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Having lived in Marin and San Francisco for years, it was difficult for me to find somewhere in the northern North Bay for killer sushi. I've eaten their takeout a few times but it was my last visit that secured Ume's spot as my new #1 sushi choice.
I was out to dinner with a couple of girlfriends who swore by Ume's menu so we ordered a lot of everything and plenty of drinks. Hot sake, cold sake, tea, beer, appetizers, sashimi, sushi rolls, you name it. Literally everything we ordered was fantastic, especially the things I may not have thought to try on my own. I haven't had an outstanding sushi experience like that since San Diego's Nobu which truly tops my list of all time favorites.
If you're looking for an excellent menu selection of very high quality, fresh ingredients and remarkable Japanese dishes, Ume is the spot for you.
Ume Japanese Bistro is awesome! My girlfriends and I went and sat at the sushi bar, of course and had a blast. The chefs are not as interactive as Dai for or other "fun" places, but we were set and made our own fun. When left to our own devices to create our fun during sushi eating means MORE sake!! Three bottles of Nirgori sake and three large saporos later we found ourselves still ordering the Pink Panther and the Rock and Roll after delcious bites of the Dark Side of the Moon (Floyd wasn't the only one to make a hit) and the Tigers Tail. All the rolls were fabulous, delicious and filling. Yum. I love, love this place, I cannot wait to go back!
We enjoyed our experience at Ume. The service was good, love the atmosphere, and the food is pretty good to ok. I must say that when we were getting ready to go last time we got a huge whiff of some really "off"/bad fish-- wow, did it reek. It kinda threw me off and made me feel sorry for whoever was about to be served that! It truly made the whole restaurant smell putrid...makes me leery. I think we are going to stick with Senju in Windsor. I have to trust my sushi!
We used to love Ume. For the price, you couldn't beat it. The service was always good and the sushi was always fresh. Then, something changed over the last year.
Two times ago, we went there and one of the rolls we ordered was clearly very off. We said something to the owner, and rather than apologize or even offer to take it off the bill, she was just puzzled and said "huh."
Because we have liked Ume so much in the past, we gave it another chance. This time, the food was once again great as we remembered but the service was pretty awful. We had this blond waitress who was so un-friendly, I began to wonder if we had done something to offend her. Then, I realized she was treating all of her tables the same. You know the type: asks you how everything is, but she is already gone before you've even had a chance to answer. Then, wraps things up by just slamming your check down on the table without so much as a "thank-you" or "good bye" or "don't let the door hit you...."
I'm very sad that Ume seems to be going through a rough patch. I'll be keeping an eye on Yelp to see if things change before going back.
Every time I go to this place I am just so satisfied with all they have to offer. The decor is simple and tasteful with a dash of panache. The friendly staff are always helpful and smiling.
I have ordered a lot of items here and my faves are the hamachi kama and the snow white roll. I love the miso soup and wakame salad as well.
My folks live in windsor and have been to hawaii many times and say this place even rivals the sushi there. The fish is always fresh and the portion size is perfect. I cant say enough good things about the experiences I have had here.
I came here last night with a crazy sushi head, who wanted to try the place -- I didn't dispute it, and actually kept my comments to myself. I also didn't pick a single thing - I let him do all the ordering -- so my usuals aren't really listed here.
It still reeks of fish when you walk through the door, and tonight also bleach (ya for sanitation - boo for aroma - like off putting) noticed by dining compaion.
1) Saba is supposed to be fishy (ier?) but this was still really really fishy even by saba standards.
2) Lion King roll - eh fish baked well past done on the top - roll sorta mushy - not impressive.
3) Geshia roll - best of the rolls we had, not fantastic. Fish WAY WAY WAY too fishy & over sauced.
4) Dragon Roll, odd sauce combo for this one, tempura batter tasted like the oil was old.
5) Uni again was fresh! (yay) but I still stand by my comments about the seaweed wrapping it and lack of rice.
Service was friendly enough again, lots of hot tea (yum)
Thankfully for me, my dining compaion was amusing and really took the focus off the food (good for me) and we had a wonderful time, after dinner, I asked him his opinion of the food - it was less than stellar and we've made plans to get our sushi fix elsewhere here on out.
Dining Companion and I had this brilliant idea to hit Senju on Monday night... (guess what? they are… Read more »
My rating is sad...so sad, because not too too long ago, in a place not so far away, I had a wonderful experience at Ume...along with a scallop dish that I could not believe, part cooked, part raw, fresh, tasting of the sea...so good. But this visit...the sea seemed very far away.
Ume, the Japanese Plum seems more like a California Prune. The service was uneven, the food tasteless and the presentation uninspired. And for the $$$ you should expect more.
Hot towels, if you are one of the lucky ones. Good luck on them having the Sake of your choice (they do have a good list but apparently do not keep them all on hand); The Lady in Red ($14.95) should have stayed home; Kumamoto Oysters ($11.95) should have been fresh from the sea, but were covered in Ponzu sauce so who knows if they were??? And don't bother with the Calamari Tempura...it's like ordering Jack in the Box Onion rings that they put some rubbery squid into.
So once again, LindySez; she loves sushi, but alas am still looking for the place to make her happy.
The BEST sushi! And what I love about the atmosphere is that I've arrived all dressed up for dinner and dropped in spur of the moment with a friend dressed in messy painter's whites; it can be casual or dressy depending upon your mood and you're treated the same regardless. It's really a treat and I wish I lived closer...
Went on a Monday, when Senju was closed.
I usually go for a few cheapy ($4-5) maki picks when I go for sushi, as opposed to one $14 order or whatever, but theirs started at $6, and went up from there. Very good and very fresh, though.
Husband had the lemon garlic shrimp, and it was so good and delicately tempura'd. I had a vegetable rice bowl, which was pretty good. Everything was just right, nothing was overdone. We spent $60 for two lunches, two appetizers, and two rolls.
Ume was recommened to me by one of the wineries I had gone to. They said I had to go. I am glad they did. They had a wonderful staff and amazing food.I will definately stop there again when I am up that way.
Ume Japanese Bistro has delicious Japanese cuisine. Flavors are delicious, the fare is light and just the right portions. (I don't like to over-eat, or do I really love "left overs.")
Wait servers are considerate and respectful.
I love this restaurant. It's really the best in my area of Healdsburg (to the north) and Santa Rosa (to the south). It's great that I can actually walk to it, and walk off the calories after we've dined there.
I really enjoyed this place, which is not a place I expected to see in Windsor, California... pretty one-of-a-kind place here. The set-up inside the restaurant is beautiful and clean, and the servers are nice. It's never been too busy when I've gone, which is nice because everything is faster. The food was great, and we got everything from baked sushi to teriyaki bowls. The prices are all right, but really, it's the best sushi I think you'll find for quite a distance.
So usually I am not a fan of sushi places. Not because I hate my culture, but most of the times, it's just rolled up pieces of rice and fish, drenched in sauce.
But I've thoroughly enjoyed myself at Ume: nice, clean and upscale decor, really sweet servers and some delicious food. We've had the udon noodles, the tempura and, of course, the sushi. All of it seemed pretty authentic (cause I'm picky about things like that) and did not disappoint!
Definitely not a place you'd expect to find outside of Santa Rosa (not to diss the area. I heart Sonoma very much.) but if you find yourself in Windsor and your tummy's grumbling for some delicious Japanese food, stop here.
Ume is some of the best sushi I have had in the bay area. I live in San Francisco and work in Berkeley. There is one place in Berkeley that is pretty darn good, but Ume is seriously the best based on price and ease of getting in. I know it is not easily accessible to those from the city or the east bay, but if you happen to be up in Sonoma and want food. Go to Ume. They have wonderful fresh fish, and are very creative.
My favorite rolls are the carburetor roll and summer cooler. We have had others and have been very happy, but these are the best.
Give it a try; you will be happy you did!!
Ume Japanese Bistro outshines its local (Windsor) competitor Senju in all aspects. The interior is modern and hip - even having a sake lounge removed from the primary dining area. The food is excellent and the service is good. It misses on roll variety, menu creativity and the sake selection is average. Reasonably priced.
Overall, its a strong choice for sushi in Sonoma County but would find itself in the middle of the pack of the San Francisco scene.
We went there a few months ago and I was very disappointed with the food.
The food was bland and I was expecting something flavorful. I could get something cheaper and better in SF.
This is a new update: The last time I updated, I said they needed to talk to staff about being more informed, and more friendly, They corrected this with perfection. We had the same wait person as before, and improvements were made in spades! The food is always STELLAR. We have sent many sushi fans to Ume, to have them be stunned by the amazing food here. I have to say, We have recently brought my brother and sister in law to eat at this amazing place after trying all the Island sushi places together, They were impressed! Try the Snow White, My brother said he had never had anything so good at a Japanese restaurant before- EVER!
It's all about the Hamache- Kama ! Generous and delicious, the portion was so large, and perfectly… Read more »
Ume is 2.5 but I am giving it 3 since we learned at a young age to round up. If you want american style sushi & Japanese food Ume will satisfy. But if you're looking for an authentic experience there are better sushi restaurants in the north bay. As an example, I ordered toro nigiri and it was served drenched in ponzu. A very expensive piece of fish ruined by a sauce that does not belong on it. If you are having katsuo or hirame, ponzu is appropriate but not on toro! Oh well, I've heard the raves and I tried Ume but don't think I will be returning.
To preface...this review is actually more like 3.5 stars. 4 is too many, 3 is too little...oh well, sometimes it happens that way.
So first of all, let it be known that Ume, while saying that they have a sake lounge, does NOT have a sake lounge. They have a waiting area with a bar that looks like sake COULD be served on it, but, alas, people eat there. I specifically brought my party there because of the sake lounge (a friend of mine loves his sake) and I hoping to impress them brought them here. Strike 1!
In summer in the Healdsburg/Windsor area, it gets really, really hot outside, and when you've been splashing in the pool, drinking rose, and eating "special" brownies, well, sometimes you get thirsty for water: cold, crisp, clean water. Is it too much ask? Apparently so. The seven of us (5 sunburned, 2 lightly tanned-- we wore the sunscreen--YES WE DID!) asked for water the second we entered. We waited. We salivated in the "sake lounge." We watched other people drink their water. Nothing. I asked again. Still nothing. I was ready to take dirty glasses off the counter and scrub them myself or go around back and suck off a garden hose. Seriously. Finally our waitress comes out and tells us (and I shit you not when I say this), "All of the water glasses in the entire restaurant are dirty. We're washing them now." So.....how many glasses do you have? 30? Come on! No water glasses? So we wait and read the Japanese cookbooks (seriously, there were those $2 "How to roll sushi" cookbooks on the tables in the 'sake lounge'"). STRIKE 2
We get our table (still no water and 10 minutes after our reservation time of 8:00 pm--we got there at 7:45). It's the best table in the house. The waitress comes out with 1...ONE...glass of water and sets it down on the table. All seven of us look at it, and K, the sly one, dives for it first and sucks it down in one lip-smacking, commercial-like gulp. We all hated her in that moment I think, and ruined part of the ambiance....STRIKE 3
Once we all got our water, we all calmed down and ordered 10 of their rolls. They came out super-fast. The sushi chef, an older man, kept winking at me, so I guessed that if he had good taste in women he must be able to make to good sushi (yeah, I know it doesn't make sense, but, whatever.) The rolls were SOOO GOOOOOODDDDD. The names of the ones I remember were The Lady in Red and Spicy Tuna, but they were all excellent. So they earned back a half star for such great sushi.
The "decor" was kind of crappy. Everything looked dusty except for the sushi bar (not to be confused with the "sake bar"). The "sake lounge" had wine boxes stacked on the floor that I had to move myself. The main area was nice enough. The wait staff only seem to take orders and do not suggest or talk about specials. They all seemed very, very young.
Overall, the food made up for the incompetent shit. I won't go again though. I would rather try some place that has a surplus of water glasses.
I have been to many Sushi restaurants and I must say that Ume is hands down the best in the North Bay. The fish is very fresh, the rolls are DAMN TASTY and the lead Chef is a nice guy. If you go with a small group I suggest sitting @ the sushi bar.
yummy.
they could be a little bit more leniant on the price, but hands down this is the best sushi restaurant in the Windsor/ Healdsburg area.
The atmosphere is very relaxed and casual, although the decor is a bit dressed up.
I loved the selection of appetizers from oyster shooters to shrimp and quail egg poppers.
The staff was tremendously atttentive and helpful.
The fish was fresh and presentation of all the sushi was great.
Good place to bring a date. You may have to speak up because it gets noisy at times.
Windsor, CA
Category: Japanese
Healdsburg, CA
Category: Japanese
Windsor, CA
Category: Asian Fusion
Windsor, CA
Category: American (New)
Santa Rosa, CA
Category: Japanese
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