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Gary and his team were absolutely amazing at this omakase. They explained every bite and even showed the full fish so we knew what we were eating. We also had the sake pairing and our waitress did a great job catering the sake to our needs. I loved the intimate setting of the bar and everyone was so nice and attentive. Definitely coming back here when people visit. 10/10 omakase experience, I think my favorite bite was the umami spoon and wagyu nigiri
So much of omakase (and food in general) comes down to taste but I thought many of the pieces/dishes at Umami were just okay, with a handful of standouts. For the price point, especially since a kitchen appreciation fee is not included in the base price, I was expecting to walk away wowed. My impressions: 1. Umami is a 30-person omakase with counter + tables. Even though we sat at the counter and got to see the chefs at work, I thought it took away from the intimate ambiance a little, especially when the chef had to shout to the rest of the restaurant to indicate what we were eating. 2. In other omakase places, you have one chef explaining the fish and how it's presented. Here, it got messy - with some pieces, the chef did the explaining; other times, our waiter did; and the recurring theme of showing us the actual fish on a platter beforehand wasn't necessary. Nor was showing us the certificate for the wagyu, which just felt weird (yes, I trust you are serving me what you say you are serving me). 3. Some of the flavors did not mesh well together and there seemed to be more of an emphasis on jamming different ingredients together rather than letting the flavor of the fish shine. I'm a sushi purist so already I'm starting at a baseline of just give me the fish and rice. - I was turned off by the raw fish and fruit jello at the beginning (a strange flavor/texture mishmash and frankly a disservice to the fish). - Same for the sashimi and pineapple salsa. The combo of sweet, spicy, and fishy was strange. - Fatty tuna, regular tuna, and caviar may sound good on paper but in practice, the taste of fatty tuna just overwhelms everything else. A slab of the tuna on its own would have sufficed. - The non-fish dishes ranged from stellar (noodles with crabmeat and roe) to eh (duck breast was overcooked, wagyu could have used with less seasoning). I am not a fan of fois gras so the appeal of that piece was lost on me. 4. Where Umami excelled were the simpler dishes and pieces (like horse mackerel topped with green onion and some sesame; the crab noodles; and a stunning hand-roll of unagi and silky tamago). 5. Parking: On busy Mass Ave so budget some time in advance to find a spot.
Incredible dinning experience from the food to the service. It's a very intimate ambiance - It was only and us and two other couples. This made the entire dining experience feel very personal. We did the 18 course experience and opted to add a 19th course. While I was full at the end, I was "the right kind of full." They have a great sake selection as well and you can choose to do a pairing. The staff showed us each of the full fishes that were eating and explained where they came from, which was such a nice touch. Our waiter found out we were getting married and celebrating the wedding countdown, and he brought out a dessert with sparklers. All in all, it was such a great experience and I'd return here in a heartbeat.
An intimate, cozy setting with on point ambience and service -- truly perfect for a special occasion. It was funny because nearly every single table/reservation there the night we dined was a birthday celebration (including us). Each dish was fresh, beautifully presented, and thoughtfully created. The pacing was great, the sake recommendations were amazing, and we left feeling like we just had a wonderful meal and dining experience. The staff, including the chef, all took the time to talk to every customer, on top of introducing every part of the meal. Definitely get a counter reservation to watch the magic happen up close. It's pretty amazing to think the small, intimate staff work so hard to produce a flawless night for the first round of reservations, then do it all again for the second round.
If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Umami was nothing short of perfection. The restaurant is intimate, the service impeccable, the food... the FOOD! The 18 course omakase menu is a well crafted, well thought out, incredible dining experience. This was my first Omakase meal and after Umami... it will not be my last. I was a little nervous going into this - but the way the menu is laid out and the way the fish is presented and prepared - it was amazing. The staff is knowledgeable and patient and they will happily discuss each course with you.
Great omakase place! Considered how expensive omakase is in Boston in general, I think this place is good for the price. Most of the pieces are delicious. I love the seafood egg custard (especially the sauce on top), the squid nigiri and the scallop nigiri. The chef is very friendly and accommodating. I would say the signature dish, the one with uni, quill egg and salmon row is a bit disappointing though since all three have specific flavors, and when you put them all together, their unique flavors are cancelled out. Maybe I prefer their original flavors a bit more. The ambiance is a bit lagging in my opinion. I would expect a place with such price point to be a bit more delicate with ambiance. In general, definitely worth a try especially if you haven't been to any omakase before.
Some things are unassuming - whether it be by looks, size, or substance. Umami at first glance is indeed all of these things being located in small space with not much signage or ability to see into the dining room that fits about 35-50 people total and has a very clean but minimalist decor. However, to write it off without truly understanding WHAT they are trying to accomplish is a tragic mistake. My wife took me for my birthday, citing we were going to a "special occasion" spot, and there is truly no greater description for Umami. Umami was a truly ethereal experience from start to finish. I will say that it was probably THE most expensive meal we've ever had, but it's not a place that we walked away from feeling cheated at the price point. That is one of the things that worries me with high-end places in Boston... about 50% of them you walk away thinking "that was good, but for the price "x" place was better"; well, that was NOT the case for Umami, which made it that much more impressive of an experience. Umami is not your run-of-the-mill omakase place, there is no ala carte menu except for their blackboard specialty items (more on that later). You have a choice of two different omakase offerings during two fixed seating times and either drinks by glass or an expertly selected sake pairing. What this does is allows the chefs to shift and morph the menu to whatever is seasonal and available (mostly from Japan for the proteins), eliminating the sometimes daunting amount of choices to make during a fine dining experience. No, here you show up, make ~2 choices, then sit back and enjoy the show and experience... because that is what Umami is: an interactive experience that is centered around a 2-3 hour meal. I wouldn't come here expecting your usual sushi rolls or nigiri... this is Japanese food taken to the next level and beyond. There's no jars of soy sauce or saucers of wasabi and pickled ginger to destroy and overwhelm the delicate, top of the line ingredients. No, Umami and its chefs create some of the most thoughtful and nuanced bites and dishes that will ever grace your palate. This may be offputting to some people, who believe they know best and refuse to change or try something different... but believe me, the chefs know what is best in terms of handling and transforming these ingredients into something that I don't know I could have ever imagined. While you may see the commonly known and ordered sushi such as ahi/bluefin/bigeye/yellowfin tuna and the fatty/regular salmon, they are not the selections that pop out as unique or imaginative (but they did account for some of the best sushi I've ever had in their respective categories). You will find many different fish that can only be found in the waters surrounding Japan and are flown in fresh 2x/week. This includes Japanese Fluke, Hokkaido A+ uni (considered the best in the world), and Wagyu beef (including the certificate of authenticity and credentialing). You also get a look into ingredients I have never seen treated in the ways they were at Umami such as the Japanese langostina and foi gras dishes, both quickly seared with a blow torch to add a little bit of texture to an otherwise smooth and sweet protein. Even if you do not fancy a specific protein or ingredient (such as foi gras for me...), you should indulge with an open mind. There was not a single mediocre or "okay" bit of food that was served during our experience. Even the tomago (baked/steamed egg) was stepped up from your typical, bland offering in the sushi world. There are two different seating choices: the sushi chef bar or standard seating. I would recommend the sushi chef bar so you get to interact with the chefs and see how much work, effort, and talent goes into the creation of each dish. As a home cook myself, seeing the art of butchering the fish and the slight of hand demanded to create such dishes gives an additional level of appreciation for the experience and how the menu is executed. I cannot put the overall experience into words, even after everything I've laid out above. It exceeded any and all expectations for a meal, even at THIS price point. I have been to various Michelin-starred restaurants and even those couldn't have prepared me for the Umami experience. The combination of food, service, entertainment, and atmosphere was at times almost overwhelming as I tried to take it all in. Did either of us have any regrets, especially at the price point? Absolutely NOT. Will we be back? Most definitely. Will it be soon? Not as soon as we would like; perhaps for the next special occasion, whenever that may be... but I WILL be back. If I had the means, I would frequent Umami whenever I could (and plan to do that!). It is one of the only places in Boston that I would say MUST be experienced at some point or another, as it changed the way I will view fine dining in the city. It has raised an already high bar in an amazing food city, and may have stolen the crown.
1.5-1.8/5 TL;DR: SUPER LONG REVIEW - not a true omakase and more of a tasting menu. Modern sushi fusion gone wrong. SO overpriced. Took 3 hours My friends and I wanted to try an omakase spot when visiting Boston and decided on this spot due to all the good reviews. The interior is cute, and service is nice. We quickly realized that everyone in the restaurant were doing the omakase, so they are serving ~30-40ish people simultaneously. RED FLAGS/Negatives: --Serving 30-40 people at once: can cause delays/timing issues --A lot of the pieces of fish/nigiri were pre-cut --First dish of Miso Soup was so bland (bad start) --Sushi chefs were handling iPads with their hands then handling the food directly after --They tried to upsell dishes (like Japanese uni) party by party: when we declined the salesman made a condescending comment "oh, you don't like uni?" Like no, we do; but you are aggressively upselling it to us --It was ~10+ minutes in between dishes --Experience took almost 3 hours (they said they were down a sushi chef) --Rice was so weird (each grain was a different size and was coated in something weird) FOOD RATINGS by order (see pics for more): ~Miso Soup (2/5): bland and clam was overcooked ~Oyster with tomato puree (2/5): oyster was raw and temperature was on the warmer side. Tomato puree seemed like an odd choice ~Assorted cuts of fish with fruit and fruit gel (1/5): what even was this. It tasted like a fruit cocktail with jello and pieces of fish ~The spoon (5/5): toro, quail egg, ikura, uni, and caviar on a spoon. Tasted good ~Spanish Mackerel (3/5): mid ~Chopped salmon with yuzu tobiko and sweet cream cheese (1/5): I assume this was their play on like a bagel and lox. They said to mix it up and eat, and it just tasted like sweet cream cheese, and the texture was off-putting. Honestly, disrespectful to the fish. ~Aji (I think)(2.5/5): Mid ~Snapper (3/5): Mid ~Multiple types of toro with caviar (4/5): can't go wrong with toro, but rice and temp made me dock a star ~Chawanmushi (2.5/5): had a shrimp and scallop on top which were both severely overcooked. The egg was decent, but the soy gel on top was tasty but strange texture (maybe too much agar agar or something) ~Baby squid (2/5): Could only taste mayo ~Scallop (3/5): large piece of scallop; but just wrapped in some nori ~Another type of snapper (2.5/5): meh ~Smoked duck breast (2.5/5): great presentation; half warm, half cold. Very dry ~Wagyu (3/5): can't mess up wagyu, but it was just okay and the topping did not complement the wagyu ~Foie Gras (4/5): Foie gras was torched and tasty but ruined by the bad rice ~Unagi Tamago (3.5/5): decent but nothing special ~Mango Mousse (1/5): As a lover of dessert, I was so disappointed. Overly sweet, and again had some kind of gel. I haven't had a disappointing meal like this in a very long time. It took WAY too long; was WAY too expensive; was NOT an omakase; did NOT taste good.
Definite could be a upper-mid tier omakase on my list that fits its price range. Food is delicious but still have rooms for creativity, instead of just torched nigiris and wagyu. The restaurant could do some refurbishment to add more omakase atmosphere. Servers are super nice and attentive to customers but I still confused they have us wait about 10 minutes before seating. BUT, Overall it's worthy the money, will try again to expects some course designs for the chef, he's a great guy!
I appreciate the intimate setting with the diners all around the counter overseeing the chefs at work. While each of the courses was delicious, I was a little disappointed in the various non-fish dishes - not that they were not good, they were but I usually expect the focus of the experience to involve mostly fish. While in concept majority of the courses were yummy there were some courses where there was a lot going on that it took away from the main focus of that course, the fish which then cause the flavor of that fish to be masked and over powered by the various sauces and garnishes. There is a fine line between creativity and flavor. At the end of the day, taste/presentation is subjective - the experience was still great, the food was good, the staff friendly, I like how they would bring around some of the fish (the whole fish) and talk a little about the origin and the taste profile. Still a spot worth checking out and great for if you aren't a huge raw fish person but want to dabble in it since there is a good variety in the courses like duck, shrimp, crab, wagyu.
Fantastic! I have only been here the once, but I was advised from another friend that has been here, that their menu doesn't change frequently, so while amazing, a wait between visits is the best way to have a new experience. The atmosphere was great, though they provide everything to the entire group, discuss the dish, at which point you take your bite, which is a departure from other Omakase experiences that I have had. I look forward to returning possibly for my birthday!
Took my wife here for a birthday dinner. The experience was great. On a Wednesday night, the sushi bar was full. They only serve omakase style dinners. It's a great multi-course experience that will leave you full. They also offer drinks to accompany the food. We did the omakase with sake pairing. The waiter was knowledgeable about his sake. They were also attentive to refill our waters. The sushi chefs noticed I was a lefty and angled my nigiri accordingly. Very friendly staff and a very intimate setting. If you don't want to sit at the sushi bar then you can opt to sit at a table where a waiter will bring the omakase to you. But i recommend you eat at the bar.
13 days ago
The service is great and the food is amazing. I have been here a few times and here are a few things I recommend: 1. Make a reservation. 2. If possible, pick the 18 pieces course. It's generally $30 more and the extra bits are worth it and you don't want to be the person that doesn't get the special bites when the people around you do. 3. If you don't know your sake and want to try, I recommend the sake pairing. It's a great restaurant. Please enjoy. read more
Beyond grateful to have met the chefs behind @umamiomakase serving up quality imported fish from Japan and certificate grade meats and vegetables in a delicious, flavorful, and well crafted 18-course meal‼ Thank you so much for having me for my birthday read more
Gary and his team were absolutely amazing at this omakase. They explained every bite and even showed the full fish so we knew what we were eating. We also had the sake pairing and our waitress did a great job catering the sake to our needs. I loved the intimate setting of the bar and everyone was so nice and attentive. Definitely coming back here when people visit. 10/10 omakase experience, I think my favorite bite was the umami spoon and wagyu nigiri read more
So much of omakase (and food in general) comes down to taste but I thought many of the pieces/dishes at Umami were just okay, with a handful of standouts. For the price point, especially since a kitchen appreciation fee is not included in the base price, I was expecting to walk away wowed. My impressions: 1. Umami is a 30-person omakase with counter + tables. Even though we sat at the counter and got to see the chefs at work, I thought it took away from the intimate ambiance a little, especially when the chef had to shout to the rest of the restaurant to indicate what we were eating. 2. In other omakase places, you have one chef explaining the fish and how it's presented. Here, it got messy - with some pieces, the chef did the explaining; other times, our waiter did; and the recurring theme of showing us the actual fish on a platter beforehand wasn't necessary. Nor was showing us the certificate for the wagyu, which just felt weird (yes, I trust you are serving me what you say you are serving me). 3. Some of the flavors did not mesh well together and there seemed to be more of an emphasis on jamming different ingredients together rather than letting the flavor of the fish shine. I'm a sushi purist so already I'm starting at a baseline of just give me the fish and rice. - I was turned off by the raw fish and fruit jello at the beginning (a strange flavor/texture mishmash and frankly a disservice to the fish). - Same for the sashimi and pineapple salsa. The combo of sweet, spicy, and fishy was strange. - Fatty tuna, regular tuna, and caviar may sound good on paper but in practice, the taste of fatty tuna just overwhelms everything else. A slab of the tuna on its own would have sufficed. - The non-fish dishes ranged from stellar (noodles with crabmeat and roe) to eh (duck breast was overcooked, wagyu could have used with less seasoning). I am not a fan of fois gras so the appeal of that piece was lost on me. 4. Where Umami excelled were the simpler dishes and pieces (like horse mackerel topped with green onion and some sesame; the crab noodles; and a stunning hand-roll of unagi and silky tamago). 5. Parking: On busy Mass Ave so budget some time in advance to find a spot. read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
1 year ago
Incredible dinning experience from the food to the service. It's a very intimate ambiance - It was only and us and two other couples. This made the entire dining experience feel very personal. We did the 18 course experience and opted to add a 19th course. While I was full at the end, I was "the right kind of full." They have a great sake selection as well and you can choose to do a pairing. The staff showed us each of the full fishes that were eating and explained where they came from, which was such a nice touch. Our waiter found out we were getting married and celebrating the wedding countdown, and he brought out a dessert with sparklers. All in all, it was such a great experience and I'd return here in a heartbeat. read more
1 year ago
An intimate, cozy setting with on point ambience and service -- truly perfect for a special occasion. It was funny because nearly every single table/reservation there the night we dined was a birthday celebration (including us). Each dish was fresh, beautifully presented, and thoughtfully created. The pacing was great, the sake recommendations were amazing, and we left feeling like we just had a wonderful meal and dining experience. The staff, including the chef, all took the time to talk to every customer, on top of introducing every part of the meal. Definitely get a counter reservation to watch the magic happen up close. It's pretty amazing to think the small, intimate staff work so hard to produce a flawless night for the first round of reservations, then do it all again for the second round. read more
9 months ago
If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Umami was nothing short of perfection. The restaurant is intimate, the service impeccable, the food... the FOOD! The 18 course omakase menu is a well crafted, well thought out, incredible dining experience. This was my first Omakase meal and after Umami... it will not be my last. I was a little nervous going into this - but the way the menu is laid out and the way the fish is presented and prepared - it was amazing. The staff is knowledgeable and patient and they will happily discuss each course with you. read more
Great omakase place! Considered how expensive omakase is in Boston in general, I think this place is good for the price. Most of the pieces are delicious. I love the seafood egg custard (especially the sauce on top), the squid nigiri and the scallop nigiri. The chef is very friendly and accommodating. I would say the signature dish, the one with uni, quill egg and salmon row is a bit disappointing though since all three have specific flavors, and when you put them all together, their unique flavors are cancelled out. Maybe I prefer their original flavors a bit more. The ambiance is a bit lagging in my opinion. I would expect a place with such price point to be a bit more delicate with ambiance. In general, definitely worth a try especially if you haven't been to any omakase before. read more
Some things are unassuming - whether it be by looks, size, or substance. Umami at first glance is indeed all of these things being located in small space with not much signage or ability to see into the dining room that fits about 35-50 people total and has a very clean but minimalist decor. However, to write it off without truly understanding WHAT they are trying to accomplish is a tragic mistake. My wife took me for my birthday, citing we were going to a "special occasion" spot, and there is truly no greater description for Umami. Umami was a truly ethereal experience from start to finish. I will say that it was probably THE most expensive meal we've ever had, but it's not a place that we walked away from feeling cheated at the price point. That is one of the things that worries me with high-end places in Boston... about 50% of them you walk away thinking "that was good, but for the price "x" place was better"; well, that was NOT the case for Umami, which made it that much more impressive of an experience. Umami is not your run-of-the-mill omakase place, there is no ala carte menu except for their blackboard specialty items (more on that later). You have a choice of two different omakase offerings during two fixed seating times and either drinks by glass or an expertly selected sake pairing. What this does is allows the chefs to shift and morph the menu to whatever is seasonal and available (mostly from Japan for the proteins), eliminating the sometimes daunting amount of choices to make during a fine dining experience. No, here you show up, make ~2 choices, then sit back and enjoy the show and experience... because that is what Umami is: an interactive experience that is centered around a 2-3 hour meal. I wouldn't come here expecting your usual sushi rolls or nigiri... this is Japanese food taken to the next level and beyond. There's no jars of soy sauce or saucers of wasabi and pickled ginger to destroy and overwhelm the delicate, top of the line ingredients. No, Umami and its chefs create some of the most thoughtful and nuanced bites and dishes that will ever grace your palate. This may be offputting to some people, who believe they know best and refuse to change or try something different... but believe me, the chefs know what is best in terms of handling and transforming these ingredients into something that I don't know I could have ever imagined. While you may see the commonly known and ordered sushi such as ahi/bluefin/bigeye/yellowfin tuna and the fatty/regular salmon, they are not the selections that pop out as unique or imaginative (but they did account for some of the best sushi I've ever had in their respective categories). You will find many different fish that can only be found in the waters surrounding Japan and are flown in fresh 2x/week. This includes Japanese Fluke, Hokkaido A+ uni (considered the best in the world), and Wagyu beef (including the certificate of authenticity and credentialing). You also get a look into ingredients I have never seen treated in the ways they were at Umami such as the Japanese langostina and foi gras dishes, both quickly seared with a blow torch to add a little bit of texture to an otherwise smooth and sweet protein. Even if you do not fancy a specific protein or ingredient (such as foi gras for me...), you should indulge with an open mind. There was not a single mediocre or "okay" bit of food that was served during our experience. Even the tomago (baked/steamed egg) was stepped up from your typical, bland offering in the sushi world. There are two different seating choices: the sushi chef bar or standard seating. I would recommend the sushi chef bar so you get to interact with the chefs and see how much work, effort, and talent goes into the creation of each dish. As a home cook myself, seeing the art of butchering the fish and the slight of hand demanded to create such dishes gives an additional level of appreciation for the experience and how the menu is executed. I cannot put the overall experience into words, even after everything I've laid out above. It exceeded any and all expectations for a meal, even at THIS price point. I have been to various Michelin-starred restaurants and even those couldn't have prepared me for the Umami experience. The combination of food, service, entertainment, and atmosphere was at times almost overwhelming as I tried to take it all in. Did either of us have any regrets, especially at the price point? Absolutely NOT. Will we be back? Most definitely. Will it be soon? Not as soon as we would like; perhaps for the next special occasion, whenever that may be... but I WILL be back. If I had the means, I would frequent Umami whenever I could (and plan to do that!). It is one of the only places in Boston that I would say MUST be experienced at some point or another, as it changed the way I will view fine dining in the city. It has raised an already high bar in an amazing food city, and may have stolen the crown. read more
2 years ago
1.5-1.8/5 TL;DR: SUPER LONG REVIEW - not a true omakase and more of a tasting menu. Modern sushi fusion gone wrong. SO overpriced. Took 3 hours My friends and I wanted to try an omakase spot when visiting Boston and decided on this spot due to all the good reviews. The interior is cute, and service is nice. We quickly realized that everyone in the restaurant were doing the omakase, so they are serving ~30-40ish people simultaneously. RED FLAGS/Negatives: --Serving 30-40 people at once: can cause delays/timing issues --A lot of the pieces of fish/nigiri were pre-cut --First dish of Miso Soup was so bland (bad start) --Sushi chefs were handling iPads with their hands then handling the food directly after --They tried to upsell dishes (like Japanese uni) party by party: when we declined the salesman made a condescending comment "oh, you don't like uni?" Like no, we do; but you are aggressively upselling it to us --It was ~10+ minutes in between dishes --Experience took almost 3 hours (they said they were down a sushi chef) --Rice was so weird (each grain was a different size and was coated in something weird) FOOD RATINGS by order (see pics for more): ~Miso Soup (2/5): bland and clam was overcooked ~Oyster with tomato puree (2/5): oyster was raw and temperature was on the warmer side. Tomato puree seemed like an odd choice ~Assorted cuts of fish with fruit and fruit gel (1/5): what even was this. It tasted like a fruit cocktail with jello and pieces of fish ~The spoon (5/5): toro, quail egg, ikura, uni, and caviar on a spoon. Tasted good ~Spanish Mackerel (3/5): mid ~Chopped salmon with yuzu tobiko and sweet cream cheese (1/5): I assume this was their play on like a bagel and lox. They said to mix it up and eat, and it just tasted like sweet cream cheese, and the texture was off-putting. Honestly, disrespectful to the fish. ~Aji (I think)(2.5/5): Mid ~Snapper (3/5): Mid ~Multiple types of toro with caviar (4/5): can't go wrong with toro, but rice and temp made me dock a star ~Chawanmushi (2.5/5): had a shrimp and scallop on top which were both severely overcooked. The egg was decent, but the soy gel on top was tasty but strange texture (maybe too much agar agar or something) ~Baby squid (2/5): Could only taste mayo ~Scallop (3/5): large piece of scallop; but just wrapped in some nori ~Another type of snapper (2.5/5): meh ~Smoked duck breast (2.5/5): great presentation; half warm, half cold. Very dry ~Wagyu (3/5): can't mess up wagyu, but it was just okay and the topping did not complement the wagyu ~Foie Gras (4/5): Foie gras was torched and tasty but ruined by the bad rice ~Unagi Tamago (3.5/5): decent but nothing special ~Mango Mousse (1/5): As a lover of dessert, I was so disappointed. Overly sweet, and again had some kind of gel. I haven't had a disappointing meal like this in a very long time. It took WAY too long; was WAY too expensive; was NOT an omakase; did NOT taste good. read more
1 year ago
Definite could be a upper-mid tier omakase on my list that fits its price range. Food is delicious but still have rooms for creativity, instead of just torched nigiris and wagyu. The restaurant could do some refurbishment to add more omakase atmosphere. Servers are super nice and attentive to customers but I still confused they have us wait about 10 minutes before seating. BUT, Overall it's worthy the money, will try again to expects some course designs for the chef, he's a great guy! read more
I appreciate the intimate setting with the diners all around the counter overseeing the chefs at work. While each of the courses was delicious, I was a little disappointed in the various non-fish dishes - not that they were not good, they were but I usually expect the focus of the experience to involve mostly fish. While in concept majority of the courses were yummy there were some courses where there was a lot going on that it took away from the main focus of that course, the fish which then cause the flavor of that fish to be masked and over powered by the various sauces and garnishes. There is a fine line between creativity and flavor. At the end of the day, taste/presentation is subjective - the experience was still great, the food was good, the staff friendly, I like how they would bring around some of the fish (the whole fish) and talk a little about the origin and the taste profile. Still a spot worth checking out and great for if you aren't a huge raw fish person but want to dabble in it since there is a good variety in the courses like duck, shrimp, crab, wagyu. read more
Fantastic! I have only been here the once, but I was advised from another friend that has been here, that their menu doesn't change frequently, so while amazing, a wait between visits is the best way to have a new experience. The atmosphere was great, though they provide everything to the entire group, discuss the dish, at which point you take your bite, which is a departure from other Omakase experiences that I have had. I look forward to returning possibly for my birthday! read more
Took my wife here for a birthday dinner. The experience was great. On a Wednesday night, the sushi bar was full. They only serve omakase style dinners. It's a great multi-course experience that will leave you full. They also offer drinks to accompany the food. We did the omakase with sake pairing. The waiter was knowledgeable about his sake. They were also attentive to refill our waters. The sushi chefs noticed I was a lefty and angled my nigiri accordingly. Very friendly staff and a very intimate setting. If you don't want to sit at the sushi bar then you can opt to sit at a table where a waiter will bring the omakase to you. But i recommend you eat at the bar. read more
Compared to top omakase spots Wa Shin and 311 the quality of the fish is not quite as good. But there is more variety and playfulness and Umami has a more relaxed atmosphere. It does hold 20-30 for one service so it gets a bit loud and is a bit less intimate than other omakase in Boston, but again is a bit more relaxed and you don't have to keep it down here. Regardless the staff are very nice and friendly. That being said, all the dishes were solid with one or two being excellent, such as the duck dish. Service was two hours long with good spacing between dishes. While not the top contender for omasake in Boston it's still above average and ,with the price point, offers very good value. I encourage any sushi lovers to dine here and enjoy a relaxed and fun meal here! 4/5 See photos below for some highlights with dish description and rating read more
Fantastic meal, amazing service, and overall an experience to remember! We had a reservation for this place weeks in advance, so if you would like to come for the omakase experience, make sure to book early! They only have a set amount of seats for this meal, and everything is timed super well too - make sure to get here on time! The host/waiter was incredibly polite and attentive. Our waters were rarely empty and the service overall was great and super clean. From allowing us to sample the sake to just the overall serving of the food, we were very well taken care of and it was an amazing meal because of it. I've attached pictures of each dish and here is the full list for the ones we had for our experience (I named ginger separately here, but it wasn't an actual dish) 1. Sake garlic sauteed mushroom miso soup with ginger and Manila clam 2. Local oyster with yuzu and Amarillo sauce, lime zest 3. King fish, Ceviche salad, new zealand 4. Umami spoon: caviar (russian), quail egg, ikura, uni 5. Salmon cup, cheese foam, lime zest 6. Spanish mackerel, smoky flavor 7. Homemade ginger, honey, sugar 8. Lubina, cucumber foam 9. Kampachi, crispy fish, mango salsa, fish from Hawaii 10. Shima aji from Japan, apple topping 11. Steam egg custard, Hokkaido, shrimp and scallop 12. Shrimp, yuzu topiko and roe 13. Red snapper 14. Toro bluefin tuna, caviar (russian) 15. Smoky duck breast, baby mushroom, Applewood smoke 16. A5 wagyu 17. Foie Gras 18. Eel, Tamago hand roll 19. Yuzu panacotta, blueberry Every single part of the meal was unique and unlike other sushi I've had due to the creativity and ingredients used. The flavor profile of each piece was well thought out I think and made the experience all the better. The ones that stuck out to me were the umami spoon (truly an amazing experience), the salmon cup, the Toro, and the hand roll. Nonetheless, every single piece was super delicious though and I couldn't recommend the experience enough. Even the foie gras, usually something I dislike eating, was pretty tasty and wonderful to eat. Whether for an event like a celebration or birthday, or just a nice dinner out, I couldn't recommend Umami enough. An amazing experience all around and I can't wait to come back! read more
OMG so good. Intimate dining room but the action is at the sushi bar. Efficient and well paced they take you through an amazing omekase! The quality of the ingredients and artful preparation are unparalleled in Boston. Be sure to get the sake pairings! read more
2 years ago
Wow! Wow! Wow! The food was incredible. I have never had a better meal in my life. Everything was so unbelievably fresh and delicious. The staff worked so cohesively. Our water glasses were always completely full, any questions we had were answered, and servers showed us exactly where the cut of fish we were eating came from. Our main server Yan was kind, funny, attentive and truly made our experience one of a kind. Yan went above and beyond to make sure we were happy and cared for, but most importantly went out of her way to be friendly and make us feel at home. I really can't say enough about this restaurant. It was truly remarkable. It was incredibly reasonably priced for the quality of food, the service and the experience. I can't wait to go back! read more
2 years ago
If you've been looking for an authentic sushi counter omakase that rivals those in NYC, look no further. We came for a birthday and everything we were hoping for was delivered in spades! Every part of our experience was spectacular and nothing was skimped. Our starter courses consisted of a clam miso soup, a dressed raw oyster, koi sashimi, an Umami spoon (uni, quail egg, ikura and caviar) as well as a custard topped with a large shrimp and clam. As we moved on to the sushi courses, some of the offerings featured staples like the shima-aji, kanpachi, kinmedai, saba, Hokkaido scallop, torched sake, bluefish tuna, chutoro, otoro, madai, uni, unagi, wagyu A5 foie gras, seared duck and king salmon taco but also included a few I've not been seen regularly like the nodoguro, isaki and kamasu. Quality was top notch and the freshness of the fish came through with the perfect amount of seasoning and not overpowered with excessive sauces or spices. The hubby went with the add-on sake pairing to his meal and I confess, I've never learned so much about sake in 1 evening. The server took her time to educate us on where the sake originated from, what the taste profile was, and pretty much any other relevant info there was for the particular sake for each of the servings (see videos). The same attention was paid to each of the courses that appeared serving after serving. The sushi chefs placed each piece delicately on our dish and took their time to describe the origin and preparation with so much enthusiasm. When they served the wagyu sushi course, it blew out gold flakes for added special effects :) Overall, we couldn't have asked for a more epic omakase, especially in MA. They even ended with a special little birthday treat during our dessert course. Dare I say, I probably enjoyed this more than my Cafe Sushi and O Ya experience for MA! read more
Absolutely fantastic and delicious! This is my second time going and it was just as delicious as I remembered. The courses were mostly the same ( but hey, not complaining) and got to taste some new flavors! For 18 courses it is definitely worth the experience. You get to try A5 wagyu, uni, foie gras, and more! Great place for a special occasion ( holidays, birthdays, anniversary) read more
3 years ago
Called the restaurant around 6 pm and made reservations for 8 pm that same night. Dinner is offered at 5:30 pm and 8 pm and is roughly two hours long. The bar sits about 17 or 18 people and there are several tables and chairs. We were informed we had to sit at a table because we had our young children with us. Parking is street parking and was ample/free when we arrived around 7:50 pm. Omakase is eighteen courses with the option of adding bafun uni, which we did. A la carte is not an option. There was a course breakdown on the menu. It was: Soup * Assorted Sashimi Plates * Assorted Sushi * Toro Japanese Fishes * Caviar * Japanese A5 Wagyu Beef * Foie Bras * Truffle Kitchen Specials * Hand Roll * Umami Dessert. It was nice having a breakdown. It would've been lovelier having a list of everything prepared. I'm not an auditory learner so it was hard following the description of all the dishes. That's just a personal preference though. We also got the set A sake tasting which came with three glasses. You have the option of starting with set A and continuing further to sets B and C, the last which offers five glasses, if you're enjoying it and want to keep drinking. We were perfectly content with set A. They also offer an assortment of champagne, beer, and sodas. Everything we ate was delicious. I swore I heard a chorus of angels singing when I ate the toro. The Umami spoon was amazing. Wagyu and foie gras decadent. Husband really enjoyed the fluke. Aji was one of the best I've ever had. No regrets about adding the bafun uni. Service was warm and attentive. I'm glad a 20% kitchen appreciation fee is automatically added to the bill and that gratuity is optional. We added extra cash on top. They deserve it for how hard they work. Ahmed was one of our servers and made our experience a great one. He explained all the dishes to us personally so I didn't feel like we were missing out on anything at the bar. Our food also came out roughly around the same time as those sitting at the bar. Place is decorated simply and not pretentious. My husband was in dark jeans, a button down shirt, dress shoes, and a blazer. I had a dress, jean jacket, and flat sandals on. We were the most dressed up by a lot. Everyone was pretty casual. I have no clue if that's on par for the area since we're not from around here. I thought the price was very fair given the quality of food and service. I'd wholeheartedly suggest this place to anyone looking for a solid omakase experience. I see reviews bringing up places like Sushi Nakazawa, which I've also had the opportunity of dining at. I think comparing Umami Omakase to the former is unfair as I don't feel like Umami is trying to be them. I didn't come to Umami expecting it to be like Sushi Nakazawa and I'm glad it's not. At Sushi Nakazawa, my children would not even be allowed in the main dining room. I appreciate the different approaches to omakase. Also would it not make more sense to compare omakases that are within reasonable proximity to one another and not ones that are a five hour drive apart? Just a thought. read more
I've been meaning to try this place for so long and I finally did for my anniversary! You definitely need to make reservations because this place gets fully booked quickly! We came here on a Friday night and it was packed! This is a nice and small omakase place that is great for date night or for special occasions. They have a set menu for omakase and they prepare everything in front of you! It was an 18 course omakase for $178. I love how they serve everyone the same course at the same time then the chef explains what each course is so it's a more intimate experience! Every course of the omakase was so flavorful and yummy that I wanted to have seconds!! The whole experience was about 2 hours long and it was definitely worth it for the price! I would definitely come back here on special occasions! read more
2 years ago
My favorite Omakase spot! We have been here twice and I can't wait to go back. Chef is super friendly and attentive and will cater to you and ask if you would like less rice if you are feeling full and feel like you cant finish your course! They also educate you on each type of fish being served. My favorite is their uni spoon!!!! read more
4 years ago
I went for the first time to Umami and omakase for my birthday and it was an incredible experience! If I could give higher than a 5 star, I would. Service: 6/5 The staff members were extremely accommodating and kind especially when I asked if my party could be seated in a spot where I could be closer to the chefs. They knew it was my birthday, so they regularly came over to check how everything was. They offered guidance on which drinks to get to pair well with the food and even wrote out the list of dishes we had at the end of the meal. The chefs were so attentive and announced each course with with ingredients as they distributed the plates to everyone. They noticed I was taking a lot of photos and videos and were very deliberate when handing my dishes to me so I could get a good video of them. Sometimes, they even asked if I was ready. Food and presentation: 6/5 I was blown away by the fresh ingredients and well thought-out preparation and plating. Each dish were timely brought out and I did not feel rushed in finishing. We started out with the miso soup to line our stomach and it was fresh and light. My favorites were the uni spoon and froi gras (which I did not expect to like but it literally melted in my mouth). The Chawanmushi (Steamed Egg Custard) was a delicacy, so creamy and smooth. We ended the course with the perfect panna cotta. I thought I would be a bit hungry after the 18 meal course, but I was stuffed! 1. Sake Garlic Sautéed Manila Clam Miso Soup 2. Local Oyster 3. Hiramasa New Zealand Koi Fish 4. Umami Spoon (Uni, Ikura, Caviar, Quail egg) 5. Salmon Sashimi 6. Sawara Spanish Mackerel 7. Kanpachi Nigiri 8. Shima-Aji (Striped Jack) (not pictured) 9. Chawanmushi (Steamed Egg Custard) 10. Mada Red Snapper 11. Aji Horse Mackerel 12. Haru Ika (squid) 13. Toro Truffle Caviar (Nigiri) 14. Seared Duck 15. Wagyu Beef 16. Foie Gras (not pictured) 17. Unagi Tamago Panna Cotta 18. Yuzu sake Cost: 5/5 I believe the cost is justified for the incredible service and food we got. The chefs and staff worked extremely hard to provide us an exceptional 2-3 hour experience. I will be saving up and coming back to Umami for all of my omakase! read more
First time trying Omakase and glad it was such an amazing experience! We came here to celebrate our wedding anniversary and it did not disappoint. Each course was really unique and all the food paired well with each other. The courses were also well spaced apart so we were never waiting around too long for each bite. The chefs and waitstaff all took so much time and care to describe each course. The place is on the smaller side, but that definitely creates a great and intimate vibe to enjoy the meal. Would definitely recommend for a special occasion. read more
We made a reservation at Umami on a Friday night at 8pm. We were sat at the bar next to 2 other people. It was 4 of us in the restaurant which felt really intimate. Our server was friendly and so were the two chefs. The food was delicious, we enjoyed each bites of it all. The service was really attentive to details and made sure we were well taken care of. The atmosphere wasn't too too cozy, we thought it could have been a little comfier and warmer. It felt a little dark and "abandoned". Overall it was a good experience, but took a star our for the atmosphere, environment. read more
The place was small, but perfect for Omakase. The service was good. We got the 18 Course Omakase. Some of the selection was a hit or miss. Overall, presentation was good and most of it was delicious. The Toro was yummy. The Wagyu was so smokey and tender. Perfect for a date night. I got the extra roll of uni from Japan for $25. We paid like $500 for 2 people. 20% was already included read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
We had the omakase with sake pairing and also opted to add on the special Bafun uni towards the middle of the meal. I would probably skip the uni next time since i've had sweeter ones for less $$, but everything else was absolutely phenomenal. Some of the highlights for me were the umami spoon (caviar, quail egg, ikura, uni), salmon + cheese foam cup, A5 wagyu nigiri, and the eel + tamago handroll. My SO also really enjoyed the smoked duck breast dish. The space itself wasn't too big (a couple of tables plus a sushi bar that seats ~14 ppl) yet it also doesn't leave you feeling cramped and uncomfortable. This would be a great spot for date nights or even a special dinner for a small group. The staff were also super friendly, attentive, and courteous. Overall, I was very impressed with our first experience here and am already looking forward to coming back again. read more
2 years ago
This place is a hidden gem!!!! We got the omakase + 3 sakes and the bafun uni. The service was incredible, they even show you the fresh fish that they got. Everyone was sweet, quick and professional. I love the experience seating at the bar too. I like their selection of the sakes. I'll dream about the fois gras, waygu and the blue fin tuna until who knows when. I also love that it's a mix between nigiri and other dishes like steamed egg and clam miso soup (so flavorful). I like their yuzu cheesecake for dessert too. Overall, a great omakase place to celebrate and forget about your budget read more
2 years ago
This was a wonderful dining experience. We were seated around the bar with other customers, starting at the same time the dinner experience. The multiple course menu encompassed various fish, sushi, meat selections with elegant presentation and delicious taste. We finished with an awesome desert at the end. read more
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More info about Umami Omakase
2372 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140
North Cambridge
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(617) 868-2121
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https://www.umamiomakase.com
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Ask the Community - Umami Omakase
Do they serve wine and beer in addition to sake?
I can't remember if they had beer but I do remember seeing wine on the menu
What is the parking situation around Umami?
There is street parking in the area with meters.
For sashimi, can I have it torch instead raw? I am not a fan of sashimi.
I really don't think this is the place for you. This is a chef decided menu using lots of raw ingredients throughout all the courses.
Is this place reservation only?
They aren't required, but I would STRONGLY suggest them. Showing up and them not having room at a seating would be a bit of a bummer.
Do you have to make reservation?
Yes, is better to make reservations ahead, then we can have better service for you, thank you.
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Umami Omakase - japanese - Updated July 2026
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