Union Brasserie, Bakery & Bar — Restaurant in Jakarta

This is definitely one of my favorite places to have brunch, hang out or have dinner in Jakarta, and it has been since I was in university. This PS branch is the first and oldest UNION, long before they opened the second one in PIM and other branches across the city. It holds so much nostalgic value for me. Now they’ve even made their way to Surabaya (Ofc, I’ve been there too. Review coming soon, of course!).

Because Union is such a popular place, reservations are highly recommended. You can book via WhatsApp, by calling, or the easiest way is through their app. If you’re a member, they often have deals and promos through Union Group.

Union is designed as a European-style brasserie.. Classic, elegant, and effortlessly cozy. Whether you’re here for food, cocktails, or just enjoying the ambiance, this place hits all the marks! The interior is often described as greenhouse-like with lots of natural light, large windows, stylish framed posters, and a timeless black-and-white decor. Their gorgeous bar is one of the main highlights, giving that upscale vibe without being intimidating.

Recommended Menu:

🍟 Appetizers:

• Truffle Fries (Super crispy and flavorful. Even my Belgian fiancé (who’s very picky with fries) approved!)

• Escargot Garlic Butter (I’m not into escargot personally, but this has been my friends’ go-to favorite for years. Based on all the rave reviews I’ve heard from them, this dish deserves the spotlight.)

🥓 Mains:

• Whole Roast Baby Chicken (Big portion alert! I can never finish it alone, but I still order it almost every time.)

• Chicken Steak with Peppercorn & Porcini Mushroom Sauce (Served with fries instead of wedges. Juicy, flavorful, and consistent.)

• Pasta Picks: “Pork Crackling & Bacon Lardons” and “Roasted Mushroom” (Both served with white truffle cream. A dream for truffle lovers like me!)

🍰 Desserts:

• Red Velvet Cake - Their signature (Perfect for gifting or enjoying solo. The slice is generous enough to share.)

• Red Velvet Cheesecake

Note: Some people question whether these cakes contain alcohol (like rum). From what I know, they’re alcohol-free.

☕️ Non-Alcohol Drinks:

• Es Kopi Lokal (This one is popular among coffee lovers too!)

• Oatside Honey Latte (It’s a nice dairy-free for you.)

• Tropic Berry (Fruity, sweet, acid and refreshing at one time.)

• TWG Teas (They serve a wide selection by the cup. My personal faves: Moroccan Mint, Earl Grey, Chamomile, and Vanilla.)

🍸 Cocktails (alcoholic):
Their cocktail is beyond the level. It’s so goooood! FYI, they’ve been listed among Asia’s 50 Best Bars. Definitely a proud moment for Indonesia!

These are my fav: • Pina Colada • Bloody Mary • Aged Negroni. (This one’s top-tier! Can easily compete with cocktails from Bali’s finest cocktail bars.)

IMPORTANT NOTE: They apply a limited table-use policy due to high demand. So plan your time wisely, and...

Unfriendly, Non-Caring, "I Want Your Money" Experience

I recently visited this restaurant and unfortunately, the experience left much to be desired. Here's a rundown of what went wrong:

Reservation Hassles: After making a reservation on Chope, I had to reconfirm my table via WhatsApp. It's annoying to have this additional task when the reservation was already made online just a few hours before.

Smoking Section Miscommunication: An hour before my arrival, I received a message stating that my table was in the smoking section, despite reserving a non-smoking table. When I responded that this wasn't my request, I was essentially told to take it or leave it.

Forced Wait at the Bar: Upon arrival, I was asked to wait at the bar while they cleaned my table. The bar was full, making it impossible to order a drink, so I had to stand in the middle of the floor.

Limited Time at the Table: When I finally got seated, I was immediately informed that I had the table for only 2 hours. Again take it or leave it. I understand it is business but better than documenting they dont want you for more than 2 hours, why not play with the flow. It was on a sunday night from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, would be pleasant to be asked if this would bother us rather than imposing it.

Before even sitting down and receiving a menu, I went through four unnecessary and unfriendly steps: Reconfirming the reservation Two additional messages about the smoking section The unnecessary wait at the bar The information about the limited time at the table

Service Issues: The waiter was not attentive, and we had to call twice to get service.

Food Quality: The food arrived quickly, but it was disappointing. My pasta was overly creamy, and the calamari sauce tasted like an industrial product.

Overall business wise, they must make the right decisions as the place was full. But from an experienced client point of view , it felt like they were more interested in squeezing money out of me rather than providing a pleasant dining experience. I won't...

After seeing and hearing so much of this restaurant on social media, I was stoked to be able to try it when visiting the capital. My first impression of this restaurant was it had a nice, swanky ambience, great for special occasions. I came with my sister on a Monday afternoon and the restaurant was bustling, but it didn’t take long for the two of us to get a table, probably because we were a small party. We placed our orders and were served a basket of warm bread with some butter afterwards. The bread was freshly baked, but unfortunately it tasted quite bland. Our food was served to us quite quickly. I ordered the bakmie foie gras, an elevated version of the beloved Indonesian comfort food. Unfortunately, it was underwhelming; for IDR 105,000, I was expecting the dish to come with fresh mushrooms, not the canned ones that come packed in brine (they may have been chosen to replicate the taste of regular bakmie, which usually contains canned mushrooms; nevertheless, fresh mushrooms would have tasted better). Also, a thicker piece of foie gras would have been more satisfying. Furthermore, the sauce the chicken was cooked in tasted too sweet for my liking, and the noodles were weirdly cut into shorter strands (slurping is mandatory when eating any noodle dish). My sister ordered a creamy mushroom truffle pasta, which I didn’t take a picture of, but tasted delicious. We ended the meal with a slice of red velvet cheese cake. The texture of the cake was deliciously dense and moist; it wasn’t cloyingly sweet. It was a pleasant slice of cake, and I can see why it’s so hyped about on social media. Despite some misses, most of what was served to us was tasty, and I wouldn’t mind coming back to try the other...