Umami — Restaurant in Cairo

My visit to Umami in New Cairo was an interesting culinary experience, aligning perfectly with my expertise in analyzing restaurants. Here’s my detailed review of the dishes I tried:

Shrimp Tempura:The shrimp tempura was the first dish I sampled, and it set a high standard for the rest of the meal. The shrimp were perfectly encased in a light, crispy batter that was golden and well-executed. The contrast between the tender shrimp inside and the crunch of the batter was delightful. Paired with a slightly spicy dipping sauce, this dish was a perfect start, awakening the palate for the flavors to come.

Vegetable Gratin:Next, I opted for the vegetable gratin. This dish offered a creamy, comforting experience with vegetables that were cooked to perfection, layered under a generous blanket of melted cheese. The seasoning was well-balanced, highlighting the natural flavors of the vegetables while adding a subtle richness. The gratin had a homely feel but with an elevated touch, making it both familiar and refined.

Chicken with Mushroom Sauce:For the main course, I had the chicken served with mushroom sauce. The chicken was tender and juicy, complemented by a creamy, velvety mushroom sauce that added depth of flavor without overwhelming the dish. The mushrooms were cooked just right, providing an earthy texture that paired well with the smoothness of the sauce. This dish was hearty and satisfying, a true comfort food with a gourmet twist.

Tiramisu:Finally, the meal concluded with a tiramisu. The dessert was elegantly presented, with layers that balanced each other perfectly. The mascarpone was light and creamy, while the coffee-soaked ladyfingers added a rich, bold flavor. The dusting of cocoa on top provided a slight bitterness that contrasted beautifully with the sweetness of the dessert. It was a delightful end to the meal, leaving a lasting impression.

In conclusion, Umami in New Cairo offers a well-rounded dining experience with carefully crafted dishes that cater to both traditional tastes and those seeking something more refined. Each dish reflected attention to detail and a commitment to quality ingredients. For anyone looking for a sophisticated yet comforting meal, Umami delivers...

Umami in Garden 8 is often considered a stylish and inviting spot, making it a viable option for a date night. Its refined interior and cozy ambiance create a pleasant atmosphere that can be conducive to an intimate meal.

Service: Generally Good From various accounts, the service at Umami is generally good, described as warm, efficient, and attentive without being intrusive. This is a crucial element for a successful date, as good service ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Food: High Medium Rate, but Overrated While Umami offers a diverse menu, often leaning towards Mediterranean cuisine with Italian and French influences, the food itself seems to fall into a "high medium rate" category. This suggests that while the dishes are generally well-prepared and presented, they might not consistently deliver an exceptional culinary experience. The sentiment that it's "overrated" implies that the price point or the overall hype around the restaurant might not fully align with the quality of the food. You might find some standout dishes, but others might be just "good" rather than "great."

Overall Impression: Overrated The recurring theme of being "overrated" is a significant point. While Umami certainly has its strengths – a good ambiance for a date and generally good service – the food, despite being decent, might not justify the overall cost or the reputation it has garnered. This means that while it's a pleasant place to dine, you might leave feeling that the experience didn't quite live up to the expectations set by its pricing or perceived prestige.

In summary, for a date night at Umami Garden 8: Pros: Good ambiance, stylish setting, generally good and attentive service. Cons: Food quality is "high medium" but not consistently exceptional, leading to a feeling that it's "overrated"...

Simply put, this level of restaurant experience is not available in Cairo outside of hotels

The entire visit was spot on , the restaurant is extremely cosy, spacious and family friendly , with no loud music or TV to stop us from enjoying the company we are with

The restaurant design was great, even the porcelain plates they use are extremely gorgeous

Now into the food , it was truly outstanding. Just cooking done right, with good quality experience and great recipes to follow through.

We tried 1-Chicken Muhammara: chicken was well seasoned , Muhammara was amazing, nutty and really tasty and the fries were crispy and amazing , a great dish overall

A point to work on: the chicken pieces were hard and a bit dry , it took an extra effort to cut through and chew them

Risotto short ribs: a great dish to try if you like short ribs and want them in a new presentation, the risotto was creamy , cheesy and done right

A point to improve would be the ribs themselves, the portion was underpar compared to the price and the photos on the restaurant's Instagram page , also they were a bit underseasoned

Pesto chicken rigatoni: this dish was the masterpiece, it was AWESOME, the best pesto sauce I've tried in Egypt (and I have tried multiple pesto sauces) the basil notes were great, sauce thickness done right , pasta cooked Al dente yet not too chewy

That dish was a truly UMAMI experience

Lastly, service was great and chef Tarek -the owner- was there and passionately welcoming each and every guest in a friendly manner

Thank you very much Umami for such a quality...