Umi — Restaurant in Hendersonville

My two kids and I decided to drop by for lunch. One ordered the bento box with teriyaki chicken and the other ordered the bento box with chicken tempura. I ordered the three roll, lunch special. The binto boxes didn't get there extremely quick but the time frame was acceptable for the variants of that meal. However, I didn't receive my sushi. The waiter said it would be just a minute. Several people that arrived after me had already received their meal and was eating joyfully. I still waited. The waiter explain that they "lost the asparagus". He said, "I gave it to them but they don't know what happened to it". I continued to wait. 25 minutes later after my children had already recieved their food and eaten it, I finally got the first two rolls. Still no asparagus roll. About 10 minutes later it finally showed up. Though the sushi was good, It had already left a "bad taste in my mouth". In the meantime, I tried my daughter's tempura. The most flavorless,greasy tempura I had ever eaten. The shrimp tempura they sale in the frozen section at Sam's was a thousand times better. No sorry was ever given, though I over heard the waiter and owner talking about it.The bill was presented to me in full and I even tipped almost 20%. After my experience yesterday, I will not come back and hopefully the owners will read this. I am a lifelong resident of Henderson County. I am not a tourist, and spend my money here year round. Some businesses here need to pay...

When we walked in, someone who looked like manager and a few other employees didn't acknowledge us as we stood there for about 5 minutes. They weren't too busy with customers, seemed to be chatting about something else. The lunch specials listed something described by the server as a seafood/sushi platter, but it turned out to be a single, not-so-large roll. It was the same price as a three-roll lunch special. The server could have let us know it was a single roll when ordering, not a full lunch size. Medium sized restaurant with seating for maybe a hundred people, but there is only one single restroom for men and one for women. Waited about 10 minutes for the occupant to come out, and it turned out to be what looked like a staff member. There was no noise or flushing, so it seemed like they were just in there taking a break from work, using their cell phone or something. By the time I got back to the table, our single small roll was waiting. It was delicious and seemed fresh, but wasn't enough for a good lunch and we ran out of time so just ate, paid and left. The contemporary, generic music had nothing really Asian about it. This was our second, extremely mediocre experience at this place. Not a good value, spent about $50 for 2 rolls, 2 waters + tip. Yes we even tip for poor service, everyone has to make a living. Overall, C for effort. Not sure if we'll be back as there are...

SNAPSHOT = details below - consistently great sushi and sashimi served up in innovative and fun ways. Find out why they are always busy!

Mary opened Umi about 14 years ago and it was as good then as it is now. To be so consistently operating at such a high level is really neat. I have been coming here since the week it opened.

Where else would you get specials like monkfish liver and live scallop and it not be a once in a blue moon fluke?

TIP = You can ask if the sushi chefs will make you something that's not on the menu. I regularly get the spicy tuna tartar ($12) that is quite popular at sister restaurant Sora in Brevard.

On my most recent visit, I asked if they would make a spicy salmon tartar. It was excellent.

FUN = Try dipping your gyoza into the sauce from the ouster shooters. Or try pouring the the sauce from the gyoza over the tempura. Sauces here are great - get creative and find fun flavor combinations!

NOTE = The tartars come with salmon roe on them. Oyster shooters are great. Also, the ginger served with sushi and sahimi is not pink - i.e. it is natural and not loaded with sugar.

Only once in 14 years did I get something less than a good service experience.

PARKING = small lot. Often full. Parking after hours at Bank of America works.

OUTDOOR SEATING = Small, covered patio. Cozy and comfortable.

MEN'S ROOM = Has never been anything less...