Umami — Restaurant in Berlin

This used to be a 5-star place for me - the food is tasty, special and fresh. And the restaurant has a lovely interior design.

However, as a gluten-sensitive person, I depend on the allergens listed on the menu as well as the staff’s support.

The newest menu is filled with mistakes and inconsistencies in the allergens indications. Some dishes don’t have any allergens listed despite clearly containing gluten, fish, soy etc. Other dishes have allergens listed wrongly (a dish with whole wheat noodles had no mentioning of gluten, while gluten was mentioned in a rice dish!).

When I asked our waiter for help, he pointed at the allergens listed and told me to check there. I tried to explain that there were mistakes and I needed his help, but he was visibly overwhelmed and gave me wrong suggestions (still insisting on whole wheat noodles after I told him I cannot have gluten / wheat). The waiter’s knowledge and help is especially important in restaurants where soy sauce is being used, since it contains gluten by default. But our waiter didn’t even understand my question when I asked, if they had gluten free soy sauce, or if there is a dish he recommends where soy sauce is not an issue.

After much discussion, I chose a dish with his “help” that contained rice and whole wheat noodles, which he promised to substitute with rice noodles. He came back 5 min later and asked if it’s ok that the noodles were left out all together. I said “Sure, whatever is easiest!”.

The dish arrived with noodles (not sure if rice or whole wheat) and smothered in soy sauce… I was tired of discussing and explaining, and I was hungry. So I took a gluten-stop pill and ate the dish. I didn’t feel great about it and suffered mild reactions (thanks to the pill that took the worst off).

To make things worse, I had to ask 3 times for the check and finally insisted after waiting for 45 min to pay!

So for celiacs and people with severe gluten reactions, I unfortunately have to warn you to stay away until the restaurant is correcting the mistakes in the menu and...

A very beautiful restaurant situated in a pleasant street. The effort that has been made by the owner and the staff to give the clients a real feeling of authentic Vietnamese cuisine is truly appreciated. The staff, furthermore, was extremely kind and polite, even at a time when the restaurant was full. Exactly what one can expect from a great restaurant's staff. The food came in great quantities and was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend the Fish pot (~ 8€), not only for it is tasty but it's also very healthy and can be considered a full balanced meal all by itself. A full meal also comes in a very acceptable price, which adds yet anothet layer of pleasure for a young student like me.

Ps: Do not be afraid of the quantities, in Berlin, most restaurant, including this one, offer the possibility for the clients who can't finish their meal to take away what is left of it to finish it off later. It avoids throwing away food (which no one wants to do) and this way everyone can save up some money and feel better about themselves !

Ps2: the waitress who took care of my table did her absolute best and I wish to address her my most sincere thanks for having made this diner which was already perfect,...

This restaurant was once my favorite due to its delicious food, but I’ve been disappointed on several occasions due to inconsistent standards. First time visiting I would’ve given it five stars.

The seating is not particularly comfortable, and the space is very tight, which can make for an uncomfortable dining experience. Most of my disappointing visits have occurred when the restaurant is busy and rushed. However, when it’s not overwhelmed with customers, it remains one of my preferred spots.

I highly recommend the Deep-Gold Beef, as it’s my personal favorite. That said, the quality can vary—sometimes the portion sizes are smaller than expected, with less meat, or the ingredients don't have the right temperature (such as when the mangoes appear to be frozen). The rice can also be served cold, and the heat distribution being off is just not a nice experience.

The drinks are excellent, though on the pricier side, and the desserts are enjoyable as well. Service quality seems to depend on the staff member, as it can feel rushed, likely due to understaffing. Overall, while I still enjoy the food when it’s at its best, consistency...