Union Kitchen and Tap Gaslamp — Restaurant in San Diego

We had our Padre pre game dinner at Union like we frequently do. Union switched from Open Table to Tock. Not a problem. I received 3 emails confirming my reservation. Yet somehow they don’t have our reservation when we arrived. No problem, they gave us a nice high top outside on a beautiful San Diego evening. Junior took great care of us. Extremely busy, but the service was still great. So my wife orders the same chicken that she always orders. Instead of tasting like chicken all you could taste was rosemary. Probable not a problem if you like rosemary, but not great if you were expecting chicken. We had 3 orders of the chicken. One tasted almost like chicken. One tasted like rosemary with a chicken background. The other one tasted like chewing on rosemary. Not great quality control from the kitchen. After telling Junior he was doing a great job, we asked to speak with a manager to “share” our experience. Monique came to check one and we explained our journey to that point in the meal. She checked on the reservation and found out that they thought we had arrived at 1pm for a 5pm reservation so we were no longer in the system. Oops. 😉. She also explained why they had changed the chicken. All of which was good but would have been helpful to regulars that were expecting something else. Still a 5 star experience because of Monique and Junior. The food and drinks are still great. Great atmosphere. And if you can roll with a few unexpected circumstance you will still have a great time. The only other thing you have to know is that the restroom faucets are no longer automated. 🤣. You have to push the knob back to make the water come out. Kinda embarrassing when yo are standing there waiting for the water to wash your hands. Monique explained that they had problems with the sensor so that the water frequently didn’t come out so people couldn’t wash their hands. So they went old school. Great solution. But a sign on the mirror probably saves a lot of people. A restaurant needs good food and drink to have a chance. But the people make it a place you come back to. Thanks to Junior and Monique for a...

Union Kitchen & Bar, located in the heart of San Diego, is a vibrant and bustling spot that perfectly captures the essence of a modern American gastropub. With its lively atmosphere, creative menu, and prime location, it’s a go-to destination for both locals and visitors alike.

Food & Drinks: Union’s menu is a celebration of American comfort food with a gourmet twist. Their burgers are legendary—juicy, flavorful, and served with a variety of unique toppings. The Truffle Parmesan Fries are an absolute must; they’re crispy, decadent, and impossible to stop eating. For something lighter, the salads are fresh and generously portioned, while the flatbreads are perfect for sharing. The drink menu is equally impressive, featuring craft cocktails, local beers, and a well-curated wine list. The “Union Mule” is a standout cocktail, offering a refreshing twist on the classic Moscow Mule.

Service: The staff at Union are friendly, energetic, and attentive. They strike the perfect balance between being helpful and giving you space to enjoy your meal. Even during busy times, the service remains efficient, which is a testament to their well-run operation.

Ambiance: Union’s atmosphere is lively and welcoming, making it a great spot for everything from casual dinners to celebratory gatherings. The indoor space is spacious yet cozy, with a mix of high-top tables, booths, and a large bar area. The outdoor patio is a highlight, especially on sunny San Diego days, offering a great view of the bustling Gaslamp Quarter. The vibe is upbeat but not overwhelming, making it suitable for both families and...

This is our experience. If you go, hopefully your experience is better. There are a lot of good reviews that was why we went. We arrived about 45 minutes early for a 6:00pm reservation. Looking into the restaurant there were many vacant booths and tables. We weren't greeted very hospitably. After some posturing, oh you're 45 minutes early, we were seated. It felt like we were sort of punished by seating us, two old people, in a section populated by families with small children. A waitress arrived and we started to order from the Happy Hour menu. We were told that on days the Padres played a game there was no Happy Hour. What? We certainly did not see that in their online menu. It may be there but we did not see lt. It is on the inhouse menu, in very small print at the very bottom of the page. As is a"Gaslamp 4% cost of doing business." My life time partner, who had started to order from the Happy Hour menu changed her order from from an overpriced Margarita to water. And since the Happy Hour food menu didn't exist she ordered meat balls. If we'd have wanted pasta with it that would add another $8.00. The meatballs were mediocre at best. I had the executive burger. Good but not good enough to cost $25.95. I also ordered a Bombay Gin martini. For the gin it was $10.00, to make it a martini $3.00 was added. Apparently they charged $1.00 apiece for the 3 small stuffed olives. We'd say if our experience is reasonably normal you might do better...