| ambiance |
93.33000183105469% positive |
- “
For "upscale comfort food", this place still has a warm ambiance and nice staff. ”
- “
Excellent food, relaxed atmosphere ”
- “
Very nice ambiance. ”
- “
This place has a great atmosphere, and if you request a table, it can be great for large groups. ”
- “
booked for 6pm which meant we had a good pick of tables and we settled into a romantic booth in the corner. ”
- “
Incredible dishes, beautiful atmosphere and casual enough to really enjoy! ”
- “
The high ceilings and table setup add to a very nice ambience. ”
- “
you'll want to linger in this most wonderful atmosphere--its been a long time since you've been pampered so well in a resturant. ”
- “
The service was pretty bad (waiter forgot drinks, kept us waiting forever between courses and for the bill), and the atmosphere was nothing special. ”
- “
liked the atmosphere and the friendly service. ”
- “
had a great lunch there not too long ago - it has a very refined atmosphere and delicious food and drink. ”
- “
Loved the laid-back but elegant decor of the restaurant. ”
- “
Union Square Cafe has a great atmosphere and the food's presentation was magnificent. ”
- “
Union Square Cafe is in a great location to grab a quick bite to eat or a cup of coffee. ”
- “
I'd definitely say that the chef really enjoys the natural taste/flavor of meat and doesn't over-season it, and it seems the ambiance only compliments the delightful service and food. ”
|
| dessert |
100.0% positive |
- “
And then as a surprise and "compliments of the server" - they brought me a delicious dessert complete with candle. ”
- “
We finished off with some fantastic desserts. ”
- “
& the ultimate redeeming moment was when the pastry chef decorated our dessert plates with a beautiful illustration of a dragon & an ox, to signify the Chinese horoscopes & in observance of the Year of the Ox which started today. ”
- “
had the banana cheesecake for desert which was delicious. ”
- “
Friends raved about the lobster shepard's pie, I LOVED the appetizer of roasted corn and proscuitto. ”
- “
The desserts we got were nice enough (the banana tart with honey vanilla ice cream and macademia brittle, and the ice cream/sorbet assortment), but not enough to make up for the rest. ”
- “
My seafood was a bit too salty and the desserts were decent, like the warm banana tart, but nothing to rave about. ”
- “
The dessert was good and we will go back again to try dinner also. ”
- “
it was corrected and my desert, the pear crisp, was delicious. ”
- “
The meal was delicious from the cocktails to the dessert. ”
- “
The mint-chocolate icebox cake was terrific, as was a chocolate tart. ”
- “
The service was great, our waiter brought us an appetizer on the house because he felt we just had to try it, and he overheard us say it was my fiances birthday and brought us a dessert with a candle and decorated plate. ”
- “
My table order four desserts, the fig tart was really disapointing, two were average at best and one was worth the calories. ”
- “
dont know what the prior review meant when he/she said that the desserts werent that good, because the dish with carmelized bananas as well as the warm chocolate cake were to die for. ”
- “
had a wonderful smoked steak with great mashed potatoes and for dessert I had the lemon ice box cake which was amazing! ”
- “
Our waiter was the best and he brought us another dessert on the house. ”
- “
The desserts were perhaps the most creative aspect of the meal. ”
|
| drinks |
78.5699987411499% positive |
- “
What I found was rude and blase service (it took forty minutes to even order a drink at 10:00 at night), so-so food, and an overall mediocre dinner. ”
- “
Union Square Cafe is in a great location to grab a quick bite to eat or a cup of coffee. ”
- “
The service was pretty bad (waiter forgot drinks, kept us waiting forever between courses and for the bill), and the atmosphere was nothing special. ”
- “
Dining out should be an all-encompasing experience that includes food, wine, service, and a warm, happy glow when you leave. ”
- “
Wonderful service, knowledgeable advice about the menu and wine list, and the food was great! ”
- “
Fantastic food and extensive wine list. ”
- “
The service was extremely slow, and the waitress took a long time between dishes as well as a long time to serve our drinks. ”
- “
Make sure you get there early and enjoy a cocktail at the bar. ”
- “
had a great lunch there not too long ago - it has a very refined atmosphere and delicious food and drink. ”
- “
The meal was delicious from the cocktails to the dessert. ”
- “
Although we were seated about 15 minutes after our reservation, the bar was friendly and we enjoyed some delicious champagne. ”
- “
We were seated in a small area to the left of the bar and it was quiet enough to carry on a good converation. ”
- “
The service was excellent from waiting at the bar to our waitress. ”
- “
The Union Square Cafe has a great menu and drinks. ”
- “
The service was great, the staff very knowledgeable about the menu and wine. ”
- “
Good wine list. ”
- “
Our waiter informed us that they ran out of the lunch special and brought me the worst Cosmoplitan I ever tasted(murky and the only taste was lime) He never asked why I didn't drink it and charged me $18 for it. ”
- “
All in all, very pleasant, with great wines and fine service (great at the door, more chummy in a diner-way at the table, which apparently - thankfully! ”
|
| food quality |
81.38999938964844% positive |
- “
The food was, however, very good. ”
- “
Wonderful service, knowledgeable advice about the menu and wine list, and the food was great! ”
- “
The food was very expensive and tasted so so. ”
- “
Fantastic food and extensive wine list. ”
- “
Huge portions the side dishes themselves could be meals. ”
- “
good food and great service! ”
- “
I'd definitely say that the chef really enjoys the natural taste/flavor of meat and doesn't over-season it, and it seems the ambiance only compliments the delightful service and food. ”
- “
The food was amazing, the price is excellent for a top tier restaurant, and the service was impeccable. ”
- “
So-so food and truly terrible service ”
- “
enjoyed the food and the service. ”
- “
highly recommend the tomato and got cheese salad and the lamb chops. ”
- “
Although some may think USC is a bit pricey, when the food is this good, it's a bargain at twice the price. ”
- “
The entree was chicken milanese which looked delicious but on further examination was simply a deep fried batterred piece of chicken topped with a mixed salad. ”
- “
In any event I can't say it was a horrible experience, the wait staff is spot on - and that's good --- I just think people are blinded at this point by the name recognition this place holds to really see the food they are getting. ”
- “
Granted it sounds amazing when the servers explain the pain staking efforts the management goes through in bringing in the best culinary recipes and/ or artists from around the globe to add their flare to the dish but what is spoken about and what is inev ”
- “
The food was bland and average, ingredients were missing in some of the dishes, the service was so slow but the check came so fast. ”
- “
but blue water grill is absolutley no comparison b/c i've eaten there as well and the food was just mediocre at best. ”
- “
The food was fantastic and the service was just right, not too pushy. ”
- “
Incredible dishes, beautiful atmosphere and casual enough to really enjoy! ”
- “
The food is delicious (it never claimed to be Jean Georges) and an incredible value for the money. ”
- “
Perhaps my disappointment was an expectation that I was going to one of the best restaurants in the City, what I got was an over-rated, over-priced average meal. ”
- “
High prices for poor quality food and extremely poor service-- we were really disappointed, given the reviews. ”
- “
Our food was delicious! ”
- “
had the banana cheesecake for desert which was delicious. ”
- “
think the food was good, though not the best I've ever had. ”
- “
Awesome food and professional service; I have been there several times, but I have never been disappointed. ”
- “
Sadly people will come here because they heard it was good and enjoy their meal because they're suppose to -- then I suppose they will go to a 100 dollar mediocre broadway show and give it a standing ovation at the curtain. ”
- “
He recommended I order the appetizer portion of the pasta dish for my main course since it was so filling. ”
- “
And then as a surprise and "compliments of the server" - they brought me a delicious dessert complete with candle. ”
- “
He started with the Tuna Tartar and I with the ravioli with garlic, ricotta, bread crumbs, lemon, and pecorino which was so scrumptious I couldnt help but say MMMM with every forkful. ”
- “
Union Square Cafe has a great atmosphere and the food's presentation was magnificent. ”
- “
solid good food ”
- “
Food flavors were wonderfully tasty and well presented. ”
- “
The service was extremely slow, and the waitress took a long time between dishes as well as a long time to serve our drinks. ”
- “
Definitely more American than French, the hearty lamb and rabbit dishes were perfect for a cold winter evening. ”
- “
Dining out should be an all-encompasing experience that includes food, wine, service, and a warm, happy glow when you leave. ”
- “
their food is always consistantly good. ”
- “
The desserts were perhaps the most creative aspect of the meal. ”
- “
have to say that my dinner at USC was my best dining experience yet, despite the fact that I lived in the SF Bay Area (another food mecca) for my first 26 years, and after having dined in some of the finest restaurantst in Napa Valley, San Francisco, an ”
- “
had a wonderful smoked steak with great mashed potatoes and for dessert I had the lemon ice box cake which was amazing! ”
- “
the food is excellent and well prepared and everything on the menu was great. ”
- “
My seafood was a bit too salty and the desserts were decent, like the warm banana tart, but nothing to rave about. ”
- “
Ample entree portions and reasonably priced for the exceptional quality and taste (try the tuna or the slow roasted lamb. ”
- “
Excellent Service and great food ”
- “
Although we were seated about 15 minutes after our reservation, the bar was friendly and we enjoyed some delicious champagne. ”
- “
What I got instead was decent food, served by a very well trained, but impersonal staff. ”
- “
Everything tasted elegant and fresh. ”
- “
The food is excellent. ”
- “
Dined here with two colleagues (one used to work in the kitchen there) for lunch and we ordered a feast: calamari (nicely crispy batter that stayed intact through proding and dipping in a very tasty aioli), gruyere salad (perfectly dressed leaves generous ”
- “
The food was delicious. ”
- “
dont know what the prior review meant when he/she said that the desserts werent that good, because the dish with carmelized bananas as well as the warm chocolate cake were to die for. ”
- “
We had delicious salads, an amazing pasta, and fish and chicken. ”
- “
It was very tasty but we both found it to be overly salty, which was unfortunate because the underlying flavor was perfect but was a little overshadowed by the salt. ”
- “
went here for dinner last weekend and I thought the service was very good but was a bit disappointed with the food. ”
- “
Not only is the food superb - the halibut was probably the best thing I've ever eaten - the service and comfort level are beyond compare. ”
- “
The food is great, the menu is FULL of great choices, there's something for everyone. ”
- “
had a fantastic tomato salad and some delicious tuna. ”
- “
it was corrected and my desert, the pear crisp, was delicious. ”
- “
The lamb chops, although thin, were the best I've ever had. ”
- “
doubt that this is the place for a hamburger or tuna sandwich, although expensive versions of these are on the lunch menu. ”
- “
My daughter and I had dinner here on Sunday night and had a very nice meal and evening. ”
- “
While the food was superb, my wife and I were greeted by a rude host who accused me of making a reservation at another restaurant. ”
- “
My boyfriend ordered the lamb chops which he said were excellent but they came with some sort of potato and cheese side which we were both looking forward to but wound up being much more saltier than the spinach. ”
- “
If it were just me who found the food salty, I wouldn't be writing this, but my boyfriend felt the pile of potatoes were inedible and left them alone. ”
- “
This is the place to go for a special night out when you're prepared to spend a lot of time (and money) savoring a really good meal. ”
- “
I'm not a huge fan of pasta usually, but the linguini and ravioli appetizers were so delicious. ”
- “
also liked the food. ”
- “
For "upscale comfort food", this place still has a warm ambiance and nice staff. ”
- “
My girlfriend has been to Italy, been to most of the best Italian restaurants around, and said that her ravioli she got as the first course was the best pasta she ever had. ”
- “
What I found was rude and blase service (it took forty minutes to even order a drink at 10:00 at night), so-so food, and an overall mediocre dinner. ”
- “
Anyone who reviewed USQ and didn't like the food either doesn't know food or they caught an off day. ”
- “
had an amazing salad with dijon dressing and my boyfriend had the most amazing pasta with a black truffle butter sauce. ”
- “
Although, I wish we had been given a knife or something other than a tablespoon to serve it up, as we were sharing); and a butternut squash creme brulee (underwhelming, but perfect, crackable sugar seal). ”
- “
had a great lunch there not too long ago - it has a very refined atmosphere and delicious food and drink. ”
- “
USC has a cold smoker and smoked the avocado in order to make the dish more complex. ”
- “
Although the cuisine was not exceptionally imaginative or innovative, everything was very thoughtfully prepared and there it was clear that there was great attention to detail. ”
- “
It is always a garunteed fabulous meal (the duck is amazing!) ”
- “
The meal was delicious from the cocktails to the dessert. ”
- “
The food was tasty, service brisk yet polite. ”
- “
Certainly, the food is very good. ”
- “
For 38 dollars I would have much rather had a decent cut from the likes of any steak house in the city. ”
- “
Excellent food, relaxed atmosphere ”
- “
Pasta dishes were excellent as usual however, I had to send my entree back. ”
- “
have never experienced anything but wonderful food and excellent service. ”
- “
The food was good but the service stunk. ”
- “
On the contrary, USC's sterling rep is earned as much by the incredible wait-staff as by the delicious food. ”
- “
Great service but over-hyped food. ”
|
| menu variety |
80.7699966430664% positive |
- “
with so many choices it is hard to believe this restaurant still gets rave reviews. ”
- “
the food is excellent and well prepared and everything on the menu was great. ”
- “
The food is great, the menu is FULL of great choices, there's something for everyone. ”
- “
Fantastic food and extensive wine list. ”
- “
The service was great, the staff very knowledgeable about the menu and wine. ”
- “
As I entered the restaurant and paused to look at the menu, another patron said don't bother looking, everything is wonderful. ”
- “
The Union Square Cafe has a great menu and drinks. ”
- “
The waitstaff was attentive and helpful in making some tough decisions with a menu loaded with appetizing selections. ”
- “
USCs menu offerings are not unique compared to other top NYC restaurants. ”
- “
Wonderful service, knowledgeable advice about the menu and wine list, and the food was great! ”
- “
For such a famous place they had very few choices on the menu. ”
- “
The waiter was also friendly and helpful with my menu selections. ”
- “
doubt that this is the place for a hamburger or tuna sandwich, although expensive versions of these are on the lunch menu. ”
|
| overall |
80.0% positive |
- “
This has to be the best restaurant that I have eaten in so far. ”
- “
have worked in the restaurant business for 30 years (in some great places, too), and, except for a place in SF which no longer exists, Union Square is the best restaurant I've ever been to. ”
- “
It would be a good place to bring your parents but is not great for a date. ”
- “
In any event I can't say it was a horrible experience, the wait staff is spot on - and that's good --- I just think people are blinded at this point by the name recognition this place holds to really see the food they are getting. ”
- “
USQ was one of the best dining experiences I have had in NY and I have been to many of the big boys (Le Cirque, River Cafe, Town, etc.) Sure it took me a little while to be seated but the place was packed on a Saturday afternoon before show time. ”
|
| return potential |
100.0% positive |
- “
All in all, USC was a great experience and I will definitely go back. ”
- “
The dessert was good and we will go back again to try dinner also. ”
|
| service |
83.99999618530273% positive |
- “
Our table was adorable and right next to the hand-painted walls, and our server was so friendly and refreshingly honest! ”
- “
The waitstaff was attentive and helpful in making some tough decisions with a menu loaded with appetizing selections. ”
- “
I'm sure it's a case of 'one bad apple' and does seem at odds with most reports of excellent service, but I'm reluctant to give it a second chance. ”
- “
For people that call Union Square Carfe "boring" or "dull" I suspect that they are more interested in a trendy scene than an incredible dining experience. ”
- “
Once seated, the service was excellent and every single item ordered was absolutely incredible. ”
- “
the waitress was also incredibly friendly and professional! ”
- “
the waiter JOHN (worked on the 2nd level) was extremely helpful and hospitable. ”
- “
So-so food and truly terrible service ”
- “
Although we were seated about 15 minutes after our reservation, the bar was friendly and we enjoyed some delicious champagne. ”
- “
The food was fantastic and the service was just right, not too pushy. ”
- “
liked the atmosphere and the friendly service. ”
- “
The staff is very professional and friendly. ”
- “
The service was fantastic and the whole evening was fantastic. ”
- “
Great service but over-hyped food. ”
- “
but the waitresses looked like they were all dressed to go clubbing and didnt provide very good service. ”
- “
Union Square Cafe is the PARADIGM of good service. ”
- “
The service was excellent from waiting at the bar to our waitress. ”
- “
The staff is amazing and clearly genuinely care that you have a good experience. ”
- “
went here for dinner last weekend and I thought the service was very good but was a bit disappointed with the food. ”
- “
The service was great, the staff very knowledgeable about the menu and wine. ”
- “
GREAT customer service! ”
- “
People & good service are what make the restaurant business succeed? ”
- “
The waitress was extremely nice and stayed with us to chat. ”
- “
The staff is still very nice, but certainly not as attentive to detail as they have been in the past. ”
- “
Service was warm and friendly, and completely unpretentious unlikes some of the other top restaurants in New York. ”
- “
What I got instead was decent food, served by a very well trained, but impersonal staff. ”
- “
On the contrary, USC's sterling rep is earned as much by the incredible wait-staff as by the delicious food. ”
- “
enjoyed the food and the service. ”
- “
Front of house staff were excellent, but after that the service (for which this place is supposedly famous) took a nose dive. ”
- “
Loud spot but good people watching. ”
- “
wait staffs are friendly but you walk into the restaurant with smiling faces of management staffs that it almost makes wait staffs look angry. ”
- “
Our waiter was charming and the service overall was excellent. ”
- “
Our waiter informed us that they ran out of the lunch special and brought me the worst Cosmoplitan I ever tasted(murky and the only taste was lime) He never asked why I didn't drink it and charged me $18 for it. ”
- “
The service was impeccable and friendly. ”
- “
The food was bland and average, ingredients were missing in some of the dishes, the service was so slow but the check came so fast. ”
- “
And then as a surprise and "compliments of the server" - they brought me a delicious dessert complete with candle. ”
- “
Awesome food and professional service; I have been there several times, but I have never been disappointed. ”
- “
Service was very friendly, professional and prompt. ”
- “
Our waiter was the best and he brought us another dessert on the house. ”
- “
Jesse, a male host, apologized for the rude reception we received at the door. ”
- “
Dining out should be an all-encompasing experience that includes food, wine, service, and a warm, happy glow when you leave. ”
- “
All in all, very pleasant, with great wines and fine service (great at the door, more chummy in a diner-way at the table, which apparently - thankfully! ”
- “
What I found was rude and blase service (it took forty minutes to even order a drink at 10:00 at night), so-so food, and an overall mediocre dinner. ”
- “
Granted it sounds amazing when the servers explain the pain staking efforts the management goes through in bringing in the best culinary recipes and/ or artists from around the globe to add their flare to the dish but what is spoken about and what is inev ”
- “
good food and great service! ”
- “
The duck was fantastic, the staff is polite and extremely knowlegeable, and yet the place is completely unpretentious. ”
- “
The service was great, our waiter brought us an appetizer on the house because he felt we just had to try it, and he overheard us say it was my fiances birthday and brought us a dessert with a candle and decorated plate. ”
- “
great service ”
- “
It was a joy to be greeted by such friendly, helpful staff, right down to the coat check girl. ”
- “
The service was extremely slow, and the waitress took a long time between dishes as well as a long time to serve our drinks. ”
- “
The service was great. ”
- “
For "upscale comfort food", this place still has a warm ambiance and nice staff. ”
- “
The service was pretty bad (waiter forgot drinks, kept us waiting forever between courses and for the bill), and the atmosphere was nothing special. ”
- “
management staffs offer the best service. ”
- “
Not only is the food superb - the halibut was probably the best thing I've ever eaten - the service and comfort level are beyond compare. ”
- “
We were seated immediately, and began a wonderful dining experience that was never hurried by brusque staff. ”
- “
The waiter was also friendly and helpful with my menu selections. ”
- “
Our server was so knowledgeable, friendly and took good care of us. ”
- “
While the food was superb, my wife and I were greeted by a rude host who accused me of making a reservation at another restaurant. ”
- “
have never experienced anything but wonderful food and excellent service. ”
- “
The food was tasty, service brisk yet polite. ”
- “
The food was amazing, the price is excellent for a top tier restaurant, and the service was impeccable. ”
- “
In any event I can't say it was a horrible experience, the wait staff is spot on - and that's good --- I just think people are blinded at this point by the name recognition this place holds to really see the food they are getting. ”
- “
Wonderful service, knowledgeable advice about the menu and wine list, and the food was great! ”
- “
The food was good but the service stunk. ”
- “
High prices for poor quality food and extremely poor service-- we were really disappointed, given the reviews. ”
- “
I'd definitely say that the chef really enjoys the natural taste/flavor of meat and doesn't over-season it, and it seems the ambiance only compliments the delightful service and food. ”
- “
Sadly people will come here because they heard it was good and enjoy their meal because they're suppose to -- then I suppose they will go to a 100 dollar mediocre broadway show and give it a standing ovation at the curtain. ”
- “
The service was also a disappoint. ”
- “
The server was excellent, he overhead us talking about the duck confit and came over to tell us more about it. ”
- “
The service, however, was outstanding--this seems to be the common refrain about USC. ”
|
| value |
65.68999767303467% positive |
- “
Huge portions the side dishes themselves could be meals. ”
- “
The food is delicious (it never claimed to be Jean Georges) and an incredible value for the money. ”
- “
would definitely recommend this place for those that have a little extra money to spend and want to treat themselves. ”
- “
My table order four desserts, the fig tart was really disapointing, two were average at best and one was worth the calories. ”
- “
This is the place to go for a special night out when you're prepared to spend a lot of time (and money) savoring a really good meal. ”
- “
I'm not a huge fan of pasta usually, but the linguini and ravioli appetizers were so delicious. ”
- “
Expensive, yes, but worth every penny. ”
- “
Although some may think USC is a bit pricey, when the food is this good, it's a bargain at twice the price. ”
- “
felt that the prices were reasonable by Manhattan standards; we got away for under $100 total between the two of us (partially due to my friend's sides combo). ”
- “
doubt that this is the place for a hamburger or tuna sandwich, although expensive versions of these are on the lunch menu. ”
- “
The food was very expensive and tasted so so. ”
- “
High prices for poor quality food and extremely poor service-- we were really disappointed, given the reviews. ”
- “
The food was amazing, the price is excellent for a top tier restaurant, and the service was impeccable. ”
- “
Sadly people will come here because they heard it was good and enjoy their meal because they're suppose to -- then I suppose they will go to a 100 dollar mediocre broadway show and give it a standing ovation at the curtain. ”
- “
Ample entree portions and reasonably priced for the exceptional quality and taste (try the tuna or the slow roasted lamb. ”
- “
For 38 dollars I would have much rather had a decent cut from the likes of any steak house in the city. ”
- “
There is good reason this is considered by many to be one of NYC's best restaurants although there are several in this price range which offer a similar level of quality. ”
|
| wait time |
57.14000225067139% positive |
- “
The food was bland and average, ingredients were missing in some of the dishes, the service was so slow but the check came so fast. ”
- “
Union Square Cafe is in a great location to grab a quick bite to eat or a cup of coffee. ”
- “
one of the best meals i have had in a long time. ”
- “
Ample entree portions and reasonably priced for the exceptional quality and taste (try the tuna or the slow roasted lamb. ”
- “
The service was extremely slow, and the waitress took a long time between dishes as well as a long time to serve our drinks. ”
- “
you'll want to linger in this most wonderful atmosphere--its been a long time since you've been pampered so well in a resturant. ”
- “
Although we were seated about 15 minutes after our reservation, the bar was friendly and we enjoyed some delicious champagne. ”
- “
What I found was rude and blase service (it took forty minutes to even order a drink at 10:00 at night), so-so food, and an overall mediocre dinner. ”
- “
had a great lunch there not too long ago - it has a very refined atmosphere and delicious food and drink. ”
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