Umami

Message from Umami

  • Japanese cuisine
  • Upscale casual
  • Sake bar

Umami is an upscale, casual Izakaya-style Japanses restaurant and bar serving traditional cuisine and sake.

Editorial and merchant content by Citysearch

Marker Umami

(415) 651-4603

2909 Webster St San Francisco, CA 94123
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Editorial Description by Citysearch
A sign-less stone exterior gives way to low-lit interiors, filled with clean lines and natural elements: smooth stones accent the bar and sushi counter and the bar top is made of grainy live-edge cedar. The space, divided by shoji-style screens housing orchids, features banquette seating both upstairs and down, where young, stylish couples and groups of friends convene. Later in the evening, the bar area becomes its own micro-scene with Marina singles mixing. Diners snack through the menu, which reads like a "greatest hits" of Asian cuisine. The spicy-tuna-and-water-chestnut roll is fresh and garnished with bright tobiko, while the Wagyu beef tartar tataki, delicately charred on the outside, reveals meltingly tender pieces of beef flavored with peanut and fresh wasabi. The shaking beef stands out among the mains, but the kitchen excels most at small plates. The coffee-flavored pot du creme, a sleeper hit, comes topped with airy coconut-scented whipped cream.
Rated 7.0 out of 10 by Citysearch.

6 Reviews of Umami in San Francisco

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Very good food  4 Star Rating - Very good

By Debbie C. | insider_guru Insider Guru | Rank: 169

I was introduced to Umami's by a client. Wonderful restaurant, great atmosphere, upscale environment. The food listing was extensive enough to warrant plenty of leftovers. Highly recommend.

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Latest reviews by Citysearch:

Atmosphere! Great Sushi 4 Star Rating - Very good

By Bn2bwld

I recently went to Umami on a busy thursday night. Was very impressed with the reservation system. I placed my reservation online they confirmed with an email and called me the day of the event. Umami is set right off Union Street in the heart of the marina. The hostess knew exactly who I was and quickly took my date and I to our table. The service was prompt; the food was terrific. I asked the server to surprise me with two rolls and was amazed with the selections. To sum Umami up it is a wonderful place for a date and serves great sushi.

Pros: Original Rolls Great Service
Cons: None
Posted 03/06/09

food was amazing! 5 Star Rating - World class

By ChrisPan

went there a few months ago on a Saturday night - the food was amazing! good atmosphere also.......................................................

Pros: amazing food, good atmosphere
Cons: none
Posted 11/21/08

Lovely Experience 5 Star Rating - World class

By jjaeger

I truly enjoyed every aspect of Umami. I was a bit skeptical about going to the marina but you know what this place took that skeptasism away. Food, Service, Ambiance all 5 stars in my book.

When you go try the faded crane cocktail....WOW it was so good.

Pros: Everything
Posted 11/15/07

Something Made Me Really Sick! 3 Star Rating - Satisfactory

By likeasunrise

Shortly after we ate at Umami, I started feeling tired and a little nauseated. 40 mins later, I had my head sticking out of the car door. I threw up every 20 mins from 10 pm until 4 am. My stomach pains also kept me up until 6 am. I won't go into what other symptoms I had. Anyways, it was hell. What did I order? Sprite, Yamato Roll, Edamame, Spider Roll, Spicy Ahi Roll, and Unagi and Cucumber Roll. Everything tasted good, except the Edamame. It was super chilled and tasted too undercooked. I did not eat everything, just in case you were wondering. I ate a few bites of all the sushi rolls and about 30 edamame. The atmosphere was very trendy, dark, and loud from lots of people talking. The service was decent, but our waitress, Mariko (printed name on receipt), poured water into my Sprite glass, and also rang my Sprite up as Coke, which was what my co-worker had. Our waitress boxed up our leftovers but did not put any condiments in the bags. I asked for wasabi, ginger, soy sauce, and chopsticks three different times before she finally gave me everything. All the leftovers went to waste because I didn't want to take the chance of getting sick again. It took me two whole days to feel better. And now, three days later, I am finally almost back to my normal health. Would I eat at Umami again? I am scared to go back. But I guess, you can get sick from eating at lots of places, not only at this restaurant.

Pros: Decor
Cons: Unsafe food, not so good service, and parking.
Posted 10/20/07

Very disappointed 3 Star Rating - Satisfactory

By kas115

I took friends from out of town a few weeks ago. On a Friday night, they sat 16 of us at 9:30 (our reservation time). Fifteen minutes after we sat down, our waitress came by to tell us that the kitchen was closing and so we needed to do all of our ordering. We orderded a lot more sushi, but then she came back 10 minute later to tell us that they'd run out of RICE! Our only option was to order $20+ dinner entrees (or more apps that we'd already done). They shouldn't sit large parties at that hour if they're not willing to feed them, or they should at least warn you when you sit to start ordering. The little sushi that we ate was fine, but most of us left hungry. It was a very disappointing experience.

Pros: food, atmosphere
Cons: service
Posted 09/26/07