After hearing positive buzz about UMO’s Michelin-recommended status, I was eager to experience what should have been a showcase of their finest dishes as part of Restaurant Week. Unfortunately, the evening proved to be a series of letdowns from start to finish.
Upon arrival, we were directed through a back entrance past the bathrooms, with no welcome or introduction to match the expected hospitality of a Michelin-recommended venue. The host appeared startled by our presence and, despite our having made a reservation a month prior, seemed entirely unprepared for us. It took a confusing and unprofessional back-and-forth before we were finally seated.
The menu options were far below what one would expect at a restaurant of this supposed caliber. Limited choices centered around cheap, fried items, which came in miniature portions with minimal presentation. For instance, deep-fried chicken—with nothing else on the plate—was a baffling inclusion and left us wondering if this was truly UMO’s idea of a signature dish. Charging 9,000 HUF per person for food that barely seemed worth a fraction of that was disappointing, to say the least.
The main courses followed suit: while the fish dish was delicious and well-prepared, the portion was small, and a taco option was shockingly undercooked, under-portioned, and featured only two ingredients, making it feel less like a meal and more like an afterthought. Since UMO promotes itself as a restaurant showcasing Latin American flavors, it was particularly disappointing that not a single dish on the menu actually captured any true Latin American taste.
Dessert provided the only true highlight—a coffee flan that was rich, smooth, and flavorful. However, by that point, it was too little, too late to salvage the overall experience.
Adding to our frustration, we noticed much better plating and presentation being brought to other tables, creating an unsettling inconsistency in quality. And as we tried to exit, a staff member brusquely redirected us to leave via the back door, leaving a distinctly sour note on an already disappointing evening.
It felt as if UMO used Restaurant Week as a mere opportunity to cut corners and turn a quick profit rather than to showcase their best to new potential patrons. The food and service fell dramatically short of Michelin standards, and for this reason, I would not recommend UMO nor return myself.
Anastasia Beletskaya
- Saturday 02/11/2024
