Umai — Restaurant in Chicago

Umai has a fantastic atmosphere and decor. Modern and posh while still having a traditional Japanese feel. The wait staff was very courteous and helpful considering it was our first time there.

The drink menu is very good and had one of the broader selection of Japanese beer I've seen at a sushi joint. Plenty of options on sake as well, and with varying price ranges.

As far as the food menu goes, there are a number of options for appetizers, both vegetarian and not. Tempura platter was very enticing, but when asked if the tempura was gluten free we were told negative. We chose the edamame instead.

There is a slew of varying dishes including hibachi items, noodles and udon, Japanese BBQ, and, of course, sushi/sashimi. Good thing about the latter items is every specialty item can either be had a maki mono or as a hand roll which is different than most sushi places I've been to. Umai has a great selection of gourmet sushi options, some that are a bit edgy, plenty that are more traditional. Fits well with their decor if you ask me.

We settled on a spider roll (a tempura-stuffed roll with radish sprouts), spicy tuna, and negi hamachi (yellowtail). Also ordered a bowl of miso. Everything loved up to expectations. Miso had a very good consistency, tofu was diced small but the texture was just right for the soup. All the rolls were superb. Tightly rolled and decorative.

Speaking of decorative, the plates and bowls matched the overall feel of the place, too. That's something many Asian restaurants fail to do, but Umai did it well. Overall ambiance and decor helped to complete the experience.

I have only two detractions from our time there: lack of truly gluten free items such as the tempura and soy sauce (my wife has gotten used to checking the latter when we go out); and higher prices than we expected on some of the specialty rolls which prevented us from trying something a little more adventurous. I'll partially forgive this last thing because it is downtown Chicago after all.

Overall, a great experience and one I'd want to have again if I'm ever back in town with time for...

As someone who has had several jobs in the food service industry, I would say that I’m very sympathetic to workers who encounter rude customers and do my best to treat the staff nicely and tip well. Today, however, was an exception. Firstly, as a party of four, we were told that we would be seated in 20 minutes but ended up waiting for 40 minutes. This could totally happen, but multiple parties of 2 who came after us kept being seated first at two-person tables that could either be separated to seat two, or brought together to seat four. I just also want to mention that a couple that came just before us was seated at a single table of four, so we assumed that they were seating people by order, not party size. So when the fourth 2-person party that came after us got seated first, my Dad kindly asked a female hostess if it would be possible to seat us at 2 two-person tables. My Dad was immediately met with hostility and the hostess raised her voice at him saying to just WAIT b/c we were a party of four and they took smaller parties whether they came before or after us because “that’s just how we do things here.” It felt targeted as they were not this rude to other inquiring customers PLUS as mentioned before, they seated a couple at a large table so that contradicted their argument, which my Dad responded back with in the same hostile manner. He left and we continued to wait, until someone who was NOT the hostess finally sat us down. She sat every other party down for the rest of the night though. For the rest of the meal, she kept walking past our table to give us dirty looks, and often shook her head. It made us all in a sour mood.

I think the staff should be better trained here. I understand that the saying “the customer is always right” is not always true but one should never outwardly lash back at a customer and make them feel uncomfortable for the rest of the night. Umai has only proven to be unprofessional today and that is...

Enjoyable appetizers, and a pleasant overall experience, but there were a few areas that could be enhanced. Definitely an excellent place to get your appetite satisfied and why not invite a couple of friends or just a party of two. Enjoyed the helpful recommendations and suggested dishes offered by our server and the sushi chefs at the sushi bar.

Despite the positive aspects, there were a few areas that could be enhanced. The Omakase sashimi ten pcs Chef's selection platter from the sushi bar could use a little more attention to detail in their presentation, serving it in a soup bowl seemed a bit unconventional. Additionally, there was a minor lapse in service when our server forgot our sake drinks. Nevertheless, these issues didn't overshadow the overall pleasant and positive experience, service was good enough and attentive, appetizers were definitely delicious, the Gyoza and hand-rolls. Including the standout Chicago signature maki and hot spicy roasted garlic pork ramen, which wasn't spicy enough for my taste and which I ordered without the bamboo, made our dining experience truly exceptional.

In summary, addressing the need for more attention to detail in the presentation of dishes, particularly the Omakase sashimi, and ensuring consistent service, such as avoiding lapses like the forgotten sake drinks, could elevate the dining experience from pleasant to truly exceptional. Despite these minor issues, the restaurant offers a fantastic culinary experience with flavors that linger in memory, making it a worthwhile destination for food...