Those that live in the riverside town of Lechlade will know that the former Red Lion pub in the heart of this Cotswold market town has had many identities – from English pub to the Goat Yard restaurant; the Hungarian Kitchen and multiple Italian eateries including Pinos.
At the beginning of December, this historic building dating back to 1881 took on a new guise as the Pan-Asian dining experience called You Me & Umami.
Once off the main street and through the new restaurant’s front door, you’ll find a sizeable dining space for 62 covers and a well-stocked bar that includes wines from all over the world, cocktails, Chinese and Japanese lagers as well as the more well-known ales and ciders.
At one end of the rectangular dining hall is a welcoming log fire that is a real treat to be seated next to on a cold and wet January night!
There’s an extensive, but not expensive menu with small plates or sides starting from £6 and the most expensive main courses – whether a curry or a Singapore Laksa – costing just £19. If you’re looking for a burger or a sirloin steak, then you’ll be disappointed, although the Kids’ Menu does feature a Mini Cheeseburger as well as a choice of curries, noodles and stir fries.
Portion-sizes are as generous as the multitude of flavours. In fact, the word ‘umami’ is the fifth basic taste alongside sweet, sour, salty and bitter and translates from the Japanese as ‘deliciousness’! Who would have thought of putting grilled salmon together with soy and honey finished with coriander, crispy shallots and served with rice noodles in a rich, spiced coconut broth with tender aubergine, beansprouts and mushrooms? But it works and is listed in the menu as the very popular Soy & Honey Grilled Salmon Singapore Laksa – definitely a case of opposites attract!
Whether you’re a meat eater, a veggie or a fish aficionado, all the curries and noodle and stir fry dishes can be paired with beef, prawn, chicken, halloumi or aubergine. And all the dishes can be shared – the serving staff are only too happy to provide extra plates for the overload!
When it comes to desserts, there is a good choice of unusual and probably never-before tried puds. So, it would be very rude not to try something new and indulge in the calorific Sweet Baos with bananas, Nutella and hazelnuts or the Cantonese Deep Fried Custard.
A restaurant is only as good as its chef, and You Me & Umami have two excellent new chefs that joined the restaurant when it first opened before Christmas.
Priflon Dacosta and Jerry Gonsalves are both from Swindon and have brought their own signature dishes to the family-run restaurant. Priflon puts his own personal take on a traditional and flavourful Pad Thai noodles and stir-fry main course that is served in a miso and garlic butter sauce. Jerry prides himself on a delicious dessert of Japanese origin – his homemade Matcha Cheesecake served with salted caramel drizzle.
Good food alone is not the only thing diners look for in a good restaurant. Waiting times between courses and the waiting staff themselves add to the reputation of a venue. At You Me & Umami, the food is not ‘fast food’ but nor do you have to wait for ages for the next course, and the staff are really friendly and attentive without being overly obsequious.
Now visitors to the Cotswolds and locals in and around Lechlade can sample the delights of Pan-Asian cuisine incorporating all Asian cuisines under one banner – unique flavour-fusions to create an even better culinary masterpiece than any one culture could create on their own.
And with plans for lunch time dining coming soon, news is spreading fast about the new kid on the block! You Me & Umami is showing all the signs of being a very special and popular eating place and takeaway right in the centre of Lechlade.
To book a table, order a takeaway or more information, contact 01367 831318, lechlade@youmeandumami.co.uk, https://www.youmeandumami.co.uk.
Article by Chris Roberts MBE PR
