Union on the Hill Restaurant — Restaurant in Kansas City

My Fiancé' was super hyped for trying out their Lobster Roll after reading multiple reviews. So I setup reservations in advance with a note stating that it's her birthday and our anniversary. I wasn't expecting anything by doing this mind you. But still.. if the option is there maybe their some hope of trying to provide a positive experience.

The night arrives and we uber from our Hotel to the restaurant with empty bellies and high expectations. We arrived 15 minutes early and the Karen who was lording over the table selection took one look at us as a couple and decided to seat us. She took us to the smallest table in the house, right next to the kitchen doors.

The poor waiter Seth who served us told us his name multiple times to remind us how the job is sucking his very soul and life force from every table he was serving. Which appeared to be all of them. It was super lout and busy - but considering its a Saturday evening that would be OK.

My fair lady ordered a Virgin Bloody Mary and she loved it. The nice change by adding some pickle juice was a nice touch to the typical spicy tomato juice. I being the boring person I am ordered a Sprite.

We then ordered the appetizer. The Onion Dip and Chips. When it arrived the onion dip unfortunately disappointing to say the least. I would recommend getting the stuff in the green container at your local grocer. The homemade chips were nice enough at least.

Then we braved the menu ignoring the pretentious high pricing. We ordered the aforementioned Lobster Roll. And I chickened out and went with Seth's suggestion of the special - The T-Bone with Loaded Mash and Asparagus.

The food was brought out fairly promptly. The Rolls? Looked amazing just like the pictures we found. My T-Bone? It lay there trying so very hard to look like a T-Bone. But it was a mere ghost of what a T-Bone may have been. The plate it was served on was thicker than this cut. If you could set the electric meat cutter to "blade thin-ness" Than that is what setting was used. It was smothered with butter which is fine, and cooked appropriately since it was gently kissed on the grill on both sides for fear of being burned away. The loaded Mashed Potatoes were good enough and the Asparagus was cooked perfectly fine. The highlight? The Au Jus/Mushroom Gravy that was provided was amazing.

Back to the Lobster Roll. After I watched her take her first bite. I can tell we made a huge mistake. She then opens up the roll and we see more of what is possibly happening. I take a bite and sure enough it didn't appear to be fully all lobster. Of course we could've been wrong. It was highly over seasoned so it was difficult to discern the flavor of the lobster. But again... the homemade Ketchup appeared to be fantastic.

The TL:DR? Karen at the front door sucks. Seth needs to review his life choices. The Food was insta-worthy but it was over seasoned and over priced. And being seated right next to the kitchen door? That was the proverbial cherry on top.

We should have walked out and ordered Room Service at the Raphael we were staying at. And I encourage you to...

Finally made it over to check this restaurant out. Union on the Hill is not far from Crown Center. The decor and ambiance is classy but trendy with the right amount of bar and table seating for the space. Some of the pillars are decorated with framed pictures of Union Hill's history that was rooted in the city's early automobile era.

Stepping right through the doors, getting a warm greeting by the bartender Kat, I parked right at the bar. She made me feel like I was a regular! Just two gals chopping it up about the food, the drinks, telling me about brunch over the weekend, the early beginnings with the food truck Happy Belly and the Head Chef George who's also the owner. Made quite an impression.

Now to my order, first it was Happy Hour so from that menu I got a HH Muskets and HH Popcorn Shrimp. The Muskets & Lavender which was more citrusy spritz to me than what I was expecting so for my palette it was tart. The butterfly pea flower & lavender infused reiger gin, aperol, lemon, blueberry syrup and cava sounded like it would be right up my alley. Now them popcorn shrimp are lightly crisp not coated in panko or heavy breading but maybe southern cornmeal.. they were so good. I'd taken more shrimp over having the fries! The sauces: creole remoulade and sweet chili sauce with and an added bonus of green goddess dressing. I liked them all but favored the creole of course!

Now there are quite a few southern comforts on the menu; I went For The Hands Lobster Roll for an entree and moved to a different type of Union cocktail, the Uh Espresso Martini. With that drink my tastebuds were revived! You can't go wrong with chocolate and coffee in my book and don't you just love when you order something that's one of your favorites and it's satisfyingly delicious.

That sandwich didn't just have lumps of buttery lobster claw meat in a bun. Nope. It was HERBED butter flavor lobster meat in a lightly toasted brioche roll. The micro celery and butter lettuce are not lumped in but finely chopped in the roll with a side of dijonnaise sauce plus house made ketchup for the fries. Oh my goodness.. is what I thought with each bite! Sooo very good! And I dipped my sandwich in the sauce continuously. Seasoned just right! I usually don't eat my fries with ketchup but I did today! I wish it was a different kind of fry but I was too happy about my sandwich!

I truly enjoyed dining here. The other waiter Luke was helpful and friendly too. I was also able to meet George and banter about my take on my food experience and...

Union on the Hill presents itself as an American-style eatery yet falls short of the expectations one might have for such an establishment. The ambiance of Union on the Hill immediately sets a tone of disinterest, perhaps reflective of the staff's demeanor. It's disheartening to enter an establishment only to be greeted by personnel who appear as though they would rather be elsewhere. While they were nice, their clear lack of enthusiasm subtly undermines the dining experience from the outset.

Turning to the menu, it is a mosaic of ambition and confusion. The Pork Belly Bites, for example, suffer from an identity crisis, oscillating wildly between American barbecue, Italian zest, and Mexican flair. This fusion, rather than showcasing culinary innovation, results in a discordant mélange of flavors and textures that fail to harmonize.

The Hot Mama Sandwich, a dish that promises heat and flavor, delivers neither. It is, at its core, a mundane chicken sandwich cloaked in excess grease rather than the anticipated spices. This dish exemplifies the kitchen's struggle to deliver on its menu's promises.

The Mac & Cheese is a particularly grievous misstep. A classic comfort food rendered nearly unrecognizable, its cheese sauce is inexplicably thin and bears an unpleasant, almost rancid sweetness. Coupled with overcooked noodles and incongruously topped with burnt ends, the dish is a textural and gustatory disappointment.

Pricing, too, is a point of contention. They charge $16 for two chicken tenders, which borders on the absurd, even during economic inflation. Such pricing not only questions the value offered but also the establishment's understanding of reasonable cost-to-quality ratios.

However, it's not all dire. The homemade ketchup is a delightful surprise, hinting at the potential for excellence that Union on the Hill could achieve. Additionally, while the fries may hint at a less-than-artisanal origin, their execution was satisfactory.

In sum, Union on the Hill is a restaurant at a crossroads, with glimpses of potential overshadowed by pervasive mediocrity. For diners seeking a culinary experience, it may be wise to temper expectations or seek sustenance elsewhere. The journey to culinary excellence is fraught with challenges, and while Union on the Hill has taken the first steps, there is a considerable distance...