Umi Sake House
Casual Japanese Izakaya-style dining goes upscale at this trendy-but-welcoming Belltown sushi and sake house.
(206) 973-7789
2230 First Ave
(at Blanchard Street)
Seattle,
WA
98121
47.6129
-122.3455
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Belltown
What People Are Saying About Umi Sake House
The Owner
Umi Sake House
Owner
Umi is a premier Sake house located in the heart of Belltown. Our restaurant is a unique & sophisticated twist on the Japanese Izakaya style drinking & dining. Our restaurant is designed in a way that mirrors a Japanese country style house complete with a "back porch" as well as a "front porch". We offer over 45 premium sakes that are highlighted on our menu with many different Pan-Asian, Japanese, Sushi & Raw Bar dishes. Our extensive wine list and top shelf bar will compliment any menu item. We encourage you to place your large group reservation online & look forward to seeing you soon!
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
Recessed lighting, minimalist decor and a cool slate floor set the scene at this chic, urban sake house. The low-ceilinged bar space attracts Belltown trendseekers, while a quieter night can be had on the enclosed atrium in the back, where skylights and potted trees evoke the feeling of outdoor dining without interference from the variable Seattle weather or noisy downtown revelers.
The Food
With a dizzying selection of pan fried, baked, grilled, steamed and raw items, a meal could be built from the appetizer menu alone. Try the "Tower of King Crab," comprised of generous slices of king crab, avocados, snow crab, and tomato salsa with cilantro and yuzu aioli. While an array of hot Pan Asian dishes are offered, the seductive sushi selection is the real star. Sample the house roll with silken scallop, cucumber, tobiko, and avocado, all wrapped in a ruby-hued cocoon of tuna, or go straight for the daily fresh sheet and follow your server's suggestions.
User Reviews
MikeLawrence
April 12, 2009
Our party walked in off the street at 6:40pm on Friday night 4/11. We had a party of 6 with no reservations and were told it would be a 30 minute wait. We headed for the bar where we got a round of drinks and proceeded to wait for a table to open. Much to our surprise, at least half the tables were empty. There was one set up for 10, but the rest were tables of 2 or 4. We figured they would be filled soon so we just decided to wait our turn. After about 45 minutes we noticed that those tables never were filled. At 7:45 (over an hour) I decided to go ask the hostess when we could expect to be seated. She was apologetic and explained that there were reservations for those table and that we'd just have to wait, but it should be soon. I explained that it sure looked strange that half the restuarant was empty and had been since we came in over an hour ago. But I went away to wait to be seated. By 8pm we were still not seated and those empty tables were still not filled. I found a woman who I approached and asked to speak with the manager. She said she was the manager and I explained that we had been there now over an hour and 15 minutes and not only had not been seated but that all those tables were empty. She said those tables have reservations and we'd just have to wait. She was very short with no suggestion of any empathy or understanding. About 10 minutes later, a man came up and said he had heard I was upset and that he was the manager. I once again explained the situation and that the tables still were empty (now about 8:15). He also said we'd just have to wait but he'd see what he could do. He was also very short and didn't seem to have any ability to understand our predicament. I was there with my mother-in-law and had now been standing around for 90 minutes. As the manager attempted to see if he could find us a table, I asked my son (who standing about 6 feet away) to call Wasabi Bistro to see if we could get in there because I had had enough. The waitress walking by said we were disturbing the customers and we needed to talk more quietly. She was exceptionally rude and condescending. This when we were in the walled-off bar and the only tables close were still empty! After that our party left never once having the management made any effort to try to make things right. We're not going back, which is too bad since the food looked pretty good (as it went by as we watched longingly).
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seattlefoodie3
April 10, 2009
Our group ate at Umi on April 3rd. We had made a reservation for 4 people, but ended up having 6 people. The hostess seated us at a four-top table with 2 two-top tables on either side of us. At the time we were seated one of the two-top tables was empty. We asked the hostess if we could pull the table together with ours to accommodate all 6 of us. She said no because the tables were reserved. Long story short, the two-top table remained empty the entire time we dined. We were uncomfortable and cramped during dinner. This was very disappointing. I looked around the dining room and there were at least 6 vacant tables the entire time we were there (for over 2 hours). The food was great, as usual, but our service was extremely rushed. The prompt service and attention to detail that we have experienced every other time in the past was not the case this time. We spent nearly $300 at Umi that night. We will definitely take our business elsewhere next time we go out for sushi.
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ExNYer
March 16, 2009
My husband and I went to Umi on 3/8/2009. Before this experience, Umi was our favorite Japanese restaurants in Seattle. We have frequently taken our local friends, out of town visitors and business acquaintances there. The food is excellent though the mishaps that Sunday proved to be enough for us to take our friends (and expense accounts) elsewhere. My husband ordered his usual spicy scallop roll and a 'Green Decadence' roll and I requested the nabeyaki udon. We also asked for a geoduck appetizer. In a series of major FUs, the tea was lukewarm so we send it back. The waitress apologized and said that they just refilled the brewing machine. In my head I was wondering why she would send out tea that she knew was tepid. But whatev, I had a ginger sake martini in my hand.... The geoduck was tasty and we were happy. A roll came out and we were ignorantly munching along. Then my nabeyaki udon came out. As I was stirring the bowl, I realized that there was no udon in it! That's the equivalent of leaving the meat out of a hamburger! So I send it back. Then two rolls came out. But wait! We already had a roll. The waitress told us that they first roll was a mistake but it was ok, we didn't have to pay for it. And what was in the first roll? CRAB! My husband doesn't eat crab. He's allergic! I tried to explain the gravity of the situation to the waitress and she totally didn't get it. I gave up and ordered a second drink. To add insult to injury, the second Ginger Saketini was tooth decayingly sweet! The following day, my husband was violently ill. We left a message on their answering machine the next day to speak with a manager. We really wanted to salvage our relationship wtih our fav Japanese place. Just a simple apology would have sufficed but we have not heard from them.
read full reviewThe Details on Umi Sake House
Save Money:
Happy hour runs from 4pm to 6pm daily and until 8pm in the front section. A late night happy hour runs from 11pm to 1am on Sunday through Thursday. All offer deals on sake, cocktails, sushi and appetizers.
What to Drink:
More than 45 premium sakes make this a connoisseur's paradise, but newbies might appreciate the icy sake cocktails; the cucumber infusion is a particularly well-suited partner for sushi.
Group Dining:
Shed your shoes and reserve the tatami room, a different take on private dining that seats up to 12.
Category:
Catering, Restaurants, Bars & Pubs
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Late Night Dining, Private Rooms, Group Dining, Happy Hour, Bar Scene
General Info:
Cuisine:
Message from Umi Sake House
- Group Dining
- Happy Hour
- Late Night Bites
Umi is a premier Sake house located in the heart of Belltown. Our restaurant is a unique & sophisticated twist on the Japanese Izakaya style drinking & dining. Our restaurant is designed in a way that mirrors a Japanese country style house complete with a "back porch" as well as a "front porch". We offer over 45 premium sakes that are highlighted on our menu with many different Pan-Asian, Japanese, Sushi & Raw Bar dishes. Our extensive wine list and top shelf bar will compliment any menu item. We encourage you to place your large group reservation online & look forward to seeing you soon!
