Omnivore - Bi Bim What?

• Cliff Bostock’s iPhone

I rarely have a meal that flat-out astonishes me, that is so beyond the pale that I am momentarily speechless, that makes me hope and pray that the very pleasant staff won’t ask me how the food was.

I usually can find something that I like — maybe the salt or the napkin. But not always. To the right is a photo of the bibimbap I ordered for lunch at the new Umma (75 5th St.) in Technology Square. The restaurant describes itself as Korean-Japanese and features sushi as well as dishes like this Korean classic.

Usually the veggies and meat are served over warmed rice, but the rice is on the side at Umma, probably not a bad idea for take-out orders. But, because the rice is not warmed in the usual stone pot, you’re not going to get any crunch. I don’t recall ever before eating bibimbap whose main topping was lettuce leaves, like Umma’s. And most of all, I miss the egg that helps bind the dish when you stir it.

I also ordered a California roll and sampled — and I do mean sampled — the miso soup. And, despite the clientele of Georgia Tech students, the food isn’t even particularly inexpensive. More in “Grazing.”