Umami Prenzlauer Berg

yangyanje(67)

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Dining in Berlin

Dear Steemians

Firstly I want to start with the fact that I went to Berlin so often, that I bought a second hand bicycle and cycled all over to check out good Restaurants. Gladly I kept it at my friends house, so I could always get my ride whenever I was there. Berlin always felt like a second home to me. When one lives in Zurich, Berlin is always an epic place to eat out, because it's affordable and so global when it comes to food. Some Restaurants there really hit the scale when it comes to quality service, ambience and great cuisine. Specially when it comes to vegan food options, you will not feel neglected in this city.

At first riding all over town looking for Indian food, I was quite disappointed, because most restaurants in Berlin just served curry(masala) with veggies. I realised Berlin was just NOT the place to eat Indian food. It just felt like most restaurants were just trying to compete with prices by trying to keep their costs low, which elicits itself in the low quality service, ambient setting and food taste. For Indian food I guess London, Munich, Vienna, New York or surely India would be better than Berlin.

What really impressed me in Berlin although, is Vietnamese Food. Apart from several Insiders that I was able to find, test, return to for a second opinion while cycling all over Berlin, tells me that Berlin has hidden Vietnamese treasures everywhere. A local exclusive franchise(to Berlin) that repeatedly captivated my attention is UMAMI.

Home to Asian fusion Kitchen, inspired by a mother's diary describing feelings of touch and nostalgic sentiments of ambience in an unconventional book of epistles sparked inspiration for a stunning restaurant concept that began a legacy.

The lanterns(denglong, 灯笼) furnishes a traditional asian tang dynasty vibe in a romantic dim light ambience. A tape deck Vietnam soothe of music reverberates a vinyl type gramophone sound that echoes timeless reminiscents and perpetually unfolding a story of vestiges from a lost epoch. The Saigon style music playing softly in the background and very earthy woody colors make Umami iconic. Vintage Vietnamese, this place recaptures and conveys the vibe of oil workers, vintage vespas and war veterans. Clothed in wood, the furniture pieces along with Bamboo decoration provides immediate comfort and invites to recline.

The floor vase with bamboo deco felt habitué and something I really fancied. Especially the plants in hanging pots on bamboo poles caught my eye.

Besides adding flowers and blossoms, the staff kept rearranging and maintaining everything, running errands. The place is being pristinely managed and consecutively substantiated. Excellent customer service gratifies and just wants to make you bask.

The Bathrooms were also well decorated, clean, and added to the experience of profound hospitality.

If one would just wake up there, it would feel like waking in a different time. The 70s, or almost a replica of it on the inside of a futuristic spaceship iterating an era. Not being able to tell whether it's past or future Umami truly accommodates the vintage experience.

If I was a kid, Umami would enthuse, astound and startle me. The place really tells a story. The Deco also provides astonishing ideas for interior design and spells intention behind it.

Umami also really has a very artistic, creative and well thought through merchandising concept. The details on the candles, menus, lanterns, pictures and shelfs with decorative items are magnificent. The staff inquiring for wishes, comfort and paying attention when people are ready to order isn't something to presuppose. The staff there beautifully engages with it's guests, reads them and their desires.

The Food

Vietnamese cuisine is known to have influence or similarities with Thai and Chinese cuisine. Inspired by French gustatory finesse from dressing a plate to culinary knife skills makes each dish memorable. The French occupation in the 17th century might have given Vietnamese food an extra twist that really gives it special character. Admiring Vietnamese chefs, Umami really takes a regular experience to the next level incorporating and truly elaborating the term 'Asian Fusion Kitchen' . What I occasionally experienced in terms of Vietnamese food in the west generally, is a statement of inter-culinary evolution. Famous for light flavours moderate spices, these dishes have the ability to round up aromas into refinement. With healthy veggie combos, a lot of Vietnamese places in Berlin also invite vegans to commit to seitanic sins.

Buddha Rolls

Buddha Rolls amongst various starters is a salty, refreshing and a stimulating choice we made to crave for the food we were about to order. Starters were served just in time with the beverages.

Zen Garden Tea

If you think this sounds interesting, you should check out what other amazing beverages Umami has in their arsenal.

Angkor Wat's Pan

Topped with Coriander the ingredients tell the tale of gustatory experience with Shitake mushrooms, the surprising bites on roasted peanuts, refreshing pepper, baby corn and juicy Seitan.

What I like about Umami is that each dish has it's own distinct taste and style. The combined ingredients seem to always make a circle by rounding up a combination of matching flavours.

Shaolin Bowl

Marinated Seitan and a delicious Saté Sauce set the stage for one of my true favourites. The shaolin bowl almost certainly contains the energy needed for a day of training with the monks at the temple.

The plate gives you the opportunity to taste each separate or combined, as they seem to be served clearly from distinguished pans when they palate it.

Served in a basket, the neat clay bowl and the earthy colors just matched the woody ambience. The setting where we were sitting and the candles gave tenderness to an experience in a very cosy atmosphere.

Pros and Cons.

Firstly I must point out the fact that Umami has a tatami seating area, which gives them a huge edge over others to me. Sitting on the ground while eating in good company is the foremost position for having great conversations and a pleasurable dining experience. Umami offers a seating with Cushions (zabuton) and beautiful wooden low tables. The Tapedeck Saigon vibe from old asian songs playing in the background subliminally tops this experience with vintage nostalgia, that sets the tone as soon as you enter. Umami does this to me every time.

source

source(yelp)

A suggestion is not to go when it's busy, as the place is very popular. The staff also tends to get pretty busy during rush hours. Not going there necessarily during peaks just enhances the service experience. I have seen Umami packed at Lunch, Weekends or Dinners. In Summers the place can be busy outside on afternoons, but empty inside for tea, coffee, starters and ideal for slack time on your laptop. On canicular days the staff still seems engrossed making everything look neat, like pixies working around the clock.

^{for #tasteem by @yangyanje}