Union Assembly — Restaurant in Detroit

I have one thing to say before we get into gear here. A lot more people would have the opportunity to review this place, if it was actually Union Assembly that came up in your google maps, instead of Mom's Spaghetti, which is also located in the same area. Okay, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's GO!!!

I've had the pleasure of dining in here a few times now, and have been able to experience both being seated inside, and out. They both have their perks, and usually if you are able to snag a spot outside, on a nice day after the sun has made it's way over the surroundings, then you're most certainly in for a less crowded (than inside) treat. If the weather is nice enough, this place essentially becomes and open air eatery as most of the walls slide open creating an amazing environment and an even better eating experience.

If you're familiar with the restaurant group behind this place, and you've been to any of the sister establishments, then you might already have some sort of idea as to what you're in for. To be honest I am glad that I got in here when I did because the more this place catches on, the less you're going to be able to find a table here.

This place is located smack dab in the middle of all of the "goings on" in this part of town, which means a couple of things. There is always something to do either before or after you eat here, and you really should consider calling ahead to get yourself a table.

When you walk in, one of the first things that will happen is that you'll be greeted by one or more of the myriad of super friendly, professional, and inviting staff members that call this place home. Probably the first thing you'll notice beyond that is the cylindrical DJ booth that is suspended above the entrance/bar area, which I find to be a unique and neat touch. As you look around you may notice that this establishment is made up of multiple floors, all which contain their own bar and seating areas. Which is nice if the main level happens to be super packed.

I personally find the vintage, yet somewhat modern aesthetic throughout this place to be a perfect touch to the type of restaurant that this is. It's curated in a manner that makes it undeniably fascinating, and it really ties the whole experience together.

The food. This is what you've been waiting for right? It's why you've painstakingly forced yourself to read down this far, and for your patience you will be rewarded with some truly fantastic fare. The food here is incredibly good. There are some menu items that you'll recognize if you're familiar with the brand, and others that are brand new to your eyeballs. Honestly some of the best food I've eaten here, isn't even on the menu. They have a constant rotation of off menu specials, and if you run across something that sounds like it'll tickle your fancy (and your tongue), it probably will. I don't know about you, but when good food is to be had, I would also like good drink to be had as well. That isn't an issue here either as there are a plethora of different drink options that are certain to please and appease.

When all is said and done, if you couple top notch service, with very good food, you'll end up with a little Union Assembly dinner baby that you'll want to nurture into the foreseeable future.

I know I'll be back, will...

Overall a great place to hit before an event. We arrived about an hour before the tigers game on Saturday and there were concerts and comedians at the fox and fillmore as well. We were seated in about 15 minutes and enjoyed a drink upstairs looking over Woodward while we waited.

The atmosphere of the place is amazing from the set pieces to the tiny details. The private room,, the nook booths and playful spaces were fun. A great looking interior and thoughtfully laid out. The only thing I saw that I didn't like is the window seats are round tables so a couple is huddled around them. Those should probably be thin rectangular even if it is only the bench seating.

The bar upstairs has a ledge for the great view that people like to put their drinks on and were asked not to. Likely a short plexi shield will need to be added or the edge will need to be shaved to an angle to prevent that. The side rooms and seating upstairs overall are great though and separated from the hustle and bustle of the restaurant area.

We both ordered a smokestack and a painkiller to drink. Both were excellent, and the lead bartender Jeremy also crafted the drink menu so we were able to listen in while he talked about a few different drinks as well.

We were seated downstairs with a view across Woodward. We ordered the chicken sliders, chicken wings, and Focacci to start.

Wings - Excellent flavor and cooked great. Priced a touch high imo, but would get again.

Sliders - Excellent, arguably the best thing we had.

Focacci - meh, not much special about it. Wouldn't get again.

For mains I chose the Reuben and my girlfriend got the sweet corn bisque.

Reuben - It was good, not for the price however.

Bisque - Tasted great, arguably the best soup she has ever had.

The staff was professional and pleasant. They were slammed and understaffed so we weren't to concerned about the service. Multiple hands were involved running drinks, food, etc...

Overall, we would come back for a drink or two for sure. As far as food is concerned we would stick with their starters and skip the mains. The price does seem a bit high, but the market will dictate that...

I attended the soft opening on 9/11/21 and it was amazing. I hope to attend when they're fully open so that I can try out more options. The menu options were limited, I assume since the food was free and they didn't want to have to cook too many different dishes. Totally understandable! I was in a group so a lot of us sampled each other's items and I must say, the 3 pepper wings were just spicy enough to feel the heat but also not so spicy that u can't enjoy them. The ribs were sweet and tender. The Reuben sandwich was delicious. The butterscotch pudding was rich and u can tell it's made from fresh ingredients. I can't even remember what else I tried but the food was really good and even better was the service. I really hope all the young people i got to meet and interact with that day are still there when they fully open. My server was a young guy named Cortez and he was great. I also met a young guy named Harper who was amazing as well. If you're thinking about giving this place a try please do. I can't wait to really give it a full try!

*Edit as of 7/25/22 I've been here several times since the soft opening and the main reason is for sentimental reasons. My bf and I went here early in our relationship and we've kinda called it "our spot". We went on Saturday 7/23 and the hostess at the front was phenomenal as always. I'm sad I don't know her name because she's been there since the beginning and she's a jewel. The menu isn't as extensive as other restaurants but I have no favorites. One of my favorites was the bourbon glazed ribs but they changed it to the blood orange ribs and I strongly advise you guys to change it back! The original recipe tastes so much better in my opinion. The orange ones actually just don't taste well to me. Our server's name was Courtney and customer service isn't her thing. IDK if she was having a bad day but she just didn't seem like she wanted to be there or that she was a people person. Downtown is a very busy area and it's not for her. The macaroni is still...