City Guide: New York

< back to New York
andrea strong bitesee contributor
By Andrea Strong

Union Square Café

Even in its new location, Union Square Café shines with its signature seasonal American fare in a warm and welcoming setting.

Danny Meyer’s storied Union Square Café is so much more than a restaurant, it is THE restaurant that launched the Union Square-area revival that now hosts the most impressive greenmarket in New York City (if not the country). When Meyer relocated his institution to its new digs a few blocks north of Union Square in 2016, skeptics worried it would lose something in translation. It really hasn’t. That same hospitality, earnest and thoughtful, that’s at the core of Meyer’s business model is alive and well. The roomy, welcoming bar still beckons for an aperitif at sunset and chef Carmen Quagliata’s understated seasonal American fare continues to shine. Naturally the menu varies with what’s at the market just steps away, but signatures remain—like ricotta gnocchi with tomato-basil passatina, Pecorino Romano gnocchi and a red oak leaf salad with a mustard vinaigrette—alongside new moves like braised lamb shank with salsa verde and a spiced chicken with Japanese sweet potatoes. Be sure to check out the takeaway and café next door, Daily Provisions, should you need a lunch-to-go or a loaf of freshly baked bread for morning.

Must try:
Sformato, Ricotta Gnocchi, Braised Lamb Shank
Classic Institution / Greenmarket Fare
$$$
Reservations: via Resy
Hours: Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am - 2:30pm; Interim menu: Mon-Fri 2:30-5pm and Sat, Sun 3-5pm; Dinner: Sun-Thu 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm; Brunch: Sat, Sun 11am - 3pm
Location: Union Square
Address: 101 East 19th Street at Park Avenue South
Phone: (212) 243-4020
  • Subway: 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, L to 14th Street / Union Square
 
www.unionsquarecafe.com
Ideal for:
  • Brunch
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

You Might Also Like

TRAVEL FOR THE FOOD