Elite Event: Union Bar & Kitchen

Always a great time with bites and drinks! It’s a pretty cool place on the West side — a little out of the way which is the only downside — but cool décor and a great open space for events/​large parties.
We had a choice of two drinks. I went with the Austin Mule all night. The Geisha was little too fruity — but both seemed pretty popular!
1. The Austin Mule — Deep Eddy Vodka with fresh lime juice and ginger beer
2. The Geisha — Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, Muddled Cucumber & Strawberry, and fresh lemon juice.
The bites included:
1. Fried Chicken Skewers — absolutely incredible and by far the crowd favorite!
2. Pulled Pork Sliders — average, it was saucy but lacking in flavor
3. Deviled Eggs — also great! there was definitely something fishy (har har) that made it tasty!
4. Salmon Tartare — bite sized, also pretty great!
Overall, great drinks and bites. What more could you ask for? The vintage theme and the friendly people also helped make this event bomb. Thanks Ruggy and team!

My review is long overdue but there is nothing negative to say about this place. As it is noted below it is definitely in an unexplored area of the city and the perfect place to hide out from the rain.
SERVICE
Their service was amazing. The place was very crowded with Unilocalers and their friends but the servers were so attentive. They came around extremely often to make sure that the food was going around consistently. Additionally they were really nice.
FOOD/​DRINKS
Amazing! The food was so good. Their chicken skewers were to die for. I could not get enough of these, neither could anyone else in the event. Although they weren’t the biggest portions they were satisfying and filling.
We had a choice of two drinks and they were both amazing! The Austin Mule: Deep Eddy Vodka, with fresh lime juice and ginger beer my favorite drink of the night. The Geisha: A deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, Muddled Cucumber & Strawberry and fresh lemon juice. My favorite was the geisha but both were extremely tasty.
HIGHLY recommended.

As others noted, this event was a perfect excuse to brave the rain and trek into a less traveled area of NYC. The salmon tartare, deviled eggs, and fried chicken skewers won me over, with the Austin Mule providing a nice gingery vodka punch to wash it all down.
Thanks as always to Ruggy and the folks at Union Bar & Kitchen for hosting us and keeping us dry! We had a great time, and even scored some Unilocal ponchos on our way out!

My first Manhattan elite event!
I am super late in writing this review.
Union Bar and Kitchen is located a few blocks from the Spring St. stop on the C, E train.
Thanks, Maria Cristina C. for +1’ing me to this event.
It was a rainy day outside, but inside it was hopping. Two drinks awaited us, the Austin mule and the Geisha. I tried them both, but I think I preferred the Austin mule.
The restaurant has a nice vibe to it. Its very cozy and it has a very modern feel.
Servers came around with deviled eggs, fried chicken skewers, salmon tartare, fish tacos, and pulled pork sliders. My favorite food for the night were the fried chicken skewers and the pulled pork sliders.
It was great seeing everyone and meeting new Unilocalers.
Thanks Ruggy (even though you didn’t recognize me at first, Lol), team Unilocal,and Union Bar and Kitchen for a fun event.

Better late than never on my review :)
The staff was super accommodating and friendly even though they pretty much cranked drinks out non-​stop. I can’t say I liked one more than the other — they both were great! I had never tried Deep Eddy vodka and I am a fan. It is always nice when there are floor staff passing around drinks to the thirsty hoards.
The food was tasty — I especially liked the tuna tartare. I missed out on the sliders, so I will have to come by and try them out some time.
Nice treat: They gave all the Unilocalers two free small plates. Hooray!

A very belated review, with a really big thanks for Union Bar and Kitchen for their generosity.
I came here for the Elite Unilocal event, and it was a raining cats and dogs; by the time I got there I was pretty much soaked. But that didn’t kill my spirit. When I got there, the bar was pretty packed full of people waiting for the bar. It was basically impossible to get a drink. They were serving the Austin Mule and The Geisha. I really enjoyed the Austin Mule actually, it wasn’t as sweet as the Geisha and the zesty lemon really let the brought out the ginger beer and gave it a nice woomph. The Geisha, I could see the appeal, but I wasn’t able to really finish my first glass just because it was a little bit on the sweeter side.
The decore was really cozy, warm and cute. I loved the sofa and the rustic vibe. The servers were really tentive and they were really working hard that night, so were the bartenders. Though I did have to wait a bit for my drink, but it is understandable. There was a huge crowd, and people were literally congragating in the middle of the bar. I most likely wouldn’t have been able to see me at the side corner of the bar. So me being able to get anything was good enough. I was actually quite happy that any of the bartenders saw me. There were little trinkets that were given out, such as the lemon vodka lip-​balm, granted there isn’t any vodka in it. But it smells and tastes (not that I am eating it) great, very lemony.
The food was pretty good too, I think hands down, the most popular dish of the night was the nice and saucy pulled pork sliders. When they came out, if you weren’t next to the server, there was no way you were getting any of it. I was pretty intense when the first batch came out. I saw it, then I didn’t… in like a blink of an eye. I didn’t get to try to Deviled Eggs, which was a shame because it looked amazing. I saw it being served when I was getting my first drink. By the time I get my drink they stopped serving it. Yes, sad times.
How some constructive (?) criticism: The fish tacos (I assume) wasn’t good, the taco shells were obviously frozen and chalky. I would suggest skipping that, no matter how much you are craving fish tacos; there are better ones out there. The Salmon Tartare though very soft and meaty, I personally, felt the sesame oil masked the other ingredient’s flavors, which is a shame cause the ingredients seem very fresh. But other than that; the event was great.
This is my first Unilocal Event, and I thought it is amazing. Great company and people to hangout with. I really enjoyed meeting the people here, got nice tipids on restuarants and places to go, I’m very excited.
Thank you Ruggy for setting up this meet, I was really excited to finally put a living person and face to the name!
It was nice meeting all you Elite Unilocalers, non-​Elite Unilocalers, Unilocalers and non-​Yelpers!

The rain can’t keep us away! Thanks Ruggy and the Union Bar & Kitchen team for such a wonderful event! The food and drinks were delicious, the company was wonderful (as it always is), and the fact that there were ponchos for those of us who forgot umbrellas was a major bonus!
Union Bar & Kitchen is a cool, modern spot, with plenty of seating and an open feel. The staff was super friendly and I was amazed by how quickly trays and trays of food kept coming out. The staff did a good job of bringing it to different spots around the bar so I was able to stay by my table and catch up with friends while sipping on my oh so very delicious drink and still be fed! On the note of delicious drink, I stuck with the Geisha all night long, which was fruity, refreshing, and delicious! Dangerously so… I was definitely very tipsy by the time I left, perfect for a summer day.
The food was also great! Its got a jazzed-​up all-​American vibe with some Asian fusion. I’m normally not a big meat eater, but the fried chicken skewers were amazing! Whatever sauce they marinated it with was spot on (some ginger, some soy sauce? Who knows, pure deliciousness). The salmon tartar, which had sesame seeds on the cracker, was fantastic. And barbecue pork sliders with the perfectly sized pickles? Such a crowd pleaser. I’m not a deviled eggs person, though they looked pretty, but I did also enjoy those fish tacos. I’d never heard of Union Bar & Kitchen prior to this event, but given how great the food was and the great west side location, I’ll have to return!

Good times. We got there late for the late for the Unilocal elite event. I tried the Austin mule which was quite the tasty beverage and refreshing. I love anything with ginger beer! The geisha was great too. Unfortunately the only food I was able to grab was a pulled pork slider I think. It was good and tangy. I wish I was able try more stuff when I was there. It’s was a cute place I liked the décor. The bartenders worked rather diligently and the drinks were on point. I’d love to return sometime in near future.

The Quick: Sexy, cool hidden bar with fantastic eclectic food, flavorful drinks and friendly waitstaff
The Details: This swanky little spot cheered up an otherwise rainy gross night. The fried chicken was amazing: so juicy with an Asian flair. The pork sliders were out of this world, as were the fish tacos. I really appreciate the offer on my next visit– cannot wait to return.
Thank you for your hospitality!

rainy days are all about staying in – i prefer staying «in» at a restaurant with tasty bites and a stellar cocktail program… that’s where Union Bar & Kitchen aka UBK «comes in» and delivers on both… or wait i go into the restaurant, so technically i «came in…» wait what?! never mind. #unintendedinnuendo
on a grey drizzly Saturday evening, i got to Union Bar, a great spot in SoHo West. not even sure what this area is called. however it’s an area known for über-​divey bars that are super old, grimy, etc. thankfully, Union Bar is a polished gem with a bright, bright future.
the space of the restaurant is rather large. lots of different seating options: the bar itself which is fairly big, communal high table, normal two– and four-​tops, banquette seating around the perimeter, and more high tables & other seating options in the back of the restaurant. cooler tones in the front because the entrance is mostly all glass, so it can let in the sun. the back is a bit more loungey with warmer tones. nice balance between modern and contemporary, so it doesn’t come off too slick or too sterile. casually cool.
while UBK is big – it was plenty full on this wet Saturday. there were a lot of new faces at this event with some familiar ones. great mix of people which is often the best secret ingredient to any event.
my fave cocktail of the night was the AUSTIN MULE: a take on the a Moscow Mule obvi. nice amount of ginger beer’s sweet without being saccharine and enough acid bite from the fresh lime. of course, this drink’s main fuel is Deep Eddy Vodka which is a «thumbs up.» The Geisha was another Deep Eddy cocktail muddled with cooling sweet freshness of cucumbers and strawberries.
lots of contemporary American food choices: pulled pork sliders, salmon tartar, & devillled eggs to name a few. perfectly-​sized bar bites with the right amount of savor, richness, and eatability without being too heavy or cumbersome. the food was tasty and hit the spot – as some people were wearing as much food on their shirts from inhaling it as they were actually eating. messy eaters you know who you are. lol
UBK’s staffer and bartenders made sure dranks and food floweth. they hustled all evening – chatting with us, going through the difference foods, composing those two great mixed draaaanks, and of course doing so with a smile and no stress. Unilocal folks’ bellies filled and thirst quenched. mission accomplished.
i like the vibe. UBK can serve your needs for just catching a drink solo, dinner dates, group boozeApaloozas outings, or even business-​y drinks and eats, etc. it breathes classy and casual without having to try. it’s nice to a place with options and flexibility. a seamless «union» between eats, drinks, and a comfortable experience.
got a chance to catch up with the maestro of Manhattan, Ruggy… which is rare since he is swarmed at all events. big huge thank you to Ruggy and team Unilocal for helping us discover another awesome joint downtown. of course, the Union Bar & Kitchen staffer deserve a lot of applause for welcoming us in from the rain, feeding us, and getting us into a responsibly buzzed state. ha.
drops mic so i can get kicked by these tasty Austin Mule.
i out.
zzz

I was pleasantly surprised to see what a lovely space Union Bar and Kitchen has to offer. The cocktails were nothing short of amazing, but that is to be expected since Deep Eddy was there, and they seem to have the Midas Touch (sans-​the whole negative moral of that particular story). My favorite by far was the Austin Mule. Austin is a city which I love, and visit about twice a year and it seems only fitting that such a landmark vodka would originate from here.
The staff was great here, with one of the servers actually specifically making me a vegan appetizer consisting of quinoa, black beans, jalapenos and veggies in a lettuce wrap — which was amazing! I will definitely be back to delve into this delicacy that found the happy medium between earthy and spicy while balancing a bit of OMFG on the palate.

I can’t think of many better ways to spend a Saturday afternoon when it’s pouring outside than sipping free cocktails, making the rounds with Manhattan’s ( Unilocal) elite, and sampling hors-d’oeuvres. There is no denying that it was a successful event.
Union Bar and Kitchen is a a great space with a modern feel from the light fixtures and large open windows and a refreshing balance of light and dark. The variety of seating options, be it smaller tables for two or a tall bar table, allowed for you to either make the rounds meeting new people or settle down for a chat with old friends.
The servers consistently made the rounds between the tables offering a plethora of samples from smokey deviled eggs to salmon tartare on crackers. Of course, the refills of cocktails seemed to be the most popular. The menu included two cocktails featuring Deep Eddy vodka. Hailing from Austin myself, I was happy to see one of the city’s local faves as the feature liquor in NYC! I didn’t get to try the Geisha, which looked to be refreshing summer drink with strawberries and cucumber, but I certainly enjoyed the Austin mule with a kick of ginger beer and zest of lime.
It was a great event put together by Ruggy and I for one had a great evening meeting new people and getting introduced to yet another fabulous NYC restaurant.
P. S. I apologize to whatever individual I switched my umbrella with. Don’t feel too bad… it was just from Duane Reade.

The rain doesn’t stop my party. I really enjoy this event, luckily I was standing up in a perfect spot were all the food was coming out.
The great staff was serving the following snacks:
Salmon Tartare: a seasoned and fresh salmon with a perfect bite size so you can devour it with only one bite.
Fried Chicken Skewers — juicy, meaty and little spicy my favorite snack that night.
Fish Tacos — I was not a big fan of it, but I end eaten like 4 of them.
Deviled Eggs — The trout component made it so unique and tasty! (Great master, love the way was they presentation of this plate)
Pulled Pork Sliders — Very saucy, I love it.
The drinks:
The Austin Mule: Deep Eddy Vodka, with fresh lime juice and ginger beer my favorite drink of the night.
The Geisha: A deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, Muddled Cucumber & Strawberry and fresh lemon juice.
The staff did a great job serving until the last second.
Thanks Ruggy, the staff of Union Bar & kitchen and special shootouts to the ladies of Eddy Vodka for this Wonderful event.

Awesome event as usual! Thank you for hosting us and having us try the delicious bites and even better vodka drinks! The eddy vodka is made in Austin, it is distilled 10 times and has 70 kcal per servings, lightly lemony in taste, I will look for it and add it to my own bar — this was great booze.
The bites of food included: salmon tartare (my favorite), lightly fried Asian twist chicken skewers (great), fish tacos (something was missing there), deviled eggs (nothing too stunning but nice smoked to it), and pulled pork sliders (yum!)
The highlight of the event was hanging out with fellows helpers and the drinks! Woohoo and cheers to another great successful event!

This Unilocal event was really enjoyable, drinks are great (Ostrich and Geisha) with perfectly Fried Chicken Skewer, Salmon Tarte. Please don’t mind me forgetting the names of the foods and drinks. But please keep up the events, I sure as hell appreciate it.
I made the HUGE mistake of not doing a +1 and alone I felt which is until Tam said «Cool Hair» and Austin (I hope I remembered your name correctly) the Bartender noticed that I needed some booze to mellow me out. Aside from the organizer I cannot thank the 2 of you enough for keeping me company. You guys are truly the BEST of the BEST and I hope to see you guys again.
As a bar/​restaurant, it is very spacious and comfortable with nice seats and tables. If the service is as good as what Tam and Austin provides, then very few places are able to match their service as they set a new standard that probably won’t be matched for ages to come.
P. S: Master, I did not forget what you taught me ;-)

Another awesome event! Unfortunately I could only stay for about 45 minutes because I had another engagement, but this was a great way to kick off my evening.
The staff at UBK is amazingly friendly and accommodating. We felt we were taken care of every step of the way, from the moment we walked in the door (hi, Ruggy!) to the very last sip of those delicious strawberry drinks. The food was also fantastic — the chicken skewers and pork sliders were standouts for me.
Such a cool space, and it’s a little out of the way but I think it’s worth it!

Based on what’s being passed around (in order)
Skewers (juicy and perfectly fried)
Smoked trout deviled eggs (great flavor)
Salmon tartare (perfect little bite)
Fish tacos (would live it to be seasoned just a touch more but not over cooked!)
Pulled pork sliders (decent flavor, too much bad in comparison to filling)
Nice space, great staff, but can tell it gets super loud based on the acoustics. Bartenders are working hard. Thank you for the food, drinks and generosity!

Even on my short weekend trip, of course I had to make time for a Unilocal party! It’s been over a year since Ive been to an Manhattan event and it was as awesome as I remembered! Old friends, I missed you! New friends, nice to meet you!
Union Kitchen and Bar locates in an area of NYC which I admit probably had visited at max 3 times in my time. As always Unilocal events attract me to go to places I would not have gone on my own — imagine missing out all the tasty treats UKB had to offer!
salmon tartare — my fav, well seasoned and so fresh! perfect bite size
fried chicken skewers — juicy and meaty, a tad too salty for me
fish tacos — Let me get another. Or two. Loved the slaw pairing!
deviled eggs — the trout component made it so unique and tasty!
pulled pork sliders — saucy, exactly the way I like it!
This event is a reminder and a preview of what I have missed and will be returning to! Thanks to Ruggy and the staffs at UKB for the amazing event! Can’t deny that Unilocal DMV is pretty awesome, but Unilocal NYC is where my heart is.

Union Bar & Kitchen is a bit out of the way (located on the West end of Manhattan near Hudson River on Spring and Hudson), but I am glad I made it out here for the wonderful Unilocal event despite the rain!
The restaurant was very generous with the amount of food and drinks it provided throughout the 2 hour event. There were two different cocktail offerings — Austin Mule and Geisha. I loved the Geisha (lemon vodka, cucumber, muddled strawberry, and lemon juice). It also had a tang of spiciness to it.
In terms of food, we feasted on fried chicken skewers, salmon tartare, pulled pork sandwich, fish tacos, and deviled eggs with trout. The fried chicken was crispy and juicy, but a bit too salty. Likewise, the pulled pork sandwich, which was topped with pickle and cole slaw, had too much sauce. The deviled eggs with trout was unique!
The bartenders and the folks at the restaurant were very attentive and friendly. Thanks for the great event, Ruggy!

I love that I figured out how to get here by using my VERY smart phone. Yes, it is out of your normal routine. But this is why you should come to UBK:
1. My very picky and particular plus one was vibing thé scèné and felt comfortable hanging. If you, or thé person you love, is very particular– this place can live up to any standard. Thé manager was walking about ensuring good times were flowing and very eager to please.
2. Thé food is amazingly grand. I did a doubletake at their déviled eggs because I didnt know they put something extra. This goes for everything on thé menú. Nothing was plain nor what you expected.
3. Drinks were consistent Despite having two different bartenders. They were both capable of making a quality drink to thé point that you could not tell who made what– it was LITERALLY all good.
4. Great – NO, AMAZING Unilocalers were on thé scene! Making all plus ones and newbies feel welcome just thé same. How in thé world did I NOT meet all of you awesome folks before??? No little rain monsoon was enough to keep thèse Unilocalers home!!!
5. Décor is modern and thé place itself is immaculate. Not a speck of dust or dirt anywhere. Thé layout is all open concept and the neat and clean bathrooms are tucked to thé side.
One loss of a star because thé location is so out of thé way but 10,000 stars because this place is sooooo what you want every other place to be: clean, well managed, efficient with customer service and totally delightful when it comes to thé food. Totally a place I would want to host an event.
Thanks and shoutouts to Ruggy for keeping my awesome Unilocal event streak alive. It just gets better and better! Love it and so will you.