Umi Sushi & Seafood Buffet -Brandon FL — Restaurant in Brandon

This buffet hasn't been open very long, and it's already having an identity crisis. It was originally supposed to be a Flaming Grill & Modern Buffet as well as a Crab du Jour. There was a coming soon banner that had both of these restaurant names on it for a very long time. I saw a Clipper coupon advertisement for Flaming Grill & Modern Buffet about 2 months ago. But now, it has been renamed Umi Sushi & Seafood Buffet. The buffet prices have also gone up since that original advertisement. Maybe it's a different restaurant than it was a couple of months ago.

All skepticism aside, the initial impression was a good one. It's a clean and spacious interior. It's nicely decorated. The booth seating is comfortable with many tables in between. I'm sure it can get overcrowded at peak times. Our experience was a comfortable one since we arrived right at opening time for lunch. The buffet areas were spaced out appropriately. The plates, utensils, and condiments are easily accessible. You're seated, then your drink order is taken, and then you proceed to the buffet.

There was a varied mixture of the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's a buffet, so it was nice to explore and try different things. I don't think we've ever had a buffet experience quite like it in this area. I tried thick cut cold seaweed (kombu) salad for the first time. It was near the snails and the chicken feet. It just tasted like ocean water. There was no savory sauce or anything. I don't recommend it. The snails had no taste either and were very rubbery. The green mussels were served cold in a chili sauce. I think the only thing I liked from that station was the squid. My favorite station was the seafood salad one. The octopus salad and poke salad were very good. Just keep in mind that the names of the dishes may not have matched what was actually underneath it. The octopus salad could have been a different seafood salad. Just refer to my picture.

The sushi was okay. I've had better sushi. The pieces of tuna and salmon tataki tasted like it had been torched, and not torched very well. There wasn't much flavor except for a smoky one. There were a couple of fried chicken and catfish dishes that I thought were good. Unfortunately, they were just luke warm so there were a few temperature issues. I think I probably would have been better off with the hibachi which I saw was being cooked to order. They had dim sum and soups as well as familiar Chinese & American dishes. I did like the red bean dumpling from the dim sum station. I would have loved to try the jumbo shrimp, but I can't eat anything that has eyes staring up at me. But it certainly looked fresh, and it was very popular. The desserts were nothing special.

Just go there with an open mind and try it for yourself. It seems that more people like the seafood experience at dinner time. I think the lunch price is fair for an AYCE buffet. I may go back if my husband wants to try...

I visited this restaurant 6 times in the las 4 months before leaving this review. It's pretty consistent with their food quality, and they often change the suchi ingredients to keep it dynamic (always fresh salmon by the counters). The rest of the food is bad to ok, sometimes descent. Pretty boring menu after the second visit, you know what to expect, where to find it and even the taste and texture will remain the same as the last time you visited, sticky noodles, bland rise, over seasoned meats, chewy octopus and by all means stay AWAY from their squid! Deserts is just boxed ice cream and a few full of preservatives cakes. Nothing worth considering in their desert area.

Probably the best sushi buffet.

Service is directly related to what you wear, if you visit casually dressed they will treat you like a broke client. If you have a Rolex in your hand and a bit of jewelry with fine clothing they will treat you based on that. Also after 2 plates and before desert you will receive the check that's your Que to know the server really didn't like you. If you are well dressed you can stay as long as you want and they will bring you the check when you are ready without any rush…(very clasistic and to a point discriminatory based on what you wearing)

Atmosphere is GREAT! Place is spacious and accommodate plenty customers. The music is adequate and it's volume high enough so you cant hear the next table’s conversation but can still hear clearly your table topics. Plenty illumination, fairly clean and unique decoration… I know it has nothing to do with it… but it made me feel like I was eating in some sort of mix between Fast & Furious/Alice in wonderland/ fishing boat… I kept thinking about those 3 things trying to figure out the concept. Without a doubt unique and attention grabbing bad not enough to pull you away from your plate.

It's matters when you Visit! Weekends is a Stay away from it. Weekly lunches are relax, but busy and dinner time is great! Usually you will find it 20%- 60% capacity.

At dinner sometimes and according to your cloths they will bring kingcrab legs as courtesy from the kitchen so don't be surprised if the table next to you gets it and you do not. You been warned!

Over All I give this place a 3.5 stars! Visit them, they are the best buffet I found in Hillsboroufh, Pinellas and Polk.

Ps. Bathroom need to be cleaned with less detergent, it was sticky outside and extremely slippery in...

This review is rated solely due to their price gouging on a Federal holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I eat here and enjoy the food, however, I don't appreciate the lunch price M-F of $17.99 being jacked up to $39.99 for all-day dining! On Monday, January 15, 2024, at 2:15 pm, I went there and the hostess asked how many (in my party) and then stepped from behind the kiosk, standing blocking my way in, and pointing out that the all-day price on the dry-erase board for me was $39.99 per person!

I asked why and she stated in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day! Where is the honor in price gouging customers who want to patronize the restaurant? I know this is a cliche, but it is highway robbery to handle business in this manner. Even the dinner price is $29.99 on regular days. There are visitors here for the Bucs playoff game who graciously come to add revenue to our fair city and are being taken advantage of by this price gouging. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Shame on you, UMI SUSHI SEAFOOD BUFFET.

It is a new year, but it's the same steamed leftover food as any other day. Lots of variety, but not worth $39.99 per person on any day. I left hungry without making a scene. Nowhere on the website is there any mention that prices are subject to change on holidays that honor a civil rights leader? There should be a disclosure of the pricing change on the website to prevent patrons from wasting time driving to this establishment, however, there is no mention on the website.

I wish the county health inspector would stop in and have a close look at the kitchen area, bathrooms, drink dispensers, walk-in freezer, the hot food serving bar checking the temperature of food and storage areas for vermin droppings to make sure that the cleanliness is up to a healthy standard.

• Addendum, Hey Umi Sushi & Seafood Buffet, next month, February is Black History Month, do you plan to price up to the all-day amount of $39.99 per person every day or just on Sunday, February 11th Super Bowl Sunday? I want to know in advance since you did so well to 'honor' Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr on his birthday and the federal holiday. Will the price up be noted on your website for all to read and...