Review Umi - Pittsburgh

We went here on New Year's eve for dinner. The restaurant is affiliated with the Soba restaurant below. All of the drinks come from that restaurant. They have typical western style seating and a strange hybrid Japanese style seating option. The latter has an elevated floor so it feels like you are eating at a floor level table, but its actually an elevated platform the server are serving you from. Your seating at those tables is actually western style and your legs dangle below the level of this elevated platform in a typical western fashion. We chose to do the $145, 11 course meal with dessert. It was a large portion of fish overall, but felt it was manageable without over stuffing yourself. The courses, in order, were: 1.) Salmon Tartar 2.) Spanish Mackerel 3.) Yellowtail 4.) Black Code with a Miso Glaze 5.) White Tuna (escolar) 6.) Rock Shrimp Tempura 7.) Flute with Sesame Oil 8.) Lobster and Kobe Beef foie gras spoons 9.) Salmon belly with yuzu and wasabi 10.) King Mackerel, Garlic, and Chives 11.) a set of five negeri - Bluefin Tuna Belly, Yellowtail, Salmon, Tuna, and Spanish Mackerel Dessert: Three White Chocolates - Yuzu Ginger, Vietnamese Iced Coffee, and Mango Coconut We loved the service, food, and atmosphere. Definitely would recommend for your special occasion!

The experience at umi is so elevating, it's now the standard I'll use when eating any form of sushi from now on. We ordered Bride of the Fox sake and the 11 course omakase. My favorite part of the meal, other than the flavors, were the smells. Definitely make it a point to breathe in each course offered. Unforgettable experience.

This is the best restaurant I have been to in a while. Great staff. Explained everything he brought out and was fun to joke around with... We went downstairs before our reservation and had delish cocktails.. Definitely don't leave hungry. We went as a big sized group and had a blast. Different flavored sake/great wines. I believe we did the 10 course meal. Pshew. So much flavor to everything we ate and if you have a shellfish allergy they are super on top with that and replace the shellfish plate with something else. I tried taking pics of the food before eating and that never turned out well because it smelled delicious and looked great.

The ambiance was perfect for the date night we had. Staff was lovely, personable and well informed on the menu. The food itself was delicious, melt in your mouth pieces of fish in every course. It was a decadent experience but well worth it.

The ambience and vibe of Umi is top notch, walking up the stairs passed all of the cool wall art is exciting and then you get up to what feels like a fancy hidden gem. It's upscale, so yeah the sushi is a bit pricier than other places around, but the quality and pallet of flavors that they are able to pack into one bite is amazing! On top of that they have killer desserts, the chocolate mousse was one of the best desserts I have ever had at a restaurant. 5/5 this is an awesome place to go on a special date night.

Had a great time. I went for my birthday and didn't take any pics because I just wanted to enjoy the meal. My wife and I went for the 11 course omakase. We also ended up ordering extras of some of our favorite courses. I can still taste the sashimi with the shitake truffle topping. It was my favorite. I can't say a bad word about the place except that you will spend a lot of money. But, honestly, it's worth every penny! I had been so excited to try Umi finally. I was worried I might have built it up too much, but the food and the people all lived up to high expectations.

This has been a favorite of mine since they opened. I’ve never been to this place (which I frequent often) and had a less than exceptional experience. The food, the drinks, the waitstaff.. always on their top game. I recommend the red snapper sashimi, and any of the sushi rolls. You won’t be disappointed. They have an option where you can get either 7 or 11 courses. This is also great if you’re hungry and not sure what to order. It’s a must try!

Up a very dark, steep staircase to a warm and personable restaurant with a distinctive full multi course menu from which it is difficult to vary. So it is a real "experience restaurant", and not for a casual meal. Have twice driven hundreds of miles to get to Umi. An impressive culinary experience.

I've been to this place countless times over the years. As far as quality goes, no other sushi/Japanese restaurant in the Pittsburgh area can touch it. The sushi and fresh fish are phenomenal. There is a 7 or 11 course meal option. The waiters are always helpful and never just point towards the more expensive items. It is pricey but it's also head and shoulders above the competition...so in my opinion, not over priced for the area.

My partner is Japanese... So sushi needs to hit a certain level for us. Umi always crosses that threshold. The atmosphere is cozy. The service staff is always on top of their game and can make wonderful recommendations if needed. The food is absolutely stunning, and the menu includes some unique items that are difficult to find in Pittsburgh. The fatty tuna literally tastes like butter and I'd highly recommend it.

Just amazing, melt in your mouth sushi dishes. Perfectly composed with great depth of flavor. The omakase is so worth it and Larry is the perfect waiter to present each course.

UMI was absolutely a unique dining experience that was all positive. In my opinion you are paying for the experience. Many reviews will tell you the amount of food isn't worth the high prices, but myself (and the rest of our party of 4) all firmly disagree. All four of us ordered the 11 course Omakase and every single course was incredible and was unique from the last (mostly all centered around sashimi). Sure, there were similarities (like the house umami-type sauce that came on multiple dishes) but in my opinion the chef changes just the right amount parts that you do not feel like you are eating 11 courses of the same thing. We were all full after the meal and a few rounds of drinks. I don't think people understand that price doesn't correlate with *amount* of food. I'd wager this is the freshest fish you can get in Pittsburgh. I disagree with anyone in the reviews who thinks the preparations/garnishes take away from or overpowers the focal points of the dishes. Mr. Shu definitely does justice to every pairing he serves. Service was great (Kirkland was our server, he was lovely) and the ambiance was very cool and was not crowded when we came (Thursday, end of night) which was nice. You can't get an experience like this anywhere else in Pittsburgh, which is worth the extra penny or two.

We loved each course. The food was to die for. Each severing was better than last. I wish I could eat there all day long! It’s worth every penny. Great customer service.

This was the best meal I have ever had. The service was equally as amazing. I cannot recommend Umi highly enough!!!

Pricey but hands down best sushi in Pittsburgh a must try once.

While I have a splendid array of words for the food; my five stars are specifically for our server of the evening, Cat. We visited on the night before my partner and I’s wedding accompanied by my maid of honor. Our server went above and beyond to make us feel like we were their only priority and their attention to detail was incredible. They’re truly a one of a kind employee.

Best in the world. Mr Shu teats us like family. The umicasi is beyond excellent. The preparations and sauces are fantastic.

First time not the last. Each of the items ordered were fresh, perfectly seasoned beyond our expectations. The black cod miso was off scale. Our server, Darryl, was extremely helpful since it was our first dining experience at this restaurant. We will dine at Umi again. 5 star

Overpriced, very small portions. The fish was fresh but the portions were very small and pricey. The white tuna appetizer was 5 tiny bites of fish, with a bit of sauce that was tasty but left me wanting much more. Seriously, each bite of fish was just larger than my thumbnail! The miso soup with lobster had two small bites of lobster in it and was barely warm. The sushi rolls we ordered were equal in taste and size to most sushi restaurants, even though the "special" sauces and ingredients were highlighted, and were much more expensive than any where else I've been. I was disappointed.

At least three or four times a year we treat ourselves to this marvelous restaurant. Umi is the type of restaurant that you allow your server to guide you through the menu. The flavors are so unique and interesting that you don't want to miss anything. A must try if you enjoy adventurous dining, expert preparation and a knowldgeable staff. Two thumbs up.

For Americans With Money. Spending $50 a head requires a review in my opinion. I am liking this restaurant because what I got tasted fantastic. BUT does it need garlic aioli on it?! Only if your an American with weak taste buds. <br/><br/>I got a sushi plate, including 8 small pieces of standard types that were dressed up with a topping and a tuna roll. For the price, I expected the pinnacle of fish, which i did get, but the taste was tainted by the toppings, and the pieces weren't nearly large enough in my opinion. Soup and salad were best I have had though.<br/><br/>The fish here is so good it can speak for itself. Ask for plain sushi or sashimi. I am at the wrong stage of sushi fanaticism for anything dressed up. When I am old, have a lot of money, and have had tons of great sushi and feel like experiencing I may come back.

Over Priced. Way over priced for small pieces. The wait staff is rude. Very trendy but not worth the price.

Awesome as usual. Not cheap but well worth it, great dishes and service. Fresh, Fresh, Fresh!

Don't get me wrong, the food here is fantastic, however that portion sizes are a joke. My girlfriend and I ordered 50 dollars worth of food and walked out hungry and we don't even eat that much. It was 15 dollars for 5 tiny slivers of tuna. It was really tasty but not nearly worth 15 bucks. The wait staff here is great and once again the food is worth trying, but seriously come on give me more food for my money.

BEST SUSHI IN PGH. You walk in and all you see is Japenese people, good sign! food is outstanding. atmosphere is incredible. service was exceptional. you will spend money but well worth it save up money and do the chef's tasting. you will not be disappointed

The entire experience was amazing. 11 out of a possible 10. Delicsious!!

Best Sushi in the Burgh

Best sushi in the burgh. Service was great, food was fantastic...it was a little pricey but definitaly worth it!

The Sushi was a perfect balance between tradition and artistic fusion. Best hidden sushi spot in the city.

Great. This is the first positive review that I am contributing to urbanspoon. <br/><br/>Umi is a fantastic restaurant with very reasonable prices for the quality of food you will enjoy. They have fantastic Maki, Sashimi, and Sushi. Even their miso soup is fantastic. <br/><br/>Their menu is also quite expansive. I will be able to back a dozen times and never be forced to eat the same thing twice. . . although I will because I want to.

An Experience. One way my girlfriend and I describe Umi is an "Experience." Do not go there to get filled up unless you want to spend hundreds of dollars. Stop by Nakama instead. But if you want to experience some of the best fish you will ever eat in your life, don't miss an opportunity to stop by. <br/><br/>The rolls are great, but do yourself a favor and try the chef's specials along with the fantastic assortment of sushi. <br/><br/>The highlights of the night were by far the Black Cod special, along with both the Sawara sushi and Toro sushi. All three were probably the best fish we have ever eaten. Complex flavors to say the least. The flavor profile is something truly special.

Great Atmosphere, Good sushi. Covers the bases well, a good place for a nice dinner. The tattami seating is neat, where you sit on floor level with indentations for your feet, but you should be aware it also is towards the back of the place.<br/>Sushi was very good, miso soup was unremarkable.

Im-mi go to Umi!. Located on the top floor of an old, unassuming Victorian in Shadyside is the best combination of dinner and a show in the entire city: The dinner is world-class Japanese cuisine. The show involves pulling up a seat at the five-person sushi bar for a front-row view of executive chef Mr. Shu, who, like clockwork, masterfully creates his art in the blink of an eye.<br/>Our favorite order is the omakase menu (which means "trust the chef"), a unique multicourse meal that Shu and his chefs prepare that showcases the best ingredients available that evening.

The sushi restaurant of pittsburgh. This is my number one choice for sushi in pittsburgh period!

BEST SUSHI hands down.. This is BY FAR the best sushi I've ever had (way better than Nobu). I highly recommend the Omakase. Be sure to make reservations and ask for seating in the back; can't remember the name of the 4 tables but you sit on the floor. There are some really cool waiters too.

Ranks among the best. I have been hearing about this place for years and managed to get my man to wine and dine me here a couple of months ago. I was a tad hesitant due to the overwhelming sashimi menu ( i was accustomed to sushi "rolls") , but I am so glad i tried it. If you are like me and are apprehensive about the rawness, don't be! special marinades make you craving more (we ended up ordering more and more as the night went on) i would say its one of the best sushi places in the country as i have had the opportunity to dine at places like nobu and katsuya in la. I can't remember exactly what everything is called on the menu, but if your waiter is anything like ours, you will be steered in the right direction! Can't wait to go back!

You wont find better sushi/sashimi anywhere. I have had sushi all over LA, Vegas, NYC, and Miami to all the so called best sushi place (ie: Nobu , Katsya) and this place is by far the best around!!! ,DEFINITELY WAY better than the local hot spots- Nakama, Jimmy Wans, Fish Market and Little Tokyo. Get the Omakasi special you cant go wrong ! Drew was our waiter and he was fabulous in his suggestions and explanations of all the dishes. well worth it :)

Best sushi in city. . . .i have tried all the hot places and mr. shu omakasa is the best. Im a sushi snob and wont go anywhere else

Great atmosphere, mediocre sushi. The title says it all. Love the atmosphere. I had the sashimi sampler, it was relatively fresh, the miso soup was salty and not great. I had a gin martini which i liked, also my date and I shared an edamame appetizer which is tough to screw up. There is much better sushi in the burgh at better prices.

The best sushi. Period. Umi continues to be one of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh, and the best sushi -- anywhere. What is better - Nobu? No. Comme de Poisson in Paris? Nope. We are lucky to have this place. Respect.

Oohh me!!!. Some of the best sushi!!!!<br/>you need reservations

The BEST sushi in Pittsburgh. The sushi rivals all of the top sushi restuaurants in the country including New York Nobu and Japanois in Chicago. It is not inexpensive, but the quality is highly worth the investment. It is truly the best sushi in the city. The fish is flown in daily. Mr. Shu creates unique and very special nigiri, sushi, and cooked dishes, including his own secret soy sauce recipe. The white tuna appetizer is not to be missed. The restaurant is closed for a month every summer while Mr. Shu travels back to Asia. The Omakase (chef's tasting) is highly recommended. It is approximately $60-80 per person) but is worth every penny - it is a delighful multicourse experience of all of Mr. Shu's top picks, including dessert.

WAY past its prime. Went to Umi last night, and it was tough to get a reservation, which is usually a good sign. But actually, in retrospect, its just a sign that people are not aware of the quality of sushi that can be found elsewhere in Pittsburgh. It was sad, really. <br/>We began with the miso soup, which was some of the <br/>best we have had. Nice and hot, and perfectly seasoned. But it was downhill from there.<br/>The salad was just ok. Mixed greens were wilted, but the dressing was tasty.<br/>We then moved on to the "good stuff," or so we thought...<br/>We began with the highly-recommended "yellowtail sashimi with yuzu jalapeño sauce" -- it was overly ceviche'd, and lost its freshness, replaced by a tough, dried-out quality. While a small sliver of jalapeno was a nice touch for sharpness, it didn't compensate for the poor quality preparation of the fish itself. We next had a spicy tuna roll (which, I think, is a barometer for sushi quality in any restaurant). It was dry and average, at best. Nothing special, but no egregious mistakes either. We moved on to the "sushi entree (assorted)", which had 8 pieces of assorted sushi, each consisting of a piece of fish: yellowtail prepared exactly like the previous dish but with rice this time; two pieces of salmon topped with (of all things) cream cheese and a cherry tomato (come on, this was so disappointingly reminiscent of brunch -- where's the caper and english muffin?; mackarel which was less-than-tasty, again topped with a dollup of something indistinct and non-complementary; tuna (average); red snapper maybe; and a paper-thin piece of mild whitefish, which tasted like rice, owing to its diminutive portioning; and a tuna maki roll, which was dry and shriveled and appeared limp, like it was prepared earlier that day. <br/>I was expecting an artful presentation, but was shocked at the lack of playful creativity that I, at that point, assumed might account for the inflated prices compared to other restaurants in the area (since the quality of flavor was actually MUCH poorer than other local places).<br/>Next to us was seated a couple on a date, where the man was clearly trying to impress his lady (both dressed very nicely and timidly fascinated by each other's every word and expression). I felt sorry for him, because he was either going to be disappointed with the meal itself, or oblivious to the fresh japanese seafood delights he could be exposing her to just a short drive away. THIS IS NOT A PLACE TO TAKE YOUR LOVE INTEREST, unless she is impressed simply by the magnitude of a check and a mere patina of fine dining. <br/>Our waitress was sweet, patient, and knowledgeable, and I couldn't help but wonder if she would recommend Umi to her family. I doubt it.<br/>We concluded with a dessert that was simply delicious, playful and contemporary -- and weren't surprised to find that the desserts are actually part of the menu of their "sister-restaurant," Soba (which is a WONDERFUL place). It was the Soba Banana Split - an unusual and tantalizing update of the original (which, I believe, was originally invented in Pittsburgh).<br/>Overall, the portions were small and unsatisfying, which would've been ok if the flavors were outstanding, but they were not. Not at all! I was shocked, and realized that a restaurant that should be credited with exposing the local eaters to fine Japanese cuisine years ago, has fallen from its lofty perch atop Pittsburgh's international dining choices. And fallen far. <br/>So insular a chef can become when his cuisine is lauded for so long, that he can become ignorant of the ever-rising quality of his competition. I suggest Umi's chefs explore other restaurants and realize that they no longer have a monopoly on daily freshness, and that their creativity, like their salad, has become stale.<br/>To people seeking high-quality sushi in the area, I must strongly recommend Ichiban (in Aspinwall), and before you question my credibility in recommending a restaurant nestled in a strip mall, think about what makes sushi wonderful. If unwavering freshness, playful inventiveness and sense of fun mixed with elegant presentation and even nice wine pairings, exactness in execution and preparation, thoughtful proportions as well as portions are qualities that not only enhance experience but even define Japanese cuisine, then Ichiban gets it right. Umi, I'm afraid, is way past its prime.<br/><br/>It's not that Umi is so bad. It's just not that good. Nothing special. <br/><br/>I can say I have tried several other places in Pittsburgh, trying to find a suitable place to satisfy my frequent cravings for fresh raw seafood with a characteristically Japanese seriousness in its execution and levity of presentation and flavor combinations. Ichiban is the place that is consistently able to capture this "essence" of Japanese cuisine. But there are others that are also better than Umi, which should no longer, by any means, be considered a standard.

Great sushi but the surly bald server acted like we were a bother

Good Sushi but a little expensive. The rainbow roll was $25. A good ten to fifteen dollars more expensive then every sushi restaurant in Pittsburgh. My expectations were high. I though I would find the pot of gold in this rainbow roll, but it was comparable to every other rainbow roll in Pittsburgh. My hopes and my wallet were devastated. I thought the place had a great atmosphere, strong wine list, and great location. Everything I had tasted great, but was not any better than some of the other sushi joints in Pittsburgh.

Best in Burgh. If you want Sushi in Pittsburgh then Umi is where you should be. I think the prices are reasonable for sushi, and especially of the quality that Umi provides. I had so many differant types that I don't even remember what to recommend. Very cool atmosphere too with some unique "in-floor" seating. My one complaint is that our server mumbled a lot and we couldn't really understand his suggestions.

One of the best sushi restaurants I've been to, and I'm from Chicago where we have some pretty good competition. Love the service, atmosphere, & sake menu. Definitely try the black cod miso-it's my favorite!

Overpriced. It's almost insulting the cost of the food compared to the portion. Although it tastes good it simply is not worth the cost- deffinitly try another asian restaurant like Soba for at least a better value.

Great Asian Dining Experience. My experience at Umi was fantastic. I started in the bar where I met a friend for a cocktail, and it was a relaxing experience. The bartender was very attentive and the cocktails were expertly mixed.<br/><br/>After moving to the dining room, the outstanding service continued and the range of the menu selections and the quality of the food were excellent. There are menu items that will satisfy all, and even the less-adventurous member of our group was happy there was a filet on the menu.<br/><br/>The only negative is the parking - but you expect that in Shadyside.

One of my top 10. I seek sushi in just about every city I travel to, and if there is a Nobu, I cannot leave without making a pit stop. Mr.Shu is perhaps the best thing to happen to the culinary scene in Pittsburgh, and is reason enough to invite foodies from out of town to visit. His knowledge of nouveau japanese techniques and flavors are impeccable, and his quality of fish is absolutely amazing. Although there are some Big Burrito (restaurant group) establishments that lack in management and service, the staff at Umi should be awarded for their excellent skills and extensive knowledge of the product.<br/><br/>Omakase is a fantastic experience. Most would agree that many of the dishes could rival those of Nobu, including the Tempura Rock Shrimp, New style fluke sashimi, and black cod just to name a few.

Then I visited Umi. It ruined me to all other sushi. Umi’s offerings are so fresh, so melt-in-your mouth delicious that after eating Mr. Shu’s wonderous creations, sushi from any run of the mill sushi joint will taste grainy and sad. It is a very small establishment.  Reservations are a must. There is first-come seating at the sushi bar, but it is a small bar and only seats a couple of people. It is worth calling ahead to secure a table.  If you reserve through OpenTable, it does not give you the option to select regular chairs vs. the tatami tables.  When I learned we were seated at a tatami table (and there were no regular tables available to switch), I almost cancelled the reservation. However, there is a big open space underneath the tatami table, so you are not seated cross-legged, but

...what keeps me coming back is the consistent quality food and generally stellar service.

The sign is unassuming , but I assure you, in no way does it represent the awesomeness that awaits you inside.