Union
Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown1400 1st Ave
(between Pike St & Union St)
Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 838-8000
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
48 Reviews for Union
I wanted to try "Northwest" cuisine when I came to Seattle. There were a lot of options, but when I found out that Chef Ethan Stowell was up for the James Beard award for Best Chef in the Northwest...well, I think my mind was made up for me. It did not disappoint - from the duck proscuitto, to the kampachi, and the artichoke soup, everything was very delicately prepared. It IS lacking, however, in the dessert department and for some reason, it was not very crowded for a Saturday night at around 8 PM. Perhaps people up in the Northwest eat later since it does not get dark until...what, 10 PM? Or maybe, as I've noticed in comparison to San Francisco, fancy dinners are just not as commonplace. Either way, it was a delightful experience, and should be tried out in Seattle.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Things that were awesome:
Service
Artichoke soup appetizer
Duck proscuitto appetizer
Carpache main
Other than the fact that they had limited wine selection, I enjoyed this place, thoroughly.
I've heard a lot about Union both good and bad. The good centers around the food, presentation, and prestige while the bad is used to describe the high prices, small portions, and somewhat pretentious wait staff.
I made my way to Union as part of a Yelp Elite event so I wasn't able to get the "full experience" of making a reservation, being seated, soaking in the private atmosphere, and dealing with a server 1:1, and then paying the bill. With that disclaimer posted, the staff seemed genuinely interested in interacting with us, the food was delicious and expertly cooked (octupus was amazing!), the decor great, and the drinks superb!
Ethan Stowell, the head chef of Union, even stopped by our table to see if we were enjoying ourselves and his establishment. Major bonus points!
Delicious! The atmosphere was nice, not overly fancy, but very tastefully done. Our waiter gave us perfect service (just the information we needed without a lot of pomp or talk). The food was expertly planned, prepared, and presented. I had a beet appetizer. The combination of beets and mint was new to me, but tasted great. My companion had a mixed green salad, which was also delicious. I had fluke for my entree and she had ocean trout. Both were excellent, different from each other in taste and preparation and perfectly suited to what we were in the mood for. We both left full, but if we were hungrier, we could have still had room for dessert since the portion sizes were not overly large as is common in most restaurants.
Union puts the food quality first and it shows.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (2)
Hmm...Like many of the other reviewers who gave the Union 3 stars or below, I'm a little dumbfounded....
First, I would like to say that the Union, if anything, does have a nice modern and chic ambiance--very fitting for it's location I suppose (right across from the SAM).
However, if we're gonna talk about food--this place was very easy to forget. I could barely even remember what I ate--the only thing that stuck in my mind was this "upscale" version of a broccoli cheddar soup. And in the middle of the soup sat a soft-boiled duck egg with large salt crystals. The soup was okay, but I wasn't really sure what the heck a duck egg was doing in the middle of it. To be honest, I didn't find it very pleasant and the thought of it kind of makes me gag--that's pretty much the first thing I remember when someone asks me how the Union was. I don't remember the other items I had, I think one was chicken...I think.
I've been to restaurants that serve small portions of food, but the Union left me unsatisfied, especially for its price. Felt like they were trying too hard to be sophisticated.
I was delighted by the menu at first: Geoduck sashimi-style with marinated cucumber. Candy beet salad with bits of blood orange. Only the geoduck was quite fishy. And the crushed pistachios completely threw off the texture balance of the beet salad. Turned out that the tossed green salad was the winner at the table, because it was a traditional, well dressed salad. Hmmm.
Then the main courses came--- my duck breast was very good. Tender and juicy, well cooked. Not phenomenal but pleasant to my palates. Sister's beef tenderloin was good, but expected so. Other sister's wild trout was also good, but too small (according to her). We also ordered linguine with clams... which was microscopic (3 bites).
My rose water martini was super gin-y. Floating rosebuds in my glass as garnish... I had mixed feelings about it, though sister thought it was a nice touch.
Overall not impressive, met the standard without any WOWs. Waiter was superb though. The food was not worth the price but his service was entitled to every cent of that corresponding tip.
Well we went here for a romantic meal, after work last Friday night. The ambiance was nice. The service was terrific. Out waiter, an older guy, knew his wines and was very nice. He attended to our every need. The food was very good, we actually only had three things, appetizer, pasta and a small strip-loin. Very good, very creative. The presentation was nice.
The downside was how small the portions were. I mean really small. We split a meal basically and it cost 145 with two glasses of wine and splitting a desert. Kinda pricey if you ask me. The food was good not great!
But I give it 5 stars for service, but only a 4 overall because of price and menu variety. Not a lot of choices.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
My husband and I just returned from a quite excellent night. Great service, great food, so-so ambiance. Our waiter was such a pro and had this calm, cool and collected air about him. We ordered 4 dishes: oysters, duck breast, scallops and beef medallion. All were superb! Based on other reviews, we expected much smaller portions, and thought we'd be ordering more dishes as the night progressed, but we found we had more than enough food to satisfy our hungry appetites. We ordered the least expensive wine on the list at $27 and it was great! Total was 102.00, so we felt it was a bargain for the level of service and quality. Only down side is the place was empty! But will definitely go back.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I was a little scared at first as I saw the food was going to be smaller portions and I figured I'd be running home and making a sandwich after dinner.
I ordered the oysters as my appetizer and they were delicious! Then came my meal, the pork tenderloin, and OMG it was sooooo good! I went with 3 friends and we all sampled each others meals and noone had anything mediocre. There food is amazing! And it ended up being enough, but we all did order and appetizer. I would suggest that!
I loved this place! It's a little pricey but the food is worth it!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Union was one of the best fine dining meals I have had in Seattle (if not the best). Smaller plates, so we had to order two courses which included spaghetti with a sea urchin and chili sauce, gnocchi with a Cantrell mushroom cream sauce, seared fillet t, grilled octopus, and some white fish. Service was not snotty for a change, and the Waiter was quite helpful, and knowledgeable of the ingredients and wines. The only down side was that the atmosphere was a bit cold, but clean. I would recommend this place for someone looking for a dining experience, or a unique meal.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
What Serendipity!
My friend Autumn and I walked over to Union after being discouraged by the after shopping crowd at Wild Ginger and being turned away from Triple Door due to a private event.
We sat at the bar and Keith took very good care of us. The fluke crudo was outstanding! I also tried the spaghetti with sea urchin. I was intrigued since I've only eat Uni raw. It was delicious! We didn't have too much to eat but I can tell from a few tastings of the bar menu that dinner here would be a delight. I was pretty happy with my "yeh, yeh, yeh" - a stiff manhattan.
There were a few small groups here. Seems a nice table of 4 would be perfect. Great location just across the street from SAM.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (5)
Good cocktails, good food. Definitely a lot of interesting things on the menu that I haven't seen anywhere else! Oh, and the menu changes everyday, so you can never get bored with this place!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
I've only been to Union once and I've been really wanting to go back. The star of this place is obviously the food. It was fantastic (potato soup with smoked salmon, seared branzino, and several other plates that I can't recall).
The service was good, though we felt as though we were left alone a little too long at times. The prices were a little high, but their rent must be insane, so they gotta make money, right?
But when the food is amazing, how much does a slight deficiency in those other areas really matter? I'm definitely looking forward to my next visit.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
This review won't be very helpful as I can't really remember what I had there. Went there with a friend this past Friday night with a friend. The concierge recommended it and it was a great call.
Great vibe. A really chill place. There was this pasta dish that had a crispy pig's ear that sounds disgusting but was actually delicious. So those pigs better be careful.
A nice place to go out with a lady or on an account. I'd return here if back in Seattle again.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
I can't decide what I hated most about Union last night.
Perhaps it was the prompt, friendly, knowledgeable service.
Or that several prominent restauranteurs were spied enjoying themselves there.
Or maybe it was the casual yet sophisticated ambiance.
Or the pretty, pretty cocktails.
Or my dining companions, with whom I had to fight over every last morsel. (Not that it mattered that we had one of almost everything on the happy hour AND dessert menus).
But ultimately, in my heart of hearts, I think that it may have been the food. For the fact that everything arrived so elegantly plated that it broke our hearts to break up the beauty and harmony. And that every next taste vied with the ones before for our love and devotion.
And so, I have to report that I hated Union. H-a-t-e-d It! I hated it so deeply that I have a desperate yearning to visit again tonight. So that I can accurately assess and ascertain what irked me so much.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (7)
Funny (8)
Cool (9)
Union served one of the most sophisticated cuisine in Seattle. The food is honest and restrained with class and finesse. Great execution in the kitchen pairing with polished service, Union is a great dining destination.
Food pics - http://www.vintnersgro...
A little math.
If a chef makes7 courses for 12 people 4 times in a single evening and everyone* leaves with a full belly and a smile on their face what should the star rating be?
Let everyone = a bunch of picky opinionated Yelpers.
Five stars! Yes, five stars all the way.
This is the type of restaurant where you just trust that whatever they bring out to you is going to be fabulous and beautiful and better than you could have ever imagined.
Like, ewww....who would want to eat octopus? Not me. Unless it was cooked by Ethan Stowell at Union. Generally bruschetta is relatively boring. Unless it's cooked by Ethan Stowell at Union. And salmon, well ok, I always love salmon, but especially if it's cooked by Ethan Stowell at Union.
You guys get the point. The food is fantastic.
And I'll let you in on a little secret. The bar is fantastic as well and you can get in on this well prepared food on the cheap when you visit during their happy hours from 5-7 and again from 10-12 where all small plates are only $8 and you can pair them with a well crafted cocktail in a warm comfortable bar.
This place isn't just for special occasions if you mix & match some small plates to make a meal.
P.S. Sorry about the math.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (10)
Funny (9)
Cool (9)
Perfect intimate setting for a small party of two or four.. or 12! :)
Cute bar and great Bellinis. Nice layout, spacious with great ambiance.
I loved every single thing on the menu:
*Beef carpaccio with horseradish and lemon- excellent light tasting, perfect
*Mixed greens with young pecorino cheese
*Controne bean & octopus salad- easily one of my favorite things on the menu
*Panzanella bread salad- with heirlooms- fantastic.
*Gnocchetti pasta with chanterelle mushrooms and parmigiano reggiano
*Seared Sea Scallops with cauliflower and ligurian olive salad- excellent, perfectly seared scallops- great flavor.
*Trofie Pasta served with fresh pesto- fantastic- perfect pesto.
It's the little things sometimes, and as we were dining, we took note of the 'cool' water and drink glasses. They were pretty dope.
Staff was extremely accommodating and polite. The bartenders were quick and friendly. I will be back for sure!
Big props to Union for dealing with all of us crazies. You were stellar.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (6)
Funny (4)
Cool (7)
My the other reviews are elaborate..
Let's just say I will marry chef Ethan Stowell if he makes me those heavenly scallops and that delicious octopus salad and brings them to me in bed with a chilled peach bellini to wash them down. I bet he can peel grapes too. Ethan are you taken?
5 stars.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (13)
Cool (3)
For all the wonderful glowy reviews, I am wondering where my meal went wrong??? First of all, the dinner took 3 hours. We had 7:30 reservations for a Valentines Day tasting dinner that was $95.00 per person, and we walked out at 10:30, missing several years off my life. The food was...overall good. I will preface this by saying that I understand the concept of a Tasting Menu - small bites, not a meal each, but combined, they make one. My problem was the glacial slowness of the food, and what we paid for the overall experience. Ok, I will say the first course - oysters - were pretty much the tastiest thing I have ever put in my mouth. But there were only 3 apeice, and gone quickly. Then...we waited. And waited. We had a bottle of wine, but that would prove to run out half way through the meal, and since it was already so expensive, I didn't want to pop for another $50 more. Finally, the second course. soup. About a cup worth. Tasty, but not as good as the oysters. And we wait. And wait. And wait some more. Finally, after an eternity, a single scallop. That was actually really good - but I wanted more than one! Waiting. Waiting. Next up, 3 small raviolis. Good, not great. Gone quickly and on to more waiting and waiting. Wine now gone. Waiting. Also, at this point, we have had maybe 5 different people serving us - I have no idea who our actual waiter is. Our neighbors at the next table are served the dessert course before they even have the soup. Much confusion, dessert goes back. Final entree, the duck breast. That was also good and very small, and sad to drink with water since the wine is long gone. Did I mention is was cold? And no, it wasn't supposed to be. Cold like it had been sitting on the counter for a while. When the first of two desserts finally arrive (and I am seriously falling asleep at this point since we've been there so long) we decide to have cocktails to finish it off. I will say my vodka martini was very tasty, as were the desserts, but at that point I just didn't care anymore, I wanted to leave. The final bill came to nearly $300 for 2 people, and definitely not worth it. I will say, however, that I do intend to go back another time, just for a normal dinner, and I am sure it will be as good as everyone says it is, and I am excited to try! But not for a while. The best part of the evening was that we had tickets to see Pinback at the Showbox, and by the time dinner was done, the band was just starting.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I would like to point out that this place got me to eat octopus and fungus. I hate that stuff. Honestly, octopus arms with the little tentacles still attached? wretched, yet I took a bite, and it was ok
yes true. shocking? yes
The food was good, the wine expensive as is the menu. Since the food was free, it tasted heavenly
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (5)
Cool (4)
Wow, I just had a chef's table tasting last night at Union and while I understand that I was officially being schmoozed and groomed for a review, damn was it good. We started the evening off with Bellinis, which were made with Prosecco and peach puree - fantastic. We then tried a variety of dishes:
. Beef Carpaccio - Easily my favorite dish of the night. I had never had carpaccio, though I do not have qualms eating raw beef. This was the texture of butter and tasted like... well the only thing I could compare it to is the best tuna sashimi you've ever had.
. Bean and Octopus salad - I have moral issues with eating octopus as they are as intelligent as a small child. I do not, however, have moral issues with eating children. Unfortunately they are not on the menu at Union. This was served cold with watercress, and I didn't care for it.
. Bread salad - sounds like something they whipped up with fridge scraps, but it was more of a warm garlic crouton tapenade or something. Delicious.
. Hand-rolled pasta with pesto - I am a sucker for pesto, and this pasta was quite the unique shape. At first glance I thought I was eating fern shoots. The pesto and pasta were perfectly cooked, though I like a little chunkier pesto. I prefer to have big pine nuts to crunch into for contrast.
. White Chanterelle Gnocchini - The second best dish of the night. I wanted to lick the plate after finishing everyone's leftovers around me. Potatoes + garlic + mushrooms = mouth orgasm.
. Seared scallops - These were large scallops served on a bed of cauliflower florets and crushed olives. The salty olivey contrast was perfect for the cauliflower, though I don't really understand the pairing with the scallops. It seemed to overshadow the subtle flavor instead of enhance it. Also, my scallop was a bit gritty and sandy. Very well cooked, I just felt that I could make this at home.
There was also some sort of green salad, but who wants to eat mixed greens at a place like this? Union is on the expensive side, and for some odd reason they close at 10 on any given night, but for super fancy delicious food in Seattle, I'd say this is the place.
Update: I decided to have my birthday dinner at Union and man, it was amazing. We had the hamachi crudo (freshest thing I have ever tasted, hands down), the chantarelle ravioli and the two person steak. Our waiter matched the wine to the meat perfectly and was super attentive, and the head chef even came out to give me birthday wishes. We were treated like kings and fed as such, I highly recommend it. Even more so than before!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
Foods I had never eaten: beef carpaccio, olives, octopus, chantrelle mushrooms, sea scallops...
Foods I ate at Union: all of the above.
Verdict: LOVED THEM!
I was invited to the Elite Chef's Table at Union, and I made a pact with myself that I would make the most of the evening. So although I've always steered clear of mushrooms, and most seafood, I ate it all last night - and I am so glad that I did! Each ingredient was a perfect complement to the others in each dish. And as a gal who usually doesn't order any seafood beyond shrimp, I can honestly say I will now look to order sea scallops at my next meal out - although, I will always compare them to the perfect, PERFECT sea scallop I ate at Union, and I doubt any others will ever compare.
PS. Octopus? Not nearly as scary as I thought! At Union, the texture is almost flesh-like, with perfect delicate flavor and delicious crispy exterior texture.
Kudos to Union for opening my eyes to these wonderful foods - each dish I enjoyed was magnificent. Thank you Chef Ethan Stowell and crew!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
Wow, I just can't believe all the rave reviews of this place! Maybe I just got there on a bad night, or maybe I think this type of fare went out in the nineties.
I was greeted by an awful piece of furniture to spend the evening in. My ass is still sore. The candle holder was chipped, and the wine glasses needed to be rewashed (spots, lots).
Our server, while she tried hard, was not well informed,
A simple request from my mother, on her 48th anniversary, for a simple substitution (she loves chanterelles and wanted them with he scallops) was denied with a slightly insulting lecturette on portion control. Spare me- I have been to dozens of restaurants that gladly would serve such a request.
Appetizers: Pretty good. The sardines. Well, they're sardines. Very good. Oysters tasted like they were just pulled out of the sea at that moment. I should have had three more servings and made that dinner. Hindsight...
The entrees were very good! Worth the money? I had an 18 oz steak at Stumbling Goat last weekend for $38 that was divine. Tonight, it was a 24 oz Delmonico (BIG bone!) for 55? For two? Hardly! The sea scallops were about as perfect as they could have been, all three of them for $25. The pureed cauliflower tasted more of condensed(?) milk then cauliflower. The single edible disappointment that has nothing to do with money.
Dessert, again was very good. But just so teency tiny. Barely even a taste. I'm guess Mr. Stowell is taking a profit right now :-).
Please understand, I get it. It's about the food! The freshness, the flavors, the unique recipes. I get that you gave to be careful about substituting. I'm not naive.
But even though the food was pretty good, I left way unimpressed for $180.00 (dessert was free because it took 20 minutes). With all the places we have in Seattle and as infrequently as I get to dine at a restaurant like this, I don't need to go here again, so I won't. How I wished to be at Stumbling Goat again this rainy night!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
While I haven't tried the food (and probably won't, since I'm pretty sure burritos aren't on the menu), the bar experience is nice and cozy. Bartender Mike was a cool, seasoned professional. There are only two beers on draft, currently some lager and the Elysian Immortal IPA. (Guess which one I had?) The frosty 20oz Weizen glass was at least a foot tall, which was ridiculous and fun at the same time. After my fifth Bellini, such a well-crafted beer was an intensely satisfying return to my normal, manly drinking habits.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
I was a vegetarian for over ten years and I still feel guilty whenever I eat meat. That being said, man oh man, was I glad to be a carnivore at Union. Although my entree (seared bass with sweet corn and something-else-I-forgot) was delicious, it was the appetizers that stood out the most. The pork belly with grilled (or perhaps broiled) figs and shallots is quite possibly, the tastiest meat dish I've ever had, the raw fluke topped with lemon juice, cucumbers, and chives was a close second. Our service was exceptional as well.
While Union undoubtedly serves great food, I found the restaurant's decor a little off-putting. It has weird dark corners and the feel of a Mondrian inspired office. However, this should not in any way deter people from coming here because the food is so effing good.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (3)
Cool (2)
I wasn't quite sure what to say about this place. The chef most def has serious talent. I was served some of the most exquisitely tender octopod I have ever consumed. I had no idea that octopus could be prepared that way. I had to get up and quiz him on how it was done.
His technique is superb. Everything was prepared correctly - perhaps ideally. I would like to return here and see what else he is offering.
Really my only complaint was that there wasn't any flavor that I found especially delicious. I'm not sure why this is. It's really the only reason I'm withholding a 5 rating. I might have been having an off night as I wasn't tasting the puree in the cocktails either. If yelp allowed a bit more fine grained detail, I'd give more than a 4, but I really want to be delighted for a five, and this didn't happen.
The bar was classy as well. I'll think of it when I'm downtown at least.
It was a lovely time at Union. Just a couple details missed for me.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
This place is a horrible Faberge' egg factory.
First of all, their hours are funky and they're only open in the evening. When I'm egging, it's in the morning when my hands shake the most, yearning to caress those topographically fascinating chicken babies.
Two, they don't make Faberge' eggs. I asked. This place is a lie constructed out of brick and mortar and NOT Faberge' eggs. Pass it up and head 470 miles south to Egan's Egg Emporium. It's right next to the skunk slaughterhouse. Trust me. You'll know when you're close.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Funny (3)
Outstanding food. Helpful and considerate service. Nice vibe.
First, the food: The sardine starter and the pike main had subtle, fresh flavors I really enjoyed. Nothing overwhelming, nothing heavy -- perfect for summer and perfect for fish.
The service was spot-on. Not stuffy, not presumptuous, just helpful and considerate. When I asked for advice she gave great advice. When my old college buddy and I were in serious conversation, our water glasses were refilled as if by magic.
The ambiance was also very comfortable. Stylish but not too trendy. I was there in jeans (straight off the plane), and felt completely comfortable. 20s/30s crowd on a Monday night.
By San Francisco standards the meal was reasonably priced for this caliber of food: $9 for a yummy starter, $24 for fish, $9 for outstanding dessert. Smallish quantities, but just right if you'd like to try three courses and not have to waddle home.
I would definitely go back.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
i don't even know where to begin with union - i just have so many good things to say about the place (as seems to be the norm) that i'm not sure that i can turn this into a coherent review. but that's never stopped me from trying anyway, so here goes.
after a rigorous day of trekking around the city, b & i'd wanted to find a fabulous place we could just hole up in for a nice meal and good bottle of wine. not knowing anyone in seattle well enough to trust a recommendation, we picked union on a whim and honestly, i don't think we could have done any better. union is absolutely top notch, and what makes it so, in my opinion, is the attention to detail in every realm.
the restaurant itself is beautiful, posh and cozy all at once. you walk in off the cold, rainy city streets and are instantly warm and relaxed. and that's just from the outward appearance. we snagged the best twotop in the house, the corner booth in the back, which afforded the perfect spot for decent conversation and watching the restaurant's night unfold. it was almost like going to a well rehearsed play, the staff is simply awesome: efficient and not oversolicitous yet friendly and warm. our server in particular was an awesome guy who didn't push us towards anything yet provided gentle guidance whenever we needed it.
as for the food, maybe we were just lucky with our choices (or should i say, b was lucky with his choices since he's so bossy and had to pick everything ;-) but every dish we had was creative, delicious and beautifully plated. the highlight was definitely having the delmonico steak for two as our entre, not only because it was the best steak i've had in forever but also because it presented quite grandly, as any great steak should be.
i feel like i could go on and on like this forever, about how wonderful everything was and how i'd go every weekend if i lived in seattle, but everyone knows that no review can stand up against the experience itself so i'll just end the madness by saying that you absolutely must go, right now. you can come back and thank me later.
cheers!
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Ohh lordy, did I love this place! it was Snazzy, friendly, artsy, not overly-priced...we kept it under $100 with drinks and everything. Nice for a anniversary dinner if your pockets aren't bulging with money (mine are definatly NOT) I recommend the pork. That was incredible. I had the linguine, it was great. They give you free bread that you can dip in olive oil and I suggest getting a salad or something if you are really hungry, because portions are not incredibly huge. Except that pork chop...that thing is enormous! God this place was awesome. The art on the walls is sweet too!
This was so close - it was almost three stars. Here is the lowdown:
Stefan's meal:
* Squid Salad - Delicious. Super combo of small squid, beans, and greens - beautiful.
* Anchovy Pasta and Rapini - Too salty, but nice pasta and you could really taste the fresh anchovies (in a good way).
* Local Albacore with heirloom tomatoes - Yech. Awful - fish was too fishy and the side sauce simply compounded the seafood flavor. Tomaotes were amazing.
Wife:
* Heirloom Tomato soup with a grilled scallop - To die for.
* Octopus Pasta - Smoky, firm, beautiful dish.
* Halibut - good, not amazing, she reported.
Service: Impeccable. We had the cool jazz waiter who went over each item on the menu with ease and obviously liked winging it. We never felt rushed and had a couple of nice hours to ourselves. I especially like when a waiter knows his stuff enough for me to be able to say "just bring wine with each course that complements it" and he pulls it off. They have a great wine selection by the glass, so you're not wont for choices.
The only niggling complaint I have is that he oversold a little on the portion sizes - we definitely did NOT need three courses (two starters and a main).
Overall, the ambience is comfortable (dark, a little retro), the service is high quality, and the food is fresh and mostly suceeds. However, our meal was $200 with tip (each had three courses + wine pairings with each), and the food wasn't quite memorable enough for me to spend that again there.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
I was just in Seattle for the weekend with my girlfriend and, partly because of the reviews here, tried out Union for the first time. In a word: Excellent.
It was surprisingly less busy than I was expecting for a Friday night but the service was great and our waitress was very knowledgeable about both the menu and the wine list. The food was ready quickly (but not rushed) and was absolutely delicious; interesting flavors, nice presentation and well done overall.
I would definitely recommend checking this restaurant out and will be back myself.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
If you had to splurge in any Seattle restaurant, this is the place. They know how to compose a dining experience. It was very difficult for me to follow their 1st, 2nd and entree recommendations. Sometimes I'd just get two 1st courses and a 2nd instead. The scallops never fail me. Also, don't hesitate on wine recommendations. I tried 4 different types before finding the perfect pairing for my meal.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
To be fair, I've only had appies and drinks here. I've always found the menu to be inaccessible. The food I had was good, but didn't lure me in for a dinner. Plus the space is always kinda cold - both physically and energy-level-wise.
Good service, too.
Maybe when a long-lost rich uncle flies into town and offers to pay for it, I'll go there.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
I would consider one of the top restaurants in Seattle. A constantly changing menu, Chef Ethan Stowell takes the only the freshest ingredients and creates incredible dishes that keep me wanting more.
For firsts, I started out with the Fried Soft Shell crab followed by the Poussin with Fava beans. I also had a dessert but nothing really to rave about.
They also have a great bar menu but be wary that it's only served between 5 - 7 pm and late night 10 pm - midnight. If you're not sure about dropping the big bucks for dinner, try out the bar menu and I'll bet you anything you'll get hooked.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
While I was happy with Union both times I've been there, but I would recommend Restaurant Zoe as a slightly-better alternative.
I started off my Union meal last night with seared scallops while my girlfriend had fried quail. Both were absolutely amazing. The seared scalloped were delightfully salty and served with a sauce quite like a Japanese mayo. My girlfriend's quail, which I sampled, was amazingly moist in the center while perfectly crisp and seasoned on the exterior.
For the main course, I ordered the steak. The meat itself was too rough in many parts, which required me to exert a lot of force to even cut the meat! While cooked well, the sauce on top that was packed with a thick flavor didn't manage to cover the outer edges of the meat -- meaning the first few bites weren't perfect. The potatoes and mushrooms served with this dish came on a completely separate plate. I wasn't impressed with the lack of presentation, and while the potato fingerlings were good they were largely flavorless -- even when dipped in what I believe was a garlic butter sauce. Overall, for $30 steak: I expected better.
As for my girlfriends pork chop, the sample I had was incredibly moist but not so flavorful -- but I find that with all pork chops. She seemed to enjoy it plenty, though! The plating for this dish was more unique than that of the steak. We ordered two mojitos and a "cherry blonde" from the bar. Both were strong enough and tasted excellent. The mojitos, especially, were expertly crafted.
A big city restaurant. In all likelihood way over the head of the ihearttomdugless diners of Seattle. Certainly was over the head of The Strangers food writer Sara "I used to be funny in Slate " Dickerman.
(UPDATE: Now plying her trade in a local magazine)
How the hell a professional misses this is beyond understanding.
Quality ingredients, marginally fussed with and simply presented, in a large foreboding room.
In an unusual break with Seattle tradition food is appropriately salted.
Prices are more than fair. Clever wine list.
I like it here.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
Ok...so my friend Jeremy and I decided to forgo the full on dining room and eat in the bar with their amazing bar menu.
Because we are both nuts about food, we ordered one of everything on the bar menu, with an additional soup because we didn't want to share that.
The standouts were the foie gras, the steak tartare, and whatever seared fish (I want to say halibut, but I'm not sure) they brought out on a bed of veggies. Our small table was quickly overtaken but it was so worth it. We ended the night with the chocolate terrine and it was one of the best desserts I have had in Seattle.
Since my dear Jeremy is staying in LA this next year I am going to take my bf Maryam out for a wonderful night of eating. Jeremy and I didn't leave until four hours later and many drinks in. It was truly special and memorable. He called me about a month later raving on the meal he had with his sister in the dining room so I'm assuming it's a safe bet.
I recommend this for nice dates, family out of town for the weekend, or with a friend who truly appreciates amazing and fresh food.
Bookmark Send to a Friend Link to This Review
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (2)
