YUNICO - Japanese Fine Dining — Restaurant in Bonn

YUNICO, Bonn » My visit: June 2024 » Total score: 4.6/5 – still very good » Comment: Overall, I would rate the food as good to very good: In my opinion, the dishes were characterized by many different and all very high-quality ingredients. I also found some of the dishes to be elaborately crafted. I would particularly highlight what I thought was the outstanding third intermediate course with red mullet, the excellent pre-dessert and a very nice selection of confiserie.

There were, however, some aspects that I didn't like: In my opinion, the team should not take the risk that a guest who may be inexperienced in Japanese cuisine should have to eat their way through what I found to be a soy sauce-dominated mishmash (despite the high-quality, diverse ingredients) during the first intermediate course. I then came across a pungent aromatic outlier. I would suggest that the team cross-checks with each individual guest that they have actually understood the purpose and form of use of said ingredients. I found the lamb in the main course overcooked. Moreover, I would describe this dish as single-sided and unharmonious. 1|111|63

My ratings for this gourmet restaurant in detail:

●● Service – 4.9/5 – outstanding: ● Hospitality, friendliness, obligingness, etc.: 4.9/5 ● Atmosphere, temper, facilitation, etc.: 4.8/5

●● Food – 4.5/5 – good to very good: ● Flavors (range, depth, composition, harmony/balance, etc.): 4.2/5 ● Level (thoroughness, craftsmanship, originality, exclusivity, variety of impressions, consistency/diversity, etc.): 4.8/5 ● Choices: 5.0/5

●● Beverages, mainly wine and sake – 4.8/5 – very good: ● Taste (depth/range, length, complexity, balance, accessibility, elegance, intensity/subtlety, etc.): 4.8/5 ● Level (variety/novelty of impressions, consistency/diversity, exclusivity, etc.): 4.8/5 ● Did the beverages match the dishes?: 4.7/5 ● Choices: 4.7/5

●● Presentation of the food – 4.3/5 – good: ● Textures and (differences in) temperatures: 4.6/5 ● Colors and decorations: 3.8/5 ● Timing and sequencing as well as sizes of portions: 5.0/5 ● Special effects (positionings, DIY-effects, sculptural or thematic elements, surprises, color and motion effects, fake effects, olfactory effects, fog or smoke effects, etc.): 3.4/5 ● Procedures at and around the table (attunements and explanations, elements added/changed, service and staffing intensity, involvement of kitchen team, orchestrated dish presentations, preparations and dishes (partially) built up at the table, etc.): 4.4/5

●● Presentation of beverages – 4.9/5 – outstanding: ● Procedures at and around the table (explanations and attunements, etc.): 4.9/5 ● Quantities poured as well as timing in relation to the dishes: 4.8/5

●● Premises and location – 4.5/5 – good to very good: ● Accessibility, surroundings and - as applicable - the view: 4.0/5 ● How did I like the room or - as applicable - outdoor area’s style, decor and atmosphere?: 4.7/5 ● Well-being (space, privacy, temperature, ventilation/odors, lighting, soundscape, sanitary facilities, etc.): 4.7/5

●● Price – 4.8/5 – very good: ● Price-performance ratio for food: 4.8/5 ● Price-performance ratio for wines and other beverages: 4.6/5 ● Price transparency and correspondence of the expected to the actual price (simple, complete and unambiguous price information on the restaurant's website and in the menu,...

I am a major fan of Japanese style food. I got the 6 course menu, and the first 'Grüß aus der Küche' transported me to Japan. It was a small piece of tender beef with a radish and sesame. It set the tone.

Everything was really good. Two highlights for me:

A plate with Mackerel sashimi with caviar and Japanese mustard ice cream. It sounds totally weird and I mostly do not favor caviar. But it was magic. The ingredients in that dish played off each other wonderfully.

A main course with a Venison steak, back cut, with a butter nut mouse that tasted like salted caramel and candied hazelnut. Mixing a dab of this with the reduction sauce, and intermingling these with the array of tiny bites of mushrooms, mustard seeds, what I think was a tiny dollop of mash, mini onions and radishes was staggeringly delicious.

The price of dinner has been earned by this chef. He spoke with us after dinner. They really change dishes around on a daily basis. He had a chef of the year award already in 2013 and kept his Michelin star 4 years in a row.

The tables are spaced very far apart, this is a nice feature. The interior was designed by the Hotel, so I cannot fault them for this. I think areas for improvement would be the servers and their ability to read their guests, or to generally provide service to match the high caliber food. They were all very friendly and engaging, but timing was sometimes a little off and it felt impersonal. A different person would approach the table each time or sometimes a really long pause between meals. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't there for the service. But it seems like a better coordination for the front of the house would be welcome.

Two minor points are the reduction on the deer was very salty. I think that is ok or 'good' for someone who had a fair amount of wine, but not for the typical customer. I also did not taste any Yuzu in the oyster sauce or the Yuzu/banana dessert despite anticipating it.

I would...

I'm a picky Asian, especially with Asian food in Europe. I'm pretty surprised by what you can get here.

-Food: 10/10. We had the 4 courses surprise menu. I absolutely love every single meal we had. Even the drinks, remember to try their sake, so sweet and yum! From starters to main dishes, they have interesting combination of tastes that adds additional layers to the food. They're NOT a wanna be restaurant which put random and unmatched things together. The sashimi was so fresh and the dessert was a bomb - variation of banana combined with tea was just perfect.

I especially appreciate the fact that the team brings tea flavored dessert, dorayaki, and wasserkucken (Yokan) to German table. 🙏

-Atmosphere: all in all fine. The distance between tables are big so it provides privacy. It'd have been even better if Japanese music is played.

-Service: Attentive and friendly service. As other reviews say, they indeed help you pull out the chair EVERYTIME you come back from the restroom. Little things like this made the experience even better.

Thank you! Will...