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| - First of, I'll admit that I came to the restaurant already biased. My expectations were set low; why? Because Umami Asian Kitchen is an asian kitchen run by those not asian. I'm generally avoidant of japanese restaurants run by any type of asian non-Japanese, as well as Italian not run by italian and so forth.
On the other hand, having had Chinese food run by indians, cooking what amounts to Indian styled Chinese food, I must say that cultural hybrid cuisine can occasionally be very interesting if not compelling.
After all, American Chinese food is a thing all its own...
But what about Umami? Is it really U-ma-mi? Honmono desuka?
Well, it's a yes and a no. The executive chef's Japanese influence is pretty clear in the menu selections and execution. With Kimchi flavoured skewers, tuna tataki, assorted rolls, the Japanese beers and selection of spice balances, the nipponification is definitely in there.
It's like you took an Izakaya, simplified the menu, westernized the flavours just slightly, and also pub-i-fied the ambiance. It's quaint, cozy and intimate - very much like a small izakaya would be like if the decor ran more western.
And I think that's precisely what this is, a westernized Izakaya. The prices might well be out of Ginza as well, which is really the sticking point. The food is decent. If you were served the food without respect to the price, you'd eat an enjoy the stuff.
But the prices are a tad steep. I don't really know the pricing schema of Chagrin falls, but this seems a little over the norm.
So, a 3 is reasonable, maybe a 2.9.
A plug for the crisp pork-belly though. That is something I'd order and put over a bowl of rice any day. That dish is a 4 star flavour/texture.
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