Union Street: Reasonable food - Very Hard to Find
Written: Mar 27 '04 (Updated Jun 17 '05)
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Pros: Reasonably priced lunches, kids menu, outdoor dining on patio.
Cons: Very hard to find, limited parking, beer smell from bar.
The Bottom Line: Union Street is a decent lunch restaurant but its main appeal is the bar crowd.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Union Street |
Union Street is located in a back alley in Newton Center, MA. You can't see it from the street or even until you are far into the alley itself. With this location disadvantage, Union Street works hard to bring in patrons with lots of promotions and live music including: salsa dance lessons, karaoke, local bands, low-priced food at happy hours and even book readings. Union Street has been around a long time - since my student days at least - and they clearly have found a way to appeal to the daytime lunch crowd, student crowd and bar crowd by offering consistently decent food and good service.
I have eaten at Union Street for lunch a few times over the last couple of years. Since I am well past the age when I am looking to pick anyone up (except for my young children) I don't visit Union Street at night when it is mainly a college student hangout. However, the lunches are decent and low-priced.
MENU
For lunch, the menu includes standard American pub fare: burgers, sandwiches, salads, wraps and soups. Most of these items are under $8. There are also a couple of nicer entrees including salmon and scallops that are a bit pricier. At lunch time, there is a kids' menu with hot dogs, burgers, chicken nuggets and the like for around $4-6. The kids' meal includes a drink and hoodsie.
In my experience, the food is decent but nothing I have had really stands out as special. The burgers are cooked on an open flame so they have a strong grilled flavor which is not to my kids liking but I enjoy. The wraps are large and the portions are more than enough for one person.
DINING ROOMS
Union Street has multiple eating and drinking areas inside the restaurant. There is a bar area that exudes a strong beer scent even during the day. The downstairs dining room is in the basement. There are no windows but there are nice murals on the walls and it is plainly but tastefully decorated with some bench seating. By far, the nicest place to eat in nice weather is the outside patio which is fenced off from the surrounding city center, has nice murals and is a nice, quiet respite for lunch. In addition to these spaces, there is an "attic" where the entertainment generally is. Since I am over 25, I have never ventured up to the attic.
SERVICE
Upon entering the restaurant, you will find the host stand. We are always greeted promptly and taken to a table right away. Service is generally friendly, reliable and good. In several visits, I have had no complaints.
AMBIANCE
Union Street is a casual place by day. Patrons are usually local workers out for lunch, moms with kids or groups of friends. Jeans and t-shirts are totally acceptable.
BEER
One of the draws of Union Street for many people is the number of microbrews they have on tap at any given time. I counted about 20 at my last visit and the current offerings are posted in the dining room for all to see.
OTHER INFO
Vegetarians: There are salads and garden burgers on the menu.
Handicapped: The bar, patio dining and bathrooms are on the main level. The main dining room is down a flight of stairs and the attic is up a flight of stairs. I don't think they have an elevator.
Credit Cards: They accept credit cards.
GETTING THERE
As I mentioned above, simply finding Union Street can be a challenge. There is no parking immediately nearby given the pedestrian-only alley location. Some parking is available on meters in the surrounding few blocks but it can be hard to find an open space. The green line of the T (Boston's Trolly) stops nearby.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
For someone over 25, Union Street is a nice place to get sandwiches for lunch at a reasonable price. The downstairs dining room is nice but nothing special. The patio is really the place to be in nice weather. For students, beer drinkers and the young at heart, Union Street offers plenty of microbrews on tap and live entertainment as a reward for finding the place.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? TRY THESE BOSTON-AREA RESTAURANTS:
BOSTON: Radius; Caffe Vitoria; Excelsior; Jacob Wirth; Cottonwood Cafe.
BROOKLINE: Mr. Sushi; Fugakyu; Takeshima; Tsunami; Anna's Taqueria; Zaftigs Delicatessen; Bangkok Bistro; Golden Temple.
NEWTON: Appetito; India Paradise; Blue Ribbon Barbeque; Ice Cream Works; Baker's Best; Bill’s Pizzeria; Cafe Nicolas; O’Hara’s; Yeradi’s.
CAMBRIDGE: S&S Restaurant; The Japanese Mall; Jasper White’s Summer Shack.
WEST ROXBURY: Cafe Misono.
BRIGHTON: Tasca.
ESSEX: Woodman’s.
SAUGUS: Kowloon.
CHAIN RESTAURANTS: Not Your Average Joe’s; Bertucci’s; Legal Sea Foods; Cheesecake Factory; Rainforest Cafe; Fire & Ice; Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse; Friendly’s; Bruegger’s Bagels.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Lunch menu is reliably good - no particular standouts.
Best Suited For: Friends
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modernmarvel
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