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Union Street
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
4145 Woodward AveDetroit, MI 48201
Neighborhood: Midtown
(313) 831-3965
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Nikki C. said: "Wolfgang Puck was a nice fit on the Detroit Restaurant Week roster. I went with a friend and will give the experience 2 thumbs up. The decor was very woodsy. Nice, decorative fireplace on the bar side. Open kitchen, with the…" read more »
105 reviews for Union Street
Review Highlights
"I can't imagine life without Dragon Eggs."
(in 14 reviews)
"Mac & Cheese - made with a port wine cheese."
(in 12 reviews)
"Great beer selection, fun atmosphere."
(in 13 reviews)
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105 reviews in English
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Review from Catherine J.
Saline, MI
1/11/2012
Most trips we make to Detroit include a stop at Union Street, whether it's a trip to the DSO or a Wings game. Everything is yummy, and you can trust the service to be fast enough to get where you're going. I had to laugh at the review that scoffs at its "attempt" to capture the allure of an early 20th century joint - it is one! From the history page of the restaurant:
"ion Street's building dates back to the early 1900's when a hardware store/auto parts store were part of a thriving Woodward Avenue.
In the 30's, the famous Italian restaurant Arturo's opened, thus the long running history of restaurants at 4145 Woodward Ave. Arturo's was owned by relatives of other Detroit eateries, namely, Mario's and Lelli's! Arturo's was also a social club for the Italian community in Detroit. Down the street was the magnificent Greystone Ballroom where the Big Bands played and people danced all night long. The Greystone bar had a gym above it where Mohammed Ali worked out as a young boxer."
The art deco look is an exact replica of their original. It's not hard to imagine what it would have been like back in those Italian social club days. Fun for the history alone!
My favorite dish is the meatloaf - with a cheese and black forest ham center. I hope they bring it back soon! I'm not generally a fan of meatloaf, but this one is not to be missed! -
Review from Nina M.
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
My visit was for a holiday company luncheon. I was greeted when I arrived and the front house staff was friendly. Our waitress wasn't that great and I heard her huffing as she served our party of 12 in the cramped corner booth. However, I like that they have some interesting food choices including Scooby Doo Pasta. With "Scooby Doo" in the title it must have some merit. We tried the spinach dip which was really good. Sooo much better than some of the major chain sit down restaurants I've had it at. The cheese was thick and gooey with the right amount of veggies. The tortilla chips are from SW Detroit and made the app a repeat when I come back. For nachos they have: 1) veggie, 2) ground beef) and 3) ground chicken. We tried the ground chicken and it was okay, but I can't get with "ground" unless it's ground chuck or ground round.
The meal: The "Daniel" chicken sandwich was a delectable lunch choice for $10 (one of the specials. The chicken breast was moist & flavorful with portabella mushrooms & onions. I would try it again minus the Gorgonzola cheese (I'm an American/Swiss kind of gal). The bowls of soup are huge & the french onion soup was a hit at our table.
Overall I like Union Street and will try it again. They have wi-fi too which is a plus. -
Review from Ivana D.
10/2/2011
I ate here with four other friends before a show at the Magic Stick and the food was amazing! We all ordered very different dishes (fish n chips, beef satays, portobello mushroom sandwhich, guacamole melts, black bean soup) and each dish came in a great serving size for a great price. We all ordered desserts and side dishes with our meals and it only costed around $90!
It was a Friday night and there was no wait, and the atmosphere of the place was really nice. It has sort of a late 1800's vibe.
The only thing I'd complain about is our waiter since he forgot and mixed up one or two of our side dishes. But it definitely didn't ruin my experience there.
Overall, I thought the Union was great, awesome prices for utterly delicious food with a really cool atmosphere! -
Review from Chantelle S.
Detroit, MI
1/14/2012
The Food is SO GOOD!
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Review from C D.
Columbus, OH
1/26/2012
I have ordered food "to go" from here multiple times. Their "Gee Gee" sandwich is awesome, and some of the fish items are also pretty good. However, their "fish and chips" didn't have any flavor to it. I love their mac and cheese and the black bean soup is also quite good.
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Review from Lisa R.
Somerville, MA
12/10/2011
Union Street is kind of an odd place; in some ways it feels like it's trying to be upscale dining, in other ways it feels like a midwestern family restaurant. If it weren't for the upscale aspirations, I might have been happy with my experience, but as it was, it fell flat. The waiter was too perky (think TGI Friday's), the menu too unfocused (TGI Fridays again), and the food was trying too hard (what's with the flower garnishes?). Actually, my dish tasted ok, but the ingredients were not fresh and dish had wayyy too many flavors. So, it's a step up from Applebee's, but not exactly fine dining.
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Review from Jennifer V.
Ann Arbor, MI
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm not sure what all the hatred towards Union Street is about.... I stopped in here last night with my fiance before we went across the street to the Majestic for the They Might Be Giants show, and we were totally impressed.
I had heard both bad and good things about Union Street. Oddly, the good things were all from people who live IN the city; the bad, from people who live outside of it. Take that for what it is, but I'm always skeptical about folks who know little to nothing about Detroit spouting off opinions about the city I've come to know and love.
Anyway, I'll get on with it! We decided to eat like heifers because, well, neither of us had eaten all day (the boy had to work all day, and I had been running errands to prep for my sister's upcoming 30th birthday), and we were freakin' STARVING.
We were seated immediately (though the host wasn't exactly the nicest person in the world; sorry for making you do your JOB, dude), which was nice. I started with the seafood chowder; my fiance started with the black bean soup. Uhm, YUM! The seafood chowder was surprisingly good - thick, creamy, and full of flavor. I can't speak personally for the black bean soup, but my fiance - a fiend for all things black-bean-related - LOVED it. We both had burgers, and they were also delish. Great quality Angus beef, cooked just the way we ordered them (medium), with yummy cheddar and fresh fixins. The fries were cooked perfectly, too. We also ordered a side of the mac & cheese and garlic whipped potatoes, just to check them out. Both were excellent! The mac & cheese was full of depth and SUPER cheesy, and the potatoes were just awesome.
We also ordered a couple of sangrias, which were pretty heavy handed with the booze (no complaints, here!). I also ordered a peach bellini, though it was a little bit too much peach and not enough champagne (I also tend to prefer them frozen, anyway).
All in all, it was a great experience. The service was a little bit slow, but we had time to kill before the show, and our server was excellent despite the wait. We'll definitely be back!Listed in: What a Lush!
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Review from Irina Z.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2011
Had to try the Dragon Eggs (so spicy they cleared my sinuses, but were delicious). Crabwich was pretty good. Our waiter was super nice and refreshingly honest (one of us wanted to get the Monterey Melt, and the waiter asked, "Have you had it before? No? Get anything but that.") Gotta appreciate that.
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Review from Adam M.
Chicago, IL
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
A but on the pricey side from the eye test, but the food was excellent. Tried the dragon balls (friend ordered them and I had half of one) which were real hot, but good, and ordered this tequila chicken thing that was really tasty. Came with Mac and cheese and a peach cobler too which was the best deal (in my opinion) on the menu since I got a dessert with it.
This is a great date place or place to take your parents for a birthday or something. With the prices, I couldn't see coming here for just a casual dinner with a friend. -
Review from jenny c.
San Francisco, CA
8/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Standard two star review: ok to slow service, pricey everything, foods are under-spiced or mediocre or just plain unimaginative.
BUT they sometimes have $10 bottles of wine, which is nice to know when my wine-friends invite me out to share some bottles.
If you go here, its worth the extra dough to get an entree vs a sandwich. Sandwiches always are the same with rotating proteins. The chili is good.
You can get Hot Spokes delivery 11a-4p M-F if yr into their food.
BIKES::: lock up outside to a parking sign. -
Review from Marie L.
7/14/2011
Dear Union Street,
This is my love letter to you. Your cocktails make me swoon and your tasty treats leave me longing for more. You will always hold a special place in my heart, stomach and liver.
When can I see you again?
xoxo,
Marie L.
P.S. If you bring back the Gorgonzola Salad, I will love you forever.
__________________________________________________ _
Here's a rundown of my favorite noshes (in no particular order):
Maurice Salad is surprisingly good, but get the dressing on the side.
Dragons Eggs are a must! If you don't like spice, ask them to hold the rasta sauce. They are still delicious without them.
Steak New Orleans - It's filet medallions over their jambalaya sauce - which is incredible.
Mac & Cheese - made with a port wine cheese! Yum!
Black Bean nachos - delightful!
Beef satay - listed as an appetizer, but big enough for a meal. The sauteed spinach is delicious!
Baked brie - served with fresh fruit - perfect light app or snack.
Other things to know/consider:
The staff are absolutely wonderful, hard working individuals. Some are faster and more efficient than others, but that's life. In all my years of going to Union Street, I have never had a less than pleasant encounter with any staff member, including the owner.
The crowd is diverse - lawyers, medical professionals, college students, designers, etc. Thanks to the fact that there are no televisions, you will almost always find great conversation at the bar, even if you are there by yourself!
They also offer a $5 menu on Monday and Tuesday and drink specials throughout the week including $5 martinis and a local draft of the month. Bartenders are super friendly and make delicious cocktails of any kind! -
Review from Anna G.
Royal Oak, MI
6/13/2011
Visited for the first time, very nice mix of people. I ordered their gazpacho and it was simply delicious!!!!!
My husband and a friend's dish - i believe it was beef brisket - was nicely done and in good amount as well. I'm actually having the leftover as a sandwich as I type this review.
I wished their baked brie cheese was more baked, warmer and smoother but we still enjoyed it (Europeans and cheese, ugh! lol) Will be back for sure.
If you are one of those people not comfortable with parking in Detroit, you can use $3 attended parking right next to the restaurant. -
Review from Scott H.
Royal Oak, MI
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I know that many people love Union Street, but it's never "done it" for me. The interior makes a great attempt at capturing the allure of the early 20th century joint, but doesn't quite make it. My major issue with this place is the noise level. It's really really loud. I don't mind loud places, but there is a fine line between loud, and then obnoxiously loud.
The service is average. The food is pretty good. Beer selection is average. -
Review from Annette L.
Redford, MI
6/28/2011
I had the pleasure of dining at Union Street for a friend's birthday. What a great surprise in the D!
The Tomato Basil Soup was superb, the Dragon Eggs were delicious and their habanero sauce was good enough to take home! I sampled their wings with the enhanced BBQ sauce - what an enhancement... I was not impressed with the Beef Brisket, it was a bit hard, but very flavorful. The Mac and Cheese, however, was the best I'd ever had!
I finished the meal with their coffee that has a hint of cinnamon - added a hint of cream, no sugar needed.
Great variety, Union Street! The service was fantastic, knowledgeable, and super helpful. We plan to return! -
Review from Stacy L.
Royal Oak, MI
3/30/2011
I will NEVER eat here again.
The first (and only) time I ever went here was for a special occasion -- one of my best friends was singing in a special concert at the DSO, and my date suggested this place because it was close by and (supposedly) had a great reputation. We arrived with well over three hours before showtime.
Not only did it take us a long time to even be seated (and they weren't even that busy), but the service was HORRIBLE. Not just slow -- yes, it took a long time for us to even get a waiter to take our drink orders after we were seated, and then take a long time for the drinks to come out, but after we were finally able to place our order, the time it was taking for our food was beyond unreasonable. When my date inquired as to what to what the hold up was and explained that we had to be at a show at 8 pm, he was rudely interrupted by our waiter, who said, "Yeah, well EVERYBODY'S gotta be somewhere at 8, there's nothing I can do about it. You'll just have to sit tight and wait."
I wish I were exaggerating and making this up, but I'm not. His tone was extremely, unbelievably rude, and I know it wasn't my date and I, I witnessed this waiter being equally insolent with a neighboring table, with whom we exchanged "WTF?!" glances with during our stay.
If you'd like service and food like this, I recommend Ed Debevic's in Chicago, at least that's what people expect, because that's their schtick.
When we finally got our drinks and food, they were OK, but certainly not worth the (lack of) service we received, and without question NOT WORTH missing my friend singing at the DSO, which we did, and thanks to this place, RUINED MY NIGHT.Comment from Miles H. of Union Street 7/12/2011
I do apologize for the poor experience that you had at our… More » -
Review from Ben H.
Detroit, MI
7/18/2011
The heaping mountain of nachos was so gargantuan that my girlfriend and I were convinced something biblical was taking place. I ordered the nachos thinking it would be just some medium-sized appetizer before the main dish. It was, after all, listed under "Appetizers."
No. Oh, no, no. I could barely see her over the top of it. I started eating and immediately realized I needed her help. So the two of us attempted to hack apart the nachos coliseum before us. By the time the actual dishes arrived, we were both full of nachos and could barely touch our meals...and we still had two thirds of the nachos plate to go!
On top of that, the meals themselves were almost equally intimidating portions. We had to take everything home in boxes and eventually had to throw some of it out because it was just too much food, even when you're rationing it over the course of a week. And I have a pretty big stomach so that says something.
Quality: Decent food. Decent atmosphere. Beer selection was also decent. Good enough that we'd consider going back. -
Review from kristen f.
Detroit, MI
4/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been to Union street eons ago, and was not impressed with the dinner selection.
However, when brunch calls, brunch gets what brunch wants. A good friend and I revisited Union Street a few weeks ago. Bottomless mimosas were good, pretty strong. Well, I'm a now a lightweight, so to me they were strong. Prompt service.
The highlights: Heeping stacks of walnut french toast and pancakes. I've not seen those kind of portions anywhere in a very long time. Not just heeping stacks though, delicious heeping stacks!
The ambience is very Detroit... gritty deco, with pieces of memorabilia from better times. I will probably be returning once I've sampled more area brunch options. -
Review from Carole H.
1/2/2011
If there's a concert across the street, or a show in town, or the DSO is playing, this place will get packed. And like most any restaurant, when it's packed, you might have to wait a minute for your food. Don't let that turn you off - enjoy the bustle of the crowd, the unique art deco interior, a cold beer, and relax. I've always had attentive servers, who, even if the kitchen was backed up, were on top of my drink refills.
As for the food, the mac & cheese side dish is awesome (although pricey for the small portion). I've never had a miss with any of their chicken sandwiches. And oooooohhhh the Manchego steak sandwich.......LOVE!!! And I am not even a red meat eater, really. I will go to a steak house and order a salad. But in an odd, meaty mood, I ordered this steak sandwich (cooked to a perfect medium), and have found it impossible to order anything else upon my subsequent returns.
For the last year or so, they've had the feature of taking take-out orders online - you don't even have to call in! Pretty cool.
As far as the bar goes, it gets full pretty fast, but the few times I've hung out here just for a drink (without getting food), it was a cool scene - friendly bartenders and I always found good conversation with the folks a bar stool or two down from me.
Union Street, I like you. -
Review from Heidi M.
2/12/2011
Oh this review makes me so sad, this used to be one of my favorite restaurants. I remember picking it for my birthday dinner destination a few times.
But...the last 2 times I have been, it has not been good. The service has been terrible, I mean really really bad. When I went for dinner this past week, we waited forever to even place our order and had to remind the waiter about the drink that he forgot to bring out.
The food is still good (not great anymore). But I have an issue with them serving tortilla chips, then charging extra for salsa. Then not even telling you that you are going to get charged for the "special order salsa" that you requested, it just shows up on the bill. And it's not even good salsa (it appears to have what looks like canned corn floating in it)!!! Better look out they will be charging for ketchup and mustard next.
On the other hand the pint of Bell's that I had was $1.89. But of course I wasn't made aware of that either until the bill came. I might have had more then one if I had known it was on special. -
Review from Shunda B.
3/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a like a 10 minute walking distance from the DIA.
The food was good... I had a corn beef sandwich ($7.95) and side of fries ($1.50); the sandwich was a nice size but fries were like a small size.
They are also known for their variety of beers and even a couple brewed here in Detroit. I tried a "Cherry Chocolate" beer -- OMG it was nasty! You probably thought I was going to say "it was AWESOME" or something like that; well nope -- I'm also not a beer drinker so that's probably why. I also tried a fruity drink called "Nate Vacation" -- it was really good and I could barely taste the liquor. :)
This place was clean and served us right away -- it could be a place for a group of people just having fun or even a nice romantic dinner. Don't worry it also caters to the Vegetarian people as well.Comment from Miles H. of Union Street 7/12/2011
We do have quite the beer selection here, all though some… More » -
Review from Jonny P.
12/13/2010
After getting a recommendation from my bud Ben back in Chi and hearing about how great the brunch menu is I made the trek this past Sunday to Union Street. Woke up in the morning to a blanket of snow, Shorty was raring to go why I motivated to clean the car off etc.
We found street parking right in front of the restaurant it was 11:30ish. The hostess promptly seated us, the restaurant was mostly empty. Our server was courteous, extremely personable and knew the menu.
I decided on the Lobster Benedict while she chose the Pumpkin Pancakes. Fresh fruit was brought out alongside my tea with our main order following after about 15-20 minutes.
The restaurant became quite busy but the attentiveness of our server did not fade. I thoroughly enjoyed the food and the over all experience. The quality of our food was great, Union Street could hold it's own anywhere. I'll definitely be back... -
Review from Lisa S.
Detroit, MI
10/31/2010
I went to Union Street for the first time last night, and told a few of my friends my dinner plans. Much to my surprise, my friends howled at me not to go, saying they've had terrible experiences there (a bout of food poisoning, excruciatingly slow service, etc).
Brow furrowed. Looked at Boy. Boy looked back and said, "Fuck it, I want Dragon's Eggs."
We went.
Absolutely no complaints, I had a fabulous dinner (one of sandwiches on Special, SO GOOD), Boy was sweating through the "eggs", but loved them just the same. Service was wonderful (very funny waiter who was on his game re: refilling my constantly emptied water glass). Food was so good, we even had dessert. Mmmmm bumpy caakkee... -
Review from AL G.
Royal Oak, MI
2/4/2011
We ate at the Union Street before seeing Mayer Hawthorne at the Majestic. I had been there a few times before and always had a good experience. However, this time was quite different.
THE FOOD: There was about six of us, and we all ordered something different. I had the Monterey Melt, which was just okay. Someone else ordered some Mac and Cheese and Salad, which looked okay but nothing special. My g/f ordered the Dragon Eggs. I've had them before and was excited that she was going to share them with the whole table. They tasted a little bit different this time but I couldn't put my finger on it. It wasn't till someone cut into the Dragon Egg and examined it further that we all noticed the chicken was uncooked. Yup, we were eating raw chicken. To say the least, I lost my appetite. Since I ate the most of the Dragon Eggs, I was thoroughly upset.
THE SERVICE: Our waiter was nice enough and acknowledge that the chicken was indeed raw and quickly took away the dish. I had them take away my dish as well cuz I refused to eat anymore. The others ordered another batch of Dragon Eggs. They were cooked the second time around, but I was amazed that they even took another turn at them. What really got to me is how the whole matter was handled by the waiter. He took the original Dragon Eggs off our tab but charged the second batch to our bill. In my opinion, the entire meal should have been comped. I was going to talk with the manager, but my g/f and friends said not to and it wasn't that big of a deal. They actually joked that I was being a baby. So I let it go and tried to have a good time at the concert.
THE DAY AFTER: So what happens the morning after eating a ball of raw chicken? Lets just say I need a new pair of underwear. I was ill for the entire day. To make it worse it was Christmas Eve and I had some final gifts to buy and a Christmas dinner to attend. It was long day indeed.
OVERALL: I was going to give one star but I recalled the previous times I ate there and reluctantly gave two stars. My g/f says she'll still go back and order the Dragon Eggs. Me in the other hand, have eaten my last Dragon Egg. Word of advise Union Street, be much more generous and apologetic the next time you accidently serve someone a plateful of raw meat. -
Review from Jessica S.
Detroit, MI
1/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't get to Union Street terribly often, but when I do, it's usually a pretty great experience. The service has yet to disappoint, the food is decently priced for the serving size/quality, and it has a very unique ambiance/atmosphere inside.
Highlights for me include:
-Tomato Basil Bisque (only offered as a special/soup of the day, which is a shame, as I think I enjoy it more than the soup offered daily.)
-Lobster and Cilantro Thin Crust Pizza (perhaps a bit overboard on the cilantro at times, but nothing so terrible that I can't work around it)
-Filet Mignon (Always tender and juicy, always cooked exactly as I order it.)
-Lobster and Shrimp Casino (Hands down, my favorite dish. I wouldn't change a thing!)
-JW's French Creme Potatoes (A little taste of heaven!)
The only thing I personally will skip on all future visits would be the Seafood Chowder. A bit too "fishy" for my taste. Other than that, it's smooth sailing! -
Review from Danielle H.
Lansing, MI
9/13/2011
I really loved my trip to Union Street! I went for brunch this past Sunday and had a wonderful time. The food was good and the atmosphere was fantastic. I enjoyed bottomless mimosas while my date took advantage of the bloody mary bar (they had a whole set up with the works- pickled okra, feta/blue cheese stuffed olives, peppered bacon etc) and he was extremely pleased as well.
I can't wait to go back for another visit. -
Review from Ryan B.
2/28/2011
We wanted to find a nice place for a double date that would not break the bank. Union Street fit the bill.
If this place had some consistency and better customer service, it would be a solid 4. The reason it comes in at a 3 is because out of four dishes only one was prepared and delivered correctly.
The beef satay that was ordered as an entrée was room temp-not hot and not cold.
The Shrimp and Lobster pasta-was good. However the shrimp were chewy.
The New Orleans Steak was ordered Medium-Well. The steak was in three pieces. One piece cooked perfect and two pieces were sushi style rare.
The whitefish was the one entrée that was perfected.
The waitress never did the after delivery follow up with "How is everything". When she did ask three of the folks were done eating and I was sitting with my raw steak. They did bring me another entrée-after everyone was done eating. Also they knocked 50% this specific entrée.
Oh I almost forgot. I wanted a second beer and asked what Bells was on tap. She did not know. I wanted to order another beer, but she never came back to tell me. Grrr...
Ok, so at this point the place was sitting at 2.5 stars. But, the cheesecake and oreo cake were awesome. So I bumped it to 3. Again, she forgot the coffee we ordered with dessert.
After writing this review I realize how bad the experience really was. I guess the only reason it is not a two star is because of the great company I had. -
Review from Kelli A.
8/20/2010
Too bad I didn't read the reviews BEFORE going. The lady seated next to us ordered the Dragon Eggs (I was clueless) and let me have a bite. Yum! I had already finished my gawd awful salad....I don't even remember what it was, some 'spicy' Asian mess with either duck or chix. Blech. A big bowl of soggy lettuce drowning in corn syrup. No taste, no spice, all sweet. I told the waiter I was in the mood for SPICY and that was his suggestion??? He was just AWFUL! Never bothered to return and check on us. Not ONCE...until he brought us the check. My lunch partners were not impressed, either. I really should have called out to the manager but we were so freaking famished. Ugh.
This joint came highly recommended. So disappointing. -
Review from Lorna D.
6/22/2010
Ahh..Union Street. It's been the on-and-off backdrop of my life for decades. I'll try to peel back extensive layers of memorable evenings, people, and life events associated with this place to simply tell you about the joint.
It's dark and woody-how decadent it feels to lay back with a beer or four over lunch with a friend on your day off as the city and its characters carry on outside.
The beer list is an adventure, the tasty vittles rich and saucy. I have yet to find calamari I like more! Portions are HUGE. Yeah-I guess it can sometimes take awhile to get your food. Sometimes. But you can see the waitstaff pounding the floor so bide your time and enjoy. I'm shocked to read so many complaints about the servers...I have found them to be nothing but friendly, fun, and extremely gracious.
Weekend nights are either slower after the show crowd leaves or crazy, teeming with regulars and hipster types looking over each others' shoulders and/or chatting it up.
Go.
Update: Just went there on MLK day after a while away. Apparently they didn't schedule enough servers, though lots of folks have that day off. I was a bit shocked when our server got snippy with my cohorts (this began even before they got busy that day) and then simply vanished. We were left cooling our heels for very long stretches-to the point of eventually having to flag down passers-by to get a much-needed water fill-up, our bill, etc...while feeling neglected and weirded out. Yes-it wasn't her fault that she was overextended, or that the food was coming out at odd times. But you hustle, you apologize, and you take a quick sec to explain the situation and hope the people understand (we're old regulars and certainly would've). You don't just disappear, leaving folks sitting there. I truly hope this was a fluke as I'll always love this place, and the food was still delicious! -
Review from Cristopher B.
Troy, MI
6/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
I like Union Street. I won't go out of my way to head in there, but if I'm in the area and need a place to stop in and eat, the Street is on the list. It's got its issues, for sure, but on the whole Union Street is not a bad place to gather your group.
I suppose I've been pretty fortunate to not have the big service issues that lots of other Yelpers seem to have had. Sometimes the food comes out slower than I'd like, but I've never had issues with splitting a check or getting orders taken promptly or drinks refilled in an orderly manner. I'm sure it depends on who you get or when you go, and to that end I've been pretty lucky so far.
Speaking of drinks, the beer list is generally unremarkable. That's okay, I'm not so big a drinker that I need a thousand different beers on tap to be happy.
The food, in my experience, is pretty decent. I've never ordered anything here I didn't like. Sometimes I am a little put off by the choices they make - their jambalaya for example is self-described as "Detroit-influenced" and is "simmered in a hearty Cajun-style stew." Basically that ain't jambalaya, but it's still tasty. Their sandwiches are pretty good too.
On the whole it seems like an exercise in mediocrity, doesn't it? I mean it's "good" not "great," all the way around. That's not an unkind thing to say, it just is what it is. But let me tell you what has seared itself into my memory.
Their "Rasta Wings," billed as Detroit's "best and hottest" wings - indeed, to this date I have never eaten anything hotter. I love spicy food, and you know, this was good -I was surprised that even as hot as it was, there was still good flavor going on here, it wasn't just hot hot heat. As I think back on it I am kind of craving some good wings of this caliber right now. So score one for Union Street there, I guess. Though they're a little pricy, ten bucks for a dozen wings feels like a lot to me, however they are damn tasty. But let me stress once again, I have NEVER eaten anything hotter. The sauce these wings are doused in is hot. Really, really effin hot. It is a heat that burns you for awhile afterward. It is a heat you will feel all night. It is a heat you will experience twice. I believe it is something a person would have to get used to.
All that said, Union Street isn't bad. What it does well, it does quite well. Where it has deficiencies, it's not bad enough that it's bothered me. I'd recommend checking it out if you're in the area. -
Review from Tara R.
Chattanooga, TN
6/25/2010
Man, what is with all this dramatic opining about Union Street? It's fine. It's often better than fine. I'm usually very pleased with my meal and I've never been disgusted. Sometimes the service is slow, but the servers have never been rude to me and they usually apologize when it takes a little too long to get my food or drink. Prices are reasonable, portions are big and the atmosphere is just to my liking - unpretentious, in a pretty cool architectural space with one of the most mixed crowds in the city (it isn't all white people or all black people or all young people or all families - how refreshing!).
My favorite menu items include The Monterey Melt (guac, tomato, red onions, and melted Swiss and Cheddar cheeses on Jalapeno Cheddar bread - simply one of my favorite veggie sandwiches around), the flash-fried Calamari steak, and yes, the Dragon Eggs (though I allow myself that indulgence once a year or less). The fish and chips are pretty good. The Manchego Steak sandwich is not something I would order regularly - don't eat a lot of red meat at restaurants - but it tastes damn good.
I admit that the chili is underwhelming, as well as the slaw. Any menu this big is bound to be hit or miss. In that situation, I tend to look for the items that are most special and ask others what they like. To damn this place after one visit seems unfair. Oh, well. Judging by the crowd on a recent Monday night visit, I don't think Union Street is hurting for business. -
Review from Christos M.
Sterling Heights, MI
12/11/2010
I'm not sure why everyone raves about the dragon eggs... Had them on my 1st and most likely only visit and they weren't anything good or special. Not spicy and too much cheese inside. For a $10+ appetizer I would pass.
Service was awful. Our waiter essentially disappeared. Literally he did not come to the table for 20 minutes (through the whole meal or after for refills or to take plates) then a different waiter showed up with the bill. Not sure what happened to our guy. Food wasn't much better, with everything being overly seasoned.
Lastly why have a chalkboard with a beer selection when it never changes? The chalkboard above the bar and the menu list the exact same beers/ales! Does this make sense to anyone?! I look for a chalkboard list so I know what's seasonal or the special at that time. Don't waste my time with it if that's always the beer you have! -
Review from Seoung L.
7/6/2010
I use to love this place during my college years. It was cool, it was delicious, it was also a good place to take out of towners.
Just went back recently and it wasn't all that. Average food, average service, and the place just didn't seem like a good place to dine anymore.
I will say what 3 stars mean. "A-Ok"
I can't say it's better then that or worse.
last visit there few months ago, we got salad and a half order of ribs and I wasn't wowed by it. I actually had better ribs at franchise place like Famous Dave's. I know they have other things in the menu that tastes better then what I ordered but that's not a good thing when a restaurant has some good stuff and some bad stuff. I like restaurants that have consistency through out their menu.
Few things to note:
I noticed few of the waiters are rude. Not to my group but to other near us. We were somewhat appalled by this. It is busy on weekends and the food takes awhile. Lot of homeless people hanging around there. -
Review from Miike G.
Novi, MI
7/26/2011
Great craft beer selection, good appetizers, and fair prices. What more can you ask for. Try going on a Tuesday night if you enjoy inexpensive craft beer and order some dragon eggs. Amazing and enough to feed two. Will be back in the very near future!
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Review from Hope S.
Philadelphia, PA
2/3/2011
This is a great place to take a friend or date. The atmosphere is relaxed and the interior of this place is so neat as its keep that old school tradition. At night the red lights are just so neat.
Lunch is definitely a better deal for your dollar. There's a great drink selection, no complaints there. Diner can get rather busy so if you're going on a Fri or Sat night chances are you might hit a wait.
My favorite dishes, that have been on the menu since like 01-02 and are the Union Street Jambalaya and the grilled eggplant sandwich. The rotating specials make for some amazing finds too! -
Review from Kara H.
Lansing, MI
4/2/2010
Union Street is 3 stars decent - A-OK, but that's it. I enjoy the interesting decor and crowd that frequents the place, but the food is fairly boring and the staff is usually of the hipster, too-self-absorbed-to-pay-attention-to-your-needs variety. That being said, there was ONE time when I was delighted with my meal, a smoked duck pasta special.
I always WANT to like Union Street, it just never proves itself to me. -
Review from Dan R.
Chattanooga, TN
2/27/2010
Better than average, but not spectacular food. They have a big-league deep fryer that can produce some big juicy calamari filets and pretty tasty cod. I also like the Manchego steak sandwich: red meat, smelly cheese, creamy, tangy sauce, and fresh salad greens. The sides are pretty good--macaroni, baked beans, cole slaw, etc.. I agree with some of the others that Dragonballs are ridiculous and a public health hazard. However, sometimes your physical urges fight against your reason.
I feel like the service is totally misrepresented on here. I've been to Union Street at least 20 times without any major complaints, aside from the occasional kitchen delay. Once, a waiter went out of his way to make us fresh tartar sauce from scratch when the kitchen ran out.
Finally, hipsters aside, the atmosphere is one my favorites. Name another casual bar in Detroit without TVs. Enough said... -
Review from Colleen C.
Brooklyn, NY
2/20/2009
After the rockin' elite party, my peeps and I were in serious need of some sustenance...
Luckily, Union Street is directly across the street from Garden Bowl, and provided an unexpected, but lovely dining experience. Dark wood, vintage touches, very old-school, though upscale enough for it to feel...special? Perhaps. Comfortable.
First, the service was FANTASTIC. I wish I had caught his name, but he was genuine, helpful, funny, quick with the refills and happy to bring whatever we might need. Really well done.
Food:
Calamari app: Eh, take it or leave it. It was a bit breaded and very thick chunks of squid, but it lacked flavor. The red peppers were good, but the onions were undercooked, and um...raw onions are never a good touch. I'd skip this and try something else.
My entree: pistachio crusted salmon salad with honey mustard and cute little mozzarella balls. Very good. Adequate portion for $12, fresh, tasty. I think a different dressing may have done it more justice, as this was more like sandwich mustard, but it could certainly be tweaked to an awesome level. Very fresh.
My only tips:
1. Ditch the plastic tablecloths. They cheapen the place...wood tables, or even white linens would take this place from 4 to 5 stars, easily. The ambience is quite enjoyable, but the plastic evokes feelings reminiscent of the early bird special, bland food, and children. Not a romantastic vibe!
2. Rearrange the middle tables...angles are odd, and you end up elbow to elbow with strangers right behind you. I think there's a better way to arrange...and still maximize space! -
Review from Rebecca T.
Clawson, MI
2/12/2010
*sniff sniff*
What's that I smell? Oh yes, the stench of failure, which is what Union Street delivered tonight.
I had such high hopes for this place, despite reading mixed reviews on here, I was looking forward to going here after a LONG absence (years).
I was going to give it 2 stars but as I reflected back on my night, remembering certain things bumped it down to 1.
There were 3 of us dining and before ordering, we asked for separate checks and the waitress gave pause for a second and then said "okay". I ordered the buffalo burger (which was advertised as being served on a 'fresh bun') and asked for it cooked medium. Now, I'm aware of what a 1/2 pound buffalo burger looks like, cooked medium, and this was not it. I took a bite and the bun was fresh maybe on Monday, but it was stale and dry on Friday (as was the bun on my friends sandwich that she got) and medium cooked this was not. Someone left it on the grill WAY too long, it completely lacked flavor.
My dining companion ordered a grilled cheese and asked if she could substitute fries for the chips and the waitress said, in that curt tone that was present through the meal "no substitutions". I ended up ordering a side of macaroni and cheese and what a disappointment that was as well. A puddle of grease on the top, underneath was a mess of noodles and curdled milk/cheese and I still don't know what the brown (or black? I don't know, it was so dark where we were sitting I had trouble reading the menu) things were in there. Mushrooms? Truffles? Secret ingredient, ala Iron Chef?
I pointed out the lack of flavor, texture and overall appeal of the burger and she asked if I would like to substitute it with anything (again, curt tone and all) and I declined, just nibbling on the macaroni. Thankfully the burger was removed from the bill.
My friend (who had a sandwich with stale bun and all) had a few bites of her sandwich and was unimpressed as well, and the other friend enjoyed her grilled cheese and had no complaints until she just texted me on her way home saying she felt sick...
Don't know if I'll be giving this one another shot. Definitely won't be requesting that waitress anytime soon, no smiles, no "thanks for coming in", nothing heartwarming about it. -
Review from Elizabeth H.
Delray Beach, FL
7/24/2008 ROTD 8/26/2008
The Eats: THE REASON TO COME HERE IS THE PICKLES. The fried pickles are the only thing I have had here aside from an OK burger. Now, I might go back every time I'm in Detroit for those pickles. I'm not even a pickle person. Pretty decent beer selection.
Maybe if it was like a pot luck appetizer stop, people would like it?
I don't know. I guess don't get your expectations up for dinner. It looks like the rest of the yelper's were a bit let down. I wish they had tried those pickles..... Maybe that is all they should be serving.
The Experience: People, people....look at the place. What are you expecting? It is dark, strange, and damp feeling. I don't go there for the spa service.
The Damage: No more expensive than your average bar food.Listed in: Detroit Put Your Hands Up
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Review from Kyle S.
Ypsilanti, MI
1/11/2009 ROTD 1/17/2009
This place is cute. The art deco ceiling is pretty neat. The place itself reminds me of old Detroit. Like a jazz bar or something. I have no idea what it was before Union Street.
I love myself a good burger and I have been on this kick lately.. It's not healthy, I know. But, I could be dead tomorrow -- so I'll do what I want. Don't judge me. Anyhow, I ordered one of the three burgers they have listed - The Boss Angus Burger. It was good, but wasn't the best I have had. Quite mediocre. One thing I was disappointed with was that my burger came with tortilla chips. I found that very strange. Typically a burger will come with fries or I wouldn't have been surprised to have seen ripple chips or regular potato chips, it's just they were Tostitos. That really thew me.
Draught beer is only a few quarters above average prices and my Blue Moon wasn't very cold.
I had the best looking server in the restaurant, so it kind of made up for the warm beer. : )
I would give this place a second try and will update this posting once I do so. I wouldn't avoid this place. Everyone else seems to love it. I just wasn't incredibly impressed.
Two things to avoid are meeting someone here by yourself - The liquor store next to the restaurant always has bums hanging out in front. & make sure you're not parking your car too far away or in a dark area.
