Photo: Tony Knox
Mietta's Review
No sign just a blank door. Enter. Go down stairs and find yourself in Japan facing a large bar at which food is served. The key here is care, care more conscious of itself than of those it serves. It is particularly careful not to take more than the (tiny) allocated number, so for the unprepared (meaning if you haven't booked) access is well nigh impossible. The food is fine, the price very reasonable and the experience funky in a Japanese kind of way. Well worth a visit.
Other published opinions
Age Good Food Guide 2010 Score: 15/20
Herald Sun Top 20, 23-05-09 "COME off the cold pavement and into the spacious Zen-like basement that is Yu-U"
Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 15/20
Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 15/20
Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 15/20
Herald Sun Dining Out Stephen Downes 11/10/05 Score 18/20 "Yu-u doesn't need to play hard to get, though it is hard to get in. It's the consummate restaurant in all departments and its value for money is extraordinary. The wine list is adequate and has a good spread of older vintages at fairly good prices. A handful of drops are available by glass and there is quite a good sake choice. Two table whites and three reds come in half-bottles."
Age Good Food Guide 2005 score 15/20
Age Cheap Eats 2005
Age Take Five John Lethlean
The Foodies' Guide 2004,Allan Campion & Michele Curtis,'The best Japanese food is a steal at just $15 for the dish of the day with soup,noodles or rice and pickled cabbage.The bad news is it's hard to get in,the good news-they take bookings.'
Age Cheap Eats 2004
SMH GFG 2004,'This hard-to-find,must-book,very modern Japanese restaurant,with barely a sign,specialises in grills,salads and nabe hotspots rather than sushi.From gleamingly fresh soy beans with sake to the lotus root salad,it's Tokyo in the back lanes of Bleak City.'
Age Good Food Guide Awards 2004-1 hat, score 15/20
Age, Sunday Life, 8/2/04, John Lethlean
Herald Sun, sundaymagazine, eating out, Sally Fisher, 2003. Full of stylish trendies and serves tiny dishes at dinner.
Sunday Age, Sunday Life, Eat Streets, John Lethlean, 18/5/03
Herald Sun, citystyle, "National Treasures", Bob Hart, 8/4/03. Best Japanese.
Herald Sun, food&wine, diningout, Bob HArt, 29/10/02, Score 18/20
Or perhaps ...
Don Don (03) 9662 3377, 321 Swanston St, Melbourne - Super fast, super cheap busy little Japanese eat-in or take-away in two city locations. Good fast food.
Gigi (03) 9639 2233, 237 Swanston St, Melbourne
Isseki (03) 9639 8111, Shop 2A, 206 Bourke St, Melbourne - Strategically positioned near the entrance to Village Cinemas, Isseki is ideal for sitting down to a quick lunch-break or a pre-movie snack.
Ito Japanese Noodle Cafe (03) 9663 2788, 122 Bourke St, Melbourne - A Japanese diner that is Chinese owned and run, in the middle of the city's cinema district. It's good for a quick bowl of ramen or plate of sushi.
Izakaya Chuji Japanese Restaurant (03) 9663 8118, 165 Lonsdale St, Melbourne - Unpretentious space serving impressive Japanese food at very reasonable prices. Wonderfully eclectic mix in the clientele.
Kaneda (03) 9663 8802, Shop 6, Mid City Arcade, 200 Bourke St, Melbourne - In the dimly-lit inner reaches of the Mid-City Arcade there is a small sushi restaurant that boasts a beautiful tsunami wave and a steady stream of satisfied customers.
Sushi Masa (03) 9662 1322, 10 Bourke St, Melbourne - The food is traditional Japanese, offering Hako-sushi (boxed sushi) and even better jo-sushi (fancy sushi selection).
Takumi 9650 7020, , 32 Bourke St, Melbourne
Yamato (03) 9663 1706, 28 Corrs la, Melbourne - The country style Japanese cooking and its tucked away position make Yamato popular with a young adult crowd.
Yu-U 9639 7073, Enter From Oliver Lane, 137 Flinders la, Melbourne - No sign just a blank door. Enter. Go down stairs and find yourself in Japan facing a large bar at which food is served.