Umi Restaurant

Recommends

newtopgh

Joined 5 years ago

Fantastic Sushi. Umi is perhaps one of the best restaurants not only in Pittsburgh, but arguably most US cities. The chef is an artist as a sushi chef should be. Each piece is beautifully plated and the new style dishes are incredible. The Omakase is worth trying, but make sure you come with a hearty appetite because the 7+ courses will leave you very satisfied. The only con is that the restaurant is located on the top floor of the building which makes it difficult for some to access. Soba allows for the Umi menu as their handicap option, but the atmosphere at Umi is missed.

Doesn't Recommend

HungryPittsburghMan

Joined 5 years ago

Tiny Portions and Big Prices. This place had us laughing from the time we arrived. Firstly, you have to walk up and up two flights of stairs to reach the dining area. The menu is sky-high for Pittsburgh. The menu prices compare to Hollywood, California or London. Not in Pittsburgh. I ordered the yellow fin tuna. It arrived on a plate; with five skimpy bacon thin slices of tuna with some shred veggies in the middle and punzu pepper squiggle sauce sprayed across the plate. That was $18. I expected a decent portion of sushi. I eat sushi all over the world...and this place wins to prize for minimum size and maximum prices. The service is spotty and we had to wait 10 minutes for our check to be processed. Anyway, my date sampled some of the other sushi and wasn't impressed. Perhaps, one could find better sushi at the grocery store take-away counter and about 20% of the cost. Does "UMI" actually translate to mean "high price" in Japanese?

Recommends

New2Pittsburgh

Joined 5 years ago

Best sushi in Pittsburgh. Good sushi, nice atmosphere, knowledgeable staff. A little expensive, but both the food and customers are a cut above what you will find at Nakama. Wish they had a better beer list.

Recommends

toki22

Joined 5 years ago

Best sushi EVER!. I recommend Umi to everyone that I know. It is not only the best sushi in the city hands down, it is the best sushi I have ever had. I have been to Tokyo and the famous Nobu and still think Umi is the best! I crave it....I only wish it was not as pricey as it is so that I could enjoy it more often.

Doesn't Recommend

pppow

Joined 7 years ago

Total rip off!!!. This place is wayyy overpriced!!! The food is creative, I admit, but the portion and the price will dry up your wallet!!! Only good for really special occasion if you are rich, otherwise, avoid at all cost!!!

Doesn't Recommend

chicoblue

Joined 7 years ago

Terrible service and too expensive. Stay away.. It is not new that Umi is too expensive for the food you get there. The food is good, but not even close to good sushi places you can get in NYC, Boston, Seattle or California. Definitely not worth the money.

The service is bad and slow. In all occasions I've been there, there were 2 waiters for 30 or more people. Yesterday, for instance, on a Tuesday night, the waiter forgot the soup and salad of the entree. He even forgot ginger and wasabi on the sushi. And no, no apologies at all.

Stay away.

Recommends

minadrac

Joined 7 years ago

The VERY Best!!!!. The best restaurant in Pittsburgh. We have had sushi in the trendy places like New York City and Malibu, Ca. and nothing compares. If you want the best service, atmosphere and Japanese food this is the place. The sushi is the way it should be in taste and presentation. We have be coming to this place for many many years and it is always PERFECT!!!!!!

Recommends

Firewalt

Joined 8 years ago

The Best Of Pittsburgh. Simply the Best food in Pittsburgh regardless of type or price. The fish is as fresh as the Ocean and the combinations of spices and style are breath taking. This chef could win top awards in any city, but has graced Pittsburgh with his dedication to the art of Cuisine.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Posh. Even by Shadyside standards.. The Scene
From your first impression at the front door, a polished steel mural, you can tell a lot of thought has been put into the design of Umi. Walking up a long flight of steps, you enter an elegant, spare dining area. There is a sushi bar where one can watch the master Mr. Shu and his assistants ply their craft.

The Food
The executive chef, Mr. Shu, is Pittsburgh's "sushi celeb." Having worked in Taiwan and New York, he came to town to open the Sushi House on Murray Avenue. He gained an immediate and loyal following. He brought the concept of "omakaze", loosely translated as "chef's choice," which has been popular in such rarefied sushi bars of New York as Nobu. He offers it here, and it is a fine choice for those willing to trust his excellent taste. Starting at $55 a pop, with the option of going significantly higher, it isn't inexpensive. But this is food as art, and good art doesn't come cheaply. For those who opt for food of the cooked variety, there are some excellent choices. Diners generally like the Umi crab, broiled in a rich cream sauce. The sea bass with black bean sauce is a simply prepared dish with complex flavors and is excellent.