By: Lauren Soper | Staff Writer
Addressing the elephant in the room…
The review you are about to read is coming from a 22-year-old college senior with zero culinary background, who for the last four years, has survived off meal-swipes and coffee. Although, not a seasoned chief or food critic like Andrew Zimmern, my niche is simple; spend less and eat more. As college students, we’re broke, but as young adults, we’re seeking more.
Mori, owned by Ian Mori, is nestled inside the brightly lit Bellevue Gardens Shopping Center, tightly tucked between the A Market Natural Food Store and what once was Newport, R.I., Awful Awful. Just a few feet from Mori’s former location on William Street before remodeling and moving to Bellevue Avenue, it’s easier accessible for lunch or dinner any day of the week.
Keeping in mind a budget friendly night out, you can forget about paying for parking, because Bellevue Gardens and participating business in the shopping center offer free validated parking tickets. Although you won’t be dropping your whole paycheck on the bill, don’t mistake this experience as cheap. Uniformed staff, soft interior lighting and deep amber-stained wood accents provide a lavish and tasteful dining experience.
Upon arrival to Mori, the initial game-plan was simple: grab a booth for one and order a sushi platter for six. However, from the moment I was handed a laminated piece of fine art, also known as the Mori dinner menu, very quickly the plan began to unravel.
Growing up in the small town of Concord, New Hampshire, there were very few restaurants that stood out with dishes you dreamed of eating. This statement has been true for many years until my family and I discover the hibachi menu at Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse in Concord, N.H. In my opinion, nothing compared to the explosion of flavors firing off from each bite of teriyaki chicken, perfectly charred grilled vegetables, and in each additional serving of YumYum sauce received upon request. In my heart, I believed this dish to be heaven.
Now that you’ve heard my dilemma, you’ll understand why it was only right to order the Teriyaki Entrée instead of fulfilling my sushi craving. I needed to experience what I hadn’t in years and for only $22.95 I was able to stay under my $30 budget, leaving myself with enough cash to afford my guilty pleasure, iced Diet Coke.
Like Ichiban, Mori served miso soup and a house salad as an introduction to the main course.
Mori’s miso soup came pretty standard. The sodium rich broth was foggy in appearance but soft in texture, complimented with silken tofu squares, thinly sliced scallions and a touch of seaweed. As for the house salad, my standards were raised. The ginger dressing held-together the components of the salad with such ease, making each forkful consistently enjoyable. Left in shock, I was prepared to be equally as impressed for the main course.
As for the service, it was impressively quick and attentive. As I slide the empty soup and salad bowls to the end of the table, my table was cleared and before long I was greeting my main course. Placed in front of me was teriyaki chicken, udon noodle, roasted vegetables and a healthy serving of white rice.
The moment had come. The void I sought to fulfill, had in-turn sought me out. Now, all that was left to-do was give into the power it held over me. Slipping the mat-black reusable chopsticks into my right hand while sliding the dish closer to my chest with the left, I reached down for my first bite. Heat filled my mouth not from spice but rather from the hot grill I knew it had just left. Sweet yet tangy aromas stung my nose while tender-texture and addictive flavors engulfed my palate. Was it real? I thought to myself, it’s too good to be true. Rather than eating the plate section by section, I moved my chopsticks in rotation between each element of the dish with as much grace as my hungry inner child could allow. I stopped after the first bite of chicken to slide the chopstick into the undo noodles where I shovel them into my watering mouth. An audible gasp left my mouth as I slurped down the second bite. Could these noodles be better? I thought deeply. Almost too scared to ruin a good thing, I managed my way to the roasted vegetables. Another sigh of relief, ahhh. Although different than what I had envisioned, nevertheless still enjoyed. The roasted vegetables had not failed me. Again, I repeated the rotation: a bite of chicken, followed by udon noodles and roasted vegetables, washing it down with my then slightly watered-down Diet Coke until there was nothing left.
Once in a self-induced food coma, I happily paid my check, shook hands with my server and left with my missing puzzle piece fulfilled, money in my wallet and a full stomach. You won’t have to travel far or spend much money to dine at Mori Japanese Restaurant. Bring a friend, family or go alone, as I did. Try a new dish, stick with a classic or grab a sushi platter to share (or don’t) while staying in your dooming college budget.
Mori Japanese Restaurant, located at 181 Bellevue Ave, Newport, Rhode Island, offers online delivery and take-out order service. Their hours of operation are Monday-Saturday 11:30 am – 9:30 pm and closed Sunday. For any additional information contact (401) 851-7981 -or- email at info@moribellevue.com -or- http://moribellevue.com/menu-categories/ .
Photo Credit: Lauren Soper
