Umami: Global Flavours, Local Gem
Forget those sprawling resort buffets in sun-drenched holiday spots – Telford’s very own Umami is serving up a globe-trotting feast right here in Southwater, and trust me, your taste buds (and possibly your waistband) are in for a treat.
I’m no stranger to the all you can eat buffet, but I’m usually partaking at some hotel in Spain, Turkey or even on one occasion, Mexico, as my trousers will bear witness.
I knew of Umami in Southwater, but had not got round to visiting to see what a local all inclusive could offer. I hoped the desserts would taste different and not just look different.
I had an invite to Umami to review the food, but as ever, there is no requirement to give a good review.
If you were paying, then you would be looking at about £22 per person for three courses, which, in the grand scheme of eating out, is about what I would expect.
I say three courses, in reality it’s as many courses as you can handle in the 90 minutes you are allocated for your booking. Umami is built to accommodate freestyle eating.
Let’s face it, apart from ‘spoons and McDonalds, you are looking at £13 to £15 for a burger and chips these days. Prices for eating out have certainly increased over the last 12 months.
Drinks prices were reasonable, around £7 for a large glass of wine and around £4 for a bottle of beer, a fiver for a pint.
Umami is set in the same row as TGI Fridays, and we have seen places like The Confessional, Odessey and Four Corners, come and go, so to make any restaurant work is an achievement in itself.
Fit out is unusually spacious. Too many places try to shoehorn as many covers in as possible, but not here. Enough space to move around with plates of food. Great for large parties and families – flexible.
Have a good look round before deciding what to go for.
The food is laid out in sections, Japanese, the grill, carvery, curry, Mexican, Chinese and then the deep fried selection which included chips, spring rolls, hash browns and onion rings.
Unlike many places abroad, labels clearly show what is lurking inside each dish. If you are coeliac, vegan, vegetarian, or allergic to shellfish, then of course your choices will be more limited than a someone who can eat anything, but at least you won’t be making mistakes you might regret later.
The desserts were right by the entrance, and included a mesmerising chocolate fountain and an automatic soft-serve ice cream machine.
If you ever dreamed of being a hunter-gatherer, then this is your place. It wasn’t until I’d finished and went back to the servery for a photo, that I spotted a collection of Bao Buns tucked up the corner between the Dim Sum and the fish dishes.
For sure, there will be dishes on display that you won’t find in many other places in Shropshire. If you have ever wondered what mussels are like, but are afraid to order a main-courseful, then Umami’s got your back.
While there was not buckets of food out on display, nothing was empty, awaiting refilling. I liked that, the food looked and felt very fresh and not like it had been hanging around.
The food? Yeah, it’s good. Some bits are really good. The range is huge. The portion sizes are as big as you can handle. Where Umami excels, is putting you in control. If you want a couple of spoonfuls of Bombay Aloo with your Chilli con Carne, or a Hash Brown with your Crispy Duck, no one is judging you.
If you have a fussy-eating family or want to please everyone at your celebration dinner, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a better place.
The service was excellent, top-notch. From the greeting to the orientation and how everything worked, it was great. The venue was super clean too. Each time we went up for another course, the table we left was reset and used plates cleared away by the time we returned.
My advice would be to book, because one moment at around 6:30pm there were just a handful of diners, and by 7:30pm people were queuing up to come in.
Oh and the desserts? Delicious and different!
Umami is open seven days a week at Southwater in Telford
