Restaurant Review: Umami Burger
January 28, 2014
“Never in my life have I taken a bite into a burger that was so juicy that the sauce shot out and hit the person across from me.” This particular opinion that someone had of Umami Burger was what initially prompted me to try the popular restaurant because I wanted to see for myself if this would actually happen. However, while eating the food the only thought going through my head was, “Was it worth it?”
My first impression of Umami Burger was that it had a laid-back atmosphere. There was no unnecessary lighting or blazing music, which I liked. The décor of the restaurant was very modern, yet old-fashioned, with rustic license plates and vintage soda bottles in their original forms amongst the sleek, stainless steel tables and seats.
My family decided to order what everyone else seemed to be ordering, the thin fries and the sweet potato fries. The thin fries weren’t extraordinary. However, I could tell that they were fresh and had a light and crispy texture. As for the sweet potato fries, I thought they were worth every cent of the $4.50 that they cost.
Since I’m not a big fan of vegetables, I decided to order the only burger on the menu that didn’t include them, the Truffle Burger. Visually, the burger was very appetizing with the lightly oiled bun and the perfectly placed patty and cheese. Like all the other burgers on the menu, the buns have the letter “U” branded on top, referring to the “U” in “Umami.” It was a small, but clever way for the burgers to stand out from competitors.
Biting into the burger, I was impressed. It was succulent, juicy, and pretty much everything I wanted in a burger. However, after another two bites, I was done with it and wanted no more. It was way too greasy for my liking and the bottom bun was soggy and dripping with undercooked meat juice from the medium rare I had ordered. Their medium rare seemed much more like rare. I will admit that it was tasty and perfectly seasoned, but since the burger cost $12, I just didn’t think it was worth the price or the hype.
Overall, Umami Burger is just an average restaurant. All together, the bill with tip came out to be around eighty dollars. If we were super pleased with everything and got our money’s worth it would be okay. However, my family agreed with me and thought the burgers were way too greasy. For a $12 burger, I was definitely expecting more. However, I would definitely recommend it to someone who likes greasy food because. Besides the fact that it was too greasy, the flavors were all on point.
Experiencing my first ever gourmet burger joint was disappointing, but I’m happy that I was introduced to the unfamiliar food. I feel like my trip to Umami Burger somehow changed my viewpoint on expensive things; sometimes they don’t live up to the price. Umami Burger doesn’t serve the best burgers in the world, but the atmosphere, vibe, and service made it a worthwhile experience nonetheless.
