Union Kitchen & Bar

Sometimes, life takes an unexpected turn, leading you on a serendipitous trajectory. Last night, as I headed to Downtown Fort Lauderdale for dinner and waited at the traffic light at the 5-Point intersection on Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, a sudden flash triggered my memory. It was a recent review I had come across on LESF about Union Kitchen and Bar, located at 2309 Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors. Without hesitation, I mentioned it to my passenger, who eagerly agreed to give it a try. As luck would have it, we were only about less than a quarter of a mile away.

Union Kitchen and Bar is a delightful modern café-style dining spot that offers both indoor and outdoor terrace seating, attracting a diverse, modern clientele. Roberto, one of the owners, is a charismatic young businessman who personally visit every table to ensures that every guest leaves with a smile. His wife, Christie, a talented Peruvian chef, oversees the kitchen that produces outstanding meals.

The culinary experience was exceptional, starting with the Peruvian spiced chicken wings, perfectly grilled and served piping hot with an aji verde sauce – a cilantro, jalapeño, cheese, and mayo-based green dipping sauce. They were, without a doubt, some of the best wings I've ever had.

For our main courses, my friend ordered the Seared Scottish Salmon, served in a generous soup bowl filled with a garlic cream sauce infused with herbs, alongside spinach, cherry tomatoes, and small potato cubes. Accompanying it was a generous portion of Brussels sprouts (enough to share) that were simply to die for. I usually refrain from ordering steak in a non-steakhouse setting but guided by my serendipitous fate and the recommendation of our server, Jonathan (who provided excellent service), I opted for Christie's special rib-eye, cooked medium to my standard of medium perfection, accompanied by a loaded baked potato.

A word of caution: don't just take my word for it; experience Union Kitchen and Bar for yourself. There's ample side street parking available. On average, expect to spend around $50 per person for an appetizer and main course, excluding drinks, tax, and gratuity.