guys on Top Chef, and was surprised that they got booted off rather quickly. But I was in Chicago for 6 months and there was no way I wasn't going to give it a shot. If the ratings were based solely on presentation, I would bump this up another star. However, I feel that the team had sacrificed flavor for the sake of presentation. For me, food is ultimately about the flavor, and without that, it really doesn't matter how pretty the plate looks. There were also some funky things going on - e.g., the smoked leather gloves. I know this was suppose to enhance the aroma, but the smoked leather made me want to vomit (this is just an honest opinion, I'm not saying that to be rude). The team needs to take a page from Alinea's Dave Beran, who does a great job at creating artistic and creative presentations that enhance the flavor of his food, rather than replace them.
(3)Cynthia C.
I would not recommend anyone to Moto, even though there were bright spots to the evening. After two nights of tasting menus, I guess a third night was over doing it a bit and we did it up with the Grand Tasting Menu, 20 courses. The portions are NOT small here, we were stuffed silly halfway through and we barely nibbled on the edible menu, which I thought was AWESOME by the way. Brought a humongo smile on my face. So clever!!! My irritation with the service began when the reservationist called to confirm the dinner. Usually, it's pretty smooth, but she demanded to know if I wanted to order the 10 or 20 course menu. Okay, sure, but I need to know what the hell differentiates the two. Is is more luxurious? What are some of the courses? Normally they would oblige. Not with this chick. It was like pulling teeth. Finally, still nothing after about two minutes of rallying on the phone. I thought F this, it's our last night in the city, let's blow it out. TWENTY it is. Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted kindly and enviously spied the cush booth seats, but ended up with a table in the center aisle. I personally thought it was better than the cramped bench seating along the walls. Still, not the best seating, the floor boards are thin, so everytime a server would walk by, we'd feel all the vibrations. Overall the servers were not the most engaging and barely explained what was being poured or served. I was aghast. The food was a little overworked & tried hard to be hip. Do it, but do it well, follow along with the pictorial: The Hits: -Bubble Tea, loved the lemongrass scented broth & the scallops. -Pheasant two ways, white was like a really delicious moist cold cut, dark was like an odd jerky, both enticing. -Yellow Snow, I think this was my fav for the evening, loved the mild curry. -Nuac Man, awesome cube of pork belly, loved the crispness of the lily & the deconstruction of the gai lan into two parts. -Cuban cigar, great presentation & the pork inside was fragrant. -Banana Split, AWESOME. The best dessert. -Pine Float, surprising and interesting. The pine liquid inside the beaker were subtle and quite good. Middle of the Road: -Clam Bake, a little heavy handed & rich. -Baseball Snacks, breading was too thick on the quail, liked the edible prize. -Forest Roll, didn't like the rice -Reuben Lasagna, okay, meat, good. -Shabuccino, WAY too salty, liked the edamame. -Duck & Mole, Duck was the best part. -Cheese Plate, I liked the berry crepe the best & the berries in the middle. -Lychee, okay, maybe too gelatinous. -Chocolate truffles, too much in quantity and should been contrasted w/another texture. The misses: -Snowman ceviche, too sweet. -White Steel, supposedly caught the day before, overcooked & not seasoned well. -Forest Roll, did not enjoy the rice and the rabbit was bland. -Green Curry Lime, very hard to eat, flavors were fighting with each other. -Acme bombs, let's just say if this were not completely liquid in the center, we both would have spit it out. Wine pairing for the GTM is $95/pp which is a great deal, about 15 different types of wine, too bad most were lackluster. Pours are generous and we split the pairing. There is a lot of work put into the food, but taste wise it just doesn't cut it for me. That, along with the service, doesn't warrant the hefty price tag, when there are other comparable restaurants in the area who give you exactly what you pay for. OK, maybe there's that HIP factor here, but still, not really.
(2)Irene P.
I'm giving this place a four-star rating -- but not sure I'd really go again, given the price and the portions. That said, I want to stress that I had a blast with the 10-course taster I had here. Starting with the edible printed-on-toast menu, rolling through the foam snowman and the liquid corn bread and the edible Cracker Jack-flavored paper, to the evaporate-on-your-tongue marshmallows (at least, that's what they looked like to me) in a pineapple-based dessert, I was super stoked not only to taste the different flavors and textures of each menu item, but also to see the various ways in which each plate was crafted and presented. V. fun. Only qualm is that, upscale venue though it may be, for the price we paid and for a TEN-course meal, don't think we should have walked away hungry like we did.
(4)julie q.
$601.16. Let's first start with that. $601.16 for two people to eat and drink some terrible choices for wine. Also, gratuity is already included...So it doesn't matter how great or bad your servers are. The atmosphere. The place is stark, cold, and uninviting. There is no creativity for the decor. It's gray, white, and black. It made me want to go to sleep the entire time I was there. No music, no ambiance. I understand they want the emphasis on the food, but if the food was actually decent, then maybe I would not have been so turned off by the atmosphere. The food. I've been lots of places for lots of money and I was so excited to go here for the experience and creativity of the food. The food is low quality for what you get. They waste truffles. $75 truffles wasted on ice cream and marshmallows. And you couldn't even taste them. The food was horrible. Deconstructed food that was reconstructed with beef stock, onions, and salt. I get the concept, but I thought that the concept would work to create intense and different flavors. Basically, it all ended up tasting like beef stock, onions, and salt. Even the desserts were horrible and salty. They ruined chocolate cake and ice cream. How do you ruin chocolate cake and ice cream?? They did. The chocolate bomb at the end of the dining "experience" completely ruined the entire meal. I still have the salty, rotten taste in my mouth from the liquid graham cracker filling. Wine pairings - they do NOT pair them with anything. They just randomly poor red wine, white wine, champagne, or horrid sherry into your glass when you finish the one before. For $85, it was a complete waste of money. They should call it "wine randoms with your dinner." The experience was lacking. There were only two "experiences" I'll remember. One was pouring candle wax (emulsified butter) on my "steak" and the other was raw egg (mango puree) in a horrible creamy something or other that my husband could not eat. The wait between courses is excessive. We were there for 3 1/2 hours. No one needs to be in a restaurant for more than 2 hours especially with the lack of atmosphere. I did it. I followed the "hype" to Moto and went in with very high expectations. I too read Yelp reviews and saw the one stars and thought, "Those people don't know what they're talking about." I wish I would have paid more attention and did more research before spending almost $1000 on this place. It's not an "experience", the food isn't good, and all the hype is false advertising. It's the next day and I'm typing this and I have a horrible chemical taste in my mouth with a salty after flavor, a stomach that's still wondering why the hell I put so much deconstructed "food" in it, and $600 poorer.
(1)Karen H.
I really enjoyed it. Service was great, food and presentation was really nice. Expect to be there for 4 hours. If you ask, they will even give you a tour of their kitchen. It's pretty cool to see how things are set up. You get a tasting of the tasting menu. That concept was really cute and different. I didn't like the cheese course cuz I hate blue cheese. Also in the end I noticed that people got this cherry blossom tree thing and you can pick a cherry off and eat it. They forgot ours. I requested it and then they gave it to us. We wish we had some more unique options, like the ediable menu and the cubun cigars.
(4)Eric A.
Now the only reason I give this 2 stars is because yelp states that their 2-star rating is "meh, I've experienced better." And that would definitely accurately portray my feeling when leaving. But this comes with a caveat - I've been to some of the best restaurants in the world, so I have those to compare this to. Restaurants like Alinea, Per Se, El Celler de Can Roca, Andre in Singapore, and Next for a few different menus. So maybe comparing a 1 michelin star restaurant to a bunch of 3's isn't fair, but if I have to be honest, I've also been to many non michelin star restaurants that were far better. I would say my chief complaint at Moto was the flavors. A+ for presentation, A+ for originality, but flavor would probably get a C-, at least if comparing to other $150++pp dinners. I even asked for a favor to try a macaroon at the end and although they were cool enough to sneak me one, it just was average at best. Not a fantastic flavor, not the best texture, etc etc. But I did have very high expectations for Moto. I also did expect it to be much more "molecular gastronomy"-ish, but it wasn't even that. Will not return when a restaurant like Next is across the street, and Alinea a few miles away.
(2)Vivien S.
My first experience at Moto began terribly. We waited for an entire hour to be seated. Our only compensation for the waste of our time was a cocktail and a bottle of wine for all of us. The rest of the evening was great- our waitress was incredible. The presentation of the food was as stunning as we expected. I'm still impressed by the presentation and the philosophy behind this restaurant, but it definitely can do a better job in terms of its front desk service. A must-try in Chicago, I think Moto-Next-Alinea is a distinctively Chicagoan molecular gastronomic pilgrimage.
(4)Kimberly N.
I ate here in January. A few of the dishes were really awesome, but too many were just OK (venison from tartare to jerky on a glass box of leaves was the most memorable). The menu changes, so I might love it more if I tried it a second time. Good service. 3.5 starz
(4)Alex D.
I really wanted to like this place, but was disappointed. Twice. Tried the tasting menu both times... really over the top on creativity here, trying to make each dish unique and counter-intuitive. The menu itself is edible. One dish looks like a cigar with ashes. Another uses liquid nitrogen. Just unfortunately the food didn't taste that great. Clearly a situation of prioritizing form over function/ substance.
(2)Carly T.
First, I should preface this by saying that this definitely was a delicious meal. The courses were well timed, the wine was well paired, and the meats were very delicious and tender. That said, when you're paying over $250 PER PERSON, the standards become significantly higher. Add to that the hype and buzz around this place, and they've got a lot to live up to. Before you go, keep these things in mind: -BUSINESS SEEMED SLOW. Moto's 15 Minutes might be coming to an end soon. I'm not sure if this was a fluke, but it was Valentine's Day, so it should have been PACKED. Instead, the entire front portion of their restaurant was empty because it was "too cold" to put people there, and the lower level was only half filled. -THE BATHROOMS. If you're read my reviews, you know I almost always comment on bathrooms. These bathrooms are nice, modern, and clean... but I don't think they were thinking practically when they designed it. The toilet has a sign next to it telling you you have to bend down near the floor (with your face practically in the toilet) to find the "flush" button. This means that your face is like two inches from the toilet when you flush. I found this to be disgusting and rather inappropriate for such an expensive restaurant. -MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY? I'd heard crazy stories about this place: drinking out of an egg and desserts that taste like cake but look like a half smoked cigar. THAT'S what my foodie brain was hoping to see and taste - and THAT kind of creativity might have bumped this review up to 4 stars. But, I think they have just started to run out of ideas. There didn't seem to be much molecular gastronomy going on. I mean, sure, they aerated some butter and put some sauce in a hollowed out clementine, but that's not mind blowing molecular gastronomy, and it's definitely not worth $520. -SERVICE. The servers were very much on-point, well-timed, and professional. At times, we did find them to be a bit too hyper and chatty for such a nice place, but over all, they were knowledgeable and helpful. The sommelier put together a wonderful wine list, which we appreciated. We did have a bit of a hiccup toward the end - their internet went out, so they had to let it re-boot before they could scan our card and let us go on our way. We ended up waiting an extra thirty minutes (at 10:30 at night on Valentine's Day) for them to fix this issue. I don't understand why they couldn't have copied our card and let us go. It made us feel like they didn't trust that we had the money to pay, and they wanted to make sure the transaction cleared. As we waited, they didn't do much to ease the issue, either... They offered us coffee or tea, but they should really be offering an extra glass of wine or something (I'm not interested in caffeine at 10:30 at night). -OVERALL? It's definitely an experience in fine dining. The price tag is pretty hefty, but we knew that going in, so it wasn't a big deal. I think of it this way: When I was in Middle School, I was obsessed with rock climbing, so my parents paid for me to have a Saturday morning rock climbing adventure in Colorado. I got to climb a bolder and it was a wonderful memory. They paid for that EXPERIENCE. Moto is similar - it's an experience of sight, taste, and smell. Now that I've tried it, I have the experience and won't be going back - but it was definitely fun to try and it's a fun story to have.
(3)Kati C.
if there is a 0 star on yelp, I would give moto a 0 star. We tried the 14 course tasting menu for thanksgiving. the food was creative, either way to salty to eat or you can finish it in less than half seconds. Our reservation was at 6:30 and we got out of moto at 11:30p. After 5 hours, it was the most starving moment of the day.
(1)A L.
I was getting seriously tired of the multi-course small portions thing until I came here and had a really fun time. The courses were whimsical, creatively presented, and tasty. What I appreciated the most was the simplicity -- they didn't explain every component or cooking process in hushed tones, they just told you enough to make you want to eat it. The portions were large enough that your taste buds have something to work on and can actually register the flavors that the chefs are trying to get at. Nothing felt jumbled as sometimes happens when chefs try too hard to show off rather than just give us good food. As the Moto chefs are known for crazy scientific cooking methods I was expecting a lot of theatrical food but instead just had a really fun and enjoyable meal. The wine pairings were also adventurous and wonderfully done. The allium course pairing in particular was striking. The food really brought out a flavor in the wine that I hadn't noticed when I tried it before the food. Which brings me to a point regarding the service. Very well coordinated -- each new wine glass was brought out and each wine poured at the exact right time. Each dish was cleared at the right time and the pacing of the meal was just right. Overall a delightful experience!
(5)Tyrus E.
Great food. Wonderful service. They try to cultivate a "scientific" atmosphere with the spot lighting and the tabletops, and while it's a little sterile, it successfully focuses your attention on the food. The wine parings were solid if a bit conservative, though I was gratified that they sourced wines from all over the world. We did the full pairing and the pours were the appropriate size so that we wouldn't leave plastered. *Summer menu spoiler alert!* The lobster bisque in the cone was amazingly delicious, the lamb was astounding, and the forest foraging was fun and a treat. I loved how they used all the senses--especially smell with the seaweed oyster dish. The glove thing (the sense of touch) is a bit contrived but fun. All in all, great fun, and delicious! My only warning is don't come here if you are famished.
(5)Rosalind C.
Quite possibly one of the best meals I have had in my life. Quality ingredients, creative presentation, and attentive service. Definitely a memorable experience, to be shared with a special person/persons. Because the menu changes so much, I won't go into much detail about what we got. But, suffice to say, it was incredible and we haven't stopped raving about this to our friends. Save it for a special occasion, but definitely go. Although everything is just a bite, it adds up over 10 courses, so we left comfortably full (but not gut bustingly full, so if that's what you are expecting, go elsewhere).
(5)Mari Y.
Oh man. Talk about 5 hours that felt l...o...n...g I like experimental dining but why does it always have to be so....long. I feel like the presentation of new forks, spoons, knives, plates take up half of the total time. My friends were from out of town and this was where they chose. We had the 15 course menu and were originally told that the experience would be 3 - 3.5 hours. Truth be told, I wanted to be out by midnight to meet up with some other out of town friends but they were home and in bed by the time I left Moto. I'm not going to go through all of the 15 dishes. The presentation for some of them is memorable enough to mention - small meats and berries presented on a stick from Lincoln Park, tiny mushrooms on a heated rock (this one in particular disturbed me but tasted fine. It looks like a terrarium scene.) and more meats on a glass box full of autumn hued leaves. The last dessert course was a disaster - make your own cookie dough. I started getting full around the 11th course and I was so tired of sitting. When we finally were presented the bill we found that it was calculated incorrectly. To note, Moto adds tax and an automatic 20% tip on the bill. This might turn some folks off who like to control pre-tax tip so be aware that this is already factored into your bill.
(3)sandra j.
Lovely, fun & whimsical. Staff was attentive and didn't take themselves too seriously. When they saw that we liked to eat faster than most diners they paced the courses accordingly. Others took much more time and they were accommodated as well. Everything was delicious. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars was a failed dessert, some sort of "make your own" cookie dough dish which just didn't gel with the rest of the menu, in my opinion. We enjoyed the wine (sake, beer) pairing very much. It's obviously a place for celebrations and special occasions, so if it's too expensive for you, um...how about you go somewhere else? I saved my pennies to celebrate there and knew what I was in for before I made the reservation. As for they food portions, I would have to agree that mos were pretty small. But suddenly the dessert portions got really big. I would try to balance that just a bit. In the end they offered my husband (the birthday boy) a tour of the kitchen. He was thrilled.
(4)Erin L.
My wonderful husband made reservations here for my 30th Birthday. They called a couple of days before our reservation to see if we had any food allergies or special requests. My husband told them that I was pregnant (just in case they made anything raw, which they did). The food was inventive, clever, quirky tasty and sometimes funny (see: a picture of Michael Bolton on a cookie). Like others have said, it's something you can't really describe - you just have to experience. On my husbands last beer, I saw a little fruit fly in his beer floating on the top. I alerted the server and at the end of the night, she took off all 3 of his beers from the bill. I don't think I'll be back - it was a once in a lifetime meal.
(5)Lexie V.
I'm a little late writing my review... I had the tasting menu with wine pairings back in early August and it was phenomenal. I just looked over the Michelin guide and I can't believe Moto only got one star. It is far superior to a few other restaurants who joined them on that list. Our server was impeccable, he knew absolutely everything he should know and then more. He was very charming as well, and he didn't reek of pretension like many servers at high end places do. They were very accommodating for my weird food preferences... for example I said I didn't want to eat any baby animals (in addition to foie gras, veal, marrow, or 'anything weird). Our server managed to not look at me like I am completely insane. If that is what was going through his head (it probably was) he concealed it well. The menu is inventive and the wine pairings are fantastic. I look forward to going back to see what new dishes they've come up with.
(5)Garrett K.
Overall excellent gastronomy experience Service: The service staff in knowledgeable and attentive. They are also fun and engaging, which creates a relaxing dining environment. Water glass were was always full, napkins folded/replaced and chairs pulled out when returning. We were offered a tour of the lab and kitchen after our meal. We spoke with the General Manager Matt who explained his love and knowledge of fine wines and his Chicago Bears super fandom. Food: Food was wildly creative, the flavors chosen carefully, and seasoning spot on. Each dish had an overarching concept or theme and, although all were very enjoyable, three stood out to me. First was a cold course featuring vegetables in the nightshade family. The textures, colors, and flavors worked perfectly and the pairing of a Sicilian Vermentino was the best of the night. Second, the "Crab Cone:" Butter-poached king crab in a waffle cone cornet with complementary garnishes and a nice gewürztraminer that struck a nice balance of sweetness and acid. Third, a pumpernickel and duck dish made to look like spent coffee grounds sitting in a filter. At first you're uneasy about eating something so unappetizing but the flavors were rich and the textures very fun. What sets moto apart from other fine dining experience is the playful cuisine and service. After each dish you'll be thinking "What are they going to do next!" One of the best dining experiences you'll ever have!
(5)Kia C.
Moto is definitively and experience I would recommend. I was turned on to Moto from watching the owners TED talk on the future of foods. I went with a relative who is a chef and we thoroughly enjoyed. I was impressed most by the creativity and presentation of the food. I thought the combination of flavors for 3 out of the 15 courses served were confusing, but I could certainly appreciate the thought and aesthetic in every course. The waitstaff was very amiable once engage. Side note: The bathroom was very nice and extremely clean. The way the water splashed out of the sink made me want to use my hand towel to leave it spotless. Overall all Moto lived up to my expectations. I would dine there again, but not for a long while. It's such an undertaking that you have to really space it out.
(5)V S.
The four of us went to celebrate the launch of project. Sensible luxury is what i thought as i walked in. The decor was peaceful and small...a luxury me. We walked downstairs and it looked like a lab. We started with a sparking wine and continued with a 14 course meal with the accompanying wine for each course. The service was friendly, kind and knowledgeable. Everything was delicious and the presentation was unique and you could tell the person making them loved what they do. The few items that stand out are: - distilled jalapeno shot...refreshing and peppery - burning cinnamon sticks - huge jar of thyme with a tangerine filled with a sweet sauce to pour over your dish. It was pricey but worth it.. a real treat for all the hard work we did on the project.
(5)Elizabeth W.
Had dinner here at the end of December with my sister as an early birthday celebration for her. We knew we were in for a treat when we started things off with shrimp cocktail and our edible tartar sauce flavored menu. Tweeting encouraged? Well ok then...we tweeted up a storm. Course after course we were wowed by what the kitchen sent our way and having a running dialogue with the chefs downstairs throughout or meal only made it that much more entertaining. I cannot say enough fantastic things about the wait staff at moto. Our primary waiter was Alex and he was pretty freaking wonderful. His knowledge of the menu and willingness to explain the little secret twists in each course to us was above and beyond most dining experiences. Oh, yeah, and he helped crave the ice sculptures that were out front at the time with a chainsaw...no biggie, right??? When it came to the food, it was exceptional. The Kentucky Fried Pasta was great. The cigar sandwiches with smoking ash were adorable AND tasty. The white gazpacho was off the charts according to my sister, who doesn't even like gazpacho but would eat that every day forever. And the pig dish...holy crap! They called it nose to tail, I called it from the roota to the toota. It was just about every part of the pig prepared to make each cut shine. So freaking delicious. The one stumbling block for me was the black and white course. While it was visually stunning and the scallop was prepared well, the puree it was served with was overly salty, and from someone who likes salt, that's saying something. Even that minor misstep was nearly forgotten with Alex came over and blew out the candle on our table and poured it over our beef bourguignon course because OF COURSE, it wasn't just a candle...it was rosemary infused truffle oil!!!! Don't even get me started on the Michael Bolton cookie. Really, the entire meal was a treat. It's not cheap, but well worth the price tag for the four hour dinner and show we got. Not to mention, a tour of the lab/kitchen, and a chance to meet the chefs we had been tweeting with all night before we went home. BRAVO MOTO!!! Time to start saving up for another gastronomical adventure with you.
(4)Caroline W.
Delicious, of course, but what I didn't expect was the cleverness and resulting hilarity that permeates throughout the meal! We were among the first tables to be seated so there were no ruined surprises for us, and honestly I think that's the best advice I can give people in regards to this place: book an early seat so you can experience your own meal first without having to endure the spoilers from your surrounding tables (same advice applies to Alinea & any other gastromolecular type fancy dining places). When you've gorged yourself on enough fine dining, deliciousness is a must, but when a meal can also transcend beyond just the regular prettiness, into the realm of cheeky entertainment, well then I think we've got a real winner here, wouldn't you agree?
(5)Tracy S.
Went about three weeks ago for a guys night out from work. We tend to do this once a month or so and always try to make it to a Michelin Starred restaurant. Have to say that based on taste, this place is definitely above Alinea. Presentation was pretty great also but slightly under Chicago's only three star. Fantastic food and great service. I look forward to going back
(5)Eric H.
. Salman Rushdie, the grand literary tragi-comic chronicler of America's Romanesque decline, knows America, better than 98 percent of Americans. I would love to read his yelp review of Mojoko, But he probably wouldn't be caught dead there. It's a long story what I was doing at Mojoko, but I'll represent. But first, to all you Foodies, this is your place, for sure! In the cowardly New America, keeping up with The (Dow) Joneses is impossible. They (The 1%) now stay hidden behind castle walls figuring out how to spirit their money out of America before the final fall, when China cashes in her chips. And when they do venture out into town, they're refined enough not to play with their food. And certainly, not to pay others to do so. So now, the consumer class competes over who can afford to dine at the next "in" four ring circus Disney-restaurant. That's MoJoko, prefabbed for the preprogramed "Foodie" as another avenue to exploit them. It's been in the making for a while. Weaning children into total hyper-speed consumerism by replacing cartoons like Bugs Bunny, Fat Albert, and Bullwinkle with cartoons of commercial toy characters, like Transformers and My Little Pony (created to sale more crap) then Beverly Hills 20666, Sex in The City, Seinfield, etc., creating generations of narcissistic consumer zombies. In Night of The Living Dead, George Romero's zombies flocked to a suburban shopping mall. These zombies are women in plastic faces frozen with chemicals and tiny back dresses ( with French labels) mass produced in China for 38 cents per., and men in square toed shoes, shinny suits and enough hair jell for five women. if I knew how to text, everyone was texting at Mjoko, probably letting their social media followers know that they had "arrived" , I would've texted a covert message with a picture from the movie The Matrix, of the those bodies hooked up to hundreds of wires, so the machines could harvest their body heat and chemicals. Foodies are in the same predicament, they just don't know it. Foodies are preprogramed, so corporations can preform simple marketing wizardry, for instance, taking a historical American food staple like bacon, rebranding it into plastic red, white, and blue hype, and Voilà ! A fortune is pumped out of the consumer foodie masses, while they run around like crazed monkeys drinking bacon soda cola and blowing bubbles with bacon flavored chewing gum. Then there are the ubiquitous Facebook pictures of "food porn" at term more vile than "Foodie", which I'm sure an industry of cameras has popped up to "support" this venture. The servers at Mojoko are diligent and conscientious, yet fear lurks in their eyes. They have to be smart to handle the chemicals pumped into the food and to use the various gases. Maybe they're down and out English Lit. Phd's who are just as horrified ( more so than I was) because due to our ravaged and beaten down economy, they have to work there. They looked like they were being held hostage by that creepy six-year-old "Anthony Fremont" kid from that Twilight Zone episode who holds the whole town hostage while a creating a helter skelter alchemy of cartoonish deadly terrors with his mind, similar to the nuclear explosion of food wrongness that I witnessed at Mojoko. Dim sum frozen by nitro? Oh and every thing has nitro in it. I think I heard Donald Duck out back huffing. It could have been a Saturday Night Live sketch called "Nitro it" Seriously a smoking leather glove delivered to your table. What kinda kinkster designed that? Frank Booth, the gas sipping psycho from Blue Velvet? And the accompanying chocolate glove looked like it belong to O.J. Simpson. And the other chef most be Dr. Arden from American Horror Story, because who else would serve orange goop out of a syringe? Well maybe Doctor Frankenstein himself Oh the horrors; infused pasta with fried chicken via chemicals, they got it. Any why would you destroy good wine in glasses infused by smokey chemicals from lasers? What is this Israel? America signed the Anti Chemical weapons convention treaty. We needed to escape because after a while the gasses produce a paranoid toxicity. We thought the doors had disappeared. The people were all strangely silent, MoJoko is not a conversation starter, so we thought they were aliens, about to attack us. At another bar, I noticed that my tongue stung, from the nitrogen. file this under "not fun", unless you're a foodie
(1)Scott B.
I ate at Moto over the weekend, and it was nothing short of spectacular! The service was perfect. All of our servers were knowledgable, friendly, and informative. The wine pairings were nothing short of spot on, they complemented the dishes without overpowering them, in some cases, even made the dishes pop more than they already did. The food, which I will describe course by course, was needless to say above and beyond anything your expecting. First course was a tasting of the tasting menu, fourteen little bites each highlighting featured ingredients and flavor profiles in all of the dishes to come. I like to think of it as a little foreshadowing of your entire meal to come! Second was one of my favorite courses of the evening, blanc de blancs, poached mahi mahi, Nantucket bay scallop, and uku (Hawaiian snapper) servered with a sumchoke purée, heart of palm salad, and an all white theme to the whole dish. Third was the breakfast radish course, probably the course that surprised me most was the incredible depth of flavor it had. 3 different kinds of radishes, some raw, some pickled, butter powder, liquid nitrogen noodles, red ribbon sorrel, and more. Fourth was the river course, an amazing three part course, in the center of the table was a glass container filled with rocks, smoke, and smoked sturgeon, salmon, and trout. To go along with that you had Iranian caviar, an everything bagel crisp, a housemade saltine, and a macaroon. Fifth was sticks and stones, a dish highlighting fruits and vegetables, namely carrots and apples, crafted out to look like sticks and stones. To the nose, the dish smelled like a cinnamon roll, when eating it I realized the incredible balance of the savory flavors laced into this course. Sixth was farmhouse, awesome presentation, you have a big glass jar/container filled with straw and a beautiful egg, the top of the egg shell is opened up and a savory foam is piped in covering up rabbit shank. The wooden top to the jar had a sliced rabbit loin with crackers, squash, baby carrot, and purple Brussel sprout. Seventh was my absolute favorite course of the evening, fallen log. There was an actual "fallen" log on the plate that was topped with a sweet potato purée, fresh huckleberries, and too many other components to name, all topped by foie gras, Scottish pigeon, and quail, enough said! Eighth was bacon to the fourth. This course started out with a stunning wooden aromatic centerpiece, moving into four different bacon preparations, classic, bacon jam, pork belly, and pork jowl bacon, with one of many garnishes being a chicharon. Need I say more? Ninth was osso buco, A veal breast is rolled up, you have a mock "bone" that is a parsnip purée piped into the center of the roll, and it is servered with a Yukon gold potato noodle tossed in truffle oil, and all topped with fresh shaved black truffle. Tenth, reindeer lichen was just awesome, the lichen was actually the green served on the plate, or stone, nice and crispy. Perfectly seared bison was the highlight of this plate, with enoki, miatake, and white beach mushrooms too. Eleventh will round out the savory courses, with my third and final favorite savory course, study of venison. One of the more stunning presentations of the night, including five different preparations and parts of the venison including tartar, seared loin, and jerky, all with garnishes! Twelfth will start the sweet end of our meal, and with a bang! Paradise was my favorite dessert of the night, and paradise is the best was to describe it. Incredibly bright and refreshing with an astounding contrast in flavor and textures. This dish highlights coconut and lime with a passion fruit tweel you can crumble over the dessert yourself! Thirteen was pumpkin patch, which is exactly what this looked like. Creative preparations highlighting baking spice, pumpkin, and a little edible dessert menu. Fourteen was coffee service, to the untrained eye, you had a creamer with steamed milk, sugar cubes, and a cup of coffee. The creamer was a sweet foam, sugar cubes were marshmallows, and coffee was actually a coffee gel with too much to name under it, all you need to know is it was incredibly fun, playful, and tasted great. Fifteenth and final course of the evening, and what an incredible bang of a course to end with, baking 101! The only baking lesson I want to take, you get and empty bowl with a rubber spatula, 5 ramekins filled with what looks like "flour" "butter" "raw egg" "brown sugar" and "chocolate chips" then a straw for your milk and an instruction sheet. The sheet will instruct to mix all of your ingredients in the bowl with your spatula and enjoy! Too much fun, brought me back to childhood a little bit. What else is there to say other than I believe this is a meal everyone should experience!!
(5)C D.
While the atmosphere is elegant, the service is great and the food is really fun and creative, I had to give it 3 stars, because I think they often focus too much on being creative vs the taste of the food. This restaurant is EXTREMELY expensive. For this cost, I expect perfection in every aspect.
(3)Maggie M.
So I read about Moto and insisted we go when we were in Chicago. The place is dark, exclusive, a tad pretentious but 100% about the food. So how is the food? It is a 4 but the price is 5. It is pretty spectacular, having a Chicago Dog (made of ice cream) that LOOKS like the real deal makes your senses spin. On that level, it was fun. We ordered the menu and had the set menu of courses. They were out there. For me, probably a little too much. I happen to be adventurous in my travel, not so much with my food. In the end, I was glad I went. Will I go back? No. It was a one time experience.
(4)Ellie B.
We visited Moto for our anniversary this year - our third time dining here. It was great as it has always been. We made our reservation on Open Table and in the comment section I mentioned that we wanted two 10 course meals and for one to be vegetarian. Leading up to the day, I was worrying that maybe they wouldn't read the comments and that making 10 veg. courses would be a burden. Why do I worry? Moto always takes care of you. Our waiter was formal but friendly and funny. I liked the spacing of the courses. It's enough time to get excited about the next one, but not too long that you get antsy. I really loved all of the courses again this time around. They were super flavorful, rich, and sometimes whimsical. It kind of amuses me that people complained about the MENSA puzzle of a toilet. It's really not that tricky, if you look for a second.
(5)H. W.
It is never a good sign that when a group of diners leave a restaurant, the entire room turns and looks enviously on those who are allowed to escape. Dinner felt like prison. The meal took far too long and was badly paced. Told staff at the outset that we needed to leave by a certain time. They assured us that we should be done far before that time. We were not. Initially seated in the dead silent, dimly lit main room, in the space of 3 minutes about 8 people bump into my chair, 6 of them staff. Not a single "excuse me" was offered. We asked to be moved and wind up downstairs in a room filled with overly loud, drunk groups. But this was the preferable space that evening. At least these people seemed to be having fun. It was not to last as it soon became apparent that courses that would take at most 3 minutes to devour had waiting times of 20 minutes in-between. Rising tension could be felt. After a while, diners started to get up and talk to other tables in a loud commiseration dance. The food itself was presented in arty ways but it would be wrong to say that it was molecular gastronomy. There was french mousse-ing technique in crab mousse and pumpkin mousse and a japanese influence could be found in the raw sliced fish placed on rocks in a box. There was some pepper flavoured jelly and bits of foam here and there, but that was the extent of the molecular on this menu. Cutting edge this place is not. Cooked fish came out quite fishy and it felt like they didn't use quality ingredients. The entire place seemed to be staffed with interns. All seemed extremely green and extremely uncomfortable. No sommelier was present and no one knew anything about wine. They memorised dish descriptions well enough as each course came out, but couldn't answer any questions. Cutlery was old and contained water stains. One set even came out sticky. Water glasses were refilled but empty wine glasses just sat there. Wine pourings were stingy. The single unisex restroom was insufficient for all diners and wasn't properly maintained. The kitchen seemed very concerned about dietary restrictions and no fewer than 3 different staff members asked about them, but dishes still came out over salted. And in general, most of the food just didn't taste good. Saw some people get a tour of the kitchen but we weren't allowed in. With 15 minutes and 3 more courses to go, we remind staff that we are about to turn into a pumpkin and have to go. They seemed to have forgotten and the last courses are simultaneously plopped down along with the bill before all staff disappear. No coffee or tea offered. Don't know if it was even available and couldn't find anyone to ask. Overall, dinner service was a great mess. 20% gratuity included in the bill might explain the lack of effort, but doesn't excuse it. We left without any member of staff saying good evening or thank you, just a stoney security guard asking if we needed a cab- too little too late. Before writing this review I was wavering between a 2 and a 3, but after writing aIl this, I can't give higher than 1 star.
(1)Kimberly L.
I went with three of my friends and we showed up just at the nick of time to our reservation. We were greeted by friendly faces and smiles. The restaurant itself had a really nice ambience, the music was the perfect volume the waitstaff were dressed very nice an the decor was gorgeous. We had a 15 course tasting menu. It started off with the actual menu in miniature bite sizes to prep our taste buds. I went through that one in at least 5 seconds. With that first menu item I was definitely looking forward to everything else. Afterwards, course by course comes out promptly. The service was impeccable and was orchestrated seamlessly. The pairings worked so well with the courses. A course that stood out to me the most was called River course. About five servers came out with each element. Two round crystal bowls were set at each side of a long rectangular glass dish. The dish has rocks at the bottom and was foggy on the inside. Each of is had a small shell type dish set in front of us with a puffed everything onion bagel chip and a macaroon (my favorite!!). As the server explained the course he pulled off the plastic and this wonderful smoke swirled out of the bowl. This aroma hit our noses and our stomachs. Inside, on the rocks themselves were thinly sliced pieces of sturgeon and salmon. The crystal bowls set on the sides had caviar. All the flavors melded so well, an absolutely wonderful adaptation of lox and bagel. Another favorite course of mine was baking 101. It was very homey and made me think of childhood with milk and cookie dough. A little handwritten instruction card came along with it and it was so much fun. We were set with a spoon and port and although I felt like it was unnecessary, I didn't notice a thing. We had a spatula and some milk and that was the perfect end to the meal. Although I finished the port and it kind of put me over the edge, I was so happy with that entire experience, I was perfectly content. If anyone has the chance or occasion, go to Moto you will get the best meal of your life. Your taste buds will be so thankful. :)
(5)Mark A.
If an out-of-towner (and that includes suburbanites) were coming to Chicago and asked me to recommend some "must visit" restaurants, you would not see the name "Moto" on the list. I did the 20 course menu and wine pairings. The GOOD: * Fun to try a lot of different (good) wines * Cool that you can eat the menu * Novelty in eating things like a cigar * Polished service/nice dining environment The BAD: * Okay, cool you can break apart a mushroom, freeze dry it, put it in a flux capacitor, and recreate something that looks like a mushroom, but why reinvent the wheel when Mother Nature already did it for you? * Wine pairings weren't really "paired" - they were seemingly poured independent from our food courses. (Although I must admit the wine selections were all very good and generously poured.) * Flavor was average at best. Ok, yes, you spin around a bunch of ingredients in a centrifuge and give them a dose of liquid nitrogen, and they'll taste like a pretzel, but do you really want to spend $400/person to eat a flippin' pretzel? Sure, it's a neat science experiment, but it did very little for my tastebuds. (This is the worst part of the experience, in my opinion.) Bottom line, you're not necessarily paying for the greatest tasting food; rather, you're paying for the privilege of being entertained by somebody who likes to play in a laboratory and, instead of using toxic chemicals, they're using something edible. I had thought this place earned a Michelin star, so when I returned home after the meal I did some research,and my faith in the Michelin guide was restored because Moto does not have a star, and it doesn't deserve one. Yes, it's a cool science experiment. But if you're looking to "wow" your tastebuds, look elsewhere.
(3)Justin M.
I ate here over a month ago but didn't write the review until now because I have been in treatment for sticker shock ever since receiving the bill. I won't describe what we ate because a lot of other Yelpers have already laid out the menu in laborious detail. Suffice to say it was one of the most unique dining experiences that I have had. The presentation and background story behind each dish is entertaining and although it doesn't seem like there is much food on each plate, I was pretty full by the time we left (there are 12 dishes after all). The service is excellent and I am captivated by the self-inflating balloon that they presented my fiancee with for her birthday, which is still inflated to this day (how do they do that!?). I'm withholding a star because I don't like the way that the dining room is structured, or rather the way it is not structured. It is just one big room with tables and chairs; there is no privacy. Part of the whole fun of dining here is the anticipation of what's going to come out next. Unfortunately, if you are seated as we were between two parties who have been there longer than you, you get a sneak preview of everything that is yet to come. Major spoiler alert. I don't know why they don't have partitions set up to address this issue. I'm glad to have experienced "molecular gastronomy" for the first time, but it will probably be a long time before I drop this much coin on a meal again. It is, after all, still just food at the end of the day. Right?
(4)Marty G.
The low reviews are correct: some dishes are too salty, service is frequent but robotic and unfriendly, and the pre-determined tip doesn't allow the customer to tip based on performance. Moto seems to thrive on "foodies" that are new to the whole molecular gastronomy thing (I must admit that I would fall into this category. My fault for not doing my homework). Cantu is a poor man's Achatz.
(1)Rob D.
I recently dined here. From the reviews, I was excited and looking forward to trying this restaurant. Interior design: modern and somewhat austere. But, I liked the lines and simple design. Interesting wine island in the middle of the dining room. For the price and the hype, I thought that I would be wowed. Let's say that I was minimally impressed. Of the several courses, most lacked pizazz. What I mean is the wow taste factor. The OMG..this is amazing. It didn't happen. Some artful presentations, yet no Wow. Also, key to this type of supposed creative type of establishment, is the presentation by the server. Unfortunately, it was extremely difficult to understand what the server was saying. I expected much more from this restaurant.
(3)Jason H.
Here's the thing, I've lived in amazing cities, traveled to incredible places and eaten at some of the best restaurants you can imagine. If there is one thing that sets a place apart in my mind it's the service. Any big name fancy restaurant had better have an amazing food experience, and I won't lie, Moto had some good food both times I ate there, but if you drop the ball on the basics of service you are a chump. On my second trip to Moto I was surprised to have warm white wine consistently brought to the table (we were drinking $150+ bottles and they were still warm), the waiter told us they were having a refrigeration issue and that he'd try and keep our bottles cold in a bucket of ice ... in his defense he did comp us each a glass of Bubbly, so we were all good so far and let the matter drop ... we could live with his explanation and he was at least nice about it. HOWEVER... Early on in the meal I told the staff that I had a very specific food allergy (pineapple) and that I needed a couple of small substitutions, they took this in stride and were very clear that they would make sure I didn't get any of the dishes with pineapple in them ... imagine my surprise when the after dinner drink (not listed on the menu) turned out to be nothing other than real pineapple juice... to his credit the waiter rounded up some Benedril, but by that point I was in no shape to stick around ... I hopped a cab and went home to be sick for the next 2 days... let me just say getting sick in a cab is NOT a fun experience. Here's the deal, I'm a reasonable guy, mistakes happen and I wasn't even upset over an oversight like this... until yesterday when I was sitting with my friend who told me how she was treated when she called the manager to complain about the incident (mind you we paid the bill in full and didn't ask for a single thing comped, including the meal I was puking up) ... she was told that our table had been too loud and that he couldn't do anything for her. Hell she didn't even ask for money back, she just wanted this dude to know that someone in her party had been "poisoned" ... getting a rude response is ridiculous. I'm horribly disappointed in this place which is supposed to be a top tier establishment.
(1)Sydney L.
This place is crazy in the best way possible. I know someone currently working at moto and after hearing more about what they do, I knew I had to go. I took my dad here while he was in town this past weekend and we both had a fantastic time. There were 15 courses and all of them were brilliant. I tried a lot different foods that I never would have ordered for myself, but ended up really enjoying. We also split the full wine progression as well and each one was wonderful. We were able to go on a tour of the kitchen after our meal as well which was a lot of fun. The staff works incredibly hard and it shows. As people have mentioned...it's expensive. Over $500 for the two of us. But hey, it's a 4 hour dinner made with incredible ingredients that have been prepared in creative and artistic ways and in my opinion, it's totally worth it. After telling my mom about how great it was, she had me make reservations for the upcoming week. Going to a place like moto twice in less then a week might be a little silly, but whatever. I don't mind because it's that good.
(5)Christine K.
I found out about this restaurant while visiting the future exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The Chef, Homaro Cantu specializes in delicious creations which are put through lasers, various gases, and solutions before resulting in a few bites of heaven. We had the 15 course tasting menu and to be honest...I was a little bit scared that our experience would be parallel to some of my fellow yelpers who had snooty service from this restaurant. Our waiters however, were extremely down to earth and open to any questions you may throw at them. They are knowledgable about the processes, the food, and even popular chefs in this day and age. Although they maintain a professional composure, they are more than willing to joke and play along with you at your table without disturbing other guests from their dining experience. Our waiter in particular (unfortunately I didnt catch his name) went out of his way to make Moto the best fine dining experience we ever had. Not to mention he was extremely cute! The food was delicious and each dish prepared thoughtfully. The timing of the service was also impeccable. Sure, Alinea is famous in chicago for their food, but there is a plethora of great restaurants in the world...not to mention Motos dishes are up to par with some of them. If you're looking for a fun, interactive experience with food that is unparalleled...come to Moto!
(5)Vince G.
How does food go farther? The night I was lucky enough to dine at Moto Restaurant I found that food can not only physically satisfy me; but it could also challenge my intellect and play with my emotions. The dishes I experienced that night took me places, like any great piece of art, and made me forget about reality. I"m not going to be boring and list courses and all their components and details. However, the artwork that Chef Richard Farina boldly puts in front of you demands to be recognized as some of the best, most well seasoned, well executed food in Chicago. The service also deserves high praise, the task of picking wine for such intense cuisine requires a finely tuned palate and Moto's sommelier is a true maestro. The wines complimented and took each symphony to a higher level, elevating the experience. The experience was sensual and left me with a feeling of amazement. The food twisted me in so many ways and the service staff pampered me like they could read exactly what I wanted when I wanted it. I was able to catch a glimpse of how gastronomy can change lives as well as the world. I leave you with this, A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists. Bravo
(5)melinda b.
Moto definitely provides an "experience", I didn't even notice that our experience took 4 hours, it was worth every second. Our waiter was extremely detailed in each course introduction. You can tell the wait staff genuinely takes pride in what they're presenting, I love that. Very creative presentations, each course was uniquely Delicious!
(4)Riel V.
I heard a lot about MOTO before I went. A few friends of mine interned at MOTO. They were from Portland and New York. Another set of friends...well, more like acquaintances...wanted to stop by MOTO on a road trip in which they passed through Chicago. So, I knew that MOTO was a 'known' place...at least in the United States. However, I always thought MOTO was a sushi place. I had no idea about the 'theatrics' and presentation that takes place at MOTO. When I say, 'theatrics', I mean that it is a subtle performance that you experience when dining at MOTO. It is indeed a unique place that I enjoyed. I went there to treat a relative out for her birthday. I would suggest going for a special occasion because it will dig into your wallet a bit. The price was not the only thing that shocked me...it was the food and presentation. I gave MOTO 4 stars, but I think this must be explained. If you are like me, I would rather go to a place like...fogo de chao, for example, where you get all the meat you want to eat while paying approx. $100 per person. At MOTO, I paid $160 per person for a 15 course meal...so, be prepared for that. I certainly wasn't. I enjoyed my time at MOTO. However, I wasn't as FULL in my tummy as I think I should be for the price tag. The portions are 'tasting portions', so don't be alarmed if you get a big plate with a little itty bitty piece of food on top with fancy designs. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy food that is well prepared, hand made, cooked to perfection, very carefully made, and well presented. I enjoyed the effort that all the servers and attendants showed while we were there. They were very polite and the experience was nice. It's a 'show of food presentations' while you are at MOTO. I believe this is what you pay for...along with the food (albeit small portions). Some items from our 15 course menu: 1st course included: edible potato chip menu Final course: Acme bomb desert All in all, I enjoyed the experience, but I don't think I will be back for a while. I would rather spend my money on other things or other places that give me much more food. But, I liked MOTO, so I gave it 4 stars....I think it's a good place to check-out...I'm just not sure if I would make a habit of it.
(4)Peanut L.
Restaurants like this are the reason we're in a recession. There's no reason to spend so much money on any food, but particularly the food here. The servers are strangely nervous and awkward. I felt like giving them some wine to relax them. In perhaps the ultimate sign of pretension, the toilet handle is impossible to find in the women's bathroom (it's a button on the side of the toilet bowl). Don't expect to see any of the fancy stuff they show on tv - you can get a kitchen tour, but they don't really use that stuff. Overall, save your money.
(2)Tommy H.
For roughly $210.00 per person we were able to enjoy 15 courses of some of the most creative dishes I've ever experienced. I won't go into details of each dish, as I don't want to ruin the surprise for my fellow yelpers. food: bold flavors, creative presentation, a cohesive menu. service: great service from the staff, very attentive, willing to joke with and educate the guests on the chef, food, and the establishment. I'm very happy with my dining experience at Moto.
(5)Min T.
No room at Alinea? No room at Schwa? What about Moto? WHAT about Moto? Like any good foodie, I researched Moto and found reviews to be fairly positive. I was very excited. When I confirmed the reservations, I specified we were coming in for the 10-course tasting menu. Because seriously, who can do the 20-course? I started out with one of their nifty cocktails. The one pictured came in a mini beaker, bespeaking of the science experiments to come. For you see, Moto was one of those "powders and foams" type places. It's molecular gastronomy. One memorable quote from someone who went a week or two before me proclaimed it to be better than El Bulli and Noma. Really? The former #1 restaurant and current #1 restaurant in the world? All right then, let's rock. My dining companion ordered the wine pairing to go with her meal and one of the courses was served with beer. She complained her beer wasn't in the proper glass (it was in a wine glass). Service was very interesting to me. Since there were two of us, two servers would come by and serve the dishes. If there were four, I saw four serve so no one had to wait. I did notice a rather large bug crawling around the table. I told the server who immediately said that was disgusting and brushed it onto his hand. There was no further mention of it. Hm. I liked about half my meal, mostly the first half. Then I felt it start faltering. Although this meal was conceptually very interesting, not every dish worked. But I don't really expect all the courses to blow my mind. I thought the food was better the next night at Graham Elliot but Moto took far more risks. Although I probably would not return, this meal was a bit more memorable. And the funny thing about the item I really enjoyed at Graham Elliot was that pistachio dessert. I would learn their pastry chef worked at Moto. So perhaps Moto is a bit of a "c'mon" to some people but at least people get to play and after all, it's just a science experiment.
(3)Ciao H.
I went for the 20 course meai. The food was brilliant--full of flavor, interesting surprises, beautiful plating, fresh ingredients. But to savor a 5 hour meal is not for everyone, so I recommend a 10 course meal option that they have--it will still be about 3 hours to get through if you take your time with it. Moto is like a museum of food, you will not go here to order the steak that you like to order on special occasions. You will go here to be served the unexpected in celebration of the extra-special occasion: you get to enjoy extraordinary food and service that's really not available in many places. The 20 course meal started out light and built gradually to a crescendo. There was some very fanciful plating that I enjoyed and the reformed mushroom taste was really exquisite. My only problem was that the main dishes culminated in some very heavy choices. One of the heavier ones was "cigar in an ashtray"--pork shoulder wrapped in collard greens with a roasted pepper tip and resting in an "ash" of white and black pepper and cumin. This dish was bursting with flavor and had some serious presence--but alas, a tad bit too heavy in a menu of 20 plates. I would have appreciated some lightening of the plates as we progressed to the end before the desserts. The desserts were really unusual--although I have to say I liked the concepts of the desert more than I enjoyed the flavors--the sundae plate felt just a little too cloyingly sweet, the earl grey ice cream plate just felt like too challenging a flavor to win most people over on, the chocolate bomb bon bon was so wonderfully dramatic, but I longed for more of a bold alcohol flavor to the inside--a rum or a cognac or something. There are wine flight pairing options available, and they looked delicious, but I am a very light drinker, so I contented myself with a wonderful cocktail (I've really had no other like it, it had a wonderful flavor) and a glass of rose halfway through the meal and I was happy with that. The timing of the dishes was impeccable, the service very relaxed and happy to answer any questions or repeat info. At the end of the meal I asked the waiter if I could walk down to see the kitchen and thank the chefs and staff. Its astonishing how much magic gets done in such a little space and the chefs were very friendly, humble and happy to answer questions. The restaurant location was very unassuming--I felt a bit like I was sneaking into a speakeasy, and that was fun. Inside, however, I felt the lighting was too dim and the acoustics aren't great, so I was stuck overhearing an obnoxiously loud/tipsy customer in a corner which was unpleasant. Overall really an astonishing experience, not one I will soon forget. Great job, Moto. Someday I hope I make it back to Chicago and Moto.
(5)Jinna K.
I had such a great experience at Moto. The food is top quality and the presentation blew me away. All of your senses will be touched and awakened by their beautiful presentation of the courses. Prepare to stay at least 3 hours if you due the tasting menu. We did the wine pairing and it was really good as well. We also got a tour of the kitchen and the staff was so friendly! We've had tours in several different places and by far the staff here was the best. The service really made it a great experience.
(5)Chef A.
Best restaurant I've ever eaten at.
(5)Danielle S.
This has to be one of my favorite restaurants I have ever been to. The food is not only wonderful, but it is a piece of art. It is literally an experience to eat here. Everyone waits on you, and the atmosphere is modern/romantic. I love it and can't wait to go back. Totally worth the price.
(5)Michael B.
The worst dining experience in my life. This isn't an experience to remember, only to forget. No menu, no pricing! The restaurant needs to add a fibrillator to resuscitate you after they bring the bill. The portions are so small you need to be an insect to sample this crap. No mention anywhere about the $185 prix fixed price. Over priced by $180.00 for each person. What's wrong with the people writing these reviews? No atmosphere, prolonged time in the process of getting your food and ridiculous mini portions. The utensils are not capable of picking up these microscopic portions.They never mentioned the price or we would have left immediately. Instead they try to get you to order wine immediately without informing you whether the list is adaptive to red or white wine. This has "disaster" written everywhere. I wan't my money back. OH MY GOD!!! Please resuscitate me!
(1)NY C.
Well, unfortunatley I kinda agree w/Melissa T. I am the type of person who will fly half-way around the world for a good fish dish (and have done that - twice), so we flew to Chicago to try Moto. It was all right. The decor was kinda stark and cold (but not in a good way - looked a bit unfinished), and while some of food items were fun and interesting (I enjoyed eating my menu), others had the most contrived presentations! The flavor of the food items were okay, but honestly not all that memorable. It was a good place to check out and try once, just to sample their creative molecular gastronomy, but I wouldn't fly back for that again - For what they charge, I'd much rather go to Alinea.
(3)Jen B.
The Summary? This is a pretty neat place to experience molecular gastronomy....great service, quiet ambiance, and top points for creativity when it comes to the food...but I think that MOTO could've done a better job on taste! (I've heard Alinea is *THE* best place to experience MG at its best in Chicago....but couldn't get a reservation there... :( boo hoo!) Some highlights? The cuban cigar -- what a very cool presentation (with butt tray included!). The sausage wrapped in grape leaves wasn't a full 5-stars in taste, but the creativity made this a whimsical dish that was fun to enjoy!!! The "bomb" for dessert -- I love fire. I love dessert. Put fire and dessert together and I am a very happy girl. Then add marshmallows. And I am in heaven. (I am actually mildly allergic to chocolate but I ended up eating half of this dessert, just because it was so much fun!!!!) This place will end up costing you an arm and a leg for the tasting menu, but if you're looking for a meal that is relaxing and full of creativity, it's definitely worth a try!
(4)Candace C.
What can I say about Moto that hasn't already been said. It is unbelievable what crazy concoctions come out of this kitchen. His food is definitely challenging and not for the faint of heart. There are some hits and some misses for sure... but that comes from the creativity and wild - it's just fun to see what kind of "rabbit hole" experience it's going to be. It's totally experimental stuff and that is pretty wild. Plus, did I mention that the chef does research for NASA? From the "Arnold Palmer" freezies to the Kobe beef Shabuccino, I mean, this is stuff is totally far out. It makes you laugh and brings out the kid inside of you. The only real criticism I have was the timing of the dishes. Basically, you can stay there for 5-6 for dinner which in my humble opinion was a little too drawn out. I mean, most people do not want to be sitting for 5 hours for a chef's tasting menu. My husband and I found ourselves waiting for up to 20-25 minutes between dishes. We definitely did not expect to be at the restaurant for that long. For this, they lose one star. Service is wonderful because the waiters are not professional wait staff - they are chefs themselves in the kitchen. So, they can answer any questions you may have with the menu easily.
(4)Farid S.
We wanted to go someplace special to celebrate a big business deal and we had heard great things about MOTO. I called them to get a table, and they asked me about food allergies, and what foods we wished to avoid which I thought was important as I have a food allergy to bivalves. It is close to my place and I knew where it was but took us a few minutes to find the place as it is kind of hidden. We found the place, parked (ample street parking), and went in and were seated promptly. Our waiter (who was also a chef) told us about our dining choices - either a 10 course or a 20 course dinner with wine pairings. The menu was edible!! Their menu changes a lot but we had meat, fish, and game and wine with every course. It was an incredible experience. Food that didn't look like anything I had had before. A rabbit maki, some salmon, other game. too much to remember. I would definitely go back. Be warned it is expensive.
(5)vivian h.
By far, Moto is the fanciest restaurant I have ever been to. We had the GTM course on the menu. It was the most expensive course on the menu; but we figured we will probably not go back for a long time ... so why not splurge? To be honest, I don't remember much of what I ate. Two dishes stood out ... a sushi roll wrapped in a custom printed rice paper and tuna cooked in some kind of NASA technology box. The service was exceptional to say the least. When I got up to use the washroom, a server was immediately by my side to escort me and to hold the washroom door open. It was a great experience, but something that I will probably not do again.
(4)H R.
For what it is, yes it is very innovative. For value, definitely not there. Did the wine pairing, full menu with nine friends. The flavors were not there. The composition was great, but repetitive. Making fat (butter) into powder seems to be their strongpoint here, repeatedly. The wine pairings were at best adequate. Not educational or stimulating. Not one wine that I wanted to go out and find. All the wines were the cheapest ones on their wine list and the pours were very unfriendly. Overall for the money, we felt inadequately served. Mr. Cantu was charming, his servers far less so. Definitely will not go back or advise others to do so. This and WD-50 (NYC) and two prime examples of why molecular gastronomy needs a real chef in the kitchen.
(3)Michael U.
See profile site for full review with formatted pics. In a trip that included fantastic meals at Charlie Trotter's, Tru, Bongo Room, and Cafe Spiaggia it was my New Years Eve reservation at Moto with my sister that I looked forward to the most. With only a small amount of exposure to the world of Molecular Gastronomy I'd seen videos of Fat Duck's obsurd bacon egg with liquid nitrogen preparred tableside and read numerous reviews of the presentations at El Bulli and Alinea - according to rumor, Chef Cantu's presentations at Moto were just as impressive even if the food was "lower quality" in ingredients and flavor. Perhaps my hopes were too high or perhaps something was amiss, but on my first trip to Moto I thought the flavors were great; it was the presentation and service that were lacking. From the "too cool for you" attitude of the servers to the overall lack of "WOW" to the meal something just felt off. Lodged in an area full of factories, galleries, and warehouses I couldn't help but think of Chelsea as the GPS steered us toward Moto and arriving at the neon green door I couldn't help but think "hmm, this is it?" From the obscure location to the cheap exterior to the bland interior and discolored paint and chipped wood leading to the bathroom I rather wonder where Chef Cantu is spending all his money. Additionally, after e-mailing and calling the restaurant days and weeks before the meal, I was surprised that the menu was only finalized 4 days beforehand and that A) many of the chef's most famous dishes were omitted, B) no "new" dishes were being created for the holiday, C) innovative items like the black box or aromatic utensils were absent, and D)the price was increased to $150 for 12 courses while the "additional surprises" promised via phone were nowhere to be found. Additionally, the meal which was promised to last 2:30-3:00 hours via E-mail in fact only lasted about 1:40 minutes leaving my sister and I stranded at the restaurant while my mother and aunt finished up elsewhere. With all those things noted, I must say I was quite impressed by some of the tastes and textures presented at Moto and that although I felt it was quite overpriced for both the quality and the presentation, that which we did receive was all quite delicious. When it was all said and done, I can't say I regret my experience - but I also cannot say it lived up to my expectations. Given his training there is no doubt that Chef Cantu is a talented man with the skill-set to make amazing food, but given the ingredients used and the lack of props I rather wonder if the goal on NYE 2008 was simply to get people in and out as quickly as possible - despite the elevated pricetag. With presentations far less intricate than others have described in the past and no lobster, foie gras, sweet breads, or other high end items on the menu it almost seemed as though the goal was to maximize profit instead of customer satisfaction. Additionally, I personally was not a fan of the attitude of the female server, nor the 18% automatic gratuity considering the fact that our male servers fumbled over the descriptions multiple times and one of them even managed to knock over our neighbor's wine glass with one of the plates - the concept of a tip is that better service gets a better tips, if the gratuity is automatically included there is no incentive to perform better than average. While Moto was certainly a memorable experience with delicious food, the experience simply didn't warrant the cost and I'd be hard pressed to return given the reviews I've read of Alinea, Avenues, L2O, and the experiences I had at Tru and Trotter's the night before.
(3)Stanley C.
Actually 3.5 stars The Intro: Homaru Cantu, the mad scientist chef serves up molecular gastronomic cuisine in this hip Chicago restaurant. The Food: While my wife and I were not blown away by the savory courses we were impressed with the dessert courses. Having dined at Alinea the night before we thought Moto's control of the seasoning and flavors were not controlled as well. Some dishes were over salted or worse, under seasoned. Some highlights of the night were: Black And White: A fish dish with halibut and scallop served with potato and leek. Fish and scallop both cooked perfectly and matches well with the potato puree. Cuban Cigars: Great and fun presentation. Tasty and innovative, I'll leave it at that and you can find out for yourself. All of the desserts were also great and I thought all of them were highlights but they had a surprise elements to them so I'm not going to spoil anything. The ending of the meal definitely outshines the beginning. The Decor: Dark and cold. The whole restaurant had a gray tone to it. Maybe it was pretty empty when we ate that made it feel cold. The Service: Service was good, but not as inviting as Alinea. Maybe because we dined there late we felt a little rushed. The Summary: For molecular gastronomy Chef Cantu finds innovative ways to serve his food. He does make it fun and interesting but at times the control and flavors are not there. Overall I think the food needs more work and improvement. They are not quite there yet but definitely heading in the right direction. I look forward to dining here when they have.
(3)Space Emperor Z.
My fiancee and I went here four years ago for our anniversary and remember it well. If Moto is representative of the movement, I think "molecular gastronomy" is little more than the Emperor's New Clothes. The best thing we had was a "Cuban Cigar"--a cuban sandwich rolled in greens and presented to look like a cigar on an ashtray. It very was tasty. The presentation was cute. "Cute" is how I'd characterize much of the presentation at Moto. There was edible paper that tasted like stuff printed on it. There was a dish that looked like a fried egg but was actually made of yogurt. Some of the food tasted pretty good. Some of it tasted gross, like a deconstructed freeze-dried coleslaw or the "roadkill of fowl" with sacharine marshmallow fluff sauce. Overall, the meal felt unbalanced--too many heavy meat courses, not enough freshness or lightness. If we didn't finish a plate, the servers interrogated us about what we didn't like. Moto was depressing because it made me realize that food can only taste so good. The way food is presented can obviously add to the experience. But there was nothing close to revelatory about the food at Moto, and "cute" presentations--no matter the technical wizardry behind them--are not nearly enough to justify spending $300 for a meal for two.
(1)Tali C.
Yep, this place was def on the TOP of my culinary experiences thus far. Moto is considered one of the most modern restaurants attracting top echelon foodies from around the world. I ate here because I wanted to treat myself to an amazing dinner, what was in store for me was pure spectacle. I was very pleased with the 20+ courses spanning a time period of about 3.5 hours, give or take an hour. The first thing you will notice about Moto is the modern lucid decor - the place is very dark yet has an angelic flare. The first meal consists of an edible menu! Yeah, you actually eat the menu of the day, it's pretty damn good. The drinks are top notch, unlike anything you have ever encountered. I had the bourbon with smoked bacon vapors covered in chocolate. I'm sure they used a high beam laser to vaporize the essence of bacon into the alcohol and then infused that with the cocktail. This was like drinking a silky well-aged bourbon with bacon and hues of chocolate. yummmy!!! Thus alone was worth the price of admission ($250 per person, including drinks, tips, etc.,). What followed was the best 20 course meals ever. I will not spoil it for you let's just say that it involved gadgets and gizmos most of us never see outside of a NASA space lab. Enjoy food that is transformed into completely different ideas and expressions, truly artistic work with food.
(5)Krystle S.
My little sister and I went to Moto together a few nights ago, and we had such a great time. The servers are knowledgable about every item on a dish and are more than happy to answer your questions about the food. The timing of every course was impeccable. You didn't need to wait more than 8-10 minutes for the next course. My favorite dish had to be the "potato and leek" course. Not only was it artistic, but it was honestly the best fish I had ever tasted, which is saying something because I'm always looking for the best seafood anywhere I go. What I appreciated the most about this place is that they were so welcoming to us. This wasn't exactly what my little sister and I had expected since we were probably the youngest people in the restaurant (I'm 22 and my sister is 19). Our primary server was always willing to listen to our stupid jokes and comments and also had a great sense of humor. The other servers who also brought out our other courses were amazing as well. What I had expected was a staff that would look down on us since we were so young, but I'm ecstatic that it was the complete opposite. We also got to meet the cooks who made our dishes, which was the "cherry on top" for us. It was fun to rave to the cooks about their incredible food. If you ever have the chance to visit moto, do it. The experience we had was phenomenal.
(5)Stacy F.
I really enjoyed dinner here. The meal was genuinely interesting and I think that contributed to its deliciousness. I highly recommend it for a bit of adventure in addition to a good meal. There is nothing like it in the city. If I had the cash to burn, I'd come here on a regular basis, just for something a little different. For me the highlight of the evening was the wine paring. It was very, very good. Easily one of the best wine parings I've ever had.
(5)Dana F.
Wow. Homaro Cantu, you are a genius - you have managed to preserve the concept of fine dining as an "event" but make it playful, boundary-pushing, and without pretense. From the moment I arrived, I knew my experience at Moto would be special and full of surprises. The decor is minimalist and sleek, which draws all of the attention where it is rightfully deserved: the food, the experimentation, the experience. The entire wait-staff was extremely professional and had me fully engaged in the meal, and had me laughing from all of their witty comments and stories. There was no pretense in their demeanor, yet they carried themselves with poise and all of the professionalism that a world-class restaurant requires. From the edible menu, kitsch tequila snowman to the nostalgia-inducing baseball snacks, everything about the dinner was super-creative and innovative. Slurping bubble tea with scallop tapioca pearls and eating funnel cake made of pheasant reminded me that sometimes it's important not to take dinner and food TOO seriously - I appreciated the humor but attentiveness to detail. It's a good thing I don't live in Chicago, or I'd be going to Moto on a weekly basis and living paycheck to paycheck. I will be back and I WILL prevail over the 20 course GTM...
(5)Rob L.
Many, many, many months ago in the merry, merry month of May, my friend Dan asked me if I would join him to go to Moto. His wife was hesitant to go, but he wanted to try it out. I agreed. Fast forward several months and here we have our dinner out. He loved it. I was very much in heaven, with a few courses making me go ehhh, they were good, but not my style. Let's go to the tale of the tape. I arrive, stand at the bar waiting for my dining companion. Perusing the wine menu, (we decided early on to do a bottle or two versus a wine pairing), I decided to have one of their seasonal cocktails. There was an explosion of fall in my mouth, with this brown butter bourbon, mixed with pumpkin and butternut squash puree, seasoned with spices, rimmed with orange and crystallized and crushed pumpkin seeds. Such a blend of salty, sweet and alcoholic loveliness. The second cocktail of run and coconut milk was a downer, (as in not that great, not as in a slam it down like a shot). When my friend arrived we headed off to our table, our menus arrived, freshly baked on a delicate toasted bread, slightly seasoned with cheese and butter. On one side, you had their ten and on the other their twenty. Here is where you have to realize this place is about having fun with food. It borders on poking our conception of what we perceive food to be and what it can be. If you come with a fixated idea of what your mind and mouth can combine to be.... well, you may want to move along there Missy. The first course was their take on a tuna tartar. If was a bed of lovely tuna, with a smirky foam of a snow person on top, (I like to be PC when I can be). To top it off, they killed off our snow person by drizzling some margarita love on top, combining it with the gelee underneath, think a very citric but balanced dish. The gelee was good, but gave a glossy feel to the tuna, which I just had a harder time to get over. The next course was one of my favorites. Hawaiian Ono with a vanilla puree, crystallized grapefruit and roe. The flavors balanced again really well with the fish. The slightly sweet and tang of the grapefruit, with the silky smoothness of the vanilla blended well with the rich butteriness of the Ono. Then on to their literal version of a crab cake. A lemon sponge cake filled with large pieces of Alaskan King crab. Covered with a not sweet, cream cheese and lemon icing, with butternut ice cream and slightly cooked shaved fennel on the side. The cake was delightful, more citric than I liked, as it seemed to over whelm and made me loose the flavor of the crab. Then came pork belly that had been braised over night, with maitaki mushrooms and Chinese broccoli. Delicious. One of my favorites, the combination of all the flavors played off of each other so well and were deep that they stood out but didn't overwhelm each other. The fun playful side? A dehydrated, reconstituted shaped in to a mushroom cap and stem carefully put together on the dish. Then my second favorite, pieces of quail that has been covered in peanuts, deep fried in peanut oil, places on top of a Coca Cola reduction, with a dark caramel and apple sauce with a side of popcorn shavings and a Cracker Jack prize on the side, and yes, the prize was completely edible! The quail was done well, the sauces paired well and really, just a fun treat to eat. The rabbit maki roll surrounded by risotto with a little simple garlic sauce on the side was very good, however I lost the rabbit and much of the other flavors when I ate it all together. Sad, I like a little Thumper flavor. My favorite was the Mexican cannoli. A deep fried cannoli shell, filled with duck, covered with sour creams on the sides, lots of mole sauce over it, toasted pumpkin seeds and dehydrated corn and jalapeno on the sides. This was ingenious presentation, hearty flavors where nothing got lost and delicious in every bite. Starting our trio of desserts, we started off with the truffle ice cream with rosemary crumble surrounding it, delicious, though not as sweet as I thought. Pineapple steeped in chai tea, with marshmallow fluff and coconut covered rice noodles were wonderful, but not my style. The final of a delicious chocolate mousse covered in crumbled shortbread, with earl gray ice cream was the perfect finisher. All in all, a great time and meal. I would for go the wine pairings, I think you can get away with a bottle or two and have a great time and save some money. The wine list is okay, but not extensive for a pairing. The service was great, our sommelier was great and friendly and everyone made sure we had everything taken care of. Certainly a special treat or occasion restaurant, but an experience for any foodie to definitely try.
(4)Brit D.
My boyfriend and I went to celebrate our 6th year anniversary. I'll break it down: Decor- Very nice. I'd call it sleek with a modern feel. Very chill inside with warm tones and dimmed light and a good amount of space from each table. Service- AMAZING! We had the most amazing waiter. Spending about 5 hours there requires some good conversation and we definitely had it with our guy, I just wish I remembered his name to give a shout out! He told us that the servers are all chefs and they switch positions every month, which makes it fair and fun to work in a place like that! Our main server had so much energy and enthusiasm, he honestly made our time at moto the best it could have been! Also, building a relationship with him through out 20 courses allowed him to comp us (well me, my boyfriend didn't want any...) about 5 glasses of wine!!!!!!!!! So nice, I honostly wanted to go out for a drink with him after..... Food-Meh. It was all very creative and obviously the most unique presentations I have ever seen, but nothing was really THAT special or stood out to me. We did do the 20 courses, and I braved through the phesant and pork belly, but by the end, the waiter realized I wasn't liking the special meat so he gave me more vege options they specially made for me in the back :-) Also very nice and attentive. Other than that, nothing very special and for the $500 or so we spent, I would say definitely not worth the money. The service again was just outstanding and that alone made our evening fabulous. We really enjoyed our time there, despite throwing down $500 on just one meal. Also, I'm not a big "celebrity spotter" but my boyfriend realized we were sitting next to kate winslet and the big black guy from the matrix, pretty cool! They were with two hot girls and an old jewish director, and the guy from the matrix kept looking over at me and winking ;) (haha not really, but he did smile and say yum that looks good when he walked in) ALL IN ALL: I'd say try it once, and hopefully you get the same wonderful experience as we did.
(3)Aaron D.
Went to Moto and I'm not one to fancy any sort of seafood aside from sushi (tuna, -maybe- crab) I knew that the menu would have some items that I wouldn't be particularly fond of but I didn't want to mess with success so I kept my mouth shut and this ended up being a great decision in the long run, really. Foods I wouldn't dared to try otherwise were prepared deliciously, my only fear now is that when I try to go eat Swordfish again I might not like it. I had read that they did beer pairings and when our waiter Sam had asked me what we wanted to do for our meal I said I would like to do the beer pairing. First course came out and I was perplexed as to why to glasses appeared and a bottle of vino followed shortly there after. I told our Sam that we were actually looking forward to the beer pairing option but he misheard my request earlier and had to inform me that there was no such option (I suppose that was removed some time ago?) anyhow Sam had told me that he would instead speak with the chef and see if my request was even a possibility. First course is done, I now love swordfish and Sam is back telling me that the Chef had already composed a pairing for our 15 courses. AWESOME! The beers paired so well with each dish that I was absolutely astonished at how quickly the chef was able to whip up a list, produce the beers and facilitate my request with precision. Sam had filled me in on the GM of iNG being a beer nut too (not in those words, but yea) We had a lot of fun here, when we got in around 6pm the mood wasn't very lively which is something you might look for in a place like this but the atmosphere wasn't doing it for me initially, very stuffy. Once the drinks were poured and the meals were further in the place really opened up and people were less reserved. If I had to recommend a time to place reservations I would say depending on what kind of atmosphere you are looking for go early for a quiet reserved meal. Go later for a more laid back, relaxed setting. Our waiter Sam I would give a 10/10, and no offense to the other wait staff but I am glad we got him as our main server. Going back to the "stuffy atmosphere" comment I made earlier, a lot of the waiters looked like they walked out of an Express Catalog with very straight faced looks, not much personality to be seen but I cant blame them, it was almost like everyone in the room was fearful of sneaking out a Smile... though I can only really know our waiter the best as he was the only one we made any attempts to speak with during the meal. (I even got him to take a photo with one of the beers from our Improv beer pairing solution he and the chef cooked up). I feel like I cant talk our waiter up enough but Sam seemed to be having a lot of fun and said he loved trying something new because he knew all the wines and describing factors by heart (All of us had fun cooking up new descriptions for the beers being paired with our food, especially the one with the cherub on it). All in all the entire waitstaff made the night, my girlfriend described to me that they "moved like shadows" and was very impressed. I asked her what she meant and her explanation was one minute we would have one course, finished and within the next minute we would have a new one. It really was like clockwork, the timing could not have had been better. So back onto the food, each course was something new and I got to try a lot of things that I haven't had the chance to try. I now know how to eat an oyster and I unfortunately didn't take a liking to them... I'm giving crab another chance (the bisque, DELICIOUS). Me and scallops are back on speaking terms. Swordfish is my new best friend and I wont ever look at a wild mushroom the same way thanks to a guy named Running Squirrel. I was considering not posting all of the pictures that I am for fear of ruining any new visitors experiences but its clear now that the meal I had will be very different from the one you eat and you will still be amazed.
(5)Judy M.
For the love of all that is good, gents, please don't order the 20 course meal. Because your wife/girlfriend/mother/friend or any female you may go with will be struggling. It came to the point where I felt like I was on Man vs Food ... and food won. There were both hits and misses overall, but you pay for the experience, their experimenting and for their really cool toys (that you see if you take a tour). My two favorites were the Forest Roll and the Clam Bake, even though it was super rich. Two least favorites were the Shabu Shabuccino and Yellow Snow. Oh and the table next to ours got this golden ticket thingie. Pretty cool, would have been cooler if it happened to us. :) We were there to celebrate our anniversary by spending a whole ton of money on food, definitely a great celebratory restaurant. It is something I would say you've got to do once.
(4)Michael G.
My wife and I did the 20-course tasting menu. We both had the half-wine pairing, which resulted in us not having any wine for the first few courses. It took us almost 4 hours. We have eaten at Alinea before but none of the other molecular gastronomy hot spots (Minibar, El Bulli). Evaluating Moto is difficult because it is so unlike other restaurants. Half the fun of the evening was the theater and art of seeing the unusual presentation of the food, such as the Cuban cigar that was a Cuban sandwich, the snow man, the Acme bomb, the 'coffee break' that was a soy-based soup, the sushi roll made of risotto and rabbit loin, and the edible menu. By presenting some fairly standard tastes in new ways (such as the Acme bomb, which was a chocolate shell with liquid graham cracker inside) Moto often provoked delight but the taste often seemed secondary to the unusual presentation. I am glad I went to Moto. I would go here again. But if I wanted my taste buds to be wowed I would spend a bit more on Alinea, where they do new things because they wow the taste buds, not just because they are new and unusual. As to service and decor, they were as good as I would expect at a fine dining restaurant such as this.
(4)Adriana L.
First of all my husband and I are huge foodies from Vegas. We were in Chicago celebrating my birthday and I must admit that we only booked Moto due to not being abel to get a reservation at Alinea. For $500!!!! I was super excited and I had high expectations that this was going to be one of the best dining experiences. Well sadly we were very DISAPPOINTED!! We had a horrible booth right by the door and hostess stand, which right away was a turn off. Our server never bother to fully explain our course for the evening, we had a female busser who seemed new, she was very sweet but had no professional demeanor about her. After the first couple of courses we were completely bored, there was no energy in the room, even the people working they looked super bored, it was literally torture just sitting there . Every course took 15-20 mins to be brought to our table and our "three" hour experience turned to be almost four hours!!!!! I really wanted to like this place, but it was a huge fail. I felt bad saying anything to my husband, because he went out of his way to plan our entire evening. We left hungry, and very discouraged that they would even charge 18% gratuity to our bill, since the service was not up to par. I hate that I even have to write a review, but I really feel like we got ripped off and the only reason I give this place a two star is for the creativity in making the food.
(2)Michael M.
Well it had to happen, my first negative yelp review. Way overpriced. Got the 10 course tasting and 10 course wine pairing. For two people this dinner was a whopping $580...and when some of the food I taste is actually not good enough for myself or my date not to finish it clearly shows it's not worth the money. Of course this place is all about food presentation, and combinations that you have never had before, but the food should still taste nothing below amazing at this price. The waiter did however mention that their sister place next door, otom, offers a three course tasting menu for just $35 on Tuesdays. Skip moto and go there! This place is all hype and I can't believe the amount of good reviews on yelp, moto is probably writing them for themselves!
(2)Lisa H.
The most expensive meal I've ever had. For two of us, after ordering one bottle of $50 wine, the final bill was $500 with tip and tax. Chef puts great thought and creativity into the presentation. There were some novel concepts. But the presentation outshines the taste of the food. The tables are close together and the restaurant is small and quiet so there really is no feeling of privacy. This is not the place for a personal conversation. Also, it didn't appear they could accommodate very large groups. The service was fantastic. We probably will not visit again just because we experienced it once and do not feel the price was worth the cuisine. But it was a nice experience.
(3)Richard S.
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.
(4)Toby C.
Moto is one of the most amazing dining experiences I have ever had. About 18 months ago my girlfriend and I ventured halfway across the US from our comfy east coast environs to the great city of Chicago. We were visiting friends, but our ulterior motive was coming to Moto, the brilliant restaurant in the meat packing district of Chicago. First, you should know that this restaurant is pretty much a whole evening affair. I think we spent three awesome hours here and we only did the ten course meal. The price is well-worth what you get. I REALLY want to go back for 20 courses some time, but find it difficult to set aside the time to travel. Before I dined at Moto, I had heard it characterized as "molecular gastronomy," but the menu is far broader than what most people lump into that category. It is really quite creative. Ten courses also add up to the perfect-sized meal. The restaurant's space is small but in no way overcrowded -- it is just intimate. The wait-staff is literally the best I have ever encountered. They were so responsive that I only half-joked that they were psychic. Seriously, they can read minds. This place is the whole package of fine dining with a modern, playful twist. I recommend you come here with your beautiful or handsome other and/or a collections or your glamorous friends and while away a couple hours. It is a Chicago must if you love fine dining and aren't stodgy. Just do it -- you won't regret it.
(5)Melissa W.
Eating at Moto is like taking a turn in a room in Willie Wonka's factory, a room in which Wonka's apprentice chef fell in love with the everlasting gob stopper and continues to fetishize it into as many varieties as possible. Once you hit your second course, I think you'll know what I'm saying: Each and every bite seems to live and evolve inside your mouth, not to mention grows in your stomach, for an almost uncomfortable, though thrilling, length of time. I could swear I only ate about nine legos worth (yes, at Moto, food is all about play, and anything, even eggs, can take the shape of your favorite childhood toys) of food, yet my brain and stomach were tricked by some gob stopper magic. Someone ought to get to the bottom of it, though I doubt it will be me (I'm generally too busy stuffing myself with bucket loads of more pedestrian fare). Let me note as an aside, but one interesting to those who like to balance their checkbooks, that I am not used to paying more than $100, and certainly not more than $300, for a meal for two. Having said that, you cannot possibly enjoy Moto thoroughly (and you must!) unless you forget about the price tag. While at some restaurants, you might have to literally hold your nose to do so, at Moto you can more easily be seduced by the incredible gadgetry of the food if nothing else. Yet I still remember how much it cost, and the ping pong game in my head goes on ... 3 or 4 stars, 3 or 4 stars, the memorable price tag being the only factor tugging me toward the 3. The ping pong game is now over, my head is fine, if wobbly, and I'm going for 4 stars because of the tremendously sweet service in such a potentially intimidatingly mod place, the exquisite presentation of the food matched with a different wine for every course, and the most appealing way I've ever seen my name in print (on an edible menu, of course). I had the smallest meal (but, I'm told, with the largest servings) with, as I mentioned, the wine pairings. Though I'd like to expand my Moto dish repertoire, I think this is a sensible way to go, at least at first, because, as I heard from those seated next to me, it's a long, long road once you start reaching course seven, eight, nine, and beyond. Even if you aren't attuned to or try to dismiss the gob stopper magic at first, it catches up with you, so eat slowwwly and enjoy, even if you can afford to eat here every week. Moto food is art, and, overall, I think would make a seriously sophisticated Willie Wonka very proud.
(4)J K.
We did the 20 course menu at Moto on Saturday night, and it was a great experience. Moto surpassed my expectations in two ways: first, despite the large number of courses, the portions were not tiny, but of a good size. Second, I was expecting that the dishes might be flashy, but only average in taste, but most of them were absolutely delicious. The most ingenious and tasty dishes were the cigar, the coffee, and the bomb. The only drawback was that the service was not quite as polished as I would expect for the price, and the bathroom was a bit shabby. But overall it was a great choice for a special occasion.
(5)Megan N.
My sister took me here for my 21st birthday and while the overall experience was fun and interesting, Moto isn't really that great of a restaurant. We were really excited by the presentation of all the different dishes, but if you're looking for actual tasty food, don't go here. I'm glad I went, and if you want to try Moto, you're probably gonna do it regardless. Just don't expect your tummy to be satisfied.
(2)Jeff H.
My girlfriend and I went on a Friday night and were both really excited. I left feeling just a little disappointed overall. We did the 10 course tasting. The courses varied from outstanding to so-so. I'm not a full fledged foodie so things like sweetbreads were a little intimidating, but it was fun to push the boundaries of my comfort zone a bit. I hope we just got the wait staff on a bad night. This was probably the biggest reason for the 3 stars. I was really hoping that they would kind of get us excited for each course. It seemed very utilitarian. That was kind of a downer. They may also want to work on their banter a bit. I asked why quail was part of the Baseball course (everything else seemed baseball related) and was told maybe it was because of the pigeons. While a little funny, I'm not interested in visualizing eating a pigeon. A few courses like the Mahi Mahi were just outstanding. Other elements we really interesting groupings of flavors but seemed more interested with being unique rather than hitting a homerun with the food itself. For the price my expectations really go up on everything as I'm usually very amicable with going out to eat. The food (mostly), the wine, and the decor were that of a $200.00 per person experience. The rest of the meal was a little short of that mark.
(3)Anthony A.
Lives up to the hype, a fantastic playfulness of food. To see 20 plus courses on a menu in front of you, and still not have an idea of what each course will be is an amazing experience.
(4)Nana H.
I was very excited about coming here for a friendship celebration last night. We had a big table, and we were able to book us the night before and confirm the morning of. We all had the 10 course, ( which i would recommend over the 5 and the GTM) and I had one variation since I do not eat pork products. Everything we had was delicious, and thoughtful. I especially enjoyed the liquid salad, Quail Mac and Cheese, My substituted scallop dish, the Duck roadkill, and Grapefruit . I think that Moto caters to a crowd of people, who aren't necessarily looking for "new" or "tasty" food but for people who are looking for "the future" food ? and even, ironic food. It is post-modern! (Ahem, Homer Simpson on the edible men card) Moto would understand terms like ROFLCOPTER and be able to serve it. For those who came and didnt enjoy, they were perhaps misled into thinking moto is ALL about the food ( although I do think the food is outstanding, there are many more elements involved) Those who had the 5 course, i don't think they can fully understand what the idea behind the meal is (also 5 is probably not enough food) We had 10 and left happy and full. We also had every single one of their signature cocktails, and I will say my favorite is the lemon drop. Which had the most magical orb inside of it, it is a must try. Service was fantastic, doors to the bathroom opened magically, napkins folded and placed by what seemed like ghosts. All the servers are actually chefs, who are rotated every 6 months from the kitchen to service, so they actually know what they are talking about. Just to test them I would suggest dropping your napkins a few times and asking plenty of questions, as we did. I love that when we asked for a tour, our server said," We usually would but Chef is messing around with a LASER down there." LASERS!! & I would gleefully go back, for the GTM if i had the 5-6 hours needed.
(5)Shana S.
My husband and I ate at Moto a couple of nights ago, when we took a short vacation to Chicago. We had really high expectations. We got the 10-course tasting, because the Grand Tasting Menu with 20 courses would make our bellies too full. We were there between 3 and 4 hours for the 10-course tasting, so the GTM would have been too much for us both. Menu: 1 SNOW man (tuna ceviche with lime foam snowman) 2 WHITE steel (scallop with roe and grapefruit done in the style of a gin & tonic) 3 MAITAKE & pork (pork belly, sautéed mushrooms, and mushroom foam) 4 QUAIL with cracker jack (quail fried in peanut oil with cherry and coke reductions w/ popcorn powder) 5 RABBIT maki (rabbit and brussel sprout wrapped up to look like a California roll) 6 REUBEN lasagna (braised beef, cabbage and swiss cheese) 7 MEXICAN cannoli (duck wrapped in mini tortilla with mole sauce) 8 FROZEN yogurt (piped frozen yogurt with cake and mango) 9 CATMINT & pineapple (mango and pineapple and catmint marshmallow) 10 TUBER melanosporum (chocolate mousse & oregano) 1 loved it, the snowman got melted with some tequila mixture 2 my favorite dish of the night 3 pork was very tasty and mushrooms were so good including the mushroom foam which was shaped into a mushroom 4 one of my least favorites; there was too much quail, I didn't like how it was fried but the popcorn powder and reductions were very good, pineapple flavored cracker jack prize was nice too 5 rabbit maki was good 6 rich dish but good; dill chip was a little overpowering 7 was alright 8 first sweet dish, very tasty, yogurt was good and fruits were very good 9 fruit was good but catmint marshmallow was not something I finished, kind of an off taste for me 10 combo of dirt-looking shaved chocolate with oregano was very interesting, would have eaten more if it wasn't the last course with my stomach stuffed Not included above: spinach-artichoke style menu which was edible (the menu was baked onto a pita chip) and a Styrofoam peanut-looking thing which was frozen and served in a flask with orange soda to finish our meal. Overall, the highlights for me were towards the beginning of the night. I ordered a cocktail called the picnic which had vodka, watermelon, Red Bull, etc... I realized that I really dislike the taste of Red Bull, so that didn't work for me, but my own fault. My husband loved that the cocktail and some of the other meal components were served in laboratory glassware (read: flasks & beakers). It was a very interesting experience even though I didn't love everything that I ate. Some of the things I loved, my husband didn't like as well, but the quail was one of his favorite things of the night and it was my least favorite, so it was just a matter of personal preference. It was pricey, but we knew we were getting an experience when we went, so were happy with the result. It's the kind of thing we'll do once and never again but are glad we got to do it.
(4)Rich L.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I love the food - it is tasty, gourmet and FUN! A real dining experience. And the wait staff is excellent. Very personable and friendly.
(5)chris w.
5 star food experience. 2 star restaurant experience= 3 star rating. Food & mocktails were nearly flawless in their engineering, flavor and creativity (had the 10 course meal with mocktail pairings). but very disappointed in the overall dining experience. I have not read the other reviews but i would not come back, because the dining experience was so disappointing. For $350, i want the full experience and don't want to be relegated to the basement "lab" with minimal service and a disappointing ambience. (read: request upstairs seating!) . Went here for a saturday night valentine day meal with my wife. this was our first time at moto. Had been to otom a couple of times and had been saving moto for a special occasion. Made reservations 3 weeks in advance. Woman told us we would have the option of the fixed price or the standard "a la carte" menu. Not true. We were undecided on how committed we were to the fixed price 10/20 course experience and I'm unsure if we would have gone if we would have known the $350 fixed price prior to going. According to our waiter, weekends are always fixed price. Would have been nice to know prior to going. So that was frustration number one. When we get there they take us to the recently remodeled basement, aka "the lab". Nice place for a group dinner party or food class, but definitely not the place I would have chosen for a high end dining experience. Surrounded by beakers and a giant element table with a 11th grade science lab table in the middle for "food experiments", the place had a ton of potential to be "fun", but the experience itself did not play off the lab theme with the exception of the the root beer liquid nitrogen beverage which came in a beaker. As a result, we were left with tables and carpet that looked like they were bought on the cheap and did not match the rest of the modern or theme-specific decorum. Plus with limited seating and an old, stuffy pretentious dark suit to a saturday night dinner wearing crowd with their sunless wives, this was not a fun, festive, unique, or memorable dining experience. Throw in two servers who had an added value of 0 with the exception of having memorized the complicated explanations of the 10 courses. No conversation, jokes, repartee, personality, or comments about the food or experience. nothing! we were there for 3 hours! They just delivered food and were derelict in their drink duties. I routinely have better service at the take-out burrito place in pilsen. seriously. maybe the mandatory 18% gratuity has something to do with it. Perverse incentives anyone? Would rather have had monkeys deliver the food. For mocktail drinkers, two of the three drinks the mixologist created were phenomenal. (1) Beet juice, soda and cocoa powder and (2) freshly squeezed OJ and bitters. LOVING IT. thank you mr magoo :).
(3)Rico T.
The owner of this place is not only very cool, but also very down to earth. His wife is also, completely unexpected. Everything good has already been said about Moto. For those few that think the food is all show, may I suggest watching the food channel's show IRON CHEF. Homero Cantu handed a world renowned chef's @SS to him on a platter! (Chef Morimoto) The laser is pretty over the top, but c'mon...IT'S TOTALLY COOL TO SEE.
(5)Brandi S.
After literally eating our menus at Moto (parmesan flat bread), we weren't sure exactly what we were getting into with the ten course-tasting menu and a kitchen that uses lasers and liquid nitrogen in their cooking. The First course had us eating something similar to dry ice and we all looked like dragons breathing steam. The dinner continued with more ultra contrived dishes---deconstructed macaroni and cheese, a conceptual pulled pork sandwich with an edible briquette (a freeze dried substance dyed with squid ink), dessert nachos (candied tortilla chips, shredded mango, chocolate that looked like ground beef). The dishes were starting to feel more gimmicky rather than innovative. We weren't sure if it was standard practice at Moto, but servers tended to raise their voices a few octaves higher when describing the molecular gastronomy inspired courses. The circus like experience of Moto was heightened on our kitchen tour where we had to wear goggles to protect our eyes from... lasers? The red disco light in the kitchen? We weren't sure and at this point and the meal was becoming laughable, which at such high prices, isn't a good thing.
(2)Olga L.
This place totally rocks! You really have to have an open mind when you come here because there are some really unusual things that get put on a plate for you to eat. Hubby and I usually like to "Hop" from place to place and do drinks and apps but decided to check this place out when they told us about their 5 course menu. I started out with a Chorizo Margarita - like in Chorizo sausage! Dude! I was either going to be totally grossed out or totally dig on it and it was the smoothest margarita I think I ever had. Hubby had some concoction with absinthe that he loved... We started out with our menus that were on some cracker thing -- it was really yummy and I actually wanted to ask for another menu to eat but thought they'd talk about me if I did! My favorite courses were the Faux-jitas that even had guac ice cream. Sounds icky but the whole thing definitely worked! All the presentations were amazing and the food was delicious. The servers were extremely attentive and Hubby and I will definitely be back. We're just trying to decide to to the full monty 20 course or 10 course next time we go... It is expensive but very worth the trip if you want something yummy and unusual.
(5)Brian R.
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.
(2)Dante M.
I went in again to Moto and I have to upgrade my rating. Although Moto is still more of an "experience" than dining on exquisite cuisine. It still is worthy of 4 starts. The courses are extremely well thought out and unique. Although allot enough time if you do the full tasting main with wine pairing. The full menu took us over 4 hours to complete. But was a great time.
(4)Rose O.
A friend was visiting from Boston and she had made reservations to this place so I accompanied her. We tried the 17-course GTM - what I call the gastronomical tasting menu! It was delicious and very interesting in presentation! A little on the pricey side ($175) but should be tried at least once in your life! The edible menu was printed on edible ink and paper and glued on a rice cracker. A little salty but an interesting presentation. Probably my favorite from all the courses was what they called Roadkill - I loved the presentation of the meat which represented, well you know what it represented ;) and the sauces they used: tasty yellow melon sauce spread in dashes as the road and a tasty sweet red sauce splattered on the plate! The plus of the experience is we met a lovely couple who was dining next to us and celebrating a birthday! Shouts to Rob and Rose (yes, same name as me)!
(4)serena l.
Oh goodness - you have to try this place! It is almost too cool for itself...think edible packaging peanuts, sesame oil powder that turns liquid when it touches your mouth, cheese broth, and smoking coffee flavored biscotti dipped in liquid nitrogen. But even better...everything tastes good too. I live in SF, but I had been dreaming of hitting up Moto for about 2 years now, after reading a profile of Homaro Cantu in a magazine. Weird science indeed. I'm so glad that I finally had a chance to try it a few weeks ago, when I was in Chicago for business. I had been a little apprehensive about the alleged 3 hour dining experience (we ordered the 5-course, and my friends who had previously dined at Moto advised us to beware of the long meal) - but it wasn't bad at all. In fact, I'd venture to say that they whisked the food away from us right as we ate the last bite - almost too quickly in some instances. I did see the waitstaff peeking out from behind a door, watching everyone eat so they could time things correctly. I believe they adjust the amount of food based on the # of courses you taste - so you just get smaller portions for the 5 hour GTM. Highlights include the aforementioned things, particularly the last course of coffee and biscotti. The "coffee" was liquid flavored as biscotti with a touch of hazelnut, and the "biscotti" was the coffee flavored, liquid nitrogen dipped concoction. There was a cute little packaging peanut hanging out in the corner of the dish - of the texture you'd expect from a real Styrofoam packaging peanut, but made of vanilla. Super cool. Anyway, try this place. You won't be disappointed. One downside - the price. Superbly pricey...but then again, not as expensive as Alinea or Trotter's...
(4)Susan L.
Exquisite dinner and service that can be summed up in 2 words: Small Chubby
(5)Belle M.
My boyfriend and I braved through the rain and tornado warnings so we can check out Moto and we were not dissappointed. This was our first taste of of molecular gastronomy. We both ordered the 5 course tasting menu. The highlights included the crispy hash browns and beef; de-constructed steak and eggs; biscotti and coffee; coconut and rum. Each dish came to life by the the unique plating--for instance the steak and eggs were placed in this metal half box with the basil on the ends of the fork and knife. The biscotti was in dry ice so when you dipped it in coffee it disintegrated. Also, we had our first edible menu-- made out of cracker with my name at the bottom. By the way, you can bring your own wine, corkage is $25. Service was amazing--the staff was knowledgeable and they were attentive. I've been to many fine dining establishment and Moto has my vote for the best service. Dining at Moto was an amazing experience.
(5)Jennifer L.
I've been dying to try Moto since it opened in all its slick glory several years ago. We finally went for my birthday and it did not disappoint. We opted for the twenty course GTM and accompanying wine flight. My favorites: Beet cake Gin & Tonic fizz Langostine in broth Jalapeno gelato Fruit & Pasta Flapjakes prepared tableside Carrot Cake planet Doughnut soup Chili-cheese nachos My least favorite was probably the miso & grilled tuna, but even that was alright. The service was flawless. The entire staff is dressed in black suits, and everyone trades off with busing, serving, and explaining the courses. The GTM includes a brief kitchen tour, which was eh...I could have skipped that. Also, we felt that the GTM was just a few courses too many. 15-17 would have been plenty, whereas 20 was just painful. All in all, though, it was a great evening!
(5)Joe L.
On December 10th, at 9:10pm, Matt Skonicki and I walked into Moto. Moto is in the meat packing district of Chicago, and is located at 924 Fulton Market. Moto is small. After having our coats checked we were ushered into the dining room. Feeling much like a gay couple, we were seated at a small table. The water was served from individual stoppered glass bottles. The menus were brought. There was a pleasent din in the restraunt at this time. Matt and I pretty much knew we were going to have what is known as the GTM, or Grand Tour Moto. An 18 course, $165 dollar meal. The menu is edible. We ate the with much intrigue. We ordered a bottle of white wine for the meal, a hasty little 2005 vintage that was quite good. Then the courses started. -DUE TO A 5000 WORD LIMIT, I HAVE OMITTED THE COURSE BY COURSE REVIEW. PM ME FOR IT- The meal was $500 all together. There was no one left in the restraunt when Matt and I left at 1:30am. My final score: 4 stars out of 5. The sense of taste, like all other senses, needs to rest sometimes. Moto hammered it out over all 18 courses with intense flavors. One or two courses with a more smooth and light flavor would have been great, and added just that last half a star. Moto also serves 5 and 10 course meals. I suggest to any to try this place, it's an adventure in fine dining. My final thought: "There's something to be said about a restaurant where every bite puts a smile on your face." Matt's Quote of the Night: "I hope the last course is a big fucking piece of chocolate cake."
(4)Dixie C.
This was truly a dining experience. We thought to come here as we were in Chicago during our anniversary and were celebrating some other events as well. It was a little strange since the location seems to be near a warehouse district (I'm not from Chicago so I don't know for sure) but this industrial setting seems to fit right in with what the restaurant is trying to create. We didn't get the GTM menu because we had already done some celebrating and probably couldn't drink that much wine or even eat that much food. We ordered the ten course menu instead. Each dish was excellent, playing with textures and different ways to deliver flavors to your mouth. My only complaint is the wine service as basically each time they poured a wine for you, they showed the bottle, but then had nothing else to say. Stil, it was an altogether enjoyable evening and fun as well.
(5)The Jedi Foodi E.
Grant Achatz has nothing to worry about. On a recent visit to The Windy City, I made reservations at Homaru Cantu and Ben Roche's temple of "culinary terrorism", Moto. Now, normally I would rate a restaurant based on its own merits and not tabulate nor base my star rating on a comparison to its competitor. If you ask the powers that be at Moto, they would not say they are rivals to Alinea. But, with a menu and setup so similar, comparisons just cannot be avoided. The evening my friend Tod and I arrived for our 5:30 Saturday reservation, Chef Homaru and Chef Ben were not in the kitchen. Even Chris Jones and Richard Farina were absent as they were off filming episodes of TOP CHEF. The restaurant with its sleek, yet sterile minimalist dining room adorned with earth-toned walls, crisp white linens and almond-colored banquettes, had a disconcerting clinical vibe akin to that of hospital wing..in the "Psych" ward. Except, in this case, the wait staff, or "stewards" wear black from head-to-toe instead of the traditional light blue. Upon being seated, we were pleasantly surprised with two complimentary flutes of champagne..a welcome start to what would be a journey of "twists and turns". The goal of Moto is this..to keep you off-balance for the entire evening. There wasn't a moment when I felt at ease and comfortable in my seat. This was mostly due to the cordial, yet robotic service. These "Stepford" servers glide thru the room with a deliberation and regimen so stiff, that after a while, it just seems contrived and choreographed without any sincere warmth, with little human emotion at all. To their credit, there was not one misstep. For technical merit and required elements..a "10". But, for artistic interpretation and presentation..a "2". Whereas Grant Achatz is this creative genius, whose plates are spectacularly innovative, he still grounds them in classicism. The final dish is always recognizable and relatable. Chefs Homaru Cantu and Ben Roche's main objective at Moto is clearly to "mess with your head", often to the point of the crossing the line into the absurd. They clearly concentrate too much on purees and their avant-garde techniques fail quite a bit in overall execution. Our 16-course tribunal began with the standard "edible menu." On this night, it was in the incarnation of a mediocre deconstructed spring roll on rice paper and served with cilantro, minty, crispy tofu, pickled daikon and carrot and a spicy pineapple sauce. Next, was the Black and White plate divided in two with a seared diver scallop served in its shell with a tasty duo of crispy and celery root puree coupled with sautéed leeks. Its partner was an absolutely memorable olive oil poached striped bass served with the same accoutrements dyed black with squid ink. The Garbage Salad was a jumbled murky mess of pizza and romaine purees with balsamic vinegar, dehydrated romaine, Italian sausage, edible packing peanut with Italian dressing, pata negra and parmesan. The Nose-To-Tail was a clockwise tease of so-so ham, braised pork belly, crispy and spicy pig ears, tenderloin, roasted plantain puree and banana cubes. On the liquid side, Moto offers a noteworthy selection of craft beers and many affordable wines. They also have a cocktail menu as wacky as their food using top-shelf alcohol. Tod and I were impressed with Moto's carbonated grapes and almond/sherry Gazpacho with braised rabbit, more almonds and parsley. Conversely, the Bird's Nest of crispy noodles and soft-boiled quail egg fell flat, uninspired. The fried chicken flour noodles with mashed potatoes, gravy, and black truffle biscuit was no more than a cousin to the weak Garbage Plate. An interesting, yet not all flavorful offering was the infamous Trio of Cigar Tastings..three simulated cigar-looking bites..a Philly Cheesesteak, another, a Cuban sandwich, the other, a Monte Cristo..all rolled in braised collard greens and served with liquid nitrogen frozen ash made from black and white sesame seeds. Next, a venture into the woods with the Forest Foraging. Served over the length of a small tree branch were aromatic shitake and trumpet mushrooms, brusselsprout leaves and crispy mulberries. Finally, came a plate that would qualify as a dish. The Beef Bourguignon of tender braised short ribs served with, of course, more cauliflower puree, sautéed spinach, onion puff, and rosemary oil that was cleverly poured from the candle that was placed on our table earlier in the meal. We were hopeful this rollercoaster of a meal would rally with a flourish as desserts arrived. It started well. The Mango and Lemongrass Egg Drop Soup with spiced carrot puree and coconut milk foam was a wonderful palate cleanser. The Marshmallow Harvest three ways served with raisins, granny smith apple and shaved white truffle was intriguing but tasted misguided. The saving grace was the fuse-lit Acme Bomb, an explosion of marshmallow and graham cracker flavors. Dinner for two with wine, tax and tip was a rueful $540.
(2)Paul C.
MOTO is like a journey or an adventure. The location, atmosphere, style, service and presentation are all very different. From the dark alley-like location, to the ultra modern minimalist decor, the service staff decked out like the Secret Service, the slow pacing of the single-bite dishes, and the presentation of the food itself, the overall experience is amazing. Being diabetic, the chef(s) adapated the 10-bite presentation to my dietary needs. This was great, because it gave us the opportunity to try some of their signature molecular gastronomy dishes, like the Cuban Cigar, the Astronaut, 40MHZ, Yellow Snow and the Neroli float. Each was excellent, with tastes that exploded in your mouth and changed as they lingered. We had a great time, and highly recommend it. Since each dish looks exactly like what it is named for, it may not be for everyone, but I found it to be fun and tasty.
(5)Noah D.
This was one of my top three meals ever. Having been to Alinea, all menus at Next, The French Laundry, amongst others, that is saying a lot. From start to finish the meal was impeccable. It started off with a tasting of the tasting menu - literally a mini tasting of each course to come...genius, and delicious! From there, every course came out completely different in presentation, technique and taste, and every single course was absolutely delicious...and every diner at the table agreed! I have never had a meal where each course was just spot on like that and I LOVED it! I could go on and on about each dish, but don't want to ruin the surprise for anyone...just go, and enjoy! I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with Chef Farina earlier in the day, and seeing the workings of the kitchen and meeting the staff was amazing. All of them were so gracious, and so kind. If I could relive the experience and eat the meal again today I would. Go check it out!!!
(5)Steven M.
I really struggled with how to rate Moto. Is it better than the average restaurant? Yes, absolutely. Then why the meager two star rating you ask? Because, if Moto is going to price themselves up there with the varsity players then that's who they're going to be judged against. In the category of $500+ (for two people) dinner establishments in Chicago, in my opinion there is Alinea as the winner lapping the field, and a second echelon containing places such as Les Nomades and Trotter's. I didn't feel that Moto came even close to competing with any of them, and should not be mentioned in the same breath. It's too bad, I had been eagerly anticipating eating at Moto for some time, mainly due to the reviews, the reputation and the pedigree of the team. I can't tell if they once were a great restaurant that just lost their way, or an over-hyped place that was never there in the first place....needless to say it was spectacularly disappointing. For us, the service was very middling. We were seated immediately which was nice and water was brought to the table right away, but then we sat there for almost 20 minutes before the waiter came back to take our order. Worse, we we're never asked if we would like to have a drink while we waited. Throughout the dinner the waitstaff came across as very green. For a Saturday night, I would have expected the "A" team, but though they were attentive and VERY friendly, they did not seem to be very knowledgeable and didn't really seem to have the confidence and polish to take command of the meal. In top places, usually you see very seasoned, confident and skilled servers who act as your guide through your dining experience. Not so much here. I wonder if they're having high turnover or if they are cutting costs (it wasn't nearly full on a Saturday night at 8PM!). I didn't see anyone on the floor that seemed to be over the age of 25 so there's certainly a leadership gap there. We did the 10 course menu which was plenty of food and matched it with the wine pairing. Have to say that the wines were fine and plentiful but nothing really stood out as memorable, let alone transcendent. The "sommelier" was very nice but wasn't very confident. polished or informative. Maybe we caught them on restaurant internship night... The ambiance was fine, very modern/contemporary, though it can get a little loud. However, by 9:30 it started slowing down and wasn't too bad. As for the food, well, as the two star rating attests: Meh, I've experienced better. Some interesting combinations and definitely some brave pairings. But it just didn't tickle me where I itch if you know what I mean. More troubling, a couple of offerings were just poor. The breakfast course came out with two "tater tots" that were WAY over salted and just nasty. The second one went uneaten on both my and my GF's plates. A couple other courses just seemed to have a jumble of flavors that didn't make the sum greater than the component parts. Over half the dishes were too liberally salted. The only standout was the cigar which was clever and delicious. But by the end, we were rather bored with the tedium of it all, and rather than basking in the afterglow of a wonderful meal, we settled the tab and got the hell out. We won't be going back. If you have been to any of the restaurants I mentioned before (Alinea, Trotters, Les Nomandes), please trust me and don't bother with Moto, you will experience epic disappointment. If you haven't been to any of them, a trip to Moto will make you love them even more when you do go, or even better, save yourself the hassle and the moolah and go to one of them instead.
(2)Jennifer A.
Love. :)
(5)amanda g.
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.
(4)Jessica M.
Moto is an EXPERIENCE. The food is art. It tests boundaries. This is not comfort food (although they do spin offs of some common comfort foods, like BBQ beans). Actually, some of the dishes really were un-comforting to me, but I think that is all part of the experience. You eat and pay close attention to the flavors, the contrasts, the creativity and the irony. My husband took me here for my birthday. I have always wanted to try gastronomic cooking and of course after seeing Homaro Cantu on Iron Chef, I really wanted to try Moto. We were not disappointed. There were two dishes that I did not like (one that I could not eat and gave to my husband), but, a.) that's what you get when you do a preset menu and b.) it may not have suited my tastes, but it certainly entertained me. We had the 10 course tasting which equals about 2.5 hours of your time. We were told that a 20 course tasting can last for 4.5 hours. We did not have the wine paring because that was an extra $70 per person and I probably would have been drunk and too full. 10 courses was PLENTY for me! By the 6th course, I was totally full. The 20 course looked interesting, but I have no idea how I would have made it through that one. I wish I would have worn a dress because my pants got so tight around my stomach! From what it looked like to me, the 20 course eaters got the same food that the 10 course people did, but with 10 additional courses. I'm pretty sure our menu was inspired by Warner Bros. cartoons from the good 'ol days. Our menu, printed and pasted on a corn chip, tasted amazing as did the smooth guacamole and salsa. That was actually some of the best tasting salsa I have ever had. Our first course blew my mind! It was a crab cake made to look like a slice of breakfast sausage served with a pina colada and passion fruit, sunny-side-up "egg". The egg white had very similar texture to a cooked egg white, but tasted like coconut. And the egg yolk, again, looked exactly like an over easy egg yolk, tasted like passion fruit. The yolk acted EXACTLY like a real egg yolk. You poked it with a fork and the filling comes pouring out, but leaving a slight skin around the outside. The consistency was even the same. I will remember that dish for the rest of my life! I did not really enjoy the Cuban Cigar. This was basically a Cuban sandwich made to look like a cigar, served in a stainless steel ashtray with ground sesames and some spices (I think cumin) to emulate ashes. It was a little too limp for me (I would have liked some contrast in textures) and I thought it was a little heavy on the cumin (or whatever the spice was). My husband liked it, though. The "road kill on a plate" was clever. I smiled. However, I was not a total lover of the duck confit that it consisted of. This was the second course in which we had a confit of fowl and a.) I didn't really want to try another one, b.) it was almost a pureed type of meat texture, which I was not so into and c.) it was a bit over salted for me. This was our 7th course and I was already beyond the threshold of being full, so I wasn't really hungry enough to devour the duck confit. So I avoided it. But I did eat the sauces (red beet sauce to represent blood was so good). The BBQ brisket was fantastic and it was served with a side of cole slaw ice cream. It looked exactly like cole slaw actually. But of course it was frozen shards of tri colored, cabbage creaminess. I tried eating the cole slaw with a bit of the brisket, but that was just totally weird! Warm meat with ice cream! Well, I guess the cole slaw ice cream is a love it or hate it type of thing. For my husband and I, we hated it! But that's okay, because I am happy to know that I have tried cole slaw ice cream! Okay, so my favorite dessert item: "ACME S'mores". It was this little, round, chocolate ball with a white wick sticking out of the top. Our server lit the wick with a tiny torch and it sparked and eventually went out and left a charred wick. You put the whole thing in your mouth and, with your mouth totally closed, smash the chocolate ball. It explodes. Cool liquid fills your mouth and after a few seconds you taste a perfect s'more! The texture is completely off, but somehow it all comes together to form a perfect s'more taste. The charred wick acts as the charred taste of a marshmallow. I even tasted the graham cracker! It was wild. Our service was impeccable. I have never had such perfect service anywhere. The atmosphere was clean, simple and welcoming. It was not stodgy at all. My husband wore nice jeans, a button down and a blazer and that was perfect. You don't have to get super dressed up to come here. They have a nice valet service, however, we took a cab. It can be pretty tough to get a cab in this area, but they will call a cab for you when you are ready to leave. In the end, our bill was $330 (for 2 10 course tastings and 2 martinis). 18% gratuity is included. Great experience. But it will be a one time deal for us.
(4)Arian A.
This place entertained me and made my belly full from beginning to end! My husband and I enjoyed the creative playfulness of the dishes as they came out between eating our own menu to drinking paella to having a chocolate bomb go off in our mouths. Definitely an experience!
(4)Abra A.
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.
(5)Rhonda O.
The 5 stars say it all. Food, science, art, entertaiment all in one.
(5)Jess H.
Dining at moto is like watching a live art show. I applaud the creative personalities behind the menu... 15 courses are offered, each one so innovative and it's presentation is just something else. My biggest regret was not taking pictures... My favorite course was "cigars", it was so cleverly done, meats and cheeses wrapped with grape leaves made to look like half smoked cigars, the cigar was dipped in some sort of red sauce to give off the appearance of a burning cigar... There are 3 cigars served in an actual ash tray, the server comes out with a mixture of seasoning that is mixed in dry ice and put in the ash tray to resemble smoke an ashes... My description is hardly doing this course justice... service is great and friendly... It is a little pricey... And it is a prefixed menu, although they are very accommodating to dietary restrictions and allergies.... It's a lot of fun...
(5)Angela K.
I had the 10 course meal with all of its wines. The servers were extremely attentive and did an awesome job explaining every dish. We had requested that we had to be done with the meal by 8:30pm and they made it work and had a cab ready for us to go. I especially liked the Cigar de Cuba and the Rueben Lasagna.
(4)Sarah Z.
The service was impeccible and the atmosphere was very modern and sophisticated. The menu is served on a plate which after you read- you can eat! We had the 5 course and everything was good, except while I thought the "ceasar salad" soup was okay, I didn't care for the "pizza soup". The "eggs and hash" course was served on a battleship type game board- and the fourth course is a strawberry sorbet served with shortbread and fruit- except it is all constructed as to look like a Chicago hotdog. Quite clever! The flavors fell short for me, there was a fish course with beans that was delicious, but the rest of it was just okay. I am not dying to go back, but I'm definitely glad I went. I hate to give this place only 3 stars because the service was absolutely perfect- but the food just wasn't that amazing.
(3)shik s.
This place was phenomenal... I did the 5 course tasting menu and was stuffed by the end (in a good way). Every dish is unique, especially those in the earlier courses. The cucumber reduction is the perfect start to the meal (besides consuming the filo dough menu!) and sets the tone for the rest of the dining experience. We dropped some serious coinage $700 for 5 people... but it was worth it. If you love adventurous eating this is definitely a place to try...
(5)Hello T.
Amazing! The ingenuity, science, and creativity needed to procure a meal like this is just amazing! Each course was incredible, with it's sleek presentation and fun,witty combinations, making old flavor combinations come to new life once again. Expensive, yes, but this is not dinner, this is a dining experience you may never forget. Just bring others who will appreciate it(and those you can converse with for 4 hours).
(5)Maura S.
The stuffy atmosphere doesn't make up for the meh quality of the food. i went here years ago and had a way better experience. the waiters took away from the food with their snooty attitude. dude, i mean i wouldn't be at the restaurant if i couldn't afford the food. the chefs seem to be a big fan of lemon and while i love lemon on just about everything, this went a bit overboard. i'm also a little not excited about the time between courses. i get that you are trying to be dramatic but i basically haven't eaten all day since i knew i was coming here, so i'm starving at this point. i will say the food started off strong and ended pretty badly - at this point, a waiter made fun of me for not caring for the food. i'm sorry, isn't that your problem that the food is inadequate and i had to come home and make a sandwich? also, beware, when it came time to tip the lovely gentleman who made fun of me, i didn't have a choice but to give them 18% tip. yup - it was built into the bill for just my husband and I. overall, i honestly would have rather eaten pizza. i think moto has decreased in value over the years. i wouldn't go here again, not for $400+
(2)Margie L.
Hate to bring this place down with reviews, but... Here's the thing. I had fun. My friends? maybe not so much. We decided to go full hog and get the 20 course GTM (grande taste moto). Our server said it would take 3-4 hours. Um, no. It took 5 hours. The servers were nice and know the menu well (they've all trained as chefs there as well) but they aren't fast to get a drink (unless you're ordering the wine pairings; half of us did). My recommendation? Go for the 10 course menu. You'll still get most of the cool dishes (we realized there were a bunch of duplicates in the menu but the descriptions made the dishes sound radically different).
(3)Steven B.
Moto is hands-down the best restaurant I have ever eaten at. It's pricey ($200+ a head), but not as expensive as Alinea... and a superior experience. I've been fortunate enough to dine here, WD-50 in New York, and at Alinea.. and Moto wins-out without hesitation. The room is nice (maybe simpler than others), the service is fantastic, and the food is amazing. Maybe the science geek in me appreciates this more than others... but you walk away (3+hrs later) amazed. We ate things frozen in liquid nitrogen, printed works of art, even cooked than liquefied doughnuts... every single item was not only interesting, but delicious. THAT's where Moto differs amongst it's high-priced peers... you get the amazing impact... and in the end, you're (reasonably) full, and everything TASTED fantastic. The things they do and how good they taste stays with you... we're still talking about Moto, and it's been 8mos. You'll probably go once in your life... but if there's a place in Chicago for an amazing highly memorable dinner.. this is it.
(5)Sandra R.
Had the 10 course Valentine's dinner here last night with my fiance. For the price point, I wasn't impressed. I expected the the food to be phenomenal. Some of the courses fell short. The first course was fine, it was a tortilla chip with dip. The tortilla chip also happened to be the menu. The second course was a breakfast course with a crab cake and an "egg". The crab cake was delicious but the item that looked like an egg was disgusting. I would have preferred a real egg, instead I got a passion fruit and coconut jelly made to look like egg. The cocktail shrimp was just ok. It came with snow which was supposed to be the cocktail sauce, but it solidified into a mass at the bottom of the container. The sweet potato and pork course was good, although the sweet potatoes were a bit too salty. The french onion soup was clever (instead of french bread over the soup they gave you a Moto Funyun) and was also good. The quail course was gross. The piece of quail that I got was basically all skin and it was a bit rubbery. The short rib was the best dish out of the bunch, I wish it had been my only entree. It was perfectly cooked and spiced. Next came 3 dessert courses which were all mediocre. The first was a dish made to resemble cereal, the kind with corn flakes and strawberries. It was fun because it came out with dry ice, but it wasn't what I would typically crave for dessert. There was also a chocolate and macaroon cookie concoction made to look like a burger, again it was just ok. Last came a heart shaped box made of lychee sorbet, clever but not that good. I prefer really tasty food over presentation.
(3)Matt B.
heres the thing: it's real good food, prepared really extravagantly, and exquisite service, but i would not say that it's worth what they're charging.
(3)K S.
I have been here multiple times and love this place. For high end dining, and the total experience, I go to moto. I like this place MORE THAN Alinea. I feel the food tastes great, while the experience is unique, and the flavors are distinctive, different, and how their experiened is great. Think liquid salad, and u can actually taste the different flavors in the liquid that make up a salad. Or a cuban cigar, that you can eat. Or frozen pancakes. One of the favorite dishes is truffled mac and cheese with i think it was duck, but no longer have that dish(seasonal item and changing menus) This place is great, and i've been here enough that they know me. I've gotten the grand tour with tastings several times and last time i got the 10 course(but they gave me many items from the GTM, guess its good when they remember you). Highly recommended. Oh yea, i love how i can go here in jeans and just a nice shirt and its alright. I don't feel like i'm confined or have to be all snobby.
(5)Mark M.
A once in a lifetime meal, definitely in the top 5 I've had so far. My wife and I opted for the wine service which enhanced the flavors of the courses. Go there hungry and do the whole experience. In particular enjoyed the cuban cigar, the cherry bomb/ banana split, the faux cereal, and the mashed potatoes. Not much else to say that hasn't been said. The staff were awesome. Enjoyed it!
(5)Ellen R.
Utterly fabulous! I went there on November 14th 2006 for dinner with the man. Experimental, yes. Interesting, yes. Well done? Definitely! I usually hesitate when it comes to the experimental, post-modern, trendy eateries here but this was a worth-while time and monetary investment. It's experimental without being over the top. And, unlike other uber trendy modern places with lackluster white walls and not much of anything else this place pulls off the minimalist decor in perfect style. It's a perfect accompaniment to their cuisine. Yes, it's minimalist complete with white walls and all but at least they add flair to it from the bamboo placemats to the touch of greens and neutrals on the walls. And let's face it, for them it just works I couldn't imagine it being done any other way. The service is unbelievable. At first it was a bit disconcerting, the staff appeared to be a bunch of 21-25 year olds, hardly what one would expect from a 5-star restaurant. After discovering they are all trained chefs or currently in training and after listening to their renditions of the individual plates, the wine lists, etc I was impressed. What a bold, daring move to hire the young ones in training to staff the restaurant. And being a resident in training myself I can really appreciate this. I think it's a great move and they seem to have a passion for what they do, combined with a desire to learn more both from their peers as well as from their customers. The food was out of this world. I took advantage of the 10 course with the wine pairing. The wine portions were very generous, perhaps even too generous for me but very good. The food was outstanding, flavorful, exciting and filled with different textures that rolled off the palate beautifully. This chef has true vision as well as the ability to produce a pleasing product for his customers. Unlike other modern mediocre high priced places Moto gives you the aesthetic while still delivering on flavor. The presentation is very pleasing and dramatic as well. I will go back there again and again and again...
(5)AJ M.
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.
(5)Julie C.
This may have been the best molecular gastronomy food I've ever eaten, but the excessively long wait in between courses made for a four hour dinner (and that's without wine pairings). Each course had a balanced amount of known and unknown techniques and ingredients which made the meal both tasty and exciting. If only the pace had been picked up a notch this would've been by far my best dinner ever in Chicago. I would still highly suggest Moto to anyone thats up for something different.
(4)Charlie T.
Moto is one restaurant in the Chicago dining scene, correction: global dining scene, that is so unique you'll remember it and talk it about it for years to come. As with every other find-dining establishment, the service is outstanding, attentive but not intrusive, and the presentation is sophisticated. I think the food is kind of hit or near-miss depending on your palate. We ordered the 5-course menu with wine pairings (the 10 and GTM menus were just too much food for the evening). While the ceasar salad / pizza soup tasted much like a salad or pizza, the liquid texture did not appeal to me. It made me think about the kind of food astronauts must have to eat when they are zero gravity. For me, this was a near-miss. But highlights of the evening included: 1. Tuna sashimi prepared in liquid nitrogen with a spoon shaped biscuit. This bonus course was so tasty. The contrasting textures of the lightly chilled tuna melting in your mouth against the crumbly bits of biscuit just worked. 2. Steak and eggs deconstructed. Fascinating presentation on metal plates with aromatic fork and knife. Tasted great. 3. For the sweet tooth in you, the biscotti and coffee and coconut and rum desserts were terrific. The wine pairings were fabulous. The flavors in each course are deconstructed and reconstructed in such inventive ways that I strongly recommend adding on the wine pairings if you can - the wines complement the flavors of the dishes exceptionally well.
(5)Kate S.
Really creative, interesting dishes. I got the vegetarian tasting, which was delicious. I think my favorite dish was the buffalo cauliflower. The drink tasting is fabulous, though perhaps excessive. We each got 16 drinks over about 2 hours. Both my husband and I had one dish that we didn't like (not the same one though), and I found they overfed us. I was so uninterested in the four or five desserts we got! Other than that, though, really good and a lot of fun.
(4)Jane G.
If you live in Chicago, you'd better experience Moto at least once.
(5)Sean F.
My wife took me here for my birthday, and we both had the GTM with the wine pairings. Yeah, it's pricey. Yeah, not everything works perfectly. But even the failures (if they can be called that, more rightly they are "not smashing successes) are laudable for the endeavor. And the successes are worth everything you pay. The wine pairings went very well with the food (even the beer pairing, which I never drink otherwise). If you give yourself over to the meal, and allow yourself to play in Cantu's sandbox, you will be satisfied at the end of the night.
(5)Nadine L.
This review is from a dining experience I had here last year. To be simple and to the point, if you like great service and unique CRAZY FLAVORFUL food then this is the place. Yes it is a bit pricey, but so are most 4-5 star restaurants in this city. My husband and I each ordered a cocktail (Lemon drop martini has a little "shot ball" in it so it is practically two drinks for the price of one) and the 4 course tasting menu. We sat next to a couple who had ordered the grand tasting and were beyond full by the end so we opted for 4 courses. After the first course came out we though were would be leaving hungry but that is sooo not the case. Our favorite dish was the "beef fajita" because the herbs in the silverware were sooo fragrant and added to the flavor of this dish way more then expected. We were also highly impressed with the play on coffee and biscotti for dessert. This place gets all 5 stars for the amazing attention to detail and your well-being by the servers as well as the beyond imaginative food that is served. We'll be back for sure! As a side note Otom is a frequent visited bar/lounge by us and has yet to disappoint us
(5)Christine J.
I'm drooling just thinking about my dinner at Moto. This place makes truly special food. They offer 10 and 20 course tasting courses. Skip breakfast and lunch and go for the 20 courses. Some of my favorite items were only offered on the 20. It's molecular gastronomy, so expect the unexpected! My favorite was the dessert hamburger, which was peanut butter in a macaroon bun with cherry ketchup and banana mustard. Some of the courses were themed, like "on the beach" and "oil spill," which was fun just hearing the waitstaff try to explain. By the way, the waitstaff are all chefs of the restaurant. They wait tables for a few months, then cook for a few months. So when they ask for feedback, they're not just being nice. They really care what you have to say.
(5)A I.
This was an experience! We had 20 course with wine pairing and it was amazing. The dinner lasted 5 hours! It's not kids friendly I think, but I'm sure kids will also enjoy the experience. My favorite is Cuban cigar.
(5)Michelle H.
This was easily one of the best dining experiences I've had in Chicago. The food was fantastic - and such an experience. I'll leave it at that - would hate to spoil the surprises. The restaurant itself was pretty quiet as it seemed everyone was as into the food as we were - people talked of little else. The wine pairing was really, really amazing. But yes. The price is super high. Think of it as purchasing a food adventure. Well worth it.
(5)Linda C.
It's been awhile since I've been to Moto, but what an experience. I was taken there for my birthday, and we indulged in the entire degustation menu. Everything was excellent. There were things on that menu I'd never heard of before, so tasting some of these things required a certain measure of daring. I would go here again and again, and try anything they prepare. This restaurant is an amazing experience all around. The atmosphere is understated elegance. Excellent wait staff and wine steward. We even met the chef. So cool.
(5)Brian B.
Wonderful dinner at Moto.The staff went out of their way to include my 14 year old son and 11 year old daughter.We did the 20 course tasting menu so it was a good job keeping everyone interested for 4.5 hours.We will be back on special occasions and the tour of the back of the house was perfect.Pricey but worth it for special occasions.
(5)Matthew M.
I was recently in Chicago for the National Restaurant show and had the chance to visit several of Chitown's amazing establishments. About 4 years ago I first heard of Chef Homaro Cantu from a very interesting article in wire magazine. After that I was fascinated with his artistry of cooking and longed to visit Moto. I finally had the chance to visit Moto this trip. On my final night in Chicago I decided to spend a solo meal with Moto. I was as giddy as a school girl. I had nothing better to do that night and opted for the Grand Tasting Menu (GTM, 20 courses) and the wine pairings (around 16) and was ready to be taken away on a journey with Chef Cantu. My First impression of the restaurant was a little off. After dining at Alinea's beautiful restaurant I thought that for a fine dining establishment that the decor and dining room was a little cramped and lame. Since I was alone I had plenty of time to meditate over the food, the wine, and the service. First off the service was less than comparable for the amount of money I was paying. 4 times my silverware was set incorrectly placing utensils in the wrong place and then the server coming back to correct himself. Next, twice they poured me incorrect wine. Also the wine service was horrible. Out of the nearly 16 wines I tasted not one of them were explained. The sommelier did pour a couple of the wines, but still did not tell why she chose to pour the wine with that course. Lastly, the food. The food was truly inventive and tasty at times, but my biggest problem was when I questioned the methods of making the food I was told they could not tell. This really bothers me. First off any one with an understanding of Molecular Gastronomy can figure these things out, but that's not the point. My point is when becoming a great chef (which chef Cantu is) half the point is spreading your knowledge and techniques to people that want to learn. I understand that there are several patent pending creations Chef works with, but knowledge is one of the best things you can give a person. If chef is worried about others taking his ideas then why cook at all? Did Auguste Escoffier horde his knowledge? No, he published Le Guide de Culinaire which is considered one of the most important cook books of our time. I am not saying to Chef to publish a cook book but be a little more open to maybe expressing his thought processes and understanding of the products he use. I also was very surprised at the lack of use of luxurious ingredients. I am not saying this makes a good meal but I also felt his products he did use were sub par I guess at the end of the day it is about making money and that's the feeling I got when I left the restaurant. By no means have I given up on Moto. I believe it is on the forefront of modern cooking and very important to the gastronomic scene. I am just hoping Chef Cantu realizes how important his cooking is and helps mold the future path of the Culinary world instead of keeping it to himself.
(2)Andy P.
5 stars don't seem like enough, I dunno... it's really something that should blow you away. We got the GTM with wine, and man was it amazing. So many tastes, so many flavors... yeah it's expensive, but you know how I rationalize it? I feel like with 20 courses and 12 wines I got like 6 meals. 6 amazingly good meals. I could go on and on. It's all such a surprise. It might not be your thing, but I highly recommend trying the whole molecular gastronomy thing... this is certainly an excellent example of it.
(5)David H.
Moto is a experience you will remember. The concept is extremely different; food that you will never have anywhere else. It is the "marriage of science and food" (quoted out of Zagat). You must be prepared to order the 18 course tasting menu in order to completely appreciate the style of foods the chef presents. I can not describe the food as must go to Moto to experience it. It is not for meat and potatoes person and you must be prepared to take a adventure in eating. They have no competition in Chicago and maybe in most of the USA. The three times I have gone I can tell you at least thirty percent of the guest are in the hospitailty/restaurant industry. The decor is very minimal and the staff all wear suits. Every staff person is cross trained in the dining room and in the kitchen. If you have seen the movie Gattaca (Uma Thurman & Ethan Hawke); then you might get a slight feel of the atmosphere and staff of Moto. I highly recommend you go with a group of friends and only with people who don't take life to seriously. Valet parking and on street parking is available. Keep in mind I give Moto a Five Star rating for Originality of the Concept of Food, Atmosphere and Quality of Service.
(5)Scott S.
We had the "gtm", the Grand Tour Moto, which is the largest of their three degustations (all they offer as alternatives are the aptly-named "five" and "ten" -- guess how many courses come in each?). The gtm is a shifting 15 to 20 course tasting spectacular; tonight it was an 18 course festival of taste, texture, temperature, and trickery. Yes, he's famous for mad inventions of his own, such as edible inks that he prints via inkjet onto edible paper that incorporate with various dishes, and repurposing other technology, such as a cook-at-the-table 400° NASA-designed-polymer steamer that offers spicing of two courses via aroma while you watch it cook a third course (without any heat source other than the 200° sauce in the bottom compartment) in front of you. More importantly, though: he's an artist. He understands the subtleties of the holistic dining experience and presents them in a way that transcends description. He's no mere technician or trickster; he's the genuine article, capable of taking you to a state of culinary bliss that I've only experienced in four or five restaurants before. In fact, during the third dish, I hit a place that I truly hadn't found in perhaps six or seven years, in terms of dining. I recognized a resonance that I hadn't felt, gastronomically, since the height of Charlie Trotter's in the 90s. So it came as no surprise when we asked "Where was Chef Cantu before here?" and one of the first answers was Trotter's. Clearly, tutelage under the master worked wonders for Cantu; you can see the touches in the waitstaff's attention to detail, in the nature of the tasting menu, and in the daring of the dishes. But Cantu takes it to the next step, truly embracing the "postmodern cuisine" phenomenon full-tilt. Edible info blurbs float like hypertext on your dishes (we had no less than three expositories in our dinner); he even had a nod to the very concept of hypertext in the name of the first dish -- "MAKI in the 4th dimension". An artichoke and macadamia nut morsel that came on one spoon as a combination of purée and sorbet, shaped like a little snowman, designed to be eaten in one swift pop into your mouth. A carbonated half-orange that you squeeze yourself over a portion of lobster sitting next to a sphere of brown butter, all resting on a small cake of lobster sorbet. Chips, in the form of a small ball of purée, and salsa, in the form of a small translucent gelée cube, on one spoon. Every dish, every single dish, had some flair or distinction to it. Pros: Brilliant cuisine, wonderful mad-scientist feeling with even more brilliant technologies. Cons: Experiments occasionally fail. But that's pretty rare indeed. Summary: True post-modern cuisine that's sensorially masterful. Priced like New York and worth every penny.
(5)Ryan A.
Wow, the smells as we enter the restaurant, not pleasant ones, I think the restaurant is in the meat packing area, not the best location for a restaurant. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, you enter into the green building to find a pleasant little restaurant (be sure not to confuse it with Otom, the sister restaurant a couple doors down). But soon after you sit down, you are presented with the wine menu (which was pretty limited for a restaurant of this caliber, but the wines we did have were pretty good), and shortly after served the food menu... yes, served...The menu is EDIBLE! And has items such as "Oil Spill" and "Roadkill of Fowl"!!! Wow, I knew we were in for a surprise, I just hope that the flavors will all be there. There are two choices on the menu, The Ten and the GTM (Grand Tour Menu). Since it will probably be the only time we would ever come here and because we will be trying another foodie dream the next day, Alinea (review coming!), we chose to go with the 20 course Grand Tour. We were warned that it will take about 4.5 hours so with our 9 pm reservation, we wouldn't be leaving until 1:30. Our thoughts were, If they were willing to feed us until 1 am, we were willing to eat. - Edible menu with summer truffle - Liquid center scallop - A scallop filled with a saffron liquid served on a tofu and vanilla puree and an orange on the side. Next to it was a yuzu soaked lemon that they suggest you squeeze onto the dish before eating. This was served with a sparkling sake that with the a bite of the dish, tasted like a creamsicle. - Kalamata & feta - Greek Salad/Liquified - Nitro Sushi Roll - Oil Spill - As unpleasant as it sounds, this dish was a pretty large chunk of tuna served in a bowl with a crispy wonton. Tableside, the waiter pours in a green liquid (to represent the ocean). Then he tells us to rock the wonton (the barrel of oil) back and forth and squid ink flows through the ocean. A fun playful dish with great flavor, but the concept of the oil spill was kinda hard to take in. - Biscuit Crème Brûlée - Ants on a log with Foie Gras - Seared buffalo hot wings - A chili braised quail with blue cheese, carrots and celery accompanied by a tiny piece of edible paper with buffalo wings printed on. We were instructed to go between eating the paper and the quail which amazingly tasted exactly alike. - Cuban Missile Crisis - Another fun dish that is "prepared" tableside. The waiters bring a metal serving "dish" with a beaker and a syringe served aside a ash tray and a "cigar". The waiter empties the syringe into the beaker creating a "faux-jito" (alcohol free mojito). The cigar is a pork wrapped and seared. Good dish, not great or spectacular. I think many of Moto's dishes weren't made to change your life flavor-wise, but more a mind-fu*k with food. Fun and playful. - Fresh from the Garden - Smoked brisket & cornbread - Roadkill of Fowl - Kinda hard to appreciate something called Roadkill, but it wasn't too bad. On the plate was a beet puree, a mushroom formed into a brain, a line of marshmallow, and a mix of puff rice and salt to toasted to look like maggots. Oh, and this was served with shredded pork. An interesting presentation that tasted pretty good. I just stayed away from the marshmallow that didn't do anything for me. - Fajita with aromatic utensils - Under the Sea - There was soooo much going on on the plate that it was impossible to get it all, but the main part was a coconut ball filled with ginger milk. We were instructed to put the whole ball in to our mouth and let it explode. What a crazy experience. The rush of the juice was tons of fun...too bad I don't like coconut. Also on the dish was nitrogen frozen raspberries bits and a edamame ice cream. Overall very delicious. - White Chocolate & Peanut - The next dessert was my favorite fun dish. A ball of white chocolate filled with a popcorn sorbet that we were told was to feel like popcorn popping in our mouth. This was definitely the case thanks to the pop rocks that continued to pop even after I swallowed the ice cream. This dish gave me a good chuckle. - Blueberry cake & Ice Cream - Powered Peach Doughnut - Chocolate and Fluff - We were told by our waitress that it was her favorite dish and I could understand why. A chocolate cake filled with a liquid graham cracker over a toasted marshmallow smear (brown smear, not pretty to look at). Awesome smores taste. - Cafe con Leche - Basically coffee and a biscotti...but reversed... A warm biscotti drink served with liquid nitrogen frozen coffee. Overall, a great meal. The pacing was slow, as we were often sitting there for several minutes with nothing in front of us. Also, it was a pretty unspectacular wine list, but the wine's we did have were very good. I would definitely recommend, but I probably wouldn't return... there are plenty of other places out there I would like to go, such as Alinea tonight. I can't wait too see how it compares.
(5)Rose P.
This was my first time at what I like to call a "sci-fi" restaurant, where food quality and presentation go hand in hand. We went with the 10 course tasting menu with wine pairings and I managed to lick my plate (and glass) clean on every single course. I'll have to admit that I was not blown away by the food itself, given all the hype, but it was definitely tasty, and the presentation was flawless. I was particularly impressed with the service - the staff was attentive, knowledgeable and the entire meal was so perfectly timed, which made for a wonderfuly satisfying dining experience. My friend and I were both pretty drunk by the time the bill came which made putting the credit card down a little less painful. I recommend going for the experience, but be prepared to spend.
(4)Marcel M.
The experience and service were amazing. We opted for the GTM and it did take 4.5 hours instead of 3. Looking back on it, GTM wasn't the ideal choice since most of the courses were dessert bites. I saw another table get the 5 course choice and their servings were comparable. If you still want the experience, opt for the middle choice. The highlights were the edible menu and anything that used a new way of delivering food in your mouth (e.g. coleslaw syringe, freeze dried stuff). Most of the dishes were good, but not outstanding. One word to sum up each dish is 'essence'. During our GTM meal, what we were getting was the essence of each dish. One bite of their frozen flap jacks and I felt like I ate a whole tower of pancakes. A pinch of cotton candy strings saved me from craving a whole bag of it. It was interesting since I felt satisfied with each bite. They should package M&Ms like this so you don't end up eating most of the bag. Four stars since the GTM was overpriced IMHO. We could've had 2-3 great tastings at Matsuhisa for the same price.
(4)Audrey C.
for a unique dining experience, Moto fo-sho, but for a yummy experience, Moto no-go. :) we did the 7 course with wine pairing. the culinary concoctions were interesting/unique/creative/etc but not very yum. i felt the individual ingredients' characters (taste and texture) were lost in translation. but, the service was flawless and the ambiance was perfect for a quiet evening.
(3)L J J.
Visiting Chicago we were excited to try Moto but we were surely disappointed. We have been to restaurants around the world in this style of cuisine, including Alinea in Chicago. This is the first time we have felt we were wasting our time and money. Their attempt at molecular gastronomy was a poor one at best. The plates some of might have been interesting lost their appeal once they were tasted .Each dish excluding the desserts were way over salted. The lack of depth to the flavor profile along with the over seasoning made several of the dishes taste almost the same. An attempt at being clever was an insulting and disgusting plate to put in front of a diner. The plate an ashtray consisting of half used cigars with ashes is the least appetizing plate I have ever seen. Against better judgement I tasted the plate to only want to spit it back out, the taste was another over salted one note and textural nightmare. Creative dishes can look interesting but should still taste good. We will remember this meal only because of their lack luster attempts at molecular gastronomy and the dull lifeless servers. The somber mood of the place didn't help. I will remember this restaurant experience for a long time but for all the wrong reasons. For the cost of a car payment, I hoped for more.
(1)Barb P.
You have to want more than just great food to go here. The molecular gastronomy experience is equivalent to a going to a show where you are constantly surprised. The wine pairing is excellent. They even threw in a wonderful beer from Quebec in addition to the first sake I ever liked. The staff was happy to see you get excited because they are not just waiters; they have input to creative process. I've been here a few times and loved it.
(5)Bernard M.
Moto was a bit disappointing. The creativity of their dishes was excellent and the service. The actual food was 'eh'. Nothing was tasty or really good. It was just 'blah' or okay. For example, their crabcake was very plain, and the pork wasn't tender but tough. Seriously, how can a top notch restaurant not get these things right?
(3)Neha N.
I took my sister here for her 21st birthday. All in all, a very nice experience, though I was surprised by the location and decor (I'm from out of town). We had the 5 course menu, but they added in a couple of extra courses cause it was her birthday. This was perfect. My sister's vegetarian and I cut out everything but seafood, so we definitely had a different version -- it's really nice that they do this. The first course was a soup, half pizza and half caesar salad. Honestly, not my favorite. The pizza part tasted like spiced tomato soup. Other than that everything was nice -- notable dishes were the gin fizz, the cherry bomb (my favorite), the donut trio (oh my god the donut soup tastes like a krispy kreme) and the flapjacks (the syrup was delicious. I wanted to drink it). The location is sort of dead though, and when we got there it was just us and a family of 4. odd. it's so sweet that they printed up a menu with a birthday wish for my sister though. i've had better in spain (Commerc 24) but it was nice.
(4)Alicia R.
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!
(5)Irvin A.
I thought a haiku series would be apropos... Edible menu Like an ancient palimpsest With truffle on side Liquid Nitrogen On de-constructed dumplings Smoking dragons, [we]e! Two large sea scallops Connected by Tofu Bridge Delicious structure Fajita x three? Each bite, a meal entirely Shocked, shockingly good! Think of menu plate Strawberry and brown butter A creamy throwback Biscotti, coffee Gastronomic orgasm: Sex with Moto chef.
(5)David W.
I've been wanting to go to Moto for forever and finally this evening I had my opportunity. John, Ashley, Audrey, and I decided to brave Moto's science experiment of a menu and take on liquid nitrogen one bite at a time. An Edible Menu is delivered to your table accompanied by Smoked Salmon Caviar, Unfermented Grape Juice Jelly, and a Poached Pear with Vanilla Cream. The Edible Menu details the three tasting menus Moto offers. Seeing that it is/was a Wednesday night we decided to limp into Moto and order the five course tasting menu w/ wine pairings. I know what you are thinking.... "Hike up your skirt and order the 10 or be brave and order the Grand Tasting Menu!" Regretfully we didn't. DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU PLAN ON GOING TO MOTO AND WANT TO BE SURPRISED! The firstish course was a Fauxjito. Moto takes a champagne flute and fills the bottom with mint syrup and then extracts lime juice from a syringe into the glass. This concoction was delicious and tastes just like a mojito (minus the alcohol). Our first course was Bacon & Maple, which consisted of a savory creme brulee paired with a bacon shortbread cookie. Incredible flavors and interesting texture! This dish was paired with a nice Chablis. The second dish was the Shutome with Fried Rice, which was centered around a seared piece of Shutome (broadbill swordfish from Hawaii). The fish was beautiful! A tofu puree, braised seaweed, and popcorn shoots completed this perfect dish. Surprisingly, this dish was paired with a Pinot Noir from the Northern Island in New Zealand. Our third dish was the Crispy Hash Browns & Beef, which was a play on steak and eggs. The dish was served on a metal Battleship-esque serving tray, with herb scented utensils. Grilled steak w/ Bacon Puree, Hash Brown w/ Tomatillo Ketchup, and an Egg...........YUM! Homaru Cantu you sank my Battleship! Wow, that Tempranillo sure is nice. Our fourth dish was a Pumpkin Tamale with Risotto and Horchata Ice Cream. You guessed it another winner. Making it even better was the 2005 Chateau Rumieu Lacoste Sauternes they paired it with. We made nice with our server and he brought us out an additional dessert course. Our fifth course was Smores. Moto's Smores consist of a Chocolate Mouse filled with Liquid Graham Crackers that just Gooshed out when you broke into it with your fork (Oh yeah there was toasted marshmallow too). This dish was perfectly paired with a Zin port. The sixth and final dish was the Biscotti & Coffee. Sounds simple right? Wrong! The pastry chef freezes coffee using liquid nitrogen to create the biscotti and then takes the components of the biscotti and turns those into liquid. So you actually dip your coffee into your biscotti. Delicious! This was paired with a 1968 Madeira. To make a long story short (TOO LATE!). The food was absolutely amazing! I had extremely high expectations going in and Moto exceeded those. I was anticipating really cool food, but Homaro Cantu not only delivers the cool, but he also delivers sophisticated dynamic flavor profiles that just plain out taste great. The space is minimal and modern in design. If you like mid century, modern, smart design you'll enjoy the space. The service blew me away. Totally casual, engaging, and not pretentious at all. When asked where he likes to eat our server responded with "I really like Hot Dougs." What a perfect evening! 4 Five Course Tasting Menus 3 Wine Pairings ---------------------------------- $600 PS... I am writing this just after I got home and may be a bit tipsy. Just a wee bit. Goodnight!
(5)Mardi T.
Moto used to be one of my favorite places to go for dinner. I have dined here many times without incident, and have a very hearty stomach. However, on my last visit we had a lovely dinner, I went home and went to bed - and was awakened just before 5 am VIOLENTLY ILL. I ended up spending the entire day in the hospital with a serious case of food poisoning. The doctor suggested it was most likely fish/shellfish (I didn't have shellfish, so I am guessing it was fish). I did have one fish course that wasn't on the menu (I was the only one that ate it) as a substitute for another course - and I am guessing that was the issue. I am really sad that this happened, and I will not be going back. Spending quite a bit of money on dinner, and then throwing in hospital bills - not fun. I would not recommend taking the chance!! There are many great places to eat in the city, that won't send you to the ER.
(1)Phil H.
I was just browsing through the Moto website and they have many pictures of the crazy concoctions that Chef Cantu put together. Then it dawned on me: I wasn't served any of that! The presentation of the 10-course was superb but not exactly out of this world. Should I feel motivated to try the GTM (where I assume all those pics are from) or should I feel cheated? Unchanged on the stars as I ponder...
(4)Monika M.
The food and presentations were incredibly unique and exciting. I liked this place, but I didn't love it. Much like Alinea, it's one of those molecular gastronomy experiences you have to have at some point, but I wasn't wowed by much of the food itself.
(3)K. A.
SUCH an amazing experience. The wait staff are a bit "uppity" and odd but it goes with the atmosphere so it didn't bother me, they were still attentive did their jobs. It was a little weird that the bartender couldn't make simple normal drinks like a Cosmopolitan but only the trendy drinks they had on their menu but the food was amazing and wine pairings were also really cool. I never thought wine could make a food taste so different, some of the pairings surprised me at how much it changed the flavor of the food...which showed me they definitely know what they are doing at Moto. The food was SO cool, I think the Cuban cigar was my favorite and although the meal took a few hours it's truly an unique experience that I'm very grateful I had the opportunity to eat here. How many other places do you get to eat your menu?? :)
(5)Chad S.
I can't see how someone can give a good review of this place relative to the price paid? There was nothing innovative on the menu like the Future Food TV show except a lime snowman. The atmosphere of the place is a small square box with tables close together in the warehouse district? The wine was just ok nothing to remember but it cost $20 a glass? The servers were not engaging just typical of any resturant. I brought my wife for her birthday and they didn't have a special cake or even say happy birthday. Even Red Lobster brings out a cake with a candle on it. All of the food taste good nothing was bad but there is no way it justifies the price. Much better experience at Four Seasons or Avenues in the Peninsula which were less expensive. I felt like a fool when I signed the check.
(2)wendy c.
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.
(4)Bess R.
We had an excellent dinner at Moto last night for my ladyfriend's 30th birthday. Everything from the edible menu (with a special birthday message), to the food and wine, and the service was outstanding. I'm not a food expert by any means, but I loved the weirdness of it all - the "battleship" plates, liquid biscotti. It was a truly memorable experience. We had the 5-course, due to time constraints, but I would love to go back for the 10 or GTM. Thank you chef Cantu and all the servers!
(5)S. L.
Moto, along with Alinea and Avenues, represent the holy triumvirate of young American molecular gastronomists, which all happen to be centered in Chicago. My wife and I went to Moto a while back with some co-workers who are also foodies. We all agreed that this was one of the better overall meals we've had in Chicago. We got the 10 course menu. There were some lower points (not low points, mind you, but "not as high" points), including a sweet and sour soup and the edible menu. Most dishes were excellent, including an incredible duck dish. Very highly recommended.
(5)Alden H.
This restaurant gets major kudos for its different ways of serving food ( menus that are baked and edible, the use of liquid nitrogen to cook food, using props like giant syringes to infuse food, etc). While the food is good, its not great. However, its certainly an experience. I had the 5 item tasting menu. That was enough for me to get a feel of what this restaurant is all about.
(3)Bengi S.
Had a wonderful dining experience here. Service was impeccable, and the food was really amazing. Sometimes I find chefs sacrifice flavor in favor of creativity with their tasting menus, but it was definitely not the case here! Each dish was portioned well and tasted exquisite in addition to being visually interesting. The price makes this a special occasion kind of place, but well worth it.
(5)Mindy V.
Truly an interesting experience in food- I was all set to give it 4 stars for great service and stimulating surprising food, until we got the bill. They brought us our already large bill and told us that while there was an 18% service charge added onto our bill, that was NOT the tip and did not go to the servers. We asked the server what is was for then and he just said its what the owners charge. We totally didn't get this and felt that if the owners didn't give the "service charge" to the servers that was between them and the staff. We were already paying 18% ($90) for service so what the???? We didn't add much on additionally but left feeling bad that the servers might not get anything for serving us for hours. We should not have had to leave feeling bad when we dropped so much money and an 18% "Service charge." What a terrible way to end our experience there! They should at least tell people about this charge up front and explain what it is. We are always happy to spend money on good food but feel this was a little sneaky and unfair to both diners and staff. With that being said, here is what we thought of the food: With our 10 course meal Moto served us a delicious octopus dish with "liquified greek salad" in an eye dropper", a grilled pineapple frozen with liquid nitro served with a yummy cod, quail prepared "chicken wing" style, A nitro watermelon course..... truly interesting and actually quite good at times. I was a little disturbed by a braised duck dish called "road kill" that actually looked like an animal killed on the road on your plate. It had a little brain mold made out of a mushroom gelatinous like substance, and was complete with simulated maggots, blood and mangled looking meat. It was a little too morbid for me but interesting. In the end we won't go back because of the bad taste left in our mouth by the strange billing. Such a shame with such interesting food and great service.
(3)Jennifer H.
Moto is one-of-a-kind. It's really more about the overall dining experience and the folks at Moto definitely gave us that. A friend and I went with the 10-course menu (the Grand Tour Moto seemed like way too much, it's a 3 1/2 hour committment!) and we were pretty much dazzled from the beginning. I loved that what was listed on our menu (which was edible) was only slightly indicative of what the actual dish turned out to be. Our menu consisted of: -Greek Salad (an octopus leg and freeze-dried kalamata olive chips) -Greek Salad again (a cold clear "soup" infused with cucumber, lettuce, vinegar and tomato) -Caribbean Escolar (broiled fish with spiced pineapples on a frozen mini-rack) -BBQ pork and beans (braised pork shoulder and beans pureed and shaped into noodles) -Quail Pasta (quail with dehydrated elbow mac in truffle cream) -Steak and potatoes (24-day aged filet with crispy hash) -Fruit and Bubbles (carbonated grape with walnut dust and freeze-dried chips) -Truffle and White Chocolate (a piece of edible paper infused with cotton candy and a white chocolate truffle that exploded into liquid when you put it into your mouth) -Persimmons and Cream (this was the one dish I didn't like --- persimmon ice cream and fruit foam with carraway seeds) -S'mores (a chocolate ganache dome filled with peanut butter marshmallow cream and a marshmallow that melted away) I walked away stuffed like a dumpling. It was all delish. The other important thing to note about Moto is the service. It is amazing.The space is tiny and the entire meal is really a choreographed dance. The wait staff maintains a close eye on how fast you eat or if you need more drinks so that they can time exactly when to bring out the next course. If you leave your seat to go to the restroom, they'll replace your old napkin with a new, bring you a new drink and make sure that everything is refreshed when you return. Super sweet and knowledgable staff --- I wouldn't have known what we were eating otherwise! Yummy and great for the curious foodie. Go try it, you'll have to fork over a few bills (ours ended up at $300 for 2 people) but it's worth it.
(4)Carson H.
I wish I could transplant Moto to San Francisco. I love this restaurant for so many reasons. The fact that Chicagoans get how cool molecular gastronomy is makes me proud. I have never been to a more innovative and fun restaurant. Every single course will make you laugh and say WOW!! Alinea is a close second, but Moto is truly the front runner in experimental cuisine in chitown. GREAT for out of town guests. I LOVE YOU MOTO!!
(5)Maggie R.
This was the most unique and exciting dining experience of my life! My date took me there as a surprise and he got many brownie points for doing so or at least another date anyway. We did the 10 course with the wine pairing and I think that is the way to go because I was very satisfied with a nice little buzz by the end. From the "Greek salad" in an eye dropper (sounds weird, but really did taste like it) to the S'mores dessert that was like a waterfall I was always anxious to see what came next. The wine pairings were impeccable and there was even a delicious sake mixed in the bunch. Pricey, but well worth it if you enjoy "dining" as opposed to "eating out". Highly recommend for a special occasion.
(5)Christian A.
Quite an experience! Some of the items on the menu might tast a bit wierd but then again they're trying to get you out of your "safe zone" great service, they serve the dishes at the same time and explain the dishes in detail. Very innovative dishes!
(5)Grey T.
It recently came to my attention that I only write yelp reviews when I am really offended by a restaurant; so I am going back to write reviews for places that don't fall into that category. I love Moto. The food is not only fun and creative but delicious. They served a dish called Kentucky Fried Chicken Noodles that is among the best things I have ever had. They served a cookie with a picture of Michael Bolton on it for dessert. Most importantly, you can tell that everyone involved really cares about the restaurant and the food. The servers are really knowledgeable and truly interested in how you like the food. After dinner we were taken on a tour of the kitchen and the chefs spent about 15 minutes talking yo us enthusiastically about how they make the food and were truly interested in what we thought. I can't rave about this place enough - it's fun, creative, and delicious. One relevant point-this is an evening event-you will be there for at least a couple hours, and it is not cheap. Well worth it, but definitely the type of place I demand to be taken for my birthday rather than an every friday place.
(5)Ani L.
Moto is probably one of the best restaurants I've been to in Chicago. Chef Homaro Cantu offers dinners (and let's not forget the edible menu) that is not only delicious, but truely creative. It is an experience to dine at this place. Top to bottom - this restaurant does not miss a beat.
(5)David M.
A lot of people have a hard time justifying spending money on great food. Well, let me just say that if there's one expensive restaurant that you can go to, moto is definitely it. I've been around but never have I had a dining experience like I did at moto. The food was terrific, the wine flight/ parings were first class, the service was out of this world. Coolest this was that we were eating next to Ted Allen of Food Network fame! Rarely do I go out an really splurge on a spendy meal but if you have a birthday or anniversary, i'd book a table at moto far in advance because it's definitely worth it. Truly a one-of-a-kind restaurant!
(5)Erica M.
Moto is totally awesome, creative and fun! The atmosphere is very sleek, warm and toned down because they want the dishes to be the main attraction (and they truely are). The chef is like a culinary mad scientist. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who considers themselves a bit adventurous when it comes to food. It is quite an experience. It is expensive but well worth it. They just opened up a sister restaurant right next door called Otom. I haven't been there yet, but it is suppose to be somewhat creative but more affordable. I will review that once I go.
(4)Mark P.
My first venture into so-called molecular gastronomy. Went with the $70 five course menu. Personalized, edible tortilla menu was a nice touch. Goosefish entree tasted over-salted. Liquid donut and other 'forms' for dessert did surprisingly taste like Krispy Kreme. Server seemed unprepared to describe each appropriately. Overall, five course menu lacked a lot of the special preparations and gimmicks. Very creative in theory, but food was not all that tasty in the end. Was not wowed by the experience as a whole. Maybe had too high of expectations to begin with. GTM is probably the way to go to get the full Moto experience, but just couldn't rationalize the price.
(3)Craig W.
I dined at Moto a while back and enjoyed my meal thoroughly. Like many diners, the Cuban cigar impressed me, and the wine pairings, especially the Yealands Sauvignon Blanc with the whatever it was, were amazing. A year later, I returned and things had changed. The service was spotty -- wines were served out of order: several dishes were trickier than they were tasty: and one server apologized for radically mis-describing something, saying it had been a long day. Even if one is ready to "enjoy" the coy waiter-patter one is subjected to in places like this -- "the kitchen made a mistake and forgot to make the tomatoes into a soup" -- this kind of programmatic clumsiness, how shall I put it, chaps one's aspic. To add insult to injury, we were presented at meal's end with a DVD of the chef's TV show. I suddenly realized why I'd been so disappointed at Alinea and Craft -- no DVD! There's room for more than one molecular gastronomical restaurant in Chicago, and Moto's red-gold flash can be a long-lived complement to the blue-green iciness of Alinea's aesthetic, but not if they rush to greatness and drop their platters in the process. Step one: lose the DVD's. Step two: don't encourage me to take pictures. Step three: make sure the subterfuge is savor-worthy. At one point, my companion asked, "Why did they make it look like cheese?" I had no answer and neither would the kitchen, I'd wager, aside from "Because we could." That's not enough. I'm in favor of this restaurant and will go back, but things need to change if the place wants to live up to its ideals. And, to whomever trains the waitstaff and writes their patter: less is more. If you were less impressed with what the kitchen comes up with, there might be room for the diners to actually feel impressed. As it stands, one feels bullied into smiling. Not yummy.
(2)Paul W.
A biochem gastronomy experience. As a biochemistry insanity experience, this was unique and extreme, maybe even worth the price of admission. The food is also very good, but presentation and uniqueness seemed to take priority over taste and texture sometimes. We had a little trouble communicating our desires on wine selections with our server, who did not seem particularly knowledgeable for a restaurant of this caliber, but she was persistent and gracious and stuck with us until we got it all worked out. The service for us was very attentive. We got the 10 course meal and found it had enough variety to get a good taste of Moto. Our server also scored us a bonus item from the 18 course list that sounded particularly interesting. The atmosphere is a little crowded and noisy for the price. Go here for the unique science experience if you have the dough. It is truly one of a kind.
(4)gregory j.
Wow. I visited Moto twice when it opened and was impressed by the creativity of what they were doing, but the food didn't taste that good. Well, I went again last night and it great. They are showing more restraint on the science food thang, even a dish or two out of ten with very little science going on. Where they did add technique, it was to enhance the food. Truly one the best meals I've ever enjoyed. I would go back here before Alinea or Trotters.
(5)Chris K.
I'm really into places that take risks and push the envelop and this place does it extremely well. You see things you've never heard of and it all works. Good wine list, too. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it for that occasional treat.
(5)Nate S.
Glad I tried it, not sure I'll be back. Very creative courses (i.e. menu is printed on garlic crostini, use of liquid nitrogen, cuban sandwich made into cigar, etc.) but some of the flavors were a bit muddled and only one of the dishes had real pop. Service was a bit lacking for what I expected: staff was not warm, nor should it have to be, but it wasn't helpful or informative either which is a problem with an adventurous menu (almost as problematic as run-on sentences...). It's a large time commitment (got the 10 courses) and I felt as though I spent too much time sitting there waiting for the next course. Perhaps going with someone you haven't seen in years is better than going with the people you had just spent the whole day with. After 4 hours I felt that I had experienced it enough for years to come. The wine pairing is great but perhaps an extra bottle is needed to bridge each course as the servings are not commensurate with the time spent dining.
(4)Christian F.
one of my friends was really excited to come here, and the way he described it sounded amazing. now the food was definitely great, but the service was really bad. the waiter we had was really rude to both of our girlfriends, and was really rude to my friend who made the reservations. luckily, they comped our meal, but it definitely left a bad taste.
(3)M M.
conceptually fun, delicious, and excellent service too boot. extremely pricey, but definitely worth it for special occasions.
(5)Corey C.
The highlight of my weekend trip to Chicago was to be dinner at Moto. Now that my 20 course GTM has come and gone... and I've had a chance to reflect on my dinner... I've come to the conclusion that while having a food science meal is a worthwhile experience in and of itself... that doesn't always translate into excellent food. Some dishes really worked for me -- I was fascinated with the preparation, presentation, and consumption -- but the majority of the courses failed in at least one of these categories. That being said, there were only a couple of items that I really didn't care for; and while relatively expensive, the experience of eating here was unique enough for me to be satisfied overall. I don't think I'll be returning here but knowing what I know, I would still eat here once if I hadn't already.
(4)H P.
this type of cuisine is very hit or miss, i believe. molecular gastronomy is not for everyone. if you like hearty, rustic, simple food, you will not enjoy moto. on the otherhand, if you are adventuresome and like to try new ingredients prepared by nouvel techniques, you will find moto fascinating and intriguing. it was more of a culinary scavenger hunt for me, trying and tasting novel things while discovering new textures and flavor combinations in the dishes. his use of foams and nitrous gives rise to some pleasant surprises and occasionally some unexpected flavor profiles. some of the elements are gimmicky, such as the edible soy paper that the menu is printed on and the utensils with the herbs built into it. it does really add to the enjoyment of the food, in that it is very whimsical and inventive, and it's the idea or concept of it and not so much the taste that is appreciated. i did really enjoy the fish steamed in the acrylic box, however. this was one instance where new technology did result in a perfectly cooked fish that was also subtly aromatic.
(4)Lindsay B.
One of my favorite dining experiences ever I enjoyed at this restaurant! We chose the 20 course tasting menu and were not disappointed- the service was phenomenal, and when we didn't want to do the full wine tasting they offered us several excellent wine pairing selections. I enjoyed the location and atmosphere, and thoroughly loved eating for 4-5 hours and relaxing and having marvelous conversation. For me, this is definitely a once in a lifetime kind of dining experience- and everything about the food, staff, and atmosphere was exactly what I was hoping for. The best thing about the service to me was the explanation the staff gave for every single dish- I loved getting to really "experience" the food as I ate!
(5)P S.
While Moto has much to recommend to it in terms of the quality of the dishes, wine pairings, presentation, and service, here's the bottom line- I paid $700+ for dinner for two and we both left hungry. And I don't mean 'not full', I mean HUNGRY. Just as background- I've dined at most of Moto's competitors (Alinea, Next, El Ideas, etc.) and never left hungry. And I'm five eight, 150 pounds, so it's not like I'm a huge eater. My stomach was screaming for a dish that required something more than a half teaspoon to consume.
(2)Sherwin S.
Moto is better than your average foodie spot, and not necessarily because of the meal itself, but because of the experience. Diners should not go into Moto expecting to have their minds blown away by the food, but by the presentation, the ambiance, and the attention to very quirky details.
(3)Chris I.
Probably one of the most amazing meals I have ever had in my life. I went there in January with my fiancee for the 15 course chef's tasting and 11 wine pairing. Each course was incredible from the edible menu to the Elvis Presley dessert. The waitors are very knowledgeable and friendly. Only downside is that 11 wines wont cut it. I needed the other four. Also this restaurant is wonderful if you have a spare $660 laying around for dinner. Other than that, I strongly would recommend without a doubt if you are celebrating something nice. You will not be dissapointed!
(5)Adolfo Z.
The place is quiet and elegant. The food will keep you pleasantly surprised all the time. If you want to try molecular gastronomy and deconstruction of classic dishes this is definitely the place.
(4)Mike R.
Went with a date and were placed in one of their booths across from the wine cellar. Food was generally v. good with a few exceptional courses that rival the best food we've had. My experienced foodie date declared it her favorite meal of all those she's had for its inventiveness and use of so many unique ingredients. It is not where you go to get a large, well-cooked piece of meat, but to witness and consume a march of diverse courses. Service was exceptional and afterwards they checked if a table was available at and walked us down to the Aviary where we had a fun after-dinner cocktail.
(4)Caroline S.
The place is really unique and different and I was really excited to going because of all the press its had but it was a pretty big disappointment. The foods were just so strange, the mix of flavors were hard to handle. On top of that the waiters were not the friendliest, a bit awkward and the intervals between courses took far too long. Overall I wouldn't suggest this place. It's not worth the very high prices
(2)George M.
I consider Moto to be underrated. While Cantu diligently prepares molecular masterpieces with the precision of a mad scientist, his food is first and foremost playful and whimsical. The food is fun and not just because it uses molecular gastronomy as a novelty. It's fun because it plays with concepts of texture, temperature and color in inspired ways. The creativity is its own flavor in each dish. Food from the soul of a Ph.D stoner with the heart of an artist. Cantu appeals to your juvenile desires and memories of comfort food while creating haute cuisine. Perhaps I took this impression too far when I accused him of trying to make me "eat c*ck" whilst serving a disturbingly delicious dish of "rooster" but the point stands. I would estimate Cantu as a cross-breed of Grant Achatz and Wylie Dufresne. Despite my high praise and admiration for him, however, I do not think his is a five star restaurant because of one main complaint. In the four meals I've had at Moto, the desserts are rarely up to par with the rest of the menu. Yes, some are great, but others have varied from overly ambitious to tremendously botched. I also find the decor to be slightly severe and austere in contrast to the fun coming out of the kitchen. Fun can still look expensive and I would have liked to have seen more creativity in the ambiance but it's certainly not offensive.
(4)Melissa T.
I have to disagree with many of the reviews on this site for Moto. I am a world traveler and a foodie. I have no issues with spending money on great food and service, that is until I ate at Moto this weekend. I had 2 girlfriends flying into Chicago from LA and I wanted to pay for one of them - on top of my own dinner- as she does not have the money but I thought it would be a great experience for her. We all arrived and got seated in the second floor area - which is below the first floor and has a totally different vibe than the first floor. I ordered the half pairing (as I don't drink a ton) with the 15 course tasting menu. My first course came with a singed hair in it. Yes, a hair. It was replaced with a minimal apology from the waitstaff. I asked for a round of black napkins - as we were all wearing black. The white napkins stayed on the table for 2 courses. A few courses in, one of my girlfriends had to duck to get out of the way of a falling wine glass which broke right behind her. Again, a slight apology. The food was good. Nothing that I would say is worth $250+ per person. The service and the high level expectations in dining at a restaurant at this level were a let down. I've lived in NY, Miami, LA and now Chicago so I've dined at the nations top restaurants which have always blown my mind. This one has a lot to be desired all the way around - with ambiance (again bottom floor) service and food. We laughed a lot and enjoyed ourselves but mostly as the expense of the service and food. I gave it barely 2 stars for the creativity of the food. Skip moto, it's just not worth the hype.
(2)Austin T.
We did the 10 course with wine paring at $250 a person. Dinner was perfect with exceptional service,food,wine and ambiance.
(5)Scott R.
Eh, not quite sure where to start on this one. I had very high expectations after hearing the experience my sis had here. The food is very unique and interesting, but the gastronomy thing is getting a bit cliché now. At some point you need to stop freeze drying everything, or turning into foam or making fish taste like candy canes or whatever. This alone would not make me review it poorly as I have LOVED the creativity at Alinia and Schwa that was accompanied by great food. A big disappointment was that I felt sick from the amount of desserts that were served. I think 5 out of our 11 or so dishes were sweet desserts. I had a stomach ache from all the sugar I had eaten that night. The biggest fail of the night was that our waiter forgot to bring us one of our courses. Only after my wife convinced them that they indeed had forgotten the course did they bring it out. This wouldn't have been even as bad if they had not but an automatic 18% gratuity on our bill. I'm sorry, I tip well at restaurants that give me a great experience. If you forget a course and I'm paying $350 for a meal, you better not expect a full tip if you fuck it up. I thought this was tacky and actually had to go through the manager to bring the tip down just out of principal. I know many people who had a great experience here. For me it was too expensive for wacky not so tasty food.
(2)Shawn K.
Had dinner here on Saturday night. Had the 20 course menu. The food was amazing. Many very interesting tastes presented throughout the meal. Sixteen dinner tastings and then four dessert tastings. Found the service to be mixed. Some very good servers and some not to impressive servers. A few of the servers struggled with dish explanations. Overall they did a good job with keeping the beverages refilled and they had a nice variety of wines of tasting. Not really blown away with ambiance actually found it very hard to have a conversation. The room was some what small and voices really just carried even on occasion it sounded like the servers were yelling in order to explain the dishes. I'm giving MOTO four stars but on the food alone because I was impressed. I give the service three stars because I just think that the presenters should be able to better explain the dishes with out mumbling through them. Ambiance however only gets one star because like I said very hard to have a conversation. Glad we experienced the restaurant well worth the price we paid for dinner cause like I said the food was amazing as well as the dish presentations.
(4)Linda SingaSong S.
Avec...Moto.. Otom .. all these unique, curious restaurant names..all related in some way or another, I was fortunate enough to be invited by a fellow gf. Her sister, a chef, was doing a mini apprenticeship @ Moto and invited us for a special dining experience. I love the Fulton Market area..a bit dark and creepy, but great hidden gems throughout the streets. We were seated in the tall booths & it instantly reminded me of the decor at Violet Lounge. Our bartender/server was quite the character. Very proper, nerdy, stylish, and very informative. We weren't quite picky with drinks so he made us his favorite 3 cocktails. Don't remember the names, but the presentation was so fun! They were all in lab beakers, and quite strong. Each cocktail had some fancy emulsion of egg whites, blend of exotic fruits, etc. They all had a great kick and I got my buzz on. We were fascinated by the edible menu w/our names printed on 'em. Every course was explained by my friend's sister, ze Chef in training.. The portions aren't huge, but that's alright..this place is known for their nerdy creations & use of scientific instruments. I enjoyed the Cigar and ashtray entree..the pork was the cigar and the ashes were a blend of seeds. We got a special peak of private dining area in basement. What a room!! Periodic element as its wallpaper w/shelves of beakers and test tubes. Centrifuges and other fancy instruments which I can't pronounce. The chefs were busy at work, meticulous with their presentations, and still made time to explain few of the menu items to us. It didn't cost us a fortune, thanks to our hook-up. I gave it 4 stars coz it's not the place to go to if your hungry, but a great spot for tourists and first timers. I'm a nerd at heart so I enjoyed my experience at Moto
(4)Amy L.
Overview: Moto was an awesome experience, but at a hefty price. Overall, at about $600 for two people, it was worth the money. My boyfriend and I ordered the 10 course meal and split the wine pairing (best decision of the night, btw - if we hadn't split it, I would have been pretty toasty by the end of the night! It was literally 10 full glasses of wine!). Food: The meals were tasty and definitely unique - some courses were borderline bizarre (like when they brought out little snowmen in a bowl that tasted like tuna, then the waiter poured some sort of mango sauce over it to "drown the snowman, bwahahaha"), but it's all part of the experience. Nothing stood out as the best food I've ever had in my life, but there were a lot of "Hmmm, interesting ..." courses - I guess it's up to you to decide if that's good or not :) Atmosphere: The decor is very minimalist and sleek. The lighting was pretty dim, giving the restaurant a sort of sexy vibe. The clientele was much older (mid-30's-40's) than we are (mid-20's) - Moto is not a place to see and be seen, necessarily, but it does have the haute society feel to it. Also, everyone was dressed very nicely (nothing irks me more than going to a nice restaurant where people are dressed in jeans and sweatshirts). Service: Amongst the BEST I've ever had. The waiters were super attentive and knowledgeable about the food and drink. They explained each meal and wine pairing as it arrived and were friendly and funny as they did it. There was no air of snobbery as you might get in some high-end restaurants - these people were down-to-earth and awesome!
(4)Anonymous F.
I have eaten at Moto several times and I have re-read and edited this review several times before posting it, and I want you to know that I absolutely approve this message! As a former lengthy and descriptive 5-star reviewer for Moto, this go round I totally agree with Tricia L., who reviewed Moto recently! My party of 4 had the same menu she described. I've been here twice before and loved it, but today I felt VERY cheated. For a base cost of $175 per dinner, I expect some greatness - in the form of deliciousness, inventiveness, or something to hang my hat on. I could get several fantastic meals elsewhere for the more than the $1,000 I spent here for 4 meals and 2 inexpensive bottles of wine (wine cost=less than $150 total). Every dish was deconstructed which shows a serious lack of imagination for allegedly serious food, and in this case, a real lack of food! I have eaten at all kinds of pricy venues very happily, but I left this hungry both literally and figuratively. At least give us SOME food for 1or 2 of the larger courses, dang it!! No matter our primary motivations for coming here, we did all come here to eat - so feed us! The entire 11 courses amounted to less food than a hamburger - without fries. I would be okay with this if it all was a mind blow, but that's not the case. Chef Cantu better refocus on how he made his bones or that will be all that's left blowing down the alley between these old meat packing warehouses in a decidedly unsexy part of the city. I am sad to report this, but I refuse to rate this on my past experiences or on Moto's reputation: reviews are for what you can expect now, and all good restaurants know that they are only as good as their next meal. In this case it is undeserved of your hard-earned money. If Moto paid to fly me back to Chicago from my home halfway across the country, I would need other good reasons to come back and spend that much of my time at the restaurant. I am not trying to be mean, but helpful: this restaurant was greatness and I pray that they get back on track. Note to Moto: please call me if you do, because I have tasted and enjoyed your fantastic potential other times!
(2)Brittany G.
Came here for the first time for my friend's birthday. Staff was thorough in explaining everything, but were not very pleasant. Tried the 10 course expecting to have to make a run to grab some food after, but I was barely able to finish the last plate! It was all delicious and super fun in the way it was prepared and presented. I recommend to anyone willing to spend the green for an interesting night in the city.
(4)M S.
The ambiance is a little cold. The walls are grey and decorations were sparse. From what I had heard about the restaurant, I was surprised to see that the decor was not very warm. Overall food was good. however some dishes were too salty. I did like the fact that they tailored the dishes to the diner's dietary restrictions. My favorite dishes were the cuban cigars and the egg drop soup. It's an interesting experience so I would recommend to try the restaurant at least once.
(4)Anne M.
Last minute on April 23rd, 2010 we were wanting to celebrate our Anniversary at Alinea, well, a day prior, they were booked solid for 6 months so we were lucky enough to call Moto and they had room. I rushed there from DeKalb, IL, 60 miles away 1 hour traffic plus more in order to beat Friday afternoon traffic to make it there at 5:30pm. Lucky I left work early. My date and I walk in and find we are transported to a new word like it was a filming on the Matrix movie set. The food was neat and service was impeccable. Deandre was a wonderful host and the tour in the basement was neat. I had heard of the owner on Iron Chef and was excited to finally be at his restaurant without knowing about it prior. This proves if you want something enough, you will get it, somehow it just worked out that way, whereas the chef at Alinea I've never heard of. Anyway go there for the experience and time with your sweetheart rather than too much focus on the taste, it's meant to confuse you because you will be soon eating a cigar in an ashtray made of grape leaves and some other edible ingredients. I found service to be wonderful and all the hosts there are actually culinary chef students/graduates so they are trained to be professional. I walked to the rest room which a hidden side door opens up where a gentleman will open and close it for you otherwise you won't know it's there. I came back to find, my napkin refolded very nicely, and table of crumbs gone and refreshed by the attentitive waitstaff. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Would I go again, maybe in 10 years as it was $550 for both of us almost $600 since they do include tip. For my date, I just told him, it was an investment and very modest price because it saved us a the price of an actual transport to another state for a dinner. Plus we should be treated like royalty on our anniversary.
(4)Rachel R.
Incredibly unique experience. Everything has already been said about the food - it was a truly memorable event. However, I do want to mention my disappointment with the ladies restroom. For such an upscale pricey destination I would have preferred not to feel like I was in the restroom at a public train station. The toilet requires directions for use (not provided) and apparently I'm the only person that night that figured it out. Every lady prior to me did not successfully locate the flush button. You're at the restaurant for 3 - 5 hrs and unfortunately will probably have to visit the ladies room multiple times!
(4)Mindy C.
Yes, I'm a nerd. Huge nerd. Science nerd, to be exact. So, of course I would be drawn to a place that boasts Liquid Nitrogen courses. My boy took us here for a "surprise date." I was psyched when the cab pulled up to Moto. We sat down and started our meal... so many courses! Edible menus, onion soup, deconstructed french fries, dirt salad, cigar, ants on a log... and so many more. Every time the waiters came out, I was so excited to see what was next. During the conversations with the waiters, it came out that I worked at a science museum. The waiter said, "Oh, i bet you'd love to see the lab where we do some of our cooking!" Heck ya! So, we go downstairs and we start getting a private tour of the space they cook in during the Future Food show. So many cool toys. We head over the centrifuge and I look inside... and there's a ring. Yup, the boy proposed right there. How could I not love Moto after that? The staff is super nice and accommodating. The food is an adventure. It's expensive, but it'll be a memorable night (maybe not as memorable as mine, but I think it'll still hold a special place in your heart). Oh and clear your evening for this... our dinner took over 3 hours. Go!
(5)Marlon O.
The Moto experience is unique, even though the time commitment is heavy. I went to Moto in mid-June, while my wife and I were in Chicago for a family event. We had not experienced molecular gastronomy (or any of its derivations) and were recommended to Moto by a friend who had dined there before. We opted for the 10-course meal with the 5-wine pairing and every course was a mixture of interesting and superb. Among my favorites was the deconstructed soup (a solid that turned to liquid once in the mouth) although I would say I was a fan of pretty much anything that was put in front of me. Moto's interpretation of modernist cuisine is well-worth the hefty price of admission (I justified it as being theater and dinner in one bill). Highly recommended. Ratings Food: 4.9/5.0 Service: 5.0/5.0 Ambience/Decor: 4.8/5.0
(5)Lindsay H.
Holy lord...it's not a gimmick. There is some crazy food here but every single one of the 12 courses tasted amazing. Wine pairings were fantastic. Service out of this world.
(5)Heather D.
Came here on July 2nd with a couple friends for the 10-course dinner with wine pairing. I won't go on about the details of our food, because other reviewers did a great job detailing the menu descriptions. However, I will say that the service was excellent and the food was so fun and flavorful that it created an experience like nothing else I've had before. Some of the timing in between courses were off, but that could be because one of the members of our party has food allergies. Wine pairings with each course were appropriate and from diverse regions which me guests and I appreciated as wine connoisseurs. The first place they tried to seat us was in the basement and it was very quiet with a bad vibe, so we requested to be moved upstairs where the life was and the staff member who assisted us seemed irritated, which annoyed us because we were about to spend $1,000. Also, some of the guests seemed to be undressed for the venue. Overall, if you're looking for a unique experience and can splurge on a nice meal then definitely come by Moto!
(5)Nick C.
Went 8/18 for dinner. Amazing combinations that both trick and delight your senses. Portions are extremely small and a bit too slowly paced. However the quality, creativity, and depth of the 12-course menu is tough to beat. Definitely worth the trip for a true foodie. Can't wait to try ING next door, his new creation and passion where flavor tripping is the specialty. Had cocktails there and were truly amazing.
(4)Robert C.
I had the pleasure of eating here a year ago, and I'm still talking about that meal. If you go, try the 10-course menu with wine pairings. You can go for the full 20-course experience but you're likely to be full during the middle of the meal. The menu items are always changing so it's hard for me to recommend a dish. I just remember loving the dishes they served a year ago, and I'll certainly try them again when I'm back in the Windy City.
(5)Scott L.
We enjoyed our experience. We tried the 10 course dinner which lasted about 2.5 hours. We enjoyed many of the courses, especially the sweet ones. Some of the savory weren't our cup of tea, but it may have been a taste preference issues. Some things to consider: unlike the chairs at Alinea, these chairs are uncomfortable for a 2-4 hour dinner. The location: it's a haul getting out to Moto. Service: I like it may be an "MG" thing to get you to focus only on the sensory aspects of the food, but we felt intimidated by the service. The servers are great in terms of knowledge, but they de-emphasize any humor or personality. Again, perhaps it's a "MG" thing all around. Overall, there are some amazingly creative dishes and ones that you will only find at Alinea, Schwa (in Chicago), or at a few other places in the world. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of place.
(3)Jeremy J.
I open a narrow glass door among many, hoping I picked the right one. Signage is spare, and because our dinner is earlier than normal, there are no people waiting around or smoking outside. In fact, the desolate surrounding make me wonder if I've been dropped at the rear entrance. Just inside, however, a smiling man greets me and I know I've chosen correctly. I explain I am to meet the other diners downstairs in "the basement". He leads me through the upper dining area, and I get a fleeting sense of warmly-lit booths ensconced in browns and golds. Downstairs, I meet our fellow diners and drink in the cool environment: test tubes, lab equipment, and chemistry symbols adorning the walls. I'm in for a treat! To start, I try the cucumber & GINger cocktail. It is refreshing, though the ginger aspects are barely there. After some prompting from others, I follow up with the siesta. This is more to my liking! The coconut milk shields my taste buds from the harsher aspects of the tequila. For some reason, it tastes like a tropical version of egg nog...which isn't a bad thing. Adequately lubed, we are then presented with the menu for our 10 course meal. The menu itself it edible, a thin wafer of baked pastry upon which edible ink has been printed. The whole thing tastes like a grilled cheese sandwich! Some sections of raw tomato help freshen it up. We also ask the servers (who rotate out of the kitchen and sometimes create some of these dishes) to pair up some wine for each course. The servers are clearly having as much fun as we are, and that elevates our experience ten-fold. We start with a Ceviche Margarita, taking form as a lime foam snowman with Himalayan salt eyes, nose, and mouth sitting atop a sleigh of raw tuna. When all elements are combined, it does indeed taste like a margarita! There is no fish taste at all and the textures play off each other nicely. White Steel follows, a thick cut of mahi-mahi accompanied by bright red fish roe, all atop a hearts-of-palm puree infused with vanilla bean. The roe is salty and the texture is alien to me, but the fish is firm and flaky. Again, once all parts hit the fork with that puree, it becomes magic. I very nearly clear my plate. Our final "fish" course is the Crab Cake, which is really a puff pastry filled with lobster bits. Along for the ride are marinated fennel bulb and butter sorbet, all of it making for a rich and creative dish. Next up is NUAC man. No idea what it stands for, but it is a hunk of braised pork belly next to a mushroom broccoli rabe. In the middle of the rabe stands a tall, pale mushroom which has been dehyrdated then reconsistuted to create something like a mushroom "peep". It is light, crispy, and provides a nice constrast to the deep, earthen tones of the rest of the dish. Our next course is called Quail & Cracker Jacks, and that's about as literal as this meal got. Juicy quail breast, coated in Cracker Jack coating, arrives on a plate with dipping sauces and a cherry-flavored prize pouch. It is quick and delicious finger food. Our last main course is a Rabbit Maki, served up sushi-style with chopsticks. It is actually avocado and chunks of rabbit encircled by sticky risotto with a beet cone, garlic aoili, and a fresh pea puree made up to look like wasabi. It is a fun way to present the ingredients, and all of it works well together. I even like the rabbit! Finally, our dessert course begins with a Mexican Cannoli. But wait! It's another bait-and-switch! It's actually spicy barbeque pulled duck leg in a pastry that tastes like a tamale, covered in achiote sauce and sour cream. It is easily my favorite dish...the supreme example of your eyes telling you this is sweet, your taste buds testifying it is savory, and your brain trying to assimilate all the disparate sensory data. In a word: fun! Real dessert proceeds, including truffled ice cream and pineapple chai, but for all intents and purposes, the meal is done. I finish with a cup of hot espresso. For those foodies actively seeking a unique and experimental experience, I can't recommend Moto more. I can't imagine dining here more than once a year, but I can't imagine NOT dining here more than once a lifetime. So, if you're planning to go in 2011, let me know so I can tag along.
(5)maly b.
I was there for the 15 course winter menu.. It was very creative and tasty!! It had wine pairings with each course which my husband enjoyed.. I had the non alcoholic drinks and it paired each dish perfectly. Every course was beautifully presented like art on a canvas..It felt like an edible art show at its finest. All the waiters n waitresses was very friendly and courteous. Thanks for the wonderful entertaining experience=)
(5)Brett F.
I hate to go against the grain here because I truly wanted to LOVE Moto. It appeared to have all the right components to be my new favorite overly indulgent culinary muse.... *minimalist decor in trendy meatpacking district *attentive service from a knowledgeable, well trained staff *FABULOUS wine menu *inventive cuisine and innovative preparation methods *etc, etc, etc. Unfortunately the food just wasn't that good. I'm not sure if people get blinders on when they are shelling out big bucks at the latest and greatest and presume that $$$ = it must be great. Everything that came to the table was OK. And the 'Beet Cake' (a frozen beet sorbet with micro greens, goat cheese reduction, basil oil and beet sauce) was almost totally unpalatable for me... and I like beets!!!! Not one dish was ooooohed or aaaahhhhed over because of its fabulous tastes and complexities - is that really the sign of a 5 star restaurant?? Smoke and mirrors presentation is certainly entertaining, the liquid nitrogen (albeit a bit overplayed) cooking style is definitely impressive and a visual treat, but again... it doesn't make anything taste better. When the tastiest item on the menu is the menu itself (baked on parmesan flatbread), I have to say Moto fell short. Memorable experience. Disappointing food.
(3)Chris C.
Moto is an experience. No good way to describe it, other than to leave your preconceived notions of food at the door. The wine flight seemed like a decent idea, but not as good of an idea as just getting two bottles of wine instead. Also, the server hit us up with a free glass of desert wine, which was a nice touch. Chef Cantu wasn't there when I dined, but I was able to meet all of the kitchen staff / see their "lab" as they call it down in the basement. I would gladly drop some coin here again. Wonderful experience.
(5)Jessica C.
Dining at Moto Restaurant was purely an amazing experience. The hospitality given by all members of the staff was extremely inviting. They were very attentive, coming to clean the table between meals, refilling water, etc. My favorite thing about the staff was they pulled out your chair if they saw you getting up to use the restroom, then escorted you to the restroom, and put your chair back and folded your napkin while you were gone. The restaurant was small and located in a warehouse in an out-of-the-way part of town; I actually passed it the first time I went by. I knew it was going to be rather expensive, but I was not expecting the mandatory 18 percent service charge. We went with the 10 course. Though all of the meals were very creative and mostly delicious, there were some meals I did not enjoy. It was difficult for me to swallow the raw tuna and the extra-fatty pork. I also did not enjoy the awkwardly deconstructed enchilada or the Greek yogurt. The rest of the food, however, was divine. My favorite was the rooster, in which the waiter poured an interesting ingredient onto the plate. I don't want to give this away as this was the most shocking part of the evening. Though I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed myself, I do not think I can afford another trip there. But where else can you say you can eat out of an ashtray and drink from a beaker while eating a smoking edible packing peanut?
(4)Mabelle A.
What a fun dinner and experience! I have to admit that I wasn't really buying into the whole molecular gastronomy trend and the price tag associated with it. I'm glad that my friend and I decided to try this place. We had a great time. We did the 10 course with half wine pairing which was just the perfect amount of booze even with the additional comp champagne we got from our very friendly and attentive server. From the edible menu to paired beverages to each course, everything was wonderful and so well thought out. Things made to look like one thing were really made of something else. At the beginning, we were asked if there were any allergies or any food items we didn't really like (nice touch). For my curiosity I had asked what they would have done with a seafood allergy since my hubby is allergic and they have a whole arsenal of items to substitute. The dining room is not very large, but there are also some booths along the entrance and a private room downstairs where the "lab" is. At the end of the meal we asked if we could check it out and it was really cool to see all the tools they used to prepare our dinner.
(5)Patrick N.
my wife and i recently did the 20 course tasting menu and had an incredible time. we split the wine pairing, which is something i highly recommend. the pours are still quite generous, and definitely seemed to get bigger as the night went on. while nothing we ate that night was the best thing i have ever had flavor wise, the sheer creativity of the dishes along with the unusual flavor combinations made for an unforgettable night. the service and atmosphere were both great, and there is no pretension or stuffiness at all. overall, we really enjoyed our night at moto, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a truly unique dining experience. there are pics of all our courses in my blog in my profile.
(5)Jared W.
I contemplated whether I should even place a review, since my review mimics what many have already said, but since I'm still thinking about the experience a few days later, I'll write it down for others. My wife and I decided to try this during our short stay in Chicago and both of us really enjoyed it. The decor is fantastic, the waitstaff impeccable, the food impressive both in taste and execution/design but at this price point, none of these things should be anything but. We had a 10 course progression paired with various libations as recommended by Matthew Gundlach, the sommelier. In terms of the food, I found the savory dishes best executed -- next would be the more 'amuse-bouche' style/sized dishes, and last would be the dessert class dishes. As with a previous diner, I found the black truffle dessert to be a miss. As well, the drink pairings were well done -- one of the heartiest dishes was paired with a Belgian-style quad from Three Philosophers that is blended with a fruit lambic (cherry if I recall correctly). I was pleased to see it wasn't a list of 10 wines. As long as they keep creating these unusual and delicious creations, this restaurant will stay unique enough to keep people interested... I'm just not sure how much this concept can be stretched beyond what I experienced.
(4)Hilary J.
I enjoyed my first dining experience at Moto. If you're into food science and want to see some of the most unique food preparations known to man, it's pretty cool. One of the items I enjoyed was a smoked pork concoction wrapped up to look like a cigar, served in an ash tray, with edible "ash". Unique and tasty! However, I think 4 of the 10 courses we had last night were pork. Doesn't that seem a little pig heavy? The staff is appropriately attentive, but not incredibly personable. I could barely get a laugh out of any of them. Then again, perhaps I am not as funny as I fancy myself. Now was it worth the $500+ I spent for the two of us? Ehhh, not so much. They automatically add 18% gratuity to the check. I'm sure they often get screwed by people who don't tip appropriately, but I would have tipped more (20%+) had they left it up to me. Now ladies, I'm going to save you a few minutes of your time here. The toilet doesn't have a visible flushing handle. After scouring the freaking toilet for 2 minutes, I realized there is a button down on the left side of the bowl and that's the flusher. Weird. And disgusting location in my opinion. Nonetheless, good dinner, but severely overpriced unless you're really into molecular gastronomy.
(3)H H.
Moto was dreadful. The service was good and the waiters were attentive, but aside from that the experience was lacking and dripping with pretentiousness. The overly experimental food was pretentious at best and mostly tasteless. The combination of flavors were an equally poor attempt to be creative. Above all else, a restaurant needs to be known for it's food in addition to it's service. The food was fair to poor in every regard. This is another lesson in price does NOT equal quality. In addition, everyone at our table left hungry, which is another issue altogether. -hPOD
(1)Ted R.
The service was great,the wine pairing was glorious and the food was a little simple. Really didn't see a lot of molecular gastronomy, try SAAM at the Bizarre in Beverly hills you WILL see and taste the science. 3 people with an eleven course wine pairing was $1100.00 and change. I won't even get into the location.
(2)Anthony D.
Incredibly AMAZING! Moto just maybe the only reason I decided to visit Chicago (well, visiting Wrigley may have too --but I'm a Foodie @Heart!), so what better way to experience it then on my 2yr Anniversary. If price is an issue, this is mos def worth saving up for; a mean and unforgettable experience. We chose the smaller menu, as many of the things I wanted to try most were on here and my gf, being so impatient, wouldn't have been able to sit through all that. By far, my favorite thing was the cuban cigar. At first I figured it wasnt going to taste as good as crazy it looked, but, it tasted awesome. It was soft and flavorful and made my mouth salivate tears of joy. Other recommendations: The small little blueberry type desert (dang I cant remember the name). By far, THE BEST DESERT I EVER HAD. So good, we convinced the waiter to sneak us another *wink*. Staff is super cool, the food is deliciously insane, wine was even good too (we got a bottle of a wine from here in northern california and STILL cant find it anywhere) Next time I'm out there, definitely going again!
(5)Yvette P.
Quick and Simple: I think the wine is excellent, the wait staff excellent as well. The food was experimental and different, but not excellent. Chef Cantu was not very friendly or welcoming. The only reason we ate here was on the suggestion of Anthony Bourdain, won't be listening to him much anymore, at least will take what he says with a grain of salt. Although presentation was excellent, overall, I don't think Moto is worth the price. A onetime will do experience.
(2)Laurie S.
You can probably decide whether you will like Moto by reading the reviews for it on Yelp. Came here a few weeks ago on a Friday for what ended up being a four hour long dinner. Had the 10 course and left amused, but dissatisfied. For me, Moto epitomizes the idea that "just because you can, doesn't mean you should". There is very little use of restraint anywhere on the menu. Which would be fine, if everything tasted amazing. But for the price, there were quite a few misses. The most glaring offender was the black truffle mousse ice cream cake. This course was actually revolting. No one at my table wanted to take a second bite of it. The other two desserts were similarly off. An impressive display of technique, but poor balance of flavors and textures. I'm not going to go into great detail about what I liked and didn't like. Suffice to say, if you want to see someone play with your food, come to Moto. If you're a purist, there are better, more ingredient focused places to try in the city.
(3)Scott S.
12/28/10---The decor of the restaurant is modern and stylish. The service is good with fine explanation of the food preparation with each course of the 10 course tasting menu. Wine selection was a highlight and cudos for that. All that being said---for a top notch restaurant the overall food experience was mediocre to poor. While the food presentation was creative and fine--the pairings of flavors was challenged with virtually every dish. This left many dishes most unfiufilling with bland and inconsistent flavors. For the very hefty price point I found the restaurant was not able to achieve the unique greatness it clearly seeks. While it is a unique dining experience it is far over-rated. Thus--I give it 2 stars.
(2)Alexandra B.
I thought I liked anything and everything until I came here. Honestly, just because the presentation is amazing, doesn't mean you can skimp on the flavor and the overall taste of the food. You can say I have an unsophisticated palate, but I just did not understand how some of the flavors worked together. I think I had one or two courses of the 15 that I thoroughly enjoyed. This was my first time at a restaurant like this, but if they are all like this, I won't be going again any time soon. I was exhausted after 6 hours and wishing I had went for some Chicago deep dish instead. Also, the waiter spilled berry sauce on my white pants and sweater, completely a mistake and I would never write a bad review just because of that, but I think it was fairly obvious that we were there for a work dinner. Although they comped my meal, which was very nice and appreciated, I was not paying in the first place. So really, I got nothing at the end of the day. I don't think the stains will come out and I will be left with dry cleaning costs and the cost of having to buy new clothes. I would have appreciated if they offered to pay at least for my dry cleaning.
(2)Angie L.
We had a fabulous night and meal at Moto. The spring/summer menu is inventive, fun and has some really really amazing bites of the food. The service is excellent without being stuffy. Two of the courses were not my taste, but that is to be expected on this type of menu. One of the best dining experiences I have ever had.
(5)James L.
I went to Moto around 2005 when they were still a young establishment. There was a lot of promise and creative energy back then, but some aspects of the experience were pretty clumsy as they were just getting started. Flash forward eight years and this place is remarkably good. The food was really well-thought out and the theater was just over-the-top enough to give a sense of playfulness in the otherwise austere environment. I found the wine pairing quirky and interesting and deftly chosen. The service is a little strange and a bit unrefined in places, but that was only a small distraction during an otherwise excellent evening. In a year full of many, many restaurants, some of which had one or two more Michelin stars than Moto, this was our favorite dining experience.
(5)Anna Y.
It's not as good as they think it is . A lot of hype and little delivery. Some good things the oyster was disgusting and oysters are my favorite thing. But I think they want to be alinea and fall short.
(3)Stephanie M.
Great food and great experience - the portions were small, but everything was very good - also did the wine pairings, which were exceptional!
(5)Jen P.
Moto is definitely worth trying at least once. I went here with my boyfriend, and we had the 10 course meal with the wine pairings. We were there for maybe 3 hours. Neither one of us wanted to sit for longer than 3 hours; otherwise, we would've definitely done the 20 course meal. Every dish we had was not only interesting and fun to look at, but really tasty. Out of the ten dishes, I would say eight were absolutely delicious and two were good. Our server was friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and accommodating. We left here happy and satisfied. It is a little pricey, but you get what you pay for--and I think our dinner experience here was definitely worthwhile. We will definitely be back.
(5)Ginny L.
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.)
(5)Kara S.
This place is amazing! We went here for my friends birthday b/c she saw it on the food network (or some other food channel). This place is an experience! We ordered the 10-course meal and were there for about 4.5 hours. I won't go into too much detail but when you're here keep an open mind and don't just eat the food, taste it. The flavors really complement each other. Definetely check it out!!!
(5)Lindsey H.
Last night's dinner at Moto was quite possibly the best dining experience of my life. When I first came to the restaurant a little over a year ago I had been impressed with their innovative and creative dishes, but today's Moto has reached new heights. You can see and feel the amount of work and energy the culinary and front of house staff have put into making that evolution. Each of the 14 courses on the menu was like its own complete scene to be experienced through sight, smell, taste and texture. The components of each dish are so well thought out and the flavors melded perfectly. We opted for the wine pairing and I'm so glad we did because the pours complemented and heightened the flavors throughout the evening's meal. Ocean, Forest Foraging and the Red Wine Salad were probably my favorite courses, but it was truly difficult to choose because each was so different and good in its own right. "Smell the Glove" was a bit too sweet, but gets props for the Spinal Tap inspiration. One of my favorite parts about the night was that once we arrived we were able to let go and let the staff take over, guiding us expertly through the foods and wines. We are thankful to Alex and Miranda, our main server and sommelier, who were like our narrators throughout it all. Our thanks, too, go to all of the other countless servers and chefs who paid such close attention to every detail, from plating to serving to pouring and clearing. It was quite an orchestrated event that we didn't fully appreciate until talking about it after leaving the restaurant. This was a dining experience like no other, and I'm excited to see what Moto has to offer next.
(5)Jenny K.
It was fun experience trying inventive, unusual molecular gastronomy. My favorite was their edible menu. I enjoyed the overall presentation and eating something that looked like one thing but tasted entirely and unexpected different. I, personally, would not pay several hundred dollars more than once for this type of entertainment though. I care more about good food well made, than the gimmicks.
(4)Heather R.
Seriously folks...I pride myself in being a foodie...(and now learning how to tell others on Yelp - yahoo!). Moto is like nothing you've ever experienced before. Chef Homaro Cantu and the team have exceptional EVERYTHING before you ever get to the food. Exceptional environment, service, customer engagement, personalized touches....Every person feels special coming into this environment, it feels as though every detail is considered....then you get to the food. My all time favorite was the cuban sandwich served (looking like) a cigar burning in an ash tray. The flavors were fantastic! WOW...do your eyes play tricks on your tastebuds! it is a bit expensive...but worth every penny. If you're thinking about coming to Moto...STOP THINKING AND DO IT. You will not regret it, and you'll be telling everyone you know about your experience.
(5)Fleming B.
My boyfriend took me here for my Christmas present this year, and I have to say, he chose correctly. While initially put off by the price, we had heard such good things about it that we thought we could make it work on our grad student salaries. We chose the smaller of the two prix fix menus, as we didn't want to be trapped in a restaurant for 3-4 hours. It was a novelty dinner, but a thoroughly enjoyable one. Each course was more fanciful than the next. The menu revolves around surprise - each dish comes out looking uniquely like one thing, but tastes like a completely different one. The highlights for me: a reuben that looked exactly like lasagna, a cannoli that was actually a Mexican entree, and (my favorite) the cuban beef "cigar." It was a fun, fancy dinner that was full of unexpected "wow" moments. However, I don't think it would be worth the money to do it again, unless the menu completely changed. We paid for the experience, not the food. It was completely worth it, and I adored it, but I think one time is enough per menu.
(5)Allen S.
For all you naysayers out there, in the words of my wife: "WHINERS!" I'll skip the part where I justify my foodie existence by name dropping, and I will say that if you are seeking a Michelin 3 star experience, this isn't it. It is, however, an incredibly creative and interesting way of preparing food. It's just plain fun. So, let me update some of the comments that you've read below. 1) There is liquid nitrogen prepared ingredients and dishes, but nothing that "burns your tongue". 2) People complained about skimpy pours with the wine pairing? It's a 13 course meal! How many ounces did you expect per pour? 3 full bottles worth for 90 dollars would be an outstanding deal. There are also incredibly reasonable wine options on the menu. There is literally a 35 dollar bottle. I'd imagine it's horrible, but you are by no means stuck with only expensive wine choices. 3) There is music. Not sure where that nitpick came from. 4) There is a male and female bathroom - it's not unisex (not sure where that nitpick came from, either). 5) The area is ghetto, sure. Honestly though, did you really walk to a 600 dollar dinner? The cab will do a great job ensuring your survival. 6) Not every dish is going to blow your mind, but luckily, you have 13 to try. It's impossible for everyone to love every dish with this much variety. 7) Decor - yes it's spartan, but think trendy European as opposed to empty warehouse. I thought it was classy. 8) Time Frame - This was not 4.5 hours like many reviewers said. It took us 2.5 hours, which for a 13 course dinner is completely reasonable. We didn't feel rushed or that there were empty moments. Note: We went at 5 PM, so it's possible the later dining options take longer. If time is a concern, go early. All in all, we had a fun filled dining experience that we won't soon forget. From reading other reviewers, it sounded like we had some different entrees, which makes me think they are always changing out the things that work and don't work. So, I think that there will always be something unique to try there. Go in with the realistic expectation that you'll pay about 600 for a couple for dinner and a show in 1, and you shouldn't leave disappointed .
(5)Kevin S.
Moto = win. There is no experience like the one you get at Moto. My fiancee and I were lucky enough to have my future mother-in-law give us a reservation here when we visited Chicago a year ago. We had the 10 course meal, she got the vegetarian and I got the meat eater's variety. Amazing. We have the printed menu saved (since we ate our menus at the restaurant... printed on a piece of toast) so we can forever relive that meal. The icing on the cake was after the meal, when one of the wait staff offered to call a cab for us--and stood in the street in the rain to do so. That's service! My recommendation? Just do it. Take the hit to the wallet (or have a family member pay for you), because there's nothing in the world like Moto.
(5)Tim Y.
The food here is wonderfully creative. Delivery timed just right with impeccable service and attention to detail, it's definitely worth the five hours to do the twenty course menu: something I was very nervous about heading in. It's a foodie's dream, and an amazing roller coaster for the senses. Right from the start when we were sharing laughs with the staff over earlier comments we'd posted to them via Twitter (encouraged per the menu!), staff was on point. Food arrived in steady intervals - not too fast, not too slow. This isn't an experience you want to rush even if you *are* hungry. Having time between courses allowed for great discussion and many, many laughs. My favorite course was the Cuban cigar -- how fitting for a rabid anti-smoker. Every course had ups and downs, highs and lows. At our table, there was only one person who truly didn't like one of the courses. Lucky husband, he got to eat her rejects. Yum. A tip of the hat to their accommodation of lactose/dairy intolerance. Menu items were not sacrificed in quality nor quantity as a result, leaving everyone at the table impressed and thankful that our dairyless friend shared the same tasting experience as everyone else. As Jen V. suggests, stay away from the basement. We sat upstairs, but were invited to the kitchen to have our final course with the chefs. On the way down we had to pass through this area and I couldn't believe that they'd actually seat people here. The space seems like an afterthought and definitely lacks the ambiance of the main dining room. One group had a young child with them, and I'm a bit confused as to why they'd bring the little one to a place like this. While I'm fine eating a foie gras cupcake, something tells me little Jimmy might find it a bit offputting. I didn't hear too much screaming from that side of the room, so perhaps they fed him chocolate truffles until he passed out. Or maybe that's just what I'd like to have happen to myself next time...
(5)Chicago 1.
Liked the concept and the dinner portion was amazing. Did not like any of the desserts and was excited to see what I thought was coffee service - the wine pairings are a lot of wine and I don't really drink red. But not coffee service, a dessert that looked like it. (And was not at all good, cinnamon and foam, yuck.) At least offer coffee for a $750 dinner. Time in between courses was excessive, this did not need to take 4.5 hours. Was interesting but we won't be back. I ate some leftover pizza when we got home, was still hungry.
(3)Cokeaholix X.
It is fun and interesting experience. Like a big budget Hollywood special effect movie. Wish it had a better story. The food is unconventional for the wow factor not because it improves the flavor. Sitting through a 20 course meal after a long day was tedious even thou the staffs are friendly and very efficient . wait time between course is minimal.
(4)Mimi T.
I think Moto is worth trying once because of the unique experience of eating super creatively concocted food. I went with a group of friends for the 10 course meal. Not all courses were outstanding in taste (1/3 were not tasty or too salty, 1/3 were pretty good, and 1/3 were very delicious) but most were amazingly interesting in concept and presentation. You definitely have to love the idea of the crazy experiments in food design and recipes, otherwise the whole thing just seems hokey and overly expensive. The service was awesome and the waiters were super friendly and fun. They gave us a tour of the kitchen afterward, which was so cool (especially after watching their show, Future Food). I ended up being too full at the end. 10 courses is a lot of food. Don't bother with the 20 courses, by the end of 10 you feel like you are ready for the 3 hour experience to be finished. In summary: Pluses: crazy unique food, a fun and interesting experience, great service, cool industrial minimalist ambiance Minuses: expensive, all courses not as consistently tasty as you would expect for the price
(4)erica f.
Had to check out MOTO. My slave and I did the 20 course (if you plan on the 20 course its beneficial to make it the ONLY meal of the day-I was full by #9) Overall, GREAT line-up of dishes. I love anything creative or avant garde... esp. food related. The only dish that I could say disappointed me was the cigar. I had seen pix of it here on yelp and just thought "o, how awesome, I love to smoke 'em, so maybe I'll love to eat 'em!" No. It was NOT my favorite. I can not even explain the taste (I'm writing this review a bit late) but I remember the bitterness and gross texture inside the rolled up cigar. Other than that it was fab 5 freddy. The "siesta" and the "picnic" were great cocktails, the "picnic" being the fave with the help of the liquid nitrous pouring out from the top. I enjoy smoking drinks... I don't know if they give out DVDs for everyone but that night after we were through with everything- almost forgot! The "acme bomb" and "soda float" deserts were VERY delicious and quite imaginative... oK, so after the meal we were given DVDs of FUTURE FOOD featuring MOTO and their super awesome team of chefs which I had never heard before....U get to see all the behind the scenes stuff and what they do in the kitchen lab-Highly entertaining for any food lover. I HAD FUN
(4)Waleed I.
Just like with Alinea, you must view the pictures simultaneously with the review to better understand. I won't write a bunch of comments about each, but rather primarily rank the dishes and mention the highlights for each dish. I prioritized the dished by a 1 (dishes I loved), 2 (dishes I thought were good) ,or 3 (dishes that I didn't care for). I had 7 #1s, 8 #2s, and 7 #3s. #15 Tortilla chip menu It's obviously cool that he can print menus that are edible. But one side of the menus was not even legible and the flavors were that of grocery store chips. The sauce lacked depth as well. #16 Salmon & sesame The idea is great on this one. Using liquid nitrogen to freeze the sesame oil with a salmon tartare. But there was no liquid in the dish to help bring the oil out of it's frozen state so it tasted pasty. #13 Soup & salad Another cool concept, pairing soup in salad in one bowl, both in liquid form. The soup was pizza, a good quality spicy tomato bisque. The salad not as good. Liquefied 'lettuce', anchovy paste, and croutons. I liked the paste. #10 Acorn with bacon A very interesting dish. On the right was a normal acorn squash soup, but the left was where the dish was at. If I remember correctly, a dehydrated squash and hydrated. It had a funky texture, but I liked this one. #19 Synthetic champagne A syringe releases two ingredients, both of which I can't remember and 3 secret ingredients. I think the effort that went into this dish didn't show in the final product. Nothing special from a taste standpoint. #21 Goat cheese snow Snow? How about shredded goat cheese that was chilled. #2 Hamachi & orange I loved this one. The yellowtail was good, but the thing is you squeeze some of the orange on it. The orange is carbonated, so it's like if Orange Cola had a baby. not sure how this is done, but it's a very cool effect. #3 Miso & grilled tuna One of my favorites for the effects. The miso soup was good. The tuna sat on a grill frozen with liquid nitrogen, so it actually gave the raw tuna 'grill' marks or freezer burn for that matter. I thought the effect was really cool. #18 Pomegranate & caped gooseberry Nothing special here. I think they call it a palette cleanser or palette yawner. Just pomegranate soup, gooseberry sorbet, and a gooseberry. #6 Caramel apple Another good one for me. A hollowed apple filled with bacon and given the usual caramel apple fixings. The sweetness of both complimented each other. #4 Rabbit & aromatic utensils The battleship plate. The sage utensils didn't do much for me, but they looked cool. The roasted rabbit and the rabbit confit were delicious and tender. The beans and the rice krispie things were not needed. #14 Jalapeno & cilantro I love creative ice cream, so I like this and the avocado and cream went well with the dish. No need for the grains on the bottom. #9 Al pastor with avocado Duck al pastor, very good dish, avocado popper, spooned with a good mole sauce on the bottom. One of my favs that night. # 20 Orange scented wine glass You take a tour of the kitchen for this dish. A laser gives the flavor of orange into a wine glass. The wine glass is set on your table and served with wine after a few minutes. I tasted wine, not much orange. #22 Chicken-fried mac-n-cheese Rib-eye fried like chicken with white truffles and mac 'n' cheese. By far, the worst dish of the night. Rib-eye did not work fried and the dish was so salty. #1 Lychee rigatoni fruit plate Loved this dish. Flourless, eggless, lychee rigatoni on a marscapone sauce that was was great. #7 Carrot cake planet Carrot cake in three forms, all of which were new to me, hard to describe. I liked this one a lot and it just looked cool #17 3 cotton candy stages Top --- tasted like shredded filo dough with simple syrup. Bottom --- cotton candy edible paper --- cool, except for the copyright. Bottom --- hard candy --- it tasted ok. Nothing special. #12 Flapjacks prepared tableside The pancakes are prepared on a small grill that was frozen in liquid hydrogen and dipped in syrup. I liked the flavor of this one and it was creative. A keeper. #8 Cherry bomb This was cool. A cherry sauce cover chocolate with a cherry stem (play on words), macerated cherries (boring), and cherry cola candy (cool). #5 Doughnut soup & pancake I could drink this everyday. Jack-in-the-box should come out with a doughnut shake. Very cool. #11 Chili-cheese nachos I loved when this one came out. It looked great yet it was a dessert. As for the taste, as Borat would say, " Not so much." Sugared chips, kiwis, shredded mango sorbet, lemon marscarpone cream (loved it), and ground milk chocolate. The chef still need to refine his cooking processes and the same ingredients/techniques were presented in too many dishes. But, I think I still need to give it a 5 star as he is doing something that only a handful of chefs are doing or even capable of doing in the US.
(5)David W.
First let me say that the 20 course gtm (grand tasting menu?) is frankly too much - it took us 5.5 hours to get through it and by the end we were rolling our eyes with trepidation at the thought of the final few courses. As my better half pointed out - this is Louis XIV territory. We paired it with the half wine tasting menu which usually consists of 6 wines, although we ended up getting 8 as our waiter slipped in a couple of extras as the evening progressed. The only downside to the half menu is that you'll be without wine for a few courses here and there, but trust me by the end of the meal you won't be feeling hard done by. The food and atmosphere of the place is really fun and full of theatre. Whilst it is pretentious (what do you expect?) it's not at all snooty so you can sit back, relax and enjoy a joke with the waiters. Even if you yourself are snooty, by course 15 you'll be sitting back and relaxing whether you like it or not. For some reason our waiter had it in his notes that I was a Chef and despite explaining there had been some kind of mix-up, that didn't stop him organising us a tour of their food "lab" and an introduction to the sous-chef to talk about some of the courses. The "lab" was next to the kitchen and was apparently where they experimented with centrifuges and microscopes to invent new dishes; frankly it felt a bit staged and I would've rather have seen the actual kitchen, but either way it was a fun end to the evening. All in all we had a great time and I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a memorable evening of gastronomy. It's probably worth noting that we thought we'd booked ourselves in for the 10 course menu, but by the time we'd realised we were on the 20 course menu it was too late to do much about it - you lose track of the course numbers very quickly. So it's worth confirming you're getting what you expected before starting out.
(4)Max M.
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.
(5)James F.
Holy Crap Cantu! Your restaurant sucks! Everything was so forgettable and the service sucked. It took over four hours for me and the wife to choke down your 20 course menu. Unless you can't taste food, you will hate this place. All their proteins were cooked incorrectly and who gives a shit if mushroom water is reconstructed into a mushroom that tastes like nothing. Oh yeah, shit printed on paper, well, tastes like fucking paper. This place was robbery....Go buy yourself a big mac to sample the sauce on the egg cubed dish.
(1)ning j.
My friend from out of town raved about this place. So me being a virgin to restaurants that invovle several courses and gastronomy, was super excited to try Moto. We got the 10 course, and thank goodness we did cause the meal took 3hrs! The serving sizes weren't super small too so we were full by the 6th course, which we barely took a bite of! The service was impeccable and ambience very modern. They had two waiters waiting on you at a time and they changed the utensils for every course! The food was very interesting but not too weird! My favorites were the pork belly, quail, and uno. The popcorn dust with the caramel paper was super cool, as with the edible menu! I'm usually a dessert kind of gal but the ones here weren't amazing. Overall a great experience though, but pricy! The most expensive meal of my life yet! After tip it came out to be around $170pp w/o drinks. But I'm liking this whole multiple courses thing and can't wait to try Alinea and compare!
(4)Peggy G.
Phenomenal all around -- food, service, ambiance. One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago
(5)Chris B.
It's been a while since I dined at moto, but it was execeptional when I did have the pleasure. I dined by myself, but was gracefully entertained by the courses and wines that I had that evening. the decor was plush and comfortable. I was given a moment to settle in and I then was brought a "tasting menu" course composed of a bite of all of the next courses that I would enjoy. This was the start of a wowing experience. Each course blew me away more than the previous. Miranda, my server gave me intense detailed information about each wine, so much so that I really had to search for notes in the wine that were not included in her discriptions to discover. The food was to die for. I think that it may have been the best meal of my life. I had an exceptional time. My favorite course was the Sticks and Stones course. Very complex and sweet. It was a bit much for one course so I did not finish it, but who ever complains about a generous portions. It was a great experience and I recommend it to anyone who is in Chicago and wants to be treated to a pure symphany of food, excellent service, and world class wines. I'd be best to check it out by yourself if you can't find a friend as I did, or grab a crew and head down there.
(5)Madeline B.
It's hard to leave a bad review after so many people leave good ones because the handful of bad ones will be looked over as just a one time fluke. But this restaurant is NOT a one time fluke. My husband and I have been to a bunch of these molecular gastronomy restaurants both in Chicago and around Europe and Moto, I swear, was like eating at Taco Bell. Actually, I prefer those nasty soft shell tacos they have a Taco Bell to the food we had last night. It just wasn't good. A few courses were just fine, nothing special, certainly not worth the price but tasted fine. And the rest were actually bad, bad to the point where you don't even want to eat the second bite of your two bite dish. We did the 10 course menu and thank god we didn't do the 20 because I think one of us would have thrown up. Anyway, don't go. Definitely go to Tru or Alinea. Alinea is amazing and has a better atmosphere and a more knowledgeable and lest nerdy waitstaff and the food is to die for. Tru has great tasting menus with great wine pairings. Schwa is another good one. But NOT MOTO.
(1)Jeffrey H.
One of the best dining experiences I've ever had! Everything was 5 stars. The food, the drinks, the service, and the atmosphere were all great. It was over a year ago now. My date and I opted for the 10 course meal and it filled us up plenty. All of the creations were unique looking and tasted delicious! As each dish came out, two servers would synchronously lay our plates in front of us and even pour each of us water. Top notch service for sure. With the dishes being so unique looking, at some point, you have to fight off your own instincts and expectations on a dish because of how it looks or seems like it will taste. For instance, the Cuban Cigar actually looks like a real cigar. You have to fight off your urges that tell you "This is going to taste like an ashy, nasty, burnt cigar". Of course it turns out to be something very delicious! It's a little pricey, for sure. But it's definitely worth the meal and the experience. Perfect for a birthday, anniversary, or a special date. I cannot wait to go back.
(5)Rb C.
Most amazing food I have ever had. They let us go in to the kitchen we met richie. Best birthday ever!
(5)giggity G.
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.
(4)Jacques G.
Like some others, we were a little freaked when our cab ride started to go through a warehouse district, I guess you can say the food will always be fresh since all the food distributors are right there. The food was good and surprisingly filling. The staff were very friendly and even asked us our opinions on the menu. Some of the dishes were I wouldn't say salty, but very strong in flavor. The menu had a very strong seaweed taste (it was a japanese style rice roll with pickled vegatables). The nose-to-tail was very good and had a little edible diagram of a pig which tasted like bacon. Desserts were our favorite, including one named Michael Bolton, which had a picture of his face painted onto a cookie. There were some minor nuances that bothered me. For one the music or muzak was somewhat annoying. Also the bathroom was stocked with Palmolive soap and not a true hand soap. Also I was annoyed that at first they serve you bottled water, but as the night progressed they started giving us tap water. I'm sorry but for $450 for 2 people (I had 2 glasses of wine and my wife didn't have any), they could do those small things right. In all, its a cool place and you do have to have a sense of humor (and quite a bit of money). If you are a picky eater, I wouldn't suggest eating here.
(3)Grace L.
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!
(5)Julie B.
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.
(5)Steve M.
Amazing experience, great service and playfull dishes. Open up your wallet and enjoy the fun. Expect to pay $400 for a 15 course tasting menu for two that will blow your mind, quite literally.
(5)Lara M.
I would give this 3.5 stars in reality. The decor and ambiance was great, tables not too close together (just close enough to gawk at upcoming courses). The service was good but a few of our servers were mumble-mouthed, including our main server. I did the 10 course menu, but I wish I could have sprung for the 20 as I was left feeling like I missed out on some of the more interesting courses. Two of the courses were outstanding, a few were okay and two I didn't care for. The cuban cigar was the standout! I was hoping this would be a little more like Alinea in the strangeness of presentation. I felt like there was a lot of "it looks like this but is made of something else." Overall a fun night, good food, nice atmosphere.
(4)Alexis B.
I knew walking into moto that I was there for an experience. I definitely got one - but what I hadn't realized is that it last 5 1/2 hours. Seriously! We walked in for the 20 course meal at 7 PM and didn't get back into a cab to head home until 12:30 AM. Make sure you carve out a few hours for a meal here, and don't start the 20-course menu at 9:30, like the woman at the table next to us - I can only imagine when she made it home... I appreciated what the chefs did with the menu; my boyfriend turned me on to the show "Future Food", which is what inspired the trip in the first place. It was also the most expensive meal I can remember paying for, with one possible exception - so I walked in expecting to be "wow"ed. All in all, I felt like I got sent on a bunch of unexpected twists and turns, and couldn't foresee what each of the dishes would be about. I don't really want to describe the dishes, for fear of ruining the surprise for people who are planning on visiting - but if you see the Bubble Tea, Clam Bake, Cuban Cigar, and Rainbow Sprinkles, those were probably the top of my list. We also splurged and went for the wine pairing, which was incredibly interesting, and considering the price of the cheapest bottle of wine on the menu, absolutely worth it. My favorite - more because it was so far outside of any reference - was actually a beer that was superbly smoky. We also got to try a wonderful range of whites and reds and sparklings and... oh boy was I bubbly by the end of the night :) What made me sad about the meal - and what makes it impossible to give Moto a 5 - is that I started feeling full about halfway through the 20 courses. After about 10 courses, I had to pace myself to the end - and some of the courses I couldn't finish. I'll still keep on watching the moto chefs on Planet Green, but I think this was probably a one-time-only visit. I just wish they'd been more conservative with the portion sizes; it would have made this a truly outstanding experience.
(4)Ryan M.
As far as the food and general experience goes, there's not much I can add to the ~150 other reviews except that Moto doesn't take themselves quite as seriously as you'd expect (fun dishes, cool wait staff, etc) certainly to their benefit, in my mind. Allow me to provide anecdotal evidence in story-form: Sometime during the first 4 courses there was a joke or story said about PBR and how we drank it in college, etc. and we all had a good laugh about it. We all opted-in to the wine pairings and the middle (5th) pairing was some kind of beer. One of my friends didn't like it at all, so he poured it into someone else's glass who did. The wait staff took immediate notice and not 10 minutes later returned with an unsolicited solution... The waiter placed a chilled granite stone (seemingly for white wine) on the table and placed upon that, yes, an ice-cold tall-boy of Pabst Brewing Company's finest: PBR, acquired from a nearby pub. An attention to detail AND a sense of humor? -- that's a win in my book. Other random points of note... I would suggest not coming here when it's hot outside, Moto is squeezed between two meat packing plants so It smells quite strongly of rotting flesh outside. Every time the door opened I thought I was going to vomit. Aside from a horrible location, everything else was top notch. Came here with a party of 8 for my birthday; it was one of the best times I've had here in Chicago. Oh yeah, all our drinks were free (including the can of PBR); can't beat that.
(4)tiara w.
My boyfriend surprised me by taking me here for our 2.5 year anniversary, when we went to visit Chi-town.. INCREDIBLE experience!! We opted for the 10-course tasting menu. & there was not a single item that i was disappointed with!..My favorite was the desert..kinda of a mini "corn cake" type treat with fresh berries..the BEST desert I've ever had!..the waiter saw how much i enjoyed it, he even "snuck" an extra "corn cake treat" desert to us, since we were celebrating out anniversary. From the begining & being able to literally EAT our menus, to the "cuban cigars", "bacon & eggs", edible papers & deconstructed french onion soup... Dont let your eyes fool you..not everything is as it seems..Definitely worth trying, you will not be disappointed...so go ahead splurge & spoil yourself at least once! we're trying to plan another trip back to Chicago to revisit MOTO & try a different tasting menu..
(5)Rob C.
10 course tasting -- $135, 2.5 hrs was really looking forward to this meal. (alinea takes more advanced planning.) oh, i later learned you can ask for a tour of the kitchen if you're interested a chef playing with food can be fun or too gimmicky. luckily, of the ten courses, 6 were hits. edible print is quite impressive. esp. the copyright! *ceviche margarita -- least impressive dish taste wise. started with a playful snowman made of lime juice and himalayan rock salt, over ahi tuna ceviche with goji flavor margarita to melt the snowman. the goji flavor was the only special part, otherwise forgetable *white steel -- again, was a little boring. seared ono with hearts of palm and vanilla puree with a side of red tobiko roe and a slice of carbonated grapefruit with dusted juniper powder...sounds unique but flavors didn't impress and fish wasn't that soft *crab cake -- this was the first dish that really represented some molecular gastronomy creativity with some unique tasty flavors. the crab cake consisted of a top lemon cream cheese icing and a bottom fennel fronds puree and fennel bulb sauteed to look like caramelized onions, squash ice cream, dehydrated remains as a crumbled powder under the ice cream; it was surprising to have the lemon yet slightly sweet icing over the savory crab (appearing like a cupcake) ... impressive *nuac man -- pork belly with matsutake mushroom puree, mushroom puff, gailan florette, another average dish except for the mushroom puff which was cool. paper thin and kinda melted when eaten *quail and cracker jacks -- this was one of the best dishes of the night, was their take on a baseball inspired course consisting of quail wrapped in peanut flour coating and deep fried sitting over a caramel apple puree, coca cola reduction, and edible cherry flavored cracker jack wrapper with popcorn powder. so creative and good. it was like an awesome chicken nugget dipped in apple with powdered popcorn and intense cola, all supercharged flavors. amazing. *rabbit maki -- the dish is immensely creative. looks like the real maki roll. consists of smoked rabbit tenderloin with roasted brussel sprouts, wrapped in a mushroom paper with sticky risotto and sesame, all spice aioli, pickled daikon radish and freeze dried peas to look like wasabi. the smoked rabbit was delicious. *mexican cannoli -- also one of the best dishes. it was a play on a dessert dish that is actually savory. so while it looked like a cannoli, it was really like a deconstructed enchilada made of a chile braised duck leg inside a crispy corn tortilla garnished with crushed pepitas (candy spiced pumpkin seeds), and lime flavored sour cream all covered with a mole sauce. on the side was a powder of freeze dried corn and jalapeno oil -- this stuff was genius, tasted so good. *truffled ice cream -- of the dessert courses, this one was the best. it was an airlike truffle mousse cake with an outside of rosemary cake crumble and toasted hazelhuts with poached apples on the bottom. the texture was so surprising. almost like ice cream but looks like bread. this is why i like molecular gastronomy. *pineapple and chai -- started with pineapple infused with vanilla bean, with a lime cheesecake puree, spiced currants, chai team foam, and crispy noodle dusted with cilantro, basil, mint. very different, but not a favorite dessert of mine, all the elements did come through *tea time -- bottom orange jelly, topped with earl gray ice cream and chocolate mousse, with a lemon butter cookie crumble, pieces of honey meringue dusted with raspberry powder. only problem here was too much cookie crumble *finally, ended with a nairoli soda float with a packing peanut on top dipped in liquid nitrogen and flavored with fresh vanilla bean. the peacking peanut was made of starch but had such a strange texture it was almost like styrofoam. really weird and too flowery a drink underneath in summary, not the best molecular meal like Bo Innovation or Bazaar but really high up there. (btw, the only way i could get all these descriptions is by recording it on my iphone!)
(4)Diana C.
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...
(5)Jeff N.
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.
(3)TASTY T.
okay so i equate Moto to a the cheerleader with a ton of botox and fake tits. all looks good and everyone wants to be with her, but once you get to know her, things ain't as great as you hyped it out to be. Moto in my eyes is just a great hype machine. the food is nothing to write home about, the flavors are mediocre at most. nothing really wowed me. to make things worse you lose your whole night and pay a arm and a leg for something mediocre. not worth it peeps.
(1)Justin R.
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.
(5)Cat G.
Having just returned from a fabulous trip to Paris and dinning at Robuchons (beyond amazing doesn't do it justice)..I was spoiled! We are foodies to say the least! Decided to take my mother to Moto for her birthday. I don't really know where to begin....I'm going to keep this review short and as polite as possible. $1000 later this was nothing short of poop! Wine was amazing....I needed a cheeseburger on the drive home! Don't waste your time or money! Save it and go to Robuchons.....this dinner was nothing short of insulting!
(1)Mio S.
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.
(3)Michelle Y.
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.
(4)Michael P.
Ahhhhh Moto, Alinea's poor often ignored little brother. Between it's high profile Lincoln Park location, and it's higher profile chef that battled cancer, Alinea always gets more press than Moto when in reality these two restaurants are so similar only small differences distinguish the two. Moto, like Alinea is more about the experience than it is about eating. Chef Cantu is also a master of the food as art, but Cantu adds a little more science where Chef Achetz adds a little more art. It's very hard not to compare the two, but chances are, if you're here on yelp reading reviews about either restaurant, you're probably doing just that. I've been to both Alinea and Moto several times. Unlike Alinea, upon return visits, Moto was completely different than previous visits. At Alinea, some things stay similar but different, and some things are just the same. At Moto, other than eating the menu that you are about to be served, everything changes if you don't go back for a few months. Chef Cantu, like Chef Achetz, is a master of molecular gastronomy. Both restaurants provide an extremely unique dining experience, but Moto is far more interactive of the two. Where most of the magic at Alinea happens in the kitchen, a lot of the magic at Moto is table side or requires your participation. Getting into specific dishes at Moto seems silly to me, as they change so often that if you're reading a review more than a month old, you won't be getting the same food. However, from the menu that you consume as a first course, to desserts that melt into other desserts while you finish your main courses, Moto combines excellent food with chemistry class from high school. Sure, you're bound to have a couple of misses when you do an extensive 10-20 course meal, not everything is for everyone, especially when you are doing a science experiment. The same thing happened to me at Alinea, you're bound to get a course or two that isn't for you when you're eating 25 courses over a four hour time frame. As a person that has been to both Alinea and Moto on several different occasions, I can honestly say I'd go back to Moto before Alinea. At Moto, you never know what Chef Cantu will have you doing while eating. You might be mixing your own champagne from pipettes, or lifting glasses filled with smoke from a vanilla bean that was burned with a class four laser. Much like Alinea, Moto is dinner and a show, but the meal is the show. You have to have an open mind and an adventurous palette to dine at Moto, but in the end, you won't forget the experience you had there even if you've eaten at the older, more popular brothers spot.
(5)Bryan W.
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.
(5)Chris D.
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.
(3)David B.
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.
(5)Kimberly M.
Loved it!! Was visiting my cousin and we went for dinner, it was a really cool experience. Worth the money. I dont like raw or rare meat, and half way through the courses they noticed and brought me only well done pieces of meat. Very attentive.
(5)Andrea T.
SHORT VERSION: come here to be entertained by the novelty of it all--not by the quality of the food or service. LONG VERSION: In our final night in Chicago, Hubby and I decided to have one last dining hurrah and booked reservations at Moto. We had prepared (based on the reviews) to have the food take a bit of a backseat to preparation techniques but not by as much as it did. We both ordered the 20-course GTM and Hubby ordered a half wine pairing. Pacing of the meal was fine, but be prepared to sit for a long time--we were there a full 5 hours. Highlights of the meal included the caviar and lemon snow and the triple earl grey tea dessert. Hubby really enjoyed the golden twist "ale" soup and the banana split sundae. If you're counting that's four courses--out of 20--that we thought were good. To be fair, the rest of the dishes weren't bad, per se, but they just didn't live up to the expectations set by the price point. We had dined at L2O two nights before and thoroughly enjoyed our experience and didn't begrudge a penny spent. That said, L2O had food that was consistently excellent, service that was flawless, accommodating and impeccable. They lived up to their 3-michelin star pedigree. However, Moto was different--and not in a good way. Food was okay with a few highlights, but service was awkward and throughout the evening, we probably had 5 different servers, only one of which was good at describing the dishes. The wine pairing was lackluster and in the end we paid $30 less than we did at L2O. So for the same price, we have a 3-michelin starred restaurant, great food and great service vs. a non-starred restaurant, okay food and awkward service. The choice is simple. I'm not trying to be overly-harsh or snarky but when you spend nearly $700 on a meal, dammit you should enjoy every bit of it. Period. Had Moto been 30% less, it would have been worth it. The final insult was the automatic 18% gratuity added to our bill. Um, really? For a party of 2? Typically, we tip at least 20% and feel perfectly fine, but this is something that should be left to the diners' discretion. A tip is just that and is something that needs to be earned and not something a restaurant is entitled to. Overall, the dishes were whimsical and fun, but again that alone isn't worth the money. Taste and service trumps gimmicks, anyday. I'm glad I tried it once but I wouldn't go back on my own dime. If you're going to go, I recommend doing just the 10 courses so you can see what it's all about without feeling just a little bit robbed.
(3)peggy m.
Great personalized service, yet to stroke my ego i don't need this restaurant. So much money for so little food.....i still giggle about this place. Those who love this place are the objects of P. T. Barnum's most famous saying. Go for it...you'll see what I'm talking about.
(2)Kevin H.
Moto is a great experience. Considering the price, I had high expectations and it met those, barely. The dishes are creative, fun, and good conversation pieces. However, on my 10-course menu, there were several that were clearly not phenomenal and everyone in my party agreed. I feel at this level of dining, every dish should be a home run. That being said, a few of the dishes were definitely home runs all the way. You will enjoy this if you do not go in too hungry. This experience is not about gorging yourself on a giant meal it is about appreciating a creative and artistic expression of food prepared over several small plates. Their non-pared drinks are great.
(3)Misse D.
Am I about to commit a foodie sin? I think Moto was better than Alinea. There, I said it. I came here with my husband and his parents. We ordered the GTM with the wine pairings. Since my husband and I have eaten at Alinea, we had an idea of what was to come. My in-laws had not and yet all of us were equally pleased of the meal. The service was very good but not as good as Alinea. Every time we left, they would take our napkin. However, they didn't always replace it so we would have to flag someone down for a new one. It was a small detail that didn't really effect the meal. The meal itself was AMAZING. The wine pairings were excellent. I have had quite a few meals with the pairings were hit or miss. Not here. They complemented the food perfectly. And the food? I was impressed with the presentation as well as the consumption. My favorite course was the the cigar course. It was beyond my expectations in presentation as well as taste. I would highly recommend. I doubt that I'll be back very soon as it is not the sort of place you visit regularly. However, if you have a chance, try it. It's fantastic!!
(5)Dong B.
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.
(5)Byron E.
I loved this place. It was like Julia Childs meet Bill Nye the Science Guy! Expensive if it were simply food, but given the entertainment factor on top of seriously delicious dishes, it's worth it in my opinion. Go with an open mind and sense of fun!
(5)Rachel W.
Moto's the kind of place you just need to go to experience it...traders love to take dates here to impress them, and other traders so if you meet one, hint at it ;) Big price tag, so clearly a date place haha...the guy who took me here is so unexperimental w/food, totally steak & potatoes, but he knows how into food I am. He had quite the time dealing with things like baby quail, jalepeno ice cream, an edible menu and every other course. I loved it though and clearly thats all that matters. The presentation was incredible. I should have brought a camera. I would recommend this place to experimental food people...who don't mind the price tag, and want something funky and different. Its definitely not for everyone, but I had a great time.
(4)Benjamin S.
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
(5)Caity R.
Both the food and the experience were incredible. We were seated at a table in the back (which were awkwardly far apart for a two person dinner), but asked for a semi-private booth which was perfect. 15 course tasting menu is expensive, but worth it.
(5)Salena C.
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.
(5)Burt F.
This place is pretty pretentious...not my style. I expected small portions of food and we had reservations for our anniversary with the 10-course tasting. 3 of the 10 dishes were VERY salty...I'm not a fan of over-salted food; it overtakes the natural combination of the flavors which are supposed to be present. The service was good although different servers kept bringing the various courses out to us. Just sort of weird to me. We ordered one drink each; the prices of their GLASSES of wine /champagne were very high in my opinion, approaching the $20-30 range for most of them. We were fortunate enough to have received a gift certificate of $250 from some dear friends but we were surprised when the bill came to pay an additional $150 or so. I've been to Trotters and we've been to the restaurants at The Peninsula Hotel and the food was MUCH better there for less. Midway through the meal we were joking about going out for pizza after the meal...I felt cheated afterwards that this amount of money was spent and it left a vacant feeling inside of me after this experience which lasted for a few hours. I've never had such a feeling before and I do not want to feel that way again. I won't be repeating this one again.
(1)Jeff C.
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.
(5)Sunil A.
I was very excited for this restaurant and was super psyched when my fiancée surprised me a with a reservation for my birthday. In the end we were both disappointed with the experience. 1.) Way too expensive. I guess the foodies in the crowd will say "that's what you pay for fine dining" but I think they are just trying to make themselves seem more trendy and important. 2.) The "molecular / chemistry" experience is not all that cool. Its small amounts of food shaped as different objects. 3.) It takes too long to get from one course to another. 2 and a half hours for 10 courses. Majority is spent waiting not eating since you are done licking the plate 2 seconds after you get it. 4.) The food is way too salty. The only reason I got full was because I drank 10 glasses of water. On the plus side the staff is very friendly and provide great service.
(2)Robert R.
The service was top notch, and the food went beyond that! This was a wonderful 3+ hour dinning experience.
(5)Anita A.
Moto is out of this world amazing. The science behind food is truly awe inspiring after dining here and seeing what can occur when chefs get crazy creative. Science meets food meets art. I truly ate every course here with all of my senses!! As each dish plays a trick on your senses. All courses were visually appealing and full of a variety textures that never bore you. The location/outside appearance of Moto definitely does remind me of NYC's meatpackig district. I have to hand it to the wait staff as they are perfectly synchronized. And this is definitely not a restaurant you want to dine at if you are on a budget or don't appreciate trying new/innovative dishes. You have to appreciate food, in order to find this place worthwhile. The wine pairings definitely work well with each course so take advantage! Portions are the perfect proportion, and by the end of 15 courses you are pretty darn full! All in all, this is a fine dining experience that everyone should partake in. There's no other place like it in the city and its definitely worth the culinary journey at least once! Presentation: A+ Service: A+ Taste: A+ Wine Pairing: A+
(5)Vanessa H.
Freaking amazing. Delectable food, amazing science -- and a sense of childlike wonder, which is a rare experience in these jaded adult days :) The chef filps and reverses textures -- a pool of fine cheese, crunchy macaroni, fizzy reconstituted melon. Coconut powder. An anti grill, powered by liquid nitrogen, in which liquid cooked pancake is squirted on and turned solid and served on a spoon with maple syrup. 10-courses, just like French Laundry, but with more food per course. We left full and delighted. Something that hasn't yet really hit SF dining scene. It's located in Fulton Market area, which reminds me of the Meatpacking District in NYC. Trendy bars and restaurants next door to design shops and food wholesalers. Service was impeccable yet friendly. With their headsets they talked to the kitchen and timed your courses if you left the table for a moment.
(4)Little Miss L.
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.
(4)Kristin W.
My husband and I came here last night for our anniversary. I had been dying to go forever and it was worth the wait. What a great experience. We had a 5 course menu, which doesn't exist anymore, but when my husband bought a gift certificate for me it did. Anyway here is what we had: Liquid Center Scallop Seared Buffalo Hot Wings Fajita With Aromatic Utensils S'mores Biscotti and Coffee It was all really great. A lot of people on Yelp have commented on how the food here was sort of subpar. I disagree. I thought all the food was really great. Only a couple of things blew me a way, a truffle that came with the S'mores that was filled with liquid Cracker Jack and pop rocks - yum. The other thing that was super good was the Seared Buffalo Hot Wings. The chef made his own tabasco sauce too which tasted great. All in all we had a great time. We had the wine pairings, but will probably skip that next time, not that the wines weren't good, but the cocktails here are supposed to be amazing and I'd just rather have more food.
(5)Jamie T.
1) GREAT service 2) Superbly creative 3) Good food 4) Bit pricey
(4)Elen C.
Went to Moto last week during the Restaurant show. Really wanted to get into Next ..but that was a dream. Place was dead when we walked in. Ordered the 10 course with wine pairings. The first course was a salade Nicoise ..which was basically cut green beans with soft tomato pieces and a strong anchovy flavor. It went downhill from there. Nothing had flavor, the colors of the presentation were mostly beige. The second course was mushroom in a forest..little asparagus spears in a totally tasteless paste. Course after course was flavorless. Even the powdered jalapeno with one of the courses had not kick to it. My dinner partner and I are both in the food business. We love to eat, and were totally excited about eating here based on the other reviewers. We had the half pairing of wine for $55. We were lucky if in all we received one glass of wine total . Not the best pairings either, and they forgot the last one. The service was ok, but somber, I do not think they ever cracked a smile. Took themselves a little serious with their ear pieces and black suits. I do not mind spending money on dinner when it is worth it, but $450 for this, I wanted to cry . Afterwards we went down the street to Aviary, and ordered some bites. Now , that was worth every penny .
(1)matt b.
Ah, well. We had the 10 course with wine pairings (6 wines, I believe). Got there at 5pm on a Saturday, the latest possible with two days notice. The decor was simple and clean, waitstaff friendly. Patrons were either in their 20s (probably because they also didn't have the foresight to reserve a table early enough), or late 70s (probably because they like eating dinner at 5pm or earlier.) The food... was fine. I was expecting more fanciness, but a few rehydrated or liquid nitrogenized things here and there, starting with a gimmicky "edible" menu, combined with a slightly overcooked grouper, and finally four (4!) of the ten dishes ended up being desserts. It was disheveled. One dish, as far as presentation goes, was extraordinary: the Road Kill looked like exactly that, including rice puff maggots (questionable) and beet reduction blood-spatter. The taste? ehh. I didn't hate it, but at over $500 for two people, I wouldn't go back.
(2)Jacquelyn G.
I'll start with a quote from my husband. "Moto is the poor man's Alinea." Stings a little, but sadly it's true. While I'm making Alinea connections, I have to suggest that if you are going to go to both places, go to Moto first and then Alinea next. Otherwise, you'll be singing the same tune I'm about to sing. We went on Saturday night when it was about 900 degrees below zero. We were promptly greeted and seated near the hostess stand, right along the row of floor-to-ceiling windows. It didn't take long to decide that simply wasn't going to work; it was so cold! So we asked if it was possible to be moved. They said they had no other tables in the main area but that we could move one booth back, to at least get us away from the windows. We opted for that, but then we were right next to the door... The hostess graciously offered to move us to the next available table as soon as she could, and for our third and final table of the night, we were seated downstairs. Much better as far as warmth, but you definitely feel like you're dining in a basement. Honestly, I'm not sure how they can use those tables in the front of the restaurant on cold Chicago nights like that. They need to do something about the heat up there, or something... While we appreciated the staff accommodating us by moving us to a more comfortable table, the rest of the service was really sloppy and I found myself being embarrassed for our servers in many cases. The service was simply clunky; it felt like a new restaurant still ironing out the kinks. When my husband asked for wine recommendations, neither of our servers could really give him one (although our second server did a better job than the first), and they often had trouble explaining the dishes. They'd either forget the ingredients or not really be able to tell us anything about them. "How does the chef recommend eating this?" "However you want." I can only imagine the chefs must cringe at these people serving their food. Speaking of the food... overall it was very good. My favorite dishes were hands-down the gazpacho and Kentucky fried pasta. However, there were other dishes which were total let-downs. Crudite? For $500? No thanks. I expect the dishes to be really inventive and interesting for the price paid, but a few of the dishes felt so gimmicky and had no relevance. I had the half-pairing and that was also disappointing. Honestly, I could've made those "pairings" at home myself. The only wine that seemed to really tie nicely with any of the courses was the moscato served with dessert. Don't waste your money (and don't ask the waitstaff for help). One more note sort of related to the food - the timing between the courses was completely inconsistent and as the dinner went on, the space between courses got longer and longer. Before we were even on the first dessert dish, I was ready to call it a night and go home just because it was taking so long. Apparently they offer kitchen tours at Moto, which in my opinion isn't appropriate on weekends when you have a packed restaurant. We had two or three "tour groups" traipsing past our table and it just felt tacky and obnoxious, especially when Joe Tourist whipped his super-size camera out of his backpack to snap some pics. Takes a bit away from the atmosphere when you're trying to enjoy a nice dinner. So yeah... bit of a let-down, and for a hefty price! Definitely has potential. Maybe Gordon Ramsay should go whip them into shape.
(3)Tyler A.
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!)
(4)Ashley A.
One of my favorite restaurants. A unique twist on dining that you're most likely not used to. The chef is a former chemist, I believe, who uses carbon dioxide to carbonate fruit & other weird techniques. For instance, the menu is edible. This restaurant is all about presentation so don't expect to leave with a full stomach. Each course is tiny, but flavorful & alluring. It is very expensive, even if you just order the minimal five course meal (I think only 10 & 20 courses are now offered), but it is an experience I suggest people to try at least once. The "salad" was served to us as liquid in a shot glass. It tasted as though we had just eaten an entire salad after taking that one shot. The chef uses a lot of purees and unique ingredients. He also opened another more casual restaurant/bar called otom, which is moto spelled backwards. I heard rumors that another restaurant is opening soon or already has opened.
(4)Puja A.
The food was amazing. Fresh ingredients and an innovative preparation style. The "cigar" styles sandwiches were creative and delicious. The wine pariring was perfect to match the cuisine. One of Moto's major pluses is the amazing service. The servers were not the typical arrogant servers. They were friendly and engaged with the customers beyond taking orders. When we had pointed out that one of our wine tastings were not received, we were given an extra course.
(5)Greg K.
Okay, so far all my reviews on here are 5 star. Not intentional and I don't give 5 starts to everything. But I'm still new here and building my list of reviewed spots. In any event, Moto has been reviewed a ton. Yes, it was awesome. Great food and amazing experience. Here's what I am thinking about it right now... It's the only restaurant I have been to where you review the menu, order and then EAT THE MENU! Come on, that's cool! :)
(5)Aaron L.
Too many items in the 20 course pre-fix to rate them all individually but definitely a spot to check out
(4)Dee M.
Wow! Great food presented in innovating ways. My first experience of the molecular gastronomy craze and all of the many many courses were delicious. All of them little portions so I was able to enjoy each one. Amazing service. Expensive but worth it.
(5)Kristina A.
Moto does was not the best fine dining that I've ever experienced, but it certainly was the most interesting. I took my boyfriend to Moto for his 30th birthday, and we ordered the 10 course with wine pairing. Each course was unusual and very tasty. Most notable among the dishes were the road kill (called braised duck on our menu) and the smores, which had a lovely gel-filled pastry that tasted exactly like a smore. I also really enjoyed the liquid shot that tasted exactly like a greek salad. Brilliant! I thought the food and service were superior to Everest, but Tru continues to set the standard by which fine dining should be measured, in my humble opinion. Nonetheless, Moto was a worthwhile experience.
(4)Keenan S.
First things first: Best dining experience I have ever had, ever. There is absolutely nothing about this place that I have found that could be considered a fault. Now, I realize, I'm not what one would describe as the "elite." I can't afford to eat here all the time, nor do I frequent establishments that would consider what they offer as "fine dining." So, am I in the demographic for this restaurant, what with my unsophisticated palate and shallow pockets? I don't care. I have yet to find another place, be it in Chicago or elsewhere, that offers up a more exquisite experience than Moto. From the moment you walk in, the waitstaff is there for you for whatever you might need. I've never had such attentive and friendly people taking care of me. They are one of the true highlights of the dinner, which should say something, because there's something positive to be said about it all. The food is astounding. I actually find myself at a loss for words (which is difficult for me, I'll have you know) when trying to find a way to perfectly describe everything. I've tried the ten-course and the GTM (which, I believe was eighteen or twenty courses the night I was there, and, trust me, the time it takes to get through it is completely worth it). Each and every course was perfect. Perfectly cook, perfectly presented, perfectly tasty. Even the edible menu they present you with (which also welcomes you, personally, in a little message printed at the bottom. Nice touch.) is wonderful. I had the best mojito here. A little glass of minty goodness that everyone should try. If I had to pick favorites? The Nitro Sushi and the Freeze Dried Macaroni and Cheese with Quail. But again, I feel bad even picking favorites, because with each dish that is presented to you, Chef Cantu shows his genius and offers you a meal you will not soon forget. Moto is not just about the food. It's about the experience of trying something new. It shines a different light on something most of us take for granted. I can not recommend this place highly enough, even if you're like me and have to scrape every last penny together to make the night work. It is absolutely worth it.
(5)Megumi T.
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....
(3)Kara G.
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!"
(4)jill a.
I would classify moto as more than a restaurant... Moto is an experience. We had the tasting menu... (the ten course menu) and we also decided to do the wine pairings, which i highly recommend. The food was inventive and very tasty! It was my first molecular gastronomy dining experience and it was thrilling! Each plate was a work of art and I really enjoyed hearing about the cooking techniques used for preparing each dish. Everything was cooked perfectly and all of the dishes were fun and entertaining. All of the senses are involved in this meal! The only thing that I might have been a turn off was that we were sitting too close to two other couples also having the ten course menu and they were a little bit ahead of us. I wish that we were a little more secluded so we wouldn't have known what was coming. Overall It was great! Took about three hours total. We were full , happy, and pretty tipsy by the end. Ten courses was a lot of food, so its a little hard for me to imagine having the 20 course tour menu, but everything was soooo so good. Wait staff was fantastic and very attentive. It is expensive but well worth it.
(5)Robyn F.
Moto was a truly unique experience. It was more than just a fancy meal. The restaurant really pushed the boundaries with food through its innovative creations and designs. The wine pairings complemented each dish perfectly as well. Below is a list of the dishes I tried. I will describe the particularly interesting ones in more detail. Edible menu Liquid center scallop Kalamata and feta Nitro sushi roll Loaded baked potato gnocchi Biscuit creme brulee Ants on a log with foie gras Seared buffalo hot wings Cuban missile crisis Fresh from the garden - Liquified Greek salad Roadkill of fowl Fajita with aromatic utensils Vodka tonic Blueberry cake and ice cream Powdered peach doughnut S'mores Chocolate and fluff The "vodka tonic" was my favorite dish of the evening. It was like a jello shot on a spoon that bursts in your mouth. It is quite indescribable, so you have to try it to understand. The Liquified Greek salad was interesting to say the least. It was refreshing and tasty, and really does replicate the flavor of a salad. Liquid center scallop - This was just really delicious, and I wish they had given us more of this! Loaded baked potato gnocchi - Probably my favorite savory dish of the evening. I am not the biggest fan of gnocchi, but this was cooked to perfection.
(5)Amy A.
If you just absolutely have to go check it out for it's molecular gastronomy then it may be the place for you. Unfortunately this wasn't the case for us. The courses had entirely too much of a lull between them. Usually fifteen minutes. After a couple of courses the flavors became redundant. The environment is very sterile in appearance, cold grays and blacks, a prison-esque bathroom, no ambient lighting or sound. The portions were huge and I have a small appetite so most of the dishes were a waste for me. It just wasn't a good dining experience for us. The servers there were super. It just didn't deliver it on the setting or cuisine.
(3)Jake B.
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)
(5)Janna V.
I havent been to moto in a few years...but I still remember the experience like it was yesterday. I tell people that Moto is the Mad Hatter's Tea Party of Chicago Cuisine. And I just love it. If there is one thing i absolutely despise it is a gimmick. . Moto is a genuine experience....not some kind of shtick and that's one of the things that makes the experience so memorable. I did the 10 course. I loved how my meal was interactive...there were courses in courses (there was a picture of spicy tuna maki in a plastic bag under my charger for my 3rd course...it tasted like...well spicy tuna maki)-- and things that i had never been served before or since (carbonated grapes anyone?) I was vegetarian at the time, and was accommodated easily. My date was a meat eater and actually liked mine better! I felt kinda bad for him because after shelling out $500 on a 2nd date we were too full to make out when we got back to his house. But the experience was memorable for both of us.
(5)Erica W.
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.
(5)Anisha A.
Moto is the intersection of food, science and modern art. We did the 5 course menu. The presentation of everything was ingenious. That's the main reason to come. Heck, even the damn menu was edible. One course was served in a laptop type contraption, with aromatic silverware that sprouted coriander. I wonder if that's how happy meals will be dished out in 2041. The specialty drinks are solid. The chorizo margarita was smokey, strong and garnished with a small sausage. Nothing like some meat to go along with your tequila. When you strip away that hype, the food is ok at best. I know each ingredient has a novel backstory in the way it was acquired or prepared. But the flavors didn't blow me away. Found both the breakfast creme brulee and beef in the "fajita x three" course disappointedly bland. But portions are adequately sized, so you do leave somewhat full. Beware, they automatically include 18% gratuity. Which we conveniently saw after tipping 25% for impeccable service. Love when that happens.
(3)Rachel W.
Way too expensive for the food they served which was the worst meal I've ever had! The seasoning and flavors were lackluster and didn't even resemble food flavors. Hard to believe that it takes many years of culinary school to serve toothpaste on a plate, and dirt.
(1)Adri B.
Oh, Moto! I wanted so badly to love you and rush home to give you five stars, but I just can't. Even the three stars is pushing it, considering the price. [actually, on second thought, just changed that to one star. Sorry!] My mom and I ordered the 20-course menu. If given the opportunity, I would only eat three of the courses ever again (the two seared fish dishes and the curry lime dessert). Everything else was just smoke and mirrors. And not even that smokey of a smoke or mirrory of a mirror. The chef was a bit heavy-handed on the rock salt, so most of the savory dishes were too salty to fully enjoy. The desserts were lackluster and the wine...nothing special. I would ask the chefs to not give in so much to the hype and glitter and spend more time creating dishes that could actually stand on their own without the "it's really made out of....!" or "it's in the shape of a...!" gimmick. Flavor first. Art second. This is a restaurant, after all. As for the service, special big ups to DeAndre. Everyone was very nice and accommodating EXCEPT the blond waitress/chef (All of the wait staff are also chefs.). Seems she applied to work at a pricey restaurant only to passively aggressively resent the patrons who can afford to eat there. Which was annoying. And unnecessary. I came, I saw, I touched, I tasted, but I was not impressed. I tried, Moto. I really did! But, I just don't love you!
(1)Laurel L.
The mixologist Carolyn or Kathlyn shoot I forgot her name is awesome.
(4)Omar R.
Outside of Alinea, no one comes close to Moto. This is'nt just outstanding food - but electric theatre on your table. You will get poetry written on brie cheese, fish that is cooked in a brown bag in water flown in from the Pacific ocean, herb infused cutlerly that affect the taste by influencing your sense of smell, and so on and so forth. This is the Cirque de Soleil of food. Go now !
(5)Anthony S.
I actually think I liked this place a bit more than Alinea. Based on looks alone, one might expect less of it, no electric sliding door, more relaxed dress code requirements, less ritzy part of town, but I can assure you, although this place may not have the latest in state of the art threshold technology it does have pretty damn good food, after all it is a restaurant. I started off with a simple drink, the Fulton Sunrise, gin mixed with white grape juice, brandy and lime, not bad. One of my dinner companion was a bit more daring however, she ordered the chorizo margarita, which I had a few sips of. It had a smoky sort of lime flavor to it, but was surprisingly refreshing. After going with the tasting (12 courses) at Alinea we decided to give the 20 course meal a go at Moto. I will say this, if you have a lot of time to kill (6+ hours) and are utterly famished go all the way otherwise stick with 10 courses. Personally, after sitting there for six hours, the last thing I wanted was another course, no matter how tasty it was. Out of the 20, I found the majority of the courses to be very tasty, from the edible menu and spicy chicken-wing flavored paper to the oil spill and cuban cigar. There was, however, one course in particular that I really did not care for, the savory creme brulee. I do not remember exactly what was in it, but i remember biting into it expecting something familiar tasting and instead it tasted horribly bitter (especially the aftertaste). Perhaps it was more a psychosomatic reaction than the actually dish itself, just prepare yourself to not expect it to taste how it looks if it is served to you.
(4)A F.
I am still in shock over the price tag for our dinner last night versus the quality of the food we received. Let me first caveat this review by admitting that we did try Moto for VDay, and restaurants do tend to cut corners on that day since a lot of occasional diners are in, and it's a big profit generating day. THAT BEING SAID, I truly expected more for the fine dining experience Moto purports to be. I'm sorry, but garlic toast and french fries, loaded or not, are not on my list when I think of spending a car note's worth (and a nice car at that!!) on a dinner. The Good: + Service -- Timely. Attentive without being obtrusive. Not overly fussy. + WINE!! I am so pleased that we added the wine pairing or else the evening would have been a total bust. We enjoyed some truly outstanding wines last night, most of which paired nicely with the food. + Atmosphere. A lot of the "nicer" restaurants in Chicago are too stuffy and formal. We liked the upscale but relaxed vibe, as well as the intimate but not overly stuffed dining room. The Not so good: - The Food Truly disappointing since we were super excited about the place. Yes, the presentation was creative .... But the flavors were not (we did have the ubiquitous pork belly (about 1/10 ounce of a piece) and lots of truffle oil). The food was luke warm and the portions were small even for fine dining (the poor bf had to eat leftovers afterwards). There were a couple of truly unfortunate dishes (liquid paella), and while some were good (foie gras, chef's take on shabu shabu) none of the dishes left me craving more. Very disappointing, and unfortunate that the restaurant missed the opportunity to convert the first time triers to regulars.
(2)Krystal P.
WOW I LOVED THIS PLACE ... The service was amazing, the food was great .. I wish I could remember the names of everything I ate .. pictures to come ... anyhow this a molecular gastronomy restaurant that caters to vegetarians... they made sure I could eat every plate, just call in the day off and let them know! It was def pricey but def worth every penny!
(5)James O.
The experience was complete. Service excellent, the staff operated like a well oiled machine but, the ambiance was the prep for the whole evening. Cool... The food was fun, interesting, great to look at and the taste fit the show. This is a place that is a must for the adventurist type of foodie.
(5)Eric G.
My wife took me here for my birthday. Embarrassingly, I had to bail at course 18 of 20. I had made fun of her for only eating half of the already small portions, but the combination of super processed/reduced food + wine pairing managed to fill me up faster than a thanksgiving turkey. The food certainly was inventive and fun and I'm glad we tried it. But in the end, it was all over the map, i.e. 3 kinds of "cotton candy", mini pancakes (that tasted like still-frozen waffles), Greek "salad" (shot of clear liquid)... I still would rather go for a multi-course dinner with a theme (regional and/or seasonal) vs. this Coney Island meets Star Trek meal.
(3)Jennifer K.
Some people love it, some people hate it. I fall under the ambivalent category, because while the presentation was at times ingenious, some plates never had the 'wow" factor. If I'm coughing up $250 for dinner, it better be one of the best meals of my life, coupled with an experience I will never forget. It failed the former, but certainly lived up to the latter. As everyone else noted, the menu itself was presented as edible paper, with the 10 course selection neatly printed on it. The first course involved kajiki and sesame; blue marlin with sesame poured from a nitrous pot. It was pretty neat to spoon a bit of sesame into my mouth and exhale through my nose; smoke would filter out. The greek salad and gumbo were rather forgettable dishes. BBQ pork was surprisingly good. It was tender, with a cider-based marinade. The next course was a modern take on mac n' cheese, but with quail, powdered parmesan, and pasta. By this time, I was too full to finish it - but it was okay. The desserts were probably the most welcome part of the evening. Each dish was presented in unique ways, and tasted very different from one another. My favorite involved the 2 and 3 dimensional truffle - there was a surprise with the truffle ball. So the food itself involved lots of hits and misses, but the drink pairings were spot on. I had non-alcoholic beverages; I had to drive back. My favorite was the lemon drop. It involved lemonade encased in a gelatinous ball. Service was thorough, attentive, and extremely professional. With each plate, the server spoke a little about it and answered any questions I had. I never had to get his attention; he just knew when to drop in and he was never intrusive. Overall, it's an interesting experience, but one I would not repeat at MOTO. Why? Because I might as well buck up for other great molecular gastronomy destinations a la El Bulli, Fat Duck, and Alinea.
(4)Sally C.
Right off the bat--you have to know you're going into something really expensive. People who complain about the price certainly have a right to their indignation, but did you not check out the prices before you made a reservation? This is not going to be a bargain. It's a very nice space--airy and almost futuristic. I agree that the evolving wait staff can be odd, but in some ways, when you're taking 4 hours to eat a meal, variety of staff isn't unwelcome. I ate here with my dad; we had the 20 course menu. It was really really phenomenal. We agreed that 2-3 of the courses were "good." That was notable because everything else was OUTSTANDING. We spent the next day playing a game of which dishes we'd sacrifice to have doubles of another. Also, Chef Cantu came out of the kitchen several times to walk around and check in with diners. He was friendly and gracious, even posing with this one really loud, obnoxious guy's son for a picture. There are 2 fairly nitpicky things holding me back from giving 5 stars: 1. The wait time between courses--I get that they were trying to clear our palate and it was nice to not leave a 20 course meal feeling like I overate. But 4+ hours for a meal can get old. 2. The dishes were VERY inventive and tasty. But with several of them, like the ice cream sundae themed one (mmmmm), there was a certain element of "What's not to like?" Not to call it unadventurous, but flavor idea-wise, it wasn't earth shattering. That being said, making a s'mores bomb and lighting it on fire? You'd be hard pressed to say that they're playing things by the book.
(4)John O.
Simply amazing. However I think the 10 course menu would be enough, the 20 course is a bit overwhelming.
(5)Suana W.
fantastic, creative meal with some hits and some so-so's, but overall a very enjoyable and affordable dining experience. i went with two coworkers for their 8th anniversary celebration: 15 courses for $150, their opening day price. the kicker is that they come with wine pairings for no additional cost! 11 of them, to be exact. we got all nice and toasty quickly into the meal and maintained that pleasant buzz for the rest of the night. at the end of the night, we went to the cellar for a tour of the kitchen and i saw RICHIE from top chef! unfortunately chris jones was not there, he was out hobnobbing with the owner, otherwise i would have definitely taken a picture with him and his ponytail. mostly his ponytail. alas, perhaps next time!
(4)Grace L.
I remember I came here with my boyfriend when they first opened I think it was '09...anyway I read in chicago magazine and wanted to go cause of all the hype. The food wasnt that great in taste (bit salty) my favorite was the cigar and the chocolate "bomb" they lit the sparks and there was some sort of liquid chocolate inside the "bomb" it was amazingly delicious. The ambiance was nice very sleek and modern. However, I like having my own personal space but the tables are very close to each other we were basically included in the conversation that was happening next to us. Very awkward having to avoid eye contact with someone sitting couple inches away from you. Overall great to try once in your life since its an interesting experience but the price is very high I think the bill was couple hundred.
(3)Kalli S.
oh man. i can't say enough nice things about my experience here! i was so overwhelmed and impressed with one spectacle after the next! here's what went down: - 4 people, 10 course menu plus wine pairing the food was delicious. and beautiful. and totally unexpected. and exciting. the service was great with an ultra knowledgeable staff. but the little extras...1.) we mentioned how impressed by the 'cigar' we were, despite the fact it wasn't included in our tasting, but we had heard the rumors. to our surprise, the server/kitchen hooked us up with 4 cigars! a-m-a-z-i-n-g! 2.) one course featured powdered jalapeno that was so delicious. and it was white. like white 'white.' it added the most amazing heat! i commented to the server that i would sprinkle it on everything if i had some because it was so incredible. our server presented me with a giant pouch of said powder vacuum sealed and ready for me to take home! holy shit! i rarely am rendered speechless, but this truly did it. we also were gifted with menus to commemorate the night as well as DVD's of their show, future foods, because none of us had seen it. all in all, go enjoy yourself. it's such a great experience! you will leave stuffed, delighted, and completely in awe. you want to ask 'how!?' with every dish, but it is so lovely, it doesn't even matter. :-)
(5)Aaron K.
My birthday dinner at moto was a pleasent surprise. The playfulness of the kitchen was evident with many powders and deconstruction/reconstructions. The flavors of most of the dishes, like the snowman margarita and the day at the ballpark were not too far of a stretch for the typical american palate. I had hoped for things to be a bit more adventurous (though the cocktails in beakers was an enjoyable mad scientist touch) but still a good meal none the less. This place would be great for introducing a non-foodie to the enjoyment of molecular gastronomy.
(4)Jenn N.
A fantastic experience (keyword: experience) but not a super gastronomic delight. Pros: Excellent service with eloquent servers, an unforgettable culinary futuristic experience Cons: Price but that's expected On my first "real" visit to Chicago, my friend took me to Moto. We first walked into Otom (the sister restaurant next door) thinking that the futuristic restaurant spelled its name backwards to deter unsophisticated patrons. Unfortunately, we were wrong and the hostess kindly directed us next door. I wonder if the confusion is intentionally part of the experience that we were to enter an unknown. Regardless, my friend and I both had the 10 course tasting menu. I have admit that my palate probably isn't as refined as most people and I was recovering from a cold. It took some adjustment to grasp the complexities of flavor and felt that the menu should have increased in the wild...a sort of reaching the climax. Nonetheless, I was able to taste the complexities of flavor. Although liquid nitrogen was used liberally through nearly all plates. I appreciated the thought put toward the deconstructed sushi (which was surprising in taste at first, but really was a different way of eating sushi), cold beets (normally i don't like beets, but i liked in this form) and the mac and cheese (liquid nitrogen cheese melting with burnt? macroni). But the first greek salad was surprisingly disappointing. The second greek salad in a shot glass was the complex dish I had that night. Taking a shot, I felt a slight extreme bitterness of a greek salad then at the back of my throat a few seconds later, I felt a tang. Then the aftertaste lasted for several seconds more. In some way, I almost felt like I went to Charlie's Chocolate Factory and had eaten something...but didn't really consume it. I love sweet dishes and here at Moto, it was probably no exception. I loved the cotton candies. The fizzy watermelon. It was interesting how the way they placed the plate determined the way we choose to ate it. At other tables, we noticed people got a smaller plate for the same amount of fizzy watermelon and didn't eat the fruit at the same time as the rice cracker. Another thought-provoking dish was the chili cheese nachoes and the chicago hot dog which looked (somewhat) like the real thing, but were simply desserts. Unfortunately, the one dish that really satisfied me was the pork shoulder. It was sweet and meaty. In some way, that was the only dish that didn't contain much molecular gastronomy and yet I have never tasted a pork shoulder that good. It was simple. I liked eating the paper that said "patent pending". What added to the experience was how the servers seemed to appear from the dark. The curtains to the kitchen were black and moving through the curtains, you couldn't see anything behind it. The kitchen was right next door to the restrooms...and from where I was standing outside the restroom door (apparently people at moto take forever in the restroom), I could hear a lot going on inside the kitchen. If I could only open that door... Valet is nice because they actually ask for your ticket as you pay for your dinner bill so that you have your car waiting by the time you get outside.
(4)Xi L.
I went to MOTO in 9/2013 to celebrate the anniversary. Everything is amazingly great. It feels like not just a dinner but also a live show. A show of food, imagination and life. I enjoyed every bit of the food and the story behind. The wine paring is also great. It takes about three hours to finish the menu and I feel it is just the right time. Overall, I think moto is better than other one star restaurants. And the price is higher. Recent, I heard something bad happen to the restaurant and the death of Chef. It is so sad to hear that. Wish it continue to be successful and bring more surprises to us food lover!
(5)E S.
Celebrated our anniversary here and had an amazing experience. Service was impeccable, timing of courses was just right, and food was incredible!! Highly recommend for a special occasion.
(5)Valerie L.
Cool concept but I wasn't entirely satisfied/blown away by the 16 course tasting meal. Come here for the experience, excellent service and if you have more than 2.5 hours of time to spare, not the food.
(3)Mona W.
Moto was INCREDIBLE. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we were blown away by the 16 course tasting meal. The private kitchen tour that followed along with our customized wooden menu's weren't too shabby either. The innovation that came consistently with each dish was mindblowing. We did everything from cook s'mores over blue flame....to eating salmon ice....to scoop mouse out of a terrarium. This is my boyfriend's favorite restaurant in the world....and that still stands true after dining at the the likes of French Laundry, Coi, Gary Danko, Michael Mina...etc. I highly recommend it for the experience of a lifetime!
(5)Anthony F.
UPGRADING TO 4 STARS Management called and offered to refund the extra service charge notes at the bottom of the review...excellent customer service and follow up unprompted by anything other than my Yelp posting. They also told me they are discontinuing the automatic service charge. I'm impressed. I struggled with what to rate Moto. I think it was probably a 3.25 star experience, but I had to pick whole number. I had the 9-course menu (as opposed to the longer, 18-course Chef's Tasting) with the wine pairing. Seafood courses were solid, but not mind-blowing. The best thing was the Lobster and Foie - could have had two of those. The Trout and Grits was inventive but not that tasty (basically tater tots made out of grits with trout strips on top.). Oysters were good. Proteins were more exciting - pork belly was solid, the duck succotash was excellent and the beef and beets was probably the best dish of the night. Desserts were average - coconut and lime was tasty but simple. The second course - a deconstructed pecan pie didn't work at all - tasted not much like a pecan pie and the balance was all off. In all, very good service, solid wine pairings and food that was just okay for a high end place. One side note - they apparently slap a 20% service charge on your bill before you even decide on tipping. Not being intently focused on the bill details, I tipped normally and basically wound up paying 40% tip. I am universally opposed to automatic service charges but putting that charge on and not informing the customer is simply wrong.
(4)Kelly Jean P.
This was an incredible experience-- even for a picky eater like me. A few words of advice though: 1. The reason I am giving 4 stars and not 5 is because our dinner took much longer than we were told it would. This would have been perfectly fine except that we had tickets for a show and needed to leave before our dinner was finished. We were told it would be 4 hours for 18 courses. We added in the extra course at the start for a full 19 and also did the wine pairings. It took us 5 hours to get through 17 courses; we ended up having to miss out on 2 courses. They adjusted our bill and were apologetic, but I'm still disappointed this happened. My advice? Make sure Moto is the only thing you have planned for the evening. Otherwise you will be sad like me. 2. Make your reservation for as early as they will allow you to come. Why? Because then none of the cuisine surprises will be spoiled for you! We were the first people there and we both agreed that half of the fun was not knowing what was coming next. If the people next to you are even just one course ahead then you won't have the same laughs and gasps that we enjoyed. Hope this helps! Definitely worth the splurge if you plan it right.
(4)Mark A.
Amazing dinner, we didnt do the full 9 courses due to time constraints but they were very accommodating. Really a simple ambiance, but magnificent experience. Best presentation and flavor was the oysters 3 way with the 9 course oyster bar. Best flavor the duck succotash. Will be coming back. Wine pairings were spot on. The sparkling wine blend was fantastic.
(5)Andrew H.
The best meal I have ever had. I am very spoiled. My dear friend has one of the most impressive palates and is cultured way beyond I could ever hope to be. Because of this and his extensive travel around the globe he has amassed a taste for fine dining. To celebrate my move from the east coast to Chicago he took me to Moto. Matt, the GM, and the rest of the staff are beyond knowledgeable in this future American cuisine. I can't even begin to describe my experience. Rather than do so, I encourage you to open up your wallet wide and take the trip. It's particularly sad that Cantu is no longer with us but he was a great teacher who I'm certain left the restaurant in good hands.
(5)Yi L.
I can't believe how could it get a star!!! The service is awful. One of the servers drop the cookie on my friend's dress and he did not ever replace the entire dish. They just bring another piece of the cookie!!! That is ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And they did not even help us with seating at the first place!!!! Is this acceptable in a Michelin restaurant? Unbelievable!!!!!!! Very unprofessional!!!!!!!!! Btw the food is even worse than "so-so". Does not even deserve my words to judge it............
(1)Vrati D.
Moto was on our list of places to try, especially for our 2 year anniversary, but we were disappointed after our 12 course meal which was bland and uneventful. The service was great, but for a $600 meal (vegetarian meal with wine flights), we were not impressed or full. The wine tasting and the dessert were the best parts of our meal. We were looking around at the menus of others, and overheard them saying that they were also not impressed. I don't know if this is due to the change of chefs, but I really wish we went to Alinea instead.
(3)David B.
Solid experience. Friendly, knowledgeable wait staff, great bar area, excellent food!
(5)Giao T.
The restaurant is very unassuming. Walking up, we stood in front trying to figure out which door was the entrance. The decor is extremely basic. Don't get me wrong, I'm not into gaudy over-the-top, but there should be something. Anyway, our server was very nice. I liked him a lot, he took the time to explain things and was very personable. The other servers who stepped in here and there were okay. And as for the meal. We had the nine-course meal with the wine pairing. The courses were all pretty good. There was one that I really liked and thought stood out. Other than that, I just wasn't wowed by it. And the portions were really elf food (Chase/Mastercard commercial from a couple years back). As in, we were a group of 5 which included my mom and aunt. I was afraid my mom and aunt would be sickly drunk because I don't think our food servings were enough to cover the little wine tastings we had. So yes, the food was good but I just didn't think it was good enough (or enough quantity) for the cost. I left not full and kinda wanting to get more food but didn't because it was 11:00PM and eating more at that time wasn't good for the waistline. So the value just wasn't there for me.
(3)Bao L.
One of the best, if not the best, meals I have ever had. I've been to numerous Michelin-starred restaurants, and I would definitely place Moto right near the top w/ some of my favorites (Gary Danko, Manresa, Redd, Wakuriya, State Bird Provisions). Everything was top notch - from the food to the service to the ambiance. The funny thing is, my friends and I weren't even planning on eating here when we dined at Moto on a Friday night. We had planned on eating at another restaurant in the West Loop, but when we were quoted a wait time of 2 hours, we decided to make reservations at another nearby restaurant. We had an hour to kill before our reservation, so we decided to grab a drink at a nearby speakeasy. Upon arriving at said speakeasy, we were unable to get in (deservedly so, as we didn't have reservations and we were just hoping we'd get lucky). Moto is right around the corner from said speakeasy, and my friend and his girlfriend had been wanting to try this place. I decided to see if they had reservations just for fun, definitely not expecting to get a seat at a Michelin-starred restaurant on such short notice. However, to our surprise, there was one open time slot for a party of 3. We went back and forth as to where we wanted to eat, and in the end we ended up picking Moto - and I'm so glad we did. We arrived and were greeted with a warm smile by the hostess, who literally said "um, did you guys JUST make a reservation?" to which we all laughed and told her about the little adventure we just went on. She took us to your table and told us about the 2 options - a 9-course tasting menu or an 18-course tasting menu. We were feeling very Drake-ish so we said YOLO and ended up getting the 18-course tasting menu, complete w/ wine pairing (note: the wine pairing for the 18-courser is only for 12 of the dishes). This was tied for the biggest tasting menu I have had to date (I also did an 18-course tasting menu at Benu in SF). The whole meal lasted about 4.5 hours and the timing between each dish was PERFECT. I'm going to save the best for last, so I'll review the food at the end (edit: already hit the character limit, so I can't review the food - just know that each dish was bomb.com ). Service: Phenomenal. Our server, Mike, was friendly and lively throughout the entire night. We were there from 8:30 pm - 1 am, and not once did his friendliness or enthusiasm waver. He was extremely knowledgable and answered all our questions, from the wine, to the food, to the restaurant's microgarden - Mike was dropping knowledge bombs all night. He was so amicable that we ended up talking about anything and everything we could think of; we even found out that he's also from the Bay Area (as was our whole dinner party). We were the last party in the restaurant, and there was never a moment where it felt like the servers were trying to rush us to get us out of there. I expect outstanding service from any Michelin-starred restaurant, and the service at Moto does not disappoint. Ambiance: the ambiance here is very unique, which I loved. Unlike some Michelin-starred restaurants I've dined at, there is no hint of snobbiness or pretentiousness here. Moto is an elegant restaurant w/ a modern feel, and the crowd of diners was very eclectic. One thing I loved was the music - I'm so used to hearing some nice classical music or elevator music, but I was very delighted w/ the music selection here. They played any and everything, from Grammatik to Tupac to Chromeo to Alabama Shakes! I thought this was a great touch that added to the fun atmosphere. Wine: the sommelier at Moto knows his sh*t. Every dish that had a wine accompaniment was enhanced because of the artful work of the sommelier. If you dine at Moto, you definitely need to do the wine pairing. Food: let me start off by saying that I LOVED every single dish. I feel that there's usually 1 dish I could do without with most tasting menus, but this was not the case. Again, we went w/ the 18-course tasting menu and were blown away. Note 1: an * denotes a dish w/ a wine pairing Note 2: I've hit the character limit already haha, so I can't describe each plate. Trust me - they're all amazing! -Oyster bar* -Forest forage* -Grow room* -Shishito* -Poached tomato heart and asparagus salad -Foie and lobster* -Smoked radish* -18 month aged ham and stock -Fallen log -Trout and grits* -Pork belly* -Spring onion* -Chicken and dumplings* -Short rib and country peas* -Cucumber and citrus -Lime and coconut* -Angel food -Cherry strawberry pistachio cobbler -Mousse and strawberry Apparently, when you make a reservation they provide you with copies of the menu. However, since we dined here on a whim and didn't give them ample time for a heads up, they took down our mailing address and will be mailing us a copy of the menu from when we dined there. Major props for that. TL;DR: Moto is a fantastic dining experience. Well worth the $. Eat here & get the wine pairing - you won't regret it
(5)Loredan K.
This was the worst restaurant experience I had ever went to in my entire life. The service sucked, the waiters for the most part knew nothing about wine and they just talk to sound intelligent but have no idea what they are talking about. They never smile, they walk with a pompus, arrogant attitude. The food was HORRIBLE for $150 a person the food should taste amazing but you get this miniature nibble of food and each one tasted worse than the other. The experience was the worst I had ever had and I had to walk out. This is such a huge scam and I can't believe these idiots are in business. EXTREME WASTE OF MONEY! Very disappointed.
(1)Mehran F.
SO SAD to have just read the horrible news of Chef Homaro Cantu's passing. Life of a perfectionist chef artist, constant innovation, challenges of running a business and God knows what else, is not easy. RIP chef. Thanks for all the good you have done. With prayers for you and your family.
(5)Francis D.
After craving ultra modern/ molecular gastronomy for months, I finally took a trip out to Moto. Unfortunately, with the tragic passing of Homaro Cantu, so did the excitement of Moto (at least until Executive chef Chris get's back into the groove of things). Moto was still a nice restaurant to try, but not a 'must eat' in Chicago. [Ambiance 4/5] Similar to a lot of other Michelin or fine dining establishments, Moto had a dimly lit, semi-modern dining room. There was limited artwork and items to keep your eyes busy while waiting for the courses to arrive. A big drawback with Moto is that there isn't an open kitchen or even a window to the kitchen to allow patrons to view the chefs at work. Downstairs, and where the chef table dinners takes place had a completely different feel to the restaurant. A periodic table filled the wall with shelves housing various sized beakers and cylinders. On a different side of the room, molecular gastronomy toys ranging from a dehydrator to a large centrifuge sat on a table. [Service 3/5] Despite having dinner mid-week, and despite having a relatively empty dining room, the service was sub-par and not something I was expecting from a Michelin starred establishment. While the servers did try to serve dishes in a synchronized manner, more often than not it was an awkward display; as one server would freeze mid-movement to try and mirror the other. Additionally, the dishes were constantly placed off-center and not directly in front of myself, and the utensils were repeatedly replaced at the edge of the table; making for a clunky transition to eating. Lastly the timing between dishes was also awkward, with significant waiting time between courses. [Food 4/5] Despite not being the molecular gastronomy meal I was hoping/envisioned, the food was nonetheless rather tasty. We opted for the 9 course "Hunt" menu, but in retrospect should have ordered the full 18 course menu. Oyster Bar - three different preparations of oyster (raw, fried, steamed) with a variety of toppings (ranging from horseradish powder, to Tabasco pearls) to 'play' with. A very fun tasty dish, and great way to start the meal. Foie and lobster - The tiny portion of lobster was a bit hard and lacked much flavor. While the foie was tasty,because foie gras anything is tasty. Trout and grits - this dish started with a 'show'. A device was brought out to create the broth, utilizing the same concept of a stovetop coffee maker, water boiled and rose to a container holding various spices and herbs. The freshly created broth was then poured over trout and crispy grits. The dish was a lot of fun to watch, but looked a bit better than it tasted. Pork Belly - Smoked pork belly with kimchied collard greens. The collard greens were a bit sour, and the pork belly lacked smoke or flavor on it's own. A bit disappointing dish. Chicken and dumplings - This dish was my favorite, tasty tender chicken on top of a cheesy gnocchi like dumpling. Duckotash - A succotash with duck. Pretty dish and flavorful. Carolina beets - Wagyu beef with carolina bbq marinated beets. While the dish was tasty, unfortunately the beets was by far the star of the show. The wagyu beef was salty, and could have used the same kick as the beets. Lime and Coconut - a key lime mousse over a coconut macaroon. Very light dessert, but was a little dull in flavor. I also fount it a bit weird to be room temperature. Having a warm macaroon or a cold dessert would have made it more enjoyable. Sweet Potato - sweet potato caramel logs with a jalapeno marshmallow. The sweet potato itself was bland as well, but the marshmallow was very flavorful without the spice of the pepper [Value 3/5] When going to a fine dining restaurant, you come in with the expectation to spend a lot of money. While Moto was tasty for the most part, I don't know if it justified the price. I have definitely had better tastings and service for the price. The Wednesday night chef dinners on the otherhand looks like a steal. [Surprises +1] After dinner was finished, we were asked if we would like a kitchen tour. Of course the only answer is "yes!" So we went downstairs to the kitchen and met with one of the Sous chefs Trevor. Trevor walked us through the demonstration room, explaining some of the gadgets/appliances and stories of Cantu's experiments in the past. We then were led into the kitchen to meet the team of chefs and the new executive chef Chris Anderson. This after dinner event was a pleasant surprise and one that more restaurants should offer. It's always a pleasure to meet the people creating your food, and see firsthand the skill required to make the dishes. Overall Moto is a solid dining establishment. I do wish the meal incorporated more foams, gels, unexpected textures and fun. And it will be interesting to see if they maintain the Michelin star in the upcoming year. But it is another solid restaurant in the West Loop.
(4)Nina B.
First off, this was hands down the best food I have ever had in my life. With that, you paid for it. 220 dollars for one 9 course meal. However, Chef Chris Anderson kept bringing out more courses! I chose to do the wine pairing with my meal. I have never had a better paired meal. It was perfect! The restaurant itself was small and intimate. You did not feel like you were in a high demand restaurant. Prepare for the whole experience; it took four hours! Definitely worth it though!
(5)Shannon S.
I did it, I gave myself permission to come here, spend the money and get the wine pairings. It was a blast and even got a few complimentary "test" drinks from the bar after dinner. Beautiful plating and delicious food, except for the dessert; dessert left me underwhelmed but maybe it was just me. I typically like surprises and new flavors for dessert at this level and it didn't happen. I thought the laser printed menu souvenir at the end was a very nice touch.
(4)Brian G.
Moto is fun! I had heard about this place from friends who knew I was a regular at The Aviary and a season ticket holder to Next which are both places right around the corner. Moto has been compared to Alinea, Next, Goosefoot and other pretty fantastic restaurants. I think the similarity people are seeing is that it's a multi-course tasting menu with a scientific/"showy" presentation to all their dishes. Other than that- Moto is stands alone as being original and thoughtful with their food. One of the highlights is being able to go into the kitchen (The Lab) after your meal and meet the kind folks who made that delicious meal for you and see where some of your stuff is not only made but also grown! Suggestion: At the end of dinner when there is no more room and they offer coffee...get the coffee.
(4)Raul S.
Wow, finally made it to Chicago, it feels so good to finally be on the other side of the stainless steel pass. I will be coming on Wednesday to finish up my review hopefully they will merit all five stars.
(5)Matt S.
I've eaten at a good portion of chicagos finest. (Alinea, Trotters, etc) and this place while innovative was too much on intensity where the emulsion (dish soap taste) was too much. Half the dishes we're knock your socks off while the other half were funky/intense. If your going to waste a ton of money on a fancy meal go Alinea. It's the only one worth it.
(2)Connor B.
Moto is a unique beast and definitely something worth experiencing in your life time. Location and Ambiance: First, the location is ok. Its not in some fancy building or unique part of the city. This in mind, that ambiance is incredible. We ate dinner downstairs in their prep area, and it was very cool. The elements written across the walls, chefs cooking, and staff all set a fantastic ambiance. Food: As you can quickly tell by the photos posted on Yelp, the menu is constantly changing. You can visit Moto's website to see what you will be eating when you go. This being said, every course was better than the next! Everything had a story behind it. An example of this was our bison which had been hunted in Texas by helicopter and killed with a bow which was served with salad which had been growing for the past couple weeks at the restaurant. Defiantly not something you would get from your average dinner. Staff: The staff was fantastic! They were overly nice, knew the ins and outs of their menu, and kept us entertained. Plus at the massive price tag they were able to keep my glass of water full... this was nice :). Price: I usually don't factor price in to my reviews, but at nearly $500 for a dinner its worth pointing out that Moto is an expensive experience. I say experience rather than meal, because its not just a meal. We were there for about 3 hours enjoying everything. The price breaks down to $180 per person plus an included 20% tip. If your curious to see our receipt check the pictures I posted to see exactly what the total came to and how it was broken down. Overall, its worth saving up some cash and trying one of Chicago's most unique restaurants. I highly recommend it to every foodie :) Thanks, Connor Brady
(5)Hanae K.
Came here for my early anniversary. I'm all about creative presentations so this was perfect for me! The menu is never the same and you won't know how much it'll cost until you get the bill (mine was about $150/pp with 1 wine 2beers, tax and tip). TIP: ask for a kitchen tour ;) 1. A shot of special-made apple cider juice for your taste buds. 2. Herbs grown in a jar with coco fiber (not dirt). The server cut the herbs and topped it on our buffalo tar tar and funions-like-chip. 3. Salmon with carrot vinaigrette and "aged" carrots. Onions covered in salmon roe sauce. Drops of black licorice sauce. "Aged" carrots: Calcium oxcide then roasted after. 4. Aromatic seaweed in a hand carved box with searing rocks to keep the scallop hot. It also came with a piece of king crab and prince edward clam. 5. A glass jar with an aroma of hickory and autumn leaf seeping thru. The lid had veggie jerky, caramel onions and chips. It was my second least favorite. 6. Chilled eggshells full of truffle foam and creamy cheese!!! Our favorite! Came with another dish with chicken raised in an Amish farm in france. Side of brussel sprouts. 7. Food on little sticks that are stuck to a big stick of magnet. Our least favorite but the most creative presentation. The dish had squab, shiitake bread pudding, a cube of sweet potato and string beans. 8. Boar shoulder and boar leg jerky topped with mole powder with guajillo chile. Side of puffed rice with a corn nutty taste. 9. Onion entre with smoked apple rabbit bacon in a ginormous round fish bowl. It was really tasty and not as stinky. 10. Picnic entre! A small box of grass with cheese/bread sitting on top. The entre came with mini napkins which looked like picnic blankets. Cheese truffle walnut, wisconson cheese with pesto and bread, goat cheese (?) and cheese with a dab of raspberry. 11. Foi gras!! the highlight of our meal!!!! It was so good with the apple butter/slices and chest nuts. 12. Chopped up green strawberry garnished with solid dehydrated sweet milk and dehydrated cucumber skin topped with edible flowers. The sweet milk made the strawberry sweet. Good for people who wants something light for dessert. 13. Date cake soaked in pear foam and pansy flower. Loved the texture and it's so sweet! 14. Mouse chocolate with chocolate crumble with lemon chips lemon cream and basil. It was yummy but it wasn't something to rave about. 15. Inside-out-S'mores. Chocolate ganache wrapped with graham cracker then covered with vanilla bean marshmallow. They served them on a stick and a small wooden dish with a small fire in the middle to cook. Very romantic. The service was top notch and Louis did an amazing job! He gave us a tour and introduced us to the chefs. They even photobombed our pic. Big thanks to the entire team for making this experience memorable.
(5)Anna B.
Moto is an absolute must for anyone that lives or visits Chicago. It is an experience that I love taking my friends or family to when they visit. I usually try to go at least twice a year, so I get to experience the new menu creativity, as well as sinfully deluding myself that I can justify the large expenditure because it for my friends! The flavors are amazing, much better than any other "coursed" restaurant in the city, but it's the experience that is truly what makes Moto.
(5)Sopla R.
We got to have this "experience" last weekend. Pretty amazing all around. Did the 9 course with wine pairings. I would say we were all in agreement about which courses were our favs. The pecan pie was our least fav (last) just a real let downer. Thankfully, we had the previous dessert course was actually pretty good. I would say, that the beef course was also not a favorite. So I'd say we were VERY happy with 7 out of 9. We discussed some minus es in the service. We all thought that each and every person who stopped by our table in various positions/offerings , rattled off each course and pairing description like they were going to a fire. It was a drive by description thing going on. We would then have to piece together what we thought we heard. Acoustics in the room were not so good so that made it really hard to understand them as well. So by the 3rd course we caught on and starting asking them to repeat etc. before they could leave. We were having such an amazing time that we were not as fixated on this as maybe we actually should have been. They really need to fine tune that aspect of the service.
(4)Leigh W.
Went for restaurant week, roving buffet style in the basement, no explanation of the food. I felt like it was the hunger games because you had to get to the tiny bits of food before the others to get even a sample. Experience in three words: confusing, disappointing, bizarre It was really poorly executed as a concept and the final thought: Moto you didn't have to opt in restaurant week....
(1)Teri L.
The food was good, the service was friendly, but a bit sloppy. Oh, and a bug crawled out of my food and across my plate. Granted, the bug was small and came out of a edible flower garnish, but this has never happened to me in all my dining experiences - let alone at a place that charges $150 for the tasting menu. The waiter quickly removed my plate, but it took a while to receive the replacement, and there was really nothing significant in the way of apology. I did get a complimentary tasting pour of sparkling wine with my dessert (2 oz). Not sure if that was to recognize our 10 year anniversary or to comp for the bug. The food and wines all tasted excellent and the presentation was beautiful, but not worth the $500 total bill (for 2). I've been to Tru for their fine dining experience and would say that was definitely worth it. Not so here. I would have much preferred to dine at MK or Avec or many many other great places in Chicago. Glad we tried it once, but we won't be back.
(3)Matt C.
Came for valentine's day 2015 with a friend that flew in from LA. Arrived a few minutes early and got seated promptly. We got a booth table near the front. Luckily, it was near enough to the door that every time someone opened the door we got to experience the famous Chicago breeze. Of course it was 3 degrees that night, so it wasn't like a southern california breeze where its enjoyable. It was a bone chilling, keep your jacket on in a $250 per person, 8 course, "fine dining" establishment kind of cold. So that sucked. The food was okay though. It's arranged where its really IG friendly. I would say I was getting about a 20 likes per hour per 100 followers. The "Painter's Pallet" dish was the most visually appealing. The fuck boys really seemed to like that one. My favorite part is when the waiter is standing there trying to pronounce the named of the "rare" and "exotic" wines they got from all around the world. But yeah, the service was really good. They were walking by our booth probably every 7 minutes to make sure we were okay and not frozen from the door constantly opening.
(3)Erica L.
Hello review #100 in 2014!! Just in the nick of time too. Our second visit to Moto was just as memorable and enjoyable are our first years ago. Hubby wanted to take his parents here to experience gastronomy for the first time. Moto is great for initiates as the tasting menu is reasonably priced, offering perfect portion sizes without being too overwhelming. I really like how they offer half tasting size wine pairings. Hubby and father-in-law had full wine pairings while I enjoyed the half without feeling too guilty since my mother-in-law doesn't drink. She was really intrigued with the intricate coffee press and also enjoyed the tea. We were seated towards the front of the restaurant in a booth with really high-backed seats that were not only comfortable, but gave each party privacy during dinner service. We didn't see other people's courses before ours, which added to the anticipation and surprise) Words cannot fully describe the beauty in presentation and taste each course of the tasting menu provided. I thoroughly enjoyed each course, but particularly loved the Flavors of the Ocean, Which Came First?, Fallen Log, and Toasted Marshmallow. The grilled goat was also tasty, and I don't even like goat! Being a dessert person, I appreciated that there were 3-4 dessert courses. Thanks for a wonderful dining experience and for commemorating the event with personalized laser-etched wood menu cards. My in-laws loved them.
(5)Jenny H.
On the eve of my birthday, one thing was said: "wear something nice" So I joyfully obeyed. We hopped in a cab, and arrived at Moto. Giddiness all around, I snapped a photo. "Happy Birthday" they said, as we entered the room. "May we take your coats?" "No"- 'twas a chilly booth. Dish after dish, we dined for five hours. 'twas not "blinded me with science", yet every morsel devoured. Gels and smoked leaves, the rest was quite tame. We even got a tour, but our tour guide was lame. Musty and dank, Their garden was "sterile", yet he poked with his hands. I gasped, was the food imperil? I've had better times, tho Yelp may not agree. Not the "wow" I'd expected, so it only get three.
(3)Owen F.
Everything in this restaurant is just wasting your time. Horrible food, normal service, and unreasonable price. We come here with high exception, but after the second course, we just want to run away from this place.
(2)Bender R.
Whimsy. That pretty much sums up their food. You don't really come here to eat, as much as to just experience chef Farina's creations. That being said, the food doesn't leave you satisfied. It's not meant to be comfortable or possibly even accessible, given that the restaurant's philosophy emphasizes deception using technique. For example, a while back, I was served what appeared to be hot chocolate, but it actually was beef soup garnished with white truffle shaped as marshmallows. It was a fun experience. The prices are as advertised, and the service is excellent. Parking was easy.
(4)Richard Z.
Moto has lost its Mojo- sort of. My 5th visit in as many years, perennially on my list of places to visit when in Chicago. Continues to be a fabulous and creative restaurant with expectable service and delicious cuisine. For those looking for the molecular gastronomic wizardry of old, it appear as though those days have sadly past.
(3)Shane P.
Tried Moto out .......as a professional in the industry ....in my opinion. ....high-priced garbage...... don't waste your time unless you want to eat Jetson like Food..... Based in the future?....for the amount of money that my party spend we were all thoroughly disappointed.... We could have gone to McDonalds and enjoyed our meal better and still had mystery meat ....... I understand the gimmick its like going to an amusement park for food but all of the rides are disappointing ....if you really want to go and have to good food done correctly I would suggest Taco Bell... (really) And had a chance to meet the chef when I say self-centered arrogant prick it would be an understatement. And just to prove a point after we spend upwards of $500 we all went to Maxwell Street and got a fish sandwich which tasted much better than the crap that was given to us at Moto.... Save your money and your time life is too short don't waste it in there... The only reason it got one star was because you wouldn't let me post this with 0
(1)Ellie M.
We were greatly intrigued by the gastronomy behind their creations and of course that this place is a Michelin rated restaurant. So we decided to shell the 200 bucks or so and made reservations. The concept again was great. The presentation by far was one of the best I've seen. But the food... Definitely underwhelming. Also, since this is about 16 course serving, dinner was about 4 hours. It was an interesting experience however I am not planning to come back again.
(3)Pham D.
Moto is an experience. One that I like to treat myself to once in a while. Come here to enjoy Chef Homaro Cantu imaginative spin on food. The last time I was here, we had a pretty large group, so we had the pleasure of sitting in the private room in the basement. We were surrounded by lab equipment and it was pretty wild. We also toured their indoor herb farm, and it's pretty cool to see that while some restaurants have "farm-to-table" dining, at Moto, your plant would have been cut minutes before it was served to you. The food is, of course, amazing. The flavors blend together so well that your tastebuds will dance with joy. * * *
(5)Carol R.
On a recent trip to Chicago, I was treated to Moto by a dear friend for my birthday. Our group of four was unanimously underwhelmed by the atmosphere, service and food. In a phrase: avoid Moto. Our reservation was for 6:30. When we arrived there were 3 people dining. By the end of the evening, eight more had arrived. We were seatd in the rear room away from the door. The room seemed vacuous. There was a huge open space in the center as well as a musty odor. I couldn't help but wonder if tables are removed on less busy nights so as not to look "empty". Our server was completely uninformed on the wine, indifferent in her manner, and not open to questions or comments. Our first two wine choices (she was not familiar with either) were not in stock (or were they moving us toward selecting $$$$ wines??). While three or four of our eight course courses were good, nothing shone and portions were extremely. I barely tip 100 lbs and left unsatisfied. On top of this an automatic 20 percent service charge. Do go elsewhere.
(1)David B.
I've wanted to try Moto since I saw them on TV years ago. This was a must do on our first night in Chicago. The entire experience is a show. Our meal consisted of 16 courses all but one of which we liked. My date ended up not finishing a few of her dishes. The server and manager were both at our table instantly to figure out why. They said the chef was concerned that food was actually coming back to the kitchen. I've never seen that before. She had to convince them that after 10 courses, she was just getting full and wanted to make sure she had room to try the rest. They offered to bring her smaller portions. After the meal, we were offered a tour of the kitchen and hydroponic grow room by the time we got back upstairs, the Maître D had our jackets in hand and a cab waiting at the curb. This is not an every night meal but for a special occasion, there's nothing quite like it.
(4)Jason A.
I'm really torn on this place, probably a 3.5 but ultimately deserved a 4 rating but its not a restaurant I'd recommend or return to. The vibe is a bit too modern for me. The huge secluded tables when you first walk in are cool, I was instantly disappointed I was not sitting there. The main dining area is too dark and vacant, seems big when it isn't. The two top table is the longest table I've ever seen for a 2 person dinner. You are so far apart from your partner it made sharing items and conversation difficult. I was also right next the drink island and I was constantly bumped into by staff. Service was prompt and nice. They articulately described the dishes and pairings, but it was off rote memorization. I was there a touch more of personality and connection in those interactions. The first dish which was a bite of all the dishes to come was a unique way to wet your appetite. The second highlight was the wine pairings which were well thought. The dishes were playful and creative, pleasing to the eye. However, they were all too small, especially for the price point. I wasn't remotely close to being full upon leaving. That also could have had something to do with a totally unacceptable 4.5 hour running time for dinner. A meal like this should never take more than 3. The pacing was horrendous. Our first dish didn't arrive until we had bee there 30 minutes, then the next several courses were 20 minutes apart. It finally picked up at the end but by then you are hungry, annoyed, and or drunk. The only dish that was a total dud was the pearls of melon. No flavor, boring, should have been a mid dinner palate cleanser. The chicken and the egg was ok, but a let down after you're being told you'll get fried chicken. The birds nest was another miss. The grilled goat was excellent, the mushroom was perfect, and the pork belly and thyme was a perfect savory finish. A few ups and downs, but ultimately for the portion size, and length of dinner at this price point there are 10 better options to try when you are spending this much money.
(4)Pack C.
solid food, great presentation. we actually think the food is at par with alinea. The experience is not as unique as Alinea... but hey you save at $100 per person. why not.. they have lots of wine by bottle selection at different price points (from $30/40 to $100+). good deal for the meal. favorite dishes are 1. spring dish: smoke fish with side of biscuit, bagel and macaron (sound so simple, yet so good!!) 2. spring dish: onion & garlic cooked different ways.. really good! Recommend the place!
(4)Anne E.
From the moment I contacted Moto inquiring about a reservation I was impressed with their service. I have a severe food sensitivity to allium and they assured me they could customize the 18 course tasting menu to accommodate me, which they did flawlessly. The service was perfect: well timed, informative, friendly but not chummy. The decor was quiet and subdued. The food was the star. Plate after plate of gorgeous and impossibly more delicious dishes. The variety and ingenuity of the dishes never ceased to amaze and delight us from beginning to end. We were genuinely shocked to find 3 hours had passed when the last course was taken away. Some highlights for us were the Pea Soup Mouse, the Trout and Grits, The Foraged Mushrooms, The Smoked Radishes and The Peach Cobbler. The 18 course Chef's Tour was around $200 per person (including tax and tip). We choose to have the wine pairings as well. If you choose to go this route plan an additional $200 per person (including tax and tip) for the wines and let Moto arrange for a taxi home.
(5)Tricia D.
I'm glad to have experienced what Moto has to offer, but would I return? Not unless you're paying, and they've redesigned their bathroom/toilet set up. It was a $240 dinner, and I expected to be blown away (or atleast impressed for that price tag). Some courses were much better than others. My favorites: the sashimi fish served over smoking rocks, served with mini carb accompaniments (bagel crisp, macaron, wheat cracker), bacon and mini pancakes served with birch syrup that you pour out of a log and atop real birch, and the "baking 101" (you're given 5 components of cheesecake to mix yourself in a bowl and eat with a spatula). Overall, presentation looked nice. There was a creative chese and bread picnic course, where the pairings were "plated" on real grass, and you got a red and white checkered napkin to go with it. I really didn't care for the opening raw scallop dish or the onion course since the onion powder was way too strong, and no matter how much you had me at "ice cream", onion ice cream ain't gonna work. Some component of one of the mid-dinner courses made me (and my bff, so I'm not the only data point) really gassy, so that wasn't pleasant for me or others around me. Note on the women's toilet: really, does the flush button need to be midway down the base of the toilet? As someone else noted, people do not enjoy having to put their head almost into the toilet bowl to flush. And it didn't help the situation that the sign indicating where said flush button is had like size 5 font. Parting thoughts: service was steady, as expected. Reserve on OpenTable, and know that it will be really quiet if you begin your meal anytime before 6:30. You can also ask for a tour of the kitchen on your way out, and a host will be glad to walk you around (I was surprised to see everything was hand washed. No dishwasher in sight.).
(2)Nadia S.
NYE in Chicago... Let me just say it is so hard to pick the perfect restaurant in a city filled w amazing food. We decided to revisit one of my fave restaurants and were SO happy w the decision!! I still think that their regular menu is better than their NYE menu, but still, another wonderful experience. Moto's staff just blows me away. My husband and I kind of fell in love w our server, she was awesome. And the manager. Wow. So there was a crazy snow storm that night and we were the last people waiting to get a taxi.... With no taxi in sight, the manager offered to drive us back to our hotel in his personal car. Who the hell does that?! So amazing. I also would like to add that I have NO idea what Kathryn H. is talking about in her review... I would definitely recommend MOTO to anyone who ever asked.
(5)Kathryn H.
Of all the places I've ever eaten, this one was the worst! From the customer service to the food, all horrible. DO NOT let this be your fallback if you can't get reservations to Alenia. Let me say this, if you know about food, you are a great cook, you are a foodie, you eat all over the world, or you know what good food is all about DO NOT EAT HERE. It is an expensive disappointment. The place was nearly empty when we got there - not shocking. I don't know who our server actually was, because random people brought out the food and wine. The girl, who I think was our server, knew absolutely nothing about the wines. We wanted to add on the wine pairings fro $85 each, but wanted to know WHAT we were drinking. When the glasses were poured before (or during - ugh) the course they were paired with, the server couldn't even tell us what they were. Just, "this is the sauv blanc. enjoy!" Thanks. not. Our first course was that roll up your own sushi dish. It tasted like card board. Our second course was served on a plate shaped like a scallop shell. It was a black potato and leek soup, but it looked like gulf coast after the BP spill. Best thing we ate, but I could get that shit at a diner for $5. We asked that if we were underwhelmed on the next dish, AGAIN, that we would like to pay for what we had an leave. Ooooh, but then the magic happened. The Italian Biosphere. It was this huge glass fish bowl with dirt looking stuff on the bottom. We were told it contained truffles and given miniature shovels to eat with. Cute idea? No. Have you eaten dirt since you were a kid and want to feel nostalgic again? Eat this shit. It literally tasted like dirt. CHECK PLEASE! I asked for the Maître D and our wine pourer had no idea WTF I was talking about. Um, the manager then, please? He comes over, total douchebag. I told him we wanted to pay for what we ate and drank and get the hell outta there. Well, douchebags apparently can't do math, he ended up bringing the check back for the remaining 6 courses and wine we didn't consume instead of the 3 or 4 we did. I asked him to please double check his math, and he stormed off like a little girl having a hissy fit. Again, the check comes back. We were being charged gratuity on the entirety of the meal, not what we had! So I called him back over and said, "I think you miscalculated the gratuity." To which he responded, "DID YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR SERVICE TONIGHT MA'AM?!" At that point, I really think we should have just walked out, but we waited patiently for him to come back with the appropriate bill, paid, and left. Check out the photo of our bill. Asshat. We had such a good experience at L2O the night before, I called and told them about the experience we just had at shitto, I mean, moto.They didn't have any reservations available, but they seated us in the bar area until we could get a table. Comped multiple drinks, apps, entrees, and bottles of wine. The bill for two of us was over $800, but I would have gladly paid more never to have had the experience we did at MOTO.
(1)Kat B.
What a wonderful experience! I took my fiancé here for his birthday this year, and we were so impressed with every aspect of our dinner. The hostess was wonderful and quick to recognize that we were both in the industry. She offered us a kitchen tour and we were able to briefly meet the executive chef. Each of the 8 courses was amazing, and paired perfectly with the wines included in our drink package. Service was easygoing yet very professional. I only hope that we will be able to come back again while we still live in the area!
(5)Randy H.
You know going into it that you're going to get some special food, and good service, and you know you're going to pay a lot. I guess I assumed that the setting would have a more intimate ambiance. It felt surprisingly unromantic. It may have been just bad luck that night, but there were tables full of loud, rowdy groups around who kept the overall ambiance less romantic or intimate, and made it feel a lot more like what I'd expect if I took my date to Chili's. Well, except for the fact that at Chili's I wouldn't be seated so far away from her. Sure, I realize the wide table makes it easier to fit the dozens of wine glasses that are going to be there, but I'd like to have felt more within reach of my date, and not as if I needed to speak up in order to be heard... kinda felt like everyone else was listening to us. And they were. Among the 14 courses, there are some hits and some misses. When they're good, they're astoundingly good. And when they're not, they're not bad, but merely disappointing. And for the 12 wine pairings, I'd say that all but the first two were good. They led off with wines that taste like granite, which is entirely interesting, but a strange choice. Perhaps the most interesting part of the night was the mad scientist beaker system in which the after-dinner coffee was prepared. If you go, do make sure to order a coffee at the end. I wouldn't take back my experience. The service was impeccable, and on a few occasions even felt almost choreographed. And that, combined with the broad array of foods and wines we tasted -- I think -- justified the cost. If you've never been, you should absolutely go. But I think I probably would not return.
(4)P B.
Very very interesting experience. Definite try. We had a 18 course menu with wine pairings. No complains. Each dish was hand crafted & exquisite. Personally loved the Tartare, Foei gras, Pork belly, Pecan pie. Collegues loved the global wine pairings from France, Chile, New Zealand etc. It's 3 hour fest. Be ready to shell out. But worth every penny.
(4)Buo Z.
Execution was lacking. I wanted so badly to like this restaurant. It was situated in what looked like an old meatpacking area of Chicago. The food was generally overly salty. The presentations were kind of sloppy. Even though I've seen a lot of dishes that looked like Jackson Pollock paintings, there was somehow an art to the madness. I just wasn't seeing it in these dishes. So much for a one star.
(3)Diner S.
Good food but not what I would consider molecular gastronomy. Certainly has little touches of it. New chef comes from the South. Many of the new dishes are Southern inspired, however, execution is not there. I would've loved to have gone here before Rick Anderson took over. Service is good and friendly. Wait time between courses is a bit too long.
(3)Allan C.
We only stopped here for drinks. So yeah, apparently you can do that here, instead of getting the pre-fixe. Regardless of that, that didn't keep us from getting some pretty amazing treatment for two people just taking up space with some scotch, bites that came with said scotch, and a coffee/tea afterwards. This is definitely not a cocktail place and their selection is limited. We were sort of inebriated to begin with and pretty much stumbled in so think of it as a place to check out with an open mind, check out their liquor/wine selection of the day, and roll with it.
(4)Laura C.
On Christmas Eve, working for Ebenezer Scrooge, I checked Facebook and saw a post by Chef Homaro Cantu asking what holiday wishes people were hoping for this season. I responded honestly with, "To eat at moto." Much to my surprise, Chef wrote back that he was feeling generous in the holiday spirit and invited me and a guest to dinner. I was floored, the jaw almost fell off my face as I jumped up and down in excitement. The kindness of this man who I admire in so many ways already, both personally and professionally, made my year. From his rough and tumble childhood, Chef overcame so many obstacles to become the innovator who is radically changing the culinary mindset, melding science, art, love, and gastronomy, in addition to being a father, husband and miracle berry genius, helping to eliminate the growing epidemic of sugar addiction. Our evening started with TASTING menu, a plate of amuses, each bite representing the courses to come. 1. BLANC de blancs; Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs 1er cru, Cuis, Champagne, France, nv and Dewanoyuki, Snowflake, Junmai Sake, Yamagata, Japan A trio of mahi, snapper and scallops with hearts of palm, sea beans and flowers. By far, my favorite course of the evening with the perfectly seasoned and prepared fish course, beautifully presented on a long glass plate to share between us. How can you go wrong when you start the evening with a premiere cru Champagne? My current drink of choice, but also a second pairing of sake so smooth, my tastebuds were dancing in heaven. 2. BREAKFAST radish; Chasing Harvest Riesling, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2010 Visually stunning, the simplicity of each radish slice - purple ninja, black, pickled, raw, highlighted by a burst of flavors and textures from frozen sunchoke puree, watermelon, lime, candied Buddha's hand, brioche crouton, radish blossoms, sorrel, and a brown butter dust paired with a dry riesling 3. RIVER; Domaine Guiberteau, Clos de Guichaux, Chenin Blanc, Saumur, France, 2008 A glass terrarium arrives at the table, filled with a hazy Cherrywood smoke, smooth river rocks, Serbian sturgeon, trout, Washington salmon sashimi draped over the stones and garnished with wheatgrass, served alongside everything bagel, saltine, and potato blini with lemon creme fraiche. Not going to find this play on lox and bagels anywhere better! 4. STICKS & stones; Paul Cluver, Gewurztraminer, Elgin, South Africa, 2011 A sweet wine for an unexpectedly sweet course - sticks and stones made out of Granny Smith apples, salsify, carrots, adorned with micro arugula, fromage blanc snow, pear butter puree and apple skin gastriche. 5. DUCK a l'orange; Domenico Clerico, Pajana, Barolo, Italy, 2008 A forest of flavor in a glass jar, with the interaction of harvesting the orange bowl and being saucier at the table, drizzling the lid of seared duck, micro swiss chard, "scallop" of potato, gingery carrots in a fragrant orange jus with a BIG Barolo to stand up to the strong flavors 6. DUELING shoulders; Avelada, Follies, Touriga Nacional/Cabernet Sauvignon, Beiras, Portugal, 2010 An aromatic hunk of tree with giant cinnamon bark, pine cones and juniper is ignited to smoke while you feast on wild board shoulder in a red wine glaze and a porcelet shoulder (suckling pig fed only milk) with caramelized milk, rutabaga puree, balsamic reduction, radicchio puree, dehydrated cippolini onions and micro arugula 7. BEEF & cauliflower; Beatrice et Pascal Lambert, Les Terasses, Chinon, France, 2011 Cruciferous veg - Romanesco, cauliflower, broccoli, pureed, roasted, and cubed with Texan sirloin, veal demi-glace and shaved white Oregon truffles, toying with my childhood Chinese fave of beef and broccoli, elevated to a whole new level 8. REINDEER lichen; Dominio IV, Song of an Uncaged Bird, Syrah, Columbia Gorge, Oregon, 2006 I wish all my food was served on a heated stone and artfully prepared with eye popping color and flavor as was the tender bison loin chop carpaccio, white mulberry, white beech, maitake, and enoki mushrooms, caramelized onions and crispy, limey moss. 9. BEET of the night; Altocedro, Tempranillo, La Consulta, Argentina, 2011 What is a winter meal without a blood red beet? Foie gras truffle mousse dusted with coffee grounds encasing a beet center on a savory shortbread cookie, beautifully balanced between sweet and savory, beet emulsion, chicory jelly, balsamic reduction, roasted beet and bull's blood micro-greens scream with flavor from a stark off center white plating emphasizing the deep, luscious hue, balanced by a very mild Tempranillo. To be continued when Yelp let's me post more....
(5)Abhi K.
The food was objectively good. I'm not sure anyone can really argue otherwise. But I feel like Michelin star restaurants, especially when they cost this much should be held to a higher standard. Moto can't really be compared to the greasy burger joint down the road. And this review will not attempt to do that. The reason for the three star rating is that Moto does not live up to expectations compared to itself. First, the actual space is really weird. The door next to the sign saying "Moto" is not the door you want to enter through. It's the door to the right of that one. Except that door might be locked and you'll have no idea how you're supposed to get to your dinner. You are taken down to the basement, which I guess is what they call the "lab." There are about four tables down there, but it looks very industrial, so it's not a cozy familial feel, but rather a desolate one of isolation. Also, you stare at a wall of periodic elements that are annoyingly not in order. We did the 8-course chef's dining experience. On the website, it's advertised as sitting at the chef's table and cooking with the chef. The wording on the website was obviously misleading as we got to meet Richie Farina for about one minute before each course. Halfway through, his sous-chefs and the waiters started introducing the meals instead of him. The 1-on-1 cooking demo was him mixing together sorbet in liquid nitrogen. The "grow room" wasn't even that impressive. It was basically potted herbs growing a temperature-controlled room. I think the restaurant was expecting customers to be impressed based on his celebrity alone, but I don't feel like I got that much extra out of it. People who did not opt for the chef's experience got a 16-course menu, with equally creative dishes as the ones we got. To be fair, I don't know what their cost was, but my point is that if you are choosing the 8-course option just to meet Richie, don't bother. I'll end on a nice note. The dishes actually were pretty creative. My favorite were the deconstructed hot wings. There was seared quail on a bed of celery and blue cheese puree with a garnish of hot sauce. It was everything good about hot wings, done in a molecular gastronomy style. Others at my table liked the onion dish (don't kiss anyone afterwards). I loved the scallops and buffalo tartare. By far the best presentation was this thing that looked like a log in a secluded woodland. To be honest, I didn't care for the taste, but I greatly appreciate the creativity behind the dish. It came complete with something that looked like a worm living in the dirt next to the log (but was thankfully not a worm). Bottom line: It's molecular gastronomy, but I expected more. And I definitely expected more from the chef's experience.
(3)Alecia B.
Tasty meal and thoughtful wine pairings. The service was attentive but not intrusive or overbearing. We happened to be there for their "anniversary dinner" and there were some significant discounts. If we had plopped down the typical $1,000 or so I might have felt a but cheated but our price was much much less. Not that anything was bad but I had the impression that while the meal was great, we could have gotten a similar quality experience (or better) for the same price or less so I would definitely check out some other places next before deciding to return.
(4)Joanne S.
If you are ready for an experience this is the place to have it. It was a great time to go since they were celebrating their 10 year anniversary. Each course is always interesting. They do really well with accommodating for food allergies. Two of the course were substituted with other items since I have a gluten sensitivity. I was scared at first because I was not sure what to expect but both courses were good. The entire meal consisted of 12 courses plus a plate with a tasting of the tasting menu, which I was totally not expecting. The meal also included wine pairings. The wait staff was amazing. They provide alot of good detail on the courses and the wine pairings. If you want to have a foodgazm you can have it here.
(4)Allison M.
Brought my fiancée here last weekend to celebrate her 30th birthday. It was everything we'd hoped for and more! We love the "foodie" lifestyle and this was definitely a treat. Every course was creative, exciting, delicious, and memorable. While hard to describe, the pictures tell it all. This was our favorite fine dining prix fixe to date (we've also dined at L2O, Tru, and ing). Don't forget to ask for a tour of the kitchen!!
(5)James M.
This is a truly unique experience. Experience is a perfect word for this establishment. First off, the presentation is creative, scientific, fun, and quite innovative. I believe there were 12 courses in total. Each course is very small but the preparation that goes into is unlike anything you will ever see. Everything is compliment to the last and it's all very well thought out and not a detail missed. I'd explain the process of how the prepare everything but I won't do it justice, if you are ready to spend money for a truly unique dining experience than you will find out first hand. It's not cheap but I'm sure all who dine here understand that and expect it. Amazing.
(5)Proachie M.
We were so disappointed going to Moto after so many years! The experience is nothing like it used to be . We have taken guests there a few times 3-4 years ago and each experience was superb till this last one. We had given them a heads up over a 40 days before that we had dietary restrictions of a newly Pregnant daughter who would not eat un pasteurized and raw meats or fish and also that party of 8 did not do ' game meat'. What we got instead ( in the 8 course dinner) was 5 courses of FISH, 1 course of a red meat with tofu and sea weed and 2 courses of dessert. We mentioned it to our server after our 3rd course and got a dead pan face! To make matters much worse, 3 of us had a mild case of ' food poisoning' which I called to mention as we thought it might have the been the mushrooms in one the dishes. Spoke to the manager and reiterated what a bad experience the whole evening had been and was shocked when I barely got an acknowledgement or a show of interest at a situation that could have been more dangerous. A prompt sincere apology could have diffused matters so easily.
(2)Pamela B.
The best meal/experience ever! And price was less than expected. Fantastic!
(5)Laura T.
Extravagant? Check Disturbing, evocative and magical -- all at once? Ditto. An unforgettable night? Absolutely. This is Moto. Weird. Outlandish. And awesome. Thumbing through the other reviews will give you a sense of the scope. I didn't take pictures but all the other reviews really capture the idea. Our server was delightful and made our group of 6 feel comfortable and welcomed, giving us advice on the order in which to tackle a new dish, or the rationale behind some of the selections. We splurged in a crazy way. In a celebration mode we did the 14 courses. And the wine pairings. We stayed 4 hours and never felt rushed in any way. I wish I could break the menu down for you, but really all I have is the memory of an amazing night. That seems enough.
(5)Bill L.
I will save you all the details, here is the scoop. Truly one of a kind experience. I cannot find words to describe what a great time we had. Nothing could be truly perfect and this place is no different, but it is half way there. You really have to try it for yourself.
(4)Samuel N.
Wow. Just wow. This was an experience I will never forget. Every course is just perfect. I would recommend Moto to anyone who enjoys a dining EXPERIENCE. Cannot wait to return!
(5)Matt C.
The server/sommelier sets a candle on our table. There's two of us, well dressed, romantic vibe. Ok, we think, they're just setting the mood. Three courses later, an astoundingly delicious king crab dish is served - the server grabs the candle, saying nothing, and drips hot wax all over our dishes. What the absolutely hell! They are ruining the food! Then the smell hits us. That's not candle wax, but butter that has been slowly melting over the past 15 minutes. A moment of surprising culinary genius, the type of moment duplicated multiple times throughout the 12 course experience. You will leave full. Very full. For meat-eaters, some of the dishes will be hauntingly good, almost ruining other non-Moto preparations of pork and chicken for you due to the Moto preparations' superiority. The wine pairings are expert. We don't pretend that we know anything about good wine, except from what we learned from the documentary SOMM, but the wine at Moto was spectacular even to our un-refined palettes. Each dish is an experience, something memorable that you instantly want to tell your foodie friends about. This is an easy must-do for those who enjoy culinary adventure.
(5)Lisa H.
I ate here years ago and although it was extremely pricey, I've never forgotten the experience. It's like a Willy Wonka of culinary arts. Some of the items I remember eating are; black bean soup with nitrogen chocolate marshmallows, olive on a spoon with an ancient balsamic vinegar and oil (never forget the taste of that!), liquid donut soup, and more crazy courses like those.... I believe we ordered the 10 course dinner which was $100 a person (2005). The more expensive 20 course dinner was about $200 a person. Its expensive but worth it in my opinion. It's almost ten years later and I can still remember the taste of the eclectic entrees. It was quite the experience. Id go back if I ever visit Chicago again.
(5)Rachel A.
Food science. I never really understood it until I ate at Moto. They will give you food they call "food". Appearances are not what they appear to be and they will cook things unconventionally. It is not uncommon to see a blow torch, oxygen tank, fish bowl, and steamer at your table. You will be surprised. You will be amazed. I spent many a moment oohing and aweing. That's not even a word but it's perfectly appropriate because dining at Moto was awesome. Take it for what it is. Moto is not a place where you will get a 12 ounce steak or whole lobster. You will get bits and pieces of the cow and sea but nothing more. Moto is all show and tricks. I was fine with that and I was pretty full at the end of the meal. Not stuffed, but satisfied. I've been eating non stop in Chicago anyway. We did the tasting menu in the lab downstairs and it was spectacular, complete with a tour of the kitchen. The experience was really something. Top 5 highlights of our meal included: 5. Reconstructed Corn- Savory corn ice cream popsicle complete with kernels someone placed one by one with a tweezer. You would have never known it was not a corn on the cob until you finished the whole thing. Completely edible. No cob! It's ice cream! 4. Zen Garden- Time to play with your food! The gravel was cheese and the rocks were chocolate. The garden came with a little wooden rake so you could make your own design and have an "om" moment. 3. Kentucky Fried Pasta- The chicken was dehydrated and crumbled into flour. They made a noodle out of it. The skin was served crispy on the side. There was a biscuit. Powdered buttermilk gravy. A specially designed fork entwined with a fresh rosemary sprig. It smelled amazing. Tasted great too. Dehydrated chicken noodle. Who does that? Forreal?! 2. Egg Drop Soup- They created a solid membrane around mango puree to make it look like an egg yolk. I learned how to do this food science trick at a friend's house and it is not easy at all. Hats off to the crew at Moto. They are skilled in what they do. 1. Acme Bomb- A Valrhona chocolate bomb complete with a marshmallow wick which they lit on fire. Once the wick melts away you pop the chocolate bomb in your mouth. Death by chocolate! It's rich and delicious if you love chocolate, especially melted hot chocolate. The center of the chocolate bomb was a liquid graham cracker. And you live. The meal was spaced out and we were not rushed out the door. The staff was friendly and we had a great time exchanging banter with them. Moto is in a desolate industrial area. Since we were tourists without a car, Moto called us a cab. It was 5 star service all the way. They even tweaked their menu for our guests who could not eat nuts. Usually the substitutes are bland but Moto did not disappoint. We were drooling over the risotto dish they got. Everyone wins at Moto. For a first time experience at a food science restaurant, I was blown away. I have high expectations now for Alinea and WD-50. Molecular Gastronomy!
(5)John S.
I've been here 3 times and each time, it was an amazing and unique experience. Some of the highlights have included fish that cooks in a little box while you enjoy the preceding course, the duck confit 'eggroll', and the edible menu served with a deconstructed glass of champagne and caviar over creme fraiche. Yes, it's different and the food is something out of a sci-fi movie, but that all works because above all, the food is really, really delicious. Love it.
(5)Lu H.
I personally think Moto deserves at least 2 Michelin stars, maybe 3. I think it's definitely on par with Alinea in terms of creativity, presentation, and flavors. We spontaneously went there for a Thursday night. There's no need to pick the food because they only offer one tasting menu. We decided to go with the half pairing since we both had to work the next day, and working while hungover is definitely not fun... The first "course", which was supposed to be a preview of the whole menu, is very interesting, about eleven or twelve small one-biters are supposed to present each of the following course. I don't want to go through all courses, here are a few that I remembered better: Dimsum: I am Chinese, so I don't want to complain too much about this one. The "Chinese" style steamed bum was my least favorite of all night. It was just salty, nothing else. But I was happy because everything went "uphill" from there. Salad: Don't remember which was "deconstructed" and which was in the original form, but I think there were beets, cauliflower, ranch sauce, celery, etc. in one form or another. And when you put all in your mouth, they worked perfectly together. Btw, BEST ranch pasta ever (and my first and only ranch pasta). Reconstructed corn: One word. OMG. It's like a little corn orchestra in your mouth. The seafood course: lobsters were perfectly cooked with butter cream, abalone, caviar, and seaweed (?), all very fresh and refreshing. Red wine salad and forest are my two favorite presentations. I've never eaten stuff off a log, and I would've never thought the smell of some burning leaf actually enhances the flavor of the wine salad. Bourbon barrel and cocktails: there was four little cocktail bites. I didn't think it was that special, till I drank the accompanying "bourbon" right after the bites. The drink plus the bite was spot on on whatever the cocktail it was supposed to be. One of the best whiskey sour I've had in a long time. Smell the glove: this was the only "course" I don't really get. I mean it does smell like camp fire, but why put a glove in the glass globe...And it's not really a course per se, I can't eat, I can't drink it. I can only smell. And even the smell isn't really that necessary because it's not like my smell was overwhelmed by previous courses. I don't need a nose cleanser... The three dessert courses that come after that were perfect. I like how they weren't overly sweet. And three! A girl can never have too many desserts! :) Ok, one small complaint. The waiter with thick glasses seemed to be very LIGHT on the alcohol. Maybe because we got the half pairing? But I didn't know half pairing also means half the pouring...Maybe he secretly knows our bosses and just didn't think we should drink that much? Or maybe I'm used to Next's refill policy? Or maybe I really loved the Spanish red wine, and wished he could be a little bit heavy handed on that one...None of those matters, I still really enjoyed the dinner and would definitely go back when they change their menu.
(5)Mark C.
Came here for Valentine's day and it was a phenomenal meal. Homaro Cantu's vision and inventiveness from the gastronomy side is equaled in Chicago by Grant Achatz and perhaps Phillip Foss. Service was fantastic and the meal, while having a few minor flaws, is a meal unlike any other you'll get in Chicago. Pics and a more detailed review on my blog: eatinginchicago2014.word…
(5)Dan M.
My boyfriend and I came here and had a great time. The wine pairings went with the dishes excellently, and left feeling very satisfied! The timing of overall atmosphere of the restaurant were perfect. Would highly recommend coming here.
(5)Kristen L.
This review is long overdue and there's nothing that can be said that already hasn't been said, but here we go. The food: What can be said? The chef(s) know what they're doing. Each and every single bite is better than the last and the course progression is superb. Not going to go down the list of the 12 course meal the bf and I had for my birthday, but my absolute favorite was "breakfast"--little mini pancakes, bits of bacon, bits of fruit, all paired with the best, I repeat, THE BEST, birch syrup I've ever had...and I don't even like syrup! All courses paired with a bottle of white wine was AWESOME SAUCE. The service: I've never known what the hype was about with fine dining restaurants and how expensive it was (other than the food, of course), but good Lord do these people know what it means to have good service. Every single time I got up out of my seat and back into it, someone was there to push out/in my chair for me. After I got back from the bathroom, my napkin was nicely folded back into its place. I was even ESCORTED TO THE BATHROOM. WHAT?! Class all the way, baby. Our motto quickly became, "we need to sophisticate ourselves" while dining at this fine establishment. Being used to wearing jeans/sweats and a t-shirt to restaurants, it was definitely something to be able to dress up to the nines and eat such a fancy shmancy dinner. Good on you, moto!
(5)Ai H.
Such a fun and amazing experience! Great service, chef Homaro Cantu was kind enough to give us a personal tour of the kitchen and their private dining room. One of my foodie dreams finally fulfilled.
(5)Mandy C.
Moto's menu consists of a choice of either the 10 courses, which costs $135 and lasts at least 2 hours, or the 20 courses, which costs $195 and lasts at least 4 hours. I decided to pick the 20 courses since I'm a fan of molecular gastronomy, and technically, I'm paying for the food and a "show". The restaurant was located on the West side of Chicago in the meat packing district. The restaurant was pretty hidden considering the area was very quiet and filled with delivery trucks. But once through the door of Moto, the dim lighting, the plain but modern decor, the fancy opened wine bottles, the well dressed hostess, waiters and waitresses await. The restaurant was very spacious and the dim lighting certainly made me use my senses to feel and taste the food more. Everything tasted delicious that night, but not everything has that wow factor. My favorite though was the Cuban Cigar, which was a deep fried shredded pork sandwich that was wrapped with chard and dipped with roasted red pepper sauce that looked like a cigar. Another favorite was the candle with the edible liquid wax, which the waiter poured over my chicken dish. I think Moto is fun and exciting restaurant that's great for catching up or a date. The food calls for great conversation and dicussion...just make sure you have time to spare for the long meal.
(4)Jennie C.
Walked into the minimalistically decorated dining room. Not a piece of artwork in sight. I suppose we should focus our attention on the food, which was beautifully presented. There were some standouts, though some of the desserts could be a bit more balanced in flavor rather than just sweet. Also wished there were more warm dishes. Felt a bit cold after the entire tasting menu, maybe a combination of the cold decor and cold desserts. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the food, which was excellently prepared. Also appreciate the purse hooks, other restaurants really need to pick that up to keep the ladies happy!
(4)Anne M.
Wow - my Valentine really kicked ass this year. The best ever!! 'Twas a dizzying day of decadence - Roses, dinner date at Moto!, a box of beautiful handmade chocolates + a sweet romantic card. I love this man. SO much. Yes, I'm hardcore bragging - sorry, I simply MUST! Moto was an awesome experience - almost like edible performance art - from the cool, modern decor (wood/cork?, whites, grey/black granite) to the seamless hustle & flow of the *many all-black-clad servers, to the exquisitely presented cuisine + perfect wine pairings - this was meticulous. needle-point spot-on service. and of course - delicious, fabulously inventive, fun food. I can't possibly list all the components to our 15-course extravaganza of a dinner ( I'd miss a million little details & honestly, I ate many bites without knowing exactly WHAT I was eating - a little out of my comfort zone, but I loved it ) - however, I'll list the menu that hints at each course to give a sense of what we enjoyed: - Spring roll menu (edible menu) - Crudite - Blackout - Nose to tail (too much.... ) - Gazpacho - Kentucky fried pasta - Cigar tasting (yeah, I'm a Top Chef fan...) - Forest foraging (featuring Lincoln Park sticks/logs) - Cassoulet - Bull's eye (that candle wasn't really a candle after all!) - Roses are red - Marshmallow & apple (smoke globe atop mallow squares) - Elvis circa 1974 (Elvis has still got it goin' on) - Chocolate & truffle - Acme bomb (yes: fire - no: explosion) ...Very mysterious, isn't it........ ;-) + Bonus: "I Choo-Choo-Choose You" edible valentines. awwww. Each course came with a wine tasting accompaniment, which was a great way to try some wines we wouldn't have ordered otherwise - starting with champagne, to white wines, red wines, and ending with a sweet moscato and sherry to pair with our bevy of desserts. I wanted to stay at Moto for the entire night and continue eating and drinking and being served like a queen. Sadly, our 3+ hour meal went by more quickly than you'd think, and we did have to leave eventually. This is most definitely a * $plurge * dining destination. It's got a big price tag, but you're really paying for the whole spectacle - and for a special occasion or celebration - it really stands out as a distinctly memorable place. I loved it and thought it was so fun and different as my first real full-on molecular gastronomy dining experience. *Badly-lit photos to come..!
(5)Eric X.
[ February, 2013 ] Visited for the Valentines dinner. The service was impeccable, food was prepared well with perfect wine pairings (yes, perfect), and the ambiance of the "lab", where we were seated" allowed quiet conversation while enjoying the scenic view of food preparation. There are some folks here who complain about Moto (food was pricey, portions not big enough, etc.), but I personally wouldn't recommend listening to them. Moto is pricey, and it's not for everyone, but it's an amazing experience that could only be appreciated by people who understand the melding of food and art.
(4)Maggie A.
Great food and fun experience! The plates and flavors were very creative. The kitchen tour was fascinating and the chef will definitely revolutionize the industry with his 150 patents and sustainable in house garden. Just wish it had more molecular gastronomy vs creatively plated dishes. Our menu did not have the interesting/science-y dishes that we saw on previous posts that made us want to try it.
(4)Angela M.
I researched top restaurants in Chicago for my husbands birthday . Moto came up and I was pleased to see it was similar to a place I wanted to take him. I was prepared for a heavy bill for what was expected. What we received was misleading . We had a wonderful time but the cost was first off not informed to us and certainly not worth the cost. The place is next to a meat district which was not clean and welcoming to begin with..ok fine with that...then you are greeted by someone who is not dressed the part by no means. Pony tail that looked dirty. Ok can deal with that. Atmosphere is grey and not lit properly, carpet needed to be replaced....ok can deal with that. Then we are led into a basement with poor lighting and dusty chemistry bottles. My chair was crunched into a corner tite next to them, I had no choice but to notice. It was not welcoming with placements at all. I felt like I sat in some dark basement...not suitable for the magazine ratings. But ok...we chose the drink pairings that were 95 a person...ok cool I was still prepared in my head considering I thought I was spending 125 a person. He did not inform nor state the choice of an 8 course or 16 course....so when I got the bill my mouth dropped. Not given a choice on what to tip as well was not cool. Then when I left I not only was shocked of the price I was shocked it wasn't worth $725 dollars. I mean if you are going to put your geek into food like that at least clean up the act. I would spend that on my husband again but I won't in this place. I'd rather go back to Quebec . At least I'd be in a different country and same price. Pull it together moto. We had to eat pizza when we got home:( and I felt more comfortable in my own bathroom considering there's needed updating. I'm still waiting for a phone call back considering I sent an email complaining of this totally ripped off experience. Shame on the magazine article that complimented you. If you want to go here people..take my advise and book a trip to Mexico.
(1)Becky K.
Moto was awesome! It's tough because if I'm going to say Alinea was 5 stars, then that holds everywhere else I eat for the rest of my life to a pretty high standard. So, let's say Moto is 5 and Alinea is 5+++. Menu was fun, exciting and everything was delicious. I won't spoil any surprises by going into details on the courses. Worth the money if you have it. Don't expect the extreme whimsy or fantastical flavors at Alinea, but definitely a fun, inventive, and delicious meal.
(5)Lola K P.
This is last season's menu review, since I wasn't as moved to write this immediately, there's tons of laudatory reviews, and we were relatively disappointed with the food, but heck I feel the need to add this to my restaurant review pedigree, and I'm pretty sure the new menu's on the same vein. We ended up coming here since a friend was celebrating his birthday. The presentation show was impressive, and service was almost perfect, but there wasn't a single dish that Hubby and I thought was delicious or wanted more of. It was all the most interesting molecular gastronomy efforts, and we get what they're trying to do, but it really didn't work for us. (Sadly we never made it to Adrià 's elBulli or the newer Tickets to compare the concept execution). The paired wines were good. Our friends seemed to love their food though, so that was really good for the birthday boy. (Unless they lied as much as we did; I mean, we weren't going to criticize the food in front of the guest of honor, now were we?) Afterwards we got a tour of their kitchen, which was impressive.
(3)Keith C.
Food - 5/5 Staff - 5/5 Decor - 5/5 Bang for you buck - 5/5 (And this is with the price being really expensive) I love this place. I've always wanted to check out this restaurant after seeing the great reviews on tv. So I ended up coming here with my mom and my sister who were visiting Chicago for the first time. Because I was travelling in Brazil for work, I set up the reservation about 2 weeks in advance using Open Table. Seeing how my phone did not work while in Brazil, I could not receive any phone calls until 4 days before the reservation when I flew back. The staff had called me a couple times to make sure that nobody had any allergic reactions to anything. Seeing how my mom was allergic to oysters, they were informed and they said this would not be a problem. I was called again the day of the reservation just to remind me that I had a reservation that night. Because my mom likes to eat a little earlier, we had a reservation for 7 pm and when we arrived, there was only one other couple inside. The restaurant is not very big so there are only a handful of tables. The decor was very relaxing and quiet. The waiter confirmed again that my mom could not eat oysters. I had forgotten that she also couldn't eat pineapples and this was told to the waiter who then said that he would inform the chefs and that this would not be a problem. We selected a wine for the dinner instead of going with the wine pairing option as my family members do not drink that much. Before they let us try the wine, one waiter poured a little bit of wine into a glass just to make sure that the wine was not bad. She then poured the wine into a decanter and let it sit for a little bit before pouring me a small sample just to re-confirm that the wine was good (which it was). Our first dish was the tasting menu which contained 13 small pieces of the main food for each dish that we would be eating that night. From then, each dish was brought out in a timely manner and explained to us. Because my mom is allergic to oysters, they made a different dish for her when the oyster dish was brought out. However, it was similar enough stylistically that if another table had looked over, they would have not known that my mom was not eating oysters. Each dish was just enough food and decorated unbelievably that by the end of the meal, we had not over eaten but were definitely full and satisfied. The menu changes each season so you'll never get the same thing twice. Each time we had finished a dish, 3 waiters came to our table and at the same time, removed our plates. When a new plate was to arrive, the plates were all set in front of us at the exact same time. NOW THIS IS SERVICE!! When I had to go to the bathroom, one of the waiters walked quickly ahead of me and opened the door to get the the bathroom. When I was ready, he was waiting for me again and opened the door for me. Of course you're going to pay a pretty penny when you come here and we knew well in advance that we would be dishing out a little bit of dough before we came. However, I can definitely say that for how much the meal cost, the service, experience and food was worth it!!
(5)Jeremy L.
If your wife informs you that you are going to Moto, don't ask questions, do as your told and enjoy the experience. She's really just looking out for your tastebuds. We were accompanied by another couple and the experience couldn't have been more enjoyable. We were seated downstairs and afforded the privilege of observing the assembly of many of the courses. The food was always well explained as well as the wine pairings we enjoyed. The flavor explosions you will experience throughout the evening are too intense to try to describe with mere adjectives. My personal favorites included the Reconstructed corn, Kentucky fried pasta, Tongue & cheek and the Acme bomb. It is an experience, so consider it both your dinner and show all in one. I especially appreciated the service. Often when I accompany my wife to nice restaurants the environment is stuffy and everyone takes themselves way to seriously. I have to compliment Alex and Xander for their professional demeanor and lively conversation while handling our service for the evening. It wouldn't have been as enjoyable without them.
(5)Dkrejser S.
Had to return so took our son for his bday dinner there. Again this was an amazing experience, and we in fact thought it was a little better than last time. The emphasis had changed somewhat from very molecular food to more about the ingredients. Service is impeccable which also might be due to the fact that we came in one of the last snowstorms of the year and most other guests had cancelled their reservations. Only had to share the big staff with one other table. They were very attentive and understanding to our food allergies. Our children loved every bit of this experience and we will definitely be return.
(5)Joe S.
Excellent restaurant really showcasing what's possible when a talented chef combines skills with the molecular gastronomy "wow." Ate as part of a large group but the wines were well selected and paired well; food bites and the tasting of the tasting menu funny; the boar superb! Richie Farina (of Top Chef fame) was in charge of our operation and while he was personable and warm and welcoming, he seemed to operate more as a Maître d' than as a chef which wasn't bad, just seemed unusual to have a chef who isn't doing anything chef'ly. The kitchen did send out one final amuse-bouche, at the end... an edible menu and that was mildly fun. Service was fine -- wine glasses were kept well filled and water was refilled mostly on time. I did find the silverwear options odd... fork and spoon but no knife. Overall, the restaurant, the space, the location, the food, the service... it all worked and worked [almost] flawlessly. Thank you!
(4)Valerie J.
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 :)
(5)Alissa A.
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.
(5)Heidi J.
Impeccable service, food and wine pairings. My husband who HATES fine dining even loved the tasting menu paired with the wines. A must!
(5)Kelli P.
THE BAD BOYS OF MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY!!! My favorite restaurant in Chicago. Been here four times. Why? Because this is not a meal, this is a FUN, WHIMSICAL, PLAYFUL, DELICIOUS EXPERIENCE. Every course is creative, well thought out, playful, smart, tasty and thoughtful. On top of the food being an experience, and always flavorful, the service is great. Well timed, efficient, professional, but also friendly and not stuffy or pretentious. Each server is also a chef, so they know their food very intimately. What is also so cool is that they are always willing to give a tour of their kick ass lab and kitchen. Great atmosphere - clean, calm and comfortable. Awesome wine list and pairing options. Favorite dish: Cuban Cigar - really tasty, and looks so much like a cigar - so fun to eat - plus everyone loves seeing pictures of this dish! Alinea is an experience, but Moto is the much more down to earth, fun, approachable experience. These guys have such a sense of humor, and such a grasp on their ingredients and the science behind cooking that they are transforming food into things you have never seen nor imagined before - and you get the sense that they have a great time doing it. AWESOME! Highly recommended, I will be a forever fan!!! Don't miss out on this place. Again, this is not a meal, so when you see the price on the menu, don't imagine you are paying for a meal, you are paying for a very unique experience for all of your senses.
(5)ben w.
Such a unique experience. I would have to say the food (which was excellent) was only half of what made this 4 hour visit so special. Our waiter, Quinton, was extremely informed about what would show up on our table, acting more like a tour guide at a science museum than someone putting food in front of you. My main concern was paying a lot of money to have small plates with small amounts of food put in front of me and leaving hungry. As each plate arrived with it's unique aromas and flavors, you get lost in the momentum. Those worries left my conscience as I got lost in the experience. The waitstaff are in constant communication to time the arrival of your next course. When it does arrive it usually is accompanied by some fanfare, my favorite was the seafood course, served on rocks with a fantastic smoked aroma, and the goat course and it's wonderful rolled meat. I was lucky enough to get a personal tour of the kitchen by Chef Chip, ever so passionate about his work and explaining what goes into these concepts. THANKS for a very memorable 5th anniversary dinner for my wife and I.
(5)Alton P.
I've always wanted to try food cooked through molecular gastronomy and I am so glad I had my first experience at Moto. The servers I had were Zack and Alona and they were fantastic. Very knowledgable and friendly. The food was superb! Some of the presentations just blew me away. I was fortunate enough to also get a tour of the kitchen with Chef Richie Farina, who was awesome and very down to earth. Go to Moto!
(5)Karen V.
Four stars for the theatrical production. I honestly don't know what to think of Moto. On one hand I found it intriguing and the other hand I found it very over priced for what it is. It was a fun evening,but I cannot say that I will ever return,once is fine.
(4)Tatiana D.
This place was one of the reasons why we made a trip to Chicago in the first place. It was stop #3 on our All You Can Jet pass tour. I made a reservation about three weeks in advance and they only reservation they had was a 9pm, well that meant the twenty course was out of the question because that can take up to five hours! We opted for the ten course with a wine pairing and we didn't leave the restaurant until midnight but it doesn't even feel like you're there for three hours. The restaurant is located in an industrial looking area. It can be easy to miss because the sign is small. It's very dark inside and they discourage flash photography, so I was scared to take pictures until I saw someone else doing it. They bring out the edible menu which is pretty much taste like a zesty cheese cracker, it was the best menu I ever ate! We ordered the 10 course (we ate here about a month ago, bear with me as my memory is fuzzy): -Snow man (hawaiian poke with a tequila, lime flavor) -White steel -Crab cakes -Maitake & pork belly -Quail with cracker jack -Rabbit maki (risotto with rabbit meat rolled up to look like sushi) -Mexican cannoli (had duck inside, made to look like dessert) -Tasty cake with apple -Pineapple & chai -Earl grey -Vanilla flavored packing peanut served a beaker with bitter orange liquor Everything was delightful (and I never use that word ) but there were 2 or 3 things that made me make yummy noises with every bite a la "When Harry Met Sally" and "What About Bob". The service was very good. I know nothing about wine pairings but I enjoyed every glass. I was pretty faded by the 9th one and I don't even think we got our 10th but by that point, I didn't care! Minus a star because there was no cuban cigar which is actually available on the 20 course but the menu does change. If you're into eating paper, eating stuff that looks like dessert but isn't, or trying new things and flavors, you'll like Moto. It's not traditional. Also, it's not as stuffy as I thought it'd be, there was a large group of about 12 and they were whoopin it up like it was Texas Roadhouse. And now for the moment you've been waiting for, the grand total for 2! For each person, the 10 course is $135, plus the wine pairing (I think it's $80), and the 18% service charge = $550...but was it worth it? I'll just say it was definitely an experience.
(4)Emily S.
Form over substance. That pretty much sums up our experience. We went for the 16 course anniversary menu. We sat for a good 5 minutes before our server came over, and we ate our entire first course and sat for 5 more minutes before our wine pairing appeared. Speaking of the wine pairings, these were the skimpiest pours ever - literally two sips of wine. After 12 pairings, I would have thought I would have a solid buzz. Nope. On to the food. While we had a few things that were very good, overall it seemed like Moto is more concerned with theme-ing the plate than making sure it tasted good (i.e. an all black plate of food, the cigar dish, the whole hog). I agree with Tom Colicchio - who cares if it looks just like a cigar if it tastes terrible? And the cigar course was pretty disgusting. Similarly, just because you can make butter into a candle, light it without telling us what it is, then come back several courses later and pour "candle wax" over our beef cheeks and then tell us it is butter doesn't mean you should. That was a pretty gross image (that didn't really add anything to the dish). Like I said, we did have a few things that were pretty tasty. The Kentucky fried pasta was good (although it has NOTHING on Next's "chicken noodle" soup), the "egg drop soup" dessert, the cassoulet and the acme bomb (chocolate shell, marshmallow wick, liquid graham cracker center) were hits at the table. Service was very spotty. I'm glad we got to experience Moto. However, I would have been pissed if we had paid the full $255pp. At that price, save a little more and go to Alinea, or spend significantly less and go to one of Chicago's many incredible spots.
(2)Kate M.
Everything was perfect. The decor, the waitstaff, the food; everything. We had the 10 course menu and every single one was creative and delicious. The Cuban pork "sandwich" was delicious, the truffle mouse desert was very yummy, the duck "cannoli" taco was very tasty. There honestly wasn't one dish out of all 11 (we were lucky enough to get an 11th course for some reason) that didn't leave me wanting another bite to savor. The waitstaff were all helpful and on their toes all night. All the waitstaff at Moto are also chefs, they do 6 month rotations in the kitchen and dining room. As a result they are all very knowledgeable about the food and cooking techniques. The dining room is minimal and elegant. The chairs were very comfy, the decoration is very nice but doesn't take your attention off the main event; the food. All the waitstaff are simply and elegantly dressed, again, to not distract you from the food. The whole meal and experience was great. I can't wait to go back and see what tasty surprises they have come up with.
(5)Art A.
4.5 stars. I wish I had 3-4 hours to write this review (as long as it took us to eat the meal). We thoroughly enjoyed the 15 course meal with the full wine pairing. It was delicious, fun, whimsical, theater-y, creative, and exciting. A couple of the dishes were not perfect, and you sort of expect perfection from a place (and cost) like Moto, but it was an adventure in eating. From eating the menu, to eating mushrooms (amazing) on twigs, to 'cigars', to nitrogen, to the most amazing marshmallows, it was quite a delicious ride. Staff: Amazing, friendly, down-to-earth Food- Terrific, near perfect Ambiance- Cool Price: $640 for 2 out the door (Full pairings)
(4)Kristi G.
I loved their menu! It was the Scorsese menu. 5 girlfriends and I went there and I thought the food was very inventive and flavorful. The price was much more reasonable than Next or Moto. I will go back for another menu!
(5)Catherine X.
Moto is the perfect marriage of science and food. So hurry up and eat before Illinois decides to call it an unholy, uncivil union. Because it really should be illegal. It should. To blend something as yucky and tortuous as chemistry with food? Puh-lease. Next you're going to tell me they put raisins in cookies. I had my doubts about this place, don't get me wrong. I thought Moto would be as kitschy and blatant as a Jeff Koons sculpture, but it's subtle and tucked away. The chefs must be artists because their attention to detail is amazing. (Who deconstructs a mushroom, dehydrates it, only to shape it into the form of a mushroom?) Creativity was also not to be lacking. One of my favorites from the night was the "RABBIT maki" - risotto instead of sticky rice, dehydrated mushroom instead of seaweed, brussel sprouts instead of avocado, and glazed rabbit in the place of raw fish. Service was also impeccable, as all the waiters wear headpieces to synchronize their movements into effortless service which is anything but. My partner and I were lucky enough to receive a tour of the kitchen, and caught a glimpse of how their computer system works to keep track of course, pacing, etc. My other favorite of the night was the MAITAKE&pork, but to describe everything would be to give too much away. However, by far the kicker of the night had to be when we asked for our bill, and the waiter said "The chef has taken care of it." Um. What?! "I guess you guys are the lucky winners for tonight. :)" I'm still not really sure what happened that night. I already felt like I won by coming to Moto, but that last bit was a little cherry on top. Regardless if you're cool enough to be a winner like me, do yourself a favor and just come here.
(5)Claudia s.
So this review is long overdue. My husband and I had wanted to go to Moto for quite a while, but could never plan far enough ahead to book the reservation. Finally, for my 30th birthday, my husband booked us a table as a celebration dinner. I was ecstatic to say the least! We arrived a bit early not knowing what to expect and and ordered a drink at the bar while we waited for our table to open up. We stood at the bar watching the mixologist prepare 2 drinks for the couple just ahead of us as he was working he asked us if we'd like anything so we put in an order for (2) glasses of wine not really knowing how long we'd be waiting for our table. About five minutes later as he was finishing up the drinks for the first couple, our seat became available and we were ushered over to our table, sans the drink we ordered. The waiter apologized for it, and asked us if we would still like the drinks we ordered - we politely declined because we were were planning on having the wine pairing with our dinner. The dinner was absolutely fabulous. The attention to detail was wonderful and literally every single plate was a piece of art, both visually and for the palette. Absolute perfection! We left Moto pleasantly delighted about our experience. We did not even think twice about the snafu with our drinks at the very beginning of our evening. Fast forward to the next day ... My husband is sitting in the living room and checking his voice mail. He waves his hand at me to come over and replays one message for the both of us. It was Homaro Cantu himself apologizing for the disarray at the beginning of the night, and COMPING our ENTIRE MEAL. We could not believe it!!! Thanks Homaro! We will be back to Moto, and we're also looking forward to checking out your new iNG Restaurant :)
(5)Rachel C.
I wish I had nice things to say, but after myself and 2 others out or 4 top spent the night with an awful chemical taste in our mouth we spent the next 3 days with some form of FOOD POISONING. 3 out of 4 of us could not eat anything even soup for 3 days. That is not right. - Wine did not pair well with the food - The pacing is slow and not choreographed - We never received our complimentary Champagne - The server was barely audible - 11 courses never took so long - The clear sticky glue they use to fasten things to the plates is gross, messy and very unappetizing. The trick of doing this should be hidden or not used at all. The menu is very similar to other restaurants so even unique points cannot be given. It was a sad let down after have some fabulous meals in Chicago.
(1)Ben S.
My wife and I went for our anniversary. We watch Top Chef (and most cooking shows) so it made sense that we needed to try it out. We had a 6:15 reservation, the place was understandably empty. The host confirmed we were there for our anniversary. We were then seated in the worst table in the restaurant. I have a problem with a restaurant like this having a bad table but that is another story. It is a little hard to explain why the table for 2 is so bad but know it is in the corner at the front of the restaurant and has a 1/2 wall so that one of us feels like they are in the middle of the restaurant staring at both their beautiful wife and the side of a wall. We ask to move to which they offered any table we wanted. I don't understand that response but we move one table down. What blows me away is that 15 minutes later they seat a single at that table. So they knew they had a single coming in and that table is perfect for 1 but decided to seat us there. And they have romantic booths in the restaurant, perfect for a couple celebrating their anniversary. 1 was still empty when we left. There was no other mention of our anniversary the entire evening. The food is fun and whimsical but it was hard to get into the mood. I also don't think it remains interesting forever that they present food that is not appetizing. I truly believe they have no business running a $500/couple restaurant. It would be much more interesting if they were a casual restaurant. Would choose Schwa every time.
(3)Heather N.
I've eaten at many fine dining restaurants and michelin starred joints and this place by FAR is the best restaurant I have ever had the pleasure to dine in. The staff was courteous and professional but also really warm and friendly which is important when you are shelling out $400 per person (with tip+wine, etc etc). The food is amazing and unique, everything was delicious from the amuse bouche 'tasting of the tasting' down to the specially made desert invented just for me due to my ridiculously annoying food allergies. Any time the server didn't know the answer to my question he would return with an answer and I even got an additional wine tasting. The BEST part was going down into the kitchen (it was in the basement) to meet the staff and tour the kitchen. I even got to rap about preserved lemons with Ritchie (now Chef Du Cuisine). Amazing, will recommend to everyone I know!
(5)Alison C.
Prior to our Chicago trip, my travel companion agreed to a sole elaborate dinner at Moto, the renown molecular gastronomy destination. I happened to be flipping through my HDTV channels a week before our trip and noticed that Moto had its own show on the Planet Green Network called "Future Food". After watching a few episodes about how the staff solved various environmental issues, such as finding ways to reuse their leftover ingredients, I could not wait to visit the conscientious place. The day soon came when we arrived at Moto. The decor was sleek and sophisticated, but stuffier than I would have expected from such a playful restaurant. Sure the tasting menus were pricey, but they were also edible! A legible meal list had been incorporated onto a large sesame cracker. Once we told the waiter which tasting we preferred, we were free to munch away on the giant crisp. We continued to be wowed by the innovative dining approach when we received our specialty cocktails served in scientific beakers. My "Picnic" was a crisp blend of watermelon juice, vanilla vodka, orange bitters, and ginger ale. It was the perfect summer beverage. In terms of the menu, we opted for the smaller, 10-course parade, which began with the White Steel. This perfectly cooked cube of pan-seared fish was served in a sweet vanilla sauce and garnished with caviar and carbonated grapefruit that also resembled fish eggs. For the next course, I received a shot glass filled with a light Watermelon Soup. Strands of aromatic lemongrass added a savory side to the broth. In addition, baby scallops floated in the soup and were meant to be slurped up through a thick straw. Essentially, the drink was a play on Asian tapioca bubble tea. My friend did not like watermelon, so she was able to substitute this course for an alternative, but she missed out as this was one of my favorites within the procession. The unique blend of fruit, herb, and seafood flavors worked shockingly well together; each remained clean and distinctive, but also combined for a cohesive dish. Next, the Cuban Sandwich was a mini sub filled with pulled pork. The moist concoction was wrapped in sheets of collard greens that were designed to look like a cigar. Sesame seeds were pulverized and stuck to one end of the sandwich, resembling the ashy end of a cigar. The sandwich was stylishly plated in a silver ashtray that had also been dusted with the sesame crumbs. What made the experience even better was that the meat tasted as bold and smokey as it looked. My next dish was also artfully concocted. The Rabbit Maki was a sushi roll of dried mushroom paper and risotto wrapped around braised rabbit. The meat and fungi made this maki more earthy than its traditional counterpart. The bite-sized morsel was served with pickled radish that resembled ginger, as well as a ball of dried, crushed peas made to look like wasabi. A creamy herb dipping sauce meshed well with the risotto, as they typically make quite a pair. Next came the Pork Belly cube, which was sadly a bit tough. It was served with a garden of broccoli rabe and mixed mushrooms. This was followed by the fabulous Jewish-Italian fusion course of Reuben Lasagna. Each layer was stuffed with brisket, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing. It was definitely a trippy experience to eat something that looked like a lasagna, but tasted sour and briny. Our last savory dish was a Mexican Cannoli, which was the perfect transition into the dessert round, since it looked like the sweet treat. A tortilla was curved in half to resemble a cannoli shell. This crisp, corn roll-up was stuffed with mole-marinaded duck and sour cream. Pumpkin seeds topped the exposed cream like pistachio nuts on a cannoli. Corn dust and additional mole sauce were drizzled over the meal to make it an even heartier dish. After such a creative dinner, we wondered how we would be dazzled by our stream of desserts. First, we received a bowl of tart Strawberry and Rhubarb puree that contained a scoop of sweet almond ice cream. It was topped with homemade whipped cream and a dusting of graham crackers. The combination of textures and flavors made it a perfectly balanced dish. We then received a sloppy looking mess that tasted a million times better than it appeared. A rich chocolate mousse and a sweet vanilla cream popped when they were plated with a white cherry foam and tart cherry sorbet. A crisp funnel cake looked like it had been tossed on top as an afterthought, but it clearly added a childlike innocence to the plate. Then came a Chocolate-Covered Orange Cream Truffle topped with hazelnuts, chocolate crumb, raspberry puree, and fresh blackberry. The dish was beyond decadent. Lastly, a beaker of strawberry soda gave life to a bland marshmallow in the shape of a packing bean. Our meal at Moto was an endless procession of culinary creativity. Neither my friend nor I had ever experienced anything like it, nor did we expect to again anytime soon.
(4)Penny L.
My experience at Blackbirds was utterly disappointing. Husband wanted redemption so we immediately booked at Moto the next day. Great tasting menu and wine pairing. Fine service. Amazing! This place deserves two Michelin stars and has potential for three! Can't make it to Alinea? Go here. Will go back.
(5)Justine H.
I have never been to a restaurant like this and it really met my expectations! The service was great and the food was phenomenal. For this meal to be worth it, you definitely want to be an adventurous eater. It's a tasting menu and the menu evolves over time. Overall, my group felt that this meal was worth it. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience (both because it was so fun but also because unless someone else is paying I probably won't be back too soon). You want to be patient as well - our meal lasted about 4 hours. Someone in my group had the wine tasting and said it was worth it. They have a device that allows them to offer vintage wines as part of their tasting menu (as opposed to you having to buy the whole bottle).
(5)Jennifer H.
I've been to moto four times and I think it's about time I wrote a review for them. Over the past year moto has come a long way. I'm one of the hardest people to impress and please and moto has become one of my favorite places. My first trip to moto I wasn't impressed and never thought I would come back. My husband says once I make my mind up about a place it's very hard to change it. Between Trevor (GM at iNG, moto's sister restaurant next door) and my husband I decided to give moto another chance and I'm glad I did because moto has done a 360 since I first tried it a year ago. Richie Farina has really honed his skills in the kitchen and has been creating some really magnificent dishes, one of the areas I use to think Richie lacked was on the meat dishes, but this is no longer the case, last night I can honestly say Richie knocked it out of the park. The newest addition beef & cauliflower is amazing and my new favorite. In addition, moto has welcomed Claire Crenshaw to the team as the Executive Pastry Chef and she really delivers with creative, fun and tasty desserts. My husband and truly love her Baking 101 course, if you haven't see the video how it's prepared, check it out, it's one of the coolest desserts out there. Miranda Elliot has also stepped up the wine program at moto as well, the last two times we dined at moto we couldn't find a single pairing we didn't love. Her choice of the sake pairing for the first course sets the tone of the remainder of the evening, awesome! We also had the privilege to have Matthew Gundlach, GM assist with serving us the last 2 times being there. Matt has a wonderful sense of humor and really knows how to deliver polish service without being stuffy. He pays attention to detail and does little things to deliver on top notch service. Last night I dropped my baby radish off my tasting menu sampler (the menu is delivered in the form of single bites representing each course for the evening) and replaced it on my plate but didn't eat it. Matt inquired why I left the radish and I explained what happened. About 3 minutes later a baby plate was delivered with the baby radish on it so I could have that single bite. Those little touches make such a huge difference. I highly recommend you give moto a try if you haven't been here before or if it's been a while, it's worth another trip back. The staff has worked really hard to make this a top notch restaurant and it shows. moto has become one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago.
(5)Alice B.
One of the best and most memorable meals I have had thus far! I wasn't quite sure what to expect, especially since I knew going in that it was going to cost close to $250 per person with drinks, but the experience itself was awesome. This was our first dinner in town with a few of my good friends I had not seen in years, and it was very appropriate to have a dinner lasting nearly 4 hours to give us a chance to catch up. The presentation, creativity, and taste of each dish was superb. It's like a finely choreographed orchestra, the way each dish is brought out and presented, with the special effects. Each dish was met with anticipation and appealed to all senses. My favorite was the forest foraged dish. The fact that I keep thinking back to the unique dishes here and the incredible experience is amazing. I think the memory of this place just grows.
(5)Robin C.
Perfect date restaurant for those of you who want to try something unconventional and inventive. The service was flawless, the food was fun, and the whole experience made it a perfect place to a date to.
(5)Eric W.
Great, not as good as nearby Next
(4)John M.
Where to start with Moto.... 1. The food is definitely hit or miss. Of the multi-course tasting menu the deserts and vegetarian entrees really stood out. 2. The service was excellent. Can't say enough about it. 3. Wine paring were a little on the skimpy side... It's too bad that they did not do larger pours. I don't think that I will be visiting Moto again, but I am happy that I did. If you do decide to go I recommend doing so during an anniversary week since it cut a big portion of the bill out.
(3)Steve A.
Moto is just plain fun. After you've tried the other great restaurants, it's the place you keep coming back to for astounding food and an always memorable meal. Sure, it's expensive, but you're getting twenty crazy courses: A Cuban sandwich that looks like a cigar, fruit that looks like cheese, duck confit in the form of a cannoli, and a banana split served with pipets on my last visit. The wine pairing is very good, and the service isn't stuffy at all. Come to relax and enjoy. It's a meal you won't forget.
(5)Yvonne O.
Moto is a real experience and not for the faint of heart if you are going for the full-on 20 course experience. Make sure you are comfortable and like your dining compantion, because you will be there for a while! Having suffered through the offerings at Next, and having been to Moto way back when they first started, I was curious to see if Mr. Cantu would change anything to "compete" with Grant's new venture. Thankfully, Moto is still the true innovator and anyone shelling-out for Next who has not tried things here is really missing-out on the original version of things. But that is fine - let the poseur hipsters stay away. Dessert here was fabulous - not diabetic-coma inducing, but a balanced offering of sweet. Servers here are friendly and not at all pretentious and I can't wait to see what they come up with for the future!
(4)Christopher P.
We had an unforgettable Valentines Day at the restaurant. From the beauty of the location through the creativity of the menu and the attentiveness of the staff, we were floored by this experience. There are plenty of reviews for the food of Moto; I will ditto the most well-written 5 start rundowns that speak to the creativity, science and whimsy of Chef Cantu and his staff. That said, the food can stand on it's own. However, it is the people, the execution and the vision that really set this place apart. There was an exceptionally personal feel that is rarely felt at even the best establishments. It is not just that the staff is professional, knowledgeable and friendly; you can train people to be that. It is that they are authentically enthusiastic as well, occasionally stopping for a few moments here and there to share personal, relevant anecdotes. Chef Cantu was a silent servant of his creations, assisting in the delivery of several of the courses. He never competed for the spotlight allowing his staff to present each of the dishes. They seemed to beam with pride and be genuinely interested in explaining each course and wine pairing. In addition, they were flexible in accommodating my no alcohol request and paired each course with amazing drink creations that included a horchata, a coffee, a lemon whip, beet juice and chicory coffee. Near the end of our meal, I stopped Chef Cantu to compliment him on his work and he offered a tour which took us through his lab, his kitchen, and his hydroponic farm in the basement of the restaurant. Through that tour I came to realize that It is not just the food that is cutting edge. His future-forward philosophy permeates the whole business. There are too many cool things to list but the individually configurable grow-shelves, automated kitchen manager, and the miracle-berry stood out the most. The grow-shelves lined the walls of a stainless steel lined grow-room. Each shelf had controllable lighting and feeding systems that were tailored for each plant type. The nutrients for these plants were supplied by a high-tech composting system that I cannot begin to explain. But Chef Cantu ran through the entire ecosystem talking about how everything from farmer cooperation to nutrient economies and general process drove ROI. This man knows business. Next was the Moto expediting and food management system which basically automates the tedious job of nightly food-counts and ordering while also managing the pacing of the meal. It is a vital member of the staff, appearing as a 40-inch screen in the center of the kitchen. It displayed each table in the restaurant, that table's current course, and countdown timers to keep track of what needed to go next. Every so-often a voice could be heard that issued instructions to the staff in one of three different languages. The evening ended with an invitation to try the miracle-berry at ING, next door. Served by Emily who took the time to explain its origin and how it worked, we were first given a face-puckeringly sour cocktail. We then were given a spoonful of the miracle-berry powder that we kept on our tongue for 20 seconds or so. After that, we tried the sour drink again which was sweet and delicious. This was followed by a raw lemon that seemed as sweet as a ripe orange. Unbelievably cool. The coolest part of the tour was how friendly and calm the staff was as we traveled through expo, prep areas and even the line. No one was crazy or irritated with our presence and everyone gave us a warm greeting. This is clearly an environment for success.
(5)Bree S.
It's not every day you get to eat Willy Wonka-esque entrees that taste like heaven. I had high expectations for MOTO. It did not disappoint. Even though I found myself literally smelling a glove midway through the night. (Fun little tribute to Spinal Tap.) MOTO is definitely a special occasion place unless you have an extra thousand dollar bill lying around. (this is an exaggeration, but yeah, it's NOT cheap.) But as other people mentioned, the experience is worth the money. We were amazed by each and every little piece of art they put down in front of us. The servers were respectful without being snooty or overbearing. My only criticism is the fake bourbon drink served with the bourbon course. If you're not a bourbon drinker, I'm sure it's delicious. But if you are? It was a bit disappointing. It's the only thing my husband and I didn't devour two seconds after it was set on the table in front of us. I was most impressed by how they put together a menu of fifteen courses and every one of them turned out to be something I'd eat every day of my life if I could. I can't even host a dinner party for seven people without breaking into hives over a two course meal. This is definitely a restaurant you need to try at least once in your life. Totally worth the two car payments.
(4)Augie L.
Moto's is reputable and different and somewhere you should try if you've never been to a gastronomy restaurant. Their food definitely plays with your mind and palate. You think your eating one thing, but it's really something else. I gave it 3 stars cause of the cost and the food wasn't that amazing. It didn't appease to my taste buds, I guess. I felt that their fish was to fishy and their shitake mushrooms were too earthy for me, and I eat mushrooms on a regular. Alot of their dishes I could have done without and then there were some that we're really good. However, aside from all of that, I thought service was great, I love the fact that they serve you different varieties and texture of foods that play on your palate and your mind. I've been to another gastronomy restaurant called bo innovations which blew my mind! And the meal didn't cost half as much as it did here and the food tasted much better. Overall experience was good, but not gratifying. For a meal that was a grand, I don't think it was worth it. I expected better.
(3)David L.
Pure and simple, folks, they should rename this restaurant, NO GO, not MOTO. wow, my wife and I ate at this supposed stellar Chicago molecular gastronomy establishment for what we thought would be a memorable experience and suffice it to say, it was, but for all of the wrong reasons. First, the restaurant design is ridiculously spartan like, no real amenities like a nice modern table, no real reception area, no bar area, but cheap looking school desks to eat from. NOGO, I mean MOTO, is located in a warehouse district which shocked the crap out of myself and my wife as we were riding in the taxicab to the restaurant, we thought we were driving to the mob district being uninformed out of towners that we were. I guess the NOGO owners thought it would be cool, but, frankly, I expected a much nicer, safer scenery for dropping 4 Benjamins at dinner. We thought we might get mugged later leaving the restaurant. The waiters were nice enough, but no one smiles there when rendering service as I suppose they are instructed to be serious. The food, or so called molecular gastronomy, wow, I am simply amazed at how many people actually rave about this mishmash of so called creations of gastronomic beauty? Not to be conceited,but we have traveled and eaten at some of the finest restaurants in the world, in Asia, in Europe, in the US, i.e.,Michelin starred restaurants, Joel Rubuchon, Guy Savoy, etc., and this place and the so-called experimental petri dish food they served was not it, not even close. The edible menu tasted like inedible tasteless paper, the tuna amuse bouche was warm, the test tube liquid entree tasted like brown oozing %&*#. We had the 10 course menu, thank god instead of the 20 course menu as by the 6th dish,we were praying for this so-called 'foodie' experience to come to an end. My wife actually refused the last 3 entrees on the menu as she simply could not take it anymore. The food tasted more like the dishwasher not a top rated chef was in the kitchen cooking our food. In all honesty, my non-chef sister in law could have cooked and prepared a better meal using her feet to cook. It was actually pretty funny after a while, as looking around the restaurant, we noticed a few other couples eating their dinners in complete silence, with frowns or scowls on their faces, from this 'memorable' dining experience. I have never posted on Yelp until now as frankly, if I can assist one person to save their hard earned 4 Benjamins and use that money to buy 100 Big Macs instead, I will have done a service to society. Suffice it to say, we, nevertheless, paid our bill, and made a fast exit, not looking back. My biggest regret is not being able to get a reservation at Alinea, which may have left a better taste in our mouths and re food in Chicago. A word of advice, if you are thinking of MOTO, just remember, it's NOGO, not MOTO. Save yourself the 4 Benjamins, Mr. Franklin would be proud of you.
(1)Jessica F.
This is a story about the little cannoli that wasn't. Or was it a story about the day I munched on a Cuban cigar? Oh, wait wait. I'm pretty sure it was the time I defied mom's life-long advice and ate Yellow Snow. Moto is one of the best meal experiences I've had, in addition to being one of the best meals. I went here for my birthday in 2010 (I know, I'm late), and every component of the experience was absolutely wonderful. Of course things are always a little more special when you tell a restaurant it's your birthday, but clearly the service and the presentation of each dish is very important to Moto. I know it was much appreciated by me! Timely, attentive, friendly, and not overly stuffy. I don't have the best attention span, so I was a little worried that I was told to expect that this meal was going to take "hours." We were there about 3.5 hours, and worth every minute. Oh yeah, the restrooms, which you're going to have to visit at least once unless you have a bladder the size of a pumpkin, were fabulous. The staff have the right balance of friendly/fun and formal, which is great because after 3+ hours of quality time you can really get to know someone! We chose the wine (or beer or sake at times) pairings with the 20-course tasting menu. They worked perfectly with the dishes, which were enough to blow anyone's mind. The dishes are clearly designed to look like one thing, and taste like something completely different. What fun! Everything was edible, right down to the menu. My favorites were of course the Cuban Cigar, which ended up being pork rolled in collard green, the green curry lime, and the "coffee break" which was actually a delicious soup complete with a "sugar" cube and foam. Looking at all of the photos posted here on Yelp, I guess I wasn't alone in taking a pic of every single dish that came out. Everything was so carefully prepared and presented as art, and yet was still approachable and as delicious as it was fun to behold. I must admit I am a very lucky gal who gets taken to a new and exciting place each birthday, or else I would not be able to experience such a great meal. I know you need to be prepared to drop some serious cash (Our meal came out to about $750 after tip), but you know what? This place is worth putting a little dent in the savings for, if only just once. The experience (and the photos) last a lifetime.
(5)Yosh H.
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!
(4)Sean G.
The meal was an amazing experience from start to finish. The inside of the restaurant is understated but very nice and contemporary. The food is the star. The waitstaff is fantastic. With a 15-course meal, everyone has to be in sync. They somehow knew when we were done with our courses. Didn't bother us before and quickly came after to clear and get ready for the next course. I can't imagine how many dishes they go through in an evening. The staff was nice and explained the dishes well. I almost needed notes to remember all that I had. Some of the dishes I would have never ordered on my own and was glad I was more or less forced to try things. Everything was prepared very well and the talent it takes to make their creations is remarkable. I'm very glad that I went with the wine pairings, they did a great job of matching it with the food. The meal was close to 3 hours long so don't hope to get in and out quickly and still enjoy it. The time flies by though and you don't even notice since everything is so good with outstanding presentation. It was a true adventure and look forward to going back again!
(5)David V.
$500.00!! That was with no drinks!!! For $500 you expect to be blown away. Not the case at all. I must say that I wouldn't have minded the price tag if the food/service/experience was worth it... My wife and I eat out quite often and have spent quite a bit of money on food. I must say I have been way more impressed by food/experiences at a far less price tag!!! I seldom write reviews and Hate that I even feel the need to write a negative one but I was REALLY DISAPPOINTED... The booths had really high backs to them that made you feel really excluded which would be fine except the restaurant didn't have any energy to it all!! They sat us right next to the hostess stand so the only choice of scenery we had was each other, the booth, ceiling and a HOSTESS stand... The servers were nice I give them that, but they didn't do much for explaining the dishes or telling us a little about the restaurant and to be quite honesty some of them didn't even seem like they wanted to be there.. I felt as if they were all new with out proper training in fine dining .. It seemed as if they lacked a kind of waiter/waitress finesse (that can makes your whole experience) The meal took 3 1/2 hrs that felt like 6hrs.. every course was elaborate but so tiny you finished your food and would have to wait 15-20 min for your next nibble of food in fact we left rather hungry.. The food was good but not overly great and give us some MORE FOOD PLEASE!!!!. The check was 20% auto gratuity so it didn't really matter what kind of service you got.... I really wanted to like this place and wouldn't have minded spending what we did if it was worth it, but SADLY it wasn't... It seemed to have a lot of hype behind it.. Unfortunately it did not live up to it ... So if you enjoy spending a lot of money and not getting your money's worth this would be the place for you
(1)Aaron G.
Style over Taste and Texture One star to balance the scales to truth and because of the cost to pleasure ratio. Someone wrote "Moto is the poor man's Alinea." It's sort of true, but with one sad amendment. They cost about the same! For $500 for 2 menus and only one half wine pairing, it better kick some ass. And it really didn't. My big point is that most of the savory dishes fell far short both on flavor and texture. And often came out with unintended mixed temperatures In the end, if the food doesn't taste great or feel good in the mouth, then why futz in the lab to make it? Just so it looks neat?? Not enough of a reason. Blow by blow: Spring roll - chewy and flavorless Crudite - decent veggie flavors but underwhelming Blackout - Grossly over salted Nose to tail - dishes came out in different order on plate (inconsistent) -unpleasant mixed temperatures. Gazpacho - very nice Fried Pasta - nice Cigars - Ugh, gross texture, bland old flavors - tasted like old, lukewarm tv dinner Forest - nice Cassoulet - another pretty ugly texture and flavor combo, more tv dinner Tongue and Cheek - tasty, nice flavors - tender cheek - and it actually had a warm temp The desert courses were quite good. A bit overcomplicated. Some extra textures like crumbles actually detracted rather than helped. You can be inventive and make food surprising and exciting, but it has to taste good first!
(1)Evan B.
I should really rate it like this: 3 and a half stars. for taste. 4 stars for the Chemical Acrobatics. Went there last night with a friend, and had the ten course tasting menu with wine. the wine list was really fantastic too, and the pairings were bold. sorry merlot lovers. get back to me when you graduate to chateaneuf du pape. While the dishes themselves looked astounding, and i mean really astounding, only half of them tasted so. First the good: the mahi mahi, the mexican 'cannoli' (a lovely savory dish filled with confit de canard) the menu itself, which was buttery and cheesy and wonderful with super fresh tomatoes, the leek/fennel reduction dish. others were not do great. the rabbit that was dressed up like sushi was a dish inspired b looks alone. the cracker jack whatever it was tasted only of sweet peanuts. and the pork belly was gelatinous and boring. the problem with a place like moto, i discovered during the last dessert course, is this: when you have to endure so many instructions on how to eat, you miss the point of what eating does: bring people together effortlessly. it's hard to have a conversation about life the universe and everything when the server keeps interrupting to tell you to balance a half-cooked noodle that's been sprayed with beet juice on your nose and shut your eyes while a man drips acid on your fingers so you get the sensation and taste of eating a raspberry jolly rancher candy.* at the end of the day it's less work to just eat the candy itself. still. Moto is a conceptually fun place. And if you want your dinner to have a concept, this is the place to go. *dessert tastes and instructions were changed to protect the innocent server who was attentive, efficient, and otherwise a joy.
(3)Albert H.
About halfway though my meal here, I looked up at my companion and said: "This. This is what I wish we got at Alinea." There are a lot of similarities - similar lack of signage on the outside, similar dedication to modern preparation techniques and unique presentations at the expense of pretty much everything else. But where Alinea seems kind of like watching a ballet with jetpacks, Moto is more like Cirque du Soleil on hoverboards. Alinea is a meticulous, cultured future. Moto is *fun*. I mean, you still wear a suit and tie ( or a cocktail dress and heels ), but the food has a sense of humor and place I found notably lacking at Alinea. They offer two menus - ten or twenty courses. There is also a wine "progression" - about a wine every two courses, not explicitly paired. We opted for twenty courses and sharing a wine progression - plenty of wine for two relatively lightweight diners who wanted to actually remember the meal. The service is slightly formal, but not at all stuffy. Pacing was good for a twenty course adventure; I don't recall having to wait overly long for anything in particular, though there was plenty of time to talk and admire the other diners between courses. We left full, but not clutching our stomachs in pain - a reasonable amount of very strange food. Yes, strange food. Nothing overly familiar. But almost everything making a reference or a joke about its ingredients or plating. And the flavors were just fine, thank you. As was the wine progression. I guess the point is that if you want the very best flavors in the world, I'd suggest you go find a street food stall in some alley in Southeast Asia. If you want the most expensive ingredients in the world coupled with the most perfect service, you'd end up at some three starred place in Paris no doubt. But if you want to see a show - if you like to play with your food - if you want to see an intelligent commentary on fine ( or not so fine ) dining played out on a series of plates in front of you - you *have got* to see this place.
(5)Liz K.
Best meal I've ever had, hands down. My boyfriend took us here as an anniversary surprise. I read up a lot since I've never been to a restaurant like moto before, but I still wasn't sure exactly what to expect. First, the way people on yelp describe it makes it sound really stuffy and industrial. The atmosphere is, yes, quiet and more "classy" -- but the waitstaff is incredibly nice. I was grinning pretty much the entire evening since I was so excited, and the staff was incredibly nice to us and were joking around. Also, remember when you come here that the person planning the menu has a sense of humor and wants you to enjoy your meal. They aren't looking to confine you to a chair for two hours and force feed you delicious food with a frown on their face. So, the rumors as far as that goes, are not true. Anyway, I loved literally everything I ate here. The standout dishes, by far, were the pork belly/foie gras combo and the cuban cigar sandwiches. Everything we ate was well thought out and the flavor profile was amazing. I don't want to spoil any surprises (though the menu seems to change often), so I won't go into further detail. We also had the half selection of wine and not only were the pairings perfect, but it was definitely some of the best wine I've ever had. Needless to say, moto, while pricey, is entirely worth the adventure.
(5)Abe M.
1. The food is amazing. 2. You will spend at least $500 for two people without an option to do otherwise. 3. You will spend at least 3.5 hours at dinner and you don't have a choice on that. It's an experience but just not worth it. Save yourself the time and money.
(3)Glenn C.
My wife and I had the 10-course tasting at Moto about 5 years ago. It was the most fun we've ever had at dinner. We recently returned for the GTM. Here's a run down of the courses: Meal starts with the trademark edible menu and a candle is placed in the middle of the table (will be important later). SNOW man: tuna tartare with a creme fresh snowman on top with Himalayan salt for the eyes, buttons, etc Paired w: Richard Grant blanc de noirs Verdict: delicious light start ROSE bush: dehydrated beet with goat cheese frisee salad in the shape of a rose Paired w: Marlborough sauvignon blanc Verdict: very creative, a beautiful dish GOLDEN twist ale: bratwurst and Wisconsin cheddar cheese in a pretzel stock soup Paired w: Mosel riesling Verdict: PRETZEL STOCK?! Are you kidding me? This was absolutely delicious! Tasted just like a delicious hot pretzel and cheese, but a soup! CHICKEN noodle soup: chicken all processed and recreated into ramen noodles with some kind of chicken sauce, supposedly with KFC's original recipe. Oh, we had a choice of 2 truffles which they SHAVED all over it! Paired w: white rioja Verdict: shaved truffles + KFC = delicious MISO soup: foie gras with rasberry sauce and miso broth Paired w: Cold sake Verdict: Foie paired with sake is not something I've seen before, but it really worked. SHRIMP GRITS & caviar: Langostino shrimp with the meat removed with cheesy grits Paired w: Albarino Verdict: least favorite dish of the night. It was good, but the grits had too much of a shrimpy taste. POTATO & leak: A "solid" vichyssoise with a scallop with some kind of potato gel stuff. The waiters spooned out of sizzling saucepans super-cold leaks with LN2. Paired w: Malvira Treuve, a Piedmont white blend Verdict: Quite tasty and creative BASEBALL snacks: Peanuts, edible cracker jack paper, quail, and cherry sauce Paired w: Goose island Madame rose beer Verdict: Extemely whimsical and creative, the beer was a great pairing CAPON & corn bread: shredded rooster over cornbread. After putting the dishes on our table, the waiter took our candle, blew it out, and POURED it all over our plates! As we looked it horror, he it explained that it wasn't a wax candle, but rather a sage emulsion that had been liquifying during our entire dinner. Paired w: Tulocay pinot noir Verdict: delicious again, loved the whole fake-out with the candle. CUBAN cigar: hot sausage wrapped in grape leaves with edible paper served in and ashtray with pepper ashes. It looks exactly liked a half-smoked cigar Paired w: Patagonia malbec Verdict: Quite spicy! Extraordinarily creative. I loved it, but it was too spicy for my wife to finish it. NUAC man: pork belly with a mushroom "marshmallow" that disintegrated in your mouth with your ate it. Paired w: Catalonia pinorat Verdict: delicious, loved the marshmallow ALLEY-yum: a whimsical take on Funyuns. Onions prepared in a bunch of different ways. Oh, and there's venison. Paired w: Argentine carmenere Verdict: Crazy delicious. LIGHT bright: light violet colored lavender soda in the bottom of an erlenmeyer flask with a pipette of passionfruit liquid. Mixed together they changed colors. Verdict: creative palate cleanser prior to the desserts. CINNAMON toast: a bowel of what appeared to be Cinnamon Toast Crunch bits. The server had shotglasses and dumped what appeared to be a RAW EGG over our dessert. However, it wasn't a raw egg at all, but rather mango spheres that looked like raw eggs. Paired with: Laurent Perrier demi-sec Verdict: another fake-out where we thought our dish was ruined by the server. Tons of fun and yummy. RHUBARB & yogurt: small bit of freeze-dried strawberries, rhubarb, and Greek yogurt. Verdict: a tiny, delicious, "in-between dessert" GREEN CURRY-esque: pineapple, chocolate, marshmallow, curry Verdict: Another unusual combination, but it worked BANANA split: a bowl with LN2 banana ice cream in the shape of a big noodle. Served with 3 pasteur pipettes of chocolate, caramel, and maraschino to squirt on top. Verdict: One of our favorite desserts! Delicious and fun. ACME bomb: a chocolate sphere with a marshmallow wick sticking out of it. The server lights the wick and it burns down just like a bomb. There graham cracker on the inside so when you bite it, it tastes like your eating a hot s'more right off of the fire! Verdict: Only one bite, but our favorite dessert. Again, an example of outstanding creativity. COOKIE crumbs: Earl-grey infused chocolate mousse with earl-grey ice cream and chocolate cake Paired with: Austrian Kracher Cuvee Beerenauslese Verdict: If you like earl grey, you'll love it. SODA du jour: Another Erlenmeyer flask with Wasabi soda with a coconut-flavored LN2 edible packaging peanut on top. When you eat it, smoke comes out your nose and mouth! Moto is an experience that should be had by everyone who loves food, science, and has a sense of humor!
(5)Linda C.
It's been awhile since I've been to Moto, but what an experience. I was taken there for my birthday, and we indulged in the entire degustation menu. Everything was excellent. There were things on that menu I'd never heard of before, so tasting some of these things required a certain measure of daring. I would go here again and again, and try anything they prepare. This restaurant is an amazing experience all around. The atmosphere is understated elegance. Excellent wait staff and wine steward. We even met the chef. So cool.
(5)Brian B.
Wonderful dinner at Moto.The staff went out of their way to include my 14 year old son and 11 year old daughter.We did the 20 course tasting menu so it was a good job keeping everyone interested for 4.5 hours.We will be back on special occasions and the tour of the back of the house was perfect.Pricey but worth it for special occasions.
(5)Richard Z.
Moto has lost its Mojo- sort of. My 5th visit in as many years, perennially on my list of places to visit when in Chicago. Continues to be a fabulous and creative restaurant with expectable service and delicious cuisine. For those looking for the molecular gastronomic wizardry of old, it appear as though those days have sadly past.
(3)Leigh W.
Went for restaurant week, roving buffet style in the basement, no explanation of the food. I felt like it was the hunger games because you had to get to the tiny bits of food before the others to get even a sample. Experience in three words: confusing, disappointing, bizarre It was really poorly executed as a concept and the final thought: Moto you didn't have to opt in restaurant week....
(1)Anthony F.
UPGRADING TO 4 STARS Management called and offered to refund the extra service charge notes at the bottom of the review...excellent customer service and follow up unprompted by anything other than my Yelp posting. They also told me they are discontinuing the automatic service charge. I'm impressed. I struggled with what to rate Moto. I think it was probably a 3.25 star experience, but I had to pick whole number. I had the 9-course menu (as opposed to the longer, 18-course Chef's Tasting) with the wine pairing. Seafood courses were solid, but not mind-blowing. The best thing was the Lobster and Foie - could have had two of those. The Trout and Grits was inventive but not that tasty (basically tater tots made out of grits with trout strips on top.). Oysters were good. Proteins were more exciting - pork belly was solid, the duck succotash was excellent and the beef and beets was probably the best dish of the night. Desserts were average - coconut and lime was tasty but simple. The second course - a deconstructed pecan pie didn't work at all - tasted not much like a pecan pie and the balance was all off. In all, very good service, solid wine pairings and food that was just okay for a high end place. One side note - they apparently slap a 20% service charge on your bill before you even decide on tipping. Not being intently focused on the bill details, I tipped normally and basically wound up paying 40% tip. I am universally opposed to automatic service charges but putting that charge on and not informing the customer is simply wrong.
(4)Owen F.
Everything in this restaurant is just wasting your time. Horrible food, normal service, and unreasonable price. We come here with high exception, but after the second course, we just want to run away from this place.
(2)Bender R.
Whimsy. That pretty much sums up their food. You don't really come here to eat, as much as to just experience chef Farina's creations. That being said, the food doesn't leave you satisfied. It's not meant to be comfortable or possibly even accessible, given that the restaurant's philosophy emphasizes deception using technique. For example, a while back, I was served what appeared to be hot chocolate, but it actually was beef soup garnished with white truffle shaped as marshmallows. It was a fun experience. The prices are as advertised, and the service is excellent. Parking was easy.
(4)Kelly Jean P.
This was an incredible experience-- even for a picky eater like me. A few words of advice though: 1. The reason I am giving 4 stars and not 5 is because our dinner took much longer than we were told it would. This would have been perfectly fine except that we had tickets for a show and needed to leave before our dinner was finished. We were told it would be 4 hours for 18 courses. We added in the extra course at the start for a full 19 and also did the wine pairings. It took us 5 hours to get through 17 courses; we ended up having to miss out on 2 courses. They adjusted our bill and were apologetic, but I'm still disappointed this happened. My advice? Make sure Moto is the only thing you have planned for the evening. Otherwise you will be sad like me. 2. Make your reservation for as early as they will allow you to come. Why? Because then none of the cuisine surprises will be spoiled for you! We were the first people there and we both agreed that half of the fun was not knowing what was coming next. If the people next to you are even just one course ahead then you won't have the same laughs and gasps that we enjoyed. Hope this helps! Definitely worth the splurge if you plan it right.
(4)Mark A.
Amazing dinner, we didnt do the full 9 courses due to time constraints but they were very accommodating. Really a simple ambiance, but magnificent experience. Best presentation and flavor was the oysters 3 way with the 9 course oyster bar. Best flavor the duck succotash. Will be coming back. Wine pairings were spot on. The sparkling wine blend was fantastic.
(5)Andrew H.
The best meal I have ever had. I am very spoiled. My dear friend has one of the most impressive palates and is cultured way beyond I could ever hope to be. Because of this and his extensive travel around the globe he has amassed a taste for fine dining. To celebrate my move from the east coast to Chicago he took me to Moto. Matt, the GM, and the rest of the staff are beyond knowledgeable in this future American cuisine. I can't even begin to describe my experience. Rather than do so, I encourage you to open up your wallet wide and take the trip. It's particularly sad that Cantu is no longer with us but he was a great teacher who I'm certain left the restaurant in good hands.
(5)Yi L.
I can't believe how could it get a star!!! The service is awful. One of the servers drop the cookie on my friend's dress and he did not ever replace the entire dish. They just bring another piece of the cookie!!! That is ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And they did not even help us with seating at the first place!!!! Is this acceptable in a Michelin restaurant? Unbelievable!!!!!!! Very unprofessional!!!!!!!!! Btw the food is even worse than "so-so". Does not even deserve my words to judge it............
(1)Jenny H.
On the eve of my birthday, one thing was said: "wear something nice" So I joyfully obeyed. We hopped in a cab, and arrived at Moto. Giddiness all around, I snapped a photo. "Happy Birthday" they said, as we entered the room. "May we take your coats?" "No"- 'twas a chilly booth. Dish after dish, we dined for five hours. 'twas not "blinded me with science", yet every morsel devoured. Gels and smoked leaves, the rest was quite tame. We even got a tour, but our tour guide was lame. Musty and dank, Their garden was "sterile", yet he poked with his hands. I gasped, was the food imperil? I've had better times, tho Yelp may not agree. Not the "wow" I'd expected, so it only get three.
(3)Mike L.
I rated everything on a 1-5 scale. Purse hook under the table is brilliant idea 5 We enjoyed the music, and loved the acoustics in the room, we were able to have a nice conversation without having to raise our voices. 5 Shot of tea 3 Amuse of 12 courses 5 Didn't really taste like much, but the mystery and intrigue factor is fun. Micro salad 3 Raw fish on the rocks 5 Salmon amazing Melon and shrimp 5 Non alcohol options 0 They really didn't have much in the way of options for non alcohol drinking patrons. My wife had some boring iced tea. It wouldn't be that hard to at least invest in some artisan sodas. Octopus and ham 8 My favorite dish of the night Mushroom duck tongue mahi 4 Pork Mac n cheese etc 5 Best piece of pork ever. Goat 4 ways 7 Mind blowing Breakfast 7 Mind Blowing Rhubard sorbet w/ polenta 7 Stunning Baking 101 5 Wow The wine pairings 7 I really loved the wine pairings and impressive by the glass offerings. I've rated them all on cellartracker (username Mike L.). Portion size 1 I've never had this problem before but the portions here were a little too meager for me. I did leave hungry having drank way way more than I ate. We went for a pizza after. Service 5 Very friendly and attentive, some of the secondary servers were a little rough around the edges at times but they more than made up for it by being very pleasant and not snooty or pretentious. The host was especially awesome, we arrived too early and he escorted us to their sister restaurant next door where we enjoyed a couple excellent cocktails. Then he came back for us. Very Classy! Our head waiter and the somm were also very attentive and receptive. Even though there wasn't enough food for me ill be back. The best things we ate were very memorable, and the wine service was a huge treat for me. The ambience was so comfortable. If you are a fan of predictable food like steak houses, big portions, or don't really care for wine, I think your money would better spent elsewhere.
(5)Steve P.
French Laundry enjoyed the number one spot on our list of top dining experiences.. After dining at Moto and meeting the Chef's who prepared our meal; Moto took, and is solidly in, first place. The entire experience was amazing and it was one of the few meals where every dish was visually stunning and delicious. Opt for the wine pairing; the Som served a wide range of interesting and exotic wines from around the world. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and we were honored to get a tour of the laboratory/kitchen after our meal to get a glimpse of the artists behind the best meal of our lives. We will be back.
(5)Minh C.
I was disappointed. I first heard of Moto from their TV show - I thought the entire culinary team was creative and its creations always looked super tasty. Then I saw two of the guys on Top Chef, and was surprised that they got booted off rather quickly. But I was in Chicago for 6 months and there was no way I wasn't going to give it a shot. If the ratings were based solely on presentation, I would bump this up another star. However, I feel that the team had sacrificed flavor for the sake of presentation. For me, food is ultimately about the flavor, and without that, it really doesn't matter how pretty the plate looks. There were also some funky things going on - e.g., the smoked leather gloves. I know this was suppose to enhance the aroma, but the smoked leather made me want to vomit (this is just an honest opinion, I'm not saying that to be rude). The team needs to take a page from Alinea's Dave Beran, who does a great job at creating artistic and creative presentations that enhance the flavor of his food, rather than replace them.
(3)Lisa K.
This was easily the most expensive meal I've ever eaten, but I do think the cost justified what we received. Our meal was 12 delicious courses long (13, if you include the tasting plate at the beginning). I was expecting crazy things, like to be able to eat the menu, but our meal was fairly straight forward, while at the same time being creative, well done, and absolutely delicious. My favorite courses included "breakfast," which consisted of mini buckwheat pancakes, sweetbreads, small fruits, and maple syrup that needed to be poured out of a small log. I also enjoyed goat four ways, and our table had a lively discussion about which of the four ways was the best. The final course, Make Your Own Cheesecake, was a big hit and it was delicious. I didn't do the wine pairings, but others in my party were and they were blown away both by the wine itself and the knowledge of the sommelier. The service all around was impeccable and the timing of the meal was perfect. After dinner we were treated to a tour of the kitchen were we got to meet Chef Richie Farina of Top Chef fame, and got to see their indoor garden. It was truly a treat dining at Moto, and I have a feeling that 50 years from now it will still be one of my favorite dining experiences ever.
(5)Irene P.
I'm giving this place a four-star rating -- but not sure I'd really go again, given the price and the portions. That said, I want to stress that I had a blast with the 10-course taster I had here. Starting with the edible printed-on-toast menu, rolling through the foam snowman and the liquid corn bread and the edible Cracker Jack-flavored paper, to the evaporate-on-your-tongue marshmallows (at least, that's what they looked like to me) in a pineapple-based dessert, I was super stoked not only to taste the different flavors and textures of each menu item, but also to see the various ways in which each plate was crafted and presented. V. fun. Only qualm is that, upscale venue though it may be, for the price we paid and for a TEN-course meal, don't think we should have walked away hungry like we did.
(4)Vivien S.
My first experience at Moto began terribly. We waited for an entire hour to be seated. Our only compensation for the waste of our time was a cocktail and a bottle of wine for all of us. The rest of the evening was great- our waitress was incredible. The presentation of the food was as stunning as we expected. I'm still impressed by the presentation and the philosophy behind this restaurant, but it definitely can do a better job in terms of its front desk service. A must-try in Chicago, I think Moto-Next-Alinea is a distinctively Chicagoan molecular gastronomic pilgrimage.
(4)Kimberly N.
I ate here in January. A few of the dishes were really awesome, but too many were just OK (venison from tartare to jerky on a glass box of leaves was the most memorable). The menu changes, so I might love it more if I tried it a second time. Good service. 3.5 starz
(4)Alex D.
I really wanted to like this place, but was disappointed. Twice. Tried the tasting menu both times... really over the top on creativity here, trying to make each dish unique and counter-intuitive. The menu itself is edible. One dish looks like a cigar with ashes. Another uses liquid nitrogen. Just unfortunately the food didn't taste that great. Clearly a situation of prioritizing form over function/ substance.
(2)Cynthia C.
I would not recommend anyone to Moto, even though there were bright spots to the evening. After two nights of tasting menus, I guess a third night was over doing it a bit and we did it up with the Grand Tasting Menu, 20 courses. The portions are NOT small here, we were stuffed silly halfway through and we barely nibbled on the edible menu, which I thought was AWESOME by the way. Brought a humongo smile on my face. So clever!!! My irritation with the service began when the reservationist called to confirm the dinner. Usually, it's pretty smooth, but she demanded to know if I wanted to order the 10 or 20 course menu. Okay, sure, but I need to know what the hell differentiates the two. Is is more luxurious? What are some of the courses? Normally they would oblige. Not with this chick. It was like pulling teeth. Finally, still nothing after about two minutes of rallying on the phone. I thought F this, it's our last night in the city, let's blow it out. TWENTY it is. Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted kindly and enviously spied the cush booth seats, but ended up with a table in the center aisle. I personally thought it was better than the cramped bench seating along the walls. Still, not the best seating, the floor boards are thin, so everytime a server would walk by, we'd feel all the vibrations. Overall the servers were not the most engaging and barely explained what was being poured or served. I was aghast. The food was a little overworked & tried hard to be hip. Do it, but do it well, follow along with the pictorial: The Hits: -Bubble Tea, loved the lemongrass scented broth & the scallops. -Pheasant two ways, white was like a really delicious moist cold cut, dark was like an odd jerky, both enticing. -Yellow Snow, I think this was my fav for the evening, loved the mild curry. -Nuac Man, awesome cube of pork belly, loved the crispness of the lily & the deconstruction of the gai lan into two parts. -Cuban cigar, great presentation & the pork inside was fragrant. -Banana Split, AWESOME. The best dessert. -Pine Float, surprising and interesting. The pine liquid inside the beaker were subtle and quite good. Middle of the Road: -Clam Bake, a little heavy handed & rich. -Baseball Snacks, breading was too thick on the quail, liked the edible prize. -Forest Roll, didn't like the rice -Reuben Lasagna, okay, meat, good. -Shabuccino, WAY too salty, liked the edamame. -Duck & Mole, Duck was the best part. -Cheese Plate, I liked the berry crepe the best & the berries in the middle. -Lychee, okay, maybe too gelatinous. -Chocolate truffles, too much in quantity and should been contrasted w/another texture. The misses: -Snowman ceviche, too sweet. -White Steel, supposedly caught the day before, overcooked & not seasoned well. -Forest Roll, did not enjoy the rice and the rabbit was bland. -Green Curry Lime, very hard to eat, flavors were fighting with each other. -Acme bombs, let's just say if this were not completely liquid in the center, we both would have spit it out. Wine pairing for the GTM is $95/pp which is a great deal, about 15 different types of wine, too bad most were lackluster. Pours are generous and we split the pairing. There is a lot of work put into the food, but taste wise it just doesn't cut it for me. That, along with the service, doesn't warrant the hefty price tag, when there are other comparable restaurants in the area who give you exactly what you pay for. OK, maybe there's that HIP factor here, but still, not really.
(2)Kia C.
Moto is definitively and experience I would recommend. I was turned on to Moto from watching the owners TED talk on the future of foods. I went with a relative who is a chef and we thoroughly enjoyed. I was impressed most by the creativity and presentation of the food. I thought the combination of flavors for 3 out of the 15 courses served were confusing, but I could certainly appreciate the thought and aesthetic in every course. The waitstaff was very amiable once engage. Side note: The bathroom was very nice and extremely clean. The way the water splashed out of the sink made me want to use my hand towel to leave it spotless. Overall all Moto lived up to my expectations. I would dine there again, but not for a long while. It's such an undertaking that you have to really space it out.
(5)V S.
The four of us went to celebrate the launch of project. Sensible luxury is what i thought as i walked in. The decor was peaceful and small...a luxury me. We walked downstairs and it looked like a lab. We started with a sparking wine and continued with a 14 course meal with the accompanying wine for each course. The service was friendly, kind and knowledgeable. Everything was delicious and the presentation was unique and you could tell the person making them loved what they do. The few items that stand out are: - distilled jalapeno shot...refreshing and peppery - burning cinnamon sticks - huge jar of thyme with a tangerine filled with a sweet sauce to pour over your dish. It was pricey but worth it.. a real treat for all the hard work we did on the project.
(5)C D.
While the atmosphere is elegant, the service is great and the food is really fun and creative, I had to give it 3 stars, because I think they often focus too much on being creative vs the taste of the food. This restaurant is EXTREMELY expensive. For this cost, I expect perfection in every aspect.
(3)Maggie M.
So I read about Moto and insisted we go when we were in Chicago. The place is dark, exclusive, a tad pretentious but 100% about the food. So how is the food? It is a 4 but the price is 5. It is pretty spectacular, having a Chicago Dog (made of ice cream) that LOOKS like the real deal makes your senses spin. On that level, it was fun. We ordered the menu and had the set menu of courses. They were out there. For me, probably a little too much. I happen to be adventurous in my travel, not so much with my food. In the end, I was glad I went. Will I go back? No. It was a one time experience.
(4)Ellie B.
We visited Moto for our anniversary this year - our third time dining here. It was great as it has always been. We made our reservation on Open Table and in the comment section I mentioned that we wanted two 10 course meals and for one to be vegetarian. Leading up to the day, I was worrying that maybe they wouldn't read the comments and that making 10 veg. courses would be a burden. Why do I worry? Moto always takes care of you. Our waiter was formal but friendly and funny. I liked the spacing of the courses. It's enough time to get excited about the next one, but not too long that you get antsy. I really loved all of the courses again this time around. They were super flavorful, rich, and sometimes whimsical. It kind of amuses me that people complained about the MENSA puzzle of a toilet. It's really not that tricky, if you look for a second.
(5)Elizabeth W.
Had dinner here at the end of December with my sister as an early birthday celebration for her. We knew we were in for a treat when we started things off with shrimp cocktail and our edible tartar sauce flavored menu. Tweeting encouraged? Well ok then...we tweeted up a storm. Course after course we were wowed by what the kitchen sent our way and having a running dialogue with the chefs downstairs throughout or meal only made it that much more entertaining. I cannot say enough fantastic things about the wait staff at moto. Our primary waiter was Alex and he was pretty freaking wonderful. His knowledge of the menu and willingness to explain the little secret twists in each course to us was above and beyond most dining experiences. Oh, yeah, and he helped crave the ice sculptures that were out front at the time with a chainsaw...no biggie, right??? When it came to the food, it was exceptional. The Kentucky Fried Pasta was great. The cigar sandwiches with smoking ash were adorable AND tasty. The white gazpacho was off the charts according to my sister, who doesn't even like gazpacho but would eat that every day forever. And the pig dish...holy crap! They called it nose to tail, I called it from the roota to the toota. It was just about every part of the pig prepared to make each cut shine. So freaking delicious. The one stumbling block for me was the black and white course. While it was visually stunning and the scallop was prepared well, the puree it was served with was overly salty, and from someone who likes salt, that's saying something. Even that minor misstep was nearly forgotten with Alex came over and blew out the candle on our table and poured it over our beef bourguignon course because OF COURSE, it wasn't just a candle...it was rosemary infused truffle oil!!!! Don't even get me started on the Michael Bolton cookie. Really, the entire meal was a treat. It's not cheap, but well worth the price tag for the four hour dinner and show we got. Not to mention, a tour of the lab/kitchen, and a chance to meet the chefs we had been tweeting with all night before we went home. BRAVO MOTO!!! Time to start saving up for another gastronomical adventure with you.
(4)Caroline W.
Delicious, of course, but what I didn't expect was the cleverness and resulting hilarity that permeates throughout the meal! We were among the first tables to be seated so there were no ruined surprises for us, and honestly I think that's the best advice I can give people in regards to this place: book an early seat so you can experience your own meal first without having to endure the spoilers from your surrounding tables (same advice applies to Alinea & any other gastromolecular type fancy dining places). When you've gorged yourself on enough fine dining, deliciousness is a must, but when a meal can also transcend beyond just the regular prettiness, into the realm of cheeky entertainment, well then I think we've got a real winner here, wouldn't you agree?
(5)Tracy S.
Went about three weeks ago for a guys night out from work. We tend to do this once a month or so and always try to make it to a Michelin Starred restaurant. Have to say that based on taste, this place is definitely above Alinea. Presentation was pretty great also but slightly under Chicago's only three star. Fantastic food and great service. I look forward to going back
(5)Eric H.
. Salman Rushdie, the grand literary tragi-comic chronicler of America's Romanesque decline, knows America, better than 98 percent of Americans. I would love to read his yelp review of Mojoko, But he probably wouldn't be caught dead there. It's a long story what I was doing at Mojoko, but I'll represent. But first, to all you Foodies, this is your place, for sure! In the cowardly New America, keeping up with The (Dow) Joneses is impossible. They (The 1%) now stay hidden behind castle walls figuring out how to spirit their money out of America before the final fall, when China cashes in her chips. And when they do venture out into town, they're refined enough not to play with their food. And certainly, not to pay others to do so. So now, the consumer class competes over who can afford to dine at the next "in" four ring circus Disney-restaurant. That's MoJoko, prefabbed for the preprogramed "Foodie" as another avenue to exploit them. It's been in the making for a while. Weaning children into total hyper-speed consumerism by replacing cartoons like Bugs Bunny, Fat Albert, and Bullwinkle with cartoons of commercial toy characters, like Transformers and My Little Pony (created to sale more crap) then Beverly Hills 20666, Sex in The City, Seinfield, etc., creating generations of narcissistic consumer zombies. In Night of The Living Dead, George Romero's zombies flocked to a suburban shopping mall. These zombies are women in plastic faces frozen with chemicals and tiny back dresses ( with French labels) mass produced in China for 38 cents per., and men in square toed shoes, shinny suits and enough hair jell for five women. if I knew how to text, everyone was texting at Mjoko, probably letting their social media followers know that they had "arrived" , I would've texted a covert message with a picture from the movie The Matrix, of the those bodies hooked up to hundreds of wires, so the machines could harvest their body heat and chemicals. Foodies are in the same predicament, they just don't know it. Foodies are preprogramed, so corporations can preform simple marketing wizardry, for instance, taking a historical American food staple like bacon, rebranding it into plastic red, white, and blue hype, and Voilà ! A fortune is pumped out of the consumer foodie masses, while they run around like crazed monkeys drinking bacon soda cola and blowing bubbles with bacon flavored chewing gum. Then there are the ubiquitous Facebook pictures of "food porn" at term more vile than "Foodie", which I'm sure an industry of cameras has popped up to "support" this venture. The servers at Mojoko are diligent and conscientious, yet fear lurks in their eyes. They have to be smart to handle the chemicals pumped into the food and to use the various gases. Maybe they're down and out English Lit. Phd's who are just as horrified ( more so than I was) because due to our ravaged and beaten down economy, they have to work there. They looked like they were being held hostage by that creepy six-year-old "Anthony Fremont" kid from that Twilight Zone episode who holds the whole town hostage while a creating a helter skelter alchemy of cartoonish deadly terrors with his mind, similar to the nuclear explosion of food wrongness that I witnessed at Mojoko. Dim sum frozen by nitro? Oh and every thing has nitro in it. I think I heard Donald Duck out back huffing. It could have been a Saturday Night Live sketch called "Nitro it" Seriously a smoking leather glove delivered to your table. What kinda kinkster designed that? Frank Booth, the gas sipping psycho from Blue Velvet? And the accompanying chocolate glove looked like it belong to O.J. Simpson. And the other chef most be Dr. Arden from American Horror Story, because who else would serve orange goop out of a syringe? Well maybe Doctor Frankenstein himself Oh the horrors; infused pasta with fried chicken via chemicals, they got it. Any why would you destroy good wine in glasses infused by smokey chemicals from lasers? What is this Israel? America signed the Anti Chemical weapons convention treaty. We needed to escape because after a while the gasses produce a paranoid toxicity. We thought the doors had disappeared. The people were all strangely silent, MoJoko is not a conversation starter, so we thought they were aliens, about to attack us. At another bar, I noticed that my tongue stung, from the nitrogen. file this under "not fun", unless you're a foodie
(1)Scott B.
I ate at Moto over the weekend, and it was nothing short of spectacular! The service was perfect. All of our servers were knowledgable, friendly, and informative. The wine pairings were nothing short of spot on, they complemented the dishes without overpowering them, in some cases, even made the dishes pop more than they already did. The food, which I will describe course by course, was needless to say above and beyond anything your expecting. First course was a tasting of the tasting menu, fourteen little bites each highlighting featured ingredients and flavor profiles in all of the dishes to come. I like to think of it as a little foreshadowing of your entire meal to come! Second was one of my favorite courses of the evening, blanc de blancs, poached mahi mahi, Nantucket bay scallop, and uku (Hawaiian snapper) servered with a sumchoke purée, heart of palm salad, and an all white theme to the whole dish. Third was the breakfast radish course, probably the course that surprised me most was the incredible depth of flavor it had. 3 different kinds of radishes, some raw, some pickled, butter powder, liquid nitrogen noodles, red ribbon sorrel, and more. Fourth was the river course, an amazing three part course, in the center of the table was a glass container filled with rocks, smoke, and smoked sturgeon, salmon, and trout. To go along with that you had Iranian caviar, an everything bagel crisp, a housemade saltine, and a macaroon. Fifth was sticks and stones, a dish highlighting fruits and vegetables, namely carrots and apples, crafted out to look like sticks and stones. To the nose, the dish smelled like a cinnamon roll, when eating it I realized the incredible balance of the savory flavors laced into this course. Sixth was farmhouse, awesome presentation, you have a big glass jar/container filled with straw and a beautiful egg, the top of the egg shell is opened up and a savory foam is piped in covering up rabbit shank. The wooden top to the jar had a sliced rabbit loin with crackers, squash, baby carrot, and purple Brussel sprout. Seventh was my absolute favorite course of the evening, fallen log. There was an actual "fallen" log on the plate that was topped with a sweet potato purée, fresh huckleberries, and too many other components to name, all topped by foie gras, Scottish pigeon, and quail, enough said! Eighth was bacon to the fourth. This course started out with a stunning wooden aromatic centerpiece, moving into four different bacon preparations, classic, bacon jam, pork belly, and pork jowl bacon, with one of many garnishes being a chicharon. Need I say more? Ninth was osso buco, A veal breast is rolled up, you have a mock "bone" that is a parsnip purée piped into the center of the roll, and it is servered with a Yukon gold potato noodle tossed in truffle oil, and all topped with fresh shaved black truffle. Tenth, reindeer lichen was just awesome, the lichen was actually the green served on the plate, or stone, nice and crispy. Perfectly seared bison was the highlight of this plate, with enoki, miatake, and white beach mushrooms too. Eleventh will round out the savory courses, with my third and final favorite savory course, study of venison. One of the more stunning presentations of the night, including five different preparations and parts of the venison including tartar, seared loin, and jerky, all with garnishes! Twelfth will start the sweet end of our meal, and with a bang! Paradise was my favorite dessert of the night, and paradise is the best was to describe it. Incredibly bright and refreshing with an astounding contrast in flavor and textures. This dish highlights coconut and lime with a passion fruit tweel you can crumble over the dessert yourself! Thirteen was pumpkin patch, which is exactly what this looked like. Creative preparations highlighting baking spice, pumpkin, and a little edible dessert menu. Fourteen was coffee service, to the untrained eye, you had a creamer with steamed milk, sugar cubes, and a cup of coffee. The creamer was a sweet foam, sugar cubes were marshmallows, and coffee was actually a coffee gel with too much to name under it, all you need to know is it was incredibly fun, playful, and tasted great. Fifteenth and final course of the evening, and what an incredible bang of a course to end with, baking 101! The only baking lesson I want to take, you get and empty bowl with a rubber spatula, 5 ramekins filled with what looks like "flour" "butter" "raw egg" "brown sugar" and "chocolate chips" then a straw for your milk and an instruction sheet. The sheet will instruct to mix all of your ingredients in the bowl with your spatula and enjoy! Too much fun, brought me back to childhood a little bit. What else is there to say other than I believe this is a meal everyone should experience!!
(5)H. W.
It is never a good sign that when a group of diners leave a restaurant, the entire room turns and looks enviously on those who are allowed to escape. Dinner felt like prison. The meal took far too long and was badly paced. Told staff at the outset that we needed to leave by a certain time. They assured us that we should be done far before that time. We were not. Initially seated in the dead silent, dimly lit main room, in the space of 3 minutes about 8 people bump into my chair, 6 of them staff. Not a single "excuse me" was offered. We asked to be moved and wind up downstairs in a room filled with overly loud, drunk groups. But this was the preferable space that evening. At least these people seemed to be having fun. It was not to last as it soon became apparent that courses that would take at most 3 minutes to devour had waiting times of 20 minutes in-between. Rising tension could be felt. After a while, diners started to get up and talk to other tables in a loud commiseration dance. The food itself was presented in arty ways but it would be wrong to say that it was molecular gastronomy. There was french mousse-ing technique in crab mousse and pumpkin mousse and a japanese influence could be found in the raw sliced fish placed on rocks in a box. There was some pepper flavoured jelly and bits of foam here and there, but that was the extent of the molecular on this menu. Cutting edge this place is not. Cooked fish came out quite fishy and it felt like they didn't use quality ingredients. The entire place seemed to be staffed with interns. All seemed extremely green and extremely uncomfortable. No sommelier was present and no one knew anything about wine. They memorised dish descriptions well enough as each course came out, but couldn't answer any questions. Cutlery was old and contained water stains. One set even came out sticky. Water glasses were refilled but empty wine glasses just sat there. Wine pourings were stingy. The single unisex restroom was insufficient for all diners and wasn't properly maintained. The kitchen seemed very concerned about dietary restrictions and no fewer than 3 different staff members asked about them, but dishes still came out over salted. And in general, most of the food just didn't taste good. Saw some people get a tour of the kitchen but we weren't allowed in. With 15 minutes and 3 more courses to go, we remind staff that we are about to turn into a pumpkin and have to go. They seemed to have forgotten and the last courses are simultaneously plopped down along with the bill before all staff disappear. No coffee or tea offered. Don't know if it was even available and couldn't find anyone to ask. Overall, dinner service was a great mess. 20% gratuity included in the bill might explain the lack of effort, but doesn't excuse it. We left without any member of staff saying good evening or thank you, just a stoney security guard asking if we needed a cab- too little too late. Before writing this review I was wavering between a 2 and a 3, but after writing aIl this, I can't give higher than 1 star.
(1)Rosalind C.
Quite possibly one of the best meals I have had in my life. Quality ingredients, creative presentation, and attentive service. Definitely a memorable experience, to be shared with a special person/persons. Because the menu changes so much, I won't go into much detail about what we got. But, suffice to say, it was incredible and we haven't stopped raving about this to our friends. Save it for a special occasion, but definitely go. Although everything is just a bite, it adds up over 10 courses, so we left comfortably full (but not gut bustingly full, so if that's what you are expecting, go elsewhere).
(5)Kimberly L.
I went with three of my friends and we showed up just at the nick of time to our reservation. We were greeted by friendly faces and smiles. The restaurant itself had a really nice ambience, the music was the perfect volume the waitstaff were dressed very nice an the decor was gorgeous. We had a 15 course tasting menu. It started off with the actual menu in miniature bite sizes to prep our taste buds. I went through that one in at least 5 seconds. With that first menu item I was definitely looking forward to everything else. Afterwards, course by course comes out promptly. The service was impeccable and was orchestrated seamlessly. The pairings worked so well with the courses. A course that stood out to me the most was called River course. About five servers came out with each element. Two round crystal bowls were set at each side of a long rectangular glass dish. The dish has rocks at the bottom and was foggy on the inside. Each of is had a small shell type dish set in front of us with a puffed everything onion bagel chip and a macaroon (my favorite!!). As the server explained the course he pulled off the plastic and this wonderful smoke swirled out of the bowl. This aroma hit our noses and our stomachs. Inside, on the rocks themselves were thinly sliced pieces of sturgeon and salmon. The crystal bowls set on the sides had caviar. All the flavors melded so well, an absolutely wonderful adaptation of lox and bagel. Another favorite course of mine was baking 101. It was very homey and made me think of childhood with milk and cookie dough. A little handwritten instruction card came along with it and it was so much fun. We were set with a spoon and port and although I felt like it was unnecessary, I didn't notice a thing. We had a spatula and some milk and that was the perfect end to the meal. Although I finished the port and it kind of put me over the edge, I was so happy with that entire experience, I was perfectly content. If anyone has the chance or occasion, go to Moto you will get the best meal of your life. Your taste buds will be so thankful. :)
(5)Mark A.
If an out-of-towner (and that includes suburbanites) were coming to Chicago and asked me to recommend some "must visit" restaurants, you would not see the name "Moto" on the list. I did the 20 course menu and wine pairings. The GOOD: * Fun to try a lot of different (good) wines * Cool that you can eat the menu * Novelty in eating things like a cigar * Polished service/nice dining environment The BAD: * Okay, cool you can break apart a mushroom, freeze dry it, put it in a flux capacitor, and recreate something that looks like a mushroom, but why reinvent the wheel when Mother Nature already did it for you? * Wine pairings weren't really "paired" - they were seemingly poured independent from our food courses. (Although I must admit the wine selections were all very good and generously poured.) * Flavor was average at best. Ok, yes, you spin around a bunch of ingredients in a centrifuge and give them a dose of liquid nitrogen, and they'll taste like a pretzel, but do you really want to spend $400/person to eat a flippin' pretzel? Sure, it's a neat science experiment, but it did very little for my tastebuds. (This is the worst part of the experience, in my opinion.) Bottom line, you're not necessarily paying for the greatest tasting food; rather, you're paying for the privilege of being entertained by somebody who likes to play in a laboratory and, instead of using toxic chemicals, they're using something edible. I had thought this place earned a Michelin star, so when I returned home after the meal I did some research,and my faith in the Michelin guide was restored because Moto does not have a star, and it doesn't deserve one. Yes, it's a cool science experiment. But if you're looking to "wow" your tastebuds, look elsewhere.
(3)Justin M.
I ate here over a month ago but didn't write the review until now because I have been in treatment for sticker shock ever since receiving the bill. I won't describe what we ate because a lot of other Yelpers have already laid out the menu in laborious detail. Suffice to say it was one of the most unique dining experiences that I have had. The presentation and background story behind each dish is entertaining and although it doesn't seem like there is much food on each plate, I was pretty full by the time we left (there are 12 dishes after all). The service is excellent and I am captivated by the self-inflating balloon that they presented my fiancee with for her birthday, which is still inflated to this day (how do they do that!?). I'm withholding a star because I don't like the way that the dining room is structured, or rather the way it is not structured. It is just one big room with tables and chairs; there is no privacy. Part of the whole fun of dining here is the anticipation of what's going to come out next. Unfortunately, if you are seated as we were between two parties who have been there longer than you, you get a sneak preview of everything that is yet to come. Major spoiler alert. I don't know why they don't have partitions set up to address this issue. I'm glad to have experienced "molecular gastronomy" for the first time, but it will probably be a long time before I drop this much coin on a meal again. It is, after all, still just food at the end of the day. Right?
(4)Kristen L.
This review is long overdue and there's nothing that can be said that already hasn't been said, but here we go. The food: What can be said? The chef(s) know what they're doing. Each and every single bite is better than the last and the course progression is superb. Not going to go down the list of the 12 course meal the bf and I had for my birthday, but my absolute favorite was "breakfast"--little mini pancakes, bits of bacon, bits of fruit, all paired with the best, I repeat, THE BEST, birch syrup I've ever had...and I don't even like syrup! All courses paired with a bottle of white wine was AWESOME SAUCE. The service: I've never known what the hype was about with fine dining restaurants and how expensive it was (other than the food, of course), but good Lord do these people know what it means to have good service. Every single time I got up out of my seat and back into it, someone was there to push out/in my chair for me. After I got back from the bathroom, my napkin was nicely folded back into its place. I was even ESCORTED TO THE BATHROOM. WHAT?! Class all the way, baby. Our motto quickly became, "we need to sophisticate ourselves" while dining at this fine establishment. Being used to wearing jeans/sweats and a t-shirt to restaurants, it was definitely something to be able to dress up to the nines and eat such a fancy shmancy dinner. Good on you, moto!
(5)Ai H.
Such a fun and amazing experience! Great service, chef Homaro Cantu was kind enough to give us a personal tour of the kitchen and their private dining room. One of my foodie dreams finally fulfilled.
(5)Anne M.
Wow - my Valentine really kicked ass this year. The best ever!! 'Twas a dizzying day of decadence - Roses, dinner date at Moto!, a box of beautiful handmade chocolates + a sweet romantic card. I love this man. SO much. Yes, I'm hardcore bragging - sorry, I simply MUST! Moto was an awesome experience - almost like edible performance art - from the cool, modern decor (wood/cork?, whites, grey/black granite) to the seamless hustle & flow of the *many all-black-clad servers, to the exquisitely presented cuisine + perfect wine pairings - this was meticulous. needle-point spot-on service. and of course - delicious, fabulously inventive, fun food. I can't possibly list all the components to our 15-course extravaganza of a dinner ( I'd miss a million little details & honestly, I ate many bites without knowing exactly WHAT I was eating - a little out of my comfort zone, but I loved it ) - however, I'll list the menu that hints at each course to give a sense of what we enjoyed: - Spring roll menu (edible menu) - Crudite - Blackout - Nose to tail (too much.... ) - Gazpacho - Kentucky fried pasta - Cigar tasting (yeah, I'm a Top Chef fan...) - Forest foraging (featuring Lincoln Park sticks/logs) - Cassoulet - Bull's eye (that candle wasn't really a candle after all!) - Roses are red - Marshmallow & apple (smoke globe atop mallow squares) - Elvis circa 1974 (Elvis has still got it goin' on) - Chocolate & truffle - Acme bomb (yes: fire - no: explosion) ...Very mysterious, isn't it........ ;-) + Bonus: "I Choo-Choo-Choose You" edible valentines. awwww. Each course came with a wine tasting accompaniment, which was a great way to try some wines we wouldn't have ordered otherwise - starting with champagne, to white wines, red wines, and ending with a sweet moscato and sherry to pair with our bevy of desserts. I wanted to stay at Moto for the entire night and continue eating and drinking and being served like a queen. Sadly, our 3+ hour meal went by more quickly than you'd think, and we did have to leave eventually. This is most definitely a * $plurge * dining destination. It's got a big price tag, but you're really paying for the whole spectacle - and for a special occasion or celebration - it really stands out as a distinctly memorable place. I loved it and thought it was so fun and different as my first real full-on molecular gastronomy dining experience. *Badly-lit photos to come..!
(5)Eric X.
[ February, 2013 ] Visited for the Valentines dinner. The service was impeccable, food was prepared well with perfect wine pairings (yes, perfect), and the ambiance of the "lab", where we were seated" allowed quiet conversation while enjoying the scenic view of food preparation. There are some folks here who complain about Moto (food was pricey, portions not big enough, etc.), but I personally wouldn't recommend listening to them. Moto is pricey, and it's not for everyone, but it's an amazing experience that could only be appreciated by people who understand the melding of food and art.
(4)Maggie A.
Great food and fun experience! The plates and flavors were very creative. The kitchen tour was fascinating and the chef will definitely revolutionize the industry with his 150 patents and sustainable in house garden. Just wish it had more molecular gastronomy vs creatively plated dishes. Our menu did not have the interesting/science-y dishes that we saw on previous posts that made us want to try it.
(4)Angela M.
I researched top restaurants in Chicago for my husbands birthday . Moto came up and I was pleased to see it was similar to a place I wanted to take him. I was prepared for a heavy bill for what was expected. What we received was misleading . We had a wonderful time but the cost was first off not informed to us and certainly not worth the cost. The place is next to a meat district which was not clean and welcoming to begin with..ok fine with that...then you are greeted by someone who is not dressed the part by no means. Pony tail that looked dirty. Ok can deal with that. Atmosphere is grey and not lit properly, carpet needed to be replaced....ok can deal with that. Then we are led into a basement with poor lighting and dusty chemistry bottles. My chair was crunched into a corner tite next to them, I had no choice but to notice. It was not welcoming with placements at all. I felt like I sat in some dark basement...not suitable for the magazine ratings. But ok...we chose the drink pairings that were 95 a person...ok cool I was still prepared in my head considering I thought I was spending 125 a person. He did not inform nor state the choice of an 8 course or 16 course....so when I got the bill my mouth dropped. Not given a choice on what to tip as well was not cool. Then when I left I not only was shocked of the price I was shocked it wasn't worth $725 dollars. I mean if you are going to put your geek into food like that at least clean up the act. I would spend that on my husband again but I won't in this place. I'd rather go back to Quebec . At least I'd be in a different country and same price. Pull it together moto. We had to eat pizza when we got home:( and I felt more comfortable in my own bathroom considering there's needed updating. I'm still waiting for a phone call back considering I sent an email complaining of this totally ripped off experience. Shame on the magazine article that complimented you. If you want to go here people..take my advise and book a trip to Mexico.
(1)Becky K.
Moto was awesome! It's tough because if I'm going to say Alinea was 5 stars, then that holds everywhere else I eat for the rest of my life to a pretty high standard. So, let's say Moto is 5 and Alinea is 5+++. Menu was fun, exciting and everything was delicious. I won't spoil any surprises by going into details on the courses. Worth the money if you have it. Don't expect the extreme whimsy or fantastical flavors at Alinea, but definitely a fun, inventive, and delicious meal.
(5)Lola K P.
This is last season's menu review, since I wasn't as moved to write this immediately, there's tons of laudatory reviews, and we were relatively disappointed with the food, but heck I feel the need to add this to my restaurant review pedigree, and I'm pretty sure the new menu's on the same vein. We ended up coming here since a friend was celebrating his birthday. The presentation show was impressive, and service was almost perfect, but there wasn't a single dish that Hubby and I thought was delicious or wanted more of. It was all the most interesting molecular gastronomy efforts, and we get what they're trying to do, but it really didn't work for us. (Sadly we never made it to Adrià 's elBulli or the newer Tickets to compare the concept execution). The paired wines were good. Our friends seemed to love their food though, so that was really good for the birthday boy. (Unless they lied as much as we did; I mean, we weren't going to criticize the food in front of the guest of honor, now were we?) Afterwards we got a tour of their kitchen, which was impressive.
(3)Keith C.
Food - 5/5 Staff - 5/5 Decor - 5/5 Bang for you buck - 5/5 (And this is with the price being really expensive) I love this place. I've always wanted to check out this restaurant after seeing the great reviews on tv. So I ended up coming here with my mom and my sister who were visiting Chicago for the first time. Because I was travelling in Brazil for work, I set up the reservation about 2 weeks in advance using Open Table. Seeing how my phone did not work while in Brazil, I could not receive any phone calls until 4 days before the reservation when I flew back. The staff had called me a couple times to make sure that nobody had any allergic reactions to anything. Seeing how my mom was allergic to oysters, they were informed and they said this would not be a problem. I was called again the day of the reservation just to remind me that I had a reservation that night. Because my mom likes to eat a little earlier, we had a reservation for 7 pm and when we arrived, there was only one other couple inside. The restaurant is not very big so there are only a handful of tables. The decor was very relaxing and quiet. The waiter confirmed again that my mom could not eat oysters. I had forgotten that she also couldn't eat pineapples and this was told to the waiter who then said that he would inform the chefs and that this would not be a problem. We selected a wine for the dinner instead of going with the wine pairing option as my family members do not drink that much. Before they let us try the wine, one waiter poured a little bit of wine into a glass just to make sure that the wine was not bad. She then poured the wine into a decanter and let it sit for a little bit before pouring me a small sample just to re-confirm that the wine was good (which it was). Our first dish was the tasting menu which contained 13 small pieces of the main food for each dish that we would be eating that night. From then, each dish was brought out in a timely manner and explained to us. Because my mom is allergic to oysters, they made a different dish for her when the oyster dish was brought out. However, it was similar enough stylistically that if another table had looked over, they would have not known that my mom was not eating oysters. Each dish was just enough food and decorated unbelievably that by the end of the meal, we had not over eaten but were definitely full and satisfied. The menu changes each season so you'll never get the same thing twice. Each time we had finished a dish, 3 waiters came to our table and at the same time, removed our plates. When a new plate was to arrive, the plates were all set in front of us at the exact same time. NOW THIS IS SERVICE!! When I had to go to the bathroom, one of the waiters walked quickly ahead of me and opened the door to get the the bathroom. When I was ready, he was waiting for me again and opened the door for me. Of course you're going to pay a pretty penny when you come here and we knew well in advance that we would be dishing out a little bit of dough before we came. However, I can definitely say that for how much the meal cost, the service, experience and food was worth it!!
(5)Erick N.
I returned to Moto last night to celebrate my birthday; this was now my third visit to Moto and they have showed steady improvement - I feel they have truly ascended to one of the top restaurants in Chicago. Executive Chef/Partner Richie Farina and Pastry Chef Claire Crenshaw are so motivated and talented and really are delivering at a high level. While Moto used to be known for being on the cutting edge of molecular gastronomy and wildly creative dishes, the knock was that sometimes dishes seemed gimmicky and that taste suffered at the expense of presentation. Moto has really evolved to the point where now the cuisine itself is the star - but plating is still creative, whimsical and entertaining. They have advanced to the post molecular realm where the scientific techniques they use now adds to the taste of the food rather than is merely to make the food different or interesting looking. The biggest challenge of my wife and I partaking in tasting menus is that my wife is somewhat of a picky eater, so unless a restaurant is able to be flexible with substitutions (and not sacrifice quality when doing so) the experience can suffer. I had noted my wife's aversions in our reservation on Open Table and was extremely impressed when our captain first approached us that she spontaneously mentioned my wife's aversions - and had them memorized! Not only did they flawlessly deliver dishes that were comfortable to her, they looked just as beautiful as the regular dish and tasted amazing to boot. This expert accommodation of my wife's special requests was greatly appreciated and is something that will ensure we are regulars at Moto! Be sure to speak up when they call to confirm your reservation if you have any food aversions as they really aim to please and want to ensure you have a wonderful experience. In addition to finding the food much improved from our first visit and moderately improved from our second visit, service also has shown remarkable improvement. Part of it likely was attributable to us being frequent patrons at nearby sister venue iNG (we did receive some perks such as a couple of bonus courses), but the front of the house staff has undergone some changes and definitely for the better. Matt is a wonderful general manager; extremely friendly and very involved in interacting with patrons (when we mentioned we liked a particular wine he even researched to see if there was anywhere nearby where it could be purchased). Service at Moto is extremely polished and attentive; very worthy of a special occasion but at the same time the staff is so relaxed and personable, there is not an iota of pretentiousness and you can even joke around with the staff. We again requested to sit in the downstairs area which is referred to as "the lab" and has such a fun ambiance (as well is a more quiet, intimate space than the upstairs). Miranda (the Sommelier) has really elevated the wine pairings at Moto; interesting small batch wines from all over the world that both tasted well on their own before the food arrived and also paired superbly with the cuisine. Be prepared for a lengthy meal; dinner can easily be expected to last three hours and depending on whether the restaurant is full, the size of your party and the pace with which you eat it may even take closer to four hours. While some are turned off by such a lengthy meal, I loved the leisurely pace. Dining at Moto is truly a special event and with such wonderful staff, delicious food and wines, and nice ambiance we were having such a blast we did not want the evening to end. Since there are approximately fifteen courses expect portions to be on the smallish side, but none are bite sized or comically small (and some are fairly robust); despite having a hearty appetite (and arriving quite hungry) I left quite satisfied. Our meal last night was so excellent I really do not have much criticism to offer. The meat courses have definitely improved, but still have a little ways to go before they are as good the rest of the menu. One other nice touch would be some type of take home treat like some of my other favorite restaurants provide (i.e. Tru and Sixteen hand you a pastry to take home as you leave; it is always so fun to eat it the next day and remember your wonderful meal). With Richie and Claire being so young and passionate they are almost a lock to continue improving with time. If you have not dined at Moto within the past several months it truly has transformed into a much different venue than the Moto of years past; while it retains the whimsical, wildly creative aspect of Moto past, it now in addition offers top notch cuisine and service. If you have never dined at Moto before I highly recommend coming here and if you have not been to Moto in a while it is well worth returning; so much is new and it is very much improved. Full review with photos here: lthforum.com/bb/viewtopi…
(5)Rob D.
I recently dined here. From the reviews, I was excited and looking forward to trying this restaurant. Interior design: modern and somewhat austere. But, I liked the lines and simple design. Interesting wine island in the middle of the dining room. For the price and the hype, I thought that I would be wowed. Let's say that I was minimally impressed. Of the several courses, most lacked pizazz. What I mean is the wow taste factor. The OMG..this is amazing. It didn't happen. Some artful presentations, yet no Wow. Also, key to this type of supposed creative type of establishment, is the presentation by the server. Unfortunately, it was extremely difficult to understand what the server was saying. I expected much more from this restaurant.
(3)Jeremy L.
If your wife informs you that you are going to Moto, don't ask questions, do as your told and enjoy the experience. She's really just looking out for your tastebuds. We were accompanied by another couple and the experience couldn't have been more enjoyable. We were seated downstairs and afforded the privilege of observing the assembly of many of the courses. The food was always well explained as well as the wine pairings we enjoyed. The flavor explosions you will experience throughout the evening are too intense to try to describe with mere adjectives. My personal favorites included the Reconstructed corn, Kentucky fried pasta, Tongue & cheek and the Acme bomb. It is an experience, so consider it both your dinner and show all in one. I especially appreciated the service. Often when I accompany my wife to nice restaurants the environment is stuffy and everyone takes themselves way to seriously. I have to compliment Alex and Xander for their professional demeanor and lively conversation while handling our service for the evening. It wouldn't have been as enjoyable without them.
(5)Dkrejser S.
Had to return so took our son for his bday dinner there. Again this was an amazing experience, and we in fact thought it was a little better than last time. The emphasis had changed somewhat from very molecular food to more about the ingredients. Service is impeccable which also might be due to the fact that we came in one of the last snowstorms of the year and most other guests had cancelled their reservations. Only had to share the big staff with one other table. They were very attentive and understanding to our food allergies. Our children loved every bit of this experience and we will definitely be return.
(5)Joe S.
Excellent restaurant really showcasing what's possible when a talented chef combines skills with the molecular gastronomy "wow." Ate as part of a large group but the wines were well selected and paired well; food bites and the tasting of the tasting menu funny; the boar superb! Richie Farina (of Top Chef fame) was in charge of our operation and while he was personable and warm and welcoming, he seemed to operate more as a Maître d' than as a chef which wasn't bad, just seemed unusual to have a chef who isn't doing anything chef'ly. The kitchen did send out one final amuse-bouche, at the end... an edible menu and that was mildly fun. Service was fine -- wine glasses were kept well filled and water was refilled mostly on time. I did find the silverwear options odd... fork and spoon but no knife. Overall, the restaurant, the space, the location, the food, the service... it all worked and worked [almost] flawlessly. Thank you!
(4)Valerie J.
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 :)
(5)Alissa A.
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.
(5)Heidi J.
Impeccable service, food and wine pairings. My husband who HATES fine dining even loved the tasting menu paired with the wines. A must!
(5)Kelli P.
THE BAD BOYS OF MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY!!! My favorite restaurant in Chicago. Been here four times. Why? Because this is not a meal, this is a FUN, WHIMSICAL, PLAYFUL, DELICIOUS EXPERIENCE. Every course is creative, well thought out, playful, smart, tasty and thoughtful. On top of the food being an experience, and always flavorful, the service is great. Well timed, efficient, professional, but also friendly and not stuffy or pretentious. Each server is also a chef, so they know their food very intimately. What is also so cool is that they are always willing to give a tour of their kick ass lab and kitchen. Great atmosphere - clean, calm and comfortable. Awesome wine list and pairing options. Favorite dish: Cuban Cigar - really tasty, and looks so much like a cigar - so fun to eat - plus everyone loves seeing pictures of this dish! Alinea is an experience, but Moto is the much more down to earth, fun, approachable experience. These guys have such a sense of humor, and such a grasp on their ingredients and the science behind cooking that they are transforming food into things you have never seen nor imagined before - and you get the sense that they have a great time doing it. AWESOME! Highly recommended, I will be a forever fan!!! Don't miss out on this place. Again, this is not a meal, so when you see the price on the menu, don't imagine you are paying for a meal, you are paying for a very unique experience for all of your senses.
(5)ben w.
Such a unique experience. I would have to say the food (which was excellent) was only half of what made this 4 hour visit so special. Our waiter, Quinton, was extremely informed about what would show up on our table, acting more like a tour guide at a science museum than someone putting food in front of you. My main concern was paying a lot of money to have small plates with small amounts of food put in front of me and leaving hungry. As each plate arrived with it's unique aromas and flavors, you get lost in the momentum. Those worries left my conscience as I got lost in the experience. The waitstaff are in constant communication to time the arrival of your next course. When it does arrive it usually is accompanied by some fanfare, my favorite was the seafood course, served on rocks with a fantastic smoked aroma, and the goat course and it's wonderful rolled meat. I was lucky enough to get a personal tour of the kitchen by Chef Chip, ever so passionate about his work and explaining what goes into these concepts. THANKS for a very memorable 5th anniversary dinner for my wife and I.
(5)Alton P.
I've always wanted to try food cooked through molecular gastronomy and I am so glad I had my first experience at Moto. The servers I had were Zack and Alona and they were fantastic. Very knowledgable and friendly. The food was superb! Some of the presentations just blew me away. I was fortunate enough to also get a tour of the kitchen with Chef Richie Farina, who was awesome and very down to earth. Go to Moto!
(5)Karen V.
Four stars for the theatrical production. I honestly don't know what to think of Moto. On one hand I found it intriguing and the other hand I found it very over priced for what it is. It was a fun evening,but I cannot say that I will ever return,once is fine.
(4)E S.
Celebrated our anniversary here and had an amazing experience. Service was impeccable, timing of courses was just right, and food was incredible!! Highly recommend for a special occasion.
(5)Valerie L.
Cool concept but I wasn't entirely satisfied/blown away by the 16 course tasting meal. Come here for the experience, excellent service and if you have more than 2.5 hours of time to spare, not the food.
(3)Mona W.
Moto was INCREDIBLE. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we were blown away by the 16 course tasting meal. The private kitchen tour that followed along with our customized wooden menu's weren't too shabby either. The innovation that came consistently with each dish was mindblowing. We did everything from cook s'mores over blue flame....to eating salmon ice....to scoop mouse out of a terrarium. This is my boyfriend's favorite restaurant in the world....and that still stands true after dining at the the likes of French Laundry, Coi, Gary Danko, Michael Mina...etc. I highly recommend it for the experience of a lifetime!
(5)David B.
Solid experience. Friendly, knowledgeable wait staff, great bar area, excellent food!
(5)Chloe Y.
I've heard great things about this place so I thought it was the perfect place to have Lance's birthday celebration (being that it's a week late, it had to be a good make up dinner) and I was so glad I chose to come to Moto. Lance and I both love asian and asian fusion so moto was a pretty good choice for both of us. The interior was designed nicely so that it was spacious and intimate but without feeling overly pretentious or uncomfortable. Albeit, we had a pretty rude couple next to us who said some very inappropriate things about us when they didn't think we could hear. Rude. However, the food was amazing. And it was really sweet that they personalized the menu with "Happy birthday Lance" and even gave us two copies to take home. The funny thing about moto that I love was that there was no dish descriptions but merely a "title" to the dish. it makes you wonder what's going to come and each time, we're pleasantly surprised. Anyways, here goes: 1. Growroom: a beef tartare with cute curly crispy noodles and their "fresh" greens. Literally, they cut it at the table for us and it was funny because the waiter said "This is literally the freshest salad you will get in Chicago". Two minutes fresh haha 2. Aged Carrot: the carrot was cooked so it seemed and tasted almost like sweet potato fries. And the poached salmon was perfectt. Not overly cooked but not totally raw. Exactly how we love it. 3. Ocean Flavors: the seared scallops were delicious as well as the various other pieces that complimented it. 4. Which came first: lance's favorite dish. Chicken breast and thigh along with an egg with some custard in it. Perfect compliments to each other. Loved the sort of runny egg/custard. Except...I totally broke the shell embarrassingly and tried my best not to make it obvious -_- 5. Allium 6.0: not the most memorable dish being that the title doesn't even really ring a bell but I'm sure the attached pictures will help. I do recall the bit of rabbit (?) meat and I remember commenting that it was quite delicous. So not a bad dish, just not comparable to the others. 6. Fallen log: a cute little: lance thought this was good but I'm not a huge fan of sausage. It was complimented well by the sauce but I personally ended up giving him mine. 7. Thyme capsule: a treasure box with LOADS of thyme and two skewers. One with lamb confit and the other with pork belly confit. Both were absolutely delicious and the play of senses with smell and taste really intensified the experience. 8. Beef and broccoli: this was an interesting dish. The box had three parts to it, so as you were eating the wagyu beef on top, the pho broth on the bottom layer was steaming the broccoli in the middle. Our only issue with this dish was that it seemed overly salty. And that's coming from two people who love salt. 9. Sus Scrofa: omigosh, the pork shoulder in this dish was amazingg. So tender, juicy, and full of flavor. There was so much going on in this dish but not in a bad way. Everything mixed together very well. 10. Picnic: a cute idea. A cheese course with four different cheese made to feel like you were out in the grass (literally there was a column of grass) with picnic napkins. I loved the truffle cheese but lance loved the mixture of cranberry with a white cheese. 11. Strawberries and cream: a good, clean palate cleanser. Approved by both of us 12. Date Cake: Not really a cake but more a mixture of cake-ish crumbs and dates and pear. I devoured all the pears..and well...Lance devoured the rest haha 13. Chocolate Mousse: I LOVED the lemon sorbet and lemon puree in this dish. The mousse itself was good but nothing too distinct. 14. Toasted marshmallows: This was a fun dish because they bring over a piece of log that they light and you get to make your own smores right at the table. The cool part is that it looks like just a marshmallow on a stick but INSIDE the marshmallow, they stuffed chocolate and graham crackers. So creative and delicious!! We were so terribly full after this dinner but NOT complaining at all. It was a very relaxing and amazing evening full of good company and food :) I definitely recommend it! It's worth it!
(4)Shane P.
Tried Moto out .......as a professional in the industry ....in my opinion. ....high-priced garbage...... don't waste your time unless you want to eat Jetson like Food..... Based in the future?....for the amount of money that my party spend we were all thoroughly disappointed.... We could have gone to McDonalds and enjoyed our meal better and still had mystery meat ....... I understand the gimmick its like going to an amusement park for food but all of the rides are disappointing ....if you really want to go and have to good food done correctly I would suggest Taco Bell... (really) And had a chance to meet the chef when I say self-centered arrogant prick it would be an understatement. And just to prove a point after we spend upwards of $500 we all went to Maxwell Street and got a fish sandwich which tasted much better than the crap that was given to us at Moto.... Save your money and your time life is too short don't waste it in there... The only reason it got one star was because you wouldn't let me post this with 0
(1)Ellie M.
We were greatly intrigued by the gastronomy behind their creations and of course that this place is a Michelin rated restaurant. So we decided to shell the 200 bucks or so and made reservations. The concept again was great. The presentation by far was one of the best I've seen. But the food... Definitely underwhelming. Also, since this is about 16 course serving, dinner was about 4 hours. It was an interesting experience however I am not planning to come back again.
(3)Pham D.
Moto is an experience. One that I like to treat myself to once in a while. Come here to enjoy Chef Homaro Cantu imaginative spin on food. The last time I was here, we had a pretty large group, so we had the pleasure of sitting in the private room in the basement. We were surrounded by lab equipment and it was pretty wild. We also toured their indoor herb farm, and it's pretty cool to see that while some restaurants have "farm-to-table" dining, at Moto, your plant would have been cut minutes before it was served to you. The food is, of course, amazing. The flavors blend together so well that your tastebuds will dance with joy. * * *
(5)Carol R.
On a recent trip to Chicago, I was treated to Moto by a dear friend for my birthday. Our group of four was unanimously underwhelmed by the atmosphere, service and food. In a phrase: avoid Moto. Our reservation was for 6:30. When we arrived there were 3 people dining. By the end of the evening, eight more had arrived. We were seatd in the rear room away from the door. The room seemed vacuous. There was a huge open space in the center as well as a musty odor. I couldn't help but wonder if tables are removed on less busy nights so as not to look "empty". Our server was completely uninformed on the wine, indifferent in her manner, and not open to questions or comments. Our first two wine choices (she was not familiar with either) were not in stock (or were they moving us toward selecting $$$$ wines??). While three or four of our eight course courses were good, nothing shone and portions were extremely. I barely tip 100 lbs and left unsatisfied. On top of this an automatic 20 percent service charge. Do go elsewhere.
(1)David B.
I've wanted to try Moto since I saw them on TV years ago. This was a must do on our first night in Chicago. The entire experience is a show. Our meal consisted of 16 courses all but one of which we liked. My date ended up not finishing a few of her dishes. The server and manager were both at our table instantly to figure out why. They said the chef was concerned that food was actually coming back to the kitchen. I've never seen that before. She had to convince them that after 10 courses, she was just getting full and wanted to make sure she had room to try the rest. They offered to bring her smaller portions. After the meal, we were offered a tour of the kitchen and hydroponic grow room by the time we got back upstairs, the Maître D had our jackets in hand and a cab waiting at the curb. This is not an every night meal but for a special occasion, there's nothing quite like it.
(4)Jason A.
I'm really torn on this place, probably a 3.5 but ultimately deserved a 4 rating but its not a restaurant I'd recommend or return to. The vibe is a bit too modern for me. The huge secluded tables when you first walk in are cool, I was instantly disappointed I was not sitting there. The main dining area is too dark and vacant, seems big when it isn't. The two top table is the longest table I've ever seen for a 2 person dinner. You are so far apart from your partner it made sharing items and conversation difficult. I was also right next the drink island and I was constantly bumped into by staff. Service was prompt and nice. They articulately described the dishes and pairings, but it was off rote memorization. I was there a touch more of personality and connection in those interactions. The first dish which was a bite of all the dishes to come was a unique way to wet your appetite. The second highlight was the wine pairings which were well thought. The dishes were playful and creative, pleasing to the eye. However, they were all too small, especially for the price point. I wasn't remotely close to being full upon leaving. That also could have had something to do with a totally unacceptable 4.5 hour running time for dinner. A meal like this should never take more than 3. The pacing was horrendous. Our first dish didn't arrive until we had bee there 30 minutes, then the next several courses were 20 minutes apart. It finally picked up at the end but by then you are hungry, annoyed, and or drunk. The only dish that was a total dud was the pearls of melon. No flavor, boring, should have been a mid dinner palate cleanser. The chicken and the egg was ok, but a let down after you're being told you'll get fried chicken. The birds nest was another miss. The grilled goat was excellent, the mushroom was perfect, and the pork belly and thyme was a perfect savory finish. A few ups and downs, but ultimately for the portion size, and length of dinner at this price point there are 10 better options to try when you are spending this much money.
(4)Anne E.
From the moment I contacted Moto inquiring about a reservation I was impressed with their service. I have a severe food sensitivity to allium and they assured me they could customize the 18 course tasting menu to accommodate me, which they did flawlessly. The service was perfect: well timed, informative, friendly but not chummy. The decor was quiet and subdued. The food was the star. Plate after plate of gorgeous and impossibly more delicious dishes. The variety and ingenuity of the dishes never ceased to amaze and delight us from beginning to end. We were genuinely shocked to find 3 hours had passed when the last course was taken away. Some highlights for us were the Pea Soup Mouse, the Trout and Grits, The Foraged Mushrooms, The Smoked Radishes and The Peach Cobbler. The 18 course Chef's Tour was around $200 per person (including tax and tip). We choose to have the wine pairings as well. If you choose to go this route plan an additional $200 per person (including tax and tip) for the wines and let Moto arrange for a taxi home.
(5)Tricia D.
I'm glad to have experienced what Moto has to offer, but would I return? Not unless you're paying, and they've redesigned their bathroom/toilet set up. It was a $240 dinner, and I expected to be blown away (or atleast impressed for that price tag). Some courses were much better than others. My favorites: the sashimi fish served over smoking rocks, served with mini carb accompaniments (bagel crisp, macaron, wheat cracker), bacon and mini pancakes served with birch syrup that you pour out of a log and atop real birch, and the "baking 101" (you're given 5 components of cheesecake to mix yourself in a bowl and eat with a spatula). Overall, presentation looked nice. There was a creative chese and bread picnic course, where the pairings were "plated" on real grass, and you got a red and white checkered napkin to go with it. I really didn't care for the opening raw scallop dish or the onion course since the onion powder was way too strong, and no matter how much you had me at "ice cream", onion ice cream ain't gonna work. Some component of one of the mid-dinner courses made me (and my bff, so I'm not the only data point) really gassy, so that wasn't pleasant for me or others around me. Note on the women's toilet: really, does the flush button need to be midway down the base of the toilet? As someone else noted, people do not enjoy having to put their head almost into the toilet bowl to flush. And it didn't help the situation that the sign indicating where said flush button is had like size 5 font. Parting thoughts: service was steady, as expected. Reserve on OpenTable, and know that it will be really quiet if you begin your meal anytime before 6:30. You can also ask for a tour of the kitchen on your way out, and a host will be glad to walk you around (I was surprised to see everything was hand washed. No dishwasher in sight.).
(2)Nadia S.
NYE in Chicago... Let me just say it is so hard to pick the perfect restaurant in a city filled w amazing food. We decided to revisit one of my fave restaurants and were SO happy w the decision!! I still think that their regular menu is better than their NYE menu, but still, another wonderful experience. Moto's staff just blows me away. My husband and I kind of fell in love w our server, she was awesome. And the manager. Wow. So there was a crazy snow storm that night and we were the last people waiting to get a taxi.... With no taxi in sight, the manager offered to drive us back to our hotel in his personal car. Who the hell does that?! So amazing. I also would like to add that I have NO idea what Kathryn H. is talking about in her review... I would definitely recommend MOTO to anyone who ever asked.
(5)Pack C.
solid food, great presentation. we actually think the food is at par with alinea. The experience is not as unique as Alinea... but hey you save at $100 per person. why not.. they have lots of wine by bottle selection at different price points (from $30/40 to $100+). good deal for the meal. favorite dishes are 1. spring dish: smoke fish with side of biscuit, bagel and macaron (sound so simple, yet so good!!) 2. spring dish: onion & garlic cooked different ways.. really good! Recommend the place!
(4)Kathryn H.
Of all the places I've ever eaten, this one was the worst! From the customer service to the food, all horrible. DO NOT let this be your fallback if you can't get reservations to Alenia. Let me say this, if you know about food, you are a great cook, you are a foodie, you eat all over the world, or you know what good food is all about DO NOT EAT HERE. It is an expensive disappointment. The place was nearly empty when we got there - not shocking. I don't know who our server actually was, because random people brought out the food and wine. The girl, who I think was our server, knew absolutely nothing about the wines. We wanted to add on the wine pairings fro $85 each, but wanted to know WHAT we were drinking. When the glasses were poured before (or during - ugh) the course they were paired with, the server couldn't even tell us what they were. Just, "this is the sauv blanc. enjoy!" Thanks. not. Our first course was that roll up your own sushi dish. It tasted like card board. Our second course was served on a plate shaped like a scallop shell. It was a black potato and leek soup, but it looked like gulf coast after the BP spill. Best thing we ate, but I could get that shit at a diner for $5. We asked that if we were underwhelmed on the next dish, AGAIN, that we would like to pay for what we had an leave. Ooooh, but then the magic happened. The Italian Biosphere. It was this huge glass fish bowl with dirt looking stuff on the bottom. We were told it contained truffles and given miniature shovels to eat with. Cute idea? No. Have you eaten dirt since you were a kid and want to feel nostalgic again? Eat this shit. It literally tasted like dirt. CHECK PLEASE! I asked for the Maître D and our wine pourer had no idea WTF I was talking about. Um, the manager then, please? He comes over, total douchebag. I told him we wanted to pay for what we ate and drank and get the hell outta there. Well, douchebags apparently can't do math, he ended up bringing the check back for the remaining 6 courses and wine we didn't consume instead of the 3 or 4 we did. I asked him to please double check his math, and he stormed off like a little girl having a hissy fit. Again, the check comes back. We were being charged gratuity on the entirety of the meal, not what we had! So I called him back over and said, "I think you miscalculated the gratuity." To which he responded, "DID YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR SERVICE TONIGHT MA'AM?!" At that point, I really think we should have just walked out, but we waited patiently for him to come back with the appropriate bill, paid, and left. Check out the photo of our bill. Asshat. We had such a good experience at L2O the night before, I called and told them about the experience we just had at shitto, I mean, moto.They didn't have any reservations available, but they seated us in the bar area until we could get a table. Comped multiple drinks, apps, entrees, and bottles of wine. The bill for two of us was over $800, but I would have gladly paid more never to have had the experience we did at MOTO.
(1)Kat B.
What a wonderful experience! I took my fiancé here for his birthday this year, and we were so impressed with every aspect of our dinner. The hostess was wonderful and quick to recognize that we were both in the industry. She offered us a kitchen tour and we were able to briefly meet the executive chef. Each of the 8 courses was amazing, and paired perfectly with the wines included in our drink package. Service was easygoing yet very professional. I only hope that we will be able to come back again while we still live in the area!
(5)Pamela B.
The best meal/experience ever! And price was less than expected. Fantastic!
(5)Randy H.
You know going into it that you're going to get some special food, and good service, and you know you're going to pay a lot. I guess I assumed that the setting would have a more intimate ambiance. It felt surprisingly unromantic. It may have been just bad luck that night, but there were tables full of loud, rowdy groups around who kept the overall ambiance less romantic or intimate, and made it feel a lot more like what I'd expect if I took my date to Chili's. Well, except for the fact that at Chili's I wouldn't be seated so far away from her. Sure, I realize the wide table makes it easier to fit the dozens of wine glasses that are going to be there, but I'd like to have felt more within reach of my date, and not as if I needed to speak up in order to be heard... kinda felt like everyone else was listening to us. And they were. Among the 14 courses, there are some hits and some misses. When they're good, they're astoundingly good. And when they're not, they're not bad, but merely disappointing. And for the 12 wine pairings, I'd say that all but the first two were good. They led off with wines that taste like granite, which is entirely interesting, but a strange choice. Perhaps the most interesting part of the night was the mad scientist beaker system in which the after-dinner coffee was prepared. If you go, do make sure to order a coffee at the end. I wouldn't take back my experience. The service was impeccable, and on a few occasions even felt almost choreographed. And that, combined with the broad array of foods and wines we tasted -- I think -- justified the cost. If you've never been, you should absolutely go. But I think I probably would not return.
(4)P B.
Very very interesting experience. Definite try. We had a 18 course menu with wine pairings. No complains. Each dish was hand crafted & exquisite. Personally loved the Tartare, Foei gras, Pork belly, Pecan pie. Collegues loved the global wine pairings from France, Chile, New Zealand etc. It's 3 hour fest. Be ready to shell out. But worth every penny.
(4)Buo Z.
Execution was lacking. I wanted so badly to like this restaurant. It was situated in what looked like an old meatpacking area of Chicago. The food was generally overly salty. The presentations were kind of sloppy. Even though I've seen a lot of dishes that looked like Jackson Pollock paintings, there was somehow an art to the madness. I just wasn't seeing it in these dishes. So much for a one star.
(3)Diner S.
Good food but not what I would consider molecular gastronomy. Certainly has little touches of it. New chef comes from the South. Many of the new dishes are Southern inspired, however, execution is not there. I would've loved to have gone here before Rick Anderson took over. Service is good and friendly. Wait time between courses is a bit too long.
(3)Allan C.
We only stopped here for drinks. So yeah, apparently you can do that here, instead of getting the pre-fixe. Regardless of that, that didn't keep us from getting some pretty amazing treatment for two people just taking up space with some scotch, bites that came with said scotch, and a coffee/tea afterwards. This is definitely not a cocktail place and their selection is limited. We were sort of inebriated to begin with and pretty much stumbled in so think of it as a place to check out with an open mind, check out their liquor/wine selection of the day, and roll with it.
(4)Laura C.
On Christmas Eve, working for Ebenezer Scrooge, I checked Facebook and saw a post by Chef Homaro Cantu asking what holiday wishes people were hoping for this season. I responded honestly with, "To eat at moto." Much to my surprise, Chef wrote back that he was feeling generous in the holiday spirit and invited me and a guest to dinner. I was floored, the jaw almost fell off my face as I jumped up and down in excitement. The kindness of this man who I admire in so many ways already, both personally and professionally, made my year. From his rough and tumble childhood, Chef overcame so many obstacles to become the innovator who is radically changing the culinary mindset, melding science, art, love, and gastronomy, in addition to being a father, husband and miracle berry genius, helping to eliminate the growing epidemic of sugar addiction. Our evening started with TASTING menu, a plate of amuses, each bite representing the courses to come. 1. BLANC de blancs; Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs 1er cru, Cuis, Champagne, France, nv and Dewanoyuki, Snowflake, Junmai Sake, Yamagata, Japan A trio of mahi, snapper and scallops with hearts of palm, sea beans and flowers. By far, my favorite course of the evening with the perfectly seasoned and prepared fish course, beautifully presented on a long glass plate to share between us. How can you go wrong when you start the evening with a premiere cru Champagne? My current drink of choice, but also a second pairing of sake so smooth, my tastebuds were dancing in heaven. 2. BREAKFAST radish; Chasing Harvest Riesling, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2010 Visually stunning, the simplicity of each radish slice - purple ninja, black, pickled, raw, highlighted by a burst of flavors and textures from frozen sunchoke puree, watermelon, lime, candied Buddha's hand, brioche crouton, radish blossoms, sorrel, and a brown butter dust paired with a dry riesling 3. RIVER; Domaine Guiberteau, Clos de Guichaux, Chenin Blanc, Saumur, France, 2008 A glass terrarium arrives at the table, filled with a hazy Cherrywood smoke, smooth river rocks, Serbian sturgeon, trout, Washington salmon sashimi draped over the stones and garnished with wheatgrass, served alongside everything bagel, saltine, and potato blini with lemon creme fraiche. Not going to find this play on lox and bagels anywhere better! 4. STICKS & stones; Paul Cluver, Gewurztraminer, Elgin, South Africa, 2011 A sweet wine for an unexpectedly sweet course - sticks and stones made out of Granny Smith apples, salsify, carrots, adorned with micro arugula, fromage blanc snow, pear butter puree and apple skin gastriche. 5. DUCK a l'orange; Domenico Clerico, Pajana, Barolo, Italy, 2008 A forest of flavor in a glass jar, with the interaction of harvesting the orange bowl and being saucier at the table, drizzling the lid of seared duck, micro swiss chard, "scallop" of potato, gingery carrots in a fragrant orange jus with a BIG Barolo to stand up to the strong flavors 6. DUELING shoulders; Avelada, Follies, Touriga Nacional/Cabernet Sauvignon, Beiras, Portugal, 2010 An aromatic hunk of tree with giant cinnamon bark, pine cones and juniper is ignited to smoke while you feast on wild board shoulder in a red wine glaze and a porcelet shoulder (suckling pig fed only milk) with caramelized milk, rutabaga puree, balsamic reduction, radicchio puree, dehydrated cippolini onions and micro arugula 7. BEEF & cauliflower; Beatrice et Pascal Lambert, Les Terasses, Chinon, France, 2011 Cruciferous veg - Romanesco, cauliflower, broccoli, pureed, roasted, and cubed with Texan sirloin, veal demi-glace and shaved white Oregon truffles, toying with my childhood Chinese fave of beef and broccoli, elevated to a whole new level 8. REINDEER lichen; Dominio IV, Song of an Uncaged Bird, Syrah, Columbia Gorge, Oregon, 2006 I wish all my food was served on a heated stone and artfully prepared with eye popping color and flavor as was the tender bison loin chop carpaccio, white mulberry, white beech, maitake, and enoki mushrooms, caramelized onions and crispy, limey moss. 9. BEET of the night; Altocedro, Tempranillo, La Consulta, Argentina, 2011 What is a winter meal without a blood red beet? Foie gras truffle mousse dusted with coffee grounds encasing a beet center on a savory shortbread cookie, beautifully balanced between sweet and savory, beet emulsion, chicory jelly, balsamic reduction, roasted beet and bull's blood micro-greens scream with flavor from a stark off center white plating emphasizing the deep, luscious hue, balanced by a very mild Tempranillo. To be continued when Yelp let's me post more....
(5)Abhi K.
The food was objectively good. I'm not sure anyone can really argue otherwise. But I feel like Michelin star restaurants, especially when they cost this much should be held to a higher standard. Moto can't really be compared to the greasy burger joint down the road. And this review will not attempt to do that. The reason for the three star rating is that Moto does not live up to expectations compared to itself. First, the actual space is really weird. The door next to the sign saying "Moto" is not the door you want to enter through. It's the door to the right of that one. Except that door might be locked and you'll have no idea how you're supposed to get to your dinner. You are taken down to the basement, which I guess is what they call the "lab." There are about four tables down there, but it looks very industrial, so it's not a cozy familial feel, but rather a desolate one of isolation. Also, you stare at a wall of periodic elements that are annoyingly not in order. We did the 8-course chef's dining experience. On the website, it's advertised as sitting at the chef's table and cooking with the chef. The wording on the website was obviously misleading as we got to meet Richie Farina for about one minute before each course. Halfway through, his sous-chefs and the waiters started introducing the meals instead of him. The 1-on-1 cooking demo was him mixing together sorbet in liquid nitrogen. The "grow room" wasn't even that impressive. It was basically potted herbs growing a temperature-controlled room. I think the restaurant was expecting customers to be impressed based on his celebrity alone, but I don't feel like I got that much extra out of it. People who did not opt for the chef's experience got a 16-course menu, with equally creative dishes as the ones we got. To be fair, I don't know what their cost was, but my point is that if you are choosing the 8-course option just to meet Richie, don't bother. I'll end on a nice note. The dishes actually were pretty creative. My favorite were the deconstructed hot wings. There was seared quail on a bed of celery and blue cheese puree with a garnish of hot sauce. It was everything good about hot wings, done in a molecular gastronomy style. Others at my table liked the onion dish (don't kiss anyone afterwards). I loved the scallops and buffalo tartare. By far the best presentation was this thing that looked like a log in a secluded woodland. To be honest, I didn't care for the taste, but I greatly appreciate the creativity behind the dish. It came complete with something that looked like a worm living in the dirt next to the log (but was thankfully not a worm). Bottom line: It's molecular gastronomy, but I expected more. And I definitely expected more from the chef's experience.
(3)Alecia B.
Tasty meal and thoughtful wine pairings. The service was attentive but not intrusive or overbearing. We happened to be there for their "anniversary dinner" and there were some significant discounts. If we had plopped down the typical $1,000 or so I might have felt a but cheated but our price was much much less. Not that anything was bad but I had the impression that while the meal was great, we could have gotten a similar quality experience (or better) for the same price or less so I would definitely check out some other places next before deciding to return.
(4)Joanne S.
If you are ready for an experience this is the place to have it. It was a great time to go since they were celebrating their 10 year anniversary. Each course is always interesting. They do really well with accommodating for food allergies. Two of the course were substituted with other items since I have a gluten sensitivity. I was scared at first because I was not sure what to expect but both courses were good. The entire meal consisted of 12 courses plus a plate with a tasting of the tasting menu, which I was totally not expecting. The meal also included wine pairings. The wait staff was amazing. They provide alot of good detail on the courses and the wine pairings. If you want to have a foodgazm you can have it here.
(4)Allison M.
Brought my fiancée here last weekend to celebrate her 30th birthday. It was everything we'd hoped for and more! We love the "foodie" lifestyle and this was definitely a treat. Every course was creative, exciting, delicious, and memorable. While hard to describe, the pictures tell it all. This was our favorite fine dining prix fixe to date (we've also dined at L2O, Tru, and ing). Don't forget to ask for a tour of the kitchen!!
(5)James M.
This is a truly unique experience. Experience is a perfect word for this establishment. First off, the presentation is creative, scientific, fun, and quite innovative. I believe there were 12 courses in total. Each course is very small but the preparation that goes into is unlike anything you will ever see. Everything is compliment to the last and it's all very well thought out and not a detail missed. I'd explain the process of how the prepare everything but I won't do it justice, if you are ready to spend money for a truly unique dining experience than you will find out first hand. It's not cheap but I'm sure all who dine here understand that and expect it. Amazing.
(5)Proachie M.
We were so disappointed going to Moto after so many years! The experience is nothing like it used to be . We have taken guests there a few times 3-4 years ago and each experience was superb till this last one. We had given them a heads up over a 40 days before that we had dietary restrictions of a newly Pregnant daughter who would not eat un pasteurized and raw meats or fish and also that party of 8 did not do ' game meat'. What we got instead ( in the 8 course dinner) was 5 courses of FISH, 1 course of a red meat with tofu and sea weed and 2 courses of dessert. We mentioned it to our server after our 3rd course and got a dead pan face! To make matters much worse, 3 of us had a mild case of ' food poisoning' which I called to mention as we thought it might have the been the mushrooms in one the dishes. Spoke to the manager and reiterated what a bad experience the whole evening had been and was shocked when I barely got an acknowledgement or a show of interest at a situation that could have been more dangerous. A prompt sincere apology could have diffused matters so easily.
(2)Laura T.
Extravagant? Check Disturbing, evocative and magical -- all at once? Ditto. An unforgettable night? Absolutely. This is Moto. Weird. Outlandish. And awesome. Thumbing through the other reviews will give you a sense of the scope. I didn't take pictures but all the other reviews really capture the idea. Our server was delightful and made our group of 6 feel comfortable and welcomed, giving us advice on the order in which to tackle a new dish, or the rationale behind some of the selections. We splurged in a crazy way. In a celebration mode we did the 14 courses. And the wine pairings. We stayed 4 hours and never felt rushed in any way. I wish I could break the menu down for you, but really all I have is the memory of an amazing night. That seems enough.
(5)Bill L.
I will save you all the details, here is the scoop. Truly one of a kind experience. I cannot find words to describe what a great time we had. Nothing could be truly perfect and this place is no different, but it is half way there. You really have to try it for yourself.
(4)Samuel N.
Wow. Just wow. This was an experience I will never forget. Every course is just perfect. I would recommend Moto to anyone who enjoys a dining EXPERIENCE. Cannot wait to return!
(5)Matt C.
The server/sommelier sets a candle on our table. There's two of us, well dressed, romantic vibe. Ok, we think, they're just setting the mood. Three courses later, an astoundingly delicious king crab dish is served - the server grabs the candle, saying nothing, and drips hot wax all over our dishes. What the absolutely hell! They are ruining the food! Then the smell hits us. That's not candle wax, but butter that has been slowly melting over the past 15 minutes. A moment of surprising culinary genius, the type of moment duplicated multiple times throughout the 12 course experience. You will leave full. Very full. For meat-eaters, some of the dishes will be hauntingly good, almost ruining other non-Moto preparations of pork and chicken for you due to the Moto preparations' superiority. The wine pairings are expert. We don't pretend that we know anything about good wine, except from what we learned from the documentary SOMM, but the wine at Moto was spectacular even to our un-refined palettes. Each dish is an experience, something memorable that you instantly want to tell your foodie friends about. This is an easy must-do for those who enjoy culinary adventure.
(5)Lisa H.
I ate here years ago and although it was extremely pricey, I've never forgotten the experience. It's like a Willy Wonka of culinary arts. Some of the items I remember eating are; black bean soup with nitrogen chocolate marshmallows, olive on a spoon with an ancient balsamic vinegar and oil (never forget the taste of that!), liquid donut soup, and more crazy courses like those.... I believe we ordered the 10 course dinner which was $100 a person (2005). The more expensive 20 course dinner was about $200 a person. Its expensive but worth it in my opinion. It's almost ten years later and I can still remember the taste of the eclectic entrees. It was quite the experience. Id go back if I ever visit Chicago again.
(5)Rachel A.
Food science. I never really understood it until I ate at Moto. They will give you food they call "food". Appearances are not what they appear to be and they will cook things unconventionally. It is not uncommon to see a blow torch, oxygen tank, fish bowl, and steamer at your table. You will be surprised. You will be amazed. I spent many a moment oohing and aweing. That's not even a word but it's perfectly appropriate because dining at Moto was awesome. Take it for what it is. Moto is not a place where you will get a 12 ounce steak or whole lobster. You will get bits and pieces of the cow and sea but nothing more. Moto is all show and tricks. I was fine with that and I was pretty full at the end of the meal. Not stuffed, but satisfied. I've been eating non stop in Chicago anyway. We did the tasting menu in the lab downstairs and it was spectacular, complete with a tour of the kitchen. The experience was really something. Top 5 highlights of our meal included: 5. Reconstructed Corn- Savory corn ice cream popsicle complete with kernels someone placed one by one with a tweezer. You would have never known it was not a corn on the cob until you finished the whole thing. Completely edible. No cob! It's ice cream! 4. Zen Garden- Time to play with your food! The gravel was cheese and the rocks were chocolate. The garden came with a little wooden rake so you could make your own design and have an "om" moment. 3. Kentucky Fried Pasta- The chicken was dehydrated and crumbled into flour. They made a noodle out of it. The skin was served crispy on the side. There was a biscuit. Powdered buttermilk gravy. A specially designed fork entwined with a fresh rosemary sprig. It smelled amazing. Tasted great too. Dehydrated chicken noodle. Who does that? Forreal?! 2. Egg Drop Soup- They created a solid membrane around mango puree to make it look like an egg yolk. I learned how to do this food science trick at a friend's house and it is not easy at all. Hats off to the crew at Moto. They are skilled in what they do. 1. Acme Bomb- A Valrhona chocolate bomb complete with a marshmallow wick which they lit on fire. Once the wick melts away you pop the chocolate bomb in your mouth. Death by chocolate! It's rich and delicious if you love chocolate, especially melted hot chocolate. The center of the chocolate bomb was a liquid graham cracker. And you live. The meal was spaced out and we were not rushed out the door. The staff was friendly and we had a great time exchanging banter with them. Moto is in a desolate industrial area. Since we were tourists without a car, Moto called us a cab. It was 5 star service all the way. They even tweaked their menu for our guests who could not eat nuts. Usually the substitutes are bland but Moto did not disappoint. We were drooling over the risotto dish they got. Everyone wins at Moto. For a first time experience at a food science restaurant, I was blown away. I have high expectations now for Alinea and WD-50. Molecular Gastronomy!
(5)Mehran F.
SO SAD to have just read the horrible news of Chef Homaro Cantu's passing. Life of a perfectionist chef artist, constant innovation, challenges of running a business and God knows what else, is not easy. RIP chef. Thanks for all the good you have done. With prayers for you and your family.
(5)Francis D.
After craving ultra modern/ molecular gastronomy for months, I finally took a trip out to Moto. Unfortunately, with the tragic passing of Homaro Cantu, so did the excitement of Moto (at least until Executive chef Chris get's back into the groove of things). Moto was still a nice restaurant to try, but not a 'must eat' in Chicago. [Ambiance 4/5] Similar to a lot of other Michelin or fine dining establishments, Moto had a dimly lit, semi-modern dining room. There was limited artwork and items to keep your eyes busy while waiting for the courses to arrive. A big drawback with Moto is that there isn't an open kitchen or even a window to the kitchen to allow patrons to view the chefs at work. Downstairs, and where the chef table dinners takes place had a completely different feel to the restaurant. A periodic table filled the wall with shelves housing various sized beakers and cylinders. On a different side of the room, molecular gastronomy toys ranging from a dehydrator to a large centrifuge sat on a table. [Service 3/5] Despite having dinner mid-week, and despite having a relatively empty dining room, the service was sub-par and not something I was expecting from a Michelin starred establishment. While the servers did try to serve dishes in a synchronized manner, more often than not it was an awkward display; as one server would freeze mid-movement to try and mirror the other. Additionally, the dishes were constantly placed off-center and not directly in front of myself, and the utensils were repeatedly replaced at the edge of the table; making for a clunky transition to eating. Lastly the timing between dishes was also awkward, with significant waiting time between courses. [Food 4/5] Despite not being the molecular gastronomy meal I was hoping/envisioned, the food was nonetheless rather tasty. We opted for the 9 course "Hunt" menu, but in retrospect should have ordered the full 18 course menu. Oyster Bar - three different preparations of oyster (raw, fried, steamed) with a variety of toppings (ranging from horseradish powder, to Tabasco pearls) to 'play' with. A very fun tasty dish, and great way to start the meal. Foie and lobster - The tiny portion of lobster was a bit hard and lacked much flavor. While the foie was tasty,because foie gras anything is tasty. Trout and grits - this dish started with a 'show'. A device was brought out to create the broth, utilizing the same concept of a stovetop coffee maker, water boiled and rose to a container holding various spices and herbs. The freshly created broth was then poured over trout and crispy grits. The dish was a lot of fun to watch, but looked a bit better than it tasted. Pork Belly - Smoked pork belly with kimchied collard greens. The collard greens were a bit sour, and the pork belly lacked smoke or flavor on it's own. A bit disappointing dish. Chicken and dumplings - This dish was my favorite, tasty tender chicken on top of a cheesy gnocchi like dumpling. Duckotash - A succotash with duck. Pretty dish and flavorful. Carolina beets - Wagyu beef with carolina bbq marinated beets. While the dish was tasty, unfortunately the beets was by far the star of the show. The wagyu beef was salty, and could have used the same kick as the beets. Lime and Coconut - a key lime mousse over a coconut macaroon. Very light dessert, but was a little dull in flavor. I also fount it a bit weird to be room temperature. Having a warm macaroon or a cold dessert would have made it more enjoyable. Sweet Potato - sweet potato caramel logs with a jalapeno marshmallow. The sweet potato itself was bland as well, but the marshmallow was very flavorful without the spice of the pepper [Value 3/5] When going to a fine dining restaurant, you come in with the expectation to spend a lot of money. While Moto was tasty for the most part, I don't know if it justified the price. I have definitely had better tastings and service for the price. The Wednesday night chef dinners on the otherhand looks like a steal. [Surprises +1] After dinner was finished, we were asked if we would like a kitchen tour. Of course the only answer is "yes!" So we went downstairs to the kitchen and met with one of the Sous chefs Trevor. Trevor walked us through the demonstration room, explaining some of the gadgets/appliances and stories of Cantu's experiments in the past. We then were led into the kitchen to meet the team of chefs and the new executive chef Chris Anderson. This after dinner event was a pleasant surprise and one that more restaurants should offer. It's always a pleasure to meet the people creating your food, and see firsthand the skill required to make the dishes. Overall Moto is a solid dining establishment. I do wish the meal incorporated more foams, gels, unexpected textures and fun. And it will be interesting to see if they maintain the Michelin star in the upcoming year. But it is another solid restaurant in the West Loop.
(4)Lu H.
I personally think Moto deserves at least 2 Michelin stars, maybe 3. I think it's definitely on par with Alinea in terms of creativity, presentation, and flavors. We spontaneously went there for a Thursday night. There's no need to pick the food because they only offer one tasting menu. We decided to go with the half pairing since we both had to work the next day, and working while hungover is definitely not fun... The first "course", which was supposed to be a preview of the whole menu, is very interesting, about eleven or twelve small one-biters are supposed to present each of the following course. I don't want to go through all courses, here are a few that I remembered better: Dimsum: I am Chinese, so I don't want to complain too much about this one. The "Chinese" style steamed bum was my least favorite of all night. It was just salty, nothing else. But I was happy because everything went "uphill" from there. Salad: Don't remember which was "deconstructed" and which was in the original form, but I think there were beets, cauliflower, ranch sauce, celery, etc. in one form or another. And when you put all in your mouth, they worked perfectly together. Btw, BEST ranch pasta ever (and my first and only ranch pasta). Reconstructed corn: One word. OMG. It's like a little corn orchestra in your mouth. The seafood course: lobsters were perfectly cooked with butter cream, abalone, caviar, and seaweed (?), all very fresh and refreshing. Red wine salad and forest are my two favorite presentations. I've never eaten stuff off a log, and I would've never thought the smell of some burning leaf actually enhances the flavor of the wine salad. Bourbon barrel and cocktails: there was four little cocktail bites. I didn't think it was that special, till I drank the accompanying "bourbon" right after the bites. The drink plus the bite was spot on on whatever the cocktail it was supposed to be. One of the best whiskey sour I've had in a long time. Smell the glove: this was the only "course" I don't really get. I mean it does smell like camp fire, but why put a glove in the glass globe...And it's not really a course per se, I can't eat, I can't drink it. I can only smell. And even the smell isn't really that necessary because it's not like my smell was overwhelmed by previous courses. I don't need a nose cleanser... The three dessert courses that come after that were perfect. I like how they weren't overly sweet. And three! A girl can never have too many desserts! :) Ok, one small complaint. The waiter with thick glasses seemed to be very LIGHT on the alcohol. Maybe because we got the half pairing? But I didn't know half pairing also means half the pouring...Maybe he secretly knows our bosses and just didn't think we should drink that much? Or maybe I'm used to Next's refill policy? Or maybe I really loved the Spanish red wine, and wished he could be a little bit heavy handed on that one...None of those matters, I still really enjoyed the dinner and would definitely go back when they change their menu.
(5)Mark C.
Came here for Valentine's day and it was a phenomenal meal. Homaro Cantu's vision and inventiveness from the gastronomy side is equaled in Chicago by Grant Achatz and perhaps Phillip Foss. Service was fantastic and the meal, while having a few minor flaws, is a meal unlike any other you'll get in Chicago. Pics and a more detailed review on my blog: eatinginchicago2014.word…
(5)Dan M.
My boyfriend and I came here and had a great time. The wine pairings went with the dishes excellently, and left feeling very satisfied! The timing of overall atmosphere of the restaurant were perfect. Would highly recommend coming here.
(5)Nina B.
First off, this was hands down the best food I have ever had in my life. With that, you paid for it. 220 dollars for one 9 course meal. However, Chef Chris Anderson kept bringing out more courses! I chose to do the wine pairing with my meal. I have never had a better paired meal. It was perfect! The restaurant itself was small and intimate. You did not feel like you were in a high demand restaurant. Prepare for the whole experience; it took four hours! Definitely worth it though!
(5)Brian G.
Moto is fun! I had heard about this place from friends who knew I was a regular at The Aviary and a season ticket holder to Next which are both places right around the corner. Moto has been compared to Alinea, Next, Goosefoot and other pretty fantastic restaurants. I think the similarity people are seeing is that it's a multi-course tasting menu with a scientific/"showy" presentation to all their dishes. Other than that- Moto is stands alone as being original and thoughtful with their food. One of the highlights is being able to go into the kitchen (The Lab) after your meal and meet the kind folks who made that delicious meal for you and see where some of your stuff is not only made but also grown! Suggestion: At the end of dinner when there is no more room and they offer coffee...get the coffee.
(4)Raul S.
Wow, finally made it to Chicago, it feels so good to finally be on the other side of the stainless steel pass. I will be coming on Wednesday to finish up my review hopefully they will merit all five stars.
(5)Matt S.
I've eaten at a good portion of chicagos finest. (Alinea, Trotters, etc) and this place while innovative was too much on intensity where the emulsion (dish soap taste) was too much. Half the dishes we're knock your socks off while the other half were funky/intense. If your going to waste a ton of money on a fancy meal go Alinea. It's the only one worth it.
(2)Vrati D.
Moto was on our list of places to try, especially for our 2 year anniversary, but we were disappointed after our 12 course meal which was bland and uneventful. The service was great, but for a $600 meal (vegetarian meal with wine flights), we were not impressed or full. The wine tasting and the dessert were the best parts of our meal. We were looking around at the menus of others, and overheard them saying that they were also not impressed. I don't know if this is due to the change of chefs, but I really wish we went to Alinea instead.
(3)John S.
I've been here 3 times and each time, it was an amazing and unique experience. Some of the highlights have included fish that cooks in a little box while you enjoy the preceding course, the duck confit 'eggroll', and the edible menu served with a deconstructed glass of champagne and caviar over creme fraiche. Yes, it's different and the food is something out of a sci-fi movie, but that all works because above all, the food is really, really delicious. Love it.
(5)Connor B.
Moto is a unique beast and definitely something worth experiencing in your life time. Location and Ambiance: First, the location is ok. Its not in some fancy building or unique part of the city. This in mind, that ambiance is incredible. We ate dinner downstairs in their prep area, and it was very cool. The elements written across the walls, chefs cooking, and staff all set a fantastic ambiance. Food: As you can quickly tell by the photos posted on Yelp, the menu is constantly changing. You can visit Moto's website to see what you will be eating when you go. This being said, every course was better than the next! Everything had a story behind it. An example of this was our bison which had been hunted in Texas by helicopter and killed with a bow which was served with salad which had been growing for the past couple weeks at the restaurant. Defiantly not something you would get from your average dinner. Staff: The staff was fantastic! They were overly nice, knew the ins and outs of their menu, and kept us entertained. Plus at the massive price tag they were able to keep my glass of water full... this was nice :). Price: I usually don't factor price in to my reviews, but at nearly $500 for a dinner its worth pointing out that Moto is an expensive experience. I say experience rather than meal, because its not just a meal. We were there for about 3 hours enjoying everything. The price breaks down to $180 per person plus an included 20% tip. If your curious to see our receipt check the pictures I posted to see exactly what the total came to and how it was broken down. Overall, its worth saving up some cash and trying one of Chicago's most unique restaurants. I highly recommend it to every foodie :) Thanks, Connor Brady
(5)Mandy C.
Moto's menu consists of a choice of either the 10 courses, which costs $135 and lasts at least 2 hours, or the 20 courses, which costs $195 and lasts at least 4 hours. I decided to pick the 20 courses since I'm a fan of molecular gastronomy, and technically, I'm paying for the food and a "show". The restaurant was located on the West side of Chicago in the meat packing district. The restaurant was pretty hidden considering the area was very quiet and filled with delivery trucks. But once through the door of Moto, the dim lighting, the plain but modern decor, the fancy opened wine bottles, the well dressed hostess, waiters and waitresses await. The restaurant was very spacious and the dim lighting certainly made me use my senses to feel and taste the food more. Everything tasted delicious that night, but not everything has that wow factor. My favorite though was the Cuban Cigar, which was a deep fried shredded pork sandwich that was wrapped with chard and dipped with roasted red pepper sauce that looked like a cigar. Another favorite was the candle with the edible liquid wax, which the waiter poured over my chicken dish. I think Moto is fun and exciting restaurant that's great for catching up or a date. The food calls for great conversation and dicussion...just make sure you have time to spare for the long meal.
(4)Hanae K.
Came here for my early anniversary. I'm all about creative presentations so this was perfect for me! The menu is never the same and you won't know how much it'll cost until you get the bill (mine was about $150/pp with 1 wine 2beers, tax and tip). TIP: ask for a kitchen tour ;) 1. A shot of special-made apple cider juice for your taste buds. 2. Herbs grown in a jar with coco fiber (not dirt). The server cut the herbs and topped it on our buffalo tar tar and funions-like-chip. 3. Salmon with carrot vinaigrette and "aged" carrots. Onions covered in salmon roe sauce. Drops of black licorice sauce. "Aged" carrots: Calcium oxcide then roasted after. 4. Aromatic seaweed in a hand carved box with searing rocks to keep the scallop hot. It also came with a piece of king crab and prince edward clam. 5. A glass jar with an aroma of hickory and autumn leaf seeping thru. The lid had veggie jerky, caramel onions and chips. It was my second least favorite. 6. Chilled eggshells full of truffle foam and creamy cheese!!! Our favorite! Came with another dish with chicken raised in an Amish farm in france. Side of brussel sprouts. 7. Food on little sticks that are stuck to a big stick of magnet. Our least favorite but the most creative presentation. The dish had squab, shiitake bread pudding, a cube of sweet potato and string beans. 8. Boar shoulder and boar leg jerky topped with mole powder with guajillo chile. Side of puffed rice with a corn nutty taste. 9. Onion entre with smoked apple rabbit bacon in a ginormous round fish bowl. It was really tasty and not as stinky. 10. Picnic entre! A small box of grass with cheese/bread sitting on top. The entre came with mini napkins which looked like picnic blankets. Cheese truffle walnut, wisconson cheese with pesto and bread, goat cheese (?) and cheese with a dab of raspberry. 11. Foi gras!! the highlight of our meal!!!! It was so good with the apple butter/slices and chest nuts. 12. Chopped up green strawberry garnished with solid dehydrated sweet milk and dehydrated cucumber skin topped with edible flowers. The sweet milk made the strawberry sweet. Good for people who wants something light for dessert. 13. Date cake soaked in pear foam and pansy flower. Loved the texture and it's so sweet! 14. Mouse chocolate with chocolate crumble with lemon chips lemon cream and basil. It was yummy but it wasn't something to rave about. 15. Inside-out-S'mores. Chocolate ganache wrapped with graham cracker then covered with vanilla bean marshmallow. They served them on a stick and a small wooden dish with a small fire in the middle to cook. Very romantic. The service was top notch and Louis did an amazing job! He gave us a tour and introduced us to the chefs. They even photobombed our pic. Big thanks to the entire team for making this experience memorable.
(5)Anna B.
Moto is an absolute must for anyone that lives or visits Chicago. It is an experience that I love taking my friends or family to when they visit. I usually try to go at least twice a year, so I get to experience the new menu creativity, as well as sinfully deluding myself that I can justify the large expenditure because it for my friends! The flavors are amazing, much better than any other "coursed" restaurant in the city, but it's the experience that is truly what makes Moto.
(5)Jessica K.
I have to admit, we only made reservations at Moto after being unable to make reservations to Alinea when they switched to their current online reservation system, but we were very impressed. We dined at moto in the summer of 2012. The food was very creative and delicious. I really enjoyed the zen garden, foraging, and uni cone courses. The only disappointment was the server, who we believed might have been a new server. He lacked a kind of finesse the other servers seemed to have, his voice was very loud and he did not seem as knowledgeable about the food. Because the service did not meet our expectations, it hurt a little when we found that an 18% gratuity was added to our bill in addition to Chicago's crazy high taxes, making our experience for 2 almost $500.
(4)Jennie C.
Walked into the minimalistically decorated dining room. Not a piece of artwork in sight. I suppose we should focus our attention on the food, which was beautifully presented. There were some standouts, though some of the desserts could be a bit more balanced in flavor rather than just sweet. Also wished there were more warm dishes. Felt a bit cold after the entire tasting menu, maybe a combination of the cold decor and cold desserts. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the food, which was excellently prepared. Also appreciate the purse hooks, other restaurants really need to pick that up to keep the ladies happy!
(4)Fraggle B.
I took my husband here for his birthday dinner. It was a lovely meal, great drink pairings with fun creative fare. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend any foodie to go. It ended up being about $500 for two which is pricy but worth the experience. In case you are debating between this and Alinea I will note that Alinea is the superior restaurant but also cost twice as much. We went 6 months ago for our one year anniversary and two meal tickets + wine pairings ended up around $1,000. Not a meal you do every day but worth it for a special occasion. You get what you pay for but by no means did this mean I didn't enjoy Moto. I just wish I would have gone to Moto first and then gone to Alinea (not the other way around). First world problems I know :) One thing about the sci-fi dishes - sometimes if felt more like science/art then food. One dish was called roadkill and it literally looked like roadkill. It tasted quite delicious but I was still struggling to eat it as it looked so unappetizing. This didn't bother my husband so maybe its just me.... My only (tiny complaint) is that it felt just a little disorganized. When I booked the dinner they asked what occasion we were celebrating so they could print out a personalized menu. We never got the menu at the end of the meal and there was a little confusion when we checked in. I'm being nit-picky here but when you are dining at one of the best restaurants in Chicago you do expect perfection. Moto is so close to the perfect experience - just a little tightening up and they will be there :)
(4)Holly C.
To enjoy this meal, you must love liquid nitrogen. Or at least like it a little. Two dishes were cooked in it and many others used it as an effect. If you are over the liquid nitrogen craze, then you might be a bit annoyed. Me, I can't get enough of it. Even though both dishes burned my tongue. What can I say, I'm a sucker for smoke. I loved that the menu was little bites of what was to come. The representations of each dish were either minor ingredients (e.g. ranch cauliflower in a dish that had much more than that), a representation of the dish (e.g. miso tofu for an Asian-inspired sampling that had absolutely no tofu in it), or a item that would be used for decoration but not eating (e.g. seaweed to represent the oyster course that was served on a large bed of seaweed). This menu stuck out in my brain while we were eating more than any printed tasting menu ever did. Ingenious! Onto the food. Some dishes were excellent. The Tostada with make your own guacamole served with two different kinds of chocolate (one blended with the guac, another served inside the chip) was delectable and totally surprising. I loved that they combined smells with the food, for example the Smell the Glove dessert where you wear a smoked glove to eat a chocolate dish. But there were a few dishes that were definitely form over function. For example, I loved the design of the Zen Garden that others have raved about. Almond sand with camembert cheese and apricot rocks presented with a cute little rake. But holy crap was that dish salty and nasty. Also, before coming here, make sure you tell them about every allergy, aversion, not just types of food or drink you can't have. They use unique ingredients so something that you think would never been in a tasting menu, just might be. (Or might be burned in front of you. For example, pine tree branches and needles. If you are allergic to pine, that could really ruin your evening.) Some of the dishes were alcohol. Didn't just incorporate alcohol, but were an actual cocktail. And speaking of alcohol, they really push the wine pairing. When I refused, they asked if they could still bring me a tiny bit of each because the wine is so much the part of the meal. There was one dish, the Red Wine Salad, where they insisted that I have some just to smell. (My husband said that wine in particular was tannic and horrible. I got zero nose off of it. So we really didn't get the point.) Restrooms. Two single stalls. One for men, one for women. It worked out ok. But I weep for the man who got sat right in front of the door to the restrooms. Super awkward for us all as he was blocking half the door! And he wasn't a big guy, he really had no choice based on the placement of the table. They really need to just get rid of that table. Object if they try to seat you in front of a nondescript door in the back. Definitely check it out. The service was great and it was a great time. The food presentations were amazing. But I don't think it ranks up with wd-50, because the food quality doesn't always match the presentation quality at Moto.
(4)Erin Y.
This is a one of a kind experience you absolutely must try if you get the chance. I won't break down the menu (it changes anyway) but be prepared for an amazing night full of creative, whimsical, and delicious food. Some of the things I ate blew me away. Moto is casual, upscale, fun, and entertaining. You will not be disappointed! Even the menu is delicious!
(5)Tatiana D.
This place was one of the reasons why we made a trip to Chicago in the first place. It was stop #3 on our All You Can Jet pass tour. I made a reservation about three weeks in advance and they only reservation they had was a 9pm, well that meant the twenty course was out of the question because that can take up to five hours! We opted for the ten course with a wine pairing and we didn't leave the restaurant until midnight but it doesn't even feel like you're there for three hours. The restaurant is located in an industrial looking area. It can be easy to miss because the sign is small. It's very dark inside and they discourage flash photography, so I was scared to take pictures until I saw someone else doing it. They bring out the edible menu which is pretty much taste like a zesty cheese cracker, it was the best menu I ever ate! We ordered the 10 course (we ate here about a month ago, bear with me as my memory is fuzzy): -Snow man (hawaiian poke with a tequila, lime flavor) -White steel -Crab cakes -Maitake & pork belly -Quail with cracker jack -Rabbit maki (risotto with rabbit meat rolled up to look like sushi) -Mexican cannoli (had duck inside, made to look like dessert) -Tasty cake with apple -Pineapple & chai -Earl grey -Vanilla flavored packing peanut served a beaker with bitter orange liquor Everything was delightful (and I never use that word ) but there were 2 or 3 things that made me make yummy noises with every bite a la "When Harry Met Sally" and "What About Bob". The service was very good. I know nothing about wine pairings but I enjoyed every glass. I was pretty faded by the 9th one and I don't even think we got our 10th but by that point, I didn't care! Minus a star because there was no cuban cigar which is actually available on the 20 course but the menu does change. If you're into eating paper, eating stuff that looks like dessert but isn't, or trying new things and flavors, you'll like Moto. It's not traditional. Also, it's not as stuffy as I thought it'd be, there was a large group of about 12 and they were whoopin it up like it was Texas Roadhouse. And now for the moment you've been waiting for, the grand total for 2! For each person, the 10 course is $135, plus the wine pairing (I think it's $80), and the 18% service charge = $550...but was it worth it? I'll just say it was definitely an experience.
(4)Emily S.
Form over substance. That pretty much sums up our experience. We went for the 16 course anniversary menu. We sat for a good 5 minutes before our server came over, and we ate our entire first course and sat for 5 more minutes before our wine pairing appeared. Speaking of the wine pairings, these were the skimpiest pours ever - literally two sips of wine. After 12 pairings, I would have thought I would have a solid buzz. Nope. On to the food. While we had a few things that were very good, overall it seemed like Moto is more concerned with theme-ing the plate than making sure it tasted good (i.e. an all black plate of food, the cigar dish, the whole hog). I agree with Tom Colicchio - who cares if it looks just like a cigar if it tastes terrible? And the cigar course was pretty disgusting. Similarly, just because you can make butter into a candle, light it without telling us what it is, then come back several courses later and pour "candle wax" over our beef cheeks and then tell us it is butter doesn't mean you should. That was a pretty gross image (that didn't really add anything to the dish). Like I said, we did have a few things that were pretty tasty. The Kentucky fried pasta was good (although it has NOTHING on Next's "chicken noodle" soup), the "egg drop soup" dessert, the cassoulet and the acme bomb (chocolate shell, marshmallow wick, liquid graham cracker center) were hits at the table. Service was very spotty. I'm glad we got to experience Moto. However, I would have been pissed if we had paid the full $255pp. At that price, save a little more and go to Alinea, or spend significantly less and go to one of Chicago's many incredible spots.
(2)Kate M.
Everything was perfect. The decor, the waitstaff, the food; everything. We had the 10 course menu and every single one was creative and delicious. The Cuban pork "sandwich" was delicious, the truffle mouse desert was very yummy, the duck "cannoli" taco was very tasty. There honestly wasn't one dish out of all 11 (we were lucky enough to get an 11th course for some reason) that didn't leave me wanting another bite to savor. The waitstaff were all helpful and on their toes all night. All the waitstaff at Moto are also chefs, they do 6 month rotations in the kitchen and dining room. As a result they are all very knowledgeable about the food and cooking techniques. The dining room is minimal and elegant. The chairs were very comfy, the decoration is very nice but doesn't take your attention off the main event; the food. All the waitstaff are simply and elegantly dressed, again, to not distract you from the food. The whole meal and experience was great. I can't wait to go back and see what tasty surprises they have come up with.
(5)Catherine X.
Moto is the perfect marriage of science and food. So hurry up and eat before Illinois decides to call it an unholy, uncivil union. Because it really should be illegal. It should. To blend something as yucky and tortuous as chemistry with food? Puh-lease. Next you're going to tell me they put raisins in cookies. I had my doubts about this place, don't get me wrong. I thought Moto would be as kitschy and blatant as a Jeff Koons sculpture, but it's subtle and tucked away. The chefs must be artists because their attention to detail is amazing. (Who deconstructs a mushroom, dehydrates it, only to shape it into the form of a mushroom?) Creativity was also not to be lacking. One of my favorites from the night was the "RABBIT maki" - risotto instead of sticky rice, dehydrated mushroom instead of seaweed, brussel sprouts instead of avocado, and glazed rabbit in the place of raw fish. Service was also impeccable, as all the waiters wear headpieces to synchronize their movements into effortless service which is anything but. My partner and I were lucky enough to receive a tour of the kitchen, and caught a glimpse of how their computer system works to keep track of course, pacing, etc. My other favorite of the night was the MAITAKE&pork, but to describe everything would be to give too much away. However, by far the kicker of the night had to be when we asked for our bill, and the waiter said "The chef has taken care of it." Um. What?! "I guess you guys are the lucky winners for tonight. :)" I'm still not really sure what happened that night. I already felt like I won by coming to Moto, but that last bit was a little cherry on top. Regardless if you're cool enough to be a winner like me, do yourself a favor and just come here.
(5)Claudia s.
So this review is long overdue. My husband and I had wanted to go to Moto for quite a while, but could never plan far enough ahead to book the reservation. Finally, for my 30th birthday, my husband booked us a table as a celebration dinner. I was ecstatic to say the least! We arrived a bit early not knowing what to expect and and ordered a drink at the bar while we waited for our table to open up. We stood at the bar watching the mixologist prepare 2 drinks for the couple just ahead of us as he was working he asked us if we'd like anything so we put in an order for (2) glasses of wine not really knowing how long we'd be waiting for our table. About five minutes later as he was finishing up the drinks for the first couple, our seat became available and we were ushered over to our table, sans the drink we ordered. The waiter apologized for it, and asked us if we would still like the drinks we ordered - we politely declined because we were were planning on having the wine pairing with our dinner. The dinner was absolutely fabulous. The attention to detail was wonderful and literally every single plate was a piece of art, both visually and for the palette. Absolute perfection! We left Moto pleasantly delighted about our experience. We did not even think twice about the snafu with our drinks at the very beginning of our evening. Fast forward to the next day ... My husband is sitting in the living room and checking his voice mail. He waves his hand at me to come over and replays one message for the both of us. It was Homaro Cantu himself apologizing for the disarray at the beginning of the night, and COMPING our ENTIRE MEAL. We could not believe it!!! Thanks Homaro! We will be back to Moto, and we're also looking forward to checking out your new iNG Restaurant :)
(5)Rachel C.
I wish I had nice things to say, but after myself and 2 others out or 4 top spent the night with an awful chemical taste in our mouth we spent the next 3 days with some form of FOOD POISONING. 3 out of 4 of us could not eat anything even soup for 3 days. That is not right. - Wine did not pair well with the food - The pacing is slow and not choreographed - We never received our complimentary Champagne - The server was barely audible - 11 courses never took so long - The clear sticky glue they use to fasten things to the plates is gross, messy and very unappetizing. The trick of doing this should be hidden or not used at all. The menu is very similar to other restaurants so even unique points cannot be given. It was a sad let down after have some fabulous meals in Chicago.
(1)Ben S.
My wife and I went for our anniversary. We watch Top Chef (and most cooking shows) so it made sense that we needed to try it out. We had a 6:15 reservation, the place was understandably empty. The host confirmed we were there for our anniversary. We were then seated in the worst table in the restaurant. I have a problem with a restaurant like this having a bad table but that is another story. It is a little hard to explain why the table for 2 is so bad but know it is in the corner at the front of the restaurant and has a 1/2 wall so that one of us feels like they are in the middle of the restaurant staring at both their beautiful wife and the side of a wall. We ask to move to which they offered any table we wanted. I don't understand that response but we move one table down. What blows me away is that 15 minutes later they seat a single at that table. So they knew they had a single coming in and that table is perfect for 1 but decided to seat us there. And they have romantic booths in the restaurant, perfect for a couple celebrating their anniversary. 1 was still empty when we left. There was no other mention of our anniversary the entire evening. The food is fun and whimsical but it was hard to get into the mood. I also don't think it remains interesting forever that they present food that is not appetizing. I truly believe they have no business running a $500/couple restaurant. It would be much more interesting if they were a casual restaurant. Would choose Schwa every time.
(3)Heather N.
I've eaten at many fine dining restaurants and michelin starred joints and this place by FAR is the best restaurant I have ever had the pleasure to dine in. The staff was courteous and professional but also really warm and friendly which is important when you are shelling out $400 per person (with tip+wine, etc etc). The food is amazing and unique, everything was delicious from the amuse bouche 'tasting of the tasting' down to the specially made desert invented just for me due to my ridiculously annoying food allergies. Any time the server didn't know the answer to my question he would return with an answer and I even got an additional wine tasting. The BEST part was going down into the kitchen (it was in the basement) to meet the staff and tour the kitchen. I even got to rap about preserved lemons with Ritchie (now Chef Du Cuisine). Amazing, will recommend to everyone I know!
(5)Alison C.
Prior to our Chicago trip, my travel companion agreed to a sole elaborate dinner at Moto, the renown molecular gastronomy destination. I happened to be flipping through my HDTV channels a week before our trip and noticed that Moto had its own show on the Planet Green Network called "Future Food". After watching a few episodes about how the staff solved various environmental issues, such as finding ways to reuse their leftover ingredients, I could not wait to visit the conscientious place. The day soon came when we arrived at Moto. The decor was sleek and sophisticated, but stuffier than I would have expected from such a playful restaurant. Sure the tasting menus were pricey, but they were also edible! A legible meal list had been incorporated onto a large sesame cracker. Once we told the waiter which tasting we preferred, we were free to munch away on the giant crisp. We continued to be wowed by the innovative dining approach when we received our specialty cocktails served in scientific beakers. My "Picnic" was a crisp blend of watermelon juice, vanilla vodka, orange bitters, and ginger ale. It was the perfect summer beverage. In terms of the menu, we opted for the smaller, 10-course parade, which began with the White Steel. This perfectly cooked cube of pan-seared fish was served in a sweet vanilla sauce and garnished with caviar and carbonated grapefruit that also resembled fish eggs. For the next course, I received a shot glass filled with a light Watermelon Soup. Strands of aromatic lemongrass added a savory side to the broth. In addition, baby scallops floated in the soup and were meant to be slurped up through a thick straw. Essentially, the drink was a play on Asian tapioca bubble tea. My friend did not like watermelon, so she was able to substitute this course for an alternative, but she missed out as this was one of my favorites within the procession. The unique blend of fruit, herb, and seafood flavors worked shockingly well together; each remained clean and distinctive, but also combined for a cohesive dish. Next, the Cuban Sandwich was a mini sub filled with pulled pork. The moist concoction was wrapped in sheets of collard greens that were designed to look like a cigar. Sesame seeds were pulverized and stuck to one end of the sandwich, resembling the ashy end of a cigar. The sandwich was stylishly plated in a silver ashtray that had also been dusted with the sesame crumbs. What made the experience even better was that the meat tasted as bold and smokey as it looked. My next dish was also artfully concocted. The Rabbit Maki was a sushi roll of dried mushroom paper and risotto wrapped around braised rabbit. The meat and fungi made this maki more earthy than its traditional counterpart. The bite-sized morsel was served with pickled radish that resembled ginger, as well as a ball of dried, crushed peas made to look like wasabi. A creamy herb dipping sauce meshed well with the risotto, as they typically make quite a pair. Next came the Pork Belly cube, which was sadly a bit tough. It was served with a garden of broccoli rabe and mixed mushrooms. This was followed by the fabulous Jewish-Italian fusion course of Reuben Lasagna. Each layer was stuffed with brisket, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing. It was definitely a trippy experience to eat something that looked like a lasagna, but tasted sour and briny. Our last savory dish was a Mexican Cannoli, which was the perfect transition into the dessert round, since it looked like the sweet treat. A tortilla was curved in half to resemble a cannoli shell. This crisp, corn roll-up was stuffed with mole-marinaded duck and sour cream. Pumpkin seeds topped the exposed cream like pistachio nuts on a cannoli. Corn dust and additional mole sauce were drizzled over the meal to make it an even heartier dish. After such a creative dinner, we wondered how we would be dazzled by our stream of desserts. First, we received a bowl of tart Strawberry and Rhubarb puree that contained a scoop of sweet almond ice cream. It was topped with homemade whipped cream and a dusting of graham crackers. The combination of textures and flavors made it a perfectly balanced dish. We then received a sloppy looking mess that tasted a million times better than it appeared. A rich chocolate mousse and a sweet vanilla cream popped when they were plated with a white cherry foam and tart cherry sorbet. A crisp funnel cake looked like it had been tossed on top as an afterthought, but it clearly added a childlike innocence to the plate. Then came a Chocolate-Covered Orange Cream Truffle topped with hazelnuts, chocolate crumb, raspberry puree, and fresh blackberry. The dish was beyond decadent. Lastly, a beaker of strawberry soda gave life to a bland marshmallow in the shape of a packing bean. Our meal at Moto was an endless procession of culinary creativity. Neither my friend nor I had ever experienced anything like it, nor did we expect to again anytime soon.
(4)Penny L.
My experience at Blackbirds was utterly disappointing. Husband wanted redemption so we immediately booked at Moto the next day. Great tasting menu and wine pairing. Fine service. Amazing! This place deserves two Michelin stars and has potential for three! Can't make it to Alinea? Go here. Will go back.
(5)Justine H.
I have never been to a restaurant like this and it really met my expectations! The service was great and the food was phenomenal. For this meal to be worth it, you definitely want to be an adventurous eater. It's a tasting menu and the menu evolves over time. Overall, my group felt that this meal was worth it. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience (both because it was so fun but also because unless someone else is paying I probably won't be back too soon). You want to be patient as well - our meal lasted about 4 hours. Someone in my group had the wine tasting and said it was worth it. They have a device that allows them to offer vintage wines as part of their tasting menu (as opposed to you having to buy the whole bottle).
(5)Jennifer H.
I've been to moto four times and I think it's about time I wrote a review for them. Over the past year moto has come a long way. I'm one of the hardest people to impress and please and moto has become one of my favorite places. My first trip to moto I wasn't impressed and never thought I would come back. My husband says once I make my mind up about a place it's very hard to change it. Between Trevor (GM at iNG, moto's sister restaurant next door) and my husband I decided to give moto another chance and I'm glad I did because moto has done a 360 since I first tried it a year ago. Richie Farina has really honed his skills in the kitchen and has been creating some really magnificent dishes, one of the areas I use to think Richie lacked was on the meat dishes, but this is no longer the case, last night I can honestly say Richie knocked it out of the park. The newest addition beef & cauliflower is amazing and my new favorite. In addition, moto has welcomed Claire Crenshaw to the team as the Executive Pastry Chef and she really delivers with creative, fun and tasty desserts. My husband and truly love her Baking 101 course, if you haven't see the video how it's prepared, check it out, it's one of the coolest desserts out there. Miranda Elliot has also stepped up the wine program at moto as well, the last two times we dined at moto we couldn't find a single pairing we didn't love. Her choice of the sake pairing for the first course sets the tone of the remainder of the evening, awesome! We also had the privilege to have Matthew Gundlach, GM assist with serving us the last 2 times being there. Matt has a wonderful sense of humor and really knows how to deliver polish service without being stuffy. He pays attention to detail and does little things to deliver on top notch service. Last night I dropped my baby radish off my tasting menu sampler (the menu is delivered in the form of single bites representing each course for the evening) and replaced it on my plate but didn't eat it. Matt inquired why I left the radish and I explained what happened. About 3 minutes later a baby plate was delivered with the baby radish on it so I could have that single bite. Those little touches make such a huge difference. I highly recommend you give moto a try if you haven't been here before or if it's been a while, it's worth another trip back. The staff has worked really hard to make this a top notch restaurant and it shows. moto has become one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago.
(5)Alice B.
One of the best and most memorable meals I have had thus far! I wasn't quite sure what to expect, especially since I knew going in that it was going to cost close to $250 per person with drinks, but the experience itself was awesome. This was our first dinner in town with a few of my good friends I had not seen in years, and it was very appropriate to have a dinner lasting nearly 4 hours to give us a chance to catch up. The presentation, creativity, and taste of each dish was superb. It's like a finely choreographed orchestra, the way each dish is brought out and presented, with the special effects. Each dish was met with anticipation and appealed to all senses. My favorite was the forest foraged dish. The fact that I keep thinking back to the unique dishes here and the incredible experience is amazing. I think the memory of this place just grows.
(5)Robin C.
Perfect date restaurant for those of you who want to try something unconventional and inventive. The service was flawless, the food was fun, and the whole experience made it a perfect place to a date to.
(5)Eric W.
Great, not as good as nearby Next
(4)John M.
Where to start with Moto.... 1. The food is definitely hit or miss. Of the multi-course tasting menu the deserts and vegetarian entrees really stood out. 2. The service was excellent. Can't say enough about it. 3. Wine paring were a little on the skimpy side... It's too bad that they did not do larger pours. I don't think that I will be visiting Moto again, but I am happy that I did. If you do decide to go I recommend doing so during an anniversary week since it cut a big portion of the bill out.
(3)Steve A.
Moto is just plain fun. After you've tried the other great restaurants, it's the place you keep coming back to for astounding food and an always memorable meal. Sure, it's expensive, but you're getting twenty crazy courses: A Cuban sandwich that looks like a cigar, fruit that looks like cheese, duck confit in the form of a cannoli, and a banana split served with pipets on my last visit. The wine pairing is very good, and the service isn't stuffy at all. Come to relax and enjoy. It's a meal you won't forget.
(5)Yvonne O.
Moto is a real experience and not for the faint of heart if you are going for the full-on 20 course experience. Make sure you are comfortable and like your dining compantion, because you will be there for a while! Having suffered through the offerings at Next, and having been to Moto way back when they first started, I was curious to see if Mr. Cantu would change anything to "compete" with Grant's new venture. Thankfully, Moto is still the true innovator and anyone shelling-out for Next who has not tried things here is really missing-out on the original version of things. But that is fine - let the poseur hipsters stay away. Dessert here was fabulous - not diabetic-coma inducing, but a balanced offering of sweet. Servers here are friendly and not at all pretentious and I can't wait to see what they come up with for the future!
(4)Christopher P.
We had an unforgettable Valentines Day at the restaurant. From the beauty of the location through the creativity of the menu and the attentiveness of the staff, we were floored by this experience. There are plenty of reviews for the food of Moto; I will ditto the most well-written 5 start rundowns that speak to the creativity, science and whimsy of Chef Cantu and his staff. That said, the food can stand on it's own. However, it is the people, the execution and the vision that really set this place apart. There was an exceptionally personal feel that is rarely felt at even the best establishments. It is not just that the staff is professional, knowledgeable and friendly; you can train people to be that. It is that they are authentically enthusiastic as well, occasionally stopping for a few moments here and there to share personal, relevant anecdotes. Chef Cantu was a silent servant of his creations, assisting in the delivery of several of the courses. He never competed for the spotlight allowing his staff to present each of the dishes. They seemed to beam with pride and be genuinely interested in explaining each course and wine pairing. In addition, they were flexible in accommodating my no alcohol request and paired each course with amazing drink creations that included a horchata, a coffee, a lemon whip, beet juice and chicory coffee. Near the end of our meal, I stopped Chef Cantu to compliment him on his work and he offered a tour which took us through his lab, his kitchen, and his hydroponic farm in the basement of the restaurant. Through that tour I came to realize that It is not just the food that is cutting edge. His future-forward philosophy permeates the whole business. There are too many cool things to list but the individually configurable grow-shelves, automated kitchen manager, and the miracle-berry stood out the most. The grow-shelves lined the walls of a stainless steel lined grow-room. Each shelf had controllable lighting and feeding systems that were tailored for each plant type. The nutrients for these plants were supplied by a high-tech composting system that I cannot begin to explain. But Chef Cantu ran through the entire ecosystem talking about how everything from farmer cooperation to nutrient economies and general process drove ROI. This man knows business. Next was the Moto expediting and food management system which basically automates the tedious job of nightly food-counts and ordering while also managing the pacing of the meal. It is a vital member of the staff, appearing as a 40-inch screen in the center of the kitchen. It displayed each table in the restaurant, that table's current course, and countdown timers to keep track of what needed to go next. Every so-often a voice could be heard that issued instructions to the staff in one of three different languages. The evening ended with an invitation to try the miracle-berry at ING, next door. Served by Emily who took the time to explain its origin and how it worked, we were first given a face-puckeringly sour cocktail. We then were given a spoonful of the miracle-berry powder that we kept on our tongue for 20 seconds or so. After that, we tried the sour drink again which was sweet and delicious. This was followed by a raw lemon that seemed as sweet as a ripe orange. Unbelievably cool. The coolest part of the tour was how friendly and calm the staff was as we traveled through expo, prep areas and even the line. No one was crazy or irritated with our presence and everyone gave us a warm greeting. This is clearly an environment for success.
(5)Bree S.
It's not every day you get to eat Willy Wonka-esque entrees that taste like heaven. I had high expectations for MOTO. It did not disappoint. Even though I found myself literally smelling a glove midway through the night. (Fun little tribute to Spinal Tap.) MOTO is definitely a special occasion place unless you have an extra thousand dollar bill lying around. (this is an exaggeration, but yeah, it's NOT cheap.) But as other people mentioned, the experience is worth the money. We were amazed by each and every little piece of art they put down in front of us. The servers were respectful without being snooty or overbearing. My only criticism is the fake bourbon drink served with the bourbon course. If you're not a bourbon drinker, I'm sure it's delicious. But if you are? It was a bit disappointing. It's the only thing my husband and I didn't devour two seconds after it was set on the table in front of us. I was most impressed by how they put together a menu of fifteen courses and every one of them turned out to be something I'd eat every day of my life if I could. I can't even host a dinner party for seven people without breaking into hives over a two course meal. This is definitely a restaurant you need to try at least once in your life. Totally worth the two car payments.
(4)Augie L.
Moto's is reputable and different and somewhere you should try if you've never been to a gastronomy restaurant. Their food definitely plays with your mind and palate. You think your eating one thing, but it's really something else. I gave it 3 stars cause of the cost and the food wasn't that amazing. It didn't appease to my taste buds, I guess. I felt that their fish was to fishy and their shitake mushrooms were too earthy for me, and I eat mushrooms on a regular. Alot of their dishes I could have done without and then there were some that we're really good. However, aside from all of that, I thought service was great, I love the fact that they serve you different varieties and texture of foods that play on your palate and your mind. I've been to another gastronomy restaurant called bo innovations which blew my mind! And the meal didn't cost half as much as it did here and the food tasted much better. Overall experience was good, but not gratifying. For a meal that was a grand, I don't think it was worth it. I expected better.
(3)Ann K.
I went to moto last week, and expected an amazing experience. The originality of the menu and presentation was amazing. The taste earned four stars, but I knew the experience was the point. The service was terrible. Given that my meal was $375 alone, you'd think they could have looked me in the eye. Instead, they fidgeted, looked across the room, and said their rehearsed script. Lucky for them, they included their tip in the bill. Finally, ladies, flush before you open the lid to the toilet. Otherwise, you may be sorry.
(3)David L.
Pure and simple, folks, they should rename this restaurant, NO GO, not MOTO. wow, my wife and I ate at this supposed stellar Chicago molecular gastronomy establishment for what we thought would be a memorable experience and suffice it to say, it was, but for all of the wrong reasons. First, the restaurant design is ridiculously spartan like, no real amenities like a nice modern table, no real reception area, no bar area, but cheap looking school desks to eat from. NOGO, I mean MOTO, is located in a warehouse district which shocked the crap out of myself and my wife as we were riding in the taxicab to the restaurant, we thought we were driving to the mob district being uninformed out of towners that we were. I guess the NOGO owners thought it would be cool, but, frankly, I expected a much nicer, safer scenery for dropping 4 Benjamins at dinner. We thought we might get mugged later leaving the restaurant. The waiters were nice enough, but no one smiles there when rendering service as I suppose they are instructed to be serious. The food, or so called molecular gastronomy, wow, I am simply amazed at how many people actually rave about this mishmash of so called creations of gastronomic beauty? Not to be conceited,but we have traveled and eaten at some of the finest restaurants in the world, in Asia, in Europe, in the US, i.e.,Michelin starred restaurants, Joel Rubuchon, Guy Savoy, etc., and this place and the so-called experimental petri dish food they served was not it, not even close. The edible menu tasted like inedible tasteless paper, the tuna amuse bouche was warm, the test tube liquid entree tasted like brown oozing %&*#. We had the 10 course menu, thank god instead of the 20 course menu as by the 6th dish,we were praying for this so-called 'foodie' experience to come to an end. My wife actually refused the last 3 entrees on the menu as she simply could not take it anymore. The food tasted more like the dishwasher not a top rated chef was in the kitchen cooking our food. In all honesty, my non-chef sister in law could have cooked and prepared a better meal using her feet to cook. It was actually pretty funny after a while, as looking around the restaurant, we noticed a few other couples eating their dinners in complete silence, with frowns or scowls on their faces, from this 'memorable' dining experience. I have never posted on Yelp until now as frankly, if I can assist one person to save their hard earned 4 Benjamins and use that money to buy 100 Big Macs instead, I will have done a service to society. Suffice it to say, we, nevertheless, paid our bill, and made a fast exit, not looking back. My biggest regret is not being able to get a reservation at Alinea, which may have left a better taste in our mouths and re food in Chicago. A word of advice, if you are thinking of MOTO, just remember, it's NOGO, not MOTO. Save yourself the 4 Benjamins, Mr. Franklin would be proud of you.
(1)Art A.
4.5 stars. I wish I had 3-4 hours to write this review (as long as it took us to eat the meal). We thoroughly enjoyed the 15 course meal with the full wine pairing. It was delicious, fun, whimsical, theater-y, creative, and exciting. A couple of the dishes were not perfect, and you sort of expect perfection from a place (and cost) like Moto, but it was an adventure in eating. From eating the menu, to eating mushrooms (amazing) on twigs, to 'cigars', to nitrogen, to the most amazing marshmallows, it was quite a delicious ride. Staff: Amazing, friendly, down-to-earth Food- Terrific, near perfect Ambiance- Cool Price: $640 for 2 out the door (Full pairings)
(4)Jessica F.
This is a story about the little cannoli that wasn't. Or was it a story about the day I munched on a Cuban cigar? Oh, wait wait. I'm pretty sure it was the time I defied mom's life-long advice and ate Yellow Snow. Moto is one of the best meal experiences I've had, in addition to being one of the best meals. I went here for my birthday in 2010 (I know, I'm late), and every component of the experience was absolutely wonderful. Of course things are always a little more special when you tell a restaurant it's your birthday, but clearly the service and the presentation of each dish is very important to Moto. I know it was much appreciated by me! Timely, attentive, friendly, and not overly stuffy. I don't have the best attention span, so I was a little worried that I was told to expect that this meal was going to take "hours." We were there about 3.5 hours, and worth every minute. Oh yeah, the restrooms, which you're going to have to visit at least once unless you have a bladder the size of a pumpkin, were fabulous. The staff have the right balance of friendly/fun and formal, which is great because after 3+ hours of quality time you can really get to know someone! We chose the wine (or beer or sake at times) pairings with the 20-course tasting menu. They worked perfectly with the dishes, which were enough to blow anyone's mind. The dishes are clearly designed to look like one thing, and taste like something completely different. What fun! Everything was edible, right down to the menu. My favorites were of course the Cuban Cigar, which ended up being pork rolled in collard green, the green curry lime, and the "coffee break" which was actually a delicious soup complete with a "sugar" cube and foam. Looking at all of the photos posted here on Yelp, I guess I wasn't alone in taking a pic of every single dish that came out. Everything was so carefully prepared and presented as art, and yet was still approachable and as delicious as it was fun to behold. I must admit I am a very lucky gal who gets taken to a new and exciting place each birthday, or else I would not be able to experience such a great meal. I know you need to be prepared to drop some serious cash (Our meal came out to about $750 after tip), but you know what? This place is worth putting a little dent in the savings for, if only just once. The experience (and the photos) last a lifetime.
(5)Kristi G.
I loved their menu! It was the Scorsese menu. 5 girlfriends and I went there and I thought the food was very inventive and flavorful. The price was much more reasonable than Next or Moto. I will go back for another menu!
(5)Caroline S.
The place is really unique and different and I was really excited to going because of all the press its had but it was a pretty big disappointment. The foods were just so strange, the mix of flavors were hard to handle. On top of that the waiters were not the friendliest, a bit awkward and the intervals between courses took far too long. Overall I wouldn't suggest this place. It's not worth the very high prices
(2)Yosh H.
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!
(4)Sean G.
The meal was an amazing experience from start to finish. The inside of the restaurant is understated but very nice and contemporary. The food is the star. The waitstaff is fantastic. With a 15-course meal, everyone has to be in sync. They somehow knew when we were done with our courses. Didn't bother us before and quickly came after to clear and get ready for the next course. I can't imagine how many dishes they go through in an evening. The staff was nice and explained the dishes well. I almost needed notes to remember all that I had. Some of the dishes I would have never ordered on my own and was glad I was more or less forced to try things. Everything was prepared very well and the talent it takes to make their creations is remarkable. I'm very glad that I went with the wine pairings, they did a great job of matching it with the food. The meal was close to 3 hours long so don't hope to get in and out quickly and still enjoy it. The time flies by though and you don't even notice since everything is so good with outstanding presentation. It was a true adventure and look forward to going back again!
(5)David V.
$500.00!! That was with no drinks!!! For $500 you expect to be blown away. Not the case at all. I must say that I wouldn't have minded the price tag if the food/service/experience was worth it... My wife and I eat out quite often and have spent quite a bit of money on food. I must say I have been way more impressed by food/experiences at a far less price tag!!! I seldom write reviews and Hate that I even feel the need to write a negative one but I was REALLY DISAPPOINTED... The booths had really high backs to them that made you feel really excluded which would be fine except the restaurant didn't have any energy to it all!! They sat us right next to the hostess stand so the only choice of scenery we had was each other, the booth, ceiling and a HOSTESS stand... The servers were nice I give them that, but they didn't do much for explaining the dishes or telling us a little about the restaurant and to be quite honesty some of them didn't even seem like they wanted to be there.. I felt as if they were all new with out proper training in fine dining .. It seemed as if they lacked a kind of waiter/waitress finesse (that can makes your whole experience) The meal took 3 1/2 hrs that felt like 6hrs.. every course was elaborate but so tiny you finished your food and would have to wait 15-20 min for your next nibble of food in fact we left rather hungry.. The food was good but not overly great and give us some MORE FOOD PLEASE!!!!. The check was 20% auto gratuity so it didn't really matter what kind of service you got.... I really wanted to like this place and wouldn't have minded spending what we did if it was worth it, but SADLY it wasn't... It seemed to have a lot of hype behind it.. Unfortunately it did not live up to it ... So if you enjoy spending a lot of money and not getting your money's worth this would be the place for you
(1)Aaron G.
Style over Taste and Texture One star to balance the scales to truth and because of the cost to pleasure ratio. Someone wrote "Moto is the poor man's Alinea." It's sort of true, but with one sad amendment. They cost about the same! For $500 for 2 menus and only one half wine pairing, it better kick some ass. And it really didn't. My big point is that most of the savory dishes fell far short both on flavor and texture. And often came out with unintended mixed temperatures In the end, if the food doesn't taste great or feel good in the mouth, then why futz in the lab to make it? Just so it looks neat?? Not enough of a reason. Blow by blow: Spring roll - chewy and flavorless Crudite - decent veggie flavors but underwhelming Blackout - Grossly over salted Nose to tail - dishes came out in different order on plate (inconsistent) -unpleasant mixed temperatures. Gazpacho - very nice Fried Pasta - nice Cigars - Ugh, gross texture, bland old flavors - tasted like old, lukewarm tv dinner Forest - nice Cassoulet - another pretty ugly texture and flavor combo, more tv dinner Tongue and Cheek - tasty, nice flavors - tender cheek - and it actually had a warm temp The desert courses were quite good. A bit overcomplicated. Some extra textures like crumbles actually detracted rather than helped. You can be inventive and make food surprising and exciting, but it has to taste good first!
(1)Evan B.
I should really rate it like this: 3 and a half stars. for taste. 4 stars for the Chemical Acrobatics. Went there last night with a friend, and had the ten course tasting menu with wine. the wine list was really fantastic too, and the pairings were bold. sorry merlot lovers. get back to me when you graduate to chateaneuf du pape. While the dishes themselves looked astounding, and i mean really astounding, only half of them tasted so. First the good: the mahi mahi, the mexican 'cannoli' (a lovely savory dish filled with confit de canard) the menu itself, which was buttery and cheesy and wonderful with super fresh tomatoes, the leek/fennel reduction dish. others were not do great. the rabbit that was dressed up like sushi was a dish inspired b looks alone. the cracker jack whatever it was tasted only of sweet peanuts. and the pork belly was gelatinous and boring. the problem with a place like moto, i discovered during the last dessert course, is this: when you have to endure so many instructions on how to eat, you miss the point of what eating does: bring people together effortlessly. it's hard to have a conversation about life the universe and everything when the server keeps interrupting to tell you to balance a half-cooked noodle that's been sprayed with beet juice on your nose and shut your eyes while a man drips acid on your fingers so you get the sensation and taste of eating a raspberry jolly rancher candy.* at the end of the day it's less work to just eat the candy itself. still. Moto is a conceptually fun place. And if you want your dinner to have a concept, this is the place to go. *dessert tastes and instructions were changed to protect the innocent server who was attentive, efficient, and otherwise a joy.
(3)Albert H.
About halfway though my meal here, I looked up at my companion and said: "This. This is what I wish we got at Alinea." There are a lot of similarities - similar lack of signage on the outside, similar dedication to modern preparation techniques and unique presentations at the expense of pretty much everything else. But where Alinea seems kind of like watching a ballet with jetpacks, Moto is more like Cirque du Soleil on hoverboards. Alinea is a meticulous, cultured future. Moto is *fun*. I mean, you still wear a suit and tie ( or a cocktail dress and heels ), but the food has a sense of humor and place I found notably lacking at Alinea. They offer two menus - ten or twenty courses. There is also a wine "progression" - about a wine every two courses, not explicitly paired. We opted for twenty courses and sharing a wine progression - plenty of wine for two relatively lightweight diners who wanted to actually remember the meal. The service is slightly formal, but not at all stuffy. Pacing was good for a twenty course adventure; I don't recall having to wait overly long for anything in particular, though there was plenty of time to talk and admire the other diners between courses. We left full, but not clutching our stomachs in pain - a reasonable amount of very strange food. Yes, strange food. Nothing overly familiar. But almost everything making a reference or a joke about its ingredients or plating. And the flavors were just fine, thank you. As was the wine progression. I guess the point is that if you want the very best flavors in the world, I'd suggest you go find a street food stall in some alley in Southeast Asia. If you want the most expensive ingredients in the world coupled with the most perfect service, you'd end up at some three starred place in Paris no doubt. But if you want to see a show - if you like to play with your food - if you want to see an intelligent commentary on fine ( or not so fine ) dining played out on a series of plates in front of you - you *have got* to see this place.
(5)Liz K.
Best meal I've ever had, hands down. My boyfriend took us here as an anniversary surprise. I read up a lot since I've never been to a restaurant like moto before, but I still wasn't sure exactly what to expect. First, the way people on yelp describe it makes it sound really stuffy and industrial. The atmosphere is, yes, quiet and more "classy" -- but the waitstaff is incredibly nice. I was grinning pretty much the entire evening since I was so excited, and the staff was incredibly nice to us and were joking around. Also, remember when you come here that the person planning the menu has a sense of humor and wants you to enjoy your meal. They aren't looking to confine you to a chair for two hours and force feed you delicious food with a frown on their face. So, the rumors as far as that goes, are not true. Anyway, I loved literally everything I ate here. The standout dishes, by far, were the pork belly/foie gras combo and the cuban cigar sandwiches. Everything we ate was well thought out and the flavor profile was amazing. I don't want to spoil any surprises (though the menu seems to change often), so I won't go into further detail. We also had the half selection of wine and not only were the pairings perfect, but it was definitely some of the best wine I've ever had. Needless to say, moto, while pricey, is entirely worth the adventure.
(5)Abe M.
1. The food is amazing. 2. You will spend at least $500 for two people without an option to do otherwise. 3. You will spend at least 3.5 hours at dinner and you don't have a choice on that. It's an experience but just not worth it. Save yourself the time and money.
(3)Glenn C.
My wife and I had the 10-course tasting at Moto about 5 years ago. It was the most fun we've ever had at dinner. We recently returned for the GTM. Here's a run down of the courses: Meal starts with the trademark edible menu and a candle is placed in the middle of the table (will be important later). SNOW man: tuna tartare with a creme fresh snowman on top with Himalayan salt for the eyes, buttons, etc Paired w: Richard Grant blanc de noirs Verdict: delicious light start ROSE bush: dehydrated beet with goat cheese frisee salad in the shape of a rose Paired w: Marlborough sauvignon blanc Verdict: very creative, a beautiful dish GOLDEN twist ale: bratwurst and Wisconsin cheddar cheese in a pretzel stock soup Paired w: Mosel riesling Verdict: PRETZEL STOCK?! Are you kidding me? This was absolutely delicious! Tasted just like a delicious hot pretzel and cheese, but a soup! CHICKEN noodle soup: chicken all processed and recreated into ramen noodles with some kind of chicken sauce, supposedly with KFC's original recipe. Oh, we had a choice of 2 truffles which they SHAVED all over it! Paired w: white rioja Verdict: shaved truffles + KFC = delicious MISO soup: foie gras with rasberry sauce and miso broth Paired w: Cold sake Verdict: Foie paired with sake is not something I've seen before, but it really worked. SHRIMP GRITS & caviar: Langostino shrimp with the meat removed with cheesy grits Paired w: Albarino Verdict: least favorite dish of the night. It was good, but the grits had too much of a shrimpy taste. POTATO & leak: A "solid" vichyssoise with a scallop with some kind of potato gel stuff. The waiters spooned out of sizzling saucepans super-cold leaks with LN2. Paired w: Malvira Treuve, a Piedmont white blend Verdict: Quite tasty and creative BASEBALL snacks: Peanuts, edible cracker jack paper, quail, and cherry sauce Paired w: Goose island Madame rose beer Verdict: Extemely whimsical and creative, the beer was a great pairing CAPON & corn bread: shredded rooster over cornbread. After putting the dishes on our table, the waiter took our candle, blew it out, and POURED it all over our plates! As we looked it horror, he it explained that it wasn't a wax candle, but rather a sage emulsion that had been liquifying during our entire dinner. Paired w: Tulocay pinot noir Verdict: delicious again, loved the whole fake-out with the candle. CUBAN cigar: hot sausage wrapped in grape leaves with edible paper served in and ashtray with pepper ashes. It looks exactly liked a half-smoked cigar Paired w: Patagonia malbec Verdict: Quite spicy! Extraordinarily creative. I loved it, but it was too spicy for my wife to finish it. NUAC man: pork belly with a mushroom "marshmallow" that disintegrated in your mouth with your ate it. Paired w: Catalonia pinorat Verdict: delicious, loved the marshmallow ALLEY-yum: a whimsical take on Funyuns. Onions prepared in a bunch of different ways. Oh, and there's venison. Paired w: Argentine carmenere Verdict: Crazy delicious. LIGHT bright: light violet colored lavender soda in the bottom of an erlenmeyer flask with a pipette of passionfruit liquid. Mixed together they changed colors. Verdict: creative palate cleanser prior to the desserts. CINNAMON toast: a bowel of what appeared to be Cinnamon Toast Crunch bits. The server had shotglasses and dumped what appeared to be a RAW EGG over our dessert. However, it wasn't a raw egg at all, but rather mango spheres that looked like raw eggs. Paired with: Laurent Perrier demi-sec Verdict: another fake-out where we thought our dish was ruined by the server. Tons of fun and yummy. RHUBARB & yogurt: small bit of freeze-dried strawberries, rhubarb, and Greek yogurt. Verdict: a tiny, delicious, "in-between dessert" GREEN CURRY-esque: pineapple, chocolate, marshmallow, curry Verdict: Another unusual combination, but it worked BANANA split: a bowl with LN2 banana ice cream in the shape of a big noodle. Served with 3 pasteur pipettes of chocolate, caramel, and maraschino to squirt on top. Verdict: One of our favorite desserts! Delicious and fun. ACME bomb: a chocolate sphere with a marshmallow wick sticking out of it. The server lights the wick and it burns down just like a bomb. There graham cracker on the inside so when you bite it, it tastes like your eating a hot s'more right off of the fire! Verdict: Only one bite, but our favorite dessert. Again, an example of outstanding creativity. COOKIE crumbs: Earl-grey infused chocolate mousse with earl-grey ice cream and chocolate cake Paired with: Austrian Kracher Cuvee Beerenauslese Verdict: If you like earl grey, you'll love it. SODA du jour: Another Erlenmeyer flask with Wasabi soda with a coconut-flavored LN2 edible packaging peanut on top. When you eat it, smoke comes out your nose and mouth! Moto is an experience that should be had by everyone who loves food, science, and has a sense of humor!
(5)Christine K.
I found out about this restaurant while visiting the future exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The Chef, Homaro Cantu specializes in delicious creations which are put through lasers, various gases, and solutions before resulting in a few bites of heaven. We had the 15 course tasting menu and to be honest...I was a little bit scared that our experience would be parallel to some of my fellow yelpers who had snooty service from this restaurant. Our waiters however, were extremely down to earth and open to any questions you may throw at them. They are knowledgable about the processes, the food, and even popular chefs in this day and age. Although they maintain a professional composure, they are more than willing to joke and play along with you at your table without disturbing other guests from their dining experience. Our waiter in particular (unfortunately I didnt catch his name) went out of his way to make Moto the best fine dining experience we ever had. Not to mention he was extremely cute! The food was delicious and each dish prepared thoughtfully. The timing of the service was also impeccable. Sure, Alinea is famous in chicago for their food, but there is a plethora of great restaurants in the world...not to mention Motos dishes are up to par with some of them. If you're looking for a fun, interactive experience with food that is unparalleled...come to Moto!
(5)Jason H.
Here's the thing, I've lived in amazing cities, traveled to incredible places and eaten at some of the best restaurants you can imagine. If there is one thing that sets a place apart in my mind it's the service. Any big name fancy restaurant had better have an amazing food experience, and I won't lie, Moto had some good food both times I ate there, but if you drop the ball on the basics of service you are a chump. On my second trip to Moto I was surprised to have warm white wine consistently brought to the table (we were drinking $150+ bottles and they were still warm), the waiter told us they were having a refrigeration issue and that he'd try and keep our bottles cold in a bucket of ice ... in his defense he did comp us each a glass of Bubbly, so we were all good so far and let the matter drop ... we could live with his explanation and he was at least nice about it. HOWEVER... Early on in the meal I told the staff that I had a very specific food allergy (pineapple) and that I needed a couple of small substitutions, they took this in stride and were very clear that they would make sure I didn't get any of the dishes with pineapple in them ... imagine my surprise when the after dinner drink (not listed on the menu) turned out to be nothing other than real pineapple juice... to his credit the waiter rounded up some Benedril, but by that point I was in no shape to stick around ... I hopped a cab and went home to be sick for the next 2 days... let me just say getting sick in a cab is NOT a fun experience. Here's the deal, I'm a reasonable guy, mistakes happen and I wasn't even upset over an oversight like this... until yesterday when I was sitting with my friend who told me how she was treated when she called the manager to complain about the incident (mind you we paid the bill in full and didn't ask for a single thing comped, including the meal I was puking up) ... she was told that our table had been too loud and that he couldn't do anything for her. Hell she didn't even ask for money back, she just wanted this dude to know that someone in her party had been "poisoned" ... getting a rude response is ridiculous. I'm horribly disappointed in this place which is supposed to be a top tier establishment.
(1)Sydney L.
This place is crazy in the best way possible. I know someone currently working at moto and after hearing more about what they do, I knew I had to go. I took my dad here while he was in town this past weekend and we both had a fantastic time. There were 15 courses and all of them were brilliant. I tried a lot different foods that I never would have ordered for myself, but ended up really enjoying. We also split the full wine progression as well and each one was wonderful. We were able to go on a tour of the kitchen after our meal as well which was a lot of fun. The staff works incredibly hard and it shows. As people have mentioned...it's expensive. Over $500 for the two of us. But hey, it's a 4 hour dinner made with incredible ingredients that have been prepared in creative and artistic ways and in my opinion, it's totally worth it. After telling my mom about how great it was, she had me make reservations for the upcoming week. Going to a place like moto twice in less then a week might be a little silly, but whatever. I don't mind because it's that good.
(5)Vince G.
How does food go farther? The night I was lucky enough to dine at Moto Restaurant I found that food can not only physically satisfy me; but it could also challenge my intellect and play with my emotions. The dishes I experienced that night took me places, like any great piece of art, and made me forget about reality. I"m not going to be boring and list courses and all their components and details. However, the artwork that Chef Richard Farina boldly puts in front of you demands to be recognized as some of the best, most well seasoned, well executed food in Chicago. The service also deserves high praise, the task of picking wine for such intense cuisine requires a finely tuned palate and Moto's sommelier is a true maestro. The wines complimented and took each symphony to a higher level, elevating the experience. The experience was sensual and left me with a feeling of amazement. The food twisted me in so many ways and the service staff pampered me like they could read exactly what I wanted when I wanted it. I was able to catch a glimpse of how gastronomy can change lives as well as the world. I leave you with this, A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists. Bravo
(5)melinda b.
Moto definitely provides an "experience", I didn't even notice that our experience took 4 hours, it was worth every second. Our waiter was extremely detailed in each course introduction. You can tell the wait staff genuinely takes pride in what they're presenting, I love that. Very creative presentations, each course was uniquely Delicious!
(4)Michael B.
The worst dining experience in my life. This isn't an experience to remember, only to forget. No menu, no pricing! The restaurant needs to add a fibrillator to resuscitate you after they bring the bill. The portions are so small you need to be an insect to sample this crap. No mention anywhere about the $185 prix fixed price. Over priced by $180.00 for each person. What's wrong with the people writing these reviews? No atmosphere, prolonged time in the process of getting your food and ridiculous mini portions. The utensils are not capable of picking up these microscopic portions.They never mentioned the price or we would have left immediately. Instead they try to get you to order wine immediately without informing you whether the list is adaptive to red or white wine. This has "disaster" written everywhere. I wan't my money back. OH MY GOD!!! Please resuscitate me!
(1)NY C.
Well, unfortunatley I kinda agree w/Melissa T. I am the type of person who will fly half-way around the world for a good fish dish (and have done that - twice), so we flew to Chicago to try Moto. It was all right. The decor was kinda stark and cold (but not in a good way - looked a bit unfinished), and while some of food items were fun and interesting (I enjoyed eating my menu), others had the most contrived presentations! The flavor of the food items were okay, but honestly not all that memorable. It was a good place to check out and try once, just to sample their creative molecular gastronomy, but I wouldn't fly back for that again - For what they charge, I'd much rather go to Alinea.
(3)Riel V.
I heard a lot about MOTO before I went. A few friends of mine interned at MOTO. They were from Portland and New York. Another set of friends...well, more like acquaintances...wanted to stop by MOTO on a road trip in which they passed through Chicago. So, I knew that MOTO was a 'known' place...at least in the United States. However, I always thought MOTO was a sushi place. I had no idea about the 'theatrics' and presentation that takes place at MOTO. When I say, 'theatrics', I mean that it is a subtle performance that you experience when dining at MOTO. It is indeed a unique place that I enjoyed. I went there to treat a relative out for her birthday. I would suggest going for a special occasion because it will dig into your wallet a bit. The price was not the only thing that shocked me...it was the food and presentation. I gave MOTO 4 stars, but I think this must be explained. If you are like me, I would rather go to a place like...fogo de chao, for example, where you get all the meat you want to eat while paying approx. $100 per person. At MOTO, I paid $160 per person for a 15 course meal...so, be prepared for that. I certainly wasn't. I enjoyed my time at MOTO. However, I wasn't as FULL in my tummy as I think I should be for the price tag. The portions are 'tasting portions', so don't be alarmed if you get a big plate with a little itty bitty piece of food on top with fancy designs. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy food that is well prepared, hand made, cooked to perfection, very carefully made, and well presented. I enjoyed the effort that all the servers and attendants showed while we were there. They were very polite and the experience was nice. It's a 'show of food presentations' while you are at MOTO. I believe this is what you pay for...along with the food (albeit small portions). Some items from our 15 course menu: 1st course included: edible potato chip menu Final course: Acme bomb desert All in all, I enjoyed the experience, but I don't think I will be back for a while. I would rather spend my money on other things or other places that give me much more food. But, I liked MOTO, so I gave it 4 stars....I think it's a good place to check-out...I'm just not sure if I would make a habit of it.
(4)Peanut L.
Restaurants like this are the reason we're in a recession. There's no reason to spend so much money on any food, but particularly the food here. The servers are strangely nervous and awkward. I felt like giving them some wine to relax them. In perhaps the ultimate sign of pretension, the toilet handle is impossible to find in the women's bathroom (it's a button on the side of the toilet bowl). Don't expect to see any of the fancy stuff they show on tv - you can get a kitchen tour, but they don't really use that stuff. Overall, save your money.
(2)Tommy H.
For roughly $210.00 per person we were able to enjoy 15 courses of some of the most creative dishes I've ever experienced. I won't go into details of each dish, as I don't want to ruin the surprise for my fellow yelpers. food: bold flavors, creative presentation, a cohesive menu. service: great service from the staff, very attentive, willing to joke with and educate the guests on the chef, food, and the establishment. I'm very happy with my dining experience at Moto.
(5)Min T.
No room at Alinea? No room at Schwa? What about Moto? WHAT about Moto? Like any good foodie, I researched Moto and found reviews to be fairly positive. I was very excited. When I confirmed the reservations, I specified we were coming in for the 10-course tasting menu. Because seriously, who can do the 20-course? I started out with one of their nifty cocktails. The one pictured came in a mini beaker, bespeaking of the science experiments to come. For you see, Moto was one of those "powders and foams" type places. It's molecular gastronomy. One memorable quote from someone who went a week or two before me proclaimed it to be better than El Bulli and Noma. Really? The former #1 restaurant and current #1 restaurant in the world? All right then, let's rock. My dining companion ordered the wine pairing to go with her meal and one of the courses was served with beer. She complained her beer wasn't in the proper glass (it was in a wine glass). Service was very interesting to me. Since there were two of us, two servers would come by and serve the dishes. If there were four, I saw four serve so no one had to wait. I did notice a rather large bug crawling around the table. I told the server who immediately said that was disgusting and brushed it onto his hand. There was no further mention of it. Hm. I liked about half my meal, mostly the first half. Then I felt it start faltering. Although this meal was conceptually very interesting, not every dish worked. But I don't really expect all the courses to blow my mind. I thought the food was better the next night at Graham Elliot but Moto took far more risks. Although I probably would not return, this meal was a bit more memorable. And the funny thing about the item I really enjoyed at Graham Elliot was that pistachio dessert. I would learn their pastry chef worked at Moto. So perhaps Moto is a bit of a "c'mon" to some people but at least people get to play and after all, it's just a science experiment.
(3)Nick C.
Went 8/18 for dinner. Amazing combinations that both trick and delight your senses. Portions are extremely small and a bit too slowly paced. However the quality, creativity, and depth of the 12-course menu is tough to beat. Definitely worth the trip for a true foodie. Can't wait to try ING next door, his new creation and passion where flavor tripping is the specialty. Had cocktails there and were truly amazing.
(4)Robert C.
I had the pleasure of eating here a year ago, and I'm still talking about that meal. If you go, try the 10-course menu with wine pairings. You can go for the full 20-course experience but you're likely to be full during the middle of the meal. The menu items are always changing so it's hard for me to recommend a dish. I just remember loving the dishes they served a year ago, and I'll certainly try them again when I'm back in the Windy City.
(5)Mike R.
Went with a date and were placed in one of their booths across from the wine cellar. Food was generally v. good with a few exceptional courses that rival the best food we've had. My experienced foodie date declared it her favorite meal of all those she's had for its inventiveness and use of so many unique ingredients. It is not where you go to get a large, well-cooked piece of meat, but to witness and consume a march of diverse courses. Service was exceptional and afterwards they checked if a table was available at and walked us down to the Aviary where we had a fun after-dinner cocktail.
(4)Ciao H.
I went for the 20 course meai. The food was brilliant--full of flavor, interesting surprises, beautiful plating, fresh ingredients. But to savor a 5 hour meal is not for everyone, so I recommend a 10 course meal option that they have--it will still be about 3 hours to get through if you take your time with it. Moto is like a museum of food, you will not go here to order the steak that you like to order on special occasions. You will go here to be served the unexpected in celebration of the extra-special occasion: you get to enjoy extraordinary food and service that's really not available in many places. The 20 course meal started out light and built gradually to a crescendo. There was some very fanciful plating that I enjoyed and the reformed mushroom taste was really exquisite. My only problem was that the main dishes culminated in some very heavy choices. One of the heavier ones was "cigar in an ashtray"--pork shoulder wrapped in collard greens with a roasted pepper tip and resting in an "ash" of white and black pepper and cumin. This dish was bursting with flavor and had some serious presence--but alas, a tad bit too heavy in a menu of 20 plates. I would have appreciated some lightening of the plates as we progressed to the end before the desserts. The desserts were really unusual--although I have to say I liked the concepts of the desert more than I enjoyed the flavors--the sundae plate felt just a little too cloyingly sweet, the earl grey ice cream plate just felt like too challenging a flavor to win most people over on, the chocolate bomb bon bon was so wonderfully dramatic, but I longed for more of a bold alcohol flavor to the inside--a rum or a cognac or something. There are wine flight pairing options available, and they looked delicious, but I am a very light drinker, so I contented myself with a wonderful cocktail (I've really had no other like it, it had a wonderful flavor) and a glass of rose halfway through the meal and I was happy with that. The timing of the dishes was impeccable, the service very relaxed and happy to answer any questions or repeat info. At the end of the meal I asked the waiter if I could walk down to see the kitchen and thank the chefs and staff. Its astonishing how much magic gets done in such a little space and the chefs were very friendly, humble and happy to answer questions. The restaurant location was very unassuming--I felt a bit like I was sneaking into a speakeasy, and that was fun. Inside, however, I felt the lighting was too dim and the acoustics aren't great, so I was stuck overhearing an obnoxiously loud/tipsy customer in a corner which was unpleasant. Overall really an astonishing experience, not one I will soon forget. Great job, Moto. Someday I hope I make it back to Chicago and Moto.
(5)Jinna K.
I had such a great experience at Moto. The food is top quality and the presentation blew me away. All of your senses will be touched and awakened by their beautiful presentation of the courses. Prepare to stay at least 3 hours if you due the tasting menu. We did the wine pairing and it was really good as well. We also got a tour of the kitchen and the staff was so friendly! We've had tours in several different places and by far the staff here was the best. The service really made it a great experience.
(5)Chef A.
Best restaurant I've ever eaten at.
(5)Danielle S.
This has to be one of my favorite restaurants I have ever been to. The food is not only wonderful, but it is a piece of art. It is literally an experience to eat here. Everyone waits on you, and the atmosphere is modern/romantic. I love it and can't wait to go back. Totally worth the price.
(5)Jen B.
The Summary? This is a pretty neat place to experience molecular gastronomy....great service, quiet ambiance, and top points for creativity when it comes to the food...but I think that MOTO could've done a better job on taste! (I've heard Alinea is *THE* best place to experience MG at its best in Chicago....but couldn't get a reservation there... :( boo hoo!) Some highlights? The cuban cigar -- what a very cool presentation (with butt tray included!). The sausage wrapped in grape leaves wasn't a full 5-stars in taste, but the creativity made this a whimsical dish that was fun to enjoy!!! The "bomb" for dessert -- I love fire. I love dessert. Put fire and dessert together and I am a very happy girl. Then add marshmallows. And I am in heaven. (I am actually mildly allergic to chocolate but I ended up eating half of this dessert, just because it was so much fun!!!!) This place will end up costing you an arm and a leg for the tasting menu, but if you're looking for a meal that is relaxing and full of creativity, it's definitely worth a try!
(4)Candace C.
What can I say about Moto that hasn't already been said. It is unbelievable what crazy concoctions come out of this kitchen. His food is definitely challenging and not for the faint of heart. There are some hits and some misses for sure... but that comes from the creativity and wild - it's just fun to see what kind of "rabbit hole" experience it's going to be. It's totally experimental stuff and that is pretty wild. Plus, did I mention that the chef does research for NASA? From the "Arnold Palmer" freezies to the Kobe beef Shabuccino, I mean, this is stuff is totally far out. It makes you laugh and brings out the kid inside of you. The only real criticism I have was the timing of the dishes. Basically, you can stay there for 5-6 for dinner which in my humble opinion was a little too drawn out. I mean, most people do not want to be sitting for 5 hours for a chef's tasting menu. My husband and I found ourselves waiting for up to 20-25 minutes between dishes. We definitely did not expect to be at the restaurant for that long. For this, they lose one star. Service is wonderful because the waiters are not professional wait staff - they are chefs themselves in the kitchen. So, they can answer any questions you may have with the menu easily.
(4)Farid S.
We wanted to go someplace special to celebrate a big business deal and we had heard great things about MOTO. I called them to get a table, and they asked me about food allergies, and what foods we wished to avoid which I thought was important as I have a food allergy to bivalves. It is close to my place and I knew where it was but took us a few minutes to find the place as it is kind of hidden. We found the place, parked (ample street parking), and went in and were seated promptly. Our waiter (who was also a chef) told us about our dining choices - either a 10 course or a 20 course dinner with wine pairings. The menu was edible!! Their menu changes a lot but we had meat, fish, and game and wine with every course. It was an incredible experience. Food that didn't look like anything I had had before. A rabbit maki, some salmon, other game. too much to remember. I would definitely go back. Be warned it is expensive.
(5)Michael U.
See profile site for full review with formatted pics. In a trip that included fantastic meals at Charlie Trotter's, Tru, Bongo Room, and Cafe Spiaggia it was my New Years Eve reservation at Moto with my sister that I looked forward to the most. With only a small amount of exposure to the world of Molecular Gastronomy I'd seen videos of Fat Duck's obsurd bacon egg with liquid nitrogen preparred tableside and read numerous reviews of the presentations at El Bulli and Alinea - according to rumor, Chef Cantu's presentations at Moto were just as impressive even if the food was "lower quality" in ingredients and flavor. Perhaps my hopes were too high or perhaps something was amiss, but on my first trip to Moto I thought the flavors were great; it was the presentation and service that were lacking. From the "too cool for you" attitude of the servers to the overall lack of "WOW" to the meal something just felt off. Lodged in an area full of factories, galleries, and warehouses I couldn't help but think of Chelsea as the GPS steered us toward Moto and arriving at the neon green door I couldn't help but think "hmm, this is it?" From the obscure location to the cheap exterior to the bland interior and discolored paint and chipped wood leading to the bathroom I rather wonder where Chef Cantu is spending all his money. Additionally, after e-mailing and calling the restaurant days and weeks before the meal, I was surprised that the menu was only finalized 4 days beforehand and that A) many of the chef's most famous dishes were omitted, B) no "new" dishes were being created for the holiday, C) innovative items like the black box or aromatic utensils were absent, and D)the price was increased to $150 for 12 courses while the "additional surprises" promised via phone were nowhere to be found. Additionally, the meal which was promised to last 2:30-3:00 hours via E-mail in fact only lasted about 1:40 minutes leaving my sister and I stranded at the restaurant while my mother and aunt finished up elsewhere. With all those things noted, I must say I was quite impressed by some of the tastes and textures presented at Moto and that although I felt it was quite overpriced for both the quality and the presentation, that which we did receive was all quite delicious. When it was all said and done, I can't say I regret my experience - but I also cannot say it lived up to my expectations. Given his training there is no doubt that Chef Cantu is a talented man with the skill-set to make amazing food, but given the ingredients used and the lack of props I rather wonder if the goal on NYE 2008 was simply to get people in and out as quickly as possible - despite the elevated pricetag. With presentations far less intricate than others have described in the past and no lobster, foie gras, sweet breads, or other high end items on the menu it almost seemed as though the goal was to maximize profit instead of customer satisfaction. Additionally, I personally was not a fan of the attitude of the female server, nor the 18% automatic gratuity considering the fact that our male servers fumbled over the descriptions multiple times and one of them even managed to knock over our neighbor's wine glass with one of the plates - the concept of a tip is that better service gets a better tips, if the gratuity is automatically included there is no incentive to perform better than average. While Moto was certainly a memorable experience with delicious food, the experience simply didn't warrant the cost and I'd be hard pressed to return given the reviews I've read of Alinea, Avenues, L2O, and the experiences I had at Tru and Trotter's the night before.
(3)Stanley C.
Actually 3.5 stars The Intro: Homaru Cantu, the mad scientist chef serves up molecular gastronomic cuisine in this hip Chicago restaurant. The Food: While my wife and I were not blown away by the savory courses we were impressed with the dessert courses. Having dined at Alinea the night before we thought Moto's control of the seasoning and flavors were not controlled as well. Some dishes were over salted or worse, under seasoned. Some highlights of the night were: Black And White: A fish dish with halibut and scallop served with potato and leek. Fish and scallop both cooked perfectly and matches well with the potato puree. Cuban Cigars: Great and fun presentation. Tasty and innovative, I'll leave it at that and you can find out for yourself. All of the desserts were also great and I thought all of them were highlights but they had a surprise elements to them so I'm not going to spoil anything. The ending of the meal definitely outshines the beginning. The Decor: Dark and cold. The whole restaurant had a gray tone to it. Maybe it was pretty empty when we ate that made it feel cold. The Service: Service was good, but not as inviting as Alinea. Maybe because we dined there late we felt a little rushed. The Summary: For molecular gastronomy Chef Cantu finds innovative ways to serve his food. He does make it fun and interesting but at times the control and flavors are not there. Overall I think the food needs more work and improvement. They are not quite there yet but definitely heading in the right direction. I look forward to dining here when they have.
(3)Space Emperor Z.
My fiancee and I went here four years ago for our anniversary and remember it well. If Moto is representative of the movement, I think "molecular gastronomy" is little more than the Emperor's New Clothes. The best thing we had was a "Cuban Cigar"--a cuban sandwich rolled in greens and presented to look like a cigar on an ashtray. It very was tasty. The presentation was cute. "Cute" is how I'd characterize much of the presentation at Moto. There was edible paper that tasted like stuff printed on it. There was a dish that looked like a fried egg but was actually made of yogurt. Some of the food tasted pretty good. Some of it tasted gross, like a deconstructed freeze-dried coleslaw or the "roadkill of fowl" with sacharine marshmallow fluff sauce. Overall, the meal felt unbalanced--too many heavy meat courses, not enough freshness or lightness. If we didn't finish a plate, the servers interrogated us about what we didn't like. Moto was depressing because it made me realize that food can only taste so good. The way food is presented can obviously add to the experience. But there was nothing close to revelatory about the food at Moto, and "cute" presentations--no matter the technical wizardry behind them--are not nearly enough to justify spending $300 for a meal for two.
(1)Joe B.
This place is friggin awesome. I went with friends for the 20 course. Food was entertaining, plating was spectacular, super delicious. The drinks were fresh ideas, well prepared by some dude in huge glasses, and just amazing. If you could somehow make food a carnival, you'd be sitting at Moto. I will return for more and I will bring friends. By far my favorite experience thus far in Chicago. Boom.
(5)Tali C.
Yep, this place was def on the TOP of my culinary experiences thus far. Moto is considered one of the most modern restaurants attracting top echelon foodies from around the world. I ate here because I wanted to treat myself to an amazing dinner, what was in store for me was pure spectacle. I was very pleased with the 20+ courses spanning a time period of about 3.5 hours, give or take an hour. The first thing you will notice about Moto is the modern lucid decor - the place is very dark yet has an angelic flare. The first meal consists of an edible menu! Yeah, you actually eat the menu of the day, it's pretty damn good. The drinks are top notch, unlike anything you have ever encountered. I had the bourbon with smoked bacon vapors covered in chocolate. I'm sure they used a high beam laser to vaporize the essence of bacon into the alcohol and then infused that with the cocktail. This was like drinking a silky well-aged bourbon with bacon and hues of chocolate. yummmy!!! Thus alone was worth the price of admission ($250 per person, including drinks, tips, etc.,). What followed was the best 20 course meals ever. I will not spoil it for you let's just say that it involved gadgets and gizmos most of us never see outside of a NASA space lab. Enjoy food that is transformed into completely different ideas and expressions, truly artistic work with food.
(5)Krystle S.
My little sister and I went to Moto together a few nights ago, and we had such a great time. The servers are knowledgable about every item on a dish and are more than happy to answer your questions about the food. The timing of every course was impeccable. You didn't need to wait more than 8-10 minutes for the next course. My favorite dish had to be the "potato and leek" course. Not only was it artistic, but it was honestly the best fish I had ever tasted, which is saying something because I'm always looking for the best seafood anywhere I go. What I appreciated the most about this place is that they were so welcoming to us. This wasn't exactly what my little sister and I had expected since we were probably the youngest people in the restaurant (I'm 22 and my sister is 19). Our primary server was always willing to listen to our stupid jokes and comments and also had a great sense of humor. The other servers who also brought out our other courses were amazing as well. What I had expected was a staff that would look down on us since we were so young, but I'm ecstatic that it was the complete opposite. We also got to meet the cooks who made our dishes, which was the "cherry on top" for us. It was fun to rave to the cooks about their incredible food. If you ever have the chance to visit moto, do it. The experience we had was phenomenal.
(5)Julie C.
This may have been the best molecular gastronomy food I've ever eaten, but the excessively long wait in between courses made for a four hour dinner (and that's without wine pairings). Each course had a balanced amount of known and unknown techniques and ingredients which made the meal both tasty and exciting. If only the pace had been picked up a notch this would've been by far my best dinner ever in Chicago. I would still highly suggest Moto to anyone thats up for something different.
(4)Dante M.
I went in again to Moto and I have to upgrade my rating. Although Moto is still more of an "experience" than dining on exquisite cuisine. It still is worthy of 4 starts. The courses are extremely well thought out and unique. Although allot enough time if you do the full tasting main with wine pairing. The full menu took us over 4 hours to complete. But was a great time.
(4)Dana F.
Wow. Homaro Cantu, you are a genius - you have managed to preserve the concept of fine dining as an "event" but make it playful, boundary-pushing, and without pretense. From the moment I arrived, I knew my experience at Moto would be special and full of surprises. The decor is minimalist and sleek, which draws all of the attention where it is rightfully deserved: the food, the experimentation, the experience. The entire wait-staff was extremely professional and had me fully engaged in the meal, and had me laughing from all of their witty comments and stories. There was no pretense in their demeanor, yet they carried themselves with poise and all of the professionalism that a world-class restaurant requires. From the edible menu, kitsch tequila snowman to the nostalgia-inducing baseball snacks, everything about the dinner was super-creative and innovative. Slurping bubble tea with scallop tapioca pearls and eating funnel cake made of pheasant reminded me that sometimes it's important not to take dinner and food TOO seriously - I appreciated the humor but attentiveness to detail. It's a good thing I don't live in Chicago, or I'd be going to Moto on a weekly basis and living paycheck to paycheck. I will be back and I WILL prevail over the 20 course GTM...
(5)Rob L.
Many, many, many months ago in the merry, merry month of May, my friend Dan asked me if I would join him to go to Moto. His wife was hesitant to go, but he wanted to try it out. I agreed. Fast forward several months and here we have our dinner out. He loved it. I was very much in heaven, with a few courses making me go ehhh, they were good, but not my style. Let's go to the tale of the tape. I arrive, stand at the bar waiting for my dining companion. Perusing the wine menu, (we decided early on to do a bottle or two versus a wine pairing), I decided to have one of their seasonal cocktails. There was an explosion of fall in my mouth, with this brown butter bourbon, mixed with pumpkin and butternut squash puree, seasoned with spices, rimmed with orange and crystallized and crushed pumpkin seeds. Such a blend of salty, sweet and alcoholic loveliness. The second cocktail of run and coconut milk was a downer, (as in not that great, not as in a slam it down like a shot). When my friend arrived we headed off to our table, our menus arrived, freshly baked on a delicate toasted bread, slightly seasoned with cheese and butter. On one side, you had their ten and on the other their twenty. Here is where you have to realize this place is about having fun with food. It borders on poking our conception of what we perceive food to be and what it can be. If you come with a fixated idea of what your mind and mouth can combine to be.... well, you may want to move along there Missy. The first course was their take on a tuna tartar. If was a bed of lovely tuna, with a smirky foam of a snow person on top, (I like to be PC when I can be). To top it off, they killed off our snow person by drizzling some margarita love on top, combining it with the gelee underneath, think a very citric but balanced dish. The gelee was good, but gave a glossy feel to the tuna, which I just had a harder time to get over. The next course was one of my favorites. Hawaiian Ono with a vanilla puree, crystallized grapefruit and roe. The flavors balanced again really well with the fish. The slightly sweet and tang of the grapefruit, with the silky smoothness of the vanilla blended well with the rich butteriness of the Ono. Then on to their literal version of a crab cake. A lemon sponge cake filled with large pieces of Alaskan King crab. Covered with a not sweet, cream cheese and lemon icing, with butternut ice cream and slightly cooked shaved fennel on the side. The cake was delightful, more citric than I liked, as it seemed to over whelm and made me loose the flavor of the crab. Then came pork belly that had been braised over night, with maitaki mushrooms and Chinese broccoli. Delicious. One of my favorites, the combination of all the flavors played off of each other so well and were deep that they stood out but didn't overwhelm each other. The fun playful side? A dehydrated, reconstituted shaped in to a mushroom cap and stem carefully put together on the dish. Then my second favorite, pieces of quail that has been covered in peanuts, deep fried in peanut oil, places on top of a Coca Cola reduction, with a dark caramel and apple sauce with a side of popcorn shavings and a Cracker Jack prize on the side, and yes, the prize was completely edible! The quail was done well, the sauces paired well and really, just a fun treat to eat. The rabbit maki roll surrounded by risotto with a little simple garlic sauce on the side was very good, however I lost the rabbit and much of the other flavors when I ate it all together. Sad, I like a little Thumper flavor. My favorite was the Mexican cannoli. A deep fried cannoli shell, filled with duck, covered with sour creams on the sides, lots of mole sauce over it, toasted pumpkin seeds and dehydrated corn and jalapeno on the sides. This was ingenious presentation, hearty flavors where nothing got lost and delicious in every bite. Starting our trio of desserts, we started off with the truffle ice cream with rosemary crumble surrounding it, delicious, though not as sweet as I thought. Pineapple steeped in chai tea, with marshmallow fluff and coconut covered rice noodles were wonderful, but not my style. The final of a delicious chocolate mousse covered in crumbled shortbread, with earl gray ice cream was the perfect finisher. All in all, a great time and meal. I would for go the wine pairings, I think you can get away with a bottle or two and have a great time and save some money. The wine list is okay, but not extensive for a pairing. The service was great, our sommelier was great and friendly and everyone made sure we had everything taken care of. Certainly a special treat or occasion restaurant, but an experience for any foodie to definitely try.
(4)Brit D.
My boyfriend and I went to celebrate our 6th year anniversary. I'll break it down: Decor- Very nice. I'd call it sleek with a modern feel. Very chill inside with warm tones and dimmed light and a good amount of space from each table. Service- AMAZING! We had the most amazing waiter. Spending about 5 hours there requires some good conversation and we definitely had it with our guy, I just wish I remembered his name to give a shout out! He told us that the servers are all chefs and they switch positions every month, which makes it fair and fun to work in a place like that! Our main server had so much energy and enthusiasm, he honestly made our time at moto the best it could have been! Also, building a relationship with him through out 20 courses allowed him to comp us (well me, my boyfriend didn't want any...) about 5 glasses of wine!!!!!!!!! So nice, I honostly wanted to go out for a drink with him after..... Food-Meh. It was all very creative and obviously the most unique presentations I have ever seen, but nothing was really THAT special or stood out to me. We did do the 20 courses, and I braved through the phesant and pork belly, but by the end, the waiter realized I wasn't liking the special meat so he gave me more vege options they specially made for me in the back :-) Also very nice and attentive. Other than that, nothing very special and for the $500 or so we spent, I would say definitely not worth the money. The service again was just outstanding and that alone made our evening fabulous. We really enjoyed our time there, despite throwing down $500 on just one meal. Also, I'm not a big "celebrity spotter" but my boyfriend realized we were sitting next to kate winslet and the big black guy from the matrix, pretty cool! They were with two hot girls and an old jewish director, and the guy from the matrix kept looking over at me and winking ;) (haha not really, but he did smile and say yum that looks good when he walked in) ALL IN ALL: I'd say try it once, and hopefully you get the same wonderful experience as we did.
(3)Aaron D.
Went to Moto and I'm not one to fancy any sort of seafood aside from sushi (tuna, -maybe- crab) I knew that the menu would have some items that I wouldn't be particularly fond of but I didn't want to mess with success so I kept my mouth shut and this ended up being a great decision in the long run, really. Foods I wouldn't dared to try otherwise were prepared deliciously, my only fear now is that when I try to go eat Swordfish again I might not like it. I had read that they did beer pairings and when our waiter Sam had asked me what we wanted to do for our meal I said I would like to do the beer pairing. First course came out and I was perplexed as to why to glasses appeared and a bottle of vino followed shortly there after. I told our Sam that we were actually looking forward to the beer pairing option but he misheard my request earlier and had to inform me that there was no such option (I suppose that was removed some time ago?) anyhow Sam had told me that he would instead speak with the chef and see if my request was even a possibility. First course is done, I now love swordfish and Sam is back telling me that the Chef had already composed a pairing for our 15 courses. AWESOME! The beers paired so well with each dish that I was absolutely astonished at how quickly the chef was able to whip up a list, produce the beers and facilitate my request with precision. Sam had filled me in on the GM of iNG being a beer nut too (not in those words, but yea) We had a lot of fun here, when we got in around 6pm the mood wasn't very lively which is something you might look for in a place like this but the atmosphere wasn't doing it for me initially, very stuffy. Once the drinks were poured and the meals were further in the place really opened up and people were less reserved. If I had to recommend a time to place reservations I would say depending on what kind of atmosphere you are looking for go early for a quiet reserved meal. Go later for a more laid back, relaxed setting. Our waiter Sam I would give a 10/10, and no offense to the other wait staff but I am glad we got him as our main server. Going back to the "stuffy atmosphere" comment I made earlier, a lot of the waiters looked like they walked out of an Express Catalog with very straight faced looks, not much personality to be seen but I cant blame them, it was almost like everyone in the room was fearful of sneaking out a Smile... though I can only really know our waiter the best as he was the only one we made any attempts to speak with during the meal. (I even got him to take a photo with one of the beers from our Improv beer pairing solution he and the chef cooked up). I feel like I cant talk our waiter up enough but Sam seemed to be having a lot of fun and said he loved trying something new because he knew all the wines and describing factors by heart (All of us had fun cooking up new descriptions for the beers being paired with our food, especially the one with the cherub on it). All in all the entire waitstaff made the night, my girlfriend described to me that they "moved like shadows" and was very impressed. I asked her what she meant and her explanation was one minute we would have one course, finished and within the next minute we would have a new one. It really was like clockwork, the timing could not have had been better. So back onto the food, each course was something new and I got to try a lot of things that I haven't had the chance to try. I now know how to eat an oyster and I unfortunately didn't take a liking to them... I'm giving crab another chance (the bisque, DELICIOUS). Me and scallops are back on speaking terms. Swordfish is my new best friend and I wont ever look at a wild mushroom the same way thanks to a guy named Running Squirrel. I was considering not posting all of the pictures that I am for fear of ruining any new visitors experiences but its clear now that the meal I had will be very different from the one you eat and you will still be amazed.
(5)Judy M.
For the love of all that is good, gents, please don't order the 20 course meal. Because your wife/girlfriend/mother/friend or any female you may go with will be struggling. It came to the point where I felt like I was on Man vs Food ... and food won. There were both hits and misses overall, but you pay for the experience, their experimenting and for their really cool toys (that you see if you take a tour). My two favorites were the Forest Roll and the Clam Bake, even though it was super rich. Two least favorites were the Shabu Shabuccino and Yellow Snow. Oh and the table next to ours got this golden ticket thingie. Pretty cool, would have been cooler if it happened to us. :) We were there to celebrate our anniversary by spending a whole ton of money on food, definitely a great celebratory restaurant. It is something I would say you've got to do once.
(4)Michael G.
My wife and I did the 20-course tasting menu. We both had the half-wine pairing, which resulted in us not having any wine for the first few courses. It took us almost 4 hours. We have eaten at Alinea before but none of the other molecular gastronomy hot spots (Minibar, El Bulli). Evaluating Moto is difficult because it is so unlike other restaurants. Half the fun of the evening was the theater and art of seeing the unusual presentation of the food, such as the Cuban cigar that was a Cuban sandwich, the snow man, the Acme bomb, the 'coffee break' that was a soy-based soup, the sushi roll made of risotto and rabbit loin, and the edible menu. By presenting some fairly standard tastes in new ways (such as the Acme bomb, which was a chocolate shell with liquid graham cracker inside) Moto often provoked delight but the taste often seemed secondary to the unusual presentation. I am glad I went to Moto. I would go here again. But if I wanted my taste buds to be wowed I would spend a bit more on Alinea, where they do new things because they wow the taste buds, not just because they are new and unusual. As to service and decor, they were as good as I would expect at a fine dining restaurant such as this.
(4)Adriana L.
First of all my husband and I are huge foodies from Vegas. We were in Chicago celebrating my birthday and I must admit that we only booked Moto due to not being abel to get a reservation at Alinea. For $500!!!! I was super excited and I had high expectations that this was going to be one of the best dining experiences. Well sadly we were very DISAPPOINTED!! We had a horrible booth right by the door and hostess stand, which right away was a turn off. Our server never bother to fully explain our course for the evening, we had a female busser who seemed new, she was very sweet but had no professional demeanor about her. After the first couple of courses we were completely bored, there was no energy in the room, even the people working they looked super bored, it was literally torture just sitting there . Every course took 15-20 mins to be brought to our table and our "three" hour experience turned to be almost four hours!!!!! I really wanted to like this place, but it was a huge fail. I felt bad saying anything to my husband, because he went out of his way to plan our entire evening. We left hungry, and very discouraged that they would even charge 18% gratuity to our bill, since the service was not up to par. I hate that I even have to write a review, but I really feel like we got ripped off and the only reason I give this place a two star is for the creativity in making the food.
(2)Michael M.
Well it had to happen, my first negative yelp review. Way overpriced. Got the 10 course tasting and 10 course wine pairing. For two people this dinner was a whopping $580...and when some of the food I taste is actually not good enough for myself or my date not to finish it clearly shows it's not worth the money. Of course this place is all about food presentation, and combinations that you have never had before, but the food should still taste nothing below amazing at this price. The waiter did however mention that their sister place next door, otom, offers a three course tasting menu for just $35 on Tuesdays. Skip moto and go there! This place is all hype and I can't believe the amount of good reviews on yelp, moto is probably writing them for themselves!
(2)Lisa H.
The most expensive meal I've ever had. For two of us, after ordering one bottle of $50 wine, the final bill was $500 with tip and tax. Chef puts great thought and creativity into the presentation. There were some novel concepts. But the presentation outshines the taste of the food. The tables are close together and the restaurant is small and quiet so there really is no feeling of privacy. This is not the place for a personal conversation. Also, it didn't appear they could accommodate very large groups. The service was fantastic. We probably will not visit again just because we experienced it once and do not feel the price was worth the cuisine. But it was a nice experience.
(3)Richard S.
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.
(4)H R.
For what it is, yes it is very innovative. For value, definitely not there. Did the wine pairing, full menu with nine friends. The flavors were not there. The composition was great, but repetitive. Making fat (butter) into powder seems to be their strongpoint here, repeatedly. The wine pairings were at best adequate. Not educational or stimulating. Not one wine that I wanted to go out and find. All the wines were the cheapest ones on their wine list and the pours were very unfriendly. Overall for the money, we felt inadequately served. Mr. Cantu was charming, his servers far less so. Definitely will not go back or advise others to do so. This and WD-50 (NYC) and two prime examples of why molecular gastronomy needs a real chef in the kitchen.
(3)Lindsay B.
One of my favorite dining experiences ever I enjoyed at this restaurant! We chose the 20 course tasting menu and were not disappointed- the service was phenomenal, and when we didn't want to do the full wine tasting they offered us several excellent wine pairing selections. I enjoyed the location and atmosphere, and thoroughly loved eating for 4-5 hours and relaxing and having marvelous conversation. For me, this is definitely a once in a lifetime kind of dining experience- and everything about the food, staff, and atmosphere was exactly what I was hoping for. The best thing about the service to me was the explanation the staff gave for every single dish- I loved getting to really "experience" the food as I ate!
(5)P S.
While Moto has much to recommend to it in terms of the quality of the dishes, wine pairings, presentation, and service, here's the bottom line- I paid $700+ for dinner for two and we both left hungry. And I don't mean 'not full', I mean HUNGRY. Just as background- I've dined at most of Moto's competitors (Alinea, Next, El Ideas, etc.) and never left hungry. And I'm five eight, 150 pounds, so it's not like I'm a huge eater. My stomach was screaming for a dish that required something more than a half teaspoon to consume.
(2)Sherwin S.
Moto is better than your average foodie spot, and not necessarily because of the meal itself, but because of the experience. Diners should not go into Moto expecting to have their minds blown away by the food, but by the presentation, the ambiance, and the attention to very quirky details.
(3)Chris I.
Probably one of the most amazing meals I have ever had in my life. I went there in January with my fiancee for the 15 course chef's tasting and 11 wine pairing. Each course was incredible from the edible menu to the Elvis Presley dessert. The waitors are very knowledgeable and friendly. Only downside is that 11 wines wont cut it. I needed the other four. Also this restaurant is wonderful if you have a spare $660 laying around for dinner. Other than that, I strongly would recommend without a doubt if you are celebrating something nice. You will not be dissapointed!
(5)Adolfo Z.
The place is quiet and elegant. The food will keep you pleasantly surprised all the time. If you want to try molecular gastronomy and deconstruction of classic dishes this is definitely the place.
(4)George M.
I consider Moto to be underrated. While Cantu diligently prepares molecular masterpieces with the precision of a mad scientist, his food is first and foremost playful and whimsical. The food is fun and not just because it uses molecular gastronomy as a novelty. It's fun because it plays with concepts of texture, temperature and color in inspired ways. The creativity is its own flavor in each dish. Food from the soul of a Ph.D stoner with the heart of an artist. Cantu appeals to your juvenile desires and memories of comfort food while creating haute cuisine. Perhaps I took this impression too far when I accused him of trying to make me "eat c*ck" whilst serving a disturbingly delicious dish of "rooster" but the point stands. I would estimate Cantu as a cross-breed of Grant Achatz and Wylie Dufresne. Despite my high praise and admiration for him, however, I do not think his is a five star restaurant because of one main complaint. In the four meals I've had at Moto, the desserts are rarely up to par with the rest of the menu. Yes, some are great, but others have varied from overly ambitious to tremendously botched. I also find the decor to be slightly severe and austere in contrast to the fun coming out of the kitchen. Fun can still look expensive and I would have liked to have seen more creativity in the ambiance but it's certainly not offensive.
(4)Melissa T.
I have to disagree with many of the reviews on this site for Moto. I am a world traveler and a foodie. I have no issues with spending money on great food and service, that is until I ate at Moto this weekend. I had 2 girlfriends flying into Chicago from LA and I wanted to pay for one of them - on top of my own dinner- as she does not have the money but I thought it would be a great experience for her. We all arrived and got seated in the second floor area - which is below the first floor and has a totally different vibe than the first floor. I ordered the half pairing (as I don't drink a ton) with the 15 course tasting menu. My first course came with a singed hair in it. Yes, a hair. It was replaced with a minimal apology from the waitstaff. I asked for a round of black napkins - as we were all wearing black. The white napkins stayed on the table for 2 courses. A few courses in, one of my girlfriends had to duck to get out of the way of a falling wine glass which broke right behind her. Again, a slight apology. The food was good. Nothing that I would say is worth $250+ per person. The service and the high level expectations in dining at a restaurant at this level were a let down. I've lived in NY, Miami, LA and now Chicago so I've dined at the nations top restaurants which have always blown my mind. This one has a lot to be desired all the way around - with ambiance (again bottom floor) service and food. We laughed a lot and enjoyed ourselves but mostly as the expense of the service and food. I gave it barely 2 stars for the creativity of the food. Skip moto, it's just not worth the hype.
(2)Mindy C.
Yes, I'm a nerd. Huge nerd. Science nerd, to be exact. So, of course I would be drawn to a place that boasts Liquid Nitrogen courses. My boy took us here for a "surprise date." I was psyched when the cab pulled up to Moto. We sat down and started our meal... so many courses! Edible menus, onion soup, deconstructed french fries, dirt salad, cigar, ants on a log... and so many more. Every time the waiters came out, I was so excited to see what was next. During the conversations with the waiters, it came out that I worked at a science museum. The waiter said, "Oh, i bet you'd love to see the lab where we do some of our cooking!" Heck ya! So, we go downstairs and we start getting a private tour of the space they cook in during the Future Food show. So many cool toys. We head over the centrifuge and I look inside... and there's a ring. Yup, the boy proposed right there. How could I not love Moto after that? The staff is super nice and accommodating. The food is an adventure. It's expensive, but it'll be a memorable night (maybe not as memorable as mine, but I think it'll still hold a special place in your heart). Oh and clear your evening for this... our dinner took over 3 hours. Go!
(5)Marlon O.
The Moto experience is unique, even though the time commitment is heavy. I went to Moto in mid-June, while my wife and I were in Chicago for a family event. We had not experienced molecular gastronomy (or any of its derivations) and were recommended to Moto by a friend who had dined there before. We opted for the 10-course meal with the 5-wine pairing and every course was a mixture of interesting and superb. Among my favorites was the deconstructed soup (a solid that turned to liquid once in the mouth) although I would say I was a fan of pretty much anything that was put in front of me. Moto's interpretation of modernist cuisine is well-worth the hefty price of admission (I justified it as being theater and dinner in one bill). Highly recommended. Ratings Food: 4.9/5.0 Service: 5.0/5.0 Ambience/Decor: 4.8/5.0
(5)Lindsay H.
Holy lord...it's not a gimmick. There is some crazy food here but every single one of the 12 courses tasted amazing. Wine pairings were fantastic. Service out of this world.
(5)Heather D.
Came here on July 2nd with a couple friends for the 10-course dinner with wine pairing. I won't go on about the details of our food, because other reviewers did a great job detailing the menu descriptions. However, I will say that the service was excellent and the food was so fun and flavorful that it created an experience like nothing else I've had before. Some of the timing in between courses were off, but that could be because one of the members of our party has food allergies. Wine pairings with each course were appropriate and from diverse regions which me guests and I appreciated as wine connoisseurs. The first place they tried to seat us was in the basement and it was very quiet with a bad vibe, so we requested to be moved upstairs where the life was and the staff member who assisted us seemed irritated, which annoyed us because we were about to spend $1,000. Also, some of the guests seemed to be undressed for the venue. Overall, if you're looking for a unique experience and can splurge on a nice meal then definitely come by Moto!
(5)Scott L.
We enjoyed our experience. We tried the 10 course dinner which lasted about 2.5 hours. We enjoyed many of the courses, especially the sweet ones. Some of the savory weren't our cup of tea, but it may have been a taste preference issues. Some things to consider: unlike the chairs at Alinea, these chairs are uncomfortable for a 2-4 hour dinner. The location: it's a haul getting out to Moto. Service: I like it may be an "MG" thing to get you to focus only on the sensory aspects of the food, but we felt intimidated by the service. The servers are great in terms of knowledge, but they de-emphasize any humor or personality. Again, perhaps it's a "MG" thing all around. Overall, there are some amazingly creative dishes and ones that you will only find at Alinea, Schwa (in Chicago), or at a few other places in the world. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of place.
(3)Jeremy J.
I open a narrow glass door among many, hoping I picked the right one. Signage is spare, and because our dinner is earlier than normal, there are no people waiting around or smoking outside. In fact, the desolate surrounding make me wonder if I've been dropped at the rear entrance. Just inside, however, a smiling man greets me and I know I've chosen correctly. I explain I am to meet the other diners downstairs in "the basement". He leads me through the upper dining area, and I get a fleeting sense of warmly-lit booths ensconced in browns and golds. Downstairs, I meet our fellow diners and drink in the cool environment: test tubes, lab equipment, and chemistry symbols adorning the walls. I'm in for a treat! To start, I try the cucumber & GINger cocktail. It is refreshing, though the ginger aspects are barely there. After some prompting from others, I follow up with the siesta. This is more to my liking! The coconut milk shields my taste buds from the harsher aspects of the tequila. For some reason, it tastes like a tropical version of egg nog...which isn't a bad thing. Adequately lubed, we are then presented with the menu for our 10 course meal. The menu itself it edible, a thin wafer of baked pastry upon which edible ink has been printed. The whole thing tastes like a grilled cheese sandwich! Some sections of raw tomato help freshen it up. We also ask the servers (who rotate out of the kitchen and sometimes create some of these dishes) to pair up some wine for each course. The servers are clearly having as much fun as we are, and that elevates our experience ten-fold. We start with a Ceviche Margarita, taking form as a lime foam snowman with Himalayan salt eyes, nose, and mouth sitting atop a sleigh of raw tuna. When all elements are combined, it does indeed taste like a margarita! There is no fish taste at all and the textures play off each other nicely. White Steel follows, a thick cut of mahi-mahi accompanied by bright red fish roe, all atop a hearts-of-palm puree infused with vanilla bean. The roe is salty and the texture is alien to me, but the fish is firm and flaky. Again, once all parts hit the fork with that puree, it becomes magic. I very nearly clear my plate. Our final "fish" course is the Crab Cake, which is really a puff pastry filled with lobster bits. Along for the ride are marinated fennel bulb and butter sorbet, all of it making for a rich and creative dish. Next up is NUAC man. No idea what it stands for, but it is a hunk of braised pork belly next to a mushroom broccoli rabe. In the middle of the rabe stands a tall, pale mushroom which has been dehyrdated then reconsistuted to create something like a mushroom "peep". It is light, crispy, and provides a nice constrast to the deep, earthen tones of the rest of the dish. Our next course is called Quail & Cracker Jacks, and that's about as literal as this meal got. Juicy quail breast, coated in Cracker Jack coating, arrives on a plate with dipping sauces and a cherry-flavored prize pouch. It is quick and delicious finger food. Our last main course is a Rabbit Maki, served up sushi-style with chopsticks. It is actually avocado and chunks of rabbit encircled by sticky risotto with a beet cone, garlic aoili, and a fresh pea puree made up to look like wasabi. It is a fun way to present the ingredients, and all of it works well together. I even like the rabbit! Finally, our dessert course begins with a Mexican Cannoli. But wait! It's another bait-and-switch! It's actually spicy barbeque pulled duck leg in a pastry that tastes like a tamale, covered in achiote sauce and sour cream. It is easily my favorite dish...the supreme example of your eyes telling you this is sweet, your taste buds testifying it is savory, and your brain trying to assimilate all the disparate sensory data. In a word: fun! Real dessert proceeds, including truffled ice cream and pineapple chai, but for all intents and purposes, the meal is done. I finish with a cup of hot espresso. For those foodies actively seeking a unique and experimental experience, I can't recommend Moto more. I can't imagine dining here more than once a year, but I can't imagine NOT dining here more than once a lifetime. So, if you're planning to go in 2011, let me know so I can tag along.
(5)maly b.
I was there for the 15 course winter menu.. It was very creative and tasty!! It had wine pairings with each course which my husband enjoyed.. I had the non alcoholic drinks and it paired each dish perfectly. Every course was beautifully presented like art on a canvas..It felt like an edible art show at its finest. All the waiters n waitresses was very friendly and courteous. Thanks for the wonderful entertaining experience=)
(5)Brett F.
I hate to go against the grain here because I truly wanted to LOVE Moto. It appeared to have all the right components to be my new favorite overly indulgent culinary muse.... *minimalist decor in trendy meatpacking district *attentive service from a knowledgeable, well trained staff *FABULOUS wine menu *inventive cuisine and innovative preparation methods *etc, etc, etc. Unfortunately the food just wasn't that good. I'm not sure if people get blinders on when they are shelling out big bucks at the latest and greatest and presume that $$$ = it must be great. Everything that came to the table was OK. And the 'Beet Cake' (a frozen beet sorbet with micro greens, goat cheese reduction, basil oil and beet sauce) was almost totally unpalatable for me... and I like beets!!!! Not one dish was ooooohed or aaaahhhhed over because of its fabulous tastes and complexities - is that really the sign of a 5 star restaurant?? Smoke and mirrors presentation is certainly entertaining, the liquid nitrogen (albeit a bit overplayed) cooking style is definitely impressive and a visual treat, but again... it doesn't make anything taste better. When the tastiest item on the menu is the menu itself (baked on parmesan flatbread), I have to say Moto fell short. Memorable experience. Disappointing food.
(3)Chris C.
Moto is an experience. No good way to describe it, other than to leave your preconceived notions of food at the door. The wine flight seemed like a decent idea, but not as good of an idea as just getting two bottles of wine instead. Also, the server hit us up with a free glass of desert wine, which was a nice touch. Chef Cantu wasn't there when I dined, but I was able to meet all of the kitchen staff / see their "lab" as they call it down in the basement. I would gladly drop some coin here again. Wonderful experience.
(5)Jessica C.
Dining at Moto Restaurant was purely an amazing experience. The hospitality given by all members of the staff was extremely inviting. They were very attentive, coming to clean the table between meals, refilling water, etc. My favorite thing about the staff was they pulled out your chair if they saw you getting up to use the restroom, then escorted you to the restroom, and put your chair back and folded your napkin while you were gone. The restaurant was small and located in a warehouse in an out-of-the-way part of town; I actually passed it the first time I went by. I knew it was going to be rather expensive, but I was not expecting the mandatory 18 percent service charge. We went with the 10 course. Though all of the meals were very creative and mostly delicious, there were some meals I did not enjoy. It was difficult for me to swallow the raw tuna and the extra-fatty pork. I also did not enjoy the awkwardly deconstructed enchilada or the Greek yogurt. The rest of the food, however, was divine. My favorite was the rooster, in which the waiter poured an interesting ingredient onto the plate. I don't want to give this away as this was the most shocking part of the evening. Though I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed myself, I do not think I can afford another trip there. But where else can you say you can eat out of an ashtray and drink from a beaker while eating a smoking edible packing peanut?
(4)Mabelle A.
What a fun dinner and experience! I have to admit that I wasn't really buying into the whole molecular gastronomy trend and the price tag associated with it. I'm glad that my friend and I decided to try this place. We had a great time. We did the 10 course with half wine pairing which was just the perfect amount of booze even with the additional comp champagne we got from our very friendly and attentive server. From the edible menu to paired beverages to each course, everything was wonderful and so well thought out. Things made to look like one thing were really made of something else. At the beginning, we were asked if there were any allergies or any food items we didn't really like (nice touch). For my curiosity I had asked what they would have done with a seafood allergy since my hubby is allergic and they have a whole arsenal of items to substitute. The dining room is not very large, but there are also some booths along the entrance and a private room downstairs where the "lab" is. At the end of the meal we asked if we could check it out and it was really cool to see all the tools they used to prepare our dinner.
(5)Joe K.
A unique one-of-a-kind dinning experience. The food and service were excellent and the staff very knowledgeable. My only reason for not giving the 5th star is that the atmosphere was a little too formal for my taste and I would have loved to see the staff have as much fun as the food they are serving.
(4)Stacy F.
I really enjoyed dinner here. The meal was genuinely interesting and I think that contributed to its deliciousness. I highly recommend it for a bit of adventure in addition to a good meal. There is nothing like it in the city. If I had the cash to burn, I'd come here on a regular basis, just for something a little different. For me the highlight of the evening was the wine paring. It was very, very good. Easily one of the best wine parings I've ever had.
(5)Jared W.
I contemplated whether I should even place a review, since my review mimics what many have already said, but since I'm still thinking about the experience a few days later, I'll write it down for others. My wife and I decided to try this during our short stay in Chicago and both of us really enjoyed it. The decor is fantastic, the waitstaff impeccable, the food impressive both in taste and execution/design but at this price point, none of these things should be anything but. We had a 10 course progression paired with various libations as recommended by Matthew Gundlach, the sommelier. In terms of the food, I found the savory dishes best executed -- next would be the more 'amuse-bouche' style/sized dishes, and last would be the dessert class dishes. As with a previous diner, I found the black truffle dessert to be a miss. As well, the drink pairings were well done -- one of the heartiest dishes was paired with a Belgian-style quad from Three Philosophers that is blended with a fruit lambic (cherry if I recall correctly). I was pleased to see it wasn't a list of 10 wines. As long as they keep creating these unusual and delicious creations, this restaurant will stay unique enough to keep people interested... I'm just not sure how much this concept can be stretched beyond what I experienced.
(4)Hilary J.
I enjoyed my first dining experience at Moto. If you're into food science and want to see some of the most unique food preparations known to man, it's pretty cool. One of the items I enjoyed was a smoked pork concoction wrapped up to look like a cigar, served in an ash tray, with edible "ash". Unique and tasty! However, I think 4 of the 10 courses we had last night were pork. Doesn't that seem a little pig heavy? The staff is appropriately attentive, but not incredibly personable. I could barely get a laugh out of any of them. Then again, perhaps I am not as funny as I fancy myself. Now was it worth the $500+ I spent for the two of us? Ehhh, not so much. They automatically add 18% gratuity to the check. I'm sure they often get screwed by people who don't tip appropriately, but I would have tipped more (20%+) had they left it up to me. Now ladies, I'm going to save you a few minutes of your time here. The toilet doesn't have a visible flushing handle. After scouring the freaking toilet for 2 minutes, I realized there is a button down on the left side of the bowl and that's the flusher. Weird. And disgusting location in my opinion. Nonetheless, good dinner, but severely overpriced unless you're really into molecular gastronomy.
(3)H H.
Moto was dreadful. The service was good and the waiters were attentive, but aside from that the experience was lacking and dripping with pretentiousness. The overly experimental food was pretentious at best and mostly tasteless. The combination of flavors were an equally poor attempt to be creative. Above all else, a restaurant needs to be known for it's food in addition to it's service. The food was fair to poor in every regard. This is another lesson in price does NOT equal quality. In addition, everyone at our table left hungry, which is another issue altogether. -hPOD
(1)Ted R.
The service was great,the wine pairing was glorious and the food was a little simple. Really didn't see a lot of molecular gastronomy, try SAAM at the Bizarre in Beverly hills you WILL see and taste the science. 3 people with an eleven course wine pairing was $1100.00 and change. I won't even get into the location.
(2)Jen V.
Don't get sent to the basement!! My husband and I were so excited to check out moto, but when we got there we were sent to the basement! The ambiance and atmosphere down there was severely disappointing. While the food and drinks were excellent and the creative menu lived up to the hype, we expected an experience and paid way too much to be in a boring room where we could hear everyone else's conversation - much of which rang similar to ours - "Are there any tables available upstairs??" I see others recently had a similar experience and its all around heartbreaking that such a highly revered restaurant could possibly let so many people experience anything other than the best. Even without the basement experience we feel moto is overrated, but if you do go...watch out where you sit, get ready to pay way too much, if you go on a holiday know that they will jack up the price (12 courses for $175) and whatever you do - don't use the basement bathroom!!
(2)Anthony D.
Incredibly AMAZING! Moto just maybe the only reason I decided to visit Chicago (well, visiting Wrigley may have too --but I'm a Foodie @Heart!), so what better way to experience it then on my 2yr Anniversary. If price is an issue, this is mos def worth saving up for; a mean and unforgettable experience. We chose the smaller menu, as many of the things I wanted to try most were on here and my gf, being so impatient, wouldn't have been able to sit through all that. By far, my favorite thing was the cuban cigar. At first I figured it wasnt going to taste as good as crazy it looked, but, it tasted awesome. It was soft and flavorful and made my mouth salivate tears of joy. Other recommendations: The small little blueberry type desert (dang I cant remember the name). By far, THE BEST DESERT I EVER HAD. So good, we convinced the waiter to sneak us another *wink*. Staff is super cool, the food is deliciously insane, wine was even good too (we got a bottle of a wine from here in northern california and STILL cant find it anywhere) Next time I'm out there, definitely going again!
(5)Yvette P.
Quick and Simple: I think the wine is excellent, the wait staff excellent as well. The food was experimental and different, but not excellent. Chef Cantu was not very friendly or welcoming. The only reason we ate here was on the suggestion of Anthony Bourdain, won't be listening to him much anymore, at least will take what he says with a grain of salt. Although presentation was excellent, overall, I don't think Moto is worth the price. A onetime will do experience.
(2)Laurie S.
You can probably decide whether you will like Moto by reading the reviews for it on Yelp. Came here a few weeks ago on a Friday for what ended up being a four hour long dinner. Had the 10 course and left amused, but dissatisfied. For me, Moto epitomizes the idea that "just because you can, doesn't mean you should". There is very little use of restraint anywhere on the menu. Which would be fine, if everything tasted amazing. But for the price, there were quite a few misses. The most glaring offender was the black truffle mousse ice cream cake. This course was actually revolting. No one at my table wanted to take a second bite of it. The other two desserts were similarly off. An impressive display of technique, but poor balance of flavors and textures. I'm not going to go into great detail about what I liked and didn't like. Suffice to say, if you want to see someone play with your food, come to Moto. If you're a purist, there are better, more ingredient focused places to try in the city.
(3)Scott S.
12/28/10---The decor of the restaurant is modern and stylish. The service is good with fine explanation of the food preparation with each course of the 10 course tasting menu. Wine selection was a highlight and cudos for that. All that being said---for a top notch restaurant the overall food experience was mediocre to poor. While the food presentation was creative and fine--the pairings of flavors was challenged with virtually every dish. This left many dishes most unfiufilling with bland and inconsistent flavors. For the very hefty price point I found the restaurant was not able to achieve the unique greatness it clearly seeks. While it is a unique dining experience it is far over-rated. Thus--I give it 2 stars.
(2)Alexandra B.
I thought I liked anything and everything until I came here. Honestly, just because the presentation is amazing, doesn't mean you can skimp on the flavor and the overall taste of the food. You can say I have an unsophisticated palate, but I just did not understand how some of the flavors worked together. I think I had one or two courses of the 15 that I thoroughly enjoyed. This was my first time at a restaurant like this, but if they are all like this, I won't be going again any time soon. I was exhausted after 6 hours and wishing I had went for some Chicago deep dish instead. Also, the waiter spilled berry sauce on my white pants and sweater, completely a mistake and I would never write a bad review just because of that, but I think it was fairly obvious that we were there for a work dinner. Although they comped my meal, which was very nice and appreciated, I was not paying in the first place. So really, I got nothing at the end of the day. I don't think the stains will come out and I will be left with dry cleaning costs and the cost of having to buy new clothes. I would have appreciated if they offered to pay at least for my dry cleaning.
(2)Angie L.
We had a fabulous night and meal at Moto. The spring/summer menu is inventive, fun and has some really really amazing bites of the food. The service is excellent without being stuffy. Two of the courses were not my taste, but that is to be expected on this type of menu. One of the best dining experiences I have ever had.
(5)James L.
I went to Moto around 2005 when they were still a young establishment. There was a lot of promise and creative energy back then, but some aspects of the experience were pretty clumsy as they were just getting started. Flash forward eight years and this place is remarkably good. The food was really well-thought out and the theater was just over-the-top enough to give a sense of playfulness in the otherwise austere environment. I found the wine pairing quirky and interesting and deftly chosen. The service is a little strange and a bit unrefined in places, but that was only a small distraction during an otherwise excellent evening. In a year full of many, many restaurants, some of which had one or two more Michelin stars than Moto, this was our favorite dining experience.
(5)Anna Y.
It's not as good as they think it is . A lot of hype and little delivery. Some good things the oyster was disgusting and oysters are my favorite thing. But I think they want to be alinea and fall short.
(3)Stephanie M.
Great food and great experience - the portions were small, but everything was very good - also did the wine pairings, which were exceptional!
(5)Ginny L.
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.)
(5)Kara S.
This place is amazing! We went here for my friends birthday b/c she saw it on the food network (or some other food channel). This place is an experience! We ordered the 10-course meal and were there for about 4.5 hours. I won't go into too much detail but when you're here keep an open mind and don't just eat the food, taste it. The flavors really complement each other. Definetely check it out!!!
(5)Jeanne B.
By far one of the best food experiences I have ever had. The room, lighting, wait staff, wine, food, dishes, utensils even the glasses. All our unique yet planned expertly. We had the 10 course meal and every single one went above and beyond. Next time we are in Chicago it is "must" go to. On a side note went to the museum of sicence and industry the following day and they have an exhibit dedicated to Chef Homaro Cantu!
(5)David L.
Goddammit, this meal was the most interesting meal I've had in my entire life. I loved every minute of the six hour adventure. I gave Chef Cantu a hug.
(5)Dina I.
It's funny that I write this review now, as Moto was one of the first, if not the very first, food centric restaurants I visited when I first started becoming passionate about food (eating and cooking) about 8 years ago. I had just finished undergrad in 2004 and even with my novice palate at that point, I remember not being that impressed. I wonder what I would think about it now. Without a doubt my palate has matured and progressed, but I am sure the menu at Moto has as well in 8 years, so maybe I should give it another shot?
(2)Lindsey H.
Last night's dinner at Moto was quite possibly the best dining experience of my life. When I first came to the restaurant a little over a year ago I had been impressed with their innovative and creative dishes, but today's Moto has reached new heights. You can see and feel the amount of work and energy the culinary and front of house staff have put into making that evolution. Each of the 14 courses on the menu was like its own complete scene to be experienced through sight, smell, taste and texture. The components of each dish are so well thought out and the flavors melded perfectly. We opted for the wine pairing and I'm so glad we did because the pours complemented and heightened the flavors throughout the evening's meal. Ocean, Forest Foraging and the Red Wine Salad were probably my favorite courses, but it was truly difficult to choose because each was so different and good in its own right. "Smell the Glove" was a bit too sweet, but gets props for the Spinal Tap inspiration. One of my favorite parts about the night was that once we arrived we were able to let go and let the staff take over, guiding us expertly through the foods and wines. We are thankful to Alex and Miranda, our main server and sommelier, who were like our narrators throughout it all. Our thanks, too, go to all of the other countless servers and chefs who paid such close attention to every detail, from plating to serving to pouring and clearing. It was quite an orchestrated event that we didn't fully appreciate until talking about it after leaving the restaurant. This was a dining experience like no other, and I'm excited to see what Moto has to offer next.
(5)Jenny K.
It was fun experience trying inventive, unusual molecular gastronomy. My favorite was their edible menu. I enjoyed the overall presentation and eating something that looked like one thing but tasted entirely and unexpected different. I, personally, would not pay several hundred dollars more than once for this type of entertainment though. I care more about good food well made, than the gimmicks.
(4)Heather R.
Seriously folks...I pride myself in being a foodie...(and now learning how to tell others on Yelp - yahoo!). Moto is like nothing you've ever experienced before. Chef Homaro Cantu and the team have exceptional EVERYTHING before you ever get to the food. Exceptional environment, service, customer engagement, personalized touches....Every person feels special coming into this environment, it feels as though every detail is considered....then you get to the food. My all time favorite was the cuban sandwich served (looking like) a cigar burning in an ash tray. The flavors were fantastic! WOW...do your eyes play tricks on your tastebuds! it is a bit expensive...but worth every penny. If you're thinking about coming to Moto...STOP THINKING AND DO IT. You will not regret it, and you'll be telling everyone you know about your experience.
(5)Jen P.
Moto is definitely worth trying at least once. I went here with my boyfriend, and we had the 10 course meal with the wine pairings. We were there for maybe 3 hours. Neither one of us wanted to sit for longer than 3 hours; otherwise, we would've definitely done the 20 course meal. Every dish we had was not only interesting and fun to look at, but really tasty. Out of the ten dishes, I would say eight were absolutely delicious and two were good. Our server was friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and accommodating. We left here happy and satisfied. It is a little pricey, but you get what you pay for--and I think our dinner experience here was definitely worthwhile. We will definitely be back.
(5)Fleming B.
My boyfriend took me here for my Christmas present this year, and I have to say, he chose correctly. While initially put off by the price, we had heard such good things about it that we thought we could make it work on our grad student salaries. We chose the smaller of the two prix fix menus, as we didn't want to be trapped in a restaurant for 3-4 hours. It was a novelty dinner, but a thoroughly enjoyable one. Each course was more fanciful than the next. The menu revolves around surprise - each dish comes out looking uniquely like one thing, but tastes like a completely different one. The highlights for me: a reuben that looked exactly like lasagna, a cannoli that was actually a Mexican entree, and (my favorite) the cuban beef "cigar." It was a fun, fancy dinner that was full of unexpected "wow" moments. However, I don't think it would be worth the money to do it again, unless the menu completely changed. We paid for the experience, not the food. It was completely worth it, and I adored it, but I think one time is enough per menu.
(5)Allen S.
For all you naysayers out there, in the words of my wife: "WHINERS!" I'll skip the part where I justify my foodie existence by name dropping, and I will say that if you are seeking a Michelin 3 star experience, this isn't it. It is, however, an incredibly creative and interesting way of preparing food. It's just plain fun. So, let me update some of the comments that you've read below. 1) There is liquid nitrogen prepared ingredients and dishes, but nothing that "burns your tongue". 2) People complained about skimpy pours with the wine pairing? It's a 13 course meal! How many ounces did you expect per pour? 3 full bottles worth for 90 dollars would be an outstanding deal. There are also incredibly reasonable wine options on the menu. There is literally a 35 dollar bottle. I'd imagine it's horrible, but you are by no means stuck with only expensive wine choices. 3) There is music. Not sure where that nitpick came from. 4) There is a male and female bathroom - it's not unisex (not sure where that nitpick came from, either). 5) The area is ghetto, sure. Honestly though, did you really walk to a 600 dollar dinner? The cab will do a great job ensuring your survival. 6) Not every dish is going to blow your mind, but luckily, you have 13 to try. It's impossible for everyone to love every dish with this much variety. 7) Decor - yes it's spartan, but think trendy European as opposed to empty warehouse. I thought it was classy. 8) Time Frame - This was not 4.5 hours like many reviewers said. It took us 2.5 hours, which for a 13 course dinner is completely reasonable. We didn't feel rushed or that there were empty moments. Note: We went at 5 PM, so it's possible the later dining options take longer. If time is a concern, go early. All in all, we had a fun filled dining experience that we won't soon forget. From reading other reviewers, it sounded like we had some different entrees, which makes me think they are always changing out the things that work and don't work. So, I think that there will always be something unique to try there. Go in with the realistic expectation that you'll pay about 600 for a couple for dinner and a show in 1, and you shouldn't leave disappointed .
(5)Kevin S.
Moto = win. There is no experience like the one you get at Moto. My fiancee and I were lucky enough to have my future mother-in-law give us a reservation here when we visited Chicago a year ago. We had the 10 course meal, she got the vegetarian and I got the meat eater's variety. Amazing. We have the printed menu saved (since we ate our menus at the restaurant... printed on a piece of toast) so we can forever relive that meal. The icing on the cake was after the meal, when one of the wait staff offered to call a cab for us--and stood in the street in the rain to do so. That's service! My recommendation? Just do it. Take the hit to the wallet (or have a family member pay for you), because there's nothing in the world like Moto.
(5)Tim Y.
The food here is wonderfully creative. Delivery timed just right with impeccable service and attention to detail, it's definitely worth the five hours to do the twenty course menu: something I was very nervous about heading in. It's a foodie's dream, and an amazing roller coaster for the senses. Right from the start when we were sharing laughs with the staff over earlier comments we'd posted to them via Twitter (encouraged per the menu!), staff was on point. Food arrived in steady intervals - not too fast, not too slow. This isn't an experience you want to rush even if you *are* hungry. Having time between courses allowed for great discussion and many, many laughs. My favorite course was the Cuban cigar -- how fitting for a rabid anti-smoker. Every course had ups and downs, highs and lows. At our table, there was only one person who truly didn't like one of the courses. Lucky husband, he got to eat her rejects. Yum. A tip of the hat to their accommodation of lactose/dairy intolerance. Menu items were not sacrificed in quality nor quantity as a result, leaving everyone at the table impressed and thankful that our dairyless friend shared the same tasting experience as everyone else. As Jen V. suggests, stay away from the basement. We sat upstairs, but were invited to the kitchen to have our final course with the chefs. On the way down we had to pass through this area and I couldn't believe that they'd actually seat people here. The space seems like an afterthought and definitely lacks the ambiance of the main dining room. One group had a young child with them, and I'm a bit confused as to why they'd bring the little one to a place like this. While I'm fine eating a foie gras cupcake, something tells me little Jimmy might find it a bit offputting. I didn't hear too much screaming from that side of the room, so perhaps they fed him chocolate truffles until he passed out. Or maybe that's just what I'd like to have happen to myself next time...
(5)Rachel R.
Incredibly unique experience. Everything has already been said about the food - it was a truly memorable event. However, I do want to mention my disappointment with the ladies restroom. For such an upscale pricey destination I would have preferred not to feel like I was in the restroom at a public train station. The toilet requires directions for use (not provided) and apparently I'm the only person that night that figured it out. Every lady prior to me did not successfully locate the flush button. You're at the restaurant for 3 - 5 hrs and unfortunately will probably have to visit the ladies room multiple times!
(4)Mimi T.
I think Moto is worth trying once because of the unique experience of eating super creatively concocted food. I went with a group of friends for the 10 course meal. Not all courses were outstanding in taste (1/3 were not tasty or too salty, 1/3 were pretty good, and 1/3 were very delicious) but most were amazingly interesting in concept and presentation. You definitely have to love the idea of the crazy experiments in food design and recipes, otherwise the whole thing just seems hokey and overly expensive. The service was awesome and the waiters were super friendly and fun. They gave us a tour of the kitchen afterward, which was so cool (especially after watching their show, Future Food). I ended up being too full at the end. 10 courses is a lot of food. Don't bother with the 20 courses, by the end of 10 you feel like you are ready for the 3 hour experience to be finished. In summary: Pluses: crazy unique food, a fun and interesting experience, great service, cool industrial minimalist ambiance Minuses: expensive, all courses not as consistently tasty as you would expect for the price
(4)erica f.
Had to check out MOTO. My slave and I did the 20 course (if you plan on the 20 course its beneficial to make it the ONLY meal of the day-I was full by #9) Overall, GREAT line-up of dishes. I love anything creative or avant garde... esp. food related. The only dish that I could say disappointed me was the cigar. I had seen pix of it here on yelp and just thought "o, how awesome, I love to smoke 'em, so maybe I'll love to eat 'em!" No. It was NOT my favorite. I can not even explain the taste (I'm writing this review a bit late) but I remember the bitterness and gross texture inside the rolled up cigar. Other than that it was fab 5 freddy. The "siesta" and the "picnic" were great cocktails, the "picnic" being the fave with the help of the liquid nitrous pouring out from the top. I enjoy smoking drinks... I don't know if they give out DVDs for everyone but that night after we were through with everything- almost forgot! The "acme bomb" and "soda float" deserts were VERY delicious and quite imaginative... oK, so after the meal we were given DVDs of FUTURE FOOD featuring MOTO and their super awesome team of chefs which I had never heard before....U get to see all the behind the scenes stuff and what they do in the kitchen lab-Highly entertaining for any food lover. I HAD FUN
(4)Waleed I.
Just like with Alinea, you must view the pictures simultaneously with the review to better understand. I won't write a bunch of comments about each, but rather primarily rank the dishes and mention the highlights for each dish. I prioritized the dished by a 1 (dishes I loved), 2 (dishes I thought were good) ,or 3 (dishes that I didn't care for). I had 7 #1s, 8 #2s, and 7 #3s. #15 Tortilla chip menu It's obviously cool that he can print menus that are edible. But one side of the menus was not even legible and the flavors were that of grocery store chips. The sauce lacked depth as well. #16 Salmon & sesame The idea is great on this one. Using liquid nitrogen to freeze the sesame oil with a salmon tartare. But there was no liquid in the dish to help bring the oil out of it's frozen state so it tasted pasty. #13 Soup & salad Another cool concept, pairing soup in salad in one bowl, both in liquid form. The soup was pizza, a good quality spicy tomato bisque. The salad not as good. Liquefied 'lettuce', anchovy paste, and croutons. I liked the paste. #10 Acorn with bacon A very interesting dish. On the right was a normal acorn squash soup, but the left was where the dish was at. If I remember correctly, a dehydrated squash and hydrated. It had a funky texture, but I liked this one. #19 Synthetic champagne A syringe releases two ingredients, both of which I can't remember and 3 secret ingredients. I think the effort that went into this dish didn't show in the final product. Nothing special from a taste standpoint. #21 Goat cheese snow Snow? How about shredded goat cheese that was chilled. #2 Hamachi & orange I loved this one. The yellowtail was good, but the thing is you squeeze some of the orange on it. The orange is carbonated, so it's like if Orange Cola had a baby. not sure how this is done, but it's a very cool effect. #3 Miso & grilled tuna One of my favorites for the effects. The miso soup was good. The tuna sat on a grill frozen with liquid nitrogen, so it actually gave the raw tuna 'grill' marks or freezer burn for that matter. I thought the effect was really cool. #18 Pomegranate & caped gooseberry Nothing special here. I think they call it a palette cleanser or palette yawner. Just pomegranate soup, gooseberry sorbet, and a gooseberry. #6 Caramel apple Another good one for me. A hollowed apple filled with bacon and given the usual caramel apple fixings. The sweetness of both complimented each other. #4 Rabbit & aromatic utensils The battleship plate. The sage utensils didn't do much for me, but they looked cool. The roasted rabbit and the rabbit confit were delicious and tender. The beans and the rice krispie things were not needed. #14 Jalapeno & cilantro I love creative ice cream, so I like this and the avocado and cream went well with the dish. No need for the grains on the bottom. #9 Al pastor with avocado Duck al pastor, very good dish, avocado popper, spooned with a good mole sauce on the bottom. One of my favs that night. # 20 Orange scented wine glass You take a tour of the kitchen for this dish. A laser gives the flavor of orange into a wine glass. The wine glass is set on your table and served with wine after a few minutes. I tasted wine, not much orange. #22 Chicken-fried mac-n-cheese Rib-eye fried like chicken with white truffles and mac 'n' cheese. By far, the worst dish of the night. Rib-eye did not work fried and the dish was so salty. #1 Lychee rigatoni fruit plate Loved this dish. Flourless, eggless, lychee rigatoni on a marscapone sauce that was was great. #7 Carrot cake planet Carrot cake in three forms, all of which were new to me, hard to describe. I liked this one a lot and it just looked cool #17 3 cotton candy stages Top --- tasted like shredded filo dough with simple syrup. Bottom --- cotton candy edible paper --- cool, except for the copyright. Bottom --- hard candy --- it tasted ok. Nothing special. #12 Flapjacks prepared tableside The pancakes are prepared on a small grill that was frozen in liquid hydrogen and dipped in syrup. I liked the flavor of this one and it was creative. A keeper. #8 Cherry bomb This was cool. A cherry sauce cover chocolate with a cherry stem (play on words), macerated cherries (boring), and cherry cola candy (cool). #5 Doughnut soup & pancake I could drink this everyday. Jack-in-the-box should come out with a doughnut shake. Very cool. #11 Chili-cheese nachos I loved when this one came out. It looked great yet it was a dessert. As for the taste, as Borat would say, " Not so much." Sugared chips, kiwis, shredded mango sorbet, lemon marscarpone cream (loved it), and ground milk chocolate. The chef still need to refine his cooking processes and the same ingredients/techniques were presented in too many dishes. But, I think I still need to give it a 5 star as he is doing something that only a handful of chefs are doing or even capable of doing in the US.
(5)Patrick N.
my wife and i recently did the 20 course tasting menu and had an incredible time. we split the wine pairing, which is something i highly recommend. the pours are still quite generous, and definitely seemed to get bigger as the night went on. while nothing we ate that night was the best thing i have ever had flavor wise, the sheer creativity of the dishes along with the unusual flavor combinations made for an unforgettable night. the service and atmosphere were both great, and there is no pretension or stuffiness at all. overall, we really enjoyed our night at moto, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a truly unique dining experience. there are pics of all our courses in my blog in my profile.
(5)David W.
First let me say that the 20 course gtm (grand tasting menu?) is frankly too much - it took us 5.5 hours to get through it and by the end we were rolling our eyes with trepidation at the thought of the final few courses. As my better half pointed out - this is Louis XIV territory. We paired it with the half wine tasting menu which usually consists of 6 wines, although we ended up getting 8 as our waiter slipped in a couple of extras as the evening progressed. The only downside to the half menu is that you'll be without wine for a few courses here and there, but trust me by the end of the meal you won't be feeling hard done by. The food and atmosphere of the place is really fun and full of theatre. Whilst it is pretentious (what do you expect?) it's not at all snooty so you can sit back, relax and enjoy a joke with the waiters. Even if you yourself are snooty, by course 15 you'll be sitting back and relaxing whether you like it or not. For some reason our waiter had it in his notes that I was a Chef and despite explaining there had been some kind of mix-up, that didn't stop him organising us a tour of their food "lab" and an introduction to the sous-chef to talk about some of the courses. The "lab" was next to the kitchen and was apparently where they experimented with centrifuges and microscopes to invent new dishes; frankly it felt a bit staged and I would've rather have seen the actual kitchen, but either way it was a fun end to the evening. All in all we had a great time and I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a memorable evening of gastronomy. It's probably worth noting that we thought we'd booked ourselves in for the 10 course menu, but by the time we'd realised we were on the 20 course menu it was too late to do much about it - you lose track of the course numbers very quickly. So it's worth confirming you're getting what you expected before starting out.
(4)Austin T.
We did the 10 course with wine paring at $250 a person. Dinner was perfect with exceptional service,food,wine and ambiance.
(5)Scott R.
Eh, not quite sure where to start on this one. I had very high expectations after hearing the experience my sis had here. The food is very unique and interesting, but the gastronomy thing is getting a bit cliché now. At some point you need to stop freeze drying everything, or turning into foam or making fish taste like candy canes or whatever. This alone would not make me review it poorly as I have LOVED the creativity at Alinia and Schwa that was accompanied by great food. A big disappointment was that I felt sick from the amount of desserts that were served. I think 5 out of our 11 or so dishes were sweet desserts. I had a stomach ache from all the sugar I had eaten that night. The biggest fail of the night was that our waiter forgot to bring us one of our courses. Only after my wife convinced them that they indeed had forgotten the course did they bring it out. This wouldn't have been even as bad if they had not but an automatic 18% gratuity on our bill. I'm sorry, I tip well at restaurants that give me a great experience. If you forget a course and I'm paying $350 for a meal, you better not expect a full tip if you fuck it up. I thought this was tacky and actually had to go through the manager to bring the tip down just out of principal. I know many people who had a great experience here. For me it was too expensive for wacky not so tasty food.
(2)Shawn K.
Had dinner here on Saturday night. Had the 20 course menu. The food was amazing. Many very interesting tastes presented throughout the meal. Sixteen dinner tastings and then four dessert tastings. Found the service to be mixed. Some very good servers and some not to impressive servers. A few of the servers struggled with dish explanations. Overall they did a good job with keeping the beverages refilled and they had a nice variety of wines of tasting. Not really blown away with ambiance actually found it very hard to have a conversation. The room was some what small and voices really just carried even on occasion it sounded like the servers were yelling in order to explain the dishes. I'm giving MOTO four stars but on the food alone because I was impressed. I give the service three stars because I just think that the presenters should be able to better explain the dishes with out mumbling through them. Ambiance however only gets one star because like I said very hard to have a conversation. Glad we experienced the restaurant well worth the price we paid for dinner cause like I said the food was amazing as well as the dish presentations.
(4)Linda SingaSong S.
Avec...Moto.. Otom .. all these unique, curious restaurant names..all related in some way or another, I was fortunate enough to be invited by a fellow gf. Her sister, a chef, was doing a mini apprenticeship @ Moto and invited us for a special dining experience. I love the Fulton Market area..a bit dark and creepy, but great hidden gems throughout the streets. We were seated in the tall booths & it instantly reminded me of the decor at Violet Lounge. Our bartender/server was quite the character. Very proper, nerdy, stylish, and very informative. We weren't quite picky with drinks so he made us his favorite 3 cocktails. Don't remember the names, but the presentation was so fun! They were all in lab beakers, and quite strong. Each cocktail had some fancy emulsion of egg whites, blend of exotic fruits, etc. They all had a great kick and I got my buzz on. We were fascinated by the edible menu w/our names printed on 'em. Every course was explained by my friend's sister, ze Chef in training.. The portions aren't huge, but that's alright..this place is known for their nerdy creations & use of scientific instruments. I enjoyed the Cigar and ashtray entree..the pork was the cigar and the ashes were a blend of seeds. We got a special peak of private dining area in basement. What a room!! Periodic element as its wallpaper w/shelves of beakers and test tubes. Centrifuges and other fancy instruments which I can't pronounce. The chefs were busy at work, meticulous with their presentations, and still made time to explain few of the menu items to us. It didn't cost us a fortune, thanks to our hook-up. I gave it 4 stars coz it's not the place to go to if your hungry, but a great spot for tourists and first timers. I'm a nerd at heart so I enjoyed my experience at Moto
(4)Amber S.
Wow! What a WASTE of time and money! I am absolutely SHOCKED that people are reviewing this place at 5 stars. For the time and the money you have to invest in this place, every single dish put in front of you should be mind-blowing and at the very least, something you couldn't get anywhere else. From beginning to end the food was stunningly average with only one shining stand out - the pork belly - and one dismal low - the final "marshmallow" and pineapple dessert. Maybe the were having off night, but I would NEVER recommend this place and certainly never return.
(2)Anonymous F.
I have eaten at Moto several times and I have re-read and edited this review several times before posting it, and I want you to know that I absolutely approve this message! As a former lengthy and descriptive 5-star reviewer for Moto, this go round I totally agree with Tricia L., who reviewed Moto recently! My party of 4 had the same menu she described. I've been here twice before and loved it, but today I felt VERY cheated. For a base cost of $175 per dinner, I expect some greatness - in the form of deliciousness, inventiveness, or something to hang my hat on. I could get several fantastic meals elsewhere for the more than the $1,000 I spent here for 4 meals and 2 inexpensive bottles of wine (wine cost=less than $150 total). Every dish was deconstructed which shows a serious lack of imagination for allegedly serious food, and in this case, a real lack of food! I have eaten at all kinds of pricy venues very happily, but I left this hungry both literally and figuratively. At least give us SOME food for 1or 2 of the larger courses, dang it!! No matter our primary motivations for coming here, we did all come here to eat - so feed us! The entire 11 courses amounted to less food than a hamburger - without fries. I would be okay with this if it all was a mind blow, but that's not the case. Chef Cantu better refocus on how he made his bones or that will be all that's left blowing down the alley between these old meat packing warehouses in a decidedly unsexy part of the city. I am sad to report this, but I refuse to rate this on my past experiences or on Moto's reputation: reviews are for what you can expect now, and all good restaurants know that they are only as good as their next meal. In this case it is undeserved of your hard-earned money. If Moto paid to fly me back to Chicago from my home halfway across the country, I would need other good reasons to come back and spend that much of my time at the restaurant. I am not trying to be mean, but helpful: this restaurant was greatness and I pray that they get back on track. Note to Moto: please call me if you do, because I have tasted and enjoyed your fantastic potential other times!
(2)Brittany G.
Came here for the first time for my friend's birthday. Staff was thorough in explaining everything, but were not very pleasant. Tried the 10 course expecting to have to make a run to grab some food after, but I was barely able to finish the last plate! It was all delicious and super fun in the way it was prepared and presented. I recommend to anyone willing to spend the green for an interesting night in the city.
(4)M S.
The ambiance is a little cold. The walls are grey and decorations were sparse. From what I had heard about the restaurant, I was surprised to see that the decor was not very warm. Overall food was good. however some dishes were too salty. I did like the fact that they tailored the dishes to the diner's dietary restrictions. My favorite dishes were the cuban cigars and the egg drop soup. It's an interesting experience so I would recommend to try the restaurant at least once.
(4)Amy L.
Overview: Moto was an awesome experience, but at a hefty price. Overall, at about $600 for two people, it was worth the money. My boyfriend and I ordered the 10 course meal and split the wine pairing (best decision of the night, btw - if we hadn't split it, I would have been pretty toasty by the end of the night! It was literally 10 full glasses of wine!). Food: The meals were tasty and definitely unique - some courses were borderline bizarre (like when they brought out little snowmen in a bowl that tasted like tuna, then the waiter poured some sort of mango sauce over it to "drown the snowman, bwahahaha"), but it's all part of the experience. Nothing stood out as the best food I've ever had in my life, but there were a lot of "Hmmm, interesting ..." courses - I guess it's up to you to decide if that's good or not :) Atmosphere: The decor is very minimalist and sleek. The lighting was pretty dim, giving the restaurant a sort of sexy vibe. The clientele was much older (mid-30's-40's) than we are (mid-20's) - Moto is not a place to see and be seen, necessarily, but it does have the haute society feel to it. Also, everyone was dressed very nicely (nothing irks me more than going to a nice restaurant where people are dressed in jeans and sweatshirts). Service: Amongst the BEST I've ever had. The waiters were super attentive and knowledgeable about the food and drink. They explained each meal and wine pairing as it arrived and were friendly and funny as they did it. There was no air of snobbery as you might get in some high-end restaurants - these people were down-to-earth and awesome!
(4)Anne M.
Last minute on April 23rd, 2010 we were wanting to celebrate our Anniversary at Alinea, well, a day prior, they were booked solid for 6 months so we were lucky enough to call Moto and they had room. I rushed there from DeKalb, IL, 60 miles away 1 hour traffic plus more in order to beat Friday afternoon traffic to make it there at 5:30pm. Lucky I left work early. My date and I walk in and find we are transported to a new word like it was a filming on the Matrix movie set. The food was neat and service was impeccable. Deandre was a wonderful host and the tour in the basement was neat. I had heard of the owner on Iron Chef and was excited to finally be at his restaurant without knowing about it prior. This proves if you want something enough, you will get it, somehow it just worked out that way, whereas the chef at Alinea I've never heard of. Anyway go there for the experience and time with your sweetheart rather than too much focus on the taste, it's meant to confuse you because you will be soon eating a cigar in an ashtray made of grape leaves and some other edible ingredients. I found service to be wonderful and all the hosts there are actually culinary chef students/graduates so they are trained to be professional. I walked to the rest room which a hidden side door opens up where a gentleman will open and close it for you otherwise you won't know it's there. I came back to find, my napkin refolded very nicely, and table of crumbs gone and refreshed by the attentitive waitstaff. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Would I go again, maybe in 10 years as it was $550 for both of us almost $600 since they do include tip. For my date, I just told him, it was an investment and very modest price because it saved us a the price of an actual transport to another state for a dinner. Plus we should be treated like royalty on our anniversary.
(4)giggity G.
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.
(4)Jacques G.
Like some others, we were a little freaked when our cab ride started to go through a warehouse district, I guess you can say the food will always be fresh since all the food distributors are right there. The food was good and surprisingly filling. The staff were very friendly and even asked us our opinions on the menu. Some of the dishes were I wouldn't say salty, but very strong in flavor. The menu had a very strong seaweed taste (it was a japanese style rice roll with pickled vegatables). The nose-to-tail was very good and had a little edible diagram of a pig which tasted like bacon. Desserts were our favorite, including one named Michael Bolton, which had a picture of his face painted onto a cookie. There were some minor nuances that bothered me. For one the music or muzak was somewhat annoying. Also the bathroom was stocked with Palmolive soap and not a true hand soap. Also I was annoyed that at first they serve you bottled water, but as the night progressed they started giving us tap water. I'm sorry but for $450 for 2 people (I had 2 glasses of wine and my wife didn't have any), they could do those small things right. In all, its a cool place and you do have to have a sense of humor (and quite a bit of money). If you are a picky eater, I wouldn't suggest eating here.
(3)Grace L.
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!
(5)julie q.
$601.16. Let's first start with that. $601.16 for two people to eat and drink some terrible choices for wine. Also, gratuity is already included...So it doesn't matter how great or bad your servers are. The atmosphere. The place is stark, cold, and uninviting. There is no creativity for the decor. It's gray, white, and black. It made me want to go to sleep the entire time I was there. No music, no ambiance. I understand they want the emphasis on the food, but if the food was actually decent, then maybe I would not have been so turned off by the atmosphere. The food. I've been lots of places for lots of money and I was so excited to go here for the experience and creativity of the food. The food is low quality for what you get. They waste truffles. $75 truffles wasted on ice cream and marshmallows. And you couldn't even taste them. The food was horrible. Deconstructed food that was reconstructed with beef stock, onions, and salt. I get the concept, but I thought that the concept would work to create intense and different flavors. Basically, it all ended up tasting like beef stock, onions, and salt. Even the desserts were horrible and salty. They ruined chocolate cake and ice cream. How do you ruin chocolate cake and ice cream?? They did. The chocolate bomb at the end of the dining "experience" completely ruined the entire meal. I still have the salty, rotten taste in my mouth from the liquid graham cracker filling. Wine pairings - they do NOT pair them with anything. They just randomly poor red wine, white wine, champagne, or horrid sherry into your glass when you finish the one before. For $85, it was a complete waste of money. They should call it "wine randoms with your dinner." The experience was lacking. There were only two "experiences" I'll remember. One was pouring candle wax (emulsified butter) on my "steak" and the other was raw egg (mango puree) in a horrible creamy something or other that my husband could not eat. The wait between courses is excessive. We were there for 3 1/2 hours. No one needs to be in a restaurant for more than 2 hours especially with the lack of atmosphere. I did it. I followed the "hype" to Moto and went in with very high expectations. I too read Yelp reviews and saw the one stars and thought, "Those people don't know what they're talking about." I wish I would have paid more attention and did more research before spending almost $1000 on this place. It's not an "experience", the food isn't good, and all the hype is false advertising. It's the next day and I'm typing this and I have a horrible chemical taste in my mouth with a salty after flavor, a stomach that's still wondering why the hell I put so much deconstructed "food" in it, and $600 poorer.
(1)Karen H.
I really enjoyed it. Service was great, food and presentation was really nice. Expect to be there for 4 hours. If you ask, they will even give you a tour of their kitchen. It's pretty cool to see how things are set up. You get a tasting of the tasting menu. That concept was really cute and different. I didn't like the cheese course cuz I hate blue cheese. Also in the end I noticed that people got this cherry blossom tree thing and you can pick a cherry off and eat it. They forgot ours. I requested it and then they gave it to us. We wish we had some more unique options, like the ediable menu and the cubun cigars.
(4)Eric A.
Now the only reason I give this 2 stars is because yelp states that their 2-star rating is "meh, I've experienced better." And that would definitely accurately portray my feeling when leaving. But this comes with a caveat - I've been to some of the best restaurants in the world, so I have those to compare this to. Restaurants like Alinea, Per Se, El Celler de Can Roca, Andre in Singapore, and Next for a few different menus. So maybe comparing a 1 michelin star restaurant to a bunch of 3's isn't fair, but if I have to be honest, I've also been to many non michelin star restaurants that were far better. I would say my chief complaint at Moto was the flavors. A+ for presentation, A+ for originality, but flavor would probably get a C-, at least if comparing to other $150++pp dinners. I even asked for a favor to try a macaroon at the end and although they were cool enough to sneak me one, it just was average at best. Not a fantastic flavor, not the best texture, etc etc. But I did have very high expectations for Moto. I also did expect it to be much more "molecular gastronomy"-ish, but it wasn't even that. Will not return when a restaurant like Next is across the street, and Alinea a few miles away.
(2)Kati C.
if there is a 0 star on yelp, I would give moto a 0 star. We tried the 14 course tasting menu for thanksgiving. the food was creative, either way to salty to eat or you can finish it in less than half seconds. Our reservation was at 6:30 and we got out of moto at 11:30p. After 5 hours, it was the most starving moment of the day.
(1)A L.
I was getting seriously tired of the multi-course small portions thing until I came here and had a really fun time. The courses were whimsical, creatively presented, and tasty. What I appreciated the most was the simplicity -- they didn't explain every component or cooking process in hushed tones, they just told you enough to make you want to eat it. The portions were large enough that your taste buds have something to work on and can actually register the flavors that the chefs are trying to get at. Nothing felt jumbled as sometimes happens when chefs try too hard to show off rather than just give us good food. As the Moto chefs are known for crazy scientific cooking methods I was expecting a lot of theatrical food but instead just had a really fun and enjoyable meal. The wine pairings were also adventurous and wonderfully done. The allium course pairing in particular was striking. The food really brought out a flavor in the wine that I hadn't noticed when I tried it before the food. Which brings me to a point regarding the service. Very well coordinated -- each new wine glass was brought out and each wine poured at the exact right time. Each dish was cleared at the right time and the pacing of the meal was just right. Overall a delightful experience!
(5)Marty G.
The low reviews are correct: some dishes are too salty, service is frequent but robotic and unfriendly, and the pre-determined tip doesn't allow the customer to tip based on performance. Moto seems to thrive on "foodies" that are new to the whole molecular gastronomy thing (I must admit that I would fall into this category. My fault for not doing my homework). Cantu is a poor man's Achatz.
(1)Carly T.
First, I should preface this by saying that this definitely was a delicious meal. The courses were well timed, the wine was well paired, and the meats were very delicious and tender. That said, when you're paying over $250 PER PERSON, the standards become significantly higher. Add to that the hype and buzz around this place, and they've got a lot to live up to. Before you go, keep these things in mind: -BUSINESS SEEMED SLOW. Moto's 15 Minutes might be coming to an end soon. I'm not sure if this was a fluke, but it was Valentine's Day, so it should have been PACKED. Instead, the entire front portion of their restaurant was empty because it was "too cold" to put people there, and the lower level was only half filled. -THE BATHROOMS. If you're read my reviews, you know I almost always comment on bathrooms. These bathrooms are nice, modern, and clean... but I don't think they were thinking practically when they designed it. The toilet has a sign next to it telling you you have to bend down near the floor (with your face practically in the toilet) to find the "flush" button. This means that your face is like two inches from the toilet when you flush. I found this to be disgusting and rather inappropriate for such an expensive restaurant. -MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY? I'd heard crazy stories about this place: drinking out of an egg and desserts that taste like cake but look like a half smoked cigar. THAT'S what my foodie brain was hoping to see and taste - and THAT kind of creativity might have bumped this review up to 4 stars. But, I think they have just started to run out of ideas. There didn't seem to be much molecular gastronomy going on. I mean, sure, they aerated some butter and put some sauce in a hollowed out clementine, but that's not mind blowing molecular gastronomy, and it's definitely not worth $520. -SERVICE. The servers were very much on-point, well-timed, and professional. At times, we did find them to be a bit too hyper and chatty for such a nice place, but over all, they were knowledgeable and helpful. The sommelier put together a wonderful wine list, which we appreciated. We did have a bit of a hiccup toward the end - their internet went out, so they had to let it re-boot before they could scan our card and let us go on our way. We ended up waiting an extra thirty minutes (at 10:30 at night on Valentine's Day) for them to fix this issue. I don't understand why they couldn't have copied our card and let us go. It made us feel like they didn't trust that we had the money to pay, and they wanted to make sure the transaction cleared. As we waited, they didn't do much to ease the issue, either... They offered us coffee or tea, but they should really be offering an extra glass of wine or something (I'm not interested in caffeine at 10:30 at night). -OVERALL? It's definitely an experience in fine dining. The price tag is pretty hefty, but we knew that going in, so it wasn't a big deal. I think of it this way: When I was in Middle School, I was obsessed with rock climbing, so my parents paid for me to have a Saturday morning rock climbing adventure in Colorado. I got to climb a bolder and it was a wonderful memory. They paid for that EXPERIENCE. Moto is similar - it's an experience of sight, taste, and smell. Now that I've tried it, I have the experience and won't be going back - but it was definitely fun to try and it's a fun story to have.
(3)Tyrus E.
Great food. Wonderful service. They try to cultivate a "scientific" atmosphere with the spot lighting and the tabletops, and while it's a little sterile, it successfully focuses your attention on the food. The wine parings were solid if a bit conservative, though I was gratified that they sourced wines from all over the world. We did the full pairing and the pours were the appropriate size so that we wouldn't leave plastered. *Summer menu spoiler alert!* The lobster bisque in the cone was amazingly delicious, the lamb was astounding, and the forest foraging was fun and a treat. I loved how they used all the senses--especially smell with the seaweed oyster dish. The glove thing (the sense of touch) is a bit contrived but fun. All in all, great fun, and delicious! My only warning is don't come here if you are famished.
(5)Mari Y.
Oh man. Talk about 5 hours that felt l...o...n...g I like experimental dining but why does it always have to be so....long. I feel like the presentation of new forks, spoons, knives, plates take up half of the total time. My friends were from out of town and this was where they chose. We had the 15 course menu and were originally told that the experience would be 3 - 3.5 hours. Truth be told, I wanted to be out by midnight to meet up with some other out of town friends but they were home and in bed by the time I left Moto. I'm not going to go through all of the 15 dishes. The presentation for some of them is memorable enough to mention - small meats and berries presented on a stick from Lincoln Park, tiny mushrooms on a heated rock (this one in particular disturbed me but tasted fine. It looks like a terrarium scene.) and more meats on a glass box full of autumn hued leaves. The last dessert course was a disaster - make your own cookie dough. I started getting full around the 11th course and I was so tired of sitting. When we finally were presented the bill we found that it was calculated incorrectly. To note, Moto adds tax and an automatic 20% tip on the bill. This might turn some folks off who like to control pre-tax tip so be aware that this is already factored into your bill.
(3)sandra j.
Lovely, fun & whimsical. Staff was attentive and didn't take themselves too seriously. When they saw that we liked to eat faster than most diners they paced the courses accordingly. Others took much more time and they were accommodated as well. Everything was delicious. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars was a failed dessert, some sort of "make your own" cookie dough dish which just didn't gel with the rest of the menu, in my opinion. We enjoyed the wine (sake, beer) pairing very much. It's obviously a place for celebrations and special occasions, so if it's too expensive for you, um...how about you go somewhere else? I saved my pennies to celebrate there and knew what I was in for before I made the reservation. As for they food portions, I would have to agree that mos were pretty small. But suddenly the dessert portions got really big. I would try to balance that just a bit. In the end they offered my husband (the birthday boy) a tour of the kitchen. He was thrilled.
(4)Erin L.
My wonderful husband made reservations here for my 30th Birthday. They called a couple of days before our reservation to see if we had any food allergies or special requests. My husband told them that I was pregnant (just in case they made anything raw, which they did). The food was inventive, clever, quirky tasty and sometimes funny (see: a picture of Michael Bolton on a cookie). Like others have said, it's something you can't really describe - you just have to experience. On my husbands last beer, I saw a little fruit fly in his beer floating on the top. I alerted the server and at the end of the night, she took off all 3 of his beers from the bill. I don't think I'll be back - it was a once in a lifetime meal.
(5)Lexie V.
I'm a little late writing my review... I had the tasting menu with wine pairings back in early August and it was phenomenal. I just looked over the Michelin guide and I can't believe Moto only got one star. It is far superior to a few other restaurants who joined them on that list. Our server was impeccable, he knew absolutely everything he should know and then more. He was very charming as well, and he didn't reek of pretension like many servers at high end places do. They were very accommodating for my weird food preferences... for example I said I didn't want to eat any baby animals (in addition to foie gras, veal, marrow, or 'anything weird). Our server managed to not look at me like I am completely insane. If that is what was going through his head (it probably was) he concealed it well. The menu is inventive and the wine pairings are fantastic. I look forward to going back to see what new dishes they've come up with.
(5)Garrett K.
Overall excellent gastronomy experience Service: The service staff in knowledgeable and attentive. They are also fun and engaging, which creates a relaxing dining environment. Water glass were was always full, napkins folded/replaced and chairs pulled out when returning. We were offered a tour of the lab and kitchen after our meal. We spoke with the General Manager Matt who explained his love and knowledge of fine wines and his Chicago Bears super fandom. Food: Food was wildly creative, the flavors chosen carefully, and seasoning spot on. Each dish had an overarching concept or theme and, although all were very enjoyable, three stood out to me. First was a cold course featuring vegetables in the nightshade family. The textures, colors, and flavors worked perfectly and the pairing of a Sicilian Vermentino was the best of the night. Second, the "Crab Cone:" Butter-poached king crab in a waffle cone cornet with complementary garnishes and a nice gewürztraminer that struck a nice balance of sweetness and acid. Third, a pumpernickel and duck dish made to look like spent coffee grounds sitting in a filter. At first you're uneasy about eating something so unappetizing but the flavors were rich and the textures very fun. What sets moto apart from other fine dining experience is the playful cuisine and service. After each dish you'll be thinking "What are they going to do next!" One of the best dining experiences you'll ever have!
(5)Julie B.
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.
(5)Steve M.
Amazing experience, great service and playfull dishes. Open up your wallet and enjoy the fun. Expect to pay $400 for a 15 course tasting menu for two that will blow your mind, quite literally.
(5)Lara M.
I would give this 3.5 stars in reality. The decor and ambiance was great, tables not too close together (just close enough to gawk at upcoming courses). The service was good but a few of our servers were mumble-mouthed, including our main server. I did the 10 course menu, but I wish I could have sprung for the 20 as I was left feeling like I missed out on some of the more interesting courses. Two of the courses were outstanding, a few were okay and two I didn't care for. The cuban cigar was the standout! I was hoping this would be a little more like Alinea in the strangeness of presentation. I felt like there was a lot of "it looks like this but is made of something else." Overall a fun night, good food, nice atmosphere.
(4)Michelle Y.
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.
(4)Kevin H.
Moto is a great experience. Considering the price, I had high expectations and it met those, barely. The dishes are creative, fun, and good conversation pieces. However, on my 10-course menu, there were several that were clearly not phenomenal and everyone in my party agreed. I feel at this level of dining, every dish should be a home run. That being said, a few of the dishes were definitely home runs all the way. You will enjoy this if you do not go in too hungry. This experience is not about gorging yourself on a giant meal it is about appreciating a creative and artistic expression of food prepared over several small plates. Their non-pared drinks are great.
(3)Alexis B.
I knew walking into moto that I was there for an experience. I definitely got one - but what I hadn't realized is that it last 5 1/2 hours. Seriously! We walked in for the 20 course meal at 7 PM and didn't get back into a cab to head home until 12:30 AM. Make sure you carve out a few hours for a meal here, and don't start the 20-course menu at 9:30, like the woman at the table next to us - I can only imagine when she made it home... I appreciated what the chefs did with the menu; my boyfriend turned me on to the show "Future Food", which is what inspired the trip in the first place. It was also the most expensive meal I can remember paying for, with one possible exception - so I walked in expecting to be "wow"ed. All in all, I felt like I got sent on a bunch of unexpected twists and turns, and couldn't foresee what each of the dishes would be about. I don't really want to describe the dishes, for fear of ruining the surprise for people who are planning on visiting - but if you see the Bubble Tea, Clam Bake, Cuban Cigar, and Rainbow Sprinkles, those were probably the top of my list. We also splurged and went for the wine pairing, which was incredibly interesting, and considering the price of the cheapest bottle of wine on the menu, absolutely worth it. My favorite - more because it was so far outside of any reference - was actually a beer that was superbly smoky. We also got to try a wonderful range of whites and reds and sparklings and... oh boy was I bubbly by the end of the night :) What made me sad about the meal - and what makes it impossible to give Moto a 5 - is that I started feeling full about halfway through the 20 courses. After about 10 courses, I had to pace myself to the end - and some of the courses I couldn't finish. I'll still keep on watching the moto chefs on Planet Green, but I think this was probably a one-time-only visit. I just wish they'd been more conservative with the portion sizes; it would have made this a truly outstanding experience.
(4)Ryan M.
As far as the food and general experience goes, there's not much I can add to the ~150 other reviews except that Moto doesn't take themselves quite as seriously as you'd expect (fun dishes, cool wait staff, etc) certainly to their benefit, in my mind. Allow me to provide anecdotal evidence in story-form: Sometime during the first 4 courses there was a joke or story said about PBR and how we drank it in college, etc. and we all had a good laugh about it. We all opted-in to the wine pairings and the middle (5th) pairing was some kind of beer. One of my friends didn't like it at all, so he poured it into someone else's glass who did. The wait staff took immediate notice and not 10 minutes later returned with an unsolicited solution... The waiter placed a chilled granite stone (seemingly for white wine) on the table and placed upon that, yes, an ice-cold tall-boy of Pabst Brewing Company's finest: PBR, acquired from a nearby pub. An attention to detail AND a sense of humor? -- that's a win in my book. Other random points of note... I would suggest not coming here when it's hot outside, Moto is squeezed between two meat packing plants so It smells quite strongly of rotting flesh outside. Every time the door opened I thought I was going to vomit. Aside from a horrible location, everything else was top notch. Came here with a party of 8 for my birthday; it was one of the best times I've had here in Chicago. Oh yeah, all our drinks were free (including the can of PBR); can't beat that.
(4)tiara w.
My boyfriend surprised me by taking me here for our 2.5 year anniversary, when we went to visit Chi-town.. INCREDIBLE experience!! We opted for the 10-course tasting menu. & there was not a single item that i was disappointed with!..My favorite was the desert..kinda of a mini "corn cake" type treat with fresh berries..the BEST desert I've ever had!..the waiter saw how much i enjoyed it, he even "snuck" an extra "corn cake treat" desert to us, since we were celebrating out anniversary. From the begining & being able to literally EAT our menus, to the "cuban cigars", "bacon & eggs", edible papers & deconstructed french onion soup... Dont let your eyes fool you..not everything is as it seems..Definitely worth trying, you will not be disappointed...so go ahead splurge & spoil yourself at least once! we're trying to plan another trip back to Chicago to revisit MOTO & try a different tasting menu..
(5)Rob C.
10 course tasting -- $135, 2.5 hrs was really looking forward to this meal. (alinea takes more advanced planning.) oh, i later learned you can ask for a tour of the kitchen if you're interested a chef playing with food can be fun or too gimmicky. luckily, of the ten courses, 6 were hits. edible print is quite impressive. esp. the copyright! *ceviche margarita -- least impressive dish taste wise. started with a playful snowman made of lime juice and himalayan rock salt, over ahi tuna ceviche with goji flavor margarita to melt the snowman. the goji flavor was the only special part, otherwise forgetable *white steel -- again, was a little boring. seared ono with hearts of palm and vanilla puree with a side of red tobiko roe and a slice of carbonated grapefruit with dusted juniper powder...sounds unique but flavors didn't impress and fish wasn't that soft *crab cake -- this was the first dish that really represented some molecular gastronomy creativity with some unique tasty flavors. the crab cake consisted of a top lemon cream cheese icing and a bottom fennel fronds puree and fennel bulb sauteed to look like caramelized onions, squash ice cream, dehydrated remains as a crumbled powder under the ice cream; it was surprising to have the lemon yet slightly sweet icing over the savory crab (appearing like a cupcake) ... impressive *nuac man -- pork belly with matsutake mushroom puree, mushroom puff, gailan florette, another average dish except for the mushroom puff which was cool. paper thin and kinda melted when eaten *quail and cracker jacks -- this was one of the best dishes of the night, was their take on a baseball inspired course consisting of quail wrapped in peanut flour coating and deep fried sitting over a caramel apple puree, coca cola reduction, and edible cherry flavored cracker jack wrapper with popcorn powder. so creative and good. it was like an awesome chicken nugget dipped in apple with powdered popcorn and intense cola, all supercharged flavors. amazing. *rabbit maki -- the dish is immensely creative. looks like the real maki roll. consists of smoked rabbit tenderloin with roasted brussel sprouts, wrapped in a mushroom paper with sticky risotto and sesame, all spice aioli, pickled daikon radish and freeze dried peas to look like wasabi. the smoked rabbit was delicious. *mexican cannoli -- also one of the best dishes. it was a play on a dessert dish that is actually savory. so while it looked like a cannoli, it was really like a deconstructed enchilada made of a chile braised duck leg inside a crispy corn tortilla garnished with crushed pepitas (candy spiced pumpkin seeds), and lime flavored sour cream all covered with a mole sauce. on the side was a powder of freeze dried corn and jalapeno oil -- this stuff was genius, tasted so good. *truffled ice cream -- of the dessert courses, this one was the best. it was an airlike truffle mousse cake with an outside of rosemary cake crumble and toasted hazelhuts with poached apples on the bottom. the texture was so surprising. almost like ice cream but looks like bread. this is why i like molecular gastronomy. *pineapple and chai -- started with pineapple infused with vanilla bean, with a lime cheesecake puree, spiced currants, chai team foam, and crispy noodle dusted with cilantro, basil, mint. very different, but not a favorite dessert of mine, all the elements did come through *tea time -- bottom orange jelly, topped with earl gray ice cream and chocolate mousse, with a lemon butter cookie crumble, pieces of honey meringue dusted with raspberry powder. only problem here was too much cookie crumble *finally, ended with a nairoli soda float with a packing peanut on top dipped in liquid nitrogen and flavored with fresh vanilla bean. the peacking peanut was made of starch but had such a strange texture it was almost like styrofoam. really weird and too flowery a drink underneath in summary, not the best molecular meal like Bo Innovation or Bazaar but really high up there. (btw, the only way i could get all these descriptions is by recording it on my iphone!)
(4)Diana C.
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...
(5)Jeff N.
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.
(3)TASTY T.
okay so i equate Moto to a the cheerleader with a ton of botox and fake tits. all looks good and everyone wants to be with her, but once you get to know her, things ain't as great as you hyped it out to be. Moto in my eyes is just a great hype machine. the food is nothing to write home about, the flavors are mediocre at most. nothing really wowed me. to make things worse you lose your whole night and pay a arm and a leg for something mediocre. not worth it peeps.
(1)Justin R.
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.
(5)Cat G.
Having just returned from a fabulous trip to Paris and dinning at Robuchons (beyond amazing doesn't do it justice)..I was spoiled! We are foodies to say the least! Decided to take my mother to Moto for her birthday. I don't really know where to begin....I'm going to keep this review short and as polite as possible. $1000 later this was nothing short of poop! Wine was amazing....I needed a cheeseburger on the drive home! Don't waste your time or money! Save it and go to Robuchons.....this dinner was nothing short of insulting!
(1)Mio S.
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.
(3)Michael P.
Ahhhhh Moto, Alinea's poor often ignored little brother. Between it's high profile Lincoln Park location, and it's higher profile chef that battled cancer, Alinea always gets more press than Moto when in reality these two restaurants are so similar only small differences distinguish the two. Moto, like Alinea is more about the experience than it is about eating. Chef Cantu is also a master of the food as art, but Cantu adds a little more science where Chef Achetz adds a little more art. It's very hard not to compare the two, but chances are, if you're here on yelp reading reviews about either restaurant, you're probably doing just that. I've been to both Alinea and Moto several times. Unlike Alinea, upon return visits, Moto was completely different than previous visits. At Alinea, some things stay similar but different, and some things are just the same. At Moto, other than eating the menu that you are about to be served, everything changes if you don't go back for a few months. Chef Cantu, like Chef Achetz, is a master of molecular gastronomy. Both restaurants provide an extremely unique dining experience, but Moto is far more interactive of the two. Where most of the magic at Alinea happens in the kitchen, a lot of the magic at Moto is table side or requires your participation. Getting into specific dishes at Moto seems silly to me, as they change so often that if you're reading a review more than a month old, you won't be getting the same food. However, from the menu that you consume as a first course, to desserts that melt into other desserts while you finish your main courses, Moto combines excellent food with chemistry class from high school. Sure, you're bound to have a couple of misses when you do an extensive 10-20 course meal, not everything is for everyone, especially when you are doing a science experiment. The same thing happened to me at Alinea, you're bound to get a course or two that isn't for you when you're eating 25 courses over a four hour time frame. As a person that has been to both Alinea and Moto on several different occasions, I can honestly say I'd go back to Moto before Alinea. At Moto, you never know what Chef Cantu will have you doing while eating. You might be mixing your own champagne from pipettes, or lifting glasses filled with smoke from a vanilla bean that was burned with a class four laser. Much like Alinea, Moto is dinner and a show, but the meal is the show. You have to have an open mind and an adventurous palette to dine at Moto, but in the end, you won't forget the experience you had there even if you've eaten at the older, more popular brothers spot.
(5)Bryan W.
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.
(5)Chris D.
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.
(3)David B.
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.
(5)Kimberly M.
Loved it!! Was visiting my cousin and we went for dinner, it was a really cool experience. Worth the money. I dont like raw or rare meat, and half way through the courses they noticed and brought me only well done pieces of meat. Very attentive.
(5)Andrea T.
SHORT VERSION: come here to be entertained by the novelty of it all--not by the quality of the food or service. LONG VERSION: In our final night in Chicago, Hubby and I decided to have one last dining hurrah and booked reservations at Moto. We had prepared (based on the reviews) to have the food take a bit of a backseat to preparation techniques but not by as much as it did. We both ordered the 20-course GTM and Hubby ordered a half wine pairing. Pacing of the meal was fine, but be prepared to sit for a long time--we were there a full 5 hours. Highlights of the meal included the caviar and lemon snow and the triple earl grey tea dessert. Hubby really enjoyed the golden twist "ale" soup and the banana split sundae. If you're counting that's four courses--out of 20--that we thought were good. To be fair, the rest of the dishes weren't bad, per se, but they just didn't live up to the expectations set by the price point. We had dined at L2O two nights before and thoroughly enjoyed our experience and didn't begrudge a penny spent. That said, L2O had food that was consistently excellent, service that was flawless, accommodating and impeccable. They lived up to their 3-michelin star pedigree. However, Moto was different--and not in a good way. Food was okay with a few highlights, but service was awkward and throughout the evening, we probably had 5 different servers, only one of which was good at describing the dishes. The wine pairing was lackluster and in the end we paid $30 less than we did at L2O. So for the same price, we have a 3-michelin starred restaurant, great food and great service vs. a non-starred restaurant, okay food and awkward service. The choice is simple. I'm not trying to be overly-harsh or snarky but when you spend nearly $700 on a meal, dammit you should enjoy every bit of it. Period. Had Moto been 30% less, it would have been worth it. The final insult was the automatic 18% gratuity added to our bill. Um, really? For a party of 2? Typically, we tip at least 20% and feel perfectly fine, but this is something that should be left to the diners' discretion. A tip is just that and is something that needs to be earned and not something a restaurant is entitled to. Overall, the dishes were whimsical and fun, but again that alone isn't worth the money. Taste and service trumps gimmicks, anyday. I'm glad I tried it once but I wouldn't go back on my own dime. If you're going to go, I recommend doing just the 10 courses so you can see what it's all about without feeling just a little bit robbed.
(3)peggy m.
Great personalized service, yet to stroke my ego i don't need this restaurant. So much money for so little food.....i still giggle about this place. Those who love this place are the objects of P. T. Barnum's most famous saying. Go for it...you'll see what I'm talking about.
(2)Misse D.
Am I about to commit a foodie sin? I think Moto was better than Alinea. There, I said it. I came here with my husband and his parents. We ordered the GTM with the wine pairings. Since my husband and I have eaten at Alinea, we had an idea of what was to come. My in-laws had not and yet all of us were equally pleased of the meal. The service was very good but not as good as Alinea. Every time we left, they would take our napkin. However, they didn't always replace it so we would have to flag someone down for a new one. It was a small detail that didn't really effect the meal. The meal itself was AMAZING. The wine pairings were excellent. I have had quite a few meals with the pairings were hit or miss. Not here. They complemented the food perfectly. And the food? I was impressed with the presentation as well as the consumption. My favorite course was the the cigar course. It was beyond my expectations in presentation as well as taste. I would highly recommend. I doubt that I'll be back very soon as it is not the sort of place you visit regularly. However, if you have a chance, try it. It's fantastic!!
(5)Dong B.
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.
(5)Byron E.
I loved this place. It was like Julia Childs meet Bill Nye the Science Guy! Expensive if it were simply food, but given the entertainment factor on top of seriously delicious dishes, it's worth it in my opinion. Go with an open mind and sense of fun!
(5)Rachel W.
Moto's the kind of place you just need to go to experience it...traders love to take dates here to impress them, and other traders so if you meet one, hint at it ;) Big price tag, so clearly a date place haha...the guy who took me here is so unexperimental w/food, totally steak & potatoes, but he knows how into food I am. He had quite the time dealing with things like baby quail, jalepeno ice cream, an edible menu and every other course. I loved it though and clearly thats all that matters. The presentation was incredible. I should have brought a camera. I would recommend this place to experimental food people...who don't mind the price tag, and want something funky and different. Its definitely not for everyone, but I had a great time.
(4)Benjamin S.
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
(5)Caity R.
Both the food and the experience were incredible. We were seated at a table in the back (which were awkwardly far apart for a two person dinner), but asked for a semi-private booth which was perfect. 15 course tasting menu is expensive, but worth it.
(5)Salena C.
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.
(5)Burt F.
This place is pretty pretentious...not my style. I expected small portions of food and we had reservations for our anniversary with the 10-course tasting. 3 of the 10 dishes were VERY salty...I'm not a fan of over-salted food; it overtakes the natural combination of the flavors which are supposed to be present. The service was good although different servers kept bringing the various courses out to us. Just sort of weird to me. We ordered one drink each; the prices of their GLASSES of wine /champagne were very high in my opinion, approaching the $20-30 range for most of them. We were fortunate enough to have received a gift certificate of $250 from some dear friends but we were surprised when the bill came to pay an additional $150 or so. I've been to Trotters and we've been to the restaurants at The Peninsula Hotel and the food was MUCH better there for less. Midway through the meal we were joking about going out for pizza after the meal...I felt cheated afterwards that this amount of money was spent and it left a vacant feeling inside of me after this experience which lasted for a few hours. I've never had such a feeling before and I do not want to feel that way again. I won't be repeating this one again.
(1)Jeff C.
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.
(5)Sunil A.
I was very excited for this restaurant and was super psyched when my fiancée surprised me a with a reservation for my birthday. In the end we were both disappointed with the experience. 1.) Way too expensive. I guess the foodies in the crowd will say "that's what you pay for fine dining" but I think they are just trying to make themselves seem more trendy and important. 2.) The "molecular / chemistry" experience is not all that cool. Its small amounts of food shaped as different objects. 3.) It takes too long to get from one course to another. 2 and a half hours for 10 courses. Majority is spent waiting not eating since you are done licking the plate 2 seconds after you get it. 4.) The food is way too salty. The only reason I got full was because I drank 10 glasses of water. On the plus side the staff is very friendly and provide great service.
(2)Robert R.
The service was top notch, and the food went beyond that! This was a wonderful 3+ hour dinning experience.
(5)Christine N.
We did the 10 course meal for our 1 year wedding anniversary. Not all of the courses tasted as good as I would have hoped but the overall experience of eating was quite enjoyable. I liked the fact servers each knew special things about the dishes and that they all take turns in creating what the customers end up eating. It was wonderful watching the servers present their courses at the different tables. Quite an enjoyable experience.
(4)Anita A.
Moto is out of this world amazing. The science behind food is truly awe inspiring after dining here and seeing what can occur when chefs get crazy creative. Science meets food meets art. I truly ate every course here with all of my senses!! As each dish plays a trick on your senses. All courses were visually appealing and full of a variety textures that never bore you. The location/outside appearance of Moto definitely does remind me of NYC's meatpackig district. I have to hand it to the wait staff as they are perfectly synchronized. And this is definitely not a restaurant you want to dine at if you are on a budget or don't appreciate trying new/innovative dishes. You have to appreciate food, in order to find this place worthwhile. The wine pairings definitely work well with each course so take advantage! Portions are the perfect proportion, and by the end of 15 courses you are pretty darn full! All in all, this is a fine dining experience that everyone should partake in. There's no other place like it in the city and its definitely worth the culinary journey at least once! Presentation: A+ Service: A+ Taste: A+ Wine Pairing: A+
(5)Vanessa H.
Freaking amazing. Delectable food, amazing science -- and a sense of childlike wonder, which is a rare experience in these jaded adult days :) The chef filps and reverses textures -- a pool of fine cheese, crunchy macaroni, fizzy reconstituted melon. Coconut powder. An anti grill, powered by liquid nitrogen, in which liquid cooked pancake is squirted on and turned solid and served on a spoon with maple syrup. 10-courses, just like French Laundry, but with more food per course. We left full and delighted. Something that hasn't yet really hit SF dining scene. It's located in Fulton Market area, which reminds me of the Meatpacking District in NYC. Trendy bars and restaurants next door to design shops and food wholesalers. Service was impeccable yet friendly. With their headsets they talked to the kitchen and timed your courses if you left the table for a moment.
(4)Little Miss L.
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.
(4)Kristin W.
My husband and I came here last night for our anniversary. I had been dying to go forever and it was worth the wait. What a great experience. We had a 5 course menu, which doesn't exist anymore, but when my husband bought a gift certificate for me it did. Anyway here is what we had: Liquid Center Scallop Seared Buffalo Hot Wings Fajita With Aromatic Utensils S'mores Biscotti and Coffee It was all really great. A lot of people on Yelp have commented on how the food here was sort of subpar. I disagree. I thought all the food was really great. Only a couple of things blew me a way, a truffle that came with the S'mores that was filled with liquid Cracker Jack and pop rocks - yum. The other thing that was super good was the Seared Buffalo Hot Wings. The chef made his own tabasco sauce too which tasted great. All in all we had a great time. We had the wine pairings, but will probably skip that next time, not that the wines weren't good, but the cocktails here are supposed to be amazing and I'd just rather have more food.
(5)Jamie T.
1) GREAT service 2) Superbly creative 3) Good food 4) Bit pricey
(4)Elen C.
Went to Moto last week during the Restaurant show. Really wanted to get into Next ..but that was a dream. Place was dead when we walked in. Ordered the 10 course with wine pairings. The first course was a salade Nicoise ..which was basically cut green beans with soft tomato pieces and a strong anchovy flavor. It went downhill from there. Nothing had flavor, the colors of the presentation were mostly beige. The second course was mushroom in a forest..little asparagus spears in a totally tasteless paste. Course after course was flavorless. Even the powdered jalapeno with one of the courses had not kick to it. My dinner partner and I are both in the food business. We love to eat, and were totally excited about eating here based on the other reviewers. We had the half pairing of wine for $55. We were lucky if in all we received one glass of wine total . Not the best pairings either, and they forgot the last one. The service was ok, but somber, I do not think they ever cracked a smile. Took themselves a little serious with their ear pieces and black suits. I do not mind spending money on dinner when it is worth it, but $450 for this, I wanted to cry . Afterwards we went down the street to Aviary, and ordered some bites. Now , that was worth every penny .
(1)Max M.
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.
(5)James F.
Holy Crap Cantu! Your restaurant sucks! Everything was so forgettable and the service sucked. It took over four hours for me and the wife to choke down your 20 course menu. Unless you can't taste food, you will hate this place. All their proteins were cooked incorrectly and who gives a shit if mushroom water is reconstructed into a mushroom that tastes like nothing. Oh yeah, shit printed on paper, well, tastes like fucking paper. This place was robbery....Go buy yourself a big mac to sample the sauce on the egg cubed dish.
(1)ning j.
My friend from out of town raved about this place. So me being a virgin to restaurants that invovle several courses and gastronomy, was super excited to try Moto. We got the 10 course, and thank goodness we did cause the meal took 3hrs! The serving sizes weren't super small too so we were full by the 6th course, which we barely took a bite of! The service was impeccable and ambience very modern. They had two waiters waiting on you at a time and they changed the utensils for every course! The food was very interesting but not too weird! My favorites were the pork belly, quail, and uno. The popcorn dust with the caramel paper was super cool, as with the edible menu! I'm usually a dessert kind of gal but the ones here weren't amazing. Overall a great experience though, but pricy! The most expensive meal of my life yet! After tip it came out to be around $170pp w/o drinks. But I'm liking this whole multiple courses thing and can't wait to try Alinea and compare!
(4)Peggy G.
Phenomenal all around -- food, service, ambiance. One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago
(5)Chris B.
It's been a while since I dined at moto, but it was execeptional when I did have the pleasure. I dined by myself, but was gracefully entertained by the courses and wines that I had that evening. the decor was plush and comfortable. I was given a moment to settle in and I then was brought a "tasting menu" course composed of a bite of all of the next courses that I would enjoy. This was the start of a wowing experience. Each course blew me away more than the previous. Miranda, my server gave me intense detailed information about each wine, so much so that I really had to search for notes in the wine that were not included in her discriptions to discover. The food was to die for. I think that it may have been the best meal of my life. I had an exceptional time. My favorite course was the Sticks and Stones course. Very complex and sweet. It was a bit much for one course so I did not finish it, but who ever complains about a generous portions. It was a great experience and I recommend it to anyone who is in Chicago and wants to be treated to a pure symphany of food, excellent service, and world class wines. I'd be best to check it out by yourself if you can't find a friend as I did, or grab a crew and head down there.
(5)Madeline B.
It's hard to leave a bad review after so many people leave good ones because the handful of bad ones will be looked over as just a one time fluke. But this restaurant is NOT a one time fluke. My husband and I have been to a bunch of these molecular gastronomy restaurants both in Chicago and around Europe and Moto, I swear, was like eating at Taco Bell. Actually, I prefer those nasty soft shell tacos they have a Taco Bell to the food we had last night. It just wasn't good. A few courses were just fine, nothing special, certainly not worth the price but tasted fine. And the rest were actually bad, bad to the point where you don't even want to eat the second bite of your two bite dish. We did the 10 course menu and thank god we didn't do the 20 because I think one of us would have thrown up. Anyway, don't go. Definitely go to Tru or Alinea. Alinea is amazing and has a better atmosphere and a more knowledgeable and lest nerdy waitstaff and the food is to die for. Tru has great tasting menus with great wine pairings. Schwa is another good one. But NOT MOTO.
(1)Jeffrey H.
One of the best dining experiences I've ever had! Everything was 5 stars. The food, the drinks, the service, and the atmosphere were all great. It was over a year ago now. My date and I opted for the 10 course meal and it filled us up plenty. All of the creations were unique looking and tasted delicious! As each dish came out, two servers would synchronously lay our plates in front of us and even pour each of us water. Top notch service for sure. With the dishes being so unique looking, at some point, you have to fight off your own instincts and expectations on a dish because of how it looks or seems like it will taste. For instance, the Cuban Cigar actually looks like a real cigar. You have to fight off your urges that tell you "This is going to taste like an ashy, nasty, burnt cigar". Of course it turns out to be something very delicious! It's a little pricey, for sure. But it's definitely worth the meal and the experience. Perfect for a birthday, anniversary, or a special date. I cannot wait to go back.
(5)Rb C.
Most amazing food I have ever had. They let us go in to the kitchen we met richie. Best birthday ever!
(5)Chicago 1.
Liked the concept and the dinner portion was amazing. Did not like any of the desserts and was excited to see what I thought was coffee service - the wine pairings are a lot of wine and I don't really drink red. But not coffee service, a dessert that looked like it. (And was not at all good, cinnamon and foam, yuck.) At least offer coffee for a $750 dinner. Time in between courses was excessive, this did not need to take 4.5 hours. Was interesting but we won't be back. I ate some leftover pizza when we got home, was still hungry.
(3)Cokeaholix X.
It is fun and interesting experience. Like a big budget Hollywood special effect movie. Wish it had a better story. The food is unconventional for the wow factor not because it improves the flavor. Sitting through a 20 course meal after a long day was tedious even thou the staffs are friendly and very efficient . wait time between course is minimal.
(4)matt b.
Ah, well. We had the 10 course with wine pairings (6 wines, I believe). Got there at 5pm on a Saturday, the latest possible with two days notice. The decor was simple and clean, waitstaff friendly. Patrons were either in their 20s (probably because they also didn't have the foresight to reserve a table early enough), or late 70s (probably because they like eating dinner at 5pm or earlier.) The food... was fine. I was expecting more fanciness, but a few rehydrated or liquid nitrogenized things here and there, starting with a gimmicky "edible" menu, combined with a slightly overcooked grouper, and finally four (4!) of the ten dishes ended up being desserts. It was disheveled. One dish, as far as presentation goes, was extraordinary: the Road Kill looked like exactly that, including rice puff maggots (questionable) and beet reduction blood-spatter. The taste? ehh. I didn't hate it, but at over $500 for two people, I wouldn't go back.
(2)Jacquelyn G.
I'll start with a quote from my husband. "Moto is the poor man's Alinea." Stings a little, but sadly it's true. While I'm making Alinea connections, I have to suggest that if you are going to go to both places, go to Moto first and then Alinea next. Otherwise, you'll be singing the same tune I'm about to sing. We went on Saturday night when it was about 900 degrees below zero. We were promptly greeted and seated near the hostess stand, right along the row of floor-to-ceiling windows. It didn't take long to decide that simply wasn't going to work; it was so cold! So we asked if it was possible to be moved. They said they had no other tables in the main area but that we could move one booth back, to at least get us away from the windows. We opted for that, but then we were right next to the door... The hostess graciously offered to move us to the next available table as soon as she could, and for our third and final table of the night, we were seated downstairs. Much better as far as warmth, but you definitely feel like you're dining in a basement. Honestly, I'm not sure how they can use those tables in the front of the restaurant on cold Chicago nights like that. They need to do something about the heat up there, or something... While we appreciated the staff accommodating us by moving us to a more comfortable table, the rest of the service was really sloppy and I found myself being embarrassed for our servers in many cases. The service was simply clunky; it felt like a new restaurant still ironing out the kinks. When my husband asked for wine recommendations, neither of our servers could really give him one (although our second server did a better job than the first), and they often had trouble explaining the dishes. They'd either forget the ingredients or not really be able to tell us anything about them. "How does the chef recommend eating this?" "However you want." I can only imagine the chefs must cringe at these people serving their food. Speaking of the food... overall it was very good. My favorite dishes were hands-down the gazpacho and Kentucky fried pasta. However, there were other dishes which were total let-downs. Crudite? For $500? No thanks. I expect the dishes to be really inventive and interesting for the price paid, but a few of the dishes felt so gimmicky and had no relevance. I had the half-pairing and that was also disappointing. Honestly, I could've made those "pairings" at home myself. The only wine that seemed to really tie nicely with any of the courses was the moscato served with dessert. Don't waste your money (and don't ask the waitstaff for help). One more note sort of related to the food - the timing between the courses was completely inconsistent and as the dinner went on, the space between courses got longer and longer. Before we were even on the first dessert dish, I was ready to call it a night and go home just because it was taking so long. Apparently they offer kitchen tours at Moto, which in my opinion isn't appropriate on weekends when you have a packed restaurant. We had two or three "tour groups" traipsing past our table and it just felt tacky and obnoxious, especially when Joe Tourist whipped his super-size camera out of his backpack to snap some pics. Takes a bit away from the atmosphere when you're trying to enjoy a nice dinner. So yeah... bit of a let-down, and for a hefty price! Definitely has potential. Maybe Gordon Ramsay should go whip them into shape.
(3)Tyler A.
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!)
(4)Ashley A.
One of my favorite restaurants. A unique twist on dining that you're most likely not used to. The chef is a former chemist, I believe, who uses carbon dioxide to carbonate fruit & other weird techniques. For instance, the menu is edible. This restaurant is all about presentation so don't expect to leave with a full stomach. Each course is tiny, but flavorful & alluring. It is very expensive, even if you just order the minimal five course meal (I think only 10 & 20 courses are now offered), but it is an experience I suggest people to try at least once. The "salad" was served to us as liquid in a shot glass. It tasted as though we had just eaten an entire salad after taking that one shot. The chef uses a lot of purees and unique ingredients. He also opened another more casual restaurant/bar called otom, which is moto spelled backwards. I heard rumors that another restaurant is opening soon or already has opened.
(4)Puja A.
The food was amazing. Fresh ingredients and an innovative preparation style. The "cigar" styles sandwiches were creative and delicious. The wine pariring was perfect to match the cuisine. One of Moto's major pluses is the amazing service. The servers were not the typical arrogant servers. They were friendly and engaged with the customers beyond taking orders. When we had pointed out that one of our wine tastings were not received, we were given an extra course.
(5)Greg K.
Okay, so far all my reviews on here are 5 star. Not intentional and I don't give 5 starts to everything. But I'm still new here and building my list of reviewed spots. In any event, Moto has been reviewed a ton. Yes, it was awesome. Great food and amazing experience. Here's what I am thinking about it right now... It's the only restaurant I have been to where you review the menu, order and then EAT THE MENU! Come on, that's cool! :)
(5)Aaron L.
Too many items in the 20 course pre-fix to rate them all individually but definitely a spot to check out
(4)Dee M.
Wow! Great food presented in innovating ways. My first experience of the molecular gastronomy craze and all of the many many courses were delicious. All of them little portions so I was able to enjoy each one. Amazing service. Expensive but worth it.
(5)Kristina A.
Moto does was not the best fine dining that I've ever experienced, but it certainly was the most interesting. I took my boyfriend to Moto for his 30th birthday, and we ordered the 10 course with wine pairing. Each course was unusual and very tasty. Most notable among the dishes were the road kill (called braised duck on our menu) and the smores, which had a lovely gel-filled pastry that tasted exactly like a smore. I also really enjoyed the liquid shot that tasted exactly like a greek salad. Brilliant! I thought the food and service were superior to Everest, but Tru continues to set the standard by which fine dining should be measured, in my humble opinion. Nonetheless, Moto was a worthwhile experience.
(4)Keenan S.
First things first: Best dining experience I have ever had, ever. There is absolutely nothing about this place that I have found that could be considered a fault. Now, I realize, I'm not what one would describe as the "elite." I can't afford to eat here all the time, nor do I frequent establishments that would consider what they offer as "fine dining." So, am I in the demographic for this restaurant, what with my unsophisticated palate and shallow pockets? I don't care. I have yet to find another place, be it in Chicago or elsewhere, that offers up a more exquisite experience than Moto. From the moment you walk in, the waitstaff is there for you for whatever you might need. I've never had such attentive and friendly people taking care of me. They are one of the true highlights of the dinner, which should say something, because there's something positive to be said about it all. The food is astounding. I actually find myself at a loss for words (which is difficult for me, I'll have you know) when trying to find a way to perfectly describe everything. I've tried the ten-course and the GTM (which, I believe was eighteen or twenty courses the night I was there, and, trust me, the time it takes to get through it is completely worth it). Each and every course was perfect. Perfectly cook, perfectly presented, perfectly tasty. Even the edible menu they present you with (which also welcomes you, personally, in a little message printed at the bottom. Nice touch.) is wonderful. I had the best mojito here. A little glass of minty goodness that everyone should try. If I had to pick favorites? The Nitro Sushi and the Freeze Dried Macaroni and Cheese with Quail. But again, I feel bad even picking favorites, because with each dish that is presented to you, Chef Cantu shows his genius and offers you a meal you will not soon forget. Moto is not just about the food. It's about the experience of trying something new. It shines a different light on something most of us take for granted. I can not recommend this place highly enough, even if you're like me and have to scrape every last penny together to make the night work. It is absolutely worth it.
(5)Megumi T.
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....
(3)Brian E.
I have to leave room for Alinea later this year, but yeah. 10 (+1) course meal took about 3 hrs or so. We got a free extra course because the guy next to me spilled wine on my shirt affording me the chance to try the faux-jita which was ridiculously good. With wine pairings and the inventive/mad-scientist techniques this has been the most fun dining experience that I've had to date. I think where a lot of people get irritated at the cost or what not is the fact that they just want a plate of food, in which case don't bother coming here. To me, food is as much about the experience as anything else and I had a blast. Will have to check out the new spot, Otom next door.
(4)Kara G.
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!"
(4)jill a.
I would classify moto as more than a restaurant... Moto is an experience. We had the tasting menu... (the ten course menu) and we also decided to do the wine pairings, which i highly recommend. The food was inventive and very tasty! It was my first molecular gastronomy dining experience and it was thrilling! Each plate was a work of art and I really enjoyed hearing about the cooking techniques used for preparing each dish. Everything was cooked perfectly and all of the dishes were fun and entertaining. All of the senses are involved in this meal! The only thing that I might have been a turn off was that we were sitting too close to two other couples also having the ten course menu and they were a little bit ahead of us. I wish that we were a little more secluded so we wouldn't have known what was coming. Overall It was great! Took about three hours total. We were full , happy, and pretty tipsy by the end. Ten courses was a lot of food, so its a little hard for me to imagine having the 20 course tour menu, but everything was soooo so good. Wait staff was fantastic and very attentive. It is expensive but well worth it.
(5)Robyn F.
Moto was a truly unique experience. It was more than just a fancy meal. The restaurant really pushed the boundaries with food through its innovative creations and designs. The wine pairings complemented each dish perfectly as well. Below is a list of the dishes I tried. I will describe the particularly interesting ones in more detail. Edible menu Liquid center scallop Kalamata and feta Nitro sushi roll Loaded baked potato gnocchi Biscuit creme brulee Ants on a log with foie gras Seared buffalo hot wings Cuban missile crisis Fresh from the garden - Liquified Greek salad Roadkill of fowl Fajita with aromatic utensils Vodka tonic Blueberry cake and ice cream Powdered peach doughnut S'mores Chocolate and fluff The "vodka tonic" was my favorite dish of the evening. It was like a jello shot on a spoon that bursts in your mouth. It is quite indescribable, so you have to try it to understand. The Liquified Greek salad was interesting to say the least. It was refreshing and tasty, and really does replicate the flavor of a salad. Liquid center scallop - This was just really delicious, and I wish they had given us more of this! Loaded baked potato gnocchi - Probably my favorite savory dish of the evening. I am not the biggest fan of gnocchi, but this was cooked to perfection.
(5)Amy A.
If you just absolutely have to go check it out for it's molecular gastronomy then it may be the place for you. Unfortunately this wasn't the case for us. The courses had entirely too much of a lull between them. Usually fifteen minutes. After a couple of courses the flavors became redundant. The environment is very sterile in appearance, cold grays and blacks, a prison-esque bathroom, no ambient lighting or sound. The portions were huge and I have a small appetite so most of the dishes were a waste for me. It just wasn't a good dining experience for us. The servers there were super. It just didn't deliver it on the setting or cuisine.
(3)Jake B.
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)
(5)Janna V.
I havent been to moto in a few years...but I still remember the experience like it was yesterday. I tell people that Moto is the Mad Hatter's Tea Party of Chicago Cuisine. And I just love it. If there is one thing i absolutely despise it is a gimmick. . Moto is a genuine experience....not some kind of shtick and that's one of the things that makes the experience so memorable. I did the 10 course. I loved how my meal was interactive...there were courses in courses (there was a picture of spicy tuna maki in a plastic bag under my charger for my 3rd course...it tasted like...well spicy tuna maki)-- and things that i had never been served before or since (carbonated grapes anyone?) I was vegetarian at the time, and was accommodated easily. My date was a meat eater and actually liked mine better! I felt kinda bad for him because after shelling out $500 on a 2nd date we were too full to make out when we got back to his house. But the experience was memorable for both of us.
(5)M M.
conceptually fun, delicious, and excellent service too boot. extremely pricey, but definitely worth it for special occasions.
(5)Erica W.
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.
(5)Anisha A.
Moto is the intersection of food, science and modern art. We did the 5 course menu. The presentation of everything was ingenious. That's the main reason to come. Heck, even the damn menu was edible. One course was served in a laptop type contraption, with aromatic silverware that sprouted coriander. I wonder if that's how happy meals will be dished out in 2041. The specialty drinks are solid. The chorizo margarita was smokey, strong and garnished with a small sausage. Nothing like some meat to go along with your tequila. When you strip away that hype, the food is ok at best. I know each ingredient has a novel backstory in the way it was acquired or prepared. But the flavors didn't blow me away. Found both the breakfast creme brulee and beef in the "fajita x three" course disappointedly bland. But portions are adequately sized, so you do leave somewhat full. Beware, they automatically include 18% gratuity. Which we conveniently saw after tipping 25% for impeccable service. Love when that happens.
(3)Rachel W.
Way too expensive for the food they served which was the worst meal I've ever had! The seasoning and flavors were lackluster and didn't even resemble food flavors. Hard to believe that it takes many years of culinary school to serve toothpaste on a plate, and dirt.
(1)Adri B.
Oh, Moto! I wanted so badly to love you and rush home to give you five stars, but I just can't. Even the three stars is pushing it, considering the price. [actually, on second thought, just changed that to one star. Sorry!] My mom and I ordered the 20-course menu. If given the opportunity, I would only eat three of the courses ever again (the two seared fish dishes and the curry lime dessert). Everything else was just smoke and mirrors. And not even that smokey of a smoke or mirrory of a mirror. The chef was a bit heavy-handed on the rock salt, so most of the savory dishes were too salty to fully enjoy. The desserts were lackluster and the wine...nothing special. I would ask the chefs to not give in so much to the hype and glitter and spend more time creating dishes that could actually stand on their own without the "it's really made out of....!" or "it's in the shape of a...!" gimmick. Flavor first. Art second. This is a restaurant, after all. As for the service, special big ups to DeAndre. Everyone was very nice and accommodating EXCEPT the blond waitress/chef (All of the wait staff are also chefs.). Seems she applied to work at a pricey restaurant only to passively aggressively resent the patrons who can afford to eat there. Which was annoying. And unnecessary. I came, I saw, I touched, I tasted, but I was not impressed. I tried, Moto. I really did! But, I just don't love you!
(1)Laurel L.
The mixologist Carolyn or Kathlyn shoot I forgot her name is awesome.
(4)Omar R.
Outside of Alinea, no one comes close to Moto. This is'nt just outstanding food - but electric theatre on your table. You will get poetry written on brie cheese, fish that is cooked in a brown bag in water flown in from the Pacific ocean, herb infused cutlerly that affect the taste by influencing your sense of smell, and so on and so forth. This is the Cirque de Soleil of food. Go now !
(5)Anthony S.
I actually think I liked this place a bit more than Alinea. Based on looks alone, one might expect less of it, no electric sliding door, more relaxed dress code requirements, less ritzy part of town, but I can assure you, although this place may not have the latest in state of the art threshold technology it does have pretty damn good food, after all it is a restaurant. I started off with a simple drink, the Fulton Sunrise, gin mixed with white grape juice, brandy and lime, not bad. One of my dinner companion was a bit more daring however, she ordered the chorizo margarita, which I had a few sips of. It had a smoky sort of lime flavor to it, but was surprisingly refreshing. After going with the tasting (12 courses) at Alinea we decided to give the 20 course meal a go at Moto. I will say this, if you have a lot of time to kill (6+ hours) and are utterly famished go all the way otherwise stick with 10 courses. Personally, after sitting there for six hours, the last thing I wanted was another course, no matter how tasty it was. Out of the 20, I found the majority of the courses to be very tasty, from the edible menu and spicy chicken-wing flavored paper to the oil spill and cuban cigar. There was, however, one course in particular that I really did not care for, the savory creme brulee. I do not remember exactly what was in it, but i remember biting into it expecting something familiar tasting and instead it tasted horribly bitter (especially the aftertaste). Perhaps it was more a psychosomatic reaction than the actually dish itself, just prepare yourself to not expect it to taste how it looks if it is served to you.
(4)A F.
I am still in shock over the price tag for our dinner last night versus the quality of the food we received. Let me first caveat this review by admitting that we did try Moto for VDay, and restaurants do tend to cut corners on that day since a lot of occasional diners are in, and it's a big profit generating day. THAT BEING SAID, I truly expected more for the fine dining experience Moto purports to be. I'm sorry, but garlic toast and french fries, loaded or not, are not on my list when I think of spending a car note's worth (and a nice car at that!!) on a dinner. The Good: + Service -- Timely. Attentive without being obtrusive. Not overly fussy. + WINE!! I am so pleased that we added the wine pairing or else the evening would have been a total bust. We enjoyed some truly outstanding wines last night, most of which paired nicely with the food. + Atmosphere. A lot of the "nicer" restaurants in Chicago are too stuffy and formal. We liked the upscale but relaxed vibe, as well as the intimate but not overly stuffed dining room. The Not so good: - The Food Truly disappointing since we were super excited about the place. Yes, the presentation was creative .... But the flavors were not (we did have the ubiquitous pork belly (about 1/10 ounce of a piece) and lots of truffle oil). The food was luke warm and the portions were small even for fine dining (the poor bf had to eat leftovers afterwards). There were a couple of truly unfortunate dishes (liquid paella), and while some were good (foie gras, chef's take on shabu shabu) none of the dishes left me craving more. Very disappointing, and unfortunate that the restaurant missed the opportunity to convert the first time triers to regulars.
(2)Krystal P.
WOW I LOVED THIS PLACE ... The service was amazing, the food was great .. I wish I could remember the names of everything I ate .. pictures to come ... anyhow this a molecular gastronomy restaurant that caters to vegetarians... they made sure I could eat every plate, just call in the day off and let them know! It was def pricey but def worth every penny!
(5)James O.
The experience was complete. Service excellent, the staff operated like a well oiled machine but, the ambiance was the prep for the whole evening. Cool... The food was fun, interesting, great to look at and the taste fit the show. This is a place that is a must for the adventurist type of foodie.
(5)Eric G.
My wife took me here for my birthday. Embarrassingly, I had to bail at course 18 of 20. I had made fun of her for only eating half of the already small portions, but the combination of super processed/reduced food + wine pairing managed to fill me up faster than a thanksgiving turkey. The food certainly was inventive and fun and I'm glad we tried it. But in the end, it was all over the map, i.e. 3 kinds of "cotton candy", mini pancakes (that tasted like still-frozen waffles), Greek "salad" (shot of clear liquid)... I still would rather go for a multi-course dinner with a theme (regional and/or seasonal) vs. this Coney Island meets Star Trek meal.
(3)Jennifer K.
Some people love it, some people hate it. I fall under the ambivalent category, because while the presentation was at times ingenious, some plates never had the 'wow" factor. If I'm coughing up $250 for dinner, it better be one of the best meals of my life, coupled with an experience I will never forget. It failed the former, but certainly lived up to the latter. As everyone else noted, the menu itself was presented as edible paper, with the 10 course selection neatly printed on it. The first course involved kajiki and sesame; blue marlin with sesame poured from a nitrous pot. It was pretty neat to spoon a bit of sesame into my mouth and exhale through my nose; smoke would filter out. The greek salad and gumbo were rather forgettable dishes. BBQ pork was surprisingly good. It was tender, with a cider-based marinade. The next course was a modern take on mac n' cheese, but with quail, powdered parmesan, and pasta. By this time, I was too full to finish it - but it was okay. The desserts were probably the most welcome part of the evening. Each dish was presented in unique ways, and tasted very different from one another. My favorite involved the 2 and 3 dimensional truffle - there was a surprise with the truffle ball. So the food itself involved lots of hits and misses, but the drink pairings were spot on. I had non-alcoholic beverages; I had to drive back. My favorite was the lemon drop. It involved lemonade encased in a gelatinous ball. Service was thorough, attentive, and extremely professional. With each plate, the server spoke a little about it and answered any questions I had. I never had to get his attention; he just knew when to drop in and he was never intrusive. Overall, it's an interesting experience, but one I would not repeat at MOTO. Why? Because I might as well buck up for other great molecular gastronomy destinations a la El Bulli, Fat Duck, and Alinea.
(4)Sally C.
Right off the bat--you have to know you're going into something really expensive. People who complain about the price certainly have a right to their indignation, but did you not check out the prices before you made a reservation? This is not going to be a bargain. It's a very nice space--airy and almost futuristic. I agree that the evolving wait staff can be odd, but in some ways, when you're taking 4 hours to eat a meal, variety of staff isn't unwelcome. I ate here with my dad; we had the 20 course menu. It was really really phenomenal. We agreed that 2-3 of the courses were "good." That was notable because everything else was OUTSTANDING. We spent the next day playing a game of which dishes we'd sacrifice to have doubles of another. Also, Chef Cantu came out of the kitchen several times to walk around and check in with diners. He was friendly and gracious, even posing with this one really loud, obnoxious guy's son for a picture. There are 2 fairly nitpicky things holding me back from giving 5 stars: 1. The wait time between courses--I get that they were trying to clear our palate and it was nice to not leave a 20 course meal feeling like I overate. But 4+ hours for a meal can get old. 2. The dishes were VERY inventive and tasty. But with several of them, like the ice cream sundae themed one (mmmmm), there was a certain element of "What's not to like?" Not to call it unadventurous, but flavor idea-wise, it wasn't earth shattering. That being said, making a s'mores bomb and lighting it on fire? You'd be hard pressed to say that they're playing things by the book.
(4)John O.
Simply amazing. However I think the 10 course menu would be enough, the 20 course is a bit overwhelming.
(5)Suana W.
fantastic, creative meal with some hits and some so-so's, but overall a very enjoyable and affordable dining experience. i went with two coworkers for their 8th anniversary celebration: 15 courses for $150, their opening day price. the kicker is that they come with wine pairings for no additional cost! 11 of them, to be exact. we got all nice and toasty quickly into the meal and maintained that pleasant buzz for the rest of the night. at the end of the night, we went to the cellar for a tour of the kitchen and i saw RICHIE from top chef! unfortunately chris jones was not there, he was out hobnobbing with the owner, otherwise i would have definitely taken a picture with him and his ponytail. mostly his ponytail. alas, perhaps next time!
(4)Grace L.
I remember I came here with my boyfriend when they first opened I think it was '09...anyway I read in chicago magazine and wanted to go cause of all the hype. The food wasnt that great in taste (bit salty) my favorite was the cigar and the chocolate "bomb" they lit the sparks and there was some sort of liquid chocolate inside the "bomb" it was amazingly delicious. The ambiance was nice very sleek and modern. However, I like having my own personal space but the tables are very close to each other we were basically included in the conversation that was happening next to us. Very awkward having to avoid eye contact with someone sitting couple inches away from you. Overall great to try once in your life since its an interesting experience but the price is very high I think the bill was couple hundred.
(3)Kalli S.
oh man. i can't say enough nice things about my experience here! i was so overwhelmed and impressed with one spectacle after the next! here's what went down: - 4 people, 10 course menu plus wine pairing the food was delicious. and beautiful. and totally unexpected. and exciting. the service was great with an ultra knowledgeable staff. but the little extras...1.) we mentioned how impressed by the 'cigar' we were, despite the fact it wasn't included in our tasting, but we had heard the rumors. to our surprise, the server/kitchen hooked us up with 4 cigars! a-m-a-z-i-n-g! 2.) one course featured powdered jalapeno that was so delicious. and it was white. like white 'white.' it added the most amazing heat! i commented to the server that i would sprinkle it on everything if i had some because it was so incredible. our server presented me with a giant pouch of said powder vacuum sealed and ready for me to take home! holy shit! i rarely am rendered speechless, but this truly did it. we also were gifted with menus to commemorate the night as well as DVD's of their show, future foods, because none of us had seen it. all in all, go enjoy yourself. it's such a great experience! you will leave stuffed, delighted, and completely in awe. you want to ask 'how!?' with every dish, but it is so lovely, it doesn't even matter. :-)
(5)Aaron K.
My birthday dinner at moto was a pleasent surprise. The playfulness of the kitchen was evident with many powders and deconstruction/reconstructions. The flavors of most of the dishes, like the snowman margarita and the day at the ballpark were not too far of a stretch for the typical american palate. I had hoped for things to be a bit more adventurous (though the cocktails in beakers was an enjoyable mad scientist touch) but still a good meal none the less. This place would be great for introducing a non-foodie to the enjoyment of molecular gastronomy.
(4)Jenn N.
A fantastic experience (keyword: experience) but not a super gastronomic delight. Pros: Excellent service with eloquent servers, an unforgettable culinary futuristic experience Cons: Price but that's expected On my first "real" visit to Chicago, my friend took me to Moto. We first walked into Otom (the sister restaurant next door) thinking that the futuristic restaurant spelled its name backwards to deter unsophisticated patrons. Unfortunately, we were wrong and the hostess kindly directed us next door. I wonder if the confusion is intentionally part of the experience that we were to enter an unknown. Regardless, my friend and I both had the 10 course tasting menu. I have admit that my palate probably isn't as refined as most people and I was recovering from a cold. It took some adjustment to grasp the complexities of flavor and felt that the menu should have increased in the wild...a sort of reaching the climax. Nonetheless, I was able to taste the complexities of flavor. Although liquid nitrogen was used liberally through nearly all plates. I appreciated the thought put toward the deconstructed sushi (which was surprising in taste at first, but really was a different way of eating sushi), cold beets (normally i don't like beets, but i liked in this form) and the mac and cheese (liquid nitrogen cheese melting with burnt? macroni). But the first greek salad was surprisingly disappointing. The second greek salad in a shot glass was the complex dish I had that night. Taking a shot, I felt a slight extreme bitterness of a greek salad then at the back of my throat a few seconds later, I felt a tang. Then the aftertaste lasted for several seconds more. In some way, I almost felt like I went to Charlie's Chocolate Factory and had eaten something...but didn't really consume it. I love sweet dishes and here at Moto, it was probably no exception. I loved the cotton candies. The fizzy watermelon. It was interesting how the way they placed the plate determined the way we choose to ate it. At other tables, we noticed people got a smaller plate for the same amount of fizzy watermelon and didn't eat the fruit at the same time as the rice cracker. Another thought-provoking dish was the chili cheese nachoes and the chicago hot dog which looked (somewhat) like the real thing, but were simply desserts. Unfortunately, the one dish that really satisfied me was the pork shoulder. It was sweet and meaty. In some way, that was the only dish that didn't contain much molecular gastronomy and yet I have never tasted a pork shoulder that good. It was simple. I liked eating the paper that said "patent pending". What added to the experience was how the servers seemed to appear from the dark. The curtains to the kitchen were black and moving through the curtains, you couldn't see anything behind it. The kitchen was right next door to the restrooms...and from where I was standing outside the restroom door (apparently people at moto take forever in the restroom), I could hear a lot going on inside the kitchen. If I could only open that door... Valet is nice because they actually ask for your ticket as you pay for your dinner bill so that you have your car waiting by the time you get outside.
(4)Toby C.
Moto is one of the most amazing dining experiences I have ever had. About 18 months ago my girlfriend and I ventured halfway across the US from our comfy east coast environs to the great city of Chicago. We were visiting friends, but our ulterior motive was coming to Moto, the brilliant restaurant in the meat packing district of Chicago. First, you should know that this restaurant is pretty much a whole evening affair. I think we spent three awesome hours here and we only did the ten course meal. The price is well-worth what you get. I REALLY want to go back for 20 courses some time, but find it difficult to set aside the time to travel. Before I dined at Moto, I had heard it characterized as "molecular gastronomy," but the menu is far broader than what most people lump into that category. It is really quite creative. Ten courses also add up to the perfect-sized meal. The restaurant's space is small but in no way overcrowded -- it is just intimate. The wait-staff is literally the best I have ever encountered. They were so responsive that I only half-joked that they were psychic. Seriously, they can read minds. This place is the whole package of fine dining with a modern, playful twist. I recommend you come here with your beautiful or handsome other and/or a collections or your glamorous friends and while away a couple hours. It is a Chicago must if you love fine dining and aren't stodgy. Just do it -- you won't regret it.
(5)Jeff H.
My girlfriend and I went on a Friday night and were both really excited. I left feeling just a little disappointed overall. We did the 10 course tasting. The courses varied from outstanding to so-so. I'm not a full fledged foodie so things like sweetbreads were a little intimidating, but it was fun to push the boundaries of my comfort zone a bit. I hope we just got the wait staff on a bad night. This was probably the biggest reason for the 3 stars. I was really hoping that they would kind of get us excited for each course. It seemed very utilitarian. That was kind of a downer. They may also want to work on their banter a bit. I asked why quail was part of the Baseball course (everything else seemed baseball related) and was told maybe it was because of the pigeons. While a little funny, I'm not interested in visualizing eating a pigeon. A few courses like the Mahi Mahi were just outstanding. Other elements we really interesting groupings of flavors but seemed more interested with being unique rather than hitting a homerun with the food itself. For the price my expectations really go up on everything as I'm usually very amicable with going out to eat. The food (mostly), the wine, and the decor were that of a $200.00 per person experience. The rest of the meal was a little short of that mark.
(3)Anthony A.
Lives up to the hype, a fantastic playfulness of food. To see 20 plus courses on a menu in front of you, and still not have an idea of what each course will be is an amazing experience.
(4)Melissa W.
Eating at Moto is like taking a turn in a room in Willie Wonka's factory, a room in which Wonka's apprentice chef fell in love with the everlasting gob stopper and continues to fetishize it into as many varieties as possible. Once you hit your second course, I think you'll know what I'm saying: Each and every bite seems to live and evolve inside your mouth, not to mention grows in your stomach, for an almost uncomfortable, though thrilling, length of time. I could swear I only ate about nine legos worth (yes, at Moto, food is all about play, and anything, even eggs, can take the shape of your favorite childhood toys) of food, yet my brain and stomach were tricked by some gob stopper magic. Someone ought to get to the bottom of it, though I doubt it will be me (I'm generally too busy stuffing myself with bucket loads of more pedestrian fare). Let me note as an aside, but one interesting to those who like to balance their checkbooks, that I am not used to paying more than $100, and certainly not more than $300, for a meal for two. Having said that, you cannot possibly enjoy Moto thoroughly (and you must!) unless you forget about the price tag. While at some restaurants, you might have to literally hold your nose to do so, at Moto you can more easily be seduced by the incredible gadgetry of the food if nothing else. Yet I still remember how much it cost, and the ping pong game in my head goes on ... 3 or 4 stars, 3 or 4 stars, the memorable price tag being the only factor tugging me toward the 3. The ping pong game is now over, my head is fine, if wobbly, and I'm going for 4 stars because of the tremendously sweet service in such a potentially intimidatingly mod place, the exquisite presentation of the food matched with a different wine for every course, and the most appealing way I've ever seen my name in print (on an edible menu, of course). I had the smallest meal (but, I'm told, with the largest servings) with, as I mentioned, the wine pairings. Though I'd like to expand my Moto dish repertoire, I think this is a sensible way to go, at least at first, because, as I heard from those seated next to me, it's a long, long road once you start reaching course seven, eight, nine, and beyond. Even if you aren't attuned to or try to dismiss the gob stopper magic at first, it catches up with you, so eat slowwwly and enjoy, even if you can afford to eat here every week. Moto food is art, and, overall, I think would make a seriously sophisticated Willie Wonka very proud.
(4)J K.
We did the 20 course menu at Moto on Saturday night, and it was a great experience. Moto surpassed my expectations in two ways: first, despite the large number of courses, the portions were not tiny, but of a good size. Second, I was expecting that the dishes might be flashy, but only average in taste, but most of them were absolutely delicious. The most ingenious and tasty dishes were the cigar, the coffee, and the bomb. The only drawback was that the service was not quite as polished as I would expect for the price, and the bathroom was a bit shabby. But overall it was a great choice for a special occasion.
(5)Megan N.
My sister took me here for my 21st birthday and while the overall experience was fun and interesting, Moto isn't really that great of a restaurant. We were really excited by the presentation of all the different dishes, but if you're looking for actual tasty food, don't go here. I'm glad I went, and if you want to try Moto, you're probably gonna do it regardless. Just don't expect your tummy to be satisfied.
(2)Nana H.
I was very excited about coming here for a friendship celebration last night. We had a big table, and we were able to book us the night before and confirm the morning of. We all had the 10 course, ( which i would recommend over the 5 and the GTM) and I had one variation since I do not eat pork products. Everything we had was delicious, and thoughtful. I especially enjoyed the liquid salad, Quail Mac and Cheese, My substituted scallop dish, the Duck roadkill, and Grapefruit . I think that Moto caters to a crowd of people, who aren't necessarily looking for "new" or "tasty" food but for people who are looking for "the future" food ? and even, ironic food. It is post-modern! (Ahem, Homer Simpson on the edible men card) Moto would understand terms like ROFLCOPTER and be able to serve it. For those who came and didnt enjoy, they were perhaps misled into thinking moto is ALL about the food ( although I do think the food is outstanding, there are many more elements involved) Those who had the 5 course, i don't think they can fully understand what the idea behind the meal is (also 5 is probably not enough food) We had 10 and left happy and full. We also had every single one of their signature cocktails, and I will say my favorite is the lemon drop. Which had the most magical orb inside of it, it is a must try. Service was fantastic, doors to the bathroom opened magically, napkins folded and placed by what seemed like ghosts. All the servers are actually chefs, who are rotated every 6 months from the kitchen to service, so they actually know what they are talking about. Just to test them I would suggest dropping your napkins a few times and asking plenty of questions, as we did. I love that when we asked for a tour, our server said," We usually would but Chef is messing around with a LASER down there." LASERS!! & I would gleefully go back, for the GTM if i had the 5-6 hours needed.
(5)Brandi S.
After literally eating our menus at Moto (parmesan flat bread), we weren't sure exactly what we were getting into with the ten course-tasting menu and a kitchen that uses lasers and liquid nitrogen in their cooking. The First course had us eating something similar to dry ice and we all looked like dragons breathing steam. The dinner continued with more ultra contrived dishes---deconstructed macaroni and cheese, a conceptual pulled pork sandwich with an edible briquette (a freeze dried substance dyed with squid ink), dessert nachos (candied tortilla chips, shredded mango, chocolate that looked like ground beef). The dishes were starting to feel more gimmicky rather than innovative. We weren't sure if it was standard practice at Moto, but servers tended to raise their voices a few octaves higher when describing the molecular gastronomy inspired courses. The circus like experience of Moto was heightened on our kitchen tour where we had to wear goggles to protect our eyes from... lasers? The red disco light in the kitchen? We weren't sure and at this point and the meal was becoming laughable, which at such high prices, isn't a good thing.
(2)Shana S.
My husband and I ate at Moto a couple of nights ago, when we took a short vacation to Chicago. We had really high expectations. We got the 10-course tasting, because the Grand Tasting Menu with 20 courses would make our bellies too full. We were there between 3 and 4 hours for the 10-course tasting, so the GTM would have been too much for us both. Menu: 1 SNOW man (tuna ceviche with lime foam snowman) 2 WHITE steel (scallop with roe and grapefruit done in the style of a gin & tonic) 3 MAITAKE & pork (pork belly, sautéed mushrooms, and mushroom foam) 4 QUAIL with cracker jack (quail fried in peanut oil with cherry and coke reductions w/ popcorn powder) 5 RABBIT maki (rabbit and brussel sprout wrapped up to look like a California roll) 6 REUBEN lasagna (braised beef, cabbage and swiss cheese) 7 MEXICAN cannoli (duck wrapped in mini tortilla with mole sauce) 8 FROZEN yogurt (piped frozen yogurt with cake and mango) 9 CATMINT & pineapple (mango and pineapple and catmint marshmallow) 10 TUBER melanosporum (chocolate mousse & oregano) 1 loved it, the snowman got melted with some tequila mixture 2 my favorite dish of the night 3 pork was very tasty and mushrooms were so good including the mushroom foam which was shaped into a mushroom 4 one of my least favorites; there was too much quail, I didn't like how it was fried but the popcorn powder and reductions were very good, pineapple flavored cracker jack prize was nice too 5 rabbit maki was good 6 rich dish but good; dill chip was a little overpowering 7 was alright 8 first sweet dish, very tasty, yogurt was good and fruits were very good 9 fruit was good but catmint marshmallow was not something I finished, kind of an off taste for me 10 combo of dirt-looking shaved chocolate with oregano was very interesting, would have eaten more if it wasn't the last course with my stomach stuffed Not included above: spinach-artichoke style menu which was edible (the menu was baked onto a pita chip) and a Styrofoam peanut-looking thing which was frozen and served in a flask with orange soda to finish our meal. Overall, the highlights for me were towards the beginning of the night. I ordered a cocktail called the picnic which had vodka, watermelon, Red Bull, etc... I realized that I really dislike the taste of Red Bull, so that didn't work for me, but my own fault. My husband loved that the cocktail and some of the other meal components were served in laboratory glassware (read: flasks & beakers). It was a very interesting experience even though I didn't love everything that I ate. Some of the things I loved, my husband didn't like as well, but the quail was one of his favorite things of the night and it was my least favorite, so it was just a matter of personal preference. It was pricey, but we knew we were getting an experience when we went, so were happy with the result. It's the kind of thing we'll do once and never again but are glad we got to do it.
(4)Rich L.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I love the food - it is tasty, gourmet and FUN! A real dining experience. And the wait staff is excellent. Very personable and friendly.
(5)chris w.
5 star food experience. 2 star restaurant experience= 3 star rating. Food & mocktails were nearly flawless in their engineering, flavor and creativity (had the 10 course meal with mocktail pairings). but very disappointed in the overall dining experience. I have not read the other reviews but i would not come back, because the dining experience was so disappointing. For $350, i want the full experience and don't want to be relegated to the basement "lab" with minimal service and a disappointing ambience. (read: request upstairs seating!) . Went here for a saturday night valentine day meal with my wife. this was our first time at moto. Had been to otom a couple of times and had been saving moto for a special occasion. Made reservations 3 weeks in advance. Woman told us we would have the option of the fixed price or the standard "a la carte" menu. Not true. We were undecided on how committed we were to the fixed price 10/20 course experience and I'm unsure if we would have gone if we would have known the $350 fixed price prior to going. According to our waiter, weekends are always fixed price. Would have been nice to know prior to going. So that was frustration number one. When we get there they take us to the recently remodeled basement, aka "the lab". Nice place for a group dinner party or food class, but definitely not the place I would have chosen for a high end dining experience. Surrounded by beakers and a giant element table with a 11th grade science lab table in the middle for "food experiments", the place had a ton of potential to be "fun", but the experience itself did not play off the lab theme with the exception of the the root beer liquid nitrogen beverage which came in a beaker. As a result, we were left with tables and carpet that looked like they were bought on the cheap and did not match the rest of the modern or theme-specific decorum. Plus with limited seating and an old, stuffy pretentious dark suit to a saturday night dinner wearing crowd with their sunless wives, this was not a fun, festive, unique, or memorable dining experience. Throw in two servers who had an added value of 0 with the exception of having memorized the complicated explanations of the 10 courses. No conversation, jokes, repartee, personality, or comments about the food or experience. nothing! we were there for 3 hours! They just delivered food and were derelict in their drink duties. I routinely have better service at the take-out burrito place in pilsen. seriously. maybe the mandatory 18% gratuity has something to do with it. Perverse incentives anyone? Would rather have had monkeys deliver the food. For mocktail drinkers, two of the three drinks the mixologist created were phenomenal. (1) Beet juice, soda and cocoa powder and (2) freshly squeezed OJ and bitters. LOVING IT. thank you mr magoo :).
(3)Rico T.
The owner of this place is not only very cool, but also very down to earth. His wife is also, completely unexpected. Everything good has already been said about Moto. For those few that think the food is all show, may I suggest watching the food channel's show IRON CHEF. Homero Cantu handed a world renowned chef's @SS to him on a platter! (Chef Morimoto) The laser is pretty over the top, but c'mon...IT'S TOTALLY COOL TO SEE.
(5)Olga L.
This place totally rocks! You really have to have an open mind when you come here because there are some really unusual things that get put on a plate for you to eat. Hubby and I usually like to "Hop" from place to place and do drinks and apps but decided to check this place out when they told us about their 5 course menu. I started out with a Chorizo Margarita - like in Chorizo sausage! Dude! I was either going to be totally grossed out or totally dig on it and it was the smoothest margarita I think I ever had. Hubby had some concoction with absinthe that he loved... We started out with our menus that were on some cracker thing -- it was really yummy and I actually wanted to ask for another menu to eat but thought they'd talk about me if I did! My favorite courses were the Faux-jitas that even had guac ice cream. Sounds icky but the whole thing definitely worked! All the presentations were amazing and the food was delicious. The servers were extremely attentive and Hubby and I will definitely be back. We're just trying to decide to to the full monty 20 course or 10 course next time we go... It is expensive but very worth the trip if you want something yummy and unusual.
(5)Rose O.
A friend was visiting from Boston and she had made reservations to this place so I accompanied her. We tried the 17-course GTM - what I call the gastronomical tasting menu! It was delicious and very interesting in presentation! A little on the pricey side ($175) but should be tried at least once in your life! The edible menu was printed on edible ink and paper and glued on a rice cracker. A little salty but an interesting presentation. Probably my favorite from all the courses was what they called Roadkill - I loved the presentation of the meat which represented, well you know what it represented ;) and the sauces they used: tasty yellow melon sauce spread in dashes as the road and a tasty sweet red sauce splattered on the plate! The plus of the experience is we met a lovely couple who was dining next to us and celebrating a birthday! Shouts to Rob and Rose (yes, same name as me)!
(4)Barb P.
You have to want more than just great food to go here. The molecular gastronomy experience is equivalent to a going to a show where you are constantly surprised. The wine pairing is excellent. They even threw in a wonderful beer from Quebec in addition to the first sake I ever liked. The staff was happy to see you get excited because they are not just waiters; they have input to creative process. I've been here a few times and loved it.
(5)Bernard M.
Moto was a bit disappointing. The creativity of their dishes was excellent and the service. The actual food was 'eh'. Nothing was tasty or really good. It was just 'blah' or okay. For example, their crabcake was very plain, and the pork wasn't tender but tough. Seriously, how can a top notch restaurant not get these things right?
(3)Brian R.
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.
(2)Hello T.
Amazing! The ingenuity, science, and creativity needed to procure a meal like this is just amazing! Each course was incredible, with it's sleek presentation and fun,witty combinations, making old flavor combinations come to new life once again. Expensive, yes, but this is not dinner, this is a dining experience you may never forget. Just bring others who will appreciate it(and those you can converse with for 4 hours).
(5)serena l.
Oh goodness - you have to try this place! It is almost too cool for itself...think edible packaging peanuts, sesame oil powder that turns liquid when it touches your mouth, cheese broth, and smoking coffee flavored biscotti dipped in liquid nitrogen. But even better...everything tastes good too. I live in SF, but I had been dreaming of hitting up Moto for about 2 years now, after reading a profile of Homaro Cantu in a magazine. Weird science indeed. I'm so glad that I finally had a chance to try it a few weeks ago, when I was in Chicago for business. I had been a little apprehensive about the alleged 3 hour dining experience (we ordered the 5-course, and my friends who had previously dined at Moto advised us to beware of the long meal) - but it wasn't bad at all. In fact, I'd venture to say that they whisked the food away from us right as we ate the last bite - almost too quickly in some instances. I did see the waitstaff peeking out from behind a door, watching everyone eat so they could time things correctly. I believe they adjust the amount of food based on the # of courses you taste - so you just get smaller portions for the 5 hour GTM. Highlights include the aforementioned things, particularly the last course of coffee and biscotti. The "coffee" was liquid flavored as biscotti with a touch of hazelnut, and the "biscotti" was the coffee flavored, liquid nitrogen dipped concoction. There was a cute little packaging peanut hanging out in the corner of the dish - of the texture you'd expect from a real Styrofoam packaging peanut, but made of vanilla. Super cool. Anyway, try this place. You won't be disappointed. One downside - the price. Superbly pricey...but then again, not as expensive as Alinea or Trotter's...
(4)Susan L.
Exquisite dinner and service that can be summed up in 2 words: Small Chubby
(5)Belle M.
My boyfriend and I braved through the rain and tornado warnings so we can check out Moto and we were not dissappointed. This was our first taste of of molecular gastronomy. We both ordered the 5 course tasting menu. The highlights included the crispy hash browns and beef; de-constructed steak and eggs; biscotti and coffee; coconut and rum. Each dish came to life by the the unique plating--for instance the steak and eggs were placed in this metal half box with the basil on the ends of the fork and knife. The biscotti was in dry ice so when you dipped it in coffee it disintegrated. Also, we had our first edible menu-- made out of cracker with my name at the bottom. By the way, you can bring your own wine, corkage is $25. Service was amazing--the staff was knowledgeable and they were attentive. I've been to many fine dining establishment and Moto has my vote for the best service. Dining at Moto was an amazing experience.
(5)Jennifer L.
I've been dying to try Moto since it opened in all its slick glory several years ago. We finally went for my birthday and it did not disappoint. We opted for the twenty course GTM and accompanying wine flight. My favorites: Beet cake Gin & Tonic fizz Langostine in broth Jalapeno gelato Fruit & Pasta Flapjakes prepared tableside Carrot Cake planet Doughnut soup Chili-cheese nachos My least favorite was probably the miso & grilled tuna, but even that was alright. The service was flawless. The entire staff is dressed in black suits, and everyone trades off with busing, serving, and explaining the courses. The GTM includes a brief kitchen tour, which was eh...I could have skipped that. Also, we felt that the GTM was just a few courses too many. 15-17 would have been plenty, whereas 20 was just painful. All in all, though, it was a great evening!
(5)Joe L.
On December 10th, at 9:10pm, Matt Skonicki and I walked into Moto. Moto is in the meat packing district of Chicago, and is located at 924 Fulton Market. Moto is small. After having our coats checked we were ushered into the dining room. Feeling much like a gay couple, we were seated at a small table. The water was served from individual stoppered glass bottles. The menus were brought. There was a pleasent din in the restraunt at this time. Matt and I pretty much knew we were going to have what is known as the GTM, or Grand Tour Moto. An 18 course, $165 dollar meal. The menu is edible. We ate the with much intrigue. We ordered a bottle of white wine for the meal, a hasty little 2005 vintage that was quite good. Then the courses started. -DUE TO A 5000 WORD LIMIT, I HAVE OMITTED THE COURSE BY COURSE REVIEW. PM ME FOR IT- The meal was $500 all together. There was no one left in the restraunt when Matt and I left at 1:30am. My final score: 4 stars out of 5. The sense of taste, like all other senses, needs to rest sometimes. Moto hammered it out over all 18 courses with intense flavors. One or two courses with a more smooth and light flavor would have been great, and added just that last half a star. Moto also serves 5 and 10 course meals. I suggest to any to try this place, it's an adventure in fine dining. My final thought: "There's something to be said about a restaurant where every bite puts a smile on your face." Matt's Quote of the Night: "I hope the last course is a big fucking piece of chocolate cake."
(4)Dixie C.
This was truly a dining experience. We thought to come here as we were in Chicago during our anniversary and were celebrating some other events as well. It was a little strange since the location seems to be near a warehouse district (I'm not from Chicago so I don't know for sure) but this industrial setting seems to fit right in with what the restaurant is trying to create. We didn't get the GTM menu because we had already done some celebrating and probably couldn't drink that much wine or even eat that much food. We ordered the ten course menu instead. Each dish was excellent, playing with textures and different ways to deliver flavors to your mouth. My only complaint is the wine service as basically each time they poured a wine for you, they showed the bottle, but then had nothing else to say. Stil, it was an altogether enjoyable evening and fun as well.
(5)The Jedi Foodi E.
Grant Achatz has nothing to worry about. On a recent visit to The Windy City, I made reservations at Homaru Cantu and Ben Roche's temple of "culinary terrorism", Moto. Now, normally I would rate a restaurant based on its own merits and not tabulate nor base my star rating on a comparison to its competitor. If you ask the powers that be at Moto, they would not say they are rivals to Alinea. But, with a menu and setup so similar, comparisons just cannot be avoided. The evening my friend Tod and I arrived for our 5:30 Saturday reservation, Chef Homaru and Chef Ben were not in the kitchen. Even Chris Jones and Richard Farina were absent as they were off filming episodes of TOP CHEF. The restaurant with its sleek, yet sterile minimalist dining room adorned with earth-toned walls, crisp white linens and almond-colored banquettes, had a disconcerting clinical vibe akin to that of hospital wing..in the "Psych" ward. Except, in this case, the wait staff, or "stewards" wear black from head-to-toe instead of the traditional light blue. Upon being seated, we were pleasantly surprised with two complimentary flutes of champagne..a welcome start to what would be a journey of "twists and turns". The goal of Moto is this..to keep you off-balance for the entire evening. There wasn't a moment when I felt at ease and comfortable in my seat. This was mostly due to the cordial, yet robotic service. These "Stepford" servers glide thru the room with a deliberation and regimen so stiff, that after a while, it just seems contrived and choreographed without any sincere warmth, with little human emotion at all. To their credit, there was not one misstep. For technical merit and required elements..a "10". But, for artistic interpretation and presentation..a "2". Whereas Grant Achatz is this creative genius, whose plates are spectacularly innovative, he still grounds them in classicism. The final dish is always recognizable and relatable. Chefs Homaru Cantu and Ben Roche's main objective at Moto is clearly to "mess with your head", often to the point of the crossing the line into the absurd. They clearly concentrate too much on purees and their avant-garde techniques fail quite a bit in overall execution. Our 16-course tribunal began with the standard "edible menu." On this night, it was in the incarnation of a mediocre deconstructed spring roll on rice paper and served with cilantro, minty, crispy tofu, pickled daikon and carrot and a spicy pineapple sauce. Next, was the Black and White plate divided in two with a seared diver scallop served in its shell with a tasty duo of crispy and celery root puree coupled with sautéed leeks. Its partner was an absolutely memorable olive oil poached striped bass served with the same accoutrements dyed black with squid ink. The Garbage Salad was a jumbled murky mess of pizza and romaine purees with balsamic vinegar, dehydrated romaine, Italian sausage, edible packing peanut with Italian dressing, pata negra and parmesan. The Nose-To-Tail was a clockwise tease of so-so ham, braised pork belly, crispy and spicy pig ears, tenderloin, roasted plantain puree and banana cubes. On the liquid side, Moto offers a noteworthy selection of craft beers and many affordable wines. They also have a cocktail menu as wacky as their food using top-shelf alcohol. Tod and I were impressed with Moto's carbonated grapes and almond/sherry Gazpacho with braised rabbit, more almonds and parsley. Conversely, the Bird's Nest of crispy noodles and soft-boiled quail egg fell flat, uninspired. The fried chicken flour noodles with mashed potatoes, gravy, and black truffle biscuit was no more than a cousin to the weak Garbage Plate. An interesting, yet not all flavorful offering was the infamous Trio of Cigar Tastings..three simulated cigar-looking bites..a Philly Cheesesteak, another, a Cuban sandwich, the other, a Monte Cristo..all rolled in braised collard greens and served with liquid nitrogen frozen ash made from black and white sesame seeds. Next, a venture into the woods with the Forest Foraging. Served over the length of a small tree branch were aromatic shitake and trumpet mushrooms, brusselsprout leaves and crispy mulberries. Finally, came a plate that would qualify as a dish. The Beef Bourguignon of tender braised short ribs served with, of course, more cauliflower puree, sautéed spinach, onion puff, and rosemary oil that was cleverly poured from the candle that was placed on our table earlier in the meal. We were hopeful this rollercoaster of a meal would rally with a flourish as desserts arrived. It started well. The Mango and Lemongrass Egg Drop Soup with spiced carrot puree and coconut milk foam was a wonderful palate cleanser. The Marshmallow Harvest three ways served with raisins, granny smith apple and shaved white truffle was intriguing but tasted misguided. The saving grace was the fuse-lit Acme Bomb, an explosion of marshmallow and graham cracker flavors. Dinner for two with wine, tax and tip was a rueful $540.
(2)Paul C.
MOTO is like a journey or an adventure. The location, atmosphere, style, service and presentation are all very different. From the dark alley-like location, to the ultra modern minimalist decor, the service staff decked out like the Secret Service, the slow pacing of the single-bite dishes, and the presentation of the food itself, the overall experience is amazing. Being diabetic, the chef(s) adapated the 10-bite presentation to my dietary needs. This was great, because it gave us the opportunity to try some of their signature molecular gastronomy dishes, like the Cuban Cigar, the Astronaut, 40MHZ, Yellow Snow and the Neroli float. Each was excellent, with tastes that exploded in your mouth and changed as they lingered. We had a great time, and highly recommend it. Since each dish looks exactly like what it is named for, it may not be for everyone, but I found it to be fun and tasty.
(5)Noah D.
This was one of my top three meals ever. Having been to Alinea, all menus at Next, The French Laundry, amongst others, that is saying a lot. From start to finish the meal was impeccable. It started off with a tasting of the tasting menu - literally a mini tasting of each course to come...genius, and delicious! From there, every course came out completely different in presentation, technique and taste, and every single course was absolutely delicious...and every diner at the table agreed! I have never had a meal where each course was just spot on like that and I LOVED it! I could go on and on about each dish, but don't want to ruin the surprise for anyone...just go, and enjoy! I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with Chef Farina earlier in the day, and seeing the workings of the kitchen and meeting the staff was amazing. All of them were so gracious, and so kind. If I could relive the experience and eat the meal again today I would. Go check it out!!!
(5)Jess H.
Dining at moto is like watching a live art show. I applaud the creative personalities behind the menu... 15 courses are offered, each one so innovative and it's presentation is just something else. My biggest regret was not taking pictures... My favorite course was "cigars", it was so cleverly done, meats and cheeses wrapped with grape leaves made to look like half smoked cigars, the cigar was dipped in some sort of red sauce to give off the appearance of a burning cigar... There are 3 cigars served in an actual ash tray, the server comes out with a mixture of seasoning that is mixed in dry ice and put in the ash tray to resemble smoke an ashes... My description is hardly doing this course justice... service is great and friendly... It is a little pricey... And it is a prefixed menu, although they are very accommodating to dietary restrictions and allergies.... It's a lot of fun...
(5)Angela K.
I had the 10 course meal with all of its wines. The servers were extremely attentive and did an awesome job explaining every dish. We had requested that we had to be done with the meal by 8:30pm and they made it work and had a cab ready for us to go. I especially liked the Cigar de Cuba and the Rueben Lasagna.
(4)Sarah Z.
The service was impeccible and the atmosphere was very modern and sophisticated. The menu is served on a plate which after you read- you can eat! We had the 5 course and everything was good, except while I thought the "ceasar salad" soup was okay, I didn't care for the "pizza soup". The "eggs and hash" course was served on a battleship type game board- and the fourth course is a strawberry sorbet served with shortbread and fruit- except it is all constructed as to look like a Chicago hotdog. Quite clever! The flavors fell short for me, there was a fish course with beans that was delicious, but the rest of it was just okay. I am not dying to go back, but I'm definitely glad I went. I hate to give this place only 3 stars because the service was absolutely perfect- but the food just wasn't that amazing.
(3)shik s.
This place was phenomenal... I did the 5 course tasting menu and was stuffed by the end (in a good way). Every dish is unique, especially those in the earlier courses. The cucumber reduction is the perfect start to the meal (besides consuming the filo dough menu!) and sets the tone for the rest of the dining experience. We dropped some serious coinage $700 for 5 people... but it was worth it. If you love adventurous eating this is definitely a place to try...
(5)Steven M.
I really struggled with how to rate Moto. Is it better than the average restaurant? Yes, absolutely. Then why the meager two star rating you ask? Because, if Moto is going to price themselves up there with the varsity players then that's who they're going to be judged against. In the category of $500+ (for two people) dinner establishments in Chicago, in my opinion there is Alinea as the winner lapping the field, and a second echelon containing places such as Les Nomades and Trotter's. I didn't feel that Moto came even close to competing with any of them, and should not be mentioned in the same breath. It's too bad, I had been eagerly anticipating eating at Moto for some time, mainly due to the reviews, the reputation and the pedigree of the team. I can't tell if they once were a great restaurant that just lost their way, or an over-hyped place that was never there in the first place....needless to say it was spectacularly disappointing. For us, the service was very middling. We were seated immediately which was nice and water was brought to the table right away, but then we sat there for almost 20 minutes before the waiter came back to take our order. Worse, we we're never asked if we would like to have a drink while we waited. Throughout the dinner the waitstaff came across as very green. For a Saturday night, I would have expected the "A" team, but though they were attentive and VERY friendly, they did not seem to be very knowledgeable and didn't really seem to have the confidence and polish to take command of the meal. In top places, usually you see very seasoned, confident and skilled servers who act as your guide through your dining experience. Not so much here. I wonder if they're having high turnover or if they are cutting costs (it wasn't nearly full on a Saturday night at 8PM!). I didn't see anyone on the floor that seemed to be over the age of 25 so there's certainly a leadership gap there. We did the 10 course menu which was plenty of food and matched it with the wine pairing. Have to say that the wines were fine and plentiful but nothing really stood out as memorable, let alone transcendent. The "sommelier" was very nice but wasn't very confident. polished or informative. Maybe we caught them on restaurant internship night... The ambiance was fine, very modern/contemporary, though it can get a little loud. However, by 9:30 it started slowing down and wasn't too bad. As for the food, well, as the two star rating attests: Meh, I've experienced better. Some interesting combinations and definitely some brave pairings. But it just didn't tickle me where I itch if you know what I mean. More troubling, a couple of offerings were just poor. The breakfast course came out with two "tater tots" that were WAY over salted and just nasty. The second one went uneaten on both my and my GF's plates. A couple other courses just seemed to have a jumble of flavors that didn't make the sum greater than the component parts. Over half the dishes were too liberally salted. The only standout was the cigar which was clever and delicious. But by the end, we were rather bored with the tedium of it all, and rather than basking in the afterglow of a wonderful meal, we settled the tab and got the hell out. We won't be going back. If you have been to any of the restaurants I mentioned before (Alinea, Trotters, Les Nomandes), please trust me and don't bother with Moto, you will experience epic disappointment. If you haven't been to any of them, a trip to Moto will make you love them even more when you do go, or even better, save yourself the hassle and the moolah and go to one of them instead.
(2)Jennifer A.
Love. :)
(5)amanda g.
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.
(4)Jessica M.
Moto is an EXPERIENCE. The food is art. It tests boundaries. This is not comfort food (although they do spin offs of some common comfort foods, like BBQ beans). Actually, some of the dishes really were un-comforting to me, but I think that is all part of the experience. You eat and pay close attention to the flavors, the contrasts, the creativity and the irony. My husband took me here for my birthday. I have always wanted to try gastronomic cooking and of course after seeing Homaro Cantu on Iron Chef, I really wanted to try Moto. We were not disappointed. There were two dishes that I did not like (one that I could not eat and gave to my husband), but, a.) that's what you get when you do a preset menu and b.) it may not have suited my tastes, but it certainly entertained me. We had the 10 course tasting which equals about 2.5 hours of your time. We were told that a 20 course tasting can last for 4.5 hours. We did not have the wine paring because that was an extra $70 per person and I probably would have been drunk and too full. 10 courses was PLENTY for me! By the 6th course, I was totally full. The 20 course looked interesting, but I have no idea how I would have made it through that one. I wish I would have worn a dress because my pants got so tight around my stomach! From what it looked like to me, the 20 course eaters got the same food that the 10 course people did, but with 10 additional courses. I'm pretty sure our menu was inspired by Warner Bros. cartoons from the good 'ol days. Our menu, printed and pasted on a corn chip, tasted amazing as did the smooth guacamole and salsa. That was actually some of the best tasting salsa I have ever had. Our first course blew my mind! It was a crab cake made to look like a slice of breakfast sausage served with a pina colada and passion fruit, sunny-side-up "egg". The egg white had very similar texture to a cooked egg white, but tasted like coconut. And the egg yolk, again, looked exactly like an over easy egg yolk, tasted like passion fruit. The yolk acted EXACTLY like a real egg yolk. You poked it with a fork and the filling comes pouring out, but leaving a slight skin around the outside. The consistency was even the same. I will remember that dish for the rest of my life! I did not really enjoy the Cuban Cigar. This was basically a Cuban sandwich made to look like a cigar, served in a stainless steel ashtray with ground sesames and some spices (I think cumin) to emulate ashes. It was a little too limp for me (I would have liked some contrast in textures) and I thought it was a little heavy on the cumin (or whatever the spice was). My husband liked it, though. The "road kill on a plate" was clever. I smiled. However, I was not a total lover of the duck confit that it consisted of. This was the second course in which we had a confit of fowl and a.) I didn't really want to try another one, b.) it was almost a pureed type of meat texture, which I was not so into and c.) it was a bit over salted for me. This was our 7th course and I was already beyond the threshold of being full, so I wasn't really hungry enough to devour the duck confit. So I avoided it. But I did eat the sauces (red beet sauce to represent blood was so good). The BBQ brisket was fantastic and it was served with a side of cole slaw ice cream. It looked exactly like cole slaw actually. But of course it was frozen shards of tri colored, cabbage creaminess. I tried eating the cole slaw with a bit of the brisket, but that was just totally weird! Warm meat with ice cream! Well, I guess the cole slaw ice cream is a love it or hate it type of thing. For my husband and I, we hated it! But that's okay, because I am happy to know that I have tried cole slaw ice cream! Okay, so my favorite dessert item: "ACME S'mores". It was this little, round, chocolate ball with a white wick sticking out of the top. Our server lit the wick with a tiny torch and it sparked and eventually went out and left a charred wick. You put the whole thing in your mouth and, with your mouth totally closed, smash the chocolate ball. It explodes. Cool liquid fills your mouth and after a few seconds you taste a perfect s'more! The texture is completely off, but somehow it all comes together to form a perfect s'more taste. The charred wick acts as the charred taste of a marshmallow. I even tasted the graham cracker! It was wild. Our service was impeccable. I have never had such perfect service anywhere. The atmosphere was clean, simple and welcoming. It was not stodgy at all. My husband wore nice jeans, a button down and a blazer and that was perfect. You don't have to get super dressed up to come here. They have a nice valet service, however, we took a cab. It can be pretty tough to get a cab in this area, but they will call a cab for you when you are ready to leave. In the end, our bill was $330 (for 2 10 course tastings and 2 martinis). 18% gratuity is included. Great experience. But it will be a one time deal for us.
(4)Arian A.
This place entertained me and made my belly full from beginning to end! My husband and I enjoyed the creative playfulness of the dishes as they came out between eating our own menu to drinking paella to having a chocolate bomb go off in our mouths. Definitely an experience!
(4)Abra A.
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.
(5)Rhonda O.
The 5 stars say it all. Food, science, art, entertaiment all in one.
(5)Maura S.
The stuffy atmosphere doesn't make up for the meh quality of the food. i went here years ago and had a way better experience. the waiters took away from the food with their snooty attitude. dude, i mean i wouldn't be at the restaurant if i couldn't afford the food. the chefs seem to be a big fan of lemon and while i love lemon on just about everything, this went a bit overboard. i'm also a little not excited about the time between courses. i get that you are trying to be dramatic but i basically haven't eaten all day since i knew i was coming here, so i'm starving at this point. i will say the food started off strong and ended pretty badly - at this point, a waiter made fun of me for not caring for the food. i'm sorry, isn't that your problem that the food is inadequate and i had to come home and make a sandwich? also, beware, when it came time to tip the lovely gentleman who made fun of me, i didn't have a choice but to give them 18% tip. yup - it was built into the bill for just my husband and I. overall, i honestly would have rather eaten pizza. i think moto has decreased in value over the years. i wouldn't go here again, not for $400+
(2)Margie L.
Hate to bring this place down with reviews, but... Here's the thing. I had fun. My friends? maybe not so much. We decided to go full hog and get the 20 course GTM (grande taste moto). Our server said it would take 3-4 hours. Um, no. It took 5 hours. The servers were nice and know the menu well (they've all trained as chefs there as well) but they aren't fast to get a drink (unless you're ordering the wine pairings; half of us did). My recommendation? Go for the 10 course menu. You'll still get most of the cool dishes (we realized there were a bunch of duplicates in the menu but the descriptions made the dishes sound radically different).
(3)Steven B.
Moto is hands-down the best restaurant I have ever eaten at. It's pricey ($200+ a head), but not as expensive as Alinea... and a superior experience. I've been fortunate enough to dine here, WD-50 in New York, and at Alinea.. and Moto wins-out without hesitation. The room is nice (maybe simpler than others), the service is fantastic, and the food is amazing. Maybe the science geek in me appreciates this more than others... but you walk away (3+hrs later) amazed. We ate things frozen in liquid nitrogen, printed works of art, even cooked than liquefied doughnuts... every single item was not only interesting, but delicious. THAT's where Moto differs amongst it's high-priced peers... you get the amazing impact... and in the end, you're (reasonably) full, and everything TASTED fantastic. The things they do and how good they taste stays with you... we're still talking about Moto, and it's been 8mos. You'll probably go once in your life... but if there's a place in Chicago for an amazing highly memorable dinner.. this is it.
(5)Audrey C.
for a unique dining experience, Moto fo-sho, but for a yummy experience, Moto no-go. :) we did the 7 course with wine pairing. the culinary concoctions were interesting/unique/creative/etc but not very yum. i felt the individual ingredients' characters (taste and texture) were lost in translation. but, the service was flawless and the ambiance was perfect for a quiet evening.
(3)Sandra R.
Had the 10 course Valentine's dinner here last night with my fiance. For the price point, I wasn't impressed. I expected the the food to be phenomenal. Some of the courses fell short. The first course was fine, it was a tortilla chip with dip. The tortilla chip also happened to be the menu. The second course was a breakfast course with a crab cake and an "egg". The crab cake was delicious but the item that looked like an egg was disgusting. I would have preferred a real egg, instead I got a passion fruit and coconut jelly made to look like egg. The cocktail shrimp was just ok. It came with snow which was supposed to be the cocktail sauce, but it solidified into a mass at the bottom of the container. The sweet potato and pork course was good, although the sweet potatoes were a bit too salty. The french onion soup was clever (instead of french bread over the soup they gave you a Moto Funyun) and was also good. The quail course was gross. The piece of quail that I got was basically all skin and it was a bit rubbery. The short rib was the best dish out of the bunch, I wish it had been my only entree. It was perfectly cooked and spiced. Next came 3 dessert courses which were all mediocre. The first was a dish made to resemble cereal, the kind with corn flakes and strawberries. It was fun because it came out with dry ice, but it wasn't what I would typically crave for dessert. There was also a chocolate and macaroon cookie concoction made to look like a burger, again it was just ok. Last came a heart shaped box made of lychee sorbet, clever but not that good. I prefer really tasty food over presentation.
(3)Matt B.
heres the thing: it's real good food, prepared really extravagantly, and exquisite service, but i would not say that it's worth what they're charging.
(3)K S.
I have been here multiple times and love this place. For high end dining, and the total experience, I go to moto. I like this place MORE THAN Alinea. I feel the food tastes great, while the experience is unique, and the flavors are distinctive, different, and how their experiened is great. Think liquid salad, and u can actually taste the different flavors in the liquid that make up a salad. Or a cuban cigar, that you can eat. Or frozen pancakes. One of the favorite dishes is truffled mac and cheese with i think it was duck, but no longer have that dish(seasonal item and changing menus) This place is great, and i've been here enough that they know me. I've gotten the grand tour with tastings several times and last time i got the 10 course(but they gave me many items from the GTM, guess its good when they remember you). Highly recommended. Oh yea, i love how i can go here in jeans and just a nice shirt and its alright. I don't feel like i'm confined or have to be all snobby.
(5)Mark M.
A once in a lifetime meal, definitely in the top 5 I've had so far. My wife and I opted for the wine service which enhanced the flavors of the courses. Go there hungry and do the whole experience. In particular enjoyed the cuban cigar, the cherry bomb/ banana split, the faux cereal, and the mashed potatoes. Not much else to say that hasn't been said. The staff were awesome. Enjoyed it!
(5)Ellen R.
Utterly fabulous! I went there on November 14th 2006 for dinner with the man. Experimental, yes. Interesting, yes. Well done? Definitely! I usually hesitate when it comes to the experimental, post-modern, trendy eateries here but this was a worth-while time and monetary investment. It's experimental without being over the top. And, unlike other uber trendy modern places with lackluster white walls and not much of anything else this place pulls off the minimalist decor in perfect style. It's a perfect accompaniment to their cuisine. Yes, it's minimalist complete with white walls and all but at least they add flair to it from the bamboo placemats to the touch of greens and neutrals on the walls. And let's face it, for them it just works I couldn't imagine it being done any other way. The service is unbelievable. At first it was a bit disconcerting, the staff appeared to be a bunch of 21-25 year olds, hardly what one would expect from a 5-star restaurant. After discovering they are all trained chefs or currently in training and after listening to their renditions of the individual plates, the wine lists, etc I was impressed. What a bold, daring move to hire the young ones in training to staff the restaurant. And being a resident in training myself I can really appreciate this. I think it's a great move and they seem to have a passion for what they do, combined with a desire to learn more both from their peers as well as from their customers. The food was out of this world. I took advantage of the 10 course with the wine pairing. The wine portions were very generous, perhaps even too generous for me but very good. The food was outstanding, flavorful, exciting and filled with different textures that rolled off the palate beautifully. This chef has true vision as well as the ability to produce a pleasing product for his customers. Unlike other modern mediocre high priced places Moto gives you the aesthetic while still delivering on flavor. The presentation is very pleasing and dramatic as well. I will go back there again and again and again...
(5)Giao T.
The restaurant is very unassuming. Walking up, we stood in front trying to figure out which door was the entrance. The decor is extremely basic. Don't get me wrong, I'm not into gaudy over-the-top, but there should be something. Anyway, our server was very nice. I liked him a lot, he took the time to explain things and was very personable. The other servers who stepped in here and there were okay. And as for the meal. We had the nine-course meal with the wine pairing. The courses were all pretty good. There was one that I really liked and thought stood out. Other than that, I just wasn't wowed by it. And the portions were really elf food (Chase/Mastercard commercial from a couple years back). As in, we were a group of 5 which included my mom and aunt. I was afraid my mom and aunt would be sickly drunk because I don't think our food servings were enough to cover the little wine tastings we had. So yes, the food was good but I just didn't think it was good enough (or enough quantity) for the cost. I left not full and kinda wanting to get more food but didn't because it was 11:00PM and eating more at that time wasn't good for the waistline. So the value just wasn't there for me.
(3)Bao L.
One of the best, if not the best, meals I have ever had. I've been to numerous Michelin-starred restaurants, and I would definitely place Moto right near the top w/ some of my favorites (Gary Danko, Manresa, Redd, Wakuriya, State Bird Provisions). Everything was top notch - from the food to the service to the ambiance. The funny thing is, my friends and I weren't even planning on eating here when we dined at Moto on a Friday night. We had planned on eating at another restaurant in the West Loop, but when we were quoted a wait time of 2 hours, we decided to make reservations at another nearby restaurant. We had an hour to kill before our reservation, so we decided to grab a drink at a nearby speakeasy. Upon arriving at said speakeasy, we were unable to get in (deservedly so, as we didn't have reservations and we were just hoping we'd get lucky). Moto is right around the corner from said speakeasy, and my friend and his girlfriend had been wanting to try this place. I decided to see if they had reservations just for fun, definitely not expecting to get a seat at a Michelin-starred restaurant on such short notice. However, to our surprise, there was one open time slot for a party of 3. We went back and forth as to where we wanted to eat, and in the end we ended up picking Moto - and I'm so glad we did. We arrived and were greeted with a warm smile by the hostess, who literally said "um, did you guys JUST make a reservation?" to which we all laughed and told her about the little adventure we just went on. She took us to your table and told us about the 2 options - a 9-course tasting menu or an 18-course tasting menu. We were feeling very Drake-ish so we said YOLO and ended up getting the 18-course tasting menu, complete w/ wine pairing (note: the wine pairing for the 18-courser is only for 12 of the dishes). This was tied for the biggest tasting menu I have had to date (I also did an 18-course tasting menu at Benu in SF). The whole meal lasted about 4.5 hours and the timing between each dish was PERFECT. I'm going to save the best for last, so I'll review the food at the end (edit: already hit the character limit, so I can't review the food - just know that each dish was bomb.com ). Service: Phenomenal. Our server, Mike, was friendly and lively throughout the entire night. We were there from 8:30 pm - 1 am, and not once did his friendliness or enthusiasm waver. He was extremely knowledgable and answered all our questions, from the wine, to the food, to the restaurant's microgarden - Mike was dropping knowledge bombs all night. He was so amicable that we ended up talking about anything and everything we could think of; we even found out that he's also from the Bay Area (as was our whole dinner party). We were the last party in the restaurant, and there was never a moment where it felt like the servers were trying to rush us to get us out of there. I expect outstanding service from any Michelin-starred restaurant, and the service at Moto does not disappoint. Ambiance: the ambiance here is very unique, which I loved. Unlike some Michelin-starred restaurants I've dined at, there is no hint of snobbiness or pretentiousness here. Moto is an elegant restaurant w/ a modern feel, and the crowd of diners was very eclectic. One thing I loved was the music - I'm so used to hearing some nice classical music or elevator music, but I was very delighted w/ the music selection here. They played any and everything, from Grammatik to Tupac to Chromeo to Alabama Shakes! I thought this was a great touch that added to the fun atmosphere. Wine: the sommelier at Moto knows his sh*t. Every dish that had a wine accompaniment was enhanced because of the artful work of the sommelier. If you dine at Moto, you definitely need to do the wine pairing. Food: let me start off by saying that I LOVED every single dish. I feel that there's usually 1 dish I could do without with most tasting menus, but this was not the case. Again, we went w/ the 18-course tasting menu and were blown away. Note 1: an * denotes a dish w/ a wine pairing Note 2: I've hit the character limit already haha, so I can't describe each plate. Trust me - they're all amazing! -Oyster bar* -Forest forage* -Grow room* -Shishito* -Poached tomato heart and asparagus salad -Foie and lobster* -Smoked radish* -18 month aged ham and stock -Fallen log -Trout and grits* -Pork belly* -Spring onion* -Chicken and dumplings* -Short rib and country peas* -Cucumber and citrus -Lime and coconut* -Angel food -Cherry strawberry pistachio cobbler -Mousse and strawberry Apparently, when you make a reservation they provide you with copies of the menu. However, since we dined here on a whim and didn't give them ample time for a heads up, they took down our mailing address and will be mailing us a copy of the menu from when we dined there. Major props for that. TL;DR: Moto is a fantastic dining experience. Well worth the $. Eat here & get the wine pairing - you won't regret it
(5)Loredan K.
This was the worst restaurant experience I had ever went to in my entire life. The service sucked, the waiters for the most part knew nothing about wine and they just talk to sound intelligent but have no idea what they are talking about. They never smile, they walk with a pompus, arrogant attitude. The food was HORRIBLE for $150 a person the food should taste amazing but you get this miniature nibble of food and each one tasted worse than the other. The experience was the worst I had ever had and I had to walk out. This is such a huge scam and I can't believe these idiots are in business. EXTREME WASTE OF MONEY! Very disappointed.
(1)Shannon S.
I did it, I gave myself permission to come here, spend the money and get the wine pairings. It was a blast and even got a few complimentary "test" drinks from the bar after dinner. Beautiful plating and delicious food, except for the dessert; dessert left me underwhelmed but maybe it was just me. I typically like surprises and new flavors for dessert at this level and it didn't happen. I thought the laser printed menu souvenir at the end was a very nice touch.
(4)Sopla R.
We got to have this "experience" last weekend. Pretty amazing all around. Did the 9 course with wine pairings. I would say we were all in agreement about which courses were our favs. The pecan pie was our least fav (last) just a real let downer. Thankfully, we had the previous dessert course was actually pretty good. I would say, that the beef course was also not a favorite. So I'd say we were VERY happy with 7 out of 9. We discussed some minus es in the service. We all thought that each and every person who stopped by our table in various positions/offerings , rattled off each course and pairing description like they were going to a fire. It was a drive by description thing going on. We would then have to piece together what we thought we heard. Acoustics in the room were not so good so that made it really hard to understand them as well. So by the 3rd course we caught on and starting asking them to repeat etc. before they could leave. We were having such an amazing time that we were not as fixated on this as maybe we actually should have been. They really need to fine tune that aspect of the service.
(4)Teri L.
The food was good, the service was friendly, but a bit sloppy. Oh, and a bug crawled out of my food and across my plate. Granted, the bug was small and came out of a edible flower garnish, but this has never happened to me in all my dining experiences - let alone at a place that charges $150 for the tasting menu. The waiter quickly removed my plate, but it took a while to receive the replacement, and there was really nothing significant in the way of apology. I did get a complimentary tasting pour of sparkling wine with my dessert (2 oz). Not sure if that was to recognize our 10 year anniversary or to comp for the bug. The food and wines all tasted excellent and the presentation was beautiful, but not worth the $500 total bill (for 2). I've been to Tru for their fine dining experience and would say that was definitely worth it. Not so here. I would have much preferred to dine at MK or Avec or many many other great places in Chicago. Glad we tried it once, but we won't be back.
(3)Matt C.
Came for valentine's day 2015 with a friend that flew in from LA. Arrived a few minutes early and got seated promptly. We got a booth table near the front. Luckily, it was near enough to the door that every time someone opened the door we got to experience the famous Chicago breeze. Of course it was 3 degrees that night, so it wasn't like a southern california breeze where its enjoyable. It was a bone chilling, keep your jacket on in a $250 per person, 8 course, "fine dining" establishment kind of cold. So that sucked. The food was okay though. It's arranged where its really IG friendly. I would say I was getting about a 20 likes per hour per 100 followers. The "Painter's Pallet" dish was the most visually appealing. The fuck boys really seemed to like that one. My favorite part is when the waiter is standing there trying to pronounce the named of the "rare" and "exotic" wines they got from all around the world. But yeah, the service was really good. They were walking by our booth probably every 7 minutes to make sure we were okay and not frozen from the door constantly opening.
(3)Erica L.
Hello review #100 in 2014!! Just in the nick of time too. Our second visit to Moto was just as memorable and enjoyable are our first years ago. Hubby wanted to take his parents here to experience gastronomy for the first time. Moto is great for initiates as the tasting menu is reasonably priced, offering perfect portion sizes without being too overwhelming. I really like how they offer half tasting size wine pairings. Hubby and father-in-law had full wine pairings while I enjoyed the half without feeling too guilty since my mother-in-law doesn't drink. She was really intrigued with the intricate coffee press and also enjoyed the tea. We were seated towards the front of the restaurant in a booth with really high-backed seats that were not only comfortable, but gave each party privacy during dinner service. We didn't see other people's courses before ours, which added to the anticipation and surprise) Words cannot fully describe the beauty in presentation and taste each course of the tasting menu provided. I thoroughly enjoyed each course, but particularly loved the Flavors of the Ocean, Which Came First?, Fallen Log, and Toasted Marshmallow. The grilled goat was also tasty, and I don't even like goat! Being a dessert person, I appreciated that there were 3-4 dessert courses. Thanks for a wonderful dining experience and for commemorating the event with personalized laser-etched wood menu cards. My in-laws loved them.
(5)Xi L.
I went to MOTO in 9/2013 to celebrate the anniversary. Everything is amazingly great. It feels like not just a dinner but also a live show. A show of food, imagination and life. I enjoyed every bit of the food and the story behind. The wine paring is also great. It takes about three hours to finish the menu and I feel it is just the right time. Overall, I think moto is better than other one star restaurants. And the price is higher. Recent, I heard something bad happen to the restaurant and the death of Chef. It is so sad to hear that. Wish it continue to be successful and bring more surprises to us food lover!
(5)Grey T.
It recently came to my attention that I only write yelp reviews when I am really offended by a restaurant; so I am going back to write reviews for places that don't fall into that category. I love Moto. The food is not only fun and creative but delicious. They served a dish called Kentucky Fried Chicken Noodles that is among the best things I have ever had. They served a cookie with a picture of Michael Bolton on it for dessert. Most importantly, you can tell that everyone involved really cares about the restaurant and the food. The servers are really knowledgeable and truly interested in how you like the food. After dinner we were taken on a tour of the kitchen and the chefs spent about 15 minutes talking yo us enthusiastically about how they make the food and were truly interested in what we thought. I can't rave about this place enough - it's fun, creative, and delicious. One relevant point-this is an evening event-you will be there for at least a couple hours, and it is not cheap. Well worth it, but definitely the type of place I demand to be taken for my birthday rather than an every friday place.
(5)Ani L.
Moto is probably one of the best restaurants I've been to in Chicago. Chef Homaro Cantu offers dinners (and let's not forget the edible menu) that is not only delicious, but truely creative. It is an experience to dine at this place. Top to bottom - this restaurant does not miss a beat.
(5)David M.
A lot of people have a hard time justifying spending money on great food. Well, let me just say that if there's one expensive restaurant that you can go to, moto is definitely it. I've been around but never have I had a dining experience like I did at moto. The food was terrific, the wine flight/ parings were first class, the service was out of this world. Coolest this was that we were eating next to Ted Allen of Food Network fame! Rarely do I go out an really splurge on a spendy meal but if you have a birthday or anniversary, i'd book a table at moto far in advance because it's definitely worth it. Truly a one-of-a-kind restaurant!
(5)Erica M.
Moto is totally awesome, creative and fun! The atmosphere is very sleek, warm and toned down because they want the dishes to be the main attraction (and they truely are). The chef is like a culinary mad scientist. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who considers themselves a bit adventurous when it comes to food. It is quite an experience. It is expensive but well worth it. They just opened up a sister restaurant right next door called Otom. I haven't been there yet, but it is suppose to be somewhat creative but more affordable. I will review that once I go.
(4)Mark P.
My first venture into so-called molecular gastronomy. Went with the $70 five course menu. Personalized, edible tortilla menu was a nice touch. Goosefish entree tasted over-salted. Liquid donut and other 'forms' for dessert did surprisingly taste like Krispy Kreme. Server seemed unprepared to describe each appropriately. Overall, five course menu lacked a lot of the special preparations and gimmicks. Very creative in theory, but food was not all that tasty in the end. Was not wowed by the experience as a whole. Maybe had too high of expectations to begin with. GTM is probably the way to go to get the full Moto experience, but just couldn't rationalize the price.
(3)Craig W.
I dined at Moto a while back and enjoyed my meal thoroughly. Like many diners, the Cuban cigar impressed me, and the wine pairings, especially the Yealands Sauvignon Blanc with the whatever it was, were amazing. A year later, I returned and things had changed. The service was spotty -- wines were served out of order: several dishes were trickier than they were tasty: and one server apologized for radically mis-describing something, saying it had been a long day. Even if one is ready to "enjoy" the coy waiter-patter one is subjected to in places like this -- "the kitchen made a mistake and forgot to make the tomatoes into a soup" -- this kind of programmatic clumsiness, how shall I put it, chaps one's aspic. To add insult to injury, we were presented at meal's end with a DVD of the chef's TV show. I suddenly realized why I'd been so disappointed at Alinea and Craft -- no DVD! There's room for more than one molecular gastronomical restaurant in Chicago, and Moto's red-gold flash can be a long-lived complement to the blue-green iciness of Alinea's aesthetic, but not if they rush to greatness and drop their platters in the process. Step one: lose the DVD's. Step two: don't encourage me to take pictures. Step three: make sure the subterfuge is savor-worthy. At one point, my companion asked, "Why did they make it look like cheese?" I had no answer and neither would the kitchen, I'd wager, aside from "Because we could." That's not enough. I'm in favor of this restaurant and will go back, but things need to change if the place wants to live up to its ideals. And, to whomever trains the waitstaff and writes their patter: less is more. If you were less impressed with what the kitchen comes up with, there might be room for the diners to actually feel impressed. As it stands, one feels bullied into smiling. Not yummy.
(2)Paul W.
A biochem gastronomy experience. As a biochemistry insanity experience, this was unique and extreme, maybe even worth the price of admission. The food is also very good, but presentation and uniqueness seemed to take priority over taste and texture sometimes. We had a little trouble communicating our desires on wine selections with our server, who did not seem particularly knowledgeable for a restaurant of this caliber, but she was persistent and gracious and stuck with us until we got it all worked out. The service for us was very attentive. We got the 10 course meal and found it had enough variety to get a good taste of Moto. Our server also scored us a bonus item from the 18 course list that sounded particularly interesting. The atmosphere is a little crowded and noisy for the price. Go here for the unique science experience if you have the dough. It is truly one of a kind.
(4)gregory j.
Wow. I visited Moto twice when it opened and was impressed by the creativity of what they were doing, but the food didn't taste that good. Well, I went again last night and it great. They are showing more restraint on the science food thang, even a dish or two out of ten with very little science going on. Where they did add technique, it was to enhance the food. Truly one the best meals I've ever enjoyed. I would go back here before Alinea or Trotters.
(5)Chris K.
I'm really into places that take risks and push the envelop and this place does it extremely well. You see things you've never heard of and it all works. Good wine list, too. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it for that occasional treat.
(5)Corey C.
The highlight of my weekend trip to Chicago was to be dinner at Moto. Now that my 20 course GTM has come and gone... and I've had a chance to reflect on my dinner... I've come to the conclusion that while having a food science meal is a worthwhile experience in and of itself... that doesn't always translate into excellent food. Some dishes really worked for me -- I was fascinated with the preparation, presentation, and consumption -- but the majority of the courses failed in at least one of these categories. That being said, there were only a couple of items that I really didn't care for; and while relatively expensive, the experience of eating here was unique enough for me to be satisfied overall. I don't think I'll be returning here but knowing what I know, I would still eat here once if I hadn't already.
(4)H P.
this type of cuisine is very hit or miss, i believe. molecular gastronomy is not for everyone. if you like hearty, rustic, simple food, you will not enjoy moto. on the otherhand, if you are adventuresome and like to try new ingredients prepared by nouvel techniques, you will find moto fascinating and intriguing. it was more of a culinary scavenger hunt for me, trying and tasting novel things while discovering new textures and flavor combinations in the dishes. his use of foams and nitrous gives rise to some pleasant surprises and occasionally some unexpected flavor profiles. some of the elements are gimmicky, such as the edible soy paper that the menu is printed on and the utensils with the herbs built into it. it does really add to the enjoyment of the food, in that it is very whimsical and inventive, and it's the idea or concept of it and not so much the taste that is appreciated. i did really enjoy the fish steamed in the acrylic box, however. this was one instance where new technology did result in a perfectly cooked fish that was also subtly aromatic.
(4)vivian h.
By far, Moto is the fanciest restaurant I have ever been to. We had the GTM course on the menu. It was the most expensive course on the menu; but we figured we will probably not go back for a long time ... so why not splurge? To be honest, I don't remember much of what I ate. Two dishes stood out ... a sushi roll wrapped in a custom printed rice paper and tuna cooked in some kind of NASA technology box. The service was exceptional to say the least. When I got up to use the washroom, a server was immediately by my side to escort me and to hold the washroom door open. It was a great experience, but something that I will probably not do again.
(4)Sean F.
My wife took me here for my birthday, and we both had the GTM with the wine pairings. Yeah, it's pricey. Yeah, not everything works perfectly. But even the failures (if they can be called that, more rightly they are "not smashing successes) are laudable for the endeavor. And the successes are worth everything you pay. The wine pairings went very well with the food (even the beer pairing, which I never drink otherwise). If you give yourself over to the meal, and allow yourself to play in Cantu's sandbox, you will be satisfied at the end of the night.
(5)Nadine L.
This review is from a dining experience I had here last year. To be simple and to the point, if you like great service and unique CRAZY FLAVORFUL food then this is the place. Yes it is a bit pricey, but so are most 4-5 star restaurants in this city. My husband and I each ordered a cocktail (Lemon drop martini has a little "shot ball" in it so it is practically two drinks for the price of one) and the 4 course tasting menu. We sat next to a couple who had ordered the grand tasting and were beyond full by the end so we opted for 4 courses. After the first course came out we though were would be leaving hungry but that is sooo not the case. Our favorite dish was the "beef fajita" because the herbs in the silverware were sooo fragrant and added to the flavor of this dish way more then expected. We were also highly impressed with the play on coffee and biscotti for dessert. This place gets all 5 stars for the amazing attention to detail and your well-being by the servers as well as the beyond imaginative food that is served. We'll be back for sure! As a side note Otom is a frequent visited bar/lounge by us and has yet to disappoint us
(5)Christine J.
I'm drooling just thinking about my dinner at Moto. This place makes truly special food. They offer 10 and 20 course tasting courses. Skip breakfast and lunch and go for the 20 courses. Some of my favorite items were only offered on the 20. It's molecular gastronomy, so expect the unexpected! My favorite was the dessert hamburger, which was peanut butter in a macaroon bun with cherry ketchup and banana mustard. Some of the courses were themed, like "on the beach" and "oil spill," which was fun just hearing the waitstaff try to explain. By the way, the waitstaff are all chefs of the restaurant. They wait tables for a few months, then cook for a few months. So when they ask for feedback, they're not just being nice. They really care what you have to say.
(5)A I.
This was an experience! We had 20 course with wine pairing and it was amazing. The dinner lasted 5 hours! It's not kids friendly I think, but I'm sure kids will also enjoy the experience. My favorite is Cuban cigar.
(5)Matthew M.
I was recently in Chicago for the National Restaurant show and had the chance to visit several of Chitown's amazing establishments. About 4 years ago I first heard of Chef Homaro Cantu from a very interesting article in wire magazine. After that I was fascinated with his artistry of cooking and longed to visit Moto. I finally had the chance to visit Moto this trip. On my final night in Chicago I decided to spend a solo meal with Moto. I was as giddy as a school girl. I had nothing better to do that night and opted for the Grand Tasting Menu (GTM, 20 courses) and the wine pairings (around 16) and was ready to be taken away on a journey with Chef Cantu. My First impression of the restaurant was a little off. After dining at Alinea's beautiful restaurant I thought that for a fine dining establishment that the decor and dining room was a little cramped and lame. Since I was alone I had plenty of time to meditate over the food, the wine, and the service. First off the service was less than comparable for the amount of money I was paying. 4 times my silverware was set incorrectly placing utensils in the wrong place and then the server coming back to correct himself. Next, twice they poured me incorrect wine. Also the wine service was horrible. Out of the nearly 16 wines I tasted not one of them were explained. The sommelier did pour a couple of the wines, but still did not tell why she chose to pour the wine with that course. Lastly, the food. The food was truly inventive and tasty at times, but my biggest problem was when I questioned the methods of making the food I was told they could not tell. This really bothers me. First off any one with an understanding of Molecular Gastronomy can figure these things out, but that's not the point. My point is when becoming a great chef (which chef Cantu is) half the point is spreading your knowledge and techniques to people that want to learn. I understand that there are several patent pending creations Chef works with, but knowledge is one of the best things you can give a person. If chef is worried about others taking his ideas then why cook at all? Did Auguste Escoffier horde his knowledge? No, he published Le Guide de Culinaire which is considered one of the most important cook books of our time. I am not saying to Chef to publish a cook book but be a little more open to maybe expressing his thought processes and understanding of the products he use. I also was very surprised at the lack of use of luxurious ingredients. I am not saying this makes a good meal but I also felt his products he did use were sub par I guess at the end of the day it is about making money and that's the feeling I got when I left the restaurant. By no means have I given up on Moto. I believe it is on the forefront of modern cooking and very important to the gastronomic scene. I am just hoping Chef Cantu realizes how important his cooking is and helps mold the future path of the Culinary world instead of keeping it to himself.
(2)Andy P.
5 stars don't seem like enough, I dunno... it's really something that should blow you away. We got the GTM with wine, and man was it amazing. So many tastes, so many flavors... yeah it's expensive, but you know how I rationalize it? I feel like with 20 courses and 12 wines I got like 6 meals. 6 amazingly good meals. I could go on and on. It's all such a surprise. It might not be your thing, but I highly recommend trying the whole molecular gastronomy thing... this is certainly an excellent example of it.
(5)David H.
Moto is a experience you will remember. The concept is extremely different; food that you will never have anywhere else. It is the "marriage of science and food" (quoted out of Zagat). You must be prepared to order the 18 course tasting menu in order to completely appreciate the style of foods the chef presents. I can not describe the food as must go to Moto to experience it. It is not for meat and potatoes person and you must be prepared to take a adventure in eating. They have no competition in Chicago and maybe in most of the USA. The three times I have gone I can tell you at least thirty percent of the guest are in the hospitailty/restaurant industry. The decor is very minimal and the staff all wear suits. Every staff person is cross trained in the dining room and in the kitchen. If you have seen the movie Gattaca (Uma Thurman & Ethan Hawke); then you might get a slight feel of the atmosphere and staff of Moto. I highly recommend you go with a group of friends and only with people who don't take life to seriously. Valet parking and on street parking is available. Keep in mind I give Moto a Five Star rating for Originality of the Concept of Food, Atmosphere and Quality of Service.
(5)Scott S.
We had the "gtm", the Grand Tour Moto, which is the largest of their three degustations (all they offer as alternatives are the aptly-named "five" and "ten" -- guess how many courses come in each?). The gtm is a shifting 15 to 20 course tasting spectacular; tonight it was an 18 course festival of taste, texture, temperature, and trickery. Yes, he's famous for mad inventions of his own, such as edible inks that he prints via inkjet onto edible paper that incorporate with various dishes, and repurposing other technology, such as a cook-at-the-table 400° NASA-designed-polymer steamer that offers spicing of two courses via aroma while you watch it cook a third course (without any heat source other than the 200° sauce in the bottom compartment) in front of you. More importantly, though: he's an artist. He understands the subtleties of the holistic dining experience and presents them in a way that transcends description. He's no mere technician or trickster; he's the genuine article, capable of taking you to a state of culinary bliss that I've only experienced in four or five restaurants before. In fact, during the third dish, I hit a place that I truly hadn't found in perhaps six or seven years, in terms of dining. I recognized a resonance that I hadn't felt, gastronomically, since the height of Charlie Trotter's in the 90s. So it came as no surprise when we asked "Where was Chef Cantu before here?" and one of the first answers was Trotter's. Clearly, tutelage under the master worked wonders for Cantu; you can see the touches in the waitstaff's attention to detail, in the nature of the tasting menu, and in the daring of the dishes. But Cantu takes it to the next step, truly embracing the "postmodern cuisine" phenomenon full-tilt. Edible info blurbs float like hypertext on your dishes (we had no less than three expositories in our dinner); he even had a nod to the very concept of hypertext in the name of the first dish -- "MAKI in the 4th dimension". An artichoke and macadamia nut morsel that came on one spoon as a combination of purée and sorbet, shaped like a little snowman, designed to be eaten in one swift pop into your mouth. A carbonated half-orange that you squeeze yourself over a portion of lobster sitting next to a sphere of brown butter, all resting on a small cake of lobster sorbet. Chips, in the form of a small ball of purée, and salsa, in the form of a small translucent gelée cube, on one spoon. Every dish, every single dish, had some flair or distinction to it. Pros: Brilliant cuisine, wonderful mad-scientist feeling with even more brilliant technologies. Cons: Experiments occasionally fail. But that's pretty rare indeed. Summary: True post-modern cuisine that's sensorially masterful. Priced like New York and worth every penny.
(5)Ryan A.
Wow, the smells as we enter the restaurant, not pleasant ones, I think the restaurant is in the meat packing area, not the best location for a restaurant. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, you enter into the green building to find a pleasant little restaurant (be sure not to confuse it with Otom, the sister restaurant a couple doors down). But soon after you sit down, you are presented with the wine menu (which was pretty limited for a restaurant of this caliber, but the wines we did have were pretty good), and shortly after served the food menu... yes, served...The menu is EDIBLE! And has items such as "Oil Spill" and "Roadkill of Fowl"!!! Wow, I knew we were in for a surprise, I just hope that the flavors will all be there. There are two choices on the menu, The Ten and the GTM (Grand Tour Menu). Since it will probably be the only time we would ever come here and because we will be trying another foodie dream the next day, Alinea (review coming!), we chose to go with the 20 course Grand Tour. We were warned that it will take about 4.5 hours so with our 9 pm reservation, we wouldn't be leaving until 1:30. Our thoughts were, If they were willing to feed us until 1 am, we were willing to eat. - Edible menu with summer truffle - Liquid center scallop - A scallop filled with a saffron liquid served on a tofu and vanilla puree and an orange on the side. Next to it was a yuzu soaked lemon that they suggest you squeeze onto the dish before eating. This was served with a sparkling sake that with the a bite of the dish, tasted like a creamsicle. - Kalamata & feta - Greek Salad/Liquified - Nitro Sushi Roll - Oil Spill - As unpleasant as it sounds, this dish was a pretty large chunk of tuna served in a bowl with a crispy wonton. Tableside, the waiter pours in a green liquid (to represent the ocean). Then he tells us to rock the wonton (the barrel of oil) back and forth and squid ink flows through the ocean. A fun playful dish with great flavor, but the concept of the oil spill was kinda hard to take in. - Biscuit Crème Brûlée - Ants on a log with Foie Gras - Seared buffalo hot wings - A chili braised quail with blue cheese, carrots and celery accompanied by a tiny piece of edible paper with buffalo wings printed on. We were instructed to go between eating the paper and the quail which amazingly tasted exactly alike. - Cuban Missile Crisis - Another fun dish that is "prepared" tableside. The waiters bring a metal serving "dish" with a beaker and a syringe served aside a ash tray and a "cigar". The waiter empties the syringe into the beaker creating a "faux-jito" (alcohol free mojito). The cigar is a pork wrapped and seared. Good dish, not great or spectacular. I think many of Moto's dishes weren't made to change your life flavor-wise, but more a mind-fu*k with food. Fun and playful. - Fresh from the Garden - Smoked brisket & cornbread - Roadkill of Fowl - Kinda hard to appreciate something called Roadkill, but it wasn't too bad. On the plate was a beet puree, a mushroom formed into a brain, a line of marshmallow, and a mix of puff rice and salt to toasted to look like maggots. Oh, and this was served with shredded pork. An interesting presentation that tasted pretty good. I just stayed away from the marshmallow that didn't do anything for me. - Fajita with aromatic utensils - Under the Sea - There was soooo much going on on the plate that it was impossible to get it all, but the main part was a coconut ball filled with ginger milk. We were instructed to put the whole ball in to our mouth and let it explode. What a crazy experience. The rush of the juice was tons of fun...too bad I don't like coconut. Also on the dish was nitrogen frozen raspberries bits and a edamame ice cream. Overall very delicious. - White Chocolate & Peanut - The next dessert was my favorite fun dish. A ball of white chocolate filled with a popcorn sorbet that we were told was to feel like popcorn popping in our mouth. This was definitely the case thanks to the pop rocks that continued to pop even after I swallowed the ice cream. This dish gave me a good chuckle. - Blueberry cake & Ice Cream - Powered Peach Doughnut - Chocolate and Fluff - We were told by our waitress that it was her favorite dish and I could understand why. A chocolate cake filled with a liquid graham cracker over a toasted marshmallow smear (brown smear, not pretty to look at). Awesome smores taste. - Cafe con Leche - Basically coffee and a biscotti...but reversed... A warm biscotti drink served with liquid nitrogen frozen coffee. Overall, a great meal. The pacing was slow, as we were often sitting there for several minutes with nothing in front of us. Also, it was a pretty unspectacular wine list, but the wine's we did have were very good. I would definitely recommend, but I probably wouldn't return... there are plenty of other places out there I would like to go, such as Alinea tonight. I can't wait too see how it compares.
(5)Rose P.
This was my first time at what I like to call a "sci-fi" restaurant, where food quality and presentation go hand in hand. We went with the 10 course tasting menu with wine pairings and I managed to lick my plate (and glass) clean on every single course. I'll have to admit that I was not blown away by the food itself, given all the hype, but it was definitely tasty, and the presentation was flawless. I was particularly impressed with the service - the staff was attentive, knowledgeable and the entire meal was so perfectly timed, which made for a wonderfuly satisfying dining experience. My friend and I were both pretty drunk by the time the bill came which made putting the credit card down a little less painful. I recommend going for the experience, but be prepared to spend.
(4)AJ M.
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.
(5)Charlie T.
Moto is one restaurant in the Chicago dining scene, correction: global dining scene, that is so unique you'll remember it and talk it about it for years to come. As with every other find-dining establishment, the service is outstanding, attentive but not intrusive, and the presentation is sophisticated. I think the food is kind of hit or near-miss depending on your palate. We ordered the 5-course menu with wine pairings (the 10 and GTM menus were just too much food for the evening). While the ceasar salad / pizza soup tasted much like a salad or pizza, the liquid texture did not appeal to me. It made me think about the kind of food astronauts must have to eat when they are zero gravity. For me, this was a near-miss. But highlights of the evening included: 1. Tuna sashimi prepared in liquid nitrogen with a spoon shaped biscuit. This bonus course was so tasty. The contrasting textures of the lightly chilled tuna melting in your mouth against the crumbly bits of biscuit just worked. 2. Steak and eggs deconstructed. Fascinating presentation on metal plates with aromatic fork and knife. Tasted great. 3. For the sweet tooth in you, the biscotti and coffee and coconut and rum desserts were terrific. The wine pairings were fabulous. The flavors in each course are deconstructed and reconstructed in such inventive ways that I strongly recommend adding on the wine pairings if you can - the wines complement the flavors of the dishes exceptionally well.
(5)Kate S.
Really creative, interesting dishes. I got the vegetarian tasting, which was delicious. I think my favorite dish was the buffalo cauliflower. The drink tasting is fabulous, though perhaps excessive. We each got 16 drinks over about 2 hours. Both my husband and I had one dish that we didn't like (not the same one though), and I found they overfed us. I was so uninterested in the four or five desserts we got! Other than that, though, really good and a lot of fun.
(4)Jane G.
If you live in Chicago, you'd better experience Moto at least once.
(5)Michelle H.
This was easily one of the best dining experiences I've had in Chicago. The food was fantastic - and such an experience. I'll leave it at that - would hate to spoil the surprises. The restaurant itself was pretty quiet as it seemed everyone was as into the food as we were - people talked of little else. The wine pairing was really, really amazing. But yes. The price is super high. Think of it as purchasing a food adventure. Well worth it.
(5)Marcel M.
The experience and service were amazing. We opted for the GTM and it did take 4.5 hours instead of 3. Looking back on it, GTM wasn't the ideal choice since most of the courses were dessert bites. I saw another table get the 5 course choice and their servings were comparable. If you still want the experience, opt for the middle choice. The highlights were the edible menu and anything that used a new way of delivering food in your mouth (e.g. coleslaw syringe, freeze dried stuff). Most of the dishes were good, but not outstanding. One word to sum up each dish is 'essence'. During our GTM meal, what we were getting was the essence of each dish. One bite of their frozen flap jacks and I felt like I ate a whole tower of pancakes. A pinch of cotton candy strings saved me from craving a whole bag of it. It was interesting since I felt satisfied with each bite. They should package M&Ms like this so you don't end up eating most of the bag. Four stars since the GTM was overpriced IMHO. We could've had 2-3 great tastings at Matsuhisa for the same price.
(4)L J J.
Visiting Chicago we were excited to try Moto but we were surely disappointed. We have been to restaurants around the world in this style of cuisine, including Alinea in Chicago. This is the first time we have felt we were wasting our time and money. Their attempt at molecular gastronomy was a poor one at best. The plates some of might have been interesting lost their appeal once they were tasted .Each dish excluding the desserts were way over salted. The lack of depth to the flavor profile along with the over seasoning made several of the dishes taste almost the same. An attempt at being clever was an insulting and disgusting plate to put in front of a diner. The plate an ashtray consisting of half used cigars with ashes is the least appetizing plate I have ever seen. Against better judgement I tasted the plate to only want to spit it back out, the taste was another over salted one note and textural nightmare. Creative dishes can look interesting but should still taste good. We will remember this meal only because of their lack luster attempts at molecular gastronomy and the dull lifeless servers. The somber mood of the place didn't help. I will remember this restaurant experience for a long time but for all the wrong reasons. For the cost of a car payment, I hoped for more.
(1)Neha N.
I took my sister here for her 21st birthday. All in all, a very nice experience, though I was surprised by the location and decor (I'm from out of town). We had the 5 course menu, but they added in a couple of extra courses cause it was her birthday. This was perfect. My sister's vegetarian and I cut out everything but seafood, so we definitely had a different version -- it's really nice that they do this. The first course was a soup, half pizza and half caesar salad. Honestly, not my favorite. The pizza part tasted like spiced tomato soup. Other than that everything was nice -- notable dishes were the gin fizz, the cherry bomb (my favorite), the donut trio (oh my god the donut soup tastes like a krispy kreme) and the flapjacks (the syrup was delicious. I wanted to drink it). The location is sort of dead though, and when we got there it was just us and a family of 4. odd. it's so sweet that they printed up a menu with a birthday wish for my sister though. i've had better in spain (Commerc 24) but it was nice.
(4)Alicia R.
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!
(5)Irvin A.
I thought a haiku series would be apropos... Edible menu Like an ancient palimpsest With truffle on side Liquid Nitrogen On de-constructed dumplings Smoking dragons, [we]e! Two large sea scallops Connected by Tofu Bridge Delicious structure Fajita x three? Each bite, a meal entirely Shocked, shockingly good! Think of menu plate Strawberry and brown butter A creamy throwback Biscotti, coffee Gastronomic orgasm: Sex with Moto chef.
(5)David W.
I've been wanting to go to Moto for forever and finally this evening I had my opportunity. John, Ashley, Audrey, and I decided to brave Moto's science experiment of a menu and take on liquid nitrogen one bite at a time. An Edible Menu is delivered to your table accompanied by Smoked Salmon Caviar, Unfermented Grape Juice Jelly, and a Poached Pear with Vanilla Cream. The Edible Menu details the three tasting menus Moto offers. Seeing that it is/was a Wednesday night we decided to limp into Moto and order the five course tasting menu w/ wine pairings. I know what you are thinking.... "Hike up your skirt and order the 10 or be brave and order the Grand Tasting Menu!" Regretfully we didn't. DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU PLAN ON GOING TO MOTO AND WANT TO BE SURPRISED! The firstish course was a Fauxjito. Moto takes a champagne flute and fills the bottom with mint syrup and then extracts lime juice from a syringe into the glass. This concoction was delicious and tastes just like a mojito (minus the alcohol). Our first course was Bacon & Maple, which consisted of a savory creme brulee paired with a bacon shortbread cookie. Incredible flavors and interesting texture! This dish was paired with a nice Chablis. The second dish was the Shutome with Fried Rice, which was centered around a seared piece of Shutome (broadbill swordfish from Hawaii). The fish was beautiful! A tofu puree, braised seaweed, and popcorn shoots completed this perfect dish. Surprisingly, this dish was paired with a Pinot Noir from the Northern Island in New Zealand. Our third dish was the Crispy Hash Browns & Beef, which was a play on steak and eggs. The dish was served on a metal Battleship-esque serving tray, with herb scented utensils. Grilled steak w/ Bacon Puree, Hash Brown w/ Tomatillo Ketchup, and an Egg...........YUM! Homaru Cantu you sank my Battleship! Wow, that Tempranillo sure is nice. Our fourth dish was a Pumpkin Tamale with Risotto and Horchata Ice Cream. You guessed it another winner. Making it even better was the 2005 Chateau Rumieu Lacoste Sauternes they paired it with. We made nice with our server and he brought us out an additional dessert course. Our fifth course was Smores. Moto's Smores consist of a Chocolate Mouse filled with Liquid Graham Crackers that just Gooshed out when you broke into it with your fork (Oh yeah there was toasted marshmallow too). This dish was perfectly paired with a Zin port. The sixth and final dish was the Biscotti & Coffee. Sounds simple right? Wrong! The pastry chef freezes coffee using liquid nitrogen to create the biscotti and then takes the components of the biscotti and turns those into liquid. So you actually dip your coffee into your biscotti. Delicious! This was paired with a 1968 Madeira. To make a long story short (TOO LATE!). The food was absolutely amazing! I had extremely high expectations going in and Moto exceeded those. I was anticipating really cool food, but Homaro Cantu not only delivers the cool, but he also delivers sophisticated dynamic flavor profiles that just plain out taste great. The space is minimal and modern in design. If you like mid century, modern, smart design you'll enjoy the space. The service blew me away. Totally casual, engaging, and not pretentious at all. When asked where he likes to eat our server responded with "I really like Hot Dougs." What a perfect evening! 4 Five Course Tasting Menus 3 Wine Pairings ---------------------------------- $600 PS... I am writing this just after I got home and may be a bit tipsy. Just a wee bit. Goodnight!
(5)Mardi T.
Moto used to be one of my favorite places to go for dinner. I have dined here many times without incident, and have a very hearty stomach. However, on my last visit we had a lovely dinner, I went home and went to bed - and was awakened just before 5 am VIOLENTLY ILL. I ended up spending the entire day in the hospital with a serious case of food poisoning. The doctor suggested it was most likely fish/shellfish (I didn't have shellfish, so I am guessing it was fish). I did have one fish course that wasn't on the menu (I was the only one that ate it) as a substitute for another course - and I am guessing that was the issue. I am really sad that this happened, and I will not be going back. Spending quite a bit of money on dinner, and then throwing in hospital bills - not fun. I would not recommend taking the chance!! There are many great places to eat in the city, that won't send you to the ER.
(1)Phil H.
I was just browsing through the Moto website and they have many pictures of the crazy concoctions that Chef Cantu put together. Then it dawned on me: I wasn't served any of that! The presentation of the 10-course was superb but not exactly out of this world. Should I feel motivated to try the GTM (where I assume all those pics are from) or should I feel cheated? Unchanged on the stars as I ponder...
(4)Monika M.
The food and presentations were incredibly unique and exciting. I liked this place, but I didn't love it. Much like Alinea, it's one of those molecular gastronomy experiences you have to have at some point, but I wasn't wowed by much of the food itself.
(3)K. A.
SUCH an amazing experience. The wait staff are a bit "uppity" and odd but it goes with the atmosphere so it didn't bother me, they were still attentive did their jobs. It was a little weird that the bartender couldn't make simple normal drinks like a Cosmopolitan but only the trendy drinks they had on their menu but the food was amazing and wine pairings were also really cool. I never thought wine could make a food taste so different, some of the pairings surprised me at how much it changed the flavor of the food...which showed me they definitely know what they are doing at Moto. The food was SO cool, I think the Cuban cigar was my favorite and although the meal took a few hours it's truly an unique experience that I'm very grateful I had the opportunity to eat here. How many other places do you get to eat your menu?? :)
(5)Chad S.
I can't see how someone can give a good review of this place relative to the price paid? There was nothing innovative on the menu like the Future Food TV show except a lime snowman. The atmosphere of the place is a small square box with tables close together in the warehouse district? The wine was just ok nothing to remember but it cost $20 a glass? The servers were not engaging just typical of any resturant. I brought my wife for her birthday and they didn't have a special cake or even say happy birthday. Even Red Lobster brings out a cake with a candle on it. All of the food taste good nothing was bad but there is no way it justifies the price. Much better experience at Four Seasons or Avenues in the Peninsula which were less expensive. I felt like a fool when I signed the check.
(2)wendy c.
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.
(4)Bess R.
We had an excellent dinner at Moto last night for my ladyfriend's 30th birthday. Everything from the edible menu (with a special birthday message), to the food and wine, and the service was outstanding. I'm not a food expert by any means, but I loved the weirdness of it all - the "battleship" plates, liquid biscotti. It was a truly memorable experience. We had the 5-course, due to time constraints, but I would love to go back for the 10 or GTM. Thank you chef Cantu and all the servers!
(5)S. L.
Moto, along with Alinea and Avenues, represent the holy triumvirate of young American molecular gastronomists, which all happen to be centered in Chicago. My wife and I went to Moto a while back with some co-workers who are also foodies. We all agreed that this was one of the better overall meals we've had in Chicago. We got the 10 course menu. There were some lower points (not low points, mind you, but "not as high" points), including a sweet and sour soup and the edible menu. Most dishes were excellent, including an incredible duck dish. Very highly recommended.
(5)Alden H.
This restaurant gets major kudos for its different ways of serving food ( menus that are baked and edible, the use of liquid nitrogen to cook food, using props like giant syringes to infuse food, etc). While the food is good, its not great. However, its certainly an experience. I had the 5 item tasting menu. That was enough for me to get a feel of what this restaurant is all about.
(3)Bengi S.
Had a wonderful dining experience here. Service was impeccable, and the food was really amazing. Sometimes I find chefs sacrifice flavor in favor of creativity with their tasting menus, but it was definitely not the case here! Each dish was portioned well and tasted exquisite in addition to being visually interesting. The price makes this a special occasion kind of place, but well worth it.
(5)Mindy V.
Truly an interesting experience in food- I was all set to give it 4 stars for great service and stimulating surprising food, until we got the bill. They brought us our already large bill and told us that while there was an 18% service charge added onto our bill, that was NOT the tip and did not go to the servers. We asked the server what is was for then and he just said its what the owners charge. We totally didn't get this and felt that if the owners didn't give the "service charge" to the servers that was between them and the staff. We were already paying 18% ($90) for service so what the???? We didn't add much on additionally but left feeling bad that the servers might not get anything for serving us for hours. We should not have had to leave feeling bad when we dropped so much money and an 18% "Service charge." What a terrible way to end our experience there! They should at least tell people about this charge up front and explain what it is. We are always happy to spend money on good food but feel this was a little sneaky and unfair to both diners and staff. With that being said, here is what we thought of the food: With our 10 course meal Moto served us a delicious octopus dish with "liquified greek salad" in an eye dropper", a grilled pineapple frozen with liquid nitro served with a yummy cod, quail prepared "chicken wing" style, A nitro watermelon course..... truly interesting and actually quite good at times. I was a little disturbed by a braised duck dish called "road kill" that actually looked like an animal killed on the road on your plate. It had a little brain mold made out of a mushroom gelatinous like substance, and was complete with simulated maggots, blood and mangled looking meat. It was a little too morbid for me but interesting. In the end we won't go back because of the bad taste left in our mouth by the strange billing. Such a shame with such interesting food and great service.
(3)Matt I.
This is an absolutely amazing experience. The price is a bit high, especially if you do the gtm (grand tour of moto) and the wine pairings, BUT it is an experience you will never forget. The food is amazing, the service is tops. You will not regret it.
(5)foodie c.
** fabulous ** best place in chi-town
(5)Nate S.
Glad I tried it, not sure I'll be back. Very creative courses (i.e. menu is printed on garlic crostini, use of liquid nitrogen, cuban sandwich made into cigar, etc.) but some of the flavors were a bit muddled and only one of the dishes had real pop. Service was a bit lacking for what I expected: staff was not warm, nor should it have to be, but it wasn't helpful or informative either which is a problem with an adventurous menu (almost as problematic as run-on sentences...). It's a large time commitment (got the 10 courses) and I felt as though I spent too much time sitting there waiting for the next course. Perhaps going with someone you haven't seen in years is better than going with the people you had just spent the whole day with. After 4 hours I felt that I had experienced it enough for years to come. The wine pairing is great but perhaps an extra bottle is needed to bridge each course as the servings are not commensurate with the time spent dining.
(4)Christian F.
one of my friends was really excited to come here, and the way he described it sounded amazing. now the food was definitely great, but the service was really bad. the waiter we had was really rude to both of our girlfriends, and was really rude to my friend who made the reservations. luckily, they comped our meal, but it definitely left a bad taste.
(3)Jennifer H.
Moto is one-of-a-kind. It's really more about the overall dining experience and the folks at Moto definitely gave us that. A friend and I went with the 10-course menu (the Grand Tour Moto seemed like way too much, it's a 3 1/2 hour committment!) and we were pretty much dazzled from the beginning. I loved that what was listed on our menu (which was edible) was only slightly indicative of what the actual dish turned out to be. Our menu consisted of: -Greek Salad (an octopus leg and freeze-dried kalamata olive chips) -Greek Salad again (a cold clear "soup" infused with cucumber, lettuce, vinegar and tomato) -Caribbean Escolar (broiled fish with spiced pineapples on a frozen mini-rack) -BBQ pork and beans (braised pork shoulder and beans pureed and shaped into noodles) -Quail Pasta (quail with dehydrated elbow mac in truffle cream) -Steak and potatoes (24-day aged filet with crispy hash) -Fruit and Bubbles (carbonated grape with walnut dust and freeze-dried chips) -Truffle and White Chocolate (a piece of edible paper infused with cotton candy and a white chocolate truffle that exploded into liquid when you put it into your mouth) -Persimmons and Cream (this was the one dish I didn't like --- persimmon ice cream and fruit foam with carraway seeds) -S'mores (a chocolate ganache dome filled with peanut butter marshmallow cream and a marshmallow that melted away) I walked away stuffed like a dumpling. It was all delish. The other important thing to note about Moto is the service. It is amazing.The space is tiny and the entire meal is really a choreographed dance. The wait staff maintains a close eye on how fast you eat or if you need more drinks so that they can time exactly when to bring out the next course. If you leave your seat to go to the restroom, they'll replace your old napkin with a new, bring you a new drink and make sure that everything is refreshed when you return. Super sweet and knowledgable staff --- I wouldn't have known what we were eating otherwise! Yummy and great for the curious foodie. Go try it, you'll have to fork over a few bills (ours ended up at $300 for 2 people) but it's worth it.
(4)Carson H.
I wish I could transplant Moto to San Francisco. I love this restaurant for so many reasons. The fact that Chicagoans get how cool molecular gastronomy is makes me proud. I have never been to a more innovative and fun restaurant. Every single course will make you laugh and say WOW!! Alinea is a close second, but Moto is truly the front runner in experimental cuisine in chitown. GREAT for out of town guests. I LOVE YOU MOTO!!
(5)Maggie R.
This was the most unique and exciting dining experience of my life! My date took me there as a surprise and he got many brownie points for doing so or at least another date anyway. We did the 10 course with the wine pairing and I think that is the way to go because I was very satisfied with a nice little buzz by the end. From the "Greek salad" in an eye dropper (sounds weird, but really did taste like it) to the S'mores dessert that was like a waterfall I was always anxious to see what came next. The wine pairings were impeccable and there was even a delicious sake mixed in the bunch. Pricey, but well worth it if you enjoy "dining" as opposed to "eating out". Highly recommend for a special occasion.
(5)Christian A.
Quite an experience! Some of the items on the menu might tast a bit wierd but then again they're trying to get you out of your "safe zone" great service, they serve the dishes at the same time and explain the dishes in detail. Very innovative dishes!
(5)