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ALL BOTTLED UP: Umaiya Cafe
The spot: To call Umaiya Cafe (click for details) “tiny” is an understatement. The mod little Ravenswood pan-Asian eatery seats fewer than 20 people. But as if to make up for such a small space, the Thai and Japanese cuisine packs enormous flavor. All of the expected nigiri, sashimi and maki are there, but you’ll also find creative maki such as the Winter Roll, a mix of white tuna, salmon, scallions, wasabi mayo, radish sprouts and black tobiko ($8). The ham maki is a not-before-seen combo of crab stick, bean sprouts, smoked ham and creamy mayo sauce ($8). Sushi-phobes might prefer the Thai noodle and rice dishes. The Umai Noodle ($7), a flat rice noodle served with tomato, bell pepper, onion, carrot and your choice of chicken, beef, shrimp or tofu, is a colorful option.
The bottle: Rayan’s Discount Liquors (1532 W. Montrose Ave. 773-728-7765) is a friend to the several BYOB restaurants in this Ravenswood pocket, carrying a variety of beers and wines suitable for the different types of cuisine. Keep it real and casual with a six-pack of Japanese Kirin beer ($7.99). If you’re ordering from the Thai side of Umaiya’s menu, consider a bottle of San Giuseppe pinot grigio ($9.99). The light, crisp white pairs well with entrees such as Spicy Basil, a vermicelli noodle dish with onion, bell pepper, mushrooms and sweet basil ($7). Umaiya Cafe does not charge a corkage fee. -- Emily Hiser Lobdell, Metromix special contributor
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