This place is well known but what people say about it these days I do not know
Still gets a lot of great reviews, but some people say overrated, pretentious and too expensive
Union Square Cafe
Categories:
American (New),
Italian,
Breakfast & Brunch
21 E 16th St(between W Union Sq & 5th Ave)
New York, NY 10003
Neighborhoods: Union Square, Flatiron
(212) 243-4020
- Nearest Transit Station:
-
14 St. - Union Sq (N, Q, R)Union Sq - 14 St. (L)14 St. - Union Sq (4, 5, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 12 pm - 10 pmFri 12 pm - 11 pmSat 11 am - 11 pmSun 11 am - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
- $$$
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
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600 reviews for Union Square Cafe
Review Highlights What's this?
-
"Oh how I love any excuse to go to a Danny Meyer restaurant." In 46 reviews
-
"banana tart, apple tart, pecan pie and chocolate hazelnut mousse." In 42 reviews
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"Ricotta Gnocchi, Tomato-Basil Passatina, Pecorino Romano." In 33 reviews
Rating Distribution | Trend
- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
599 reviews in English
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Review from Chris X.
Manhattan, NYStill great after all these years, is how I'd put it. USC is one of the more versatile go-to spots: great food, solid service, in a great location and (notably) suitable for work/date/out-of-towners/mom and dad. The quarters are a little cramped, but overall you really can't go wrong here. The menu is deep and rotates, so you can keep coming back and still try something new.
Here's what we had:
Oyster selection: mmmmmm - fresh and creamy
Shishinto peppers: yum. I've been trying to figure out how they turn out so much better than than I make them at home
Prosciutto-wrapped scallops - perfectly seared/perfectly complemented
Grilled swordfish - a very summery dish. Grilled with sweet corn and a pesto drizzle. This was the hit of the meal.
The wine list is deep but leans heavily towards Old World, particularly reds, but the staff is helpful if that throws you out of your element. -
Review from Jenny W.
San Francisco, CAPricey but worth it.
I came here for lunch and had the most amazing lamb chops. It was savory and juicy and a healthy amount for the price. One of the best lamb chops I've ever had. I still think of it sometimes.
Also a cute place for lunch - has a cool painting / decor and nice ambiance. -
Review from Chelsea P.
Pinole, CAWas so disappointed by the food! I was excited to try this restaurant with my boyfriend. We arrived at the last seating and the place was still pretty crowded, so I assumed the food had to be worth staying for. The wait staff was very friendly and professional.
I ordered the steak and my boyfriend ordered the chicken. The steak came out WAY overcooked although I ordered medium rare. It was cooked all the way through and was not seasoned. One of the worst steaks I have ever had at a restaurant in NYC. My boyfriend's chicken was okay, the skin was very salty however and the chicken could have been more moist. The oysters tasted super fishy and the side of corn was so bland. Overall I was disappointed with the experience. Especially for their price range. -
Review from lindsey s.
Brooklyn, NYI've wanted to go here for several years and must say I am officially let down by the experience at USC.
The Story
Sat down and waited for 2 others to join who were slightly late. We alerted our host who said it was fine. But this just meant they were going to ignore us... Took over 20 minutes for anyone to acknowledge our table or that we may need a beverage - even just water.
Service
At one point we almost got up and got our own coffee and water. That should summarize how poor the service was. When letting our server know it was disappointing that service had been lacking - he told us some reservations had all come in late and asked if we wanted to speak to a manager. No apologies and no attempt to sort out in any capacity.
And we were quite kind about it... Simply letting him know that us waiting to get plates cleared for 30 minutes and no water refills was not the best experience. Instead of handling gracefully, we were told our dessert was comped since we complained. Yes, he used that word. We didnt complain - we just let you know that it would have been nice to receive some service throughout the evening. Basic things. No manager ever came by and then we heard the staff gossiping about the "bad tables" of the evening by the bathrooms.
So disappointing. No food could make up for this let down and disrespect. -
Review from Mary F.
Brooklyn, NYThe Bad
- Found a bug on my plate...
- Seating was a bit awkward because there was a pole between two guests
The Good
- Service was great-- chef made a new entree because dish was cold due to late arrival from one of the guests
- Spaghettini-- love the texture of the breadcrumbs with the pasta; this is a well balanced plate
The Bottomline
- Definitely worth trying here. Food was great. Service was great. I'll probably come back for their brunch! -
Review from Terry K.
North Andover, MAUpon a friend's recommendation, we checked out Union Sqaure Cafe. It was exactly what we were looking for!.
We stopped in for lunch and started off the meal with their Scallop Crudo - unbelievably fresh. We also ordered a couple pastas which were amazing. I ordered my son the USC Burger - served up on a delicious brioche. It was a tad dry but not enough to ruin the burger.
I also loved the decor of the restaurant - it resonates with such warmth and has a great vibe. The service was impeccable and our server was attentive, knowledgeable and made spot on recommendations for wines that paired well with our meal.
We absolutely LOVED this place and can't wait to go back! -
Review from Xi L.
Wow this place is quite extravagant for its prices. Many different brunch items and many different dinner items yet each dish we ordered and I observed come to nearby tables had excellent presentation.
I went for brunch and ordered their french toast (call me a sucker for good french toast) but they did it amazingly well. The warm peach lightly cooked oozed flavor for the toast and above all the toast was not dry but moist and easy to cut through. It came in a giant square block which was interesting.
Service is on point (water refills) and waiters are very friendly. Seating was quick as well, while Cafeteria a few blocks away was 45 min to 1hr wait, this was 20 min for 3 ppl. While i have yet to try out cafeteria, I dont think waiting more than double the time would have been worth it given how great this place was.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Liza M.
Manhattan, NYappetizers are good here and they are cheap with pouring a wine of glass. Its a cool place to get appetizers and a glass of wine... it is expensive -
Review from Juan G.
Miami, FLFourth time at this place and simply Cest Magnifique , service , quality and beautiful people -
Review from Billy E.
Manhattan, NYThis restaurant is fantastic. Our server, Timothy, glided through the dining room like a total pro, making suggestions that were perfect for us. We had the strip steak, a bolognese pasta, and a salad with gruyere that were all equally amazing. There isn't a bad glass of wine to be had on that list either. Finally, treat yourself to a dessert and cappuccino, which could be the best I've had in NYC. Thank you, USC! -
Review from Jake B.
New York, NYthis place never fails to impress! I just moved back home from Europe and this place was on my list . living in NYC you get spoiled with so many options , so many great restaurants that choosing sometimes is the most difficult part. The first thing that I did was go and have a great meal at USC.I always get risotto no matter what type because they always do it right among other things that my wife and I shared ! Raw bar , awesome! Never had a bad meal here! If you are in NYC this places is a must! -
Review from Leah L.
New York, NYI definitely can see the draw here. Polished and professional hosts, knowledgeable waiters, and quality food. I want to give the restaurant a 5 star for their service, the waiters definitely knew the menu well and could articulate the flavor profiles of each dish. Very Important!
However, the 3 stars above is for the food. The food was good, not extraordinary. Could you get food like this elsewhere? Absolutely. However, it is a great dinner choice if you are in the area. I think what's worth reviewing are their selection of great wines, inventive cocktails, and beautifully displayed entrees (like the caramelized banana dessert with caramelized macadamia nuts), very tasty! The pastas are SUPER as well! (esp. Summer Squash Raviolini)
For the prices, you get ample portions. For its location, you will feel relaxed as the restaurant is spacious, sophisticated yet approachable. I very much enjoyed my experience and would probably return for brunch instead. I might suggest that they take more risks with the menu as I felt that they were "playing it safe" with the recipes. -
Review from Daniel Y.
San Francisco, CAI love both it and Gramercy Tavern. Union Square Cafe reminds me of a modern city. Food and service are excellent. -
Review from Zan N.
Manhattan, NYSo unimpressed. For a restaurant charging those prices, the food shouldn't be bland, the atmosphere should be charming, the service should be impeccable, and you shouldn't be charged for a side dish that the waiter forgot, had to remind the waiter of twice, and then finally arrived after the entrees. There are SO many better restaurants to go to. Don't waste your money here. They clearly have no regard for their customers. -
Review from Ella B.
Manhattan, NYMy two gal pals and I ate here last night. From the gnocchi to the salmon, it was delish:) As for wine, even my friends say I am a little fussy when it comes to choosing a bottle for the table. But this place delivers, having one of my all time favs, Château de Fonsalette.
Everything was as it always is here.. (every so often I like to give the old standards a whirl.) The only issue I had was a sense of being rushed. But the food, atmosphere and the buzz of the restaurant made it a great night out. -
Review from Patrick S.
Derwood, MDProfessional service...not friendly.
Really good food...not outstanding or particularly memorable.
Great location, terrific decor, modern feel and sophisticated clientelle.
A fine experience but I will not be rushing back too soon. -
Review from Emily G.
Manhattan, NYI just had the most special lunch! Before heading over to the Union Square Cafe, I took a look at these reviews to prepare myself for my first dining experience there. I was kind of shocked to read that the Danny Meyer staple had mixed reviews. Some said the food was nothing special, others complained of poor service, so I was a little apprehensive about my visit.
I can happily say that I had an amazing meal. Both the food and service especially were top notch and incredibly well done. Our server, Danielle, was one of the kindest, most knowledgable and outstanding servers I've ever had during a dining experience. Her recommendations were perfection and her service went above and beyond.
The highlight of the meal was our pasta dish, the Agnolotti. It was one of the most amazing pastas I think I've ever had and made me smile with every bite! If you go to USC, you must try one of their pasta dishes, it's not something to miss.
I'll definitely be back and thank USC for an amazing and incredibly special experience!
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