UMAMI

On arrival I was certain that the urban decor and modern furnishings would live up to its sensuous mood and fantastic food.

Seated at a booth which boasted a vibrant view of the newly opened restaurant; and a bowl of prawn crackers that tasted far from the ones at my local take-away; my guest and I were handed a wooden cased menu, where we ordered Shiraz viognier to drink. Along with a high recommendation of Tempura Lychee; stuffed lychee with minced prawn and chicken in light batter, Thai pan dan chicken along with an Indonesian Gado Gado salad; a fusion of crunchy vegetables and tofu topped with sweet tamarind sauce. Already the colourful appetisers with warm, sweet flavours left us wanting more. 

For the main course my guest opted for steamed white rice, Thai green curry; that included baby corn, avocado and chicken along with Gang Ga-ri Goong; a Thai yellow curry. The portions were great for one, and the option to go large and share was an added bonus. I tasted the Malaysian Siakap Garing; a sea bass dish which was crispy and sweet. I also tried the Mee Goreng noodles known as traditional street food. Dessert being a must; an assortment of ice-cream on the menu caught my eye, and we delved into chilli chocolate ice-cream and stem ginger. We concluded the night with a beautifully fragrant jasmine silver needles and midsummer mango tea. 

Situated in South Kensington, Umami serves delicious Pan-Asian cooking that pays homage to traditional dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. The service was great, and the staff where friendly, experienced and certainly well versed in the elements of the menu. On its way to proving popular to London’s residents; It’s a great setting for a group of friends meeting for tasteful cuisine. 

Address: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 100 Cromwell Road, London SW7 4ER

Telephone: 020 7341 2320

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 12N-3pm Mon-Sun 5.30-10pm