EAT: UMINONO, PRAHRAN
If you were in Melbourne during one of the many lockdowns in 2020/2021 and frequently searched for tasty takeaway options to keep yourself and taste buds sane (raises hand), then chances are you will have come across the beautifully boxed sushi and sashimi sets from Uminono. While I never got around to sorting out a delivery from them, I did make it a mission to pay them a visit when dining resumed post lockdown. Lockdowns. As it turned out, lunch bookings often flew out the door given the intimate seating sessions, but we did manage to tee up a visit earlier this year back in March.
Limited seating aside, there was another good reason why bookings were so difficult to come by. The food. We ordered one each of their signature chirashi and chirashi tartare bowls, and the freshness and quality of the seafood and ingredients was just exceptional. Each bite left me with an excitement to dig into the next. I was so wowed by our experience that I left with a mental note to include the eatery in my top 10 dining experiences of the year. We’re now less than two months out from the end of the year and the verdict stands.
The team behind Uminono have since moved to a new address (still in Prahran) and have paused dine-in services for the time being. BUT takeaway is still a go, so perhaps it’s time I do what I should’ve done many lockdowns ago and put in an order for one of their boxes.
Signature chirashi - with Ora King salmon, Hiramasa kingfish, Akami, Hokkaido scallop, ikura, white fish, simmered shiitake, roasted cashews & pickled cucumber.
Chirashi tartare - Ora king salmon with secret sauce, Hiramasa kingfish & spring onion oil, Akami tuna & pine nuts, chives & soy marinated yolk. Served with premium nori.