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Brookline to get taste of Umami
By adamg on Wed, 05/05/2010 - 11:02pm
Joe Ranft reports the transformation of the Roadhouse into a place called Umami that promises "world cuisine with Asian influence" is nearly complete - it's scheduled to open June 1.
... It was one long black gloomy facade taking up the entire block. And now Umami is this cheerful olive green, combined with the dark brown of American Craft, making for a much more pleasant and varied set of storefronts along the block.
Plus it looks they are planning on outdoor seating, which you can't have too much of.
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Comments
Yum!
Some friends and I like to go to American Craft for drinks and apps and were speculating as to what this space would be. We guessed Sake bar and looks like we weren't too far off. I do hope they have some unique drink hook a la Publick House and American Craft. Thanks for the info!
I expect Umami will be mostly Japanese
It was reported incorrectly elsewhere that the owner is connected with Khao Sarn Cuisine. He once was, but isn't any longer. It wouldn't surprise me to see some of the same yakitori dishes from Sumi, his place in Allston that didn't fly (lack of a liquor license will kill a place that traditionally is mostly about beer and skewers). He has at least a beer/wine license in this new spot.
Umami
He wasn't a full owner of Khao Sarn, but single digit part onwer who was fired. Plus someone reported on http://bostonrestaurants.blogespot.com/2010/04/uma... that he istn't even Japanese but Cambodian. Yoshi isn't even his birth name but Peng Houatchantha or something. However, I am very upset that he stole the bartender Noon from Khao Sarn just to try to get customers from Khao Sarn to go to his soon failing restuarant. And I am very disappointed in Noon for betraying the owners of Khao Sarn who pretty much consider her as family.
Umami under bad management
Right MC, Sumi failed miserably. Don’t get me wrong, I love amateur Asian family BBQ, but if you want fine cuisine; you may want to put a few dishes out that doesn’t have skewers. And David is right too, when I knew him years ago his real name was Khampheng “peng” Houatchanthara, which I believe is Cambodian, he is not really Japanese, working as a not so great waiter in a sushi restaurant near Copley. The only other experience with restaurants is managing Khao Sarn as 5% co-owner which he only got because he was dating /engaged to the co-owner who was the majority owners’ daughter and was fired from there for sleeping with employees. After he was fired, the owners found some really sleazy things he did while managing the restaurant which the Khao Sarn owners (mainly Cholada Aramthip, who is a million times better manager/owner then Yoshi/Peng) have been diligently correcting these wrong that Yoshi/Peng left in his wake, therefore I believe he should be serving hard prison time instead of opening a new restaurant. Furthermore, I am almost positive that he has never left the US or has even taken cooking class which will make it hard to cook fine worldly cuisine like Khao Sarn or the other very respectable Asian restaurant such as Fugakyu, Golden Palace, or the new Rod Dee restaurant that just opened. So I believe this restaurant will sink quicker then the Titanic.
Golden Palace?
I'm guessing you mean Golden Temple, which serves up the worst food I've ever been served. That's the place that had better hope Umami isn't any good. If Umami does deliver, it, Rod Dee, Tamarind Bay and the sushi joints on Washington Street will put a serious squeeze on Golden Temple, which can't live off of its landmark status forever (at least not when serving such awful food).
Wow, Japanese restaurant feud
More industry bullshit no one cares about. You want drama, David? Put up some LCD screens in your restaurant and show novelas. Your petty little sniping is making me hope your business sinks like the Yamato.
The Fifth Flavor
Noon is a genius with liquid refreshment and Yoshi is quite imaginitive. Someone told me that he crafts much of the decor himself at his other restaurants. I look forward to trying out his new place.
This place is great
What's all the drama about? The food's great, Noon is a great bartender/server, and the prices are great for Brookline. It's a great date night spot.