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Union Square Cafe
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Union Square Cafe

About Union Square Cafe

Union Square Cafe has long stood as one of New York City’s most admired dining destinations, bringing together the comfort of a welcoming neighborhood restaurant with the polish and creativity of a truly memorable New American experience.

As Danny Meyer’s first restaurant, it has built its reputation on seasonal fare, thoughtful hospitality, and a casually refined atmosphere that makes every visit feel special without ever feeling formal or intimidating.

Guests come here for more than a meal—they come for a place where quality, warmth, and attention to detail consistently meet, whether they are stopping in for brunch, settling in for lunch, planning a romantic dinner, or enjoying a solo meal in a space that feels both stylish and comfortable.

The menu reflects the best of contemporary New American dining, with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, local specialty dishes, and a well-rounded selection designed to suit a wide range of tastes and occasions.

From healthy options and vegetarian plates to small plates, organic dishes, and a carefully curated alcohol program, Union Square Cafe offers something for guests looking for a light, fresh bite as well as those seeking a more indulgent evening out.

The restaurant is also known for its fast service, great cocktails, great coffee, great dessert, and excellent tea selection, making it an appealing choice from morning through evening.

With table service, a private dining room, and a setting that feels cozy, romantic, trendy, and upmarket all at once, it is an ideal destination for celebrations, business meals, casual gatherings, and date nights alike.

Convenience and accessibility are also central to the experience here. Union Square Cafe offers delivery, takeout, dine-in, and on-site services, giving guests flexible ways to enjoy its food and hospitality.

Reservations are accepted and strongly recommended for brunch, lunch, and dinner, which speaks to its popularity and enduring appeal; while a wait is common, many guests see that as part of the restaurant’s well-earned reputation.

Accessibility features include a wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating, toilet, and car park, along with an assistive hearing loop, helping ensure the restaurant is welcoming to a broad range of visitors.

Located at 101 E 19th St in New York, NY, and supported by credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments, Union Square Cafe combines ease, elegance, and consistency in a way that continues to resonate with diners.

Its outstanding 4.60-star rating from 2,541 reviews reflects the trust, satisfaction, and enthusiasm of the many guests who return again and again.

★★★★★ 4.60 rating (2541 reviews)
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Star Rating
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Guest Reviews
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Independent Reviews
Union Square Cafe interior
Est. Local Favorite

A Taste of Tradition

Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.

Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.

  • Fresh Daily Specials
  • Private Dining Available
  • Catering Services
  • Takeout & Delivery

Guest Reviews

Hear from our valued guests

zacry

zacry

2 months ago

Fantastic dinner. Amazing service. Great environment. All around a great experience. this is a really great place to take a group of people. there is something for everyone. safer options as well as more adventurous things. cocktail list is really good. the service we had was impeccable. Allison maybe? Hey girl! Very clean. Free sparkling water! sesame bread is wild. so good. we will be back 🙂‍↕️

Ramona Carter

Ramona Carter

5 months ago

Beautiful experience at a fabulous restaurant that has won 5 James Beard Awards!!! Reservation for lunch with our family. Everyone loved our meals and the service was impeccable. Definitely excited to go again one day.

Nicolle Lemonds

Nicolle Lemonds

2 months ago

I love the food. The menu is carefully crafted and seasonal. Farmers market fresh ingredients. It never disappoints. Especially their infamous caviar tater tots! Pictured below! I love Chef Carmen. I love the staff! Lauren is my favorite bartender of all time! Their dirty martinis are top tier. 10/10 recommend. Everyone should go!

John Gonsalves

John Gonsalves

5 months ago

Dined at Union Square Cafe and had a really good overall experience. The French toast with the citrus salad was very nice and well balanced not too sweet, and the citrus added a really refreshing contrast. I also had the pasta with clams, which was very flavorful, though definitely heavy on the garlic. If you like bold garlic flavor, this will hit the spot. The fries were another standout very thin, lightly battered, and fried in rosemary oil, which gave them an amazing aroma and crispness. Overall, the food was thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. A solid spot that lives up to its reputation.

Paul M

Paul M

2 months ago

Third time here… always impeccable. Food is solid, whether you order a burger at the bar for lunch or something a little more elevated. The service is always excellent and friendly as well. Thank God I don’t live around here because I would be coming twice a week!

Sabena Singh

Sabena Singh

6 months ago

Did you know that the Restaurant Week special of $45 for two courses from the main menu is held every single day at Union Square Cafe? This was a surprise. Jennifer had always wanted to eat at USC and as Restaurant Week started on January 20th we had lunch on the 23rd. As we entered the room was buzzing with diners. We sat upstairs and perused the menu. Natalie, our server, brought us a plate of the house made bread with a spicy garlic sauce. Each bite of this warm bread smeared with the garlic sauce was ambrosial and is replenished if asked which we did. Jennifer ordered the garlic potato chips, broccoli with candied pecans and pomegranate and the celebrated burger. She washed it all down with a ginger ale. The citrus salad and trout were my choices. The chips were tasty and I noticed other tables had also chosen it. Unfortunately, Jennifer’s burger had cheese on it which she didn’t want but decided not to say anything. We were too full to order desserts but did look at the menu. Service at USC is always impeccable. I have eaten here a few times and for restaurant week. Now we know that we can come here for lunch any day of the week.

David Warfle

David Warfle

6 months ago

This restaurant was recommended to us, and I’m genuinely thankful we decided to give it a try. From the moment we sat down, everything just felt right. When I say this was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, I truly mean it. Every dish we ordered was outstanding, from flavor to presentation, and you could tell a lot of care went into each plate. Beyond the food, the atmosphere was calm, warm, and incredibly relaxing, which made the whole experience even better. It’s the kind of place that reminds you how special a really great meal can be. We’ll absolutely be back the next time we’re in the city.

Kyle S.

Kyle S.

6 months ago

Cannot say how great our experience was! Cocktail list was interesting and the drinks were well made. For food- It’s rare that the bread service blows you away. It was soft, crispy-crusted, flavorful, and included a unique and very tasty spread. For appetizers, the broccoli was highly recommended and I now understand why. Tuna was solid and had a unique flavor to it but nothing out of this world. For mains, the lamb rack and duck pasta were spectacular. We sat upstairs and our server, Mike, gave fantastic service. I highly recommend you test this place out and ask for Mike!

Dwight Kenneth

Dwight Kenneth

6 months ago

Everything was phenomenal from start to finish. My only critique is that the stake should’ve been served a little bit warmer. It seems like it was left out. It should’ve came on a hot plate. Just to get a little bit more sizzle or char around the crust of the steak. The complementary focaccia bread with sesame seed and the Calabrian chili butter was a phenomenal way to start the evening. We also paired it with some red wine. no one in the restaurant was pretentious. It was casual and upscale at the same time. One of the standout dishes was the potato puff pastry with crab meat. It was absolutely divine. The richness of the butter was a great contrast. The acidity of the lemon really heightened the dish. And the textural contrast between the soft potatoes, the flaky pastry and the sweet and lumpy crab was amazing The pasta was also phenomenal. It was perfectly cooked and the duck ragu was seasoned and cooked to perfect perfection We did go a little overboard by getting the ribeye steak. Cost about US$170. But it’s enough to feed two people. It also came with two side sides. The sides were OK. They weren’t mind blowing. What really stood out to us was our server Yoshi ! She was patient and understood the menu. She knew exactly what to recommend for first timers. I feel like she went above and beyond that her job. So the service was a 10 out of 10. Like I said overall, it’s a phenomenal place. You are gonna be paying a slight premium. But it’s a great place for a date night. I would just say that they gotta work on serving the stake a little bit warmer.

Alana Spears

Alana Spears

2 months ago

I was treated to my Mother’s Day dinner here this year. My son made an excellent choice. I have never had such an amazing meal and the service was out of this world. We were served warm bread when we sat down. We ordered a Crab Cale and Duck Liver Profiterole for an appetizer. They were both delicious. For dinner I ordered the Gemelli allo Zafferano. This was absolutely the most delicious shrimp dish I’ve ever tasted. My son had the Mafaldine all’ Anatra (Duck Ragu). I am not at all a duck fan but, wow! Very tasty. We also ordered the Chocolate Hazelnut Tart, it too was out of this world. Hands down one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. Thank you to the staff for also being ON POINT! Highly recommend!

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Union Square Cafe

Business Features

Highlights & Amenities

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Assistive hearing loop
  • Wheelchair-accessible car park

Service options

  • Delivery
  • On-site services
  • Takeaway
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Fast service
  • Great cocktails
  • Great coffee
  • Great dessert
  • Great tea selection
  • Serves local specialty

Popular for

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Coffee
  • Healthy options
  • Organic dishes
  • Private dining room
  • Small plates
  • Vegetarian options

Dining options

  • Brunch
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Table service

Amenities

  • Restroom

Atmosphere

  • Cozy
  • Romantic
  • Trendy
  • Upmarket

Crowd

  • Family friendly
  • Groups
  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Locals
  • Tourists
  • Transgender safe space

Planning

  • Brunch reservations recommended
  • Lunch reservations recommended
  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations
  • Usually a wait

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Children

  • Good for kids

Parking

  • Free street parking
  • Paid street parking
  • Difficult to find a space

Pets

  • Dogs allowed inside
  • Dogs allowed outside

Visit Us

We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!

Location

101 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003, United States

Reservations

+1 212-243-4020

Hours

Open Now · Tuesday 11:30 AM-10:30 PM
Saturday 11 AM-10:30 PM
Sunday 11 AM-10:30 PM
Monday 11:30 AM-10:30 PM
Tuesday 11:30 AM-10:30 PM
Wednesday 11:30 AM-10:30 PM
Thursday 11:30 AM-10:30 PM
Friday 11:30 AM-10:30 PM
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