Union Square Cafe

10/07/09

Unreal

by panteleimon at Citysearch

I felt i was in a third world country except for the prices, i paid $250 dinner for two of 70 minutes..

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.. i was overcharged and the manager didnt even apologize, complete indifference at the door. I am a New Yorker and i hardly ever complain but this was a shock, the absolute worst.

• Pros: none
• Cons: food service management ambiance

Perennially popular downtown eatery.

by Josh Ozersky at Citysearch

Every year it's either number one or number two in the Zagat popularity rankings, and amazingly, Union Square Cafe has continually maintained its quality and unwavering loyalty from its tourist-heavy audience. Under chef Carmen Quagliata the food has taken more of an Italianate turn than it had under former chef Michael Romano. The long bar is filled with solo snackers who come in for a glass of wine and the USC burger, but the tables are generally all spoken for a month in advance. And why not? The food is elevated and progressive without ever seeming weird or threatening: Think lamb chops with potato gruyere gratin and wilted insalata tricolore, or house-made fettuccine with wild nettles, prosciutto and chanterelles. As at all Danny Meyer restaurants, the service is proverbially hospitable, which is yet another reason for this juggernaut's success.

03/02/09

Best Restaurant in Manhattan

by pw321 at Citysearch

My girlfriend arrived 20 minutes early for our 7:30 reservation on a busy Saturday night. Despite being early we were immediately seated. The server was excellent, he overhead us talking about the duck confit and came over to tell us more about it. 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. The food was amazing, the price is excellent for a top tier restaurant, and the service was impeccable. I cannot wait to go back. This is a must visit.

• Pros: Excellent service, excellent food, excellent everything, more relaxed
• Cons: None.

01/26/09

Redemption after 10years of contempt

by puiyin1031 at Citysearch

I finally gave them another go after 10 years of staying away after my initial visit. There was a long BLONDE hair in my salad & when I tried to return it, the waitress implied that it was probably my hair that fell in after she served the dish?.ahem, I am ASIAN, enough said! Then we got charged for not 1, but 2 salads..talk about audacity. Any other restaurant in the country would?ve given me the salad free of charge. I left making the vow to never return again. & was disgusted year after year when they made the top of Zagats list. Fast forward10yrs to Restaurant Week in early ?09. I went with my Mom to celebrate the Lunar New year. The food was tasty, service brisk yet polite. & 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. We were so delighted with the personal attention that we asked to meet her, what a sweetheart! People & good service are what make the restaurant business succeed?don?t forget that.

• Pros: Convenience, decor, amazing pastry chef
• Cons: Reservations require planning ahead

07/21/08

Bad Management wrecked USC

by rachelz3 at Citysearch

What a difference 4 months makes! I wrote in July that USC was "near perfect" and "welcoming". Two hostesses discouraged my Nov 1 booking. This time I stopped in personally two days in advance to go over the seating arrangements for my son's stroller. We've been to USC with the stroller twice before (including July)- no problem. Jesse, a male host, apologized for the rude reception we received at the door. Just as I began to forget the trouble during the meal, Assistant Manager Jill came up behind me, put her hands on my back and told me that I would have to move the stroller to accommodate a male diner at another table. I tried to sort it out with Jill- she turned her back on me. I stood up to confront her. The male diner interceded to say that he has a child and he was quite happy with the stroller as it was. Jill's bizarre behavior explains the dismal performance of the blond hostesses. Our meal was wrecked, we cut it short, paid the bill, thanked the kind gentleman diner and left. Go elsewhere, USC is in trouble now.

• Pros: good food, a few great servers
• Cons: Bad Management wrecks everything

03/27/08

Excellent food, relaxed atmosphere

by dr378 at Citysearch

Wonderful dining experience. Our dishes were exceptional. I'm not a huge fan of pasta usually, but the linguini and ravioli appetizers were so delicious. Ample entree portions and reasonably priced for the exceptional quality and taste (try the tuna or the slow roasted lamb...so good!). Loved the laid-back but elegant decor of the restaurant. We requested and promptly received a romantic, comfortable corner booth next to the painted walls. Our server was so knowledgeable, friendly and took good care of us. USC is a favorite spot for many NY foodies, and for good reason. Great place. Can't wait to go back.

• Pros: Delicious food, a little pricey in total but not unreasonable ($30 avg entree price)
• Cons: always crowded so can get a little loud.

02/28/08

Delicious, Relaxed, Wonderfully Delightful...

by MvG2007 at Citysearch

My brother took me here on Tuesday for my birthday- and what a treat!! Although we were seated about 15 minutes after our reservation, the bar was friendly and we enjoyed some delicious champagne... Our table was adorable and right next to the hand-painted walls, and our server was so friendly and refreshingly honest! The rest of the staff and even the other patrons were so relaxed and happy. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the Foie Gras (my first time having it- wow. so good) and the Lemon Pepper Duck. Although the inside of the duck was quite juicy, the outside was a little over-cooked for my taste. And then as a surprise and "compliments of the server" - they brought me a delicious dessert complete with candle. 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. I would go back in a HEARTBEAT.

Thank you so much for such a wonderful evening!

• Pros: Extremely relaxed, friendly staff, ambiance, Delicious food, fantastic Foie Gras!
• Cons: 15 minutes late on seating...

02/27/08

Excellent Meal & Service!

by jennpss at Citysearch

My husband and I went here for the first time a few days before Valentine's Day to celebrate. We were seated right away. The service was great. I did have an excellent glass of Merlot off their Wines by the glass list. I ordered the steak which I think was smoked and than grilled. It had a great flavor. We would go back again for a speical occasion.

• Pros: Close to Subway stop!

01/26/08

APPETIZER WAS AMAZING THE REST WAS AVERAGE

by lovetoeat33 at Citysearch

I went here during restuarant week and had the eggplant meatballs for an appetizer which I must admit was amazing. The service was extremely slow, and the waitress took a long time between dishes as well as a long time to serve our drinks. I was very disappointed witht the service that was provided. 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. I felt like the entree could have been more creative or had a little something more. I had the banana cheesecake for desert which was delicious. I must say that the appetizer was amazing but the entree was a disappointment. The service was also a disappoint.

• Pros: ambience, appetizer
• Cons: service,

01/24/08

GREAT customer service!!!

by goodfoodrocks at Citysearch

Roasted Butternut Squash & Mascarpone Ravioli with Sage Butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Aged Balsamic Vinegar (really good!)

Spaghettini with Flaked Cod, Broccoli Rabe, Chili, White Wine and Rustic Bread Crumbs (would recommend)

Grilled Sea Scallops with Sauteed Spinach and Roasted Cauliflower-Meyer Lemon Agrodolce (seriously loved this)

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Espresso Zabaglione -- definitely worth it (but it's heavy like a brownie)

Banana Cheese Cake (something something) -- not too good. I enjoyed the food and the service. the waiter JOHN (worked on the 2nd level) was extremely helpful and hospitable. I had received the wrong cocktail and he brought in the cocktail I had originally ordered later on - so two cocktails for the price of one! I would definitely recommend this place for those that have a little extra money to spend and want to treat themselves.

• Pros: SERVICE!!
• Cons: $$$$