Union Bar & Grille

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celeste s

Joined 3 years ago

Great place for brunch!. The first time I experienced The Union, it was for their grande opening which was great! I typically frequent The Union for their Sunday brunches and I must say, they have been consistently good in terms of service and quality from the hostess to the wait staff.

Their service is very attentive and professional. My brunch mate did notice that maybe some plates should be replaced given the rest of the decor and appeal the interior had, but overall a great place to have brunch with friends without feeling rushed!

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jinkitee

Joined 5 years ago

Get 10K Tuna for less than 30 bucks!. I'm a longtime resident of the South End and I have to admit that I didn't set foot into Union until just a few months ago. The food is simply amazing and the Tuna (my favorite dish) is to die for. The complimentary corn bread that is served in a hot iron skillet is also a real treat. Aside from the food, the decor is quite swanky and something that I believe that 30-something year old Sinatra would be quite comfortable in if time travel was possible. The service is also top notch. While I am not a wine expert, it seems that there is always an experienced sommelier available to make great recommendations. Definitely a South End favorite.

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Eric Grossman

Joined 10 years ago

South End scenester haven lures the city's jet set with handsome appointments and an invitingly modern menu.. Well-dressed singles congregate in Union's ultra-trendy bar area to nibble on designer finger food and pomegranate martinis. A glass partition separates the bar's hum from one of the city's most stylish dining rooms, where well-dressed South Enders sit in circular black banquettes. Strategically placed mirrors and wrought-iron chandeliers add to the darkly fashionable vibe. Knowledgeable, personable waiters help patrons navigate an intricate, all-American wine list. A noteworthy menu of American cuisine lives up to its pedigree (the owners also masterminded Aquitaine and Armani Cafe). From the cast-iron skillet of warm cornbread that begins every meal to comforting desserts like Vermont maple bread pudding, all the right touches are in place. Among the starters, both an intricate sweet pea risotto with marinated tomatoes and a fresh arugula salad with herbed goat cheese stand out, as does the kitchen's signature "$10K" tuna steak (the chef's spice rub won a contest worth $10,000).

High Marks
* "The atmosphere was very chic and both the food and the servers were well seasoned..." (dms1976, Citysearch user)

* "A sure bet for brunch in the South End. They are consistent, they take reservations (and seat you at the time that you reserved for) and the food is quite good..." (bostonadam, Citysearch user)

Low Marks
* "I remember when this place opened, I loved it. I hadn't been there in about a year, and when I returned I was disappointed to see that the menu is so similar to the past ones..." (timothy56, Citysearch user)

* "Trying to be cool, but missing it by a bit. The food's good but not memorable..." (palazzino, Citysearch user)

Doesn't Recommend

Timothy56

Joined 5 years ago

same old same old. I remember when this place opened, I loved it. I hadn't been there in about a year, and when I returned I was disappointed to see that the menu is so similar to the past ones.

Enough with the 10K tuna, and fried calamari, and does the buyer know of any other sausage besides chorizo?

Desserts have gone down hill, and the over all atmosphere has become pretentious.

Woods was great with the old Metropolis and original Aquataine, he needs to do something on his own again.Less time with his publicist and more time cooking and creating with his staff.

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dms1976

Joined 5 years ago

Scrumptious Meal. On a second visit to Boston, I dined at Union Bar & Grill with my husband. We both enjoyed the experience thoroughly. The atmosphere was very chic and both the food and the servers were well seasoned. We tried some of the local favs and particularly loved the sweet corn risotto, the 10k tuna and the lamb. Having relocated to a sleepy suburb in the southeast, we feel Union is just the type of eatery we sorely miss! I greatly appreciated the Union staff for taking such great care of us. We look forward to stopping by again on our next trip to Beantown!

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palazzino

Joined 6 years ago

Not great. Not terrible.. Trying to be cool, but missing it by a bit. THe food's good but not memorable. WIne list is solid. Not a top 3 for NYC dining experience in the mid-sized format.

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jlib123

Joined 6 years ago

Affordable lunch. I went to Washington Street to try to do some Christmas shopping and found the store were way too expensive. So I was happy to find this deal for brunch. Our waitress was very friendly, but sort of dissapeared after we got our meal. I think it was because they were closing at 3. So, maybe it's better to get there earlier. The prix fixe brunch was worth it though. My smoked salmon scrambled eggs stayed hot throughout the meal and the potatoes were great. I saw someone with the giant French toast and I will go back just to try that.

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bostonadam

Joined 6 years ago

good, affordable and reliable brunch. A sure bet for brunch in the south end. They are consistent, they take reservations (and seat you at the time that you reserved for) and the food is quite good. The crab cakes are excellent as is the burger and fries and the eggs bennedict are also good. One missing piece that I cannot understand is that they serve homemade granola (which is good) but do not have any yogurt available to go with it. I have mentioned this to the staff, but it is still not available. The setting is nice and the staff are decent, but can be inconsistent, sometimes giving great service and at other times being quite slow and inattentive. Overall a good option for brunch.

I was there for dinner twice. The corn bread that they serve in a iron skillet is very, very good and a nice way to start the meal. I had a delicious, although rather pricey meal meal one night. Very delicious and high quality. I came back with friends in August for a 3 course price fixed meal which was horrible. All 3 were so bad we actually went away hungry. I will probably focus on the brunches.

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benwin2

Joined 8 years ago

nice, relaxed weeknight dinner. My husband and I had dinner at Union to celebrate his birthday. We went on a Tuesday night. It was quiet when we arrived but filled up quickly (not sure if this is the case every Tuesday night or not; it was Restaurant Week). We were seated early and relaxed with a cocktail until we were ready to order. Service was great and our waiter let us take our time...we didn't feel rushed at all. He also gave us great drink recommendations. We shared a gnocchi appetizer (the gnocchi was a bit too soft, but the flavor was excellent), I had steak (very good), and my husband had duck (cooked as he ordered it, and not fatty). The cornbread, brought out before our appetizer in its own cast iron pan, was excellent--moist with good flavor. We shared banana cream pie for dessert, which was also very good. The atmosphere was trendy but not off-putting. The manager brought over a birthday card that was signed by the staff.

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foodshowx

Joined 6 years ago

A Renaissance?. My wife and I have always been at least moderately impressed with Union (and all the other restaurants owned by Seth Woods and Jeff Gates). The food is always tasty and approachable, the staff amiable and polite and our greeting at the front door warm and friendly. But where we have never been sold are on any of the wine lists at any of the restaurants (with the exception of Aquitaine which we've always enjoyed browsing). However, this all changed on our last visit! As usual we were perusing the wine list for ANYTHING new and out-of-the-ordinary when our server (Jesse, who is one of the best!) asked if he could help with a selection. When he realized our questions were out of his league he sent over a rather sharply-suited young man who we were informed was the company "wine guy". We didn't know that the group had a "wine guy" unless they had kept him rather well hidden. My wife was interested to see what this youngster could do for us and after giving him the 3rd, 4th and 5th degrees she was satisfied with his knowledge-level and allowed him to guide us to something we had never had (and which was not even on the list yet). For the life of me I can't remember what he poured for us (Italian, something to do with Barolo?) and it was stunning. We have never felt more taken care of and hope that this young man, whose name we forgot to even ask, will help Union and the rest of Chef Gate's restaurants rise to the heights we know they can achieve.

-X and Wife