Culture In A Bowl LLC

Tracy was an amazing host/chef and she absolutely nailed our dinner! We enjoyed every bite and loved hearing her story. Definitely don't hesitate to come in and have an amazing meal - we can't wait for our next time at Culture in a Bowl!•ᴗ•

The vegan options were honestly amazing and Chef Tracy is such a kind soul. Will absolutely come back over and over! I can’t wait to have her food again and tell people about it.

I had the pleasure to visit culture in a bowl to try some authentic west Africa dishes and the vibes and atmosphere here were absolutely outstanding and remarkable. I tried the culture in a bowl which consists of JollofRice,, fried plantains and fried chicken and being that it was my first time trying it I was blown away. It was packed with flavour, the right amount of spice, the wings was flavourful and those plantain were phenomenal. The collard greens was insanely delicious and saving the best for last that vegan cornbread was AMAZING. It was warm. That crust was delicious and every bite was just better than the first. Also had the pleasure in chatting with the chef and this young lady has a dream and she’s remarkable. Overall the great food, great atmosphere, friendly vibes and all round it’s a solid 10. Drop by check it out. I promise you won’t be disappointed

dont order online they would play you…. straight up ordered jollof rice and I kid you not they gave me like a handful of rice filling 1/3 of the container, not even half. sickening….like no cause I was really really really really really really really wanting that race and I couldn’t even get a refund from Uber like no I’m I’m still mad

Oh my goodness. My mouth is watering thinking about the spicy collard greens, the chicken, the cornbread 🤤 Literally the best cornbread I’ve ever had in my life. I took a bite and was shook. I normally share my food but aint no way my man was getting a bite cause I inhaled it all.

My friend and I had Jallof rice, collards, and cornbread...everything was delectable!! Chef Tracy was welcoming and is so kind😊 The restaurant also had a really moody ambience to it. Definitely give it a visit!

Chef Tracy was so kind and her food so tasty! We ordered buffalo wings, jerk & jollof, and the southern comfort bowl and wow! The chicken was so saucy and still so crispy. The collard greens were so flavorful, loved the hint of spice. I’m not sure how she made vegan cornbread so buttery, it was magic. And the jerk chicken and jollof rice were so delicious, great flavor depth in the sauce. Will definitely be back, thanks Tracy!!

Incredible food! I’ve been to West Africa and was looking for great jollof in NYC. Had the jerk x jollof and it was phenomenal. Definitely gonna become a regular!

All I can say is wow. I was in the area, looked at the menu and loved the variety. When I came in the first thing I noticed about this place was how calm the place felt. Everything was clean and well decorated. I ordered the Kani Salad as well as the chicken ramen and it was amazing. I felt that the workers were very attentive and gave me good advice on the menu. The taste of everything was full of quality and it felt like they took their time with my food. I really loved this place and will definitely be back. Highly recommend if you're in the area.

The prices look attractive first but then everything is served tiny. Normally I'm full with 3 rolls. one shrimp tempura, one spicy salmon one tuna roll. Here all 3 make hardly one real roll. Sashimi pieces are small too. We spent $100 for 2. I was hungry when we left.

This is the triple toro dinner $50 for six pieces of toro (two yellowtail, two tuna and two salmon.) and a toro roll. Delivered with tip and tax this was $60. And I have too say. Fish quality good, not exceptional but what really kind of made this sad is it doesn't show in the photo well but this was the sorriest toro roll I've ever had. So small, so feeble and wimpy. Very little toro and very little rice as well. Flimsy. You can't change $50 and do that. Also super small nigiri. Overall, disappointing

This place is my go to at lunch and after work. The sushi is fresh and delicious. The staff is very attentive and helpful. Great place to get a quick bite or sit down and chat. I come here at least once a month!

Unassuming typical Japanese restaurant. The staff were nice. The green salad was OK. The papaya salad was not. I was concerned, but the main course made up for it. We shared the sushi/sashimi for two. Excellent quality and generous portion. Would definitely go back.

I was surprised after such a high rating to find nothing special except the friendly servers. In a city of great sushi I find myself not needing to return. Prove me wrong.

Decent casual spot for sushi in UES. To be clear, this is not high-end sushi but it definitely satisfies the hankering without needing to venture into Midtown. The cold apps we ordered (tuna avocado salad, scallop carpaccio) all tasted pretty fresh and were refreshing. The hot apps (kara-age, soft shell crab) were solid, but I've definitely had better kara-age elsewhere (too much breading for my taste relative to chicken). The rolls we ordered (Ume 1st ave, Dynamite, Fire) were definitely the highlight. Next time, I'd probably just order more rolls. Will be back!

Ok at best. Not cheap. I got the 3 roll lunch special with spicy mayo and it cost $22. The rice tasted a little off, maybe a bit under cooked. The woman who took my order didn't fully understand what I wanted so a couple of my rolls weren't as ordered. I would have this place again but I'm not in a rush to go back.

Solid Asian restaurant with a good variety of sushi. The atmosphere is cozy and pleasant, and the service was fast. Price is pretty good too. No complaints!

Ume has the best service, we love Alyssa!! We got the sushi platter for two, which was a great deal! We've also come for the happy hour which offers rolls and apps for $6!

Very unique with both presentation and service being outstanding. The food itself is not bad but certainly not top end Sushi. Everyone is mainly there for the experience so be sure to get a reservation and in my opinion, outdoor seating is much better ambiance.

I really enjoyed the veggie rolls I had here. They have a nice selection of different vegetable rolls, ranging from $7-$8 each. I do really like that the rolls have a lot of "filling, and less rice- see pictures. I think it is hard to find a place that does that and usually it is loaded with more rice and less filling. I was full satisfied after my meal of 3 yummy veggie rolls. The wasabi here packs a punch- spicy with just a smidge, which indicates to me they use good quality wasabi. Service was friendly and fast. Restaurant was full, but not crazy busy on a Saturday night. Got a seat for 2 right away. Restaurant decor was simple but still nice. I think probably seats ~20 or so in the whole restaurant? As for their other food, they have the typical selection of standard rolls, special rolls and sashimi. I cannot speak to the quality of the fish since I did not eat here. I would return the next time my sushi craving hits! A good place for a casual dinner that hits the spot!

With only 17 reviews, I was slightly skeptical of Ume's 4.7 star rating, but decided to give it a shot and really glad we did. Pretty sure this is a new-ish sushi spot and from the unassuming looks of it, you might assume it's one of the hundreds of mediocre sushi spots sprinkled throughout the city. These days, it's become so hard to find good sushi that isn't high end omakase. But this place nails it. They have a large menu of sushi as well as lots of hot dishes. This is often a turnoff to me and a sign that the sushi won't be too good, but not the case. They serve really good sushi AND really good cooked food -- who would've thought this possible?? We started with gyoza, Kani salad and spicy tuna crispy rice. All were excellent. Gyoza and kani salad are usually not worth writing about, but both were amongst the best I've had. Crispy rice spicy tuna was maybe the single best I've ever had (yes, better than Tao and Nobu and all the gems). Really that good. We moved onto sushi and got a mix of cut rolls + hand rolls, everything very fresh and delicious. Good rice, well prepared rolls, very nice fish. Enjoyed it all very much. Didn't get any pieces but suspect they would've been very good too. Got a chicken teriyaki for the little one which was also very good. Oh and if all this wasn't enough, did I mention they're BYO? Oh, and that there's a liquor store DIRECTLY next store. Grab yourself a bottle of Halutsuru junmai gingo sake for 20 bucks and and enjoy an excellent sushi + sake dinner. Service and staff were amazing too! So accommodating especially with our 2 year old daughter. A+!!!

Good service, fresh sushi, quiet ambiance. What more could you ask for. Maybe a little pricey, but it's the best sushi in the neighborhood for the price.

Our family really enjoys Ume. It's rig HR around the block from us. The staff is super friendly. I feel the prices are great for the menu. Great stop for a meal. Lunch or dinner

I freaking love this place. the staff is SOOOO nice and accommodating. I ordered online once, it was so good, that I had to to check it out in person. did not disappoint. will be back over and over again!!!

Stopped in here late at around 9:45pm after a flight. They had a happy hour from 9-10pm, lots of rolls and other grilled appetizers for $6. I just had a few of these small dishes, everything was good and very fast. Service was also excellent, very friendly. Everyone around me seemed to having a great time and they kept saying the food was so delicious, so I probably didn't try enough. A good fast sushi place to eat in a busy part of NYC.

Best sushi in the UES. I order it pretty much weekly and every roll I've tried has been excellent. Not the cheapest take out option but well priced for the quality. Dining in is small and not the most elevated experience but the service is wonderful and attentive. I highly recommend.

Stayed in the area and ate their twice. Small restaurant but excellent service and food.

Love Ume! I was working from home and found this place around the corner from me. I ordered wonton soup, vegetable tempura, and a tuna crunch roll. The vegetable tempura was my favorite. There were the standard delicious veggies like zucchini and sweet potatoes and veggies I hadn't had before in tempura like asparagus and bell pepper. It was so so good and I loved the sauce. Wonton soup was the standard wonton soup and tuna crunch roll was good it seems like it is minced tuna with tempura little crunchies mixed into the mix. Very delicious.

I love UME! Very close to me, food was very good and clean, service great. Spicy tuna roll delish, shrimp shumai very good, miso soup delicious! Shrimp and Chicken Hibachi good. Very casual snd chill, but nice vibe!

I had take out from this place for the first time, I live near by and it was delicious. Their crispy rice is amazing. Rolls were so good also. Woman at the front was so nice and it was easy and quick :) will be a new regular

Ume is actually an acronym: Uh-MAZIN Momentously delicious Extremely scrumptious This place has the best sushi north of the Mason Dixon. Also, the service is Uh-MAZIN! The ambiance is relaxed... So...don't miss out and come have your Uh-MAZIN, MOMENTOUSLY delicious, EXTREMELY scrumptious sushi at Ume!!!!!!!

My favorite neighborhood spot!!! Everything is always so tasty and fresh. Quality is always great when I order takeout. Love love love this place!

Wonton Soup - decent taste, 4 dumplings, $8 Naruto roll - Have you ever heard of a $17 roll without rice? I haven't. Maybe it was too much to ask if the Naruto roll came with sushi rice and seaweed as a wrap instead of cucumber but I guess I'm going keto. I don't think it's worth the cost. I really wanted to like this place and support them but I think it will require ordering different items.

It is hidden jewels. One of the best restaurant in Lenox hill Upper Eastside. Great price with fresh food. Owner has a pride to provide healthier foods on the table. Very friendly and courteous to every customer. This week don't forget to try Uni.

So fresh. Large pieces of fish in every roll. The Christmas roll is my favorite, a hint of lime, a touch of jalapeño, and cilantro. Not too spicy, but oh so good! BYOB with a liquor store next door! Staff are super friendly. I just found this restaurant and it's immediately my go to for sushi.

The sushi was very good, we had numerous items at happy hour and for that price it is hard to beat. Staff were extremely polite and were even kind to our small children. The inside was very quaint and quiet.

This is a great little sushi restaurant. Dining in is a cozy experience - a small comfortable space with only a few tables, and a very friendly and welcoming staff. The sushi is really impressive - the quality is much better than you'd expect from a small restaurant like this one (really great for the price too). It's fresh and flavorful with generous portions and very nicely prepared by the chef. The menu is pretty big with several interesting appetizers, drinks, and desserts. The sushi I got when I ordered takeout was just as good quality, fresh, and was ready fast! This will be my new go-to neighborhood spot from now on, for sure.

Wonderful locals sushi restaurant with great taste, generous portions, and extremely welcoming service. With lots of options around, Ume stands out as the place you want to go back for an any-night sushi dinner or lunch. We love all our local sushi restaurants and Ume is definitely one we will be back to often.

Walked in for lunch today. The place was clean, the server was attentive, food came quick and delicious. I really loved the crispy tuna appetizer, I would come back just for this, best one I have had so far. The place looks unassuming but food was delicious and the fish was fresh. I will try more of their sushi / nigiri next time. The great reviews are real! This was a really good find today.

Amazing food! Now it's my favorite sushi place, always fresh, good portions and reasonable price

Great service, awesome rolls. Was going to Roy's but wanted to sit. The atmosphete has great music and a nice vibe

I've been here more then a half a dozen times. The sushi is on par with Zawa and better the sushi seki. The service is great. It's also BYOB. The ambiance isn't that great but if you are going for high end nigiri I would recommend giving it a try.

A huge improvement over the previous sushi place that used to be here. Granted the pretty much only do sushi now (instead of sushi/Thai/Indian/Chinese). The tuna was fresh and good portions for the price. I got it to go so can't comment on the service. The interior was just ok - not sure I'd sit down for a full dinner.

Update- I have eaten here two more times and it's delicious! They have crispy rice which is a personal favorite and hard to come by, I also love the Ume Roll and spicy edamame. Next time I will be trying the Hibachi meals. They are also reliable with delivery!

The lunch special was a good deal but the sushi was horrible. I had the jalapeños scallion (looked and tasted like mush), spicy salmon (tasted awful, no flavor), and the salmon skin (only thing that was decent). On top of the food being bad! the waitress decided to add her own tip to my receipt. I know for the future to always take my receipt. The food was bad and the waitresses goes rouge. Do not eat from this place! Always take a pic of your receipt, because you never know when they decide to have no morals! Also, the table smells like they just painted with awful chemical paint!

I came here with my family.Great food and good price.Tuna Sub is one of kind.I will definitely come back again!

Really fresh sushi, nicely prepared, kind and courteous service, nice little UES gem!

I was very impressed with the new sushi addition into the UES, Ume. The Food is fresh, and the service is fast and pleasant.

what a hidden gem!!!!!!! This place is not only peaceful, delicious, and FAST, but the staff are the sweetest people! I came here on Christmas eve because all of my normal spots were closed. When I walked in I was skeptical but I was very quickly won over by the efficiency and deliciousness of this place. I cannot recommend this spot enough!! Will definantly be coming back. The salmon avo rolls, rock shrimp tempura and house salad were all to DIE for. Prices are reasonable but overall it's the perfect spot to escape holiday stress!! 100/10 recommend

The sushi is fresh and delicious, the service is excellent and the ambiance very cozy and peaceful. Great Energy

Great sushi, great price! They were fast and had a great atmosphere. Kind staff! Would go again. They had an open concept with the outdoors which was awesome as you could enjoy outside without having to be at a table on the sidewalk like most tables

Wow!! We had such an amazing experience here. We started with miso soup which was perfect, then we got a few rolls and handrolls which were so fresh and tasty! For entrees we got the pineapple fried rice and poke bowls which were also perfect!! They have such a great menu I can't wait to come back and try more of their entrees (especially the habachi)! The service was excellent. They were very friendly and attentive and the place has a great, zen vibe. It is also BYOB!! Highly recommend!!

Got the salmon avocado and eel avocado rolls. Both product and price were on point. Will definitely be going back again.

So happy to have a great priced and good quality sushi restaurant in the neighborhood! We did takeout but definitely want to try it in person next!

Great sushi, excellent service, cozy quiet neighborhood gem. Really enjoyed the sushi and sashimi. Staff was friendly and food came out fairly quickly. Will definitely come here again.

Wonderful local sushi restaurant. Fresh, interesting rolls. It also has cooked Asian food, which I haven't yet tried. Very friendly staff. I've only ordered take out, but the restaurant is nice and cozy. And it's BYOB (a liquor store on the same block). A big improvement over the previous Asian restaurant.

A new neighborhood favorite! Intimate and relaxed with warm friendly service and some of the freshest sushi in the area. Also has delicious appetizers and noodle dishes. And love the tapas happy hour menu. Highly recommend!