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Ume Japanese Bistro
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
62 reviews for Ume Japanese Bistro
Review Highlights
"The service was always good and the sushi was always fresh."
(in 48 reviews)
"Try the Snow White, My brother said he had never had..."
(in 6 reviews)
"Great creative rolls and melt in your mouth fresh fish."
(in 5 reviews)
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62 reviews in English
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Review from Sabrina B.
San Francisco, CA
1/10/2012
Love this place!! We come here every time we stay in Healdsburg and may be the better sushi than we can find in the city! They have a bunch of different creative sushi rolls though they can get pricey.
The miso is spot on and the chicken teriyaki is almost as good as Washington grade.
Will defs be back! -
Review from Kate M.
Windsor, CA
2/3/2012
We always have a good meal at Ume!
Love the Miso soup and the spicy tuna roll. Service can be somewhat slow, but always incredibly nice.
Chicken Katsu is always a good choice if you're looking for something non sushi. -
Review from Rosanne D.
Santa Rosa, CA
11/18/2011
Ordered some of my old favorites tonight: Rock n' Roll, Carburetor, Geisha, and the Philadelphia roll, along with some escolar nigiri. Having been a long time patron of Ume, I would have to say I was bitterly disappointed. Not only have the portions shrunken, but the quality has taken a nosedive. The Rock n' Roll had a few shreds of unagi mixed in with what appeared to be razor thin slices of avocado. The rolls were rolled loosely which made eating them a hot mess. The shrimp tempura that serves as the centerpiece of the Carburetor roll was truly shrimpy--it was about 90% tempura breading and 10% shrimp--seriously? These rolls are sliced, the contents are visible... did you think we wouldn't notice this amateur move? Although a sushi purist would probably scoff at the notion that I even ordered those rolls to begin with, they would likely reward my indignant rejection of the pale, mushy mass they called "salmon" in the Philadelphia roll. Again, mixing fish and cheese is always a questionable proposition, but hey... The rest of the meal was not worth discussing.
The exception to this dismissive review would be the escolar nigiri--now that was nice! Possibly worth going back for...as long as that is all I ordered and got it to go!
Service was relatively indifferent, with halting delivery of the dishes. Not sure why, the place was busy, but not that busy...
Overall, the better choice for sushi tonight would have been Hiro in Petaluma or Hana in Rohnert Park. Next time I have a hankering for sushi, I will be heading in their direction for sushi satisfaction! -
Review from Jl S.
Santa Rosa, CA
2/1/2012
Everything on the menu is delicious! Love their food. Wish I could eat there everyday!
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Review from tom h.
San Jose, CA
1/23/2012
Let me open this review by letting you know that I'm not sushi savvy and my tastes in Japanese food is limited, so with that said lets do this. I loved the Katsu chicken, it had a delicious crust and the chicken was moist and perfectly cooked. The salad dressing was just sweet enough without being syrup. The rice was also perfectly cooked and went well with all the other food served. I enjoyed eating the "gasp, violation of all things authentic" California roll, the crab really came out and tasted great. The servers never left me wanting for anything, very friendly staff and I will be giving them my money in the future.
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Review from Sandra M.
Reno, NV
1/21/2012
Ume is the BEST!!! On our vacations to Windsor, Ume is always the highlight of the trip. The food is the freshest you'll find on the west coast. Fort Bragg Uni is soooo fresh. The service is friendly and efficient.
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Review from Curtis K.
Cloverdale, CA
10/11/2011
Had dinner at Ume last night. Service was good and the staff friendly but not too intrusive. I ordered the grilled mackerel dinner.
The tea came right away. Then, the Chilean wine. Tea good! Wine, could have been much better if it were fresh. The soup and salad arrived quickly and the miso was very nice. Thinly sliced fresh mushrooms on top. Nice flavor and not too salty.
The salad was pre-prepared and served very cold out of the refrigerator. A combination of mostly iceberg lettuce and a few leafy greens with a thin, almost flavorless dressing. Acceptable but nothing to rave about.
Before I could take more than a few bites the entree arrived. I don't like it when you have to rearrange the table to make room. It was too much too soon. Hmmm, how could they grill a fish so quickly?
I love mackerel; the flavor, the texture. It's a great fish and I was expecting it to be served something like a grilled salmon, seared and medium rare. Being a sushi joint, I also expected fresh, top quality seafood. This is where a 3 star went to a 1 star.
It was half a fish, the filet from gill to tail with skin on. I happen to like the skin. It contains the omega 3 fatty acids, and normally it's very tasty. I saw no grill marks on the crunchy skin side, so I flipped it over. This fish was deep fried, a hard, solid mass. Yuck. And to top it off, this fish had been grilled some time ago and warmed over in the fryer.
The grill marks were old and faded, what little there were. Maybe it was grilled by mistake and saved as not to waste. Unfortunately, I was the poor sap who wandered in and ordered it. They decided to put it on my plate instead of in the garbage in order to save a couple bucks. Bad move.
It was very greasy, overcooked, and stale. What a disappointment! I chose not to complain. Instead, I let my tip reflect the faux pas. 15% ought to teach them!
Furthermore, the person I was dining with ordered the teriyaki chicken and judging by the speed of service and it's appearance, it was pre-prepared also. How can you prepare 2 plates of fresh ingredients in less than 5 minutes? Especially chicken and fish. Not possible.
I don't plan on returning because the chef made critical errors in judgement. To re-serve an old piece of fish at a sushi restaurant? Bad move Ume. Lesson: people eat out much less than they used to. So, a restaurant has GOT to do a good job, every plate, every day, in order to survive. -
Review from Stacy O.
Huntington Beach, CA
9/13/2011
Ume Japanese Bistro is wonderful all around! First of all they have an extensive menu filled with a variety of delicious options, which is great for sharing. The presentation of the sushi and sashimi is splendid. The sake, beer, and wine menu was quite intimidating, but our server was very knowledgeable and helpful.
Also, Ume Japanese Bistro's has by far the best customer service and experience. A few weeks ago, I carelessly left my expensive sunglasses at the restaurant, but by the time I noticed we were back in San Francisco. Once I called I offered to send money so that they may send them back, but the sweet hostess said it was not a problem and that she would send them the next day for free! I am happy to say I received them in perfect condition. I even received a phone call from the hostess asking if they had arrived. Awesome.
By the way I highly recommend ordering dinner combination A. -
Review from Amber C.
Cotati, CA
8/10/2011
I have never written a review for a one-time, take-out lunch but Ume does it right.
I was craving sushi and found this place on Yelp pretty close to my work. Found their menu online and called at 12pm for a take-out order and she said it would be ready in 10. Showed up 8 minutes later and it was packaged up and ready to go. I opted for the 49er roll and boy was it beautiful with the thin lemon slices on top. Unfortunately the nice presentation didn't make it through my freeway driving back to work but it still tasted excellent. The lemon, avocado, and tobiko dipped in some spicy sauce that came on the side was such a perfect combination. I eat sushi a lot, so much so that I get bored really easily, but I really enjoyed every bite of this one.
Fabulous, I will definitely be going back. If you're tired of the same old, same old at other sushi places, check this place out. They've got some other really interesting combinations that are definitely worth a shot. -
Review from Jaime O.
Milpitas, CA
6/20/2011
Niiiice.
Teriyaki beef
A few standard sushi bar choice (tekka maki, tamago, kani salad, smoked salmon nigiri)
Chirashi
oyster
Squid
$111 plus
service was sluggish at first, but overall acceptable. This is a good place and worth returning. You locals should enjoy! -
Review from Lucy D.
4/11/2011
I recently went to "Ume" and was amazed by the quality of service and classy design of this unique sushi restaurant. The outside of the restaurant may not look enticing, however the atmosphere inside as the doors to the restaurant open is unparalleled to any other sushi bars I've been to. The layout of when the food arrives to your table is sophisticatedly westernize compared to other traditional sushi restaurants. Likewise, as an Asian customer, i felt a minority compared to the white population in an Asian restaurant, but it was all good.
Pros:
Atmosphere: Love the unique interior design and sophisticated ambiance compared to other Sushi Bars around the Bay Area.
Service: Attentive and friendly.
Con:
Pricey: The food is a little bit pricier compared to most sushi restaurants in the Bay. A bento box is around $15-$20 dollars dinner.
Food: The food here is like any other sushi restaurant.
This uniquely designed restaurant is a true gem in the Windsor area. 4 Stars for the atmosphere and services, however -1 star for a non-inspirational food quality. -
Review from Stephanie V.
Windsor, CA
They are setting the bar high here. I just found my new favorite dish the other night... their chirashi is out of this world! I posted a picture of it... They put furukake on the rice which adds an extra dimension of flavor, and upon my request, they added saba and tobiko.
Keep up the good work, Ume! Now, if you'd only open back up for lunch on weekends!!! -
Review from Kelli H.
Santa Rosa, CA
6/9/2011
Came in for lunch. The sushi was quite tasty and I really enjoyed the sauces. A sweet and spicy sauce completed my roll. I turned my sushi roll into the lunch combo for a few extra dollars. I liked the salad but I thought the miso soup tasted weird. My friend thought it was fine though.
Service was fast and polite.
I'd come back but it didn't leave me dying to get back there. -
Review from Scott A.
Windsor, CA
Updated - 8/27/2011 12 Check-ins Here
This place is the best sushi in SOCO. I love the miyagi oysters. Great creative rolls and melt in your mouth fresh fish.
Listed in: Windsor area
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/8/2011
We tried another new thing to us- Omakase Nigiri Sushi plate. A really great assortment and all the… Read more »
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Review from Miguel S.
Windsor, CA
10/25/2011
Best food ever, great service!! Best raw salmon i have ever eaten!!
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Review from Aaron D.
Santa Rosa, CA
8/22/2011
We have eaten here a few times, and by far, this is the best Japanese spot in Sonoma County, IMHO. I judge them all simply by the Chirashi, and it was served perfectly here. Likened to a jewelry box filled with precious stones, the box came with beautifully prepared fish and some pickled items, all laid on a bed of wonderfully seasoned sushi rice, a feast for the eyes as well as the palette. I was told once that Chirashi is the way to get a bit of all the chef's best fish of the day, and I believe that is the case at Ume. Do yourself a favor and stop in for a meal.
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Review from The Hopeful T.
Oakland, CA
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Interesting rolls
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Review from Dear Ms W.
Santa Rosa, CA
8/20/2011
The Tiger Tail at $14.95 was my favorite here but I like the combo of salmon and mango. I would recommend the Lady In Red ($14.95) each roll is generous in size. This place offers single oysters Miyagi $2.50 ea and Kumoto at $3 each. I liked that there was a Torrontes ($7 glass) on the wine menu but I couldn't recommend the Crois from Argentina, although it had medium plus acidity, not much in the way of fruit. But you're the King or Queen of your palate so you'll need to decide for yourself. The house tea is above average and the server makes a noticeable effort keeping your cup filled. I've been to several sushi places in Santa Rosa and so far this is my favorite. This small place would work well for a date, business lunch or sitting at the bar. I noticed a few people picking up their takeout orders.
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Review from Lindsey B.
Santa Rosa, CA
8/9/2011
Went here for lunch a few times and I have been very happy with the food and service each time. They are very efficient during lunch time since many people come in from work and have limited time for lunch. The rolls have been very tasty - sushi is fresh and well presented. Highly recommend their 49er roll and the Regal roll.
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Review from Kelly S.
Fairfax, VA
7/22/2011
Loved the special chefs sushi plate. Always fresh fish and care taken with presentation. Even our Japanese friends liked it when they visited. Worth checking out. Try the dragon eggs! Yumm.
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Review from Rachel S.
Healdsburg, CA
2/8/2011
Absolutely fantastic sushi.
One of the only places whose sashimi I trust - the restaurant is always spotless, well-organized, clean, and sanitary.
Green tea is great here, and they have Ramune, the famous Japanese soda with the glass marble in the neck! Wakame is fantastic, too. As for sushi itself, I highly recommend the Ume Blossom roll and the Carburetor.
Atmosphere is modern, and I love how they've divided the restaurant with the more romatntic, dim side off to the right and the brighter side to the left where families tend to end up. Atmosphere can get a little loud so if you're worried about noise try sticking to the right wing of the dining area.
I take one star off for the bored waitress who didn't make eye contact with either me or my date the entire night, and didn't offer to help us with the unfamiliar menu. -
Review from Dean H.
Santa Rosa, CA
9/21/2011
Best sushi in both Santa Rosa and Windsor. Highly recommended
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Review from Cynthia H.
Windsor, CA
11/6/2011
Good fresh sushi, but not great. Restaurant is nice and so is the staff. I would go again.
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Review from samanta v.
Healdsburg, CA
Updated - 2/13/2009
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.Listed in: please don't make me go here.., Sushi ..... mmm sooooosheeee
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/31/2008
Dining Companion and I had this brilliant idea to hit Senju on Monday night... (guess what? they are… Read more »
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Review from Kevin P.
2/10/2010
This is a very posh kinda sushi place. When I walked in I double checked my pocket to make sure I had my card, cause my bills were not gonna cut this place. And boy was I glad I did cause I ate and ate and ate (You don't even want to know what my bill was).
I went with my best friend and another buddy of ours and we made the most out of Ume.
To be honest I had no idea what to expect from a Japanese "Bistro" so my curiosity is what got me through the door. The decor is nice and pleasing to the idea, well lit and stylized. The chef at the bar was busy cause this place was busy!
It's in a nice area and is great for a nice dinner out with the guys (who needs wide screens and football games, when you have fine sake and good friends?).
Enjoy! -
Review from Amy L.
Santa Rosa, CA
4/28/2009
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. -
Review from Mitchel W.
Valencia, CA
7/17/2011
I ordered the tempura with teriyaki steak combo. My issues with this meal? For a $20.00 combo I expect more than one tempura prawn. If I get only two prawns I feel like I'm getting ripped off. Getting only one prawn is ridiculous. To add insult to injury the teriyaki steak was cold when the meal reached my table.
Our waitress provided average service at best - she did not exactly make me feel welcome. The restaurant was clean and comfortable and my oyster shooters and ahi tuna were tasty and fresh. Unfortunately this did not make up for the other shortcomings mentioned. -
Review from Sterling M.
Windsor, CA
6/21/2010
Food is amazing. The ambiance really sets the mood.
Lots of small plates options so you can sample many things.
I love this place!! -
Review from Emily W.
Campbell, CA
9/27/2010
Ume is more focused on their interior decorating than their food. It is small, loud (making it hard to talk), and difficult to bring families/groups. I think their food is mediocre (I have been here 3 times, and it always disappointed me) and the portions seem small.
(If you are looking for a Japanese restaurant in Windsor, try Senju instead) -
Review from Lindy B.
Santa Rosa, CA
1/18/2009
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. -
Review from Michelle K.
Belmont, CA
2/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love this place!!! Great tea and a very clean environment. I have never had a bad meal here. It is definitely worth the drive.
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Review from Jules H.
New York, NY
10/26/2009
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. -
Review from Kay R.
San Francisco, CA
2/18/2010
Good sushi spot! Haven't been here in awhile but I enjoyed it the times I went. I used to live in Windsor but now I only go there to visit the parentals. Usually they don't like going to sushi hence I haven't visited Ume in awhile.
I'm giving it four stars (the same as Senju) but I think I like Senju (also in Windsor) just slightly better. However the sushi here is also very good and fresh. Service is always friendly and the atmosphere is nice. It's a nice quiet restaurant, great for dates or going out with a friend you haven't talked to in awhile. Nice place to catch up and maybe have a couple of drinks. -
Review from Moye I.
Los Angeles, CA
1/3/2008
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. -
Review from marcia g.
Lincoln City, OR
5/17/2011
Unassuming on the outside, classy elegance on the inside, Ume gave us a wonderful perfect meal last night. Comfortable surroundings, the evening started with warm towels and a wonderful role called the Carburetor. Tempura shrimp wrapped in rice topped with crab and mango, a delightful combination. My shrimp tempura was the best that I have ever had and I have enjoyed loads of tempura. My spouse had shrimp in a mayo sauce, typically a chinese dish. Beyond belief!! Service attentive and low key. Prices were about $15 an entree which included soup, salad, rice and main entree. Quality should have made the price twice as much!! Do not pass this place up!!
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Review from Bruce S.
Windsor, CA
8/11/2010
Consistently great Japanese food.
Sashimi & Sushi are very good quality. Fish is fresh & service is very friendly.
Can't go wrong. -
Review from Patrick M.
Rohnert Park, CA
4/3/2011
Fantastic Sushi! Fresh, and always consistent! Can't go wrong with the Caterpillar Rolls, and Spicy Tuna is always great! Green Tea Mochi ROCKS! Kelly & Chang have always been awesome! Service is great!
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Review from Susan Y.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2010
This place is really a little gem. You wouldn't think in middle of North bay you would find a sushi place comparable to some of the best places in San Fran. My friend took me there after our wine tasting tour. Tucked away in a quaint little building you would not expect the energy or modern decor from the outside. Though it was busy when we got there and had to wait a few minutes, service was fast and friendly once we sat down. I love that they a full list of cold or hot sake and a list of unpretentious wine that paired well with the food.
We ordered:
Sunomono- yum crispy cucumber salad
Dragon egg- a little quail egg on crispy prawns. Who would have thought this combo.
Dragon roll- served slightly warm, love the sweet sauce on top
Sashimi mixed plate- so fresh it melts in your mouth
Ebi dumplings- yum!
I'm getting hungry recapping. I'll be back again for sure the next time I'm in town. -
Review from Frank W.
Seattle, WA
8/27/2006
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. -
Review from Andrea T.
Walnut Creek, CA
9/18/2007
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!!
