I came across the name Umami Burger in New York so thought why not give it a try at one of their branches in Los Angeles. Umami Burger is a casual diner that offers a selection of burgers, starters, salads, sides and drinks. Santa Monica has a special item of its own as well.
Take a look at the place... Light wood, green metallic chairs, neon lights, glazed concrete, black painted ceiling and a long bar, a small terrace with a television. It's a nice diner, or a bar if I may say so by looking at the nicely designed space.
What is the meaning of Umami? It means the fifth taste; the ultimate sensation of and beyond sour, salty, sweet and bitter... It's that fifth feeling that causes you to scream with pleasure.
Enjoy the music playing in the background, the glass facade that opens out onto the street... I enjoyed the place's vibes.
White porcelain plates topped with black table napkins... Get your knife and fork ready to enjoy the amuse bouche; two kinds of pickles, beetroot and dill cucumber pickles.
Lunch:
- Truffle burger with truffle aioli, house truffle cheese and truffle glaze. A burger - a simple burger - a bun and a patty with white cheese. A burger where the company logo is printed on the top of the bun, which is stuffed with a thick patty cooked medium rare. A bite and... the bun is over chewy and needs toasting, spoiling the enjoyment. Needs more flavor, and more lightness. The meat on the other hand is good, quality beef, tender meat infused with truffle oil. The cheese is heavy but it's good for what it is.
- The fries - super small - are way too salty. Extremely unpleasantly salty fries are topped with a gooey cheese that hardens faster than you can manage to eat your portion or enjoy the light truffle taste. I didn't like them at all.
So... Nice decor and music but it's not enough for me to come back again. The food is below average and needs far more attention to detail. Not recommended.
