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- Hours:
Mon 5 pm - 1 am
Wed-Sat 10 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Tue
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Jeremy P. said: "Often at times, one true indicator of how good a place is, is how busy they are on a Saturday night. If there's no one there, then you have to wonder what is wrong. We snagged a rather last minute 7pm reservation this past Saturday…" read more »
36 reviews for Union
Review Highlights
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"You MUST try the Elk Sliders." In 9 reviews -
"I had the sticky ribs, which I would absolutely recommend." In 7 reviews -
"Frites are also served family style with all mains." In 4 reviews
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Rachael H.
Toronto, ON
5/14/2012
Bravo, Union!
Perfection.
I had recently come to believe that there was a lack of *great* dining in Toronto~ At least to my particular taste. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of *very good* dining out there, but something always fell a little short.
Until last night.
When a couple of old-standbys were closed for the evening, I wound up making a reservation for Union at the Chef's bar (An indulgence that my boyfriend and I adore).
We spend a lot of time in California, and are spoiled by the locavore fare. It 's not as easy to come by in Canada, so when we saw that Union was farm-to-table, we were immediately impressed. This also means the menu changes frequently, based on what's available. My boyfriend accurately pointed out that this requires absolute confidence and skill from a chef...
Everything- I mean everything- we ate was perfect. I love a good prix-fixe (yet another checkmark!) and all the portions were very generous. The Elk sliders were delicious, the crab risotto, smoky and and creamy. For our mains, I had the halibut on black beans and he chose the rabbit dijonnaise. Both were presented beautifully and cooked to perfection. The rabbit, served with wilted greens & some of the best frites I've had anywhere, was the rich, succulent, star of the evening. That was, until dessert. The cheese platter contained 2 of the best cheeses I've ever tasted and a bit of clover honeycomb. To say that the pairing was divine, is an understatement. Combined with the delicious champagne, I left with a huge grin and a full, happy, belly. I had finally found a cozy, welcoming, unpretentious, food-home in Toronto.
I will add, the tab was entirely reasonable for what we enjoyed. I've spent more, elsewhere, for food that was far inferior.
The decor was warm, inviting, and comfortable. The only thing I can think of, all evening, that was less than perfect, was that the chairs and subsequent space at the chef's table were not meant for people much taller than my 5"4 inches. My companion needed to contort himself a fair bit in order to fit; However, he magically seemed to forget about his discomfort as soon as the food was in front of him...
The service was superb. All of the staff were very knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. It was Mother's day, and we learned that a few of the dishes on offer for the evening were 'Mom's favourites' of the staff. Sweet. And the pecan pie (which we overheard described as "perfection" and "the best ever" ) was one of their mother's home recipes. A fitting tribute.
I am already planning a return visit. I. Can't. Wait.
Thank-you, thank-you, Union!! -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
Although the rest of Toronto seems to be behind the times with the local, farm-to-table food movement, Union is proof positive that the tides are turning. Food here is simple and well-prepared. The mains seem to change frequently with the season, but my favorite lunch is the Union Salad, which consists of bibb lettuce, smoked bacon, goat cheese, and a hash brown ball-thing (it's so delicious, trust me), dressed in an absolutely awesome mustard-seed dressing. Easily my favorite salad in the T-dot. I've also loved the seasonal pork roast, and the polenta. Dessert is a bit ho-hum, but they do serve a lovely coffee.
A table is hard to come by without a reservation, but there is room at the bar. Despite the lack of knee-room at the bar, the food is worth the minor discomfort. Service has always been fantastic, and the servers very knowledgable -- they always give great wine recommendations. A meal at Union tends to be quite spendy, but well worth the money. -
Review from Fishee F.
Toronto, ON
4/5/2012
The food is like a mouth-gasm.
Everything here is fresh, locally sourced, and delish!
The menu has some amazing regulars and new dishes that pop up from time to time.
They can be a little short staffed, but the sometimes slow service is worth the wait. The food is just plain awesome.
Recommend the burger on the coco bun, the sticky ribs, the elk sliders, and the polenta!
Avoid sitting at the kitchen bar, it's a bit short on knee room and a little uncomfy. -
Review from Tina H.
3/31/2012
We came here after walking out from the terribly rude and unprofessional experience at Saving Gigi. It was a blessing in disguise because then we wouldn't have been prompted to look elsewhere for food and arrive at this place!
Their decor is very nice. Exposed brick, giant mirror, murals, cute window, bar area at the front, bar seating at the window, frosted glass bar... Very nice atmosphere and different seating options depending on the type of areas you like to sit in. Neat.
I ordered the Canadian Hunter cocktail which was made with No. 3 Gin and had spruce tips in it! I love the taste of trees so I thought that this was the one for me. I definitely made the right choice, though I'm sure I would've been happy with countless other cocktails on that list. They also have scotch and bourbon listed on their menu.
Many items on the menu seemed delicious but we both opted for the burger, which boasted to be cooked to a medium rare. Unfortunately it wasn't medium rare (closer to medium or medium well) but it was still very juicy and very delicious. It came with the perfect kind of fries and a super garlicky mayo, which was one of the most garlicky mayos I've ever had. It was very delicious.
They seem to be promoting party Mondays which I've noted-to-self to go to sometime.
I definitely recommend going here for any meal! Oh, and drinks too. This place is yummy. -
Review from Noah G.
4/15/2012
Nice locovore space. I went for brunch and had steak tartar which was rich and tasty. The bread could have been in smaller pieces and there could have been more pickles, but overall a great dish. I had a side of fries for some contrast and they were of the nice double (or triple) fried variety. The portion of fries was large for me, but your mileage may vary. I enjoyed a small Manhattan with brunch and a disappointing latte after. The latte was all foam. Go for the Americano.
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Review from Teresa C.
1/26/2012
My friend and I showed up at Union for their "Paris-style" Sunday night special. We opted for the $35 for any two (of the four) courses. The other option is $50 for four courses.
There was quite a bit of choice within each course, which was nice.
I picked the GRILLED MACKEREL WITH PICKLED CARROTS, BEETS AND CREME FRAICHE for my starter. The combination of fish, pickled root veggies and creme was just perfect. I thought the creme fraiche complemented the fish well.
My friend's BEET RISOTTO starter was so lovely. It was rich and velvety. My friend was all over it, commenting on how delicious it was with every bite (no joke).
I can't resist a good pappardelle. For my main, I picked the PAPPARDELLE WITH MUSSELS, CLAMS AND LOBSTER. It was in a amazing herb and garlic oil. It was light, but simultaneously so flavourful! I was also impressed with the nice chunks of lobster.
My friend picked the ROAST BEEF WITH ROASTED ROOT VEGGIES AND SCALLOPED POTATOES. Amazing roast beef. I loved that they left chunks of fat for a fatty-meat-lover like myself (and my friend...who actually ordered the entree). And oh my, those scalloped potatoes were something else. Came to our table in a ramekin bowl HOT...really, really hot. It was brilliant and so silky. This ain't no health food and it was damn good.
I really appreciate the portions at Union. These aren't morsels, but a good amount that left me feeling satisfied.
The tables are a bit tight at Union, which, if full, would be a bit uncomfortable, especially if you're on a date.
I will definitely be going back. For the duck confit. Count on it. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Toronto, ON
1/15/2012
I've been to Union twice over the past 2 months, once for lunch and once for brunch. I really like this place and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something a little different than the standard brunch options.
What I like most is that the fact that their menu changes on a daily basis depending on what is available from local farmers and partners. These menu changes keeps things interesting and makes me coming back to see what's new.
I've had the elk sliders, which are really tasty but really an appetizer portion, the union burger is also great. For brunch I had the lobster, crab and trout fritata and I've also had the BBQ ribs eggs benedict - which is my favourite so far.
The coffee and lattes are good and the service is pleasant and attentive. Prices are average to slightly higher but well worth it for the food and t support local restaurants and farmers.
Definitely a must try!!! -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Food you must try at Union: EVERYTHING
I honestly can't narrow it down because literally every meal I have eaten at Union has been delectable.
Definitely check out brunch on Sundays. It costs the same as most brunch places but tastes way better, they serve oysters too. Union is open consistently throughout the week for coffee and croissants in the morning, lunch and dinner: all of it is amazing too.
Go hungry. Split the prime rib dinner for two. If you get an app of charcuterie and a salad I won't blame you, but you'll be bringing a doggy bag home with you, because it's a lot of food! The charcuterie here is really good and always varies - you know it's freshly made.
Great patio in the summertime. Another unique spot is a seat at the bar viewing the kitchen. Watch those people cook! -
Review from Ryan W.
11/9/2011
We came for the Monday half-off wine special, and stayed for everything else. Excellent service and excellent food, from the lip-puckeringly spicy Caesars (the Canadian cousin to the Bloody Mary), served with an optional oyster, to the locally-smoked trout and creamy risotto, and all of it topped off with a satisfying local coffee and a slice of pumpkin cheesecake.
We were impressed to learn that the chef brings in stuff from his own farm, upping the freshness factor, but perhaps equally impressive is his curation of other local goods, like the locally-caught fish and Scotch Mountain Meats. As out-of-towners, it was a treat to be able to sample all that Toronto's food-growing region has to offer during the fall season, in such a lovely, comfortable setting. -
Review from Vivek S.
6/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
You'd think two elite yelpers like Steph C and I would know to check the hours on Yelp before setting off for dinner. Sheesh. After standing outside our first -- and closed -- choice with our jaws agape and our eyes slightly misty (dust or something) we quickly regained our resolve and marched down Ossington in search of dinner.
As luck would have it, neither of us had been to Union. Located on the west side of Ossington just south of Delux, it's a few steps up into this charming space. There is a bar right at the front, which acts as a host's table and I spotted an espresso machine here also. Behind this miniature cafe is the restaurant proper. It's long and filled with tables. There is a marble bar at the back that encircles the kitchen, giving you a great view of the action.
When we requested a table for two our host sucked air between his teeth and frowned slightly. The restaurant was virtually empty. After perusing the reservations list carefully, he offered us either "the worst seat in the house" (my attribution, not his) or a spot at the bar. Easy choice. Long story short, they'll like you better if you have a reservation.
That said, the service was fairly solid. No fewer than three staff members reminded us that it was Talk it Over Tuesday, which meant we could grab a bottle of Gewurtztraminer (or any wine) for half price. And thought it did eventually get busy (who can resist half-price vino?) we never felt rushed or doted upon.
The foods on the menu are all locally sourced and a chalk-written list of their sources is visible in the kitchen. Even without reading all the reviews, both Steph and I gravitated towards the elk sliders. It's a meatball-sized morsel of elk on top of toasted challah crowned with a pickle. And as others have noted, they are pretty phenomenal.
My habenero glazed pork chop served with roast asparagus and yellow zucchini was cooked perfectly (pork chops can somtimes come out really dry) and the portion size was decent. Steph got the Union Burger which looked like a winner also. I can't wait to come back, which thanks to their check-in offer, will be to collect a free appetizer at lunch. Score!
Obligatory Title Pun: Don't secede from these UNION.
Menu Readability: For something created using a standard typeface and slathered with hyphens as rules, it's quite nice actually.
Need to mention: Impressive wine list.
What this place teaches me about myself: Apparently I *will* visit a union shop.Listed in: Spendy, Spendy, Ossington Strip, Vive(k) le Francais!, But is it local?
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Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
6/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Even with the easy accessibility of something called the "Internet", neither Vivek nor I knew that our original dinner spot was closed on a Tuesday night. Luckily, we weren't too far away from Ossington Street where there are a handful of great restaurants including our second best choice, Union.
We walked in and it looked seemingly empty but that changed in about a half hour. Even if it was Tuesday night, they do prefer you make a reservation.
As we sat at the bar (personally, all of the best action happen at the bar, in front of the open kitchen) we perused through the menu. The list of appetizers looked impressive but it was elk sliders that caught our eye. Without a doubt, they are a must-try. These buttered balls of game meat goodness are cooked medium rare, topped with a pickle, on triangle-shaped challah toast. Eating them required some hand manoeuvring because the meat will naturally fall to your plate because you aren't sure to eat small bites of the toast first or stuff the whole thing at once into your mouth. But every morsel of it is worth it the effort.
While Vivek had the pork chop, I ordered the Union Burger. With the longest description on the menu, it had me with the words 'cooked medium rare'. Every bite had the most amazing array of flavour, from the juicy meat, to the bacon and cheddar to the soft bread that wrapped it. My only sadness is that I couldn't finish my plate. Along with the delicious frites and a mustardy-aioli sauce, I tried my hardest to finish everything but I was defeated.
I would suggest coming here on Tuesdays: you can't go wrong with half priced bottles of wine and their wine list is a good one. However I do apologize to anyone who was there that night and wanted to try the Gewürztraminer, which happened to be the last bottle there. I can tell you that it was delicious.
I fully agree with Vivek that the service we received was impeccable. No one rushed us nor dotted over us. We were able to sit, enjoy and digest our meals at our own pace. -
Review from Melanie C.
Oakville, ON
5/24/2011
I made a reservation here for a long overdue catch up session with a good friend. The entire experience was weird.
We were given menus when we were first seated. We had them for quite a while and had trouble deciding what we wanted, as there were a few good options to choose from. After about 20 minutes, someone came by to check which menu we had, and told us we had the wrong menu. She quickly grabbed our menus and gave us the replacement. When my date asked if the revised menu was much different, she simply said there were a few slight changes. We quickly discovered that what she meant was, the prices were wrong on the first menus. They meant to charge us a few dollars more for everything.
I was torn between the horse (special of the day) and the sticky ribs. I was afraid the horse would be more meat than I could handle and opted for the ribs. We were told that the side of frites was huge and ordered one for the two of us. The ribs were just okay, nothing memorable, but very filling. The frites were a smaller portion than described and also nothing special.
I had a great time with my date - fantastic conversation the entire time. When it came time to splitting the bill, we discussed how much we would each over-tip. We both ended up being quite generous, and then rounding up. A few steps outside of the restaurant, we asked ourselves: why???!!
So the menu mix-up was minor. As was the lie they told about the portion-size of the frites. The annoying part was that my date had ordered a beer. He got his first beer and finished that about mid-way through the meal. He was offered a second one and he accepted. But after waiting 10 minutes, it didn't arrive. After 30 minutes, it still didn't come. And then, he just lost hope. When we were pretty much done our meals, our waitress came by and asked if he ever got his beer. He said he had just assumed it was never coming. She responded with she had just assumed someone else had brought one to him. Not once was there an apology. She asked if he still wanted it, but we were getting ready to leave and he was no longer thirsty. I can't believe it took so long for her to realize it was forgotten, and then her non-apologetic response was far from excellent customer service.
If I could, I would take some of the tip back. I had high hopes for Union, but was highly disappointed. Thank goodness I still had a fantastic time, thanks to my date.
Also, the tables are far too close together. I appreciate that there isn't much space in there, but it was hard not to listen to every word of the conversation at the next table. It was even harder to pretend I wasn't listening. -
Review from Mary D.
8/10/2011
The steak frites was amazing! My husband had the sticky ribs, and they too were delicious. Ended it with the banana bread pudding.... YUM!
We went with a group of 5, and my only beef was that the sides are served family-style. So with 5 different people and 5 different appetites, it was a bit difficult to get your fair share of the sides that you liked best. Who wants to get confrontational when one of their co-diners takes too much of the best side?
But the food was delish, and great concept - all fresh and local food from the chef's family farm. They make whatever they can with what is fresh that week. And all the meat comes from one animal. I didn't love being told that before I cut into my steak (I don't like being reminded where my meat comes from). But a good bit of news to know nonetheless.
About $65 each including drinks. -
Review from Talal A.
Toronto, ON
2/7/2012
Love the food, although their idea of "medium rare" is not perfected..
Service is generally attentive and courteous.
Love this place -
Review from Nicole M.
Vancouver, BC
1/2/2011 ROTD 5/28/2011
We weren't planning to eat here, but I'm really glad we did.
My friend made us a reso for Enoteca Sociale over a month in advance. We had some friends coming in from out of town and wanted to plan something nice. When we arrived our table wasn't ready....but after waiting over an hour for our table and being told that it might be 'just a few more minutes', we placed a call to Union. They were able to accomodate our group immediately, so off we went. So happy we did.
Given how our night began, it was easy to recognize great service when we experienced it. Our server was more like the 7th member of our table - charming, charasmatic and glad to see us. Knowing that we had just come from a bad experience down the street, she put our food orders in before our drinks to get the food to us faster. Seriously - thank you and will you be my friend?
The menu is small and changes regularly, but there is a little something for everyone.
I had the sticky ribs, which I would absolutely recommend. It's a generous portion but still left me yearning for more of the sauce. Easy to eat with a knife and fork.
Save room for the potatoes that are served family style at the table. Sort of reminded me of a warm potato salad. Frites are also served family style with all mains.
We were a group so a lot of different dishes made an appearance at our table: Haddock cakes, tomato soup, charcuterie plate, union salad, pork chop and trout all got rave reviews.
Thank you Union - I'll be back! -
Review from Kent P.
Updated - 8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Well tonight I had those Elk sliders. I captialize Elk because I feel they've earned it. Majestic creatures. OK, it was pretty small - but it was perfect. Popped down four in aprx 2 min. Great service. Monday nights is half price wine (!?). OK, Union. I'm buying what you're selling (delicious Elk).
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/18/2010
Went for lunch with @Nicole A, it was empty, but pretty solid.
Lunches really aren't that expensive:… Read more »
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Review from Akvile H.
5/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Simply amazing!
Wow...this is the best restaurant I have been to in a while! I was in Toronto visiting for the weekend (I used to live here though) and had the pleasure of going to Union with some friends to catch up. The place is really great, our server was super nice, full of great suggestions, and she definitely knows her wine!
We got Elk Sliders for an appetizer with our wine and wow...it has been 3 days and I still can't get over how amazingly delicious they were! You MUST try the Elk Sliders! So tender, flavorful, juicy, covered in sauce on a delicious piece of bread, and it just melts in your mouth! It's an excellent melange of flavors! YUM!
It is a bit expensive there, especially some of their wines, so be prepared for a fatty bill at the end of stay, but it's well worth it if you want some delicious drinks and food. It was packed on Friday night and food took a little bit longer than we had anticipated, but it was worth it once the sliders and ribs came out. This is an excellent place for a date or to just catch up with friends..I would love to come back again some day because I have not had enough of their sliders. Did I mention you should try the Elk Sliders? ;) haha. -
Review from Sharon F.
East York, ON
11/21/2011
If it wasn't for the violinist and accordionist sitting at the bar, visible from Union's beautiful glass windows, we would have passed this place by. The sign outside invited us in for a Sunday bohemian brunch, so our curiosity lead the way. We entered just as the duo began an Amélie piece, and I was instantly entranced.
Their Sunday brunch menu is served until 3pm along with Anthony Wing (of Pure Spirit Oyster bar fame) serving up fresh oysters. The menu was different from that listed online, with some seasonal additions. We had the cheese plate, flat top breakfast and about a dozen oysters. The cheese plate came with three types of cheese (hard sheep, hard cow, soft blue) and a chunk of honeycomb that we enjoyed squeezing honey out of. The flat top came with delicious habanero sausage that they make in-house and potato rosti done just right. The oysters were a delight; we had half-a-dozen Colville Bay and another saltier Atlantic type that hit the spot. Union makes this lemon-infused Scottish Bonnet vodka that went well with the saltier oysters, and Anthony gave us a nice vinaigrette to pair with the Colville Bays. He returns on the half-off wine Mondays, which is a bonus to those who also enjoy oysters for dinner.
The wait staff was a tad stand-off-ish and took some time to set our table, even though there were clearly 5 available spots to choose from as we arrived late in the afternoon. All-in-all, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, especially with the gypsy/french music and beautiful decor. The food was top-notch. I can't wait to return for dinner and be further impressed. This is definitely one of my top 3 Ossington restaurants. -
Review from Fiona L.
Toronto, ON
10/24/2010
Union definitely has a lot of pluses - a neat location, great decor, but based on the price I wasn't overly impressed.
We made a reservation, but they got their numbers confused so we ended up sitting at the bar right by the door - definitely not comfortable. It made service slow too because we were out of the way of the main service.
Food was yummy but not out of this world. Elk sliders were great. Soup of the day was so so. My main chicken entree was good, but not great. Everyone gets sides of french fries and potato salad which were OK.
I'd certainly be willing to give these guys another chance, because I think there's potential there. -
Review from Clara K.
Toronto, ON
11/26/2011
The food was delicious. I had the tagliatelle with a side of vegetables and they were both great. my friend had a manhattan and it was the best manhattan either of us have ever had. the service was perfect. i usually expect stand-off-ish service in this neighbourhood but all the staff were attentive and unpretentious and friendly. i can't wait to go back again.
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Review from Kim L.
Toronto, ON
9/17/2010
Tiny restaurant. Great space. Effortlessly casual. Free-drawn mural covering one expanse of the wall. Open-kitchen.
Menu is startlingly small, but it's not about quantity. Nearly half of the menu changes according to what's available at the markets that day. Chef Teo Paul's dedication to fresh and local.
Outstanding dishes:
Sticky ribs: pork ribs on the bone with smoked & bruised pork belly
(If you like ribs. love ribs. lukewarm about ribs. hell, even if you hate ribs. You MUST try.
Sauce. Ridiculously good. That's all)
Fresh fish: White fish w/ roasted vegetables & seasonal greens
(Succulently flaky, moist, tender, and boldly-seasoned. Rarely used for fish, but it fits. And the roasted vegetables...perfect accompaniment)
Honourable mentions:
Elk sliders w/ miran galangal glaze & pickle on challah
(Meaty & juicy with a bite from the pickled pickle. Slight disappointment with the toast - think high end hamburger bun, visual letdown)
Sides: Frites & winter-style potatoes w/ yogurt, radish & chives
(3/4 of the way through our meal - surprise! oh my. just perfect for dipping into that sweet, slightly spicy, wickedly good rib sauce) -
Review from Luke S.
1/3/2011
Ambience was nice and service was excellent. I can see potential.
Wine is terribly overpriced; ONE glass of prosecco for 12 bucks, come on, and wine for 11??? It's not that good a selection. How am I ever going to get in the mood??? (Suggestion: have a cocktail beforehand; more bang for the buck).
My pork chop was tough to chew. The fries were good but they should not be served in the same bowl as the potatoes with yoghurt dressing, they get all mushy; and the aioli on top was too much. Perhaps, serve it on the side?
SO had a salad (with roesti) and was happy with it.
The Chef looked a little shabby and needs a haircut and a shave.
I shall be back but for lunch, and skip the ETOH. Much better value proposition. -
Review from Ramanan S.
Toronto, ON
7/22/2009 ROTD 6/4/2010
My friends and I arrived at Union a few days after it opened. The place was empty. Nice, we would get a table. Or so we thought. Talking to the host, who was quite friendly, he explained they were totally booked for the night. And for much of the week. This place just opened. What? We decided to come back in two weeks.
And so last night we went back. The same host seated us, explained the kitchen was still trying to sort out some kinks, took our drink orders, and left us to enjoy the ambiance of the place. Union is a nice looking restaurant. It feels like a really nice bistro. It's been under construction for something like a million years. For whatever reasons I don't quite know, it's also one of the most hyped up places ever, apparently.
The wine list is short, and the prices are quite reasonable. There are a few beers on tap. The dinner menu is also fairly short, and features a selection of dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. When we were there elk was featured, as was pork belly. Rhubarb was in both mains. I imagine this will change from week to week if not day to day. Everything on the menu sounded pretty good. Prices weren't astronomical, also a plus.
I'm glad to say the reputation it's earned in such a short time is well deserved. The food was great. The service was particularly good. The place was packed by the time we left, always a good sign.
The restaurant is new, and it's clear there are some kinks they need to work out. Getting the food out to the tables seemed a bit slow. Other than that, I have no real complaints. (I also don't really mind waiting a bit for good food.)
This place is well worth checking out. -
Review from Nicole A.
Etobicoke, ON
7/27/2010 2 photos
I have never been so excited to write a review... seriously
My friend took me here for the first time tonight and I will be back again, not only for the food but for the lady in the stripped shirt the guy with the beard, dan one of the chefs and the team of tylers. I sat at the bar, a big win.
I ordered the elk burgers- fantastic
The lake trout , which was served with smashed potatoes that were dressed in yogart, sour cream,dill and oilive oil......SOOO good.
On top of all of these already great things, Tyler and I got to talking. He loves food, as do I .... and he loves sharing his food... something I am not as good at.
I got to nibble on varies components of the meat platter, a beautiful goat cheese, steak tar tar , pickled veggies and of course the pickles.
As I was eating I got to sit and watch tyler ice a flourless chocolate cake.....and prep everything that came out of the kitchen.
What I love about this place: The staff, I expected some hipster weird pretentious staff, and although there were some black rimmed glasses and lots of facial hair being rocked, they staff was amazing.
It was unlike any dining experience I have ever had before.
I also loved, that there organic delievery had come in the same time I was there, this man was hilarious. His farm is from a small town waterford, and he pointed it out on the map for me . He was a little weird but so into what he does.
One nice fact: Tyler sent over some meat to a table of two men and to thank tyler the men asked to buy him a glass of wine for after work. How nice....
One last note:I was told by my friend that the chef Teo Paul is just as yummy as the food. I will go back to make sure this statement is true. -
Review from Jason K.
6/1/2011
- everyone who has written a review talks about the elk sliders. yes, they are damn good. bambi is delicious.
- will have to come back again for the sticky ribs, as they were all out by the time our group arrived.
- ambiance here is great, and it was pretty busy for a tuesday night. (must be the half price bottle of wine special they have going on)
- our server was very attentive, and although she didnt know what amaretto was (maybe they dont have it in australia), she did pour up a seriously good caesar. habanero (sp?) and soy sauce made this thing realllllly good. #2 in the city, in my opinion. -
Review from Noel D.
12/21/2009
Went here on a Wednesday with a reservation and still had to wait 20 minutes for a table. Oh well... Had a drink at the bar and everyone tending to us was more than pleasant. We were seated and the waitress ran down the specials and details -- there's not a lot of seating at this place so it's easy to devote time to one table, which is a nice feeling.
The food isn't overly expensive. I started with a house salad that came with goat cheese and what appeared to be like a hash brown ball. It was delicious. Sampled a variety of cheeses and meats as well.
I like the look of this place. The decor is nice and cozy, but it's also quite cramped in there as well. Not much space between tables. Oh, and there's only one washroom! One for men and one for women... That might fly on a slow night but I went down there and had to wait 10-15 minutes for whoever was destroying the men's toilet to come out. Luckily if you just want to wash your hands they have a sink outside in the hallway.
Nice place. I can't complain because the food was good and the service was even better. Those are the two most important things for me, so maybe I will come back when I find out when their slow nights take place. -
Review from Andy A.
Toronto, ON
4/13/2011
Terrible Service. Not accommodating. Rude. Left a real bad taste in my mouth. These guys treat patrons like they have the 'honour' of dining.
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Review from N K.
Toronto, ON
4/1/2011
I was there for Brunch this past Sunday and only have good things to say.
The ambiance, the service and the food were all really great and made for an awesome start to our afternoon. We went at noon and the place wasnt overly full so my bf and I could actually have a conversation. I can definitely see this place being a part of my Sunday routine.
(The only reason I didnt give it 5 stars was because of the limited vegetarian options - although they do accommodate with good substitutions.) -
Review from eric g.
Toronto, ON
4/21/2010
We had high hopes for our first dinner at Union, in part because of the rapturous buzz, in part because of the complexity of securing a reservation (more about this below). Our companions: the foodiest of our foodie friends, on a weekend pass from Ottawa, ready to be dazzled. I'm not sure there was any dazzling done this night, but we left full and satisfied.
Things started well: our table was waiting for us when we arrived. Given the reputation some of the hottest joints in town have of making patrons wait long past their reservation times, I took this as a good sign.
Then, eventually, came the food.
Appetizers:
1) Beef Tartare: a lovely little cube of raw steak haché, with grainy mustard, a little pile of ground pepper, and a firey hot sauce on the side. Excellent! I'd happily have it again. A.
2) Elk Sliders - tiny open-faced burgers on little triangular slices of bread. Beautifully seasoned and moist, a little gamey as elk should be - this is the app I'll order next time. A+
3) Charcuterie Platter: melt-in-your-mouth pastrami (brilliant), respectable pork rillette, and... I didn't catch what the mystery-meat-looking thing was, but it was the only part the four of us didn't polish off. B+
4) grilled sardines. In reality a salad with one smallish sardine on top. I didn't taste it, but from the look on our friend's face, I'd give the dish a C.
Mains:
1) Two of us found the pork ribs impossible to resist - especially with the promise of a piece of pork belly, which turned out to be beautifully smokey and unctuous - the best part of the dish. The ribs themselves were nicely caramelized and falling off the bone, but in the end a little dry. And the huge, super-rich portion left me feeling a bit overwhelmed (and I'm a good eater). B+
2) Beef tenderloin was polished off without sharing and pronounced excellent. A
3) Fish special - simply made and presented (good), but a little overcooked. B
Desserts: my better half and I shared the bread pudding, recommended by the server. Tiny portion was, by that point in the meal, just the right amount for two, and delicious. Friends' apple crumble and panna cotta were pronounced excellent... but by that point I was too stuffed to sample.
Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable, but a bit run off her feet. No one seemed to be helping her, and it felt like the place could have used one more staffer working the floor.
Oh yes, and the reservations. It seems that reservations can only be confirmed by the manager, so if you call and get someone else on the phone, all they can do is take your request and promise that the manager will call you back. Is that promise always kept? Nope. Do they show any concern when a customer calls back the next day to inquire? Not the time I called. All's well that ends well, but really, Union. Join the modern age and stop making your customers jump through hoops. Open Table makes everything easy and transparent. -
Review from Jordan T.
Toronto, ON
1/3/2011
Great food, ambience and service. Try the charcuterie to start. As Nicole M. mentioned, the ribs are unbelievable, as are the potatoes that the table is given to share family style.
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Review from Ryan L.
12/29/2010
Went here for lunch. It was the perfect atmosphere for a nice casual lunch with friends. The food was excellent! A small menu but each item on it seemed very unique. And all the prices seemed quite reasonable for the quality ($10-15). The service was a little bit slow but it didn't really bother us much. I'd definitely go back here again.
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Review from Deanna W.
8/19/2009
This week's installment of FARCS at large: adventures of Christine and Dea-brings us to the recently hyped Union on Ossington.
Our fellow FARCS arrive at 6:30 on a muggy summer night to take their seats. Luckily they are with reservation and it proves to be a smart undertaking as the joint is hopping with pretty young things well before 8. They take their seats at the banquettes and take a moment to drink in the chic yet casual Ossington decor: exposed brick, wooden floors and a marble bar. A pastoral mural on the side wall of horses and dragon flies signals that this place takes its' local food seriously.
The server for the evening is an affable chap who answers all questions and concerns including the one that our enquiring females have on their minds: Is chef Teo Paul the hottest chef in town? Answer: Yes, quite possibly so.
Moving along, the girls peruse the wine and cocktail list and note the fairness of the prices given the calibre of the restaurant. Cocktails run from $8-9 and wines are priced from $9 but feature some interesting regions in Europe. Christine the resident oeonophile of the pair, summons glasses of Prosecco to start- a light bubbly white wine, easy on the nose. What a welcoming start!
Our FARCS start off with the charcuterie board which consists of corned beef, a pate akin to deviled ham and a country terrine which was tasty enough. The girls having taken in past boards at both Swirl and the famous Black Hoof both decided that this one was not up to snuff with it's lack of cured meats. The summer salad arrived next and it set the girls hearts aflutter with its well prepared combination of lettuces, shallots and mustard seeds. It was layered wtih a creamy, soft chevre, a crisp potato rosti and some delicious house smoked bacon. This one was chowed down heartily and appreciatively.
The arrival of the mains was met with some disappointment by the girls who felt that there the kitchen had faltered somewhat in execution. Proclaimed sticky ribs were neither sticky nor flavourful and could have used more cooking time to properly carmelize and soften up the meat. Adjoining pork belly was lackluster, it didn't have the "pop" or crazy texture of pork bellies past. However, the sweat pea lasagna made up for the sorry ribs by being bright and bouncy in flavours and textures. Thin delicate sheets of pasta, creamy rich ricotta, soothing sweat pea bechamel topped off with fresh crushed tomatoes: this thing was a beauty that tasted of the garden. Sliced slightly cooked slices of zuchini added to the garden fresh taste but sadly the promised eggplant on the menu was MIA. All the main dishes were enjoyed with a platter of yogurt potato salad (bland) and the most wonderful frites in recent memory: hand cut, golden in colour and excellent potato flavour. The accompanying lemon aioli on the side made these frites a big hit with our farcs!
Tummies stuffed and satiated the farcs paid up and tumbled out onto Ossington to enjoy the breezy summer air. Union may be hopping and pretty but it is also a bad place to survive a humid night with its lack of a/c and minimal ventilation.
All in all, a lovely meal was enjoyed by the FARCS on that hot summer evening. The girls took in dishes prepared with care, made with local, fresh ingredients and all at the hands of a fine lookin' chef. Here's hoping the consistency caries more forward into some of their other dishes! -
Review from Christine C.
Etobicoke, ON
8/19/2009
3 1/2 Stars.
Union is hot. Literally. On a muggy, warm, humid summer night the hottest restaurant on Ossington is about 100 degrees and I can't imagine how hot it was in the kitchen area. I'm pretty sure the staff earned their money last night through pure sweat equity. Union does not have any A/C and the last night the ceiling fans didn't even make a dent in the hot air. Mind you, in my opinion, the hottest thing in Union is the chef, Teo Paul. Oh my my. I'm pretty sure that just about every chick in the place was there to catch a glimpse of him in culinary action. He came out of the kitchen once and you could hear every female head in the place snap around to catch a glimpse of the cookin cutie pie. All that being said, Union is a very beautiful bistro with a straight up homage to European styled dining rooms.
My Yelpie winger & fellow FARC Deanna made us a rez (you can't get in this place without one, trust me on this) and when a resto fills up by 6:30 p.m. on a Tuesday evening you know this place is happening. So let's talk food. What I love about eating with Deanna is that we are both really great food sharers and a restaurant like Union really helps to facilitate this especially because they serve the sides "family" style.
We started with a Charcuterie board (which is really a slate) and the waiter told how great it was. I warned him up front that Deanna was the Queen of Charcuterie (being a reg. at the Black Hoof!) and then he quickly explained how their own cured meats weren't quite ready yet so it wasn't a conventional charcuterie board. He was right about that, it wasn't. I don't think they should call it a charcuterie board because its not. The surprise of the evening was the salad. Talk about a salad with a wow factor. Soft greens (Boston & leaf lettuces), finely minced shallots and green onions with a large dollop of extremely soft, light airy chevre on top along with a thick hunk of double smoked bacon and here was the kicker, a Rosti potato tucked in underneath. Often cheese like that on a salad can flatted and drown the lettuce, making the salad gloopy but not in this case. There were a smattering of mustard seeds in the salad as well. What a marriage between a very light vinaigrette and all the other ingredients. The Rosti was crispy and hot. There were a lot of textures, flavours and temperatures happening in the salad. By far and away, one of the best salads I've ever eaten in a restaurant.
For mains, we choose Sticky Ribs which as it turned out weren't sticky at all. Initially we could taste what we thought was five spice rub or smoked tea in them but that disappeared quickly. We found the ribs to be tough and chewy as was the pork belly piece that was on the side of the dish. All the mains are sat upon a bed of steamed swiss chard or rhubarb. The other main was a really unusual piece of lasagna made with a sweet pea puree. The pasta was paper thin, very light and layered with thin slices of zucchini in between. The menu said there was eggplant in it but I don't think either of us could see it or taste it. The sweet pea puree has bechamel added to it giving it a smooth, creamier texture. This was the most unusual lasagna I have ever eaten. All mains come with a side dish filled with the most delicious European frites with a dollop of that nasty assed mayo and a pile of smashed up potato. You help yourself. This worked for us and I'm sure Deanna will agree the fries were really a thing of beauty.
The menu in general is small which I like. The special of the day included a chilled soup (meh...chilled soup doesn't float my boat) and a grilled trout. Big props for a decent and reasonably priced wine list. We started with a couple of glasses of gorgeously chilled Prosecco that were perfect. Union offers a decent by the glass list and I opted to try and Bastianich and Deanna ordered up a glass of Grenache. Both wines were good but warmed up really quickly in the hot, hot room. Service at Union is good especially considering how busy the place is.
Dinner, two starters, two mains & four glasses of wine totalled out to $107.00 before tip which for such a hot spot I felt was very reasonable. We didn't order up any dessert because I think at that point we just needed to get outside for some fresh air. I look forward to trying Union again, this time on a cool fall evening. -
Review from Sam C.
2/7/2010
Might be a bit biased as I had only lived in Toronto for a few months before trying out this restaurant. But it certainly was an amazing experience! Make sure you make reservations as it's a small restaurant but if your able to get a table, they will make sure you are comfortable and getting everything you need to have an enjoyable dinner. The concept is focused on local fresh ingredients and that certainly doesn't hurt them. My date and I had the prime rib for too, amazing amazing dish and highly recommended. The menu is very simple and small but they do it well.
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Review from Diane R.
Toronto, ON
3/27/2010
What a sad sad night my evening at Union turned out to be, and it had started with such high hopes.
I'd called their reservation number and left a voicemail with my preferred time for dining (10pm - I like eating late, what of it). But my weakness with the medium of voicemail reared it's ugly head and I didn't leave a phone number for the staff to return my call. Fortunately, a kind heart *69'd my ass (or did some hard creeping) and found my number and let me know that they'd be happy to accomodate my request, and if I'd rather come for 9:30pm-9:45pm there would be lots of room as a large group would be leaving at said time.
So... I started getting hungry and my partner-in-dining and I ventured over for 9:50pm. When we arrived the staff seemed somewhat confused...lovely. We stalked a staff member down and told them our name for the reservation and they told us it would just be a minute for our table. Luckily it was only a moment later for our table... but I would have waited longer.. we were placed at an obvious table for four, but squished in a back corner where it was difficult for staff to speak to us and our neighbours had no choice but to listen in on our conversation.
Lest you think I'm an anti-communal table fiend, I'm not, I love Oddfellows for example. But when you sit me at a FAUX table for two, that pisses me off.
Things went from bad to worse... the group that was supposed to leave at 9:30pm apparently showed up VERY late and was overwhelming the staff with their seperate bills and appetizers and main orders. Now I understand the frustration with big picky groups, but it doesn't excuse forgetting about diners. We waited ages for water, had a mis-mash of servers, and NO apologies for the long wait times for food/service/drinks. We were continually given the excuse "oh this group is just too much" (the jersey shore crowd was a little over the top, but I wasn't letting them ruin my night. Union's staff was doing that all on their own).
Our neighbours actually commented to us on how we should be upset and that this was insane. While they'd been able to drink their way through the frustrations, our waiter(s) didn't appear often enough to indulge in more libations. Sadly.
But on to the food - delicious. The saving grace. The beef carpaccio was phenomenal, and the rabbit stew was indulgent without feeling heavy.
Will I return? VERY doubtful. Next time I'll stick with Delux and actually enjoy my evening. -
Review from xyz y.
3/23/2011
went here last Saturday night. got there about 9pm. was very busy. in hindsight we should have gone elsewhere, but it was cold and we were tired of walking around.
To begin, before we even sat down we were told the easily half the menu was unavailable. Our waitress started with "...OK we're out of the following...." Come on, really? Saturday night and a full reservation book and you are out of food at 9pm. The food that we settled on (charcuterie and ribs) was very good. The service was also very good.
