Union Kitchen — Restaurant in West Hartford

Updated Review from 10/29/22 (Original review below[It was also 5 stars]): My wife and I returned to try their tasting menu, and just... wow! WOW! I regret giving them 5 stars before, because I can't give them more after trying their dinner tasting menu.

The five course tasting menu was accompanied by AMAZING pairings (Bonus - We didn't actually ask for Vish, he didn't realize the below review was me until after we were served the 5th course and pairing - Yet the pairings were actually so good we thought he DID give us some special treats!)

We were informed the tasting menu was new this month, and starting next month would actually shift to a seasonal tasting menu. Before we knew that we still had made a new reservation just to try the tasting menu all over.

Just as last time, the service was amazing. The tasting menu had a nice variety of dishes, I MORE than happily ate every bite of each course, and was actually sad when some were over (The pork belly? It was like my dream plate! Why did it end!?)

The portions were terrific, and by the end we were full, but not uncomfortably so.

Easily one of the top 10 meals I've ever had, and quite probably the best meal I've had in West Hartford (Sorry to all the other restaurants, you're great! But... Union Kitchen is just... amazingly good)

My biggest take aways:

1. GO AND GET THE TASTING MENU! It's insanely good, and the price CANNOT be beat given it includes pairings!

2. Why did dinner have to end!? I wish every course had lasted an hour so I could savor it all the more.

3. Go! Don't wait! Just GO! If you enjoy elevated dining, you HAVE to go and try this restaurant, you will NOT regret it!

Original Review from 10/15/22: I know Union Kitchen has been here for awhile, and despite being local, I had never stopped by. Swung by on a whim for lunch finally, and was blown away!

First - the menu is focused, delicious, but still accommodating for personal taste.

Second - the wine and spirits program is AMAZING! The list is so varied and is just packed with surprises (They even offer an Amari flight!)

I regret not giving them a try sooner, and will DEFINITELY be back to try their dinner tasting menu soon!

As an added bonus - try the mystery wine! If you're right, you get a free bottle of wine. If you're wrong, you get a delicious reasonably priced glass of wine, and still have a fun time thinking over and breaking down a...

My husband and I went here on a whim for lunch, thinking they had more pub-style food. We were very pleasantly surprised to learn they had recently elevated their menu. We decided to come back for dinner, where we were absolutely blown away by the carefully curated tasting menu and the thoughtfully (and artfully) paired wines and liqueurs. I really mean it when I say we haven't had a tasting menu so wonderfully paired since we were at The French Laundry.

The front of house team seemed to work together really well, and Vish (the GM) spent the time to go over each wine pairing with us. It really felt like such personalized service considering it was a busy Saturday! When we came for lunch originally, the AGM (Dylan, I think!) poured us our wine, and he made sure to stop by our table at dinner to say hello and welcome back. Every single person we interacted with seemed genuinely interested in what we thought and everyone was so friendly.

When, not if, you make it out there for dinner, I highly recommend trying their (in my opinion, massively underpriced) tasting menu and trying your hand at the mystery wine - a super fun, unique wine game that I have never seen at any other restaurant. Best case scenario, you win a bottle to take home, and worst case you get a delicious and mysterious glass of wine to ponder over!

We made our next reservation before we were even done with our meal, and I legitimately think I'll be dreaming of the Basque burnt cheesecake until then. I would be remiss if I didn't mention their extensive wine and spirits list, which is unmatched.

P.S. They have a new chef and new direction for the menu - if a negative review is from several years ago, it's certainly no...

How did we sleep on Union Kitchen?? We had dinner Friday night to celebrate a major win at work, and from the moment we were seated we had the best experience. The vibe was super chill - a combination of relaxed and elegant. The drink selection was vast - from spirits to beer…and the food? ((insert drooling emoji)) The food was mouthwateringly delicious!

We started with the Fritto Misto, which was a lovely blend of calamari and an assortment of veggies (cauliflower, bok choy) lightly battered and crisp served on an aioli and a red dipping sauce. The table had three main plates: Garganelli Bolognese - an authentic tasting ragu that la nona would approve of! Herb Roasted Half Chicken - a succulent piece of chicken as the showstopper with housemade mashed potatoes and a side of savory spinach The last dish was Shrimp and Scallops - served over a bed of whipped parsnips topped by a pearl cous cous and veggie medley with the grand finale two whole shrimp and scallops seasoned and cooked to perfection! Each dish was a stand-alone masterpiece…no exaggeration.

And the service? Our server was absolutely divine…attentive, super friendly, provided great feedback - not sure if it’s cool to name names, but she shares a name with a top university in California. 😉

Union Kitchen is the truth y’all. If you haven’t been, just do it…you are in...