Umana Restaurant and Wine Bar

The new Ethiopian special is fantastic! The sweet potato fritters are something I have been dreaming about since I tried them. This would make a really great date place. I am dying to try brunch there! I have heard fantastic things about it.

Our experience here was a pleasant one. However, I would never consider this an «American (new)» type of restaurant. The food, while wonderful, is suited for those with a curious palette. They are more of a Thai, South African American, middle Eastern type of restaurant. There isn’t a large choice of what to eat. I love to try new things, however, it’s a lot easier when you have more than just one fall back choice. I do recommend the people’s burger and the sweet potato fritters. Do know that the sweet potato fritters have a distinct taste of curry, so if that is not your thing, keep looking. The music was a little loud, making it hard for conversation but all in all a decent experience.

I’ve been to Umana numerous times since it’s been opened. I love the ambiance and décor of the restaurant. My favorite part of the restaurant is its eclectic menu. I just recently went for brunch and my boyfriend and I each had one of the wild blueberry biscuits. They were delicious — hot, soft, and crispy. He ordered the red velvet waffles, which were not crispy but the flavor was good and the fried chicken which is always delicious. I ordered the skirt steak and subbed plantains. I cleaned my plate. The service is always friendly as well. You won’t go wrong with checking out Umana!

Umana is Albany’s best-​kept (not so secret) secret. I’ve dined here several times now — just occasionally when it first opened, and now far more often, after I’ve found some favorites on the menu.
Deemed street food, Umana’s offerings are anything but pedestrian (see what I did there? *Groan* Sorry, but I love puns). The flavors are complex and creative, and whoever is in the kitchen has a true knack for focusing on simple ingredients and really letting them shine. Who knew I’d like pineapple and beet, together, on a taco?!
Peri peri chicken tacos (2 for $ 10) — slightly spicy chicken stuffed into a corn tortilla, with diced beets and pineapple, field greens, and goat cheese. I order these as my entrée and they’re plenty filling, and they’re stuffed to the max — especially if you order an appetizer or a side of sweet plantains ($ 5) to supplement. Those plantains — soft yet not mushy, sweet but with a slight sprinkling of salt — make me wish all French fries at restaurants would magically turn into plantains.
Lamb lollipops, available as appetizer ($ 3 for $ 13 or entrée 4 pops plus plantains and rice for $ 20) — incredibly tender, great char from the grill. These are great, but I think you are better off getting the app. The rice and those plantains are nice, but you still get three in the app portion and then can try something else on the menu, too!
Crispy pork belly buns (2 for $ 10) — perfectly crunchy, rich and fatty but not chewy, incredibly flavorful (but not at all smoky) pork belly nuggets are glazed with mango ginger syrup, topped with a mango ginger slaw (think of a sweet pico) and a sprinkling of scallions. It comes with a shot glass full of raw shredded red cabbage that you should definitely add on your buns. They’re served in steamed buns that are deliciously soft and chewy. I’ve been thinking about these little babies all week.
Also strong contenders are the People’s burger — the lamb burger severed on naan is a lot better than the beef on brioche option, is served with goat cheese and plantains; and Egyptian lo mein, which is rice noodles with your choice of protein (chicken, beef, fish, shrimp, or tofu), and stirfried veggies ($ 14 to $ 18), described as spicy, but I found no heat (waitress says you can order extra spice, do that!)
Still good, but not really worth ordering again, to me, was the Umana sampler and the Injera. The sampler (samosa, cumin potato fritters, chick pea masala, and naan — -$ 18) was fine, but a little repetitive with its flavors. The injera (Ethiopian platter, $ 18, served on Fridays and Saturdays only), was a let down. Ours was served with the meal directly on the bread, though pictures I’ve seen have it rolled up between the dishes. Although the way we had it is apparently more traditional, I think I’d prefer the injera rolled and to the side to avoid the sog factor.
The dish’s offerings change, and ours was served with stewed chicken, lentils, pumpkin, and «spinach.» I have spinach in quotes, as I was expecting steamed or sautéed spinach, but it was just field greens — the same that dressed our plate of lo mein. Nobody ate it; it felt like a filler because there wasn’t enough dishes to fill the plate. The lentils were the group favorite, as they had a nice flavor. The pumpkin was fine, but not particularly interesting. The stewed chicken (similar in flavor to the lentils) had several extremely (less than half of an inch) tiny bones in it, making it difficult — and a little dangerous — to eat. Cooking with bones adds great flavor, I am *not* suggesting to swap in boneless breasts, but perhaps drumsticks or something where the bones can be more easily noticed would be safer. I’d like to try the injera again; it’s a fun appetizer to split with a group, but only if I see different offerings next time.
The wine selection is nice, with options from South Africa, chile, Australia, and North America, among others, though limited in number — not what you’d expect for a place calling itself a wine bar — but fine for my needs. There’s a wine flight, but sometimes (more than once that I’ve been there) they run out of some of the wines in the flight.
Service is friendly, but a little slow. It takes the kitchen a while, so schedule your dinner accordingly. I haven’t yet been for brunch (Sundays), but I can’t wait to try it! Note: If you pay with a card, it’s swiped table side with one of those cell phone card swipers and you’ll be emailed a receipt.
The restaurant is lovely — dark, rough cut wood, murals, weaved coasters, and tin hole-​punched candle holders that throw dramatic shadows and make your glassware twinkle. It’s intimate for a date, good for a group of friends, and a cozy get-​away when it’s cold out. Just be careful with leaning too hard on the table if you’re seated at one of the tables with the glass tops (in front of restaurant), I saw one break and collapse on a diner once.

Really great food, everyone is super friendly. The lamb lollipops and the plantains were especially amazing.

Umana is BEAUTIFUL. Lovely murals. Fantastic ambience. Friendly servers. We came for a late brunch and were able to be seated immediately.
The menu has a wonderful variety of interesting twists on classic dishes and some old favorites. There is something for everyone– especially the more adventurous brunch goers.
I enjoyed the biscuits and gravy served with potatoes and salad. The potatoes were great and I’m not normally a fan of breakfast potatoes. The biscuits and gravy hit the spot however I would have enjoyed double or triple the amount of gravy and my dining companions agreed on that front. More of a good thing would be a good thing!
My husband had the red velvet chicken and waffles. Normally we share our meals but we both loved our orders so much we didn’t get to the sharing part. Although I did taste his chicken which was excellent.
For four people with tip brunch came to $ 100. The food and service was fantastic and other than wishing for more gravy we had no complaints except the price. It’s about double what I think we would have paid elsewhere in albany for brunch. I would certainly visit again and can’t wait to try their dinner fare but it lost a star due to the price being a tad high.
I hope this place is here for years to come. It is certainly a gem!

Not a wine bar in the traditional sense, but excellent food. Will return

Came to Albany for work. This place is amazing! Brought 8 people from NYC here. This place caught us by surprise with how good it was. Very skeptical when we walked in. It was empty and we felt like we picked the wrong place. But so wrong.
Definites — jerk lollipops, fried chicken, lamb sliders, maple glaze wings.
This is a must check in.

WARNING: This is a unique review of Umana serving as a special catering platform for a private school event. It is not a review on its normal operating functionality.
One of my institute’s organizations held a social event over the weekend to strengthen the community among colleagues at all different levels of the education/​institution. We had asked Umana to serve as our host, and it was a splendid experience!
The restaurant itself was very spacious, and the layout was very organized and cozy at the same time. The staff were very nice and attentive to our needs, and the food was excellent. There was a good sampling of different choices and comfort food to choose from. Additionally, they provided us with boxes to take the extras home at the end. Really enjoyed their service and the samplers they provided. This is definitely a great venue for hosting small– to moderate-​sized gatherings!

Not a bad joint. The coffee is on the watery side, but the food was creative and good. I tried a bite of the steak and eggs, challah french toast, shrimp & grits, and biscuits. The french toast was by far my favorite, followed by the shrimp & grits, steaks and eggs, and biscuits. The portions were all priced reasonably, decent portion sizes, and good service.

Gosh. What a gem. I am extremely disappointed in myself for only discovering this place after making the move from Albany to Saratoga Springs. I feel like such a foodie trader but alas I will survive. Long live Albany restaurant greatness… Wish I had found Umana sooner.
This place is fabulous! The staff was so sweet and attentive, that’s a huge plus in my book. It was a bit pricier than I assumed but my meal was definitely worth it. We ventured to Umana for brunch. I must say I was drooling over someone elses order. Rule #1 when ordering… if the person next to you orders your runner up meal, order it as well! The shrimp over the polenta was heavenly. The fresh juice options are also delightful!
Wish they were advertised a bit more or encouraged regulars to share that this gem is worth the hassle of parking on Washington. Yes people, there is not restaurant parking at this location.
They also have Ethiopian food and fresh Ethiopian bread, I look forward to going back and testing out this cuisine!

An absolute must-​try in Albany! — Some of the best foods in the world come from independent hole-​in-​the-​wall establishments in exotic localities. Umana brings these exotic flavors to Albany in a unique, welcoming environment with a culturally explorative ambiance. The menu creatively ties together the rich flavors and spices of various ethnic traditions for a bit of a culinary tour of Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean.
I’m not an Albany resident and only spent a couple months in the area, but Umana was one place I visited quite frequently. The food is really quite impressive, very consistent, and the chefs, staff, and owner truly take great pride in their work. I haven’t had a dry-​curry goat so succulent since I visited Surabaya.
Also, a nice little wine selection featuring South African wines. I definitely recommend a visit!

This review is for brunch.
The place has always been intimate and original from décor that sort of makes you think of a Pier one themed restaurant for lack of a better description. However it is original and ambient.
I have had dinner here a while ago and my take was that it was a good place that sort of didn’t know where to go with the menu. I believe this is remedied.
The brunch is truly great. Fast service that is attentive but not overbearing, delicious coffee that doesn’t just taste like diner sugar-​water and a alcohol selection that is perfect for brunch. Wine, mimosas, bloody Mary etc…
Vegetarian options like Chalah french toast and masala omelets as well as my favorite breakfast dish as of late the Shrimp and grits.
If you come for brunch I cannot stress enough how good the shrimp and grits are as well as the french toast. Price is reasonable compared to other mid level brunch places at maybe $ 12 – 15 pp depending on the dish.
I’ll be back for dinner.

A-​maz-​ing! Fantastic restaurant bringing culture and flair to Albany. The only thing better than the service is the food! The owner is a wonderful woman who puts a personal touch to everything from the deco to the plating.
Now, onto the food. We started with fried sweet plantains to share. Omg! It came with this ginger garlic sauce that tasted great on everything! My sister had the people’s burger, she said it was awesome. Mom had the french toast, fantastic, with chicken! And I had the shrimp and grits. Holy $#!@ hands down, favorite dish.
Haven’t had nearly a quarter of the items on the menu, but I sure hope I eventually can try it all! Definitely a must have every time I visit!

Couldn’t have asked for a better first experience at Umana.
With the kids out of town, my wife and I had another date night, and Umana was our choice. The menu on the website looked fantastic, and the reviews here on Unilocal sealed the deal.
I made a 6:15pm reservation early in the day, leaving a message on the restaurant’s voicemail, and received a confirmation call at around 2:00. They also let me know that there was private and free parking just a few doors down, at 208 Washington. Nice.
Maybe it’s because it was a relatively early on a Wednesday evening, but we had the entire place to ourselves for at least 45 minutes.
The décor was nice. There’s a very cool african mural that takes up an entire wall. We were seated by our very friendly server at a thick, rustic, wooden table, after which we listened to a little bit about the story of the restaurant, as well as an explanation of the wine list. I’m not a huge wine guy, so I went with a brown ale.
The menu was very eclectic. Lots of options from many different parts of the world. As I understand it, there’s an Ethiopian brunch on Friday and Saturday. Outside of those hours, it’s a mix of World cuisine.
We started with two appetizers: the Indian Corn Fritters and Chicken Tacos.
The Corn fritters were nice — served with a honey sauce for dipping. But MAN, the tacos were just INCREDIBLE. Chicken, beets, pineapple, a hint of lime flavor?! I could have eaten nine of them.
My wife went with the Egyptian Lo Mein, which she was very excited about, and which I’m sure was delicious, but my attentions were completely monopolized by the beauty that was my Thai Satay, which was perfectly grilled and served with a Mango slaw. Unbelievable.
For dessert, my wife had a coconut ice cream/​sorbet dish that was actually served inside a half-​coconut. I did the chocolate bread pudding, which featured a sprinkling of hot peppers. Crazy-​good.
I was so impressed. Each item that we ordered had such a rich, complex combination of flavors. In addition, when the bill came, it was only $ 70! Um. what? I could have sworn they missed something. Two drinks, two appetizers, two entrées, and two desserts for $ 70?! Unheard of. Our server swiped my card into an iPod via a Square Reader. I punched in my tip, signed (very sloppily) with my finger, and we were set.
The only strange thing about the experience was that the bathrooms are located WAAAY in the back, basically in the kitchen. I kept going and going, and was reassured by one of the kitchen workers that I was heading the right way.
It won’t be our last visit. I can’t recommend this place more highly.

On our way back down to Jersey from Vermont, we decided to check out downtown Albany. Craving a burger and beer, we found Umana on Unilocal.As soon as you walk in you’re greeted by the friendliest staff. The place has such a warm feel to it. We really enjoyed all the art work and décor on the walls. After a while debating on many items on the menu, I decided to try the Caribbean burger. I have to say it was honestly the best burger I have ever had. My fiancé had the Thyme and Lime Burger (Lamb). Both were absolutely delicious. The owner and chef came to our table and introduced themselves and made us feel really welcomed. We will definitely
take the two hour drive up and check out the dinner menu. This place is a must go.

Umana was everything. We had the beef sliders, lamb lollipops, and calamari to start. We enjoyed it all, but the sliders were our favorite. if we had to leave one it would be the calamari. It was the only one we didn’t polish off. We followed all this with the flatbread special (pictured). It was Mediterranean chicken & avocado… super unique flavors that were pretty addictive. I was too full to eat much of it but it was great.
The décor in the place is well thought out and has a super comfortable global vibe (as you can see in pics). Service was fantastic. Can’t wait to go back.

They have brunch! Hadn’t been here in a couple of years and I was pleased to discover this fun fact. If you love brunch like I do, you’re probably doing a little dance in your head right now.
This is a welcome new addition the local brunch repertoire! (The options right in Albany can be a bit limited). I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from their menu but they have some great options like chicken and waffles, challah french toast and rosemary goat cheese frittata. I love the décor it’s cozy, inviting and nicely decorated.
Their chicken and waffles are a must! Served with a sweet gravy and soft waffles it’s the perfect complement of flavors. Don’t be alarmed by the Orange– looking waffles, the texture isn’t quite that of a Belgian waffle, but it’s delicious and it works!
I had the special: the rosemary and goat cheese frittata– it was ok. The texture was off, not as fluffy as a frittata should be, but it was saved by the goat cheese (just another reason I love cheese). Also served with my other favorite thing in the world– biscuits– and in this case, the biscuits had blueberries built right in… genius. This was served with a raspberry spread on top.
I was skeptical yet hopeful about brunch here, but I’m a believer! This will definitely complement my regular brunch rotation. Can’t wait to try the challah french toast!

There’s Ethiopian food in Albany?
There’s Ethiopian food in Albany!
I’ve long been reluctant to try Umana. There was something about the place that just didn’t connect with me. I think it was the prices. Looking at the menu, everything seemed just a little bit more expensive than I thought it should be, and I had my doubts that this small kitchen could pull off elevating global street food to the level where it would demand such a sum.
But then something changed. I heard they starting offering an Ethiopian special on Friday and Saturday nights. And given how many people have loudly clamored for an Ethiopian restaurant in the area, I had to give it a try.
So, what was the verdict?
It’s actually Ethiopian food. It has the tastes, and the textures and aromas that I’ve missed from my favorite places in Berkeley, CA and Washington D.C. That said, it’s not served like any other Ethiopian food I’ve had.
Instead of being served on top of a sheet of injera that soaks up all of the buttery sauces, the beans, vegetable, and stewed meat are on a wooden dish with rolled up pieces of the bread to separate the dishes.
That’s not a deal breaker for me. Nor is the fact that you can’t choose what dishes you want in your combination platter. The choices are vegetarian or one with meat in it. Since the chicken was the weakest part of the platter, next time I would go full vegetarian. But at under $ 20 for a plate that’s designed to feed two, it’s not just delicious but a reasonable value (especially considering it’s the only game in town).
The other things we ordered didn’t do it for me. The cod fish croquettes were more like cod cakes (which a close reading of the menu would have told me), but they would have benefitted from some panko and exterior crispness. And while the crispy pork belly may have been tasty, my chunks of pork were far from crispy.
I did get a look at the Indian corn fritters, and those looked awesome. So perhaps I can do better on my next trip.
It’s 3* Ethiopian food with a bonus star for bringing Ethiopian food to the Capital Region. It’s not on the menu, so you should probably call ahead when making a Friday or Saturday night reservation just to make sure they’re still offering the dish. But if you’re missing the flavor of berbere, now you don’t have to drive to Boston or NYC to get it.

I had a very nice romantic brunch here with my wife.
In spite of it being midday, the restaurant was pleasantly dimly lit and there was a candle on our table. We ordered the make your own mimosa. We sipped our mimosas while listening to jazz vocals playing in the background. There were only a few other customers there at the time and it was quiet and serene.
My chicken and waffles were delicious. A boneless breast, with a crunchy, crispy breading, sitting in a tasty maple based sauce. With the waffles came a hot berry compote and maple syrup on the side.
My wife thoroughly enjoyed her lamb burger, which came with home fries and a small salad.
Very solid choice for brunch, with good food, and a relaxing atmosphere.