Reviews of UNION Restaurant (Restaurant)

swambui3 .

Food was excellent, despite the hair in my crab pasta dish. The smoked salmon is delish.Their drink menu needs work. I wasnt impressed. Service was excellent.

William McFarland

Phenomenal service and quality. Everything surpassed my expectations for luxury and I will be dining here again. They offered complimentary valet so even parking was a breeze.

Michael Webster

Cute staff and okay drinks. Expensive.

Julie Sherriff

I wish I could give it 5 stars but several issues arose. First, my lobster dish would have been rated fantastic..but only if the hard turnips were not in the creamed chowder. Chef, just because a veggie is in season, does not make its flavor or texture an enhancement to a dish. Turnips are too earthly and the hard bite spoils your otherwise heavenly dish! The lobster and sauce were otherwise sweet and delectable! Our waitress was fairly new and while being uninformed about the menu is understandable, she was a bit condescending when we asked for specifics on preparations of some dishes. Apparently the chef likes to list ingredients but it is unclear how these were actually used in the dish. Even tho one of us requested octopus be left off his sword fish plate, it arrived with it. And she did not take time to remove a pile of dirty appetizer dishes, nor take our wine order until after she took our entree order. Very unappealing to sit with that mess on the table. Desserts were excellent, but more variety is needed on the chocolate heavy selections. An issue for us was the lackluster, way-overpriced wine list. $44 for a $12 Walmart-stocked wine is unacceptable. We are seasoned and knowledgeable wine drinkers and chose not to order any at all, as they were too expensive for the quality of selections. I cannot recall ever having spending $100 per diner including appetizers in Europe or the U.S., and not ordering wine! The restaurant is just beautiful and very comfortable. Don't miss a visit to the adjacent hotel lobby with its terrific vintage newspaper production art and decor!

Jason Trease

Excellent!!!

Robert C

Very enjoyable breakfast, nice fitout

Nicole Wittkopp

Supremely delicious food, well-plated and creatively made! Friendly staff. Inside the hotel, and if you stay at the hotel, you get a discount on breakfast.

Alex Podolski

Some of the best breakfast in Portland. I definitely suggest the corn beef hash and also the quinoa bowl. Very delicious. The bloodys are scrumptious also. Little pricey but worth it.

Jorgen Hansen

The bar is set high for restaurants in Portland the foodie town of Amerca. UNION rates amongst the best in town and has been a favorite of our for years. Javier was most helpful and knowledgeable about the menue.

Jonathan Read

First date and wedding day

cwalkenisgod

A very slick restaurant with great atmosphere. Originally, I never knew there was a restaurant in the bottom of the Portland Press Hotel. However, it's a rather large part of the location, so when I found out that UNION was located on the first floor, I had to go and experience it. The tables and decor were all very chic and organized. The staff were all very friendly (someone was there to greet me and hold the door open), and the service was prompt. The menu isn't too big with too many items - always a good sign in my book. The prices are pretty standard for the fare and for the area, but it could be considered pricey for some folks. I was there for brunch, so I opted for the eggs benedict. It comes with two eggs, served over an english muffin with Smoke House Canadian Bacon and some of the best Hollandaise sauce around. It came with strawberries as garnish (which was very classy and practical) and also some fingerling potatoes that were very, very tasty. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who happens to be in the downtown Portland area. There's not really a ton of parking around, so that's a drawback, but there are a couple lots and garages within walking distance so that kind of balances out. Give this place a try.

Kevin Siu

The food here is amazing. Chef was a nominee for a James beard. Bartenders are super friendly (Meridith and charlotte) who made the dinner a 5 star. The drinks are on point. Had the cod and lobster entree. Both were super flavorful and unique to its own. I definitely recommend this place for dinner.

Julie's bites

I enjoyed the scallop main entry, well made with interesting side dishes. The toma soup was okay. Hanger steak was just okay, oysters were good and salmon roe added a bit of uniqness. For desert we had whipped cheese cake, which was unlike any other desert I had. I guess the technical way to describe is deconstructed cheesecake It was cheesecake batter smeared on a dish covered with blueberries and Graham crackers. It looked like a mess but I liked the flavors.

SARKIS ADOURIAN

Excellent

Ryan Wingate

Great food and service.

Cherny Darling

As a local resident who has always gone to Fore Street for special occasions, I recently had my first meal at Union that in every way competes for the top spot. When the hostess and server both declared the roasted cod with clams, fennel and spicy sausage as their favorite, I couldn't resist. The dish was exceptional, cooked to perfection and the combination of flavors delightful. The relaxing earth-toned decor and excellent service made for an altogether memorable evening. December 14, 2015

Sherry Graham

Service was terrific, food was good.

William Gayton

Atmosphere and service clearly 5 Stars. Service is especially noticeable because of how young they were. Shad roe pasta was a lovely surprise.. Any chance diners can ha have cocktail sauce and horseradish rather than the mignonette sauce. The Chilli Pearls were a great edition. Everybody loved their meal, service and the fact that the people working there seems to be happy. I may come back for the Battarge. Bill Gayton

John Beiler

Went here on a food tour, excellent!

Scott Zoback

Surprisingly good. A hidden Portland gem, in the open.

Geoff Chartier

Great food and excellent service. Friendly, non-intimidating menu with plenty of choices for everyone's palate.

Paul Thompson

Had dinner there last night. It was ok, both of us had the scallops and it was good except that there was bacon in the dish and it appeared to be not well cooked. I brought it to their attention and there response was that it was poached and therefore not going to be crispy. I don’t care if it was poached it still looked undercooked. And chewing poached bacon chews like raw bacon. It was left in the dish.

Chris Bernazzani

Great before bar, restaurant and hotel for before Merrill or State Theatre show

Chris Slesarchik

Food was excellent and the atmosphere was upscale but not over the top, plating was impressive. Wait service has always been friendly. Nothing incredible or unique in terms of the menu; everything seems to be fancy takes on popular classics.

David Fenderson

Christmas Dinner with our family. Very poor service. Took over a half hour for the desert to arrive. When it did the deserts were cold and the ice cream was melted. It wouldn't have been such a big deal except this was my second visit with the same service experience. In defense the Manager on duty did adjust the bill. Given such high ratings and pricing my expectations were much higher.

Joshua Rosen

The Union is across the street from the Merrill Auditorium so the Union is our go to place when we attend performances at the Merrill. The food is first rate, in any other city but Portland I would have given it 5 stars but Portland is home to the best restaurants on the East coast so the standards are higher there. We were there a second time before the Opera meets Organ concert at the Merrill, it was excellent.

Cahaba Data

High end in Press hotel. I like it for breakfast... haven't had other meals. Service & food definitely above average.

Troy Maynard

Amazing from start to finish. Food was as beautiful as it was delicious. Locally sourced ingredients crafted into creative but familiar dishes. Staff were friendly and attentive. A fabulous experience.

Adam Levin

Holy smokes this place is good. We went around 1pm on a Sunday and there were no customers in the place. They were still serving brunch, but the brunch menu has lunch options. We got their quiche, brussels sprouts app, and a pasta dish. Each item was amazingly delicious. The pasta was in this very delicate butter/cream sauce with tasty, small red peppers of some variety I've never eaten before. Not sure why they place wasn't packed, but it was excellent food, excellent service, and a great atmosphere.

Melissa Marden

Very chic, great food, impeccable wine pairings and recommendations! Excellent service by Davian! Thank you

Dimitrios D

My wife and I came here and tried the five course tasting menu, hoping for something somewhat special. Literally four of the five courses, with the fifth being dessert, had mushrooms as their primary ingredient (three of those four mushroom courses had oyster mushrooms). I love mushrooms. I really do. But I don't want to eat mushrooms for every meal of my prix fixe meal. After dish two my wife and I were joking to ourselves and asking each other if the third course would contain mushrooms- and surprise, it did. By the time the fourth course came, the comedic effect wore off. When you pay $250+ for two people for a tasting menu, at least try to be creative. I've never seen a restaurant so brazenly offer literally the same main ingredient in every savory prix fixe dish. If this restaurant were inexpensive, I suppose I wouldn't care too much, but this place wasn't cheap at all. With that said, the ambience and service were great. Our waitress was efficient and friendly. And the wine pairing with our fairly terrible five-course tasting was actually good in that the pours were hearty. All the more reason why it's a shame the food was such a major letdown.

Marilyn Grenier

Everything we tasted there was absolutely delicious. Fantastic! Brussel sprouts and salmond are a must!

Phil Ayres

We stopped off here after choosing not to eat at Grace, just up the street. So pleased we did. The atmosphere was lively without being loud, the decor was classy, the bar service was friendly and fast, and the food was really tasty. A few different items on the menu (I had lamb shank) made it even better. Very nice experience.

Kathleen Cooper

Went for Sunday brunch. Had the lobster Benedict and it was amazing.

Will Johnson

I love this restaurant. Breakfast was great and I always have Amazing service here.

Leah Bhagat-Young

The food is amazing, farm to table, the space is lovely and the staff are wonderful!

Gisele Mukundwa

Food and service was really amazing!

Jeremy Hayes

Amazing meal! We were staying in the Press Hotel and didn't want to venture out with the two kids, so we just popped downstairs. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious.

Brian Himmelman

Great food. Attentive wait staff.

Doug Smith

A cut above your normal "hotel " bar and restaurant . It's a beautiful space, with a great staff. The food and wine is always good and they make some fun cocktails. My wife and I like to stop by after a night out to relax and enjoy their interesting desserts.

Joseph Gugliuzza

They really rock the s*** out of those peas.

Reed Copsey

This was a hard review. I loved the location and decor. Located in the Press Hotel, which was an old newspaper building, there are old typewriters and plate presses scattered around. The food was well above average, but a bit expensive for breakfast fare. The 3 star review (down from what would be a 4.2) was earned for two reasons. 1) First and foremost, my daughter who has celiac disease and must have all food 100% gluten free was brought potatoes that were fried in a common frier in which other battered items are fried. When called on it, they claimed the oil was changed that morning. Since the potatoes touched her omelet, her entire meal was likely contaminated. If you don't know someone who deals with this condition and the consequences of getting cross contaminated food, this may not seem like a big deal. You would have needed to be there to understand the questions and speech that precedes both going to any restaurant AND ordering to understand that we take it seriously. 2) We told them we had 5o catch a flight. They were very slow

Barbara Schoetzau

Wonderful! Terrific room and cuisine

jean justino

Ate here couple of times, it was ok, nothing special. I had breakfast once and that was good

Karen Matluck

Omg the dessert. Everything was delicious. The curry chicken sandwich which I had without the bread. Super accommodating with what I like. And the chocolate pudding desert was orgasmic. I would stay with that the next time I'm here

Pat rosen

Good breakfast, but the service is not the best. I’ve been done eating for 10 minutes and the waiter is no where to be found

Chad Boucher

Very very good brunch and exceptional service. Lots of thought to details. Would recommend/visit again.

Lupe Castillo

Nice people. Good food.

Usman Khaliq

Amazing food! We drove from Boston to spend a day in portland, and had brunch here. Definitely a must visit!!!

John Karasek

Amazing dinner! Had the flank steak with chimichurri and seared peppers. Perfection!

Lisa Mueller

If you want absolutely delicious unique meals, you’ve got to try the Union restaurant at the Press Hotel. Chef Scott truly makes this dining experience worth tasting. The warm and friendly waiting staff including Martin and Bridgette were even helpful with pointing us tourists in the right direction. 5 stars for sure.

Dan Svenson

Great atmosphere, good food, decent drinks. Portions are a little small, moderate priced.

David Hagen

Great and unique food with friendly service

Mark Maguire

Hanger steak is fantastic, recommend the brussel sprouts with it. Service is excellent.

Wendy Blackwell-Moore

Consistently great food and drink, amazing vibe!

Chris Crowley

The food and the cocktails here are fantastic. The décor is contemporary but not too cold, the location is great. Our server was a bit green, but very responsive. And when there was an "incident", the management was very responsive and followed through immediately. All it really lacks is more foot traffic, and I think because it's a hotel restaurant. But that's a shame because it really deserves more.

Troy McNamara

Excellent food, service and experience! Must try!

Joel Bilodeau

Great food

Christine McHale

Just perfect. Great lunch

david borsay

Beautiful place with amazing food. Highly suggested

Anthony Izzo

Impressive, creative rotating dinner menu at the upscale Union Restaurant, located inside the Press Hotel. We had two apps and two entrees, and I would give the food a full five stars. While there's a solid wine/draught list, the lack of a strong cocktail program holds this place back.

Teresa Lin

Great food, nice location

Michael Estes

Good bourbon selection. Friendly knowledgeable staff. Nice decor.

Ronald Roth, Jr

Really enjoyed our experience here. The food was great and the service was top notch. Our server was extremely friendly and very informative. We will definitely return.

Mrs. McCorry

amazing food for dinner and breakfast. We stayed at the Press Hotel for our honeymoon and this was an added bonus!

Matthew Rideout

Amazing. Better food than some restaurants charging twice as much around here. Will be back.

Nancy Brotko

Very accommodating and great food

John Haywood

If you are hungry, eat before coming here. The portions are chef sized (very small). I had the large scallop dinner. The presentation of the plate was nice but portion size was 3 scallops. The scallops were ok. I was still hungry when I left and I ordered food back at the hotel.

clark schlosser

Nice

JJ

Delicious food in Portland with friendly, professional service. The lobster and tempeh were both amazing.

MollyDiBi

Outstanding. Super chill vibe. Food is supreme. Service is flawless--friendly and gracious at the same time. Decor is modern rustic. Delicata Squash and Pistachio Financier for dessert was an absolute winner!!

Greg Temple

Awesome restaurant

James Johnson

Nice restaurant. Good atmosphere. The brussel sprouts were absolutely amazing.

Queen Lo

Great food

linda bowden

Get the sea scallops! Delish!

Holly Gerard

Good food, lovely service, and beautiful decor. Only lacking the last star due to being sat at the bar when there were several open tables the entire visit. I understand that some reservations can be no shows but I think we could have been accommodated. Otherwise, great experience!

Michael Roman

Enjoyed breakfast here while staying at Press Hotel. Nicely designed, blend of modern elements and old wood as well. Menu is high quality ingredients. The omelettes are excellent as is the oatmeal. Staff is friendly and helpful.

Christopher Bunnell

Manhattan price scotch was a gotcha. Otherwise apps were excellent and so was the staff. Wont recommend based on price.

Katie Garrity

Went for drinks and appetizers with a friend, really poor service, was greeted and directed to the bar area, while at the bar had to initiate conversation to get a menu with the bartender, there were 3 bartenders and a handful of guests (maybe 10 total), not busy. Almost felt like you were an inconvenience. Got a menu, waited for 15 minutes, no service. Left, went to another Portland restaurant, was so welcoming with great service, so glad we didn't stay!

Aashish John

Great food and atmosphere for whatever you're looking for and whatever the size of the party. I was in a party of 12 and they were able to accommodate us even though the restaurant doesn't have a ton of seating area. While the menu is somewhat limited, everything we tried was great. It was nice that they had a lounge to wait for a table, especially considering people in the area will likely be walking.

Richard Mulley

Based on one visit, this place was amazing. Best meal I have had in a year. Service was excellent. Waiter really knew the plates and was willing to give pointed advice. Pretty cool decor.

Gary Barnes

Upscale downtown restaurant. Great dining experience. On the pricey side, but, well worth it.

Cheryl Anderson

Delicious creative cuisine and excellent service. Not loud.

Shawn Wu

The restaurant has good food but the service could be a little better. When we arrived we didn't have reservations and started to turn us away but we ended up getting a seat that was reserved for someone 1 hr 30 min away. The lobster was really good and the pasta was delicious as well. The steak was cooked to perfection and overall a good place.

Zakary Daoust

Staff is great, food is delicious. Well served and nice seating.

Richard Bigega

Amazing restaurant and staff. Brunch is exceptional. I had the cheesecake for desert, and it was very well prepared

Robert Deignan

Great brunch. Red flannel hash is amazing.

Trish Hayes

Took a few minutes for someone to greet us at our table, not the food was amazing!

Javier Pesantez

Beautiful!!

Carlton Pinney

Class Act. My wife and I went to the Union over Valentines Day weekend for dinner. We started with a cocktail and the service and setting could not have been better. Proved to be the high point of the evening unfortunately. We opted for the Chef's Choice four course dinner, but without the wine pairing. The first two courses were very disappointing....to the extent that I actually spoke up to the (very knowledgeable) waitress about it. The last two courses were pretty good....no complaints. At the end of the meal the chef instructed that we be treated to a glass of very good port and further, did not charge us for the meal. We understand that sometimes things can go south in the kitchen....happens more than we would like, but to have a chef step up and make it right to that extent is pretty rare. My wife and I agreed as we left......this was a "class act"!

Susan McGann

Excellent service, quality of food and selection of drinks. Will definitely return. Our waiter Stephen was attentive and friendly and gave my husband a birthday dessert to go since we were in a hurry to get to our airbnb in Trenton Maine.

Mitchell Stein

Good food, a little pricey, a little loud.

Raphael Edwards

Best salmon I've ever had. Try the brussels as an app, it's great.

Jessica Winford

Had breakfast here after staying at the Press hotel. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Pain Perdu was delicious.

Carin Seadler

Absolutely delicious. If you're a foodie, you'll be delighted. If you're not a foodie you'll be grateful for the break from fried foods, heavy foods. Each plate is presented like a piece of art. The flavors are wonderfully blended. 5 of us ate and were all delighted. Desserts were wonderful. very friendly. Love how they had the Decour. Building was part of the Portland press Herald I believe. Old typewriters in the lobby…

Brian Anderson

We have been to Union twice, the first time was a small group and the second time was a large group. Both times the good and service were excellent. The menu is creative and features local ingredients.

Andrew Feeney

Went for restaurant week, its a wicked yum! Staff very knowledgeable about menu and food preparation. Tasty drinks too.

Scott Powell

Went for lunch. Good menu, somewhat limited but interesting. Great food and service.

jane clifford

A weekend rendezvous in Portland with our daughter was made even more special due to two fabulous dinners we experienced at Union! Due to my severe nut allergies, it is difficult to find a restaurant that will cater to my special needs. From my first contact by phone to make reservations, to our wait staff, to the gracious attention by Josh (the owner), to reassure me that the kitchen will keep me safe, the customer service was absolutely outstanding! It allowed me to thoroughly enjoy the delicious starters, entrees, and desserts, as did my family (two nights in a row!). We loved the atmosphere and plan to return next time we're in Portland, without a doubt. Thank you to everyone at Union for your kind service!

Colin Russell

Just amazing food. We also had the most wonderful service I can ever remember having. Our waiter was kind and helpful and attentive.

Lauren Johnson

We had a great dinner at Union! The staff was professional and helpful, and our meal was delicious! We enjoyed the most our appetizers: large beet salad and an AMAZING pan roasted tempura shrimp.

Erica Mawabi

Great breakfast, delightful atmosphere good for casual or an upscale experience

Jennifer Waitkun

Went for brunch on a recent saturday morning. What to say...2 people, ordered the same cocktail, same Simple Beginnings plate. Cocktail decent, Simple Beginnings, not so much. I asked for no ham...well brunch partner received my order that still had the ham ( but with subbed egg) and I was served her order with ham. Wrong order, wrong serve. If i'm paying 60.00 for 2 people for a croissant, berries and cheese with a hard boiled egg at the very least get my order right.

Anne Chadwick

I'm staying at the hotel and have been in for lots of meals. The food is really good and the service is excellent. The avocado toast at breakfast is amazing.

Russell Wilson

I have been here for brunch on several occasions and a couple times for dinner. I have been consistently impressed! Great service and great food. Occasionally the chef will send something out unexpectedly between courses - a true treat to go with already fine dining.

Michaela Donahue

Holy Moly! Great service & incredible food. 3 big & tall people where graciously accommodated with 2 average folks. Best breakfast EVAH!

Zak Kennedy

Even though the food here is AMAZING I find the staffs hospitality and strive to make every guest happy what keeps bringing me back. The chef had to redo my wife's dish and we were fine with the extra wait but he made sure we were taken care of, sending out a free appetizer for both if us and paid for our desserts. That's a hospitality you wouldn't find at any chain restaurant and makes me proud to call the Union my favorite one in the Old Port

Elise Bechard

Awesome brunch, great service

David Raymond

Great!

James Smith

The food was lovely and the staff friendly They put our group of 10 in our own area away from everyone else which was nice. Id say the food was a tad expensive for what you got quality and quantity wise, but I'm a bit of a Philistine so maybe I couldn't just appreciate it fully. Also a lot of wine dulls the senses.

Gerry Tiernan

Excellent food and service. Beautiful dining room. Really enjoyed a creative, thoughtful, and delicious menu.

Chaz Denver

Food was good, service could have been a bit quicker especially for breakfast time.

Olivia Kahler

Great food, amazing service, lovely atmosphere! We loved that the food was local, seasonal and expertly cooked. The price point was also very fair for the food and our delicious, homemade lemonades. Elise, our server, was particularly nice and helpful!! Highly recommended!