Union Square Cafe

Dined at Union Square Cafe and had a really good overall experience. The French toast with the citrus salad was very nice and well balanced not too sweet, and the citrus added a really refreshing contrast. I also had the pasta with clams, which was very flavorful, though definitely heavy on the garlic. If you like bold garlic flavor, this will hit the spot. The fries were another standout very thin, lightly battered, and fried in rosemary oil, which gave them an amazing aroma and crispness. Overall, the food was thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. A solid spot that lives up to its reputation.

Cannot say how great our experience was! Cocktail list was interesting and the drinks were well made. For food- It’s rare that the bread service blows you away. It was soft, crispy-crusted, flavorful, and included a unique and very tasty spread. For appetizers, the broccoli was highly recommended and I now understand why. Tuna was solid and had a unique flavor to it but nothing out of this world. For mains, the lamb rack and duck pasta were spectacular. We sat upstairs and our server, Mike, gave fantastic service. I highly recommend you test this place out and ask for Mike!

Did you know that the Restaurant Week special of $45 for two courses from the main menu is held every single day at Union Square Cafe? This was a surprise. Jennifer had always wanted to eat at USC and as Restaurant Week started on January 20th we had lunch on the 23rd. As we entered the room was buzzing with diners. We sat upstairs and perused the menu. Natalie, our server, brought us a plate of the house made bread with a spicy garlic sauce. Each bite of this warm bread smeared with the garlic sauce was ambrosial and is replenished if asked which we did. Jennifer ordered the garlic potato chips, broccoli with candied pecans and pomegranate and the celebrated burger. She washed it all down with a ginger ale. The citrus salad and trout were my choices. The chips were tasty and I noticed other tables had also chosen it. Unfortunately, Jennifer’s burger had cheese on it which she didn’t want but decided not to say anything. We were too full to order desserts but did look at the menu. Service at USC is always impeccable. I have eaten here a few times and for restaurant week. Now we know that we can come here for lunch any day of the week.

Everything was phenomenal from start to finish. My only critique is that the stake should’ve been served a little bit warmer. It seems like it was left out. It should’ve came on a hot plate. Just to get a little bit more sizzle or char around the crust of the steak. The complementary focaccia bread with sesame seed and the Calabrian chili butter was a phenomenal way to start the evening. We also paired it with some red wine. no one in the restaurant was pretentious. It was casual and upscale at the same time. One of the standout dishes was the potato puff pastry with crab meat. It was absolutely divine. The richness of the butter was a great contrast. The acidity of the lemon really heightened the dish. And the textural contrast between the soft potatoes, the flaky pastry and the sweet and lumpy crab was amazing The pasta was also phenomenal. It was perfectly cooked and the duck ragu was seasoned and cooked to perfect perfection We did go a little overboard by getting the ribeye steak. Cost about US$170. But it’s enough to feed two people. It also came with two side sides. The sides were OK. They weren’t mind blowing. What really stood out to us was our server Yoshi ! She was patient and understood the menu. She knew exactly what to recommend for first timers. I feel like she went above and beyond that her job. So the service was a 10 out of 10. Like I said overall, it’s a phenomenal place. You are gonna be paying a slight premium. But it’s a great place for a date night. I would just say that they gotta work on serving the stake a little bit warmer.

This restaurant was recommended to us, and I’m genuinely thankful we decided to give it a try. From the moment we sat down, everything just felt right. When I say this was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, I truly mean it. Every dish we ordered was outstanding, from flavor to presentation, and you could tell a lot of care went into each plate. Beyond the food, the atmosphere was calm, warm, and incredibly relaxing, which made the whole experience even better. It’s the kind of place that reminds you how special a really great meal can be. We’ll absolutely be back the next time we’re in the city.