Sony Alexander
Umu is one of the best Japanese restaurant in London. The quality of the fish is unmatched anywhere in the city. We opted to not do the tasting menu and order off the menu and everything was amazing. The service here could be improved. I found the service to be a bit brusque.
Nico M
Went for lunch as couldn’t afford dinner so this is the lunch menu review at this fabulous Michelin-star restaurant.
FOOD
So we got two bento boxes and a sushi platter of 10 assorted sushis for the three of us and it was plenty of food. Each bento box comes with a salad, a miso soup and a dessert in addition to the box which justifies its price of £45 for the vegetarian box, £65 for the regular box. I wouldn’t be able to tell you what was what but everything tasted super fresh and delicious; which is what you are paying for. They had some very special miso soups id never tried before also. The sushis were super tasty, each bite a different fish and frankly all tasted great.
We received some extra desserts on the house at the end and I must say their desserts are outstanding. The Japanese tiramisu with sake is crazy, I thought I was eating a plant!
Overall very glad to have tried this place. Not sure ill come back often as its still insanely expensive but if you can afford its fantastic.
STAFF/SERVICE
I felt it was a bit slow for a Michelin-star restaurant and none of the waiters explained to us what our dishes were which would have been useful. One of the waitresses didn’t speak great English which made it harder for us to communicate. We were not offered more water. Small things you would simply expect from such a high end restaurant which commands such high prices, even if it’s only a cheaper lunch menu.
Mike Palafox
Umu offers a rare gem: authentic Kyoto-style kaiseki. The elegant ambiance, flawless ingredients, and Michelin-star status elevated my dining journey to new heights. Umu is a true testament to the artistry of kaiseki, a culinary treasure that is hard to find outside of Japan. Umu created an enchanting atmosphere, leaving an indelible memory of an extraordinary gastronomic experience.
vera s
An outstanding Japanese food experience in London. We ate mostly the chef's sushi selection as a lunch set. The sushi was meticulously made to be perfect. The supporting dishes of a salad, soup, and the dessert were very esthetic and delicious as well. The bathrooms reminded me of Japan, they are very clean and located far enough from the dining area to be completely separate. The service was very precise.
Scott McCormick
Very well done Japanese food. They have sushi and regular mains, but the tasting menu is where the action is.
Expect to spend at least 3 hours here. £300-400/person.
Cocktails are amazing.
Difei Luo
What a magnificent experience. It is more than food, it is freshness, artistic expression of food and passion on precision! Strongly recommend to Sushi fans in London
Reuben Thompson
Cosy yet modern, Umu is the pinnacle of Japanese dining in London. Service is understated, friendly and efficient and the breadth of the menu is as impressive as the attention to detail in the food. Particularly surprisingly for a Michelin starred restaurant in the west end, there are excellent vegetarian options. The lunchtime bento boxes are excellent value, coming with four substantial dishes, salad, rice, pickles, miso soup and a choice of desserts for £45-65. My colleague's chicken option came with a more generous serving of sashimi than you'd get as a main in many places and my veggie box included grilled veg, exquisite tempura and agadashi tofu. Highly recommended.
H rtgdr
Actually, I was surprised with the quality of Kaiseki dinner. More authentic than expected as well as excellent taste and quality. Sake menus is also amazing. Sort of expensive, but strongly recommended.
James Johnson
We had a superb lunch at Umu, probably the best food we have eaten for a long while. Eating at Umu is a whole lot more than a meal it is an amazing experience. The service like the food was impeccable. We spent two and a half hours being so well looked after. Thank you.
Phill Jeffers
Still one of the best one Michelin star Japanese Kaiseki restaurants in the World. Umu is a Kyoto influenced restaurant in Mayfair, London. Umu has for many years been known for the finest ingredients and we can vouch that Umu is still amazing. Highly recommended still and in our opinion still worthy of the 2nd Michelin star that they lost in 2021. Don’t discount the team who will fight back for their accolade in the coming months. Highly recommended.
Elodie
We went there with my family and I was amazed about how nice and tasty the food was. The fish is fresh and prepared in front of your eyes. The service was exceptionnal and I understand well why they have been attributed a one star Michelin.
CH Huang
Great service and exceptional food quality.
We tried the Autumn Kaisekei Menu. The sashimi, soup and foie gras are my favorites. Dessert was fantastic, kids loved it.
Location is great and easy to find.
Steve
Visited the restaurant on October 12th, 2020 for the 12th year anniversary celebration with my wife.
Before making an appointment, I was bit hesitant because of a lot of bad or mediocre reviews on Google. However, it turned out to be the needless concern. Wish I could give 6 or 7 stars to this restaurant.
We sat near the counter area and it was very interesting to watch the chefs' culinary skills. The service level was excellent and every people at the restaurant was extremely polite and kind.
Ordered the Autumn Kaiseki menu. Although it was £195/per person, it was very worth it. Every single item was an art from the chefs at the restaurant and we could tell ingredients in each menu are very high quality. It is impossible to have this level of Asian or Japanese food in London or the UK. You maybe able to find the similar level of Japanese restaurants in Japan, but it is very rare even in Japan.
We have been to almost every Michelin two-star restaurants in the UK, but this definitely tops them out. Even last anniversary celebration dessert was super tasty. We tried the Autumn kaiseki today, but we would definitely come back for the Winter, Spring and Summer ones as well.
Highly recommended!
RaphaEspíritoSanto
Amazing place in London. I love the food. can’t wait to come back here again. Congratulations to the staff.
Adhith Rajesh
A nice selection of Japanese dishes which go far beyond the standard sushi and gives you a taste of real Japanese cuisine. Friendly service. You should definitely try out their Sashimi varieties. Recommended!
SKeat
Decent japanese restaurant in Mayfair. we were craving for some Japanese foods so we decided to give this place a try. Foods were mediocre but the place was really pretty and chic. Nice ambience and friendly staffs though.
Razin Rahman
Two words should be enough to sum up the experience, Simply Superb. The atmosphere, the eager staff to take you through the journey of a nine course meal and food presented in a fashion that is pure art. Pricey but you get way more than you pay for.
SilverSpoon London
For me travel is all about creating memories and then subsequently evoking those memories in any way big or small. Whether that’s looking at photos and videos again, admiring souvenirs or remembering a special meal. For Mr S’s birthday I decided to bring our trip to Japan back to life with a special Kyoto-style dinner at two-Michelin starred UMU restaurant in Mayfair.
Boozy Bunch
Birthdays are wonderful things, and if you’re one of those people (like me) who like to milk things for all you can, you basically celebrate for an entire month (or longer). One of the final things I did while celebrating my birthday (which included a boozy brunch at Hot Box, a sausage making course at B&H Kitchens, amazing wine from Lucky Chip Burgers and Wine, Unlimited Dim Sum at Fu Manchu, more burgers from Dip and Flip, tacos from Mole Taco Bar and who can remember what else?) was go for Japanese food at Umu. It’s been on my list since they achieved a second Michelin star, especially since they do Japanese (which is one of my favorite cuisines…although really, I’m not at all picky foodwise). I booked it months in advance, so I just had to sit back and wait until the day we got to go.
Gen.u.ine.ness
Many apologies for the lack of posts. The last couple of weeks has been a complete whirlwind with my wedding and subsequent honeymoon. During this time, there has still been plenty of dining out and I will be writing about some of the more exciting (and less exciting) dining experiences of our trip in due course. However, for now, there are some back dated posts to get through in quick succession.
Foodexpectations
I am always seeking for great Japanese restaurants in London, and recently I was chatting about Ikeda with someone at the gym and she was telling me that their fish is the freshest of any restaurants in London as it comes from the Cornish coast. I have been keeping that in my mental archives, and when someone invited me to lunch this week, I immediately suggested UMU. She was right, the fish is extremely fresh and served in a beautiful setting and with impeccable service. it is pricey but at lunch they have some very good deals inducing their nigiri or sashimi bento boxes.
Angela Yang
I had the full Kaisaki menu with my boyfriend. It was a bad choice for a Wednesday evening. We had a 4.5-hour dinner. There are many small courses, and there was a long wait between the courses. We started the Kaisaki menu one course earlier than the couple sitting next to us. I think the kitchen was trying to cook for both tables together, so we had half an hour delay for one of the course. I asked the waitress but she didn't explain to me why it was that late. The food was delicious, but not amazing. I would recommend to go for the Kaisaki menu for brunch or weekend dinner.
Maximilian
2 years ago I had an incredible experience there with friends, the food was incredible good with a nice selection of sushi and after a wagyu beef cooked in front of us on a really hot rock and fresh truffle on the side. All combined with the Sake of the year 2013!!
Samphire And Salsify
Posted on April 16, 2015 by SamphireAndSalsify Umu is a Michelin starred Japanese restaurant that has been around for over ten years now. It’s owned by the same group who run The Greenhouse and Morton’s members club. It was a slightly stern welcome from a chap who could have easily been a headmaster as opposed to a maitre d'; certainly not rude but not forthcoming with the lovin’ either. The room was a nice enough space with a counter overlooking the chefs preparing the sushi. As it ain’t cheap, not in the slightest, I would have preferred not to have had disposable chopsticks though. A simple salad generously drenched in a red onion dressing was a really lovely start. As was the cup of rich, hearty red miso soup. As the sushi we ordered was taking a while to prepare, we were treated to an extra little dish of goma-ae, which was a delicious mound of sesame flavoured spinach. We decided to avoid the set lunch bento box (£35) and instead opted for the chef’s special sushi selection (£38). It looked pretty but there were a few greasy fingerprints on the plate, which you’d hope not to be the case at that level of restaurant. The scallop and eel nigiri were my favourite. We also opted for some of their signature style nigiris; toro with shishito pepper (£9.50), lobster (£7.50), langoustine (£9.50) and seared scallop (£5.50). Certainly not cheap but worthy of their price due to the superb quality of each piece of fish.
Aigoul
One of the best restaurants in London. Great food and service.
Bmad
Love it. The best sushi in London, bit pricey but totally worth it, at least you know you're paying for guaranteed quality, amazing service without the attitude, unlike other Japanese restaurants on Raphael street and Charlotte street!
Dr Richard
Mum s the word. UMU is an excellent place however the price is 50% higher than it should be. I think you can do better
Izabella Rekiel
It's a well kept secret most Londoners don't even know about. In one week, I was taken to Umu, a traditional Japanese restaurant, by foreigners from opposite sides of the world. Paris and Hong Kong. And yet no-one I'd spoken to in London even knew where Bruton Place was, let alone the restaurant that sat quietly nestled in the street.
Priscilla @FoodPornNation.com
The shellfish tomato jelly (£16) is a jewelled masterpiece marked with a constellation of abalone, scallop and shrimp gems nestled cooly in a wobbly translucent jelly. Served cold, the dish is playfully subtle and texturally contrasting. The meat is supple while the veg holds the crunch. All going down very nicely with the slip of the jelly.
Alex Humpage
We kicked off with my first taste of abalone, the sea snail considered a delicacy the world over. Sake steamed, it was served with two different kinds of jelly, one green and seaweed tasting, the other orange, served on top of the abalone and lending an acidity to the pale flesh.
TableForOne_PV
Modern Sushi: Foie gras custard, brown crab, ginger sauce; Fried oysters, yuzu vinaigrette, chives, ginger; Usuzukuri: thinly sliced fillet of white fish, chirizu & wasabi-soy sauce...
Theskinnybib
...I am adamant I have to blog about one of my most favourite Japanese restaurants Umu, renowned for its lavish “traditional” Kaiseki menu.
Mrfoodie.co.uk
I love Japanese food and I especially love Kaiseki. Kaiseki is an artistic and elegant Japanese seasonal cuisine, served over multiple courses, said to be the ultimate in Japanese cuisine. Kaiseiki cuisine makes best use of seasonal fresh ingredients and
Hamish Cameron
This was the first really treatsy meal I'd had since going back and at £100 for the tasting menu it really was high on the treatsy scale. I'd read some great things about it though, a few complained about the prices but on the whole it was generally regarded as one of, if not the best Japanese restaurant in London. I didn't want to get too excited, as these sort of statements generally lead to disappointment, but I was certainly looking forward to it. Nestled down a mews street in Mayfair, it's a stone's throw from the slightly flashier Hakkasan although it does have a rather cool button that when pressed reveals a sliding door, all very James Bond. The decor is what you'd expect from an up market Japanese restaurant; un
HungryinLondon
An ordinary Monday evening, I was going out to meet A. who I hadn't seen for over a year, and ended up in Umu. Umu, meaning "born of nature" is a high-end restaurant which specialises in the cuisine of Kyoto and is next to the 2 N
Nooschi
They are known for their traditional Kaiseki tasting menus, but at 100£ a person, we decided to order off the a la carte menu instead. Our meal started with an aji (Japanese jack mackerel) and mushroom amuse bouche . This set the mood for the night, and right away, we knew that we were in for an evening of delicate textures and complex yet subtle tastes. Aji and Mushroom Amuse Bouche After the amuse bouche came our first dish, lightly seared scallop with grated apple and cucumber . The scallop was wonderfully cooked and the apple and cucumber were nice compliments that did not overpower the dish. Lightly Seared Scallop with Grated Apple and Cucumber Our ice-smoked salmon arrived in this beautiful clear dish with a lid on it. As soon as you opened the lid, the dish starte
Hollowlegs
It was my birthday on Monday. I wanted to do something fairly low-key and I succeeded. I went to the local cider pub with friends and drank all the cider last Friday. The weekend proved to be the last gasp of summer with blue skies and actual, proper suns
FHutch
If you are looking for something special, this is the place to go. On getting out of the taxi the wall in front of you slides open to reveal the restaurant, a nice little touch to start the experience off differently (and definitely beats having to struggle with a heavy door). The staff were extremely attentive, polite and genuinely happy. Whilst the restaurant itself is small, it doesn't feel cramped but has a more personal quality to it.<br/><br/>There is a large choice of food and although a little more pricey than other places was honestly worth every penny. The difference is incomparable. Even the desserts - we shared a rice pudding of all things - was delicious and fun in that it was served with additional extras to mix in, and as a rice pudding lover myself this has put all others to shame!<br/><br/>If you enjoy sushi, this has to be on your list of restaurants to try
Corinna Rombi
Classy and stylish place in Mayfair. <br/><br/>Umu is a great sushi restaurant for Japanese cuisine lovers. However, it is expensive. The staff is well trained and gentle. The dishes are very well presented and great. I had many different rolls with salmon and spicy tuna ones. Everything was good and well selected. Especially the desserts, which were also quite creative and tasted fresh. I had some classic Green Teat ice cream... delicious !! I suggest going, if you are craving for a pricey night in Mayfair.
Andy Hayler
Umu has been trading for ten years now, tucked away in a quiet Mayfair mews, discreetly hidden behind a sliding door. In 2005 it was awarded a Michelin star that it has retained ever since. Since 2010 the chef has been Yoshinori Ishii, who has made more effort than his predecessor to source ingredients locally rather than importing them. He has gone to some lengths to do this, including training Cornish fishermen in the “ikejime” technique of killing a fish instantly, which is less stressful for the fish and better for its flavour. Mr Ishii cooked for nine years at the famous Kitcho in Kyoto before being chef to the Japanese embassy at the UN prior to moving to Umu. Some of the fruit and vegetables are sourced from the Nama Yasai farm in Sussex, which has a Japanese farmer and raises vegetables from varieties found in Japan. He is also a keen fisherman, and when I visited was on holiday fishing in Iceland.<br/><br/>The dining room is all wood panels and subdued lighting, with a proper hot towel to begin the meal, as is traditional. The chef is interested in pottery and designs and makes the chopstick rests himself in his own kiln. There are a lot of menu options, with plenty of à la carte choices. The top-priced menu is the £115 kaiseki, though a lunch option is available from as little as £25. I tried a bento box lunch and also a sashimi dish. The wine list was extensive, with over 1,100 different wines from around the world, and pages and pages of sake. Example wines included Henschke Pinot Gris Innes 2006 at £45 for a wine that retails at £25, J.J. Prum Kabinett 2012 at £65 for a wine that you can find in the high street for £17, and Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris Windsbuhl at £90 compared to a shop price of £31. Ravenau Blanchots 2005 was £489 compared to a retail price of £155, and Chateau Haut Brion 1989 was £2,750 for a wine that will set you back £1,178 in a shop. <br/><br/>A simple green salad to start was very good, with fresh leaves and a carefully balanced vinaigrette; it is tricky to mark things that are so simple, but you only have to try a salad at a chain restaurant to see that there is skill involved in getting it right, especially with the balance of the dressing and the quality of the oil and vinegar used (14/20).<br/><br/>The bento box had four elements, plus rice, pickles and miso soup on the side. Duck came with Japanese mustard and mizu nasu, the water aubergine from Kyoto, which had lovely and almost sweet flavour (16/20). Tempura of tiger prawn was reasonable, but the batter did not compare well with that I have eaten in specialist tempura restaurants in Japan (14/20). Sashimi of grey mullet and sea bass was very good, especially the mullet (15/20). Wild salmon caught in the river Severn was cured in kombu and shiso and was excellent, having very good flavour (16/20). I was initially disappointed to see “wasabi” that appeared to be from a tube (or possiby was frozen - either way it tasted disappointing), but when I commented on this a fresh wasabi root was grated and presented. It was good that they actually have real wasabi (in this case it is from the sole UK supplier), which is vastly superior to the coloured mustard and horseradish from a tube but they should really serve this without having to be asked. Sashimi of brill was sliced very thinly indeed and went well with the freshly grated wasabi.<br/><br/>Sorbet of red shiso was lovely, the texture silky. A selection of fruits was unusually good, the quality of the peaches, blackberry, greengage, apricot, red plum and mulberries very high, the blackberries in particular being lovely. Again it is hard to mark something like this, but the fruit was lovely and the texture silky (15/20).<br/><br/>Service was extremely good, attentive and friendly The bill came to £46 for one, with just water to drink. If you went in the evening and drank a decent bottle of wine then your bill would easily get to about £90 a head or more. This is certainly not cheap, but at least the ingredient quality is unusually high, and the chef is clearly making some real effort to source things as well as he can within the constraints of what is available in the UK.
Andrea Zagatti
Umu is one of the restaurants I wouldn't go back.. The quality of the sushi is really good and the place is elegant. <br/>But is seriously over-priced. Way too much. <br/>I ate in all the Japanese restaurants in London and this is seriously over-priced. <br/><br/>The desserts are artistic and really good but all the rest was pretty not impressive.<br/><br/>Even if we spent quite a lot they didn't even offer us a digestive at the end. <br/><br/>Well, I have to say that it didn't worth any pound this place unfortunately.
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