Umu

Food is really quite over priced, and would absolutely fit the “try-too-hard” category. Would rather dine in other restaurants such as Dining’s, Hakkasan, (the old) Sumosan etc for more enjoyable Japanese food. We took our 6 month old baby, who is familiar and very well behaved in restaurants, for an early weekday dinner - the maître D was great however our waiter and other colleagues seemed almost judgemental and rude about it. For a dinner for two for +£350, not the “welcoming” you would expect. The ambiance is great however and, perfect for a date night.

A very good restaurant. It has genuine Japanese taste. Japanese beef was outstanding.

The fodd was excelent. I am never disappointed there. The service discrete and perfect! Out waiter is a gem!

Vegetarian Bento box for lunch, so many amazing flavours I gave up trying to work out what they were and just enjoyed it. Excellent service, ambiance and most importantly food. It’s very rare that I write reviews but the whole experience was sensational and the price made it even more so.

We have tasting menu with sake pairing at lunch. As always the managerial grade staff are just so so. But all others staff are friendly and superb nice. Food are really nice which equal to the bill. Just wondering if Chef know that the front line did do well how will the chef feel...

Un really top japanese restaurant with super fresh sourcing of products and perfect cooking.

Came in with a friend for lunch and had the Bento box with tiger prawn tempura. There was nothing to really complain about but it was still not a meal I'll remember. My friend had the same impression. Had never been to a Michelin restaurant before and expected way more in terms of both service and food. Nothing exciting. Would not recommend it.

I cannot believe this place has Michelin stars. Every Japanese restaurant I’ve ever eaten in in France, California or New York was better than this as far a freshness and flavor. Even cheap and casual ones.

Average food nothing special, not worth the money .How can it be 2 star Michelin. Roka restaurants way much better.

Food was fantastic, but service was ver poor for a 2 star Michelin restaurant. We didn’t even get refreshing towels.

We visit Umu once a year at least for the fabulous kaiseki tasting menu. It consists of seven courses of Japanese food mainly based on fish and vegetables with one meat dish and a dessert. We changed the meat dish to vegetable tempura as we don’t eat meat. You start thinking it won’t fill you and by the end you can’t eat any more. Every course is picture perfect and tastes the same. We had the matching sakes which paired with each course very well and were expertly described by the waiter. It’s certainly not cheap but in our view worth the outlay on a special occasion.

Impressed with both the food and service at Umu. Authentic Kyoto cuisine style with beautiful presentation of the freshest seafood. The lobster bisque was our favourite.

It was the best sashimi we’ve ever had...! Would go again!

Outstanding food and service. Attention to detail was unreal.
We had a lovely evening and it was a great way to celebrate a special occasion.

My second time here and it did not disappoint. Chef creates a wonderful kaiseki (tasting menu)

The restaurant called to confirm the reservation the day before, and to alert us that the air conditioner was broken. It was pleasant that they called to inquire whether that was acceptable or not considering it was going to be a business lunch. The ambience was nice. The service was good. We had Shokado Bento, and the presentation was lovely. There seemed to be duplication in the teriyaki flavor in the fish and meat. We enjoyed the visually intriguing tiramisu very much.

UMU is one of the best Restaurant in London and we enjoyed every dish we had.
The service was great and David was great in explaining details about each plate on the menu.
We will be back and we highly recommend it.

Excellent Japanese food. The fish was extremely fresh and soft, absolutely delicious. The restaurant itself is very elegant and cozy. Highly recommend for a casual lunch or special occasion.

Awful.

Arrived and were seated. It was uncomfortably warm. We asked and were told that the AC was broken. It was at least 30c outside. We should’ve left, but we had planned this meal and had been looking forward to it. We’ve eaten at 3* restaurants in Kyoto and had been expecting a fun kaiseki lunch. Unfortunately due to the hot temperature inside the restaurant, we opted for bento box lunches — no way we could stay for a kaiseki meal.

Bento boxes were fine, but hardly one Michelin star worthy, let alone two. The wagyu beef was very nice, but on balance the cost was a bit ridiculous.

We drank through several bottles of water and they charged us for them — outrageous given the AC situation.

Would not recommend.

PS They said they tried to call me to notify about the AC. No such call appeared on my phone. And they had called to confirm prior, so I know they had my number.

The food was excellent well up to Michelin standards. The service was attentive and well paced.
Pity about the air conditioning

Very creative food and excellent service. The presentation was top notch - such that I have not seen before. Quaint and quiet. Highly recommended!

Wonderful dining experience — the sommelier, wait staff, chef, and host were exemplary and provided great background on all of the food and drink. I would rank this as the best dining experience, food, and wine that I’ve had in London.

We had the Kaiseki menu, trying both the wine and sake pairings. Sommelier was a gem, explaining why sake is served in different styles of vessel and even demonstrating the differential in taste between glass and ceramic cups. The food was, as one would hope for the cost, exceptional, particularly the 'head to tail lobster croquette'.
While there was not the intimacy found at The Araki (it may be different if sat at the counter) I much preferred the food, not least because we didn't leave hungry!
The only 'problem' is that I will have to go back to try the hotpot style dish that many of the regulars were enjoying...

We had the most lovely time here. The service was attentive and incredibly knowledgable and the execution of the food was very good. Can not wait to go back!

brilliant ,innovative Japanese Cuisine ,with great service, please stay for desserts we nearly didn't. they were to die for ,well done

First it is Michelin Star restaurant with no Air conditioning running. 26 plus outside in London now. Second: don’t be be fooled by the a la cartel menus because the really good fish only belong to the chef who makes preset dishes, for those who ordered sushi sashimi they use second grade fish. Unbelievable. The quality is day and night. I always curious how this Michelin people mislead they friends who trusted them and rely on they expertise. Overpriced ordinary sushi place with a little bit of creativeness.

Sushis are amazing, despite of our friendly waiter the overall service is not the one you expect in a 2 Michelin stars restaurant. Very noisy lunch due to the proximity of all the tables.

Some dishes were good
There was a scale on the toro, this is my first time eat a toro with a scale...
The service is a bit urge, the service man always took away the plate when there were still dishes on it.
And after we finished the meal and the service man took away the plates and gave us the bill immediately without ask us about dessert.

Expensive but excellent

Such an incredible restaurant. The whole team is very attentive and knowledgeable about the food and where every part of the meal comes from. Looking at the chefs work in front of you is such a treat, the level of mastery is just incredible.
Thank you for the divine food and experience.

Very good quality and amazing food. Will come back again!

Very good food. But please notice the language mistakes on the menu.

do love it！！！

Went there for my Daughter's Birthday, great time, great food!

First time at Umu and we had a great experience.
Pros: great food, chef’s attention to detail is bar none and really friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff
Con: hostess needs to work on her communication skills

Is AMAZING that dining at a Michelin star restaurant without normal air conditioning!!
Every time we look at the managers they walk away to somewhere else. Even if we don’t asked don’t offer ice cubes. And of course nothing compensate!
Actually the thin slice seasonal sashimi, aren’t as thin as before. Quite disappointed this time for 3 people (just 1 wine paring)GBP700 with such environment.

I enjoyed a lot dining in this restaurant. Food here is a superb experience. Every dish is made with attention to detail. Flavor is increidbly good. I sure would come back again

Very tasty

Ovrpriced, not up to a Michelin starred restaurant. Just a common kind of food.
Good service and ambiance, but thats all.

Excellent albeit super expensive