Umi — Restaurant in Bella Vista

From my point of view, UMI is a bar that happens to roll sushi. The atmosphere is loud—so loud that having a normal conversation was practically impossible. My wife and I are used to dining in world-renowned Japanese restaurants across LA, HK, NY, and Miami, so we’re no strangers to paying a high bill for an exceptional experience. Unfortunately, this wasn’t one of those times.

The food quality was decent, but the hefty bill we received didn’t match the experience. Funny enough, in top-tier Japanese spots, the best seats are usually at the bar where you can appreciate the art of sushi-making up close. At UMI, however, the “bar” seemed dedicated to drinks, and the restaurant’s layout felt cluttered, with tables packed tightly. Service was also below par, adding to the list of disappointments.

To put it plainly, we left UMI feeling short-changed for a restaurant in Panama. In fact, after paying the bill, we made a quick stop at a Wendy’s drive-through just to feel satisfied.

In summary: A small, crowded space with overly loud music and an equally loud crowd. Service fell short, the food was decent but not exceptional, and the cost was excessively high ($191) given the overall experience. Wouldn’t recommend if you’re looking for authentic...

Umi is undoubtedly one of the best, non teppanyaki, Japanese restaurants I've experienced. The food is beautifully prepared and presented, with notable highlights being the Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon, and Hamachi hand rolls. The chicken wontons were perfectly fried, offering great taste, and the Kimchi edamame struck a perfect balance of spicy heat and mellow texture. The nigiris were also excellent.**

However, there are some significant caveats. The drinks, including the Blossom Negroni and Maracuya Rum Cocktail, were just average—nothing extraordinary. More importantly, be prepared: Umi is one of the most expensive places I've dined at, and we both left hungry. Despite the quality, the portions were small, and the service was so fast that there was no time to savor the food. We were finished with our meal in under 30 minutes and had to visit another restaurant afterward to feel satisfied.

Additionally, the atmosphere had its downsides. The music was too loud to have a decent conversation, and the seating was quite cramped. While the food was outstanding, these factors significantly detracted from the...

UMI lo definen un conjuto de variables que van desde la comida, la decoración y su diseño minimalista. Sin adentrarnos en especificaciones técnicas, lo principal que destaca del espacio es su barra: alargada, bajo un cielo lleno de origamis que adornan la calidez de cualquier noche panameña.

Se hace sentir libre, liberal, experimental. Los sabores adornan del paladar de aquellos que buscan abrigarse en la atmosfera de la cocina japonesa. No, en UMI no comerás un roll lleno de ingredientes que solo los latinos sabemos mezclar. La realidad de este espacio va más allá, no pretende destacar con platos “instagrameables”, solo busca que la persona testee el buen sabor de un atún, de un róbalo o un langostino.

Puede parecer petulante e incluso egocéntrico la entrada de UMI, y si así fuese, tiene con qué plasmar el orgullo de lo que ofrece: un menú, pequeño, compacto, basado en Nigiris, Sashimi y Temakis preparados frente a ti, allí en la barra que anteriormente se describió. Comes con la mano, como se come en cualquier lugar de Tokio; no es antiestético, es parte del corazon de la experiencia.

El sake acompaña la velada… y su coctelería de autor que utiliza algunos ingredientes locales. Son alrededor de 20 puestos, sufiente para sentirte cómodo, al igual que lo estarías en cualquier lugar en pleno dowtown de Chicago o Los Ángeles. UMI vive en la planta baja de una zona rodeada de edificios, incluso, lo hace más...