Press

A tray of large, spidery bulbs sits on the counter in the kitchen at Umami Japanese Bistro. It doesn’t look appetizing yet, but the dark-colored spheres will soon be one of the most sought-after Japanese small plates: fresh sea urchin.
A rare dish on the Gulf Coast, most wild-caught sea urchin is found along the West and Upper East Coasts. Chef Cong Nguyen of Umami imported a small supply last week from Santa Barbara, California, one of the most ideal locations to harvest sea urchin due to the confluence of warm and cold waters of the Channel Islands nearby.

If there’s one scene in Baton Rouge that inspires, it’s the bars and bistros where we spend our evenings. Food is the fabric of our culture here, and it flavors everything we do. Why not let it inform our wardrobes, too?
Vibrant color palettes, rich textures, stark shapes—these are the details of some of Baton Rouge’s stunning dishes, and they’re also the inspiration for a dynamic and unforgettable look.

The handsomely composed sushi at Umami Japanese Bistro is the domain of head chef and owner Cong Nguyen, but in the kitchen, Nguyen’s wife, Thom, rules desserts. A recent visit to the cake boutique Lady M Confections at New York’s Plaza Hotel inspired Thom to create a version of the famed confectionary’s Green Tea Mille Crêpes, and the result is a popular meal-ender at Umami.

Stepping inside the former Burbank location of Hello Sushi, the first change you’ll notice is the color palette. Gone are the jewel-toned tables and walls, traded for a more modern, chic combination of white walls and white tables with polished black floors and tiny potted succulents scattered throughout the space.
The bar, once hidden behind a massive artistic structure, now shines from the corner as soon as you step through the door, with a dozen beer taps and tokurris and tiny cups for serving sake. A server brings you a glass of water in a mason jar. Though Japanese cuisine is still the name of the game within these walls, Umami Japanese Bistro has breathed new life into its location.

Housed in the former location of Hello Sushi at 3930 Burbank Drive, Umami Japanese Bistro in its soft opening phase.
The new restaurant concept features chef Cong Nguyen offering small plates, entrées and soups. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday; and 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.

A few weeks ago I was invited to a Private Media Preview Night at Umami Japanese Bistro in Baton Rouge. U M A M I formally known as Hello Sushi, is located near the LSU Campus. The owner Chef Cong Nguyen and his goal for U M A M I is to bring inventive, modern sushi and Japanese Cuisine.
My immediate thought of the restaurant when I first walked in was a High-end, Uptown feel. The decor was contemporary with a modern touch. I really liked the simplicity of the color pallet.