Union Rec — Restaurant in Ann Arbor

I've gone to Union Rec several times now and it's always a mix bag. The theming of the restaurant between the decor, food, and entrees seems very discombobulated. The atmosphere is great, it feels like a camp ground. The names of the drinks seem to fit the "camp" vibe. There isn't a lot of variety on the menu, and most of it is either Mexican or Korean. I've ordered the Mexican dishes here several times and wouldn't recommend them for the price. The ingredients are low quality (canned jalapenos vs fresh, using beans to stretch the protein) and to me they all tasted pretty similar. My boyfriend liked it though so that might be a preference thing. The drinks are, again, interesting. I wouldn't go here to pregame, even though it is so close to the stadium; my same complaint as with the food, there isn't a ton of variety, and the drinks that they have are pretty eclectic. They do have a few different margherita flavors and I know my friends have enjoyed those; a mixed drink starts ~$14. Biggest issue I have with Union Rec is the service. One time, I came here in a group where we all ordered dinner and drinks. ~20 minutes later someone ran our meals, but we never got our drinks. We also never received silverware or napkins, and didn't have the chance to ask/enquire about our drinks because after we got our entrees no one came back to our table. An hour later we ended up flagging down another staff member, requested our check, and asked that the drinks please be removed from our bill since we hadn't received them. At that point the waitress who originally took our order returned and apologized, saying that she'd been under the impression someone else would run them to us. Not sure what happened there, the manager did comp our bill, but reading reviews it seems like service is just not their strong suit. Everyone has always been friendly, but not necessarily experienced. I constantly see this place full so I know people like it, I just personally don't see the hype with all that Ann Arbor has to offer. If it was a cheaper restaurant I'd look beyond some of the shortfalls but this is easily a $70+ meal for two people. I think your money is better spent elsewhere, but to each their own. My friends still...

I had been to Union Rec a couple years ago and remembered enjoying my visit, so I was excited to come back and see if it still held up. Unfortunately, this return visit didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

The interior is still a standout—bright, colorful, and welcoming. I especially love the couch area around the fireplace, which gives the space a cozy, eclectic charm that makes you want to sit and stay a while. The overall vibe and staff were friendly, which made the experience feel warm despite the food disappointment.

This time, I sat at the bar, but I wasn’t particularly into their drink menu—not a lot that appealed to me, and the prices felt a bit too steep for what was being offered. Since I was already there, I figured I’d at least try a bite to eat.

As a vegetarian, I was glad to see BBQ Cauliflower Bites on the menu, especially since I usually love that kind of dish. The menu described them as fried cauliflower “aggressively tossed” in BBQ sauce, which sounded promising. They came out in under five minutes, which was impressive in speed, but also concerning how quickly it was made. First, the portion was noticeably small for $9—definitely not shareable and barely enough as a personal appetizer. Second, the bites were indeed drenched in BBQ sauce, so if you’re ordering this, you should be in love with BBQ sauce.

What really ruined the experience, though, was that the bites were cold. Given how fast they arrived, I can’t help but wonder if they were pre-cooked and just sitting out, or maybe flash-fried and then smothered in cold sauce without heating it up. Either way, it was unappetizing and left me completely disappointed. I decided not to order anything else and cut the visit short.

Still, the interior space is inviting enough that I might come back sometime just to have coffee and chat with friends on the couches—but not for the food. I was told the coffee ends at 5:00 PM. Overall, cozy ambiance and nice staff, but it’s not somewhere I’d...

Edit. Returned and had a very different experience. Maybe because it was a weekday night at 5. But the kids menu options weren't great. They served super sour granny Smith apples for kids meal, odd choice for a kids menu. The Mac and cheese was too rich and atypical for the kids. They ate nothing of either meal. The bandeja bowl was a disappointment this time too - the brisket tasted like reheated leftovers while the rest of the bowl was alright though not warm. Our adult cocktails tasted as if they were all bitters and we had to push the waitress (who was hard to find) to take the MOST undrinkable off the bill. The sweet potato burrito WAS excellent again as was the s'mores dessert. But with two uneaten kids meals, the disappointing bandeja bowl and several undrinkable cocktails, I think we probably won't be back a third time. Maybe for dessert or take out, but it's not worth the gamble eating there again. Which is dissapointing, because I love the ambiance and details of the place.

W.O.W. Amazing Saturday night date night at Union Rec. The service has been amazing with prompt, friendly wait staff at bar and table. The recommendations have been incredible. Our waiter, Angel, has been welcoming and kind (with the best food recs!) and we will ask for him again when we come back, 10/10. Drinks: The Rec Marg - unique lime flavor at first with a smooth coconut creme The Bramble Marg - probably our favorite Painkiller - also great Hard pressed Martini - sharp espresso taste smoothed by the creme aftertaste Jungle bird - weakest link, too bitter unless you are a grapefruit fan

Angel recommended the sweet potato burrito and the bandeja bowl w brisket. 10/10 best part of our night. Both were exceptionally good. Bbq cauliflower bites were AMAZING.

What a fun place. Decor reminded us of summer camp. A lot of thought went into this place and it is worth the visit. Definitely ask a...