Yu U

Yu u is not worth it, pretensious at best

I recently visited with two others on a Monday evening in June 2008.

It was about 25% booked.

We had to wait almost 30 mins for an entree.

Staff and management were incompetent and rude.

They made excuses such as it's busy, you should share your food (Trust me, I would have if I received some...)

After dinning in Japanese Restaurants and Bars for over 15 years in Melbourne, I left utterly disappointed.

I would rate this dining experience the worst by far...

For those wanting the Japanese Isakaya experience without the rudeness and lame excuses try Kura...

Where Urban and Zen Meets

A graffitti covered metal door located in an alley off Flinders Lane on the upper edge of Melbourne city opens up to one of the city’s best kept underground dining secrets. Despite having zero advertising, publicity-shy Yu-U manages to draw crowds just on its reputation for quality Japanese cuisine and word of mouth from loyal patrons. The sleek wood and concrete decor complemented by low lighting can only be described as deliberately understated and the serenity of the place makes it vital that one speaks in hushed tones.

Having a meal at Yu-U is akin to meditation. Soft jazz music, uncluttered surroundings and the un-hurried motions of the sensei has little to distract our monkey mind. So it behaves and focuses taking in the attention to detail in the food presentation and precision of the service. One leaves feeling cleansed and recharged.

This Zen urban oasis doesn’t simply offer a quiet escape from the bustle of the city but also some of the best Japanese food in Melbourne.

Yu-U is the kind of place that does so well in Melbourne. First, it's hard to find. The signage next to the door is the size of a postage stamp. Secondly, it runs off a Melbourne laneway - which is oh so cool these days. Visit blog