Momo Restaurant
An Asian-fusion restaurant
Eurostar have included a new direct train service from London St Pancras to Amsterdam, making it easily accessible for day trips, or long weekends. You can be in Amsterdam in just a little under four hours. A newly furbished first class departure lounge with its award winning bar, makes the start to the journey as easy and as luxurious as possible.
On-board meals are created by Michelinstarred Chef Raymond Blanc OBE, ensuring that you will not arrive in Amsterdam hungry. It was a delectable way to kick-start our Foodie inspired long weekend.
Amsterdam is trying to change its stereotypical image of being famous for its red light district, and renowned restaurateurs are bringing a cutting edge to Amsterdam’s culinary scene to make sure that happens.
A massive draw to the city is the MOMO restaurant, the brainchild of creative Israeli entrepreneurs Yossi Eliyahoo and Liran Wizman who have been instrumental in changing the conversation for over a decade.
Yossi and Liran are the dynamic duo behind the Entourage Group, a collection of high end restaurants which were first launched in Amsterdam in 2008. MOMO, the Asian fusion restaurant, was the first of the group to be to have its inaugural debut, and MOMO Amsterdam is the flagship restaurant.
Located in Fashion & Museum district, MOMO attracts a cosmopolitan, fashionable crowd and there is a real buzz about the venue.
This Asian-fusion restaurant is well established thanks to its ten year history and is the go-to venue for international and local tastemakers.
Baranowitz and Kronenberg Architects were engaged to create a distinctive unique interior. The talking point being the 360 degree bar around which all the hive activity takes place. Another focal point is the open plan kitchen which enables you to watch the busy chefs at work.
Be ready to share as the ethos at MOMO is all about sharing. Traditionally Asian culture encourages sharing, ordering individual dishes is generally frowned upon. MOMO’s extensive menus reflect this sharing culture in a fine dining restaurant.
Head chef is the renowned, Indian born, Hariprasad Shetty, fondly referred to as Hari, he combines his love of Asian food with a western twist. His signature Salmon Aburi nigiri sushi with tomato seeds is an outstanding dish. Hari, previously head chef of Nobu on London’s Park Lane designed a menu which includes classics with a modern twist and also dishes unique to MOMO.
Peru also has a presence on the menu, and Hari serves up his take on ceviche and tiradito ceviche which is a Central and South American speciality. Seafood is marinated in lime and lemon juice with olive oil and spices and served as an appetizer. Tiradito is the younger brother of ceviche, and shows more distinctively the influence that Japanese chefs have had on Peru’s seafood cuisine. Considering he was Head Chef at Nobu this makes sense as it was Chef Nobu Matsuhisa who first pioneered the combination of Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients.
And of course a firm MOMO favourite, sushi and sashimi has a presence on the menu. In Japanese cuisine, sushi is vinegared rice, and usually topped with other ingredients, including fish, various meats and vegetables. Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy primarily consisting of raw seafood sliced. The Lobster and mango roll with creamy wasabi, perfectly summed up Hari’s vision of an Asian Japanese fusion.
This 70 cover restaurant with its lively vibrant bar is in its tenth year and is going from strength to strength. As is the partnership of Yossi and Liran who are fast tracking their vision to global domination, in a sleek and sophisticated style, bringing a new take to the fine dining scene.