Umenohana — Restaurant in Kyoto

Sorry to be sharing this low review but if you have only so many dining experiences on a visit to Kyoto - this was sadly not a good use of a precious dinner.

Service welcome etc. not great. Hostess didn’t seem very welcoming or when we left. Had to ask for water three times from server. The precision we are accustomed to in Japanese was lacking at this restaurant.

We felt hurried. Dishes came out too fast. It was like they brought desert worh another dish and the wooden bill number thing all at once. They brought all the dishes to us in under and hour.

my vegetarian / vegan option was 6000 vs my partner who had meat and as many dishes for a little over 3000. Odd

Never shown menu options for vegan or cost options. And odd that they “sold out” and then left us. Maybe they wanted us to go. Was so odd. But then they came back and said ok they can do it.

Also when we reserved it was asked and made clear one person is vegan.

We also got menus in Japanese first even though I apologied in Japanese and informed them that we didn’t speak Japanese. After struggling with translation on phone - they bring us English menus. But still no vegan menu.

After great dining experiences from casual to fancy this place was a miss

ambience in our room was dull

Food - fine. Lots of tofu skin /yuba (soy milk top sheet) variations. Was fine but there are many Yuba places in Kyoto

Sorry to be giving it a low review. Low energy. I know the chef tried. He was the more attentive of everyone. But service was not timed well. Welcome was lacking as was leaving experience.

This place is hard to find as you just go downstairs from where a Starbucks is. At the lobby area. Wish that information had been shared. This is a hard pass for us. We loved the other places we have been to - maybe it was an off...

During our frequent visits to Japan, we have generally encountered exceptional service, which made our recent experience at this restaurant notably disappointing. The atmosphere was marred by an unwelcoming and indifferent attitude from the staff. From the moment we entered and met the hostess to our interactions with our server and the cashier, there was a distinct lack of warmth or gratitude.

We had reserved a table for four, but unfortunately, one of our party fell ill and couldn't attend. We were taken aback when the hostess appeared to scold us for this unforeseen change. Adding to our discomfort, the waiter informed us about a 50% cancellation fee for our absent guest—a policy that hadn't been mentioned at the time of booking. While we agreed to this unexpected charge, it certainly dampened our spirits.

The culinary experience was a mixed bag. While some dishes were satisfactory, they fell short of the exceptional quality we've savored at other local establishments. A notable letdown was one of the shrimp dishes; the shrimp lacked the firm texture indicative of freshness, feeling soft and underwhelming instead.

What further diminished our dining experience was the lack of basic courtesies. Neither the waiter nor the hostess bid us goodbye or expressed any appreciation after we settled the bill.

For those exploring Japan's rich culinary landscape, especially visitors from abroad, there are many other establishments that offer not only exquisite food but also the warm, welcoming service that enhances the dining experience. This restaurant, unfortunately, did not live up to those standards...

Oh what an experience. It’s not just a good meal but it is truly an amazing experience. Lots of small dishes highlighting the specialties of the area. It also showcases the Kyoto area ceramics and lacquerware along with precision in presentation. Doesn’t hurt that we had amazing company to accompany the meal. A friend made the arrangement and pre selected our meal. Must say that this has to be in the top meals I’ve had. Attention to detail, pride in preparation and attentiveness in service all combine for an excellent dinner experience. Check out our dishes. Apologies for the poor photography, I was too anxious to get into...