Long overdue review, but union league cafe was amazing. The atmosphere was regal. As soon as you walk in you feel like royalty. The service, top notch. The food, melts in your mouth. I enjoyed going to union league for new haven's restaurant week, and I fell in love. My goal now is to be brought back there one day on a date. :) haha but really the place was amazing. Your tastebuds will thank you. read more

Union League - Best meat everrr - French Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

The ol' Union League... a step into the past, and yet an example for the present. Fine French cuisine, served as elegantly as it is expensive. Fortunately, I wasn't the one paying for the privilige to eat here upon arrival. I'd never dined like this before... I was almost afraid to place my order for fear of mispronunciation... Still, it was quite an experience. Definitely not my scene, but at least I can say I had a meal of this caliber at least once in my life. The raw bar was exquisite, the meals served were unbelievable, and only a place like this could serve a South African white wine called "Raats" and get away with it... Glad I never saw the bill. read more

A restaurant as good as the ULC doesn't need much help from me review-wise, but they deserve it anyway. There are plenty of French (or French-ish) restaurants in the area with nice ambience and some which are strictly popular, but none that can come close to matching the Union Leage Cafe's mix of superb service, fine food and overall attention to detail. Maitre D's and head waiters watch over the nicely paneled main dining room like hawks, making sure that everything is both attentive and unhurried. Waiters in many fine restaurants can be a bit snooty, tending to hover the regular big tippers, but it seems that the ULC is good at making sure that every guest gets good attention. Our server was friendly without being overbearing, and quite helpful. The food is excellent and very thoughtful. I wouldn't say that it's a world-class home run in every instance, but they are consistently pumping out perfectly fresh, well-prepared dishes, with regional and seasonal selections to complement a good core menu. Unlike many French restaurants, there are good vegan selections available for entrees, so if you or someone with you isn't into the animal-heavy side of French cooking, there are good alternatives. The wine list is deep and wide, providing a very generous selection of regional French wines, many of them at quite reasonable prices - as well as some bottles for folks wanting to toss around their credit card machismo. A $31 red selection from Langue D'Oc region of France was surprisingly smooth and well-decanted. Desserts - and portions in general - are a bit nouvelle-skimpy, but not so much that you don't get a satisfying meal through several courses. There is an excellent cheese menu as well, which is offered both as an appetizer and as dessert. My wife's birthday got a sparking candle and some nice writing in chocolate sauce on the dish, a classy way to celebrate. While the old-school male atmosphere of the main dining room might not make the ULC the most romantic destination for French food, it's certainly an elegant setting, and you leave the restaurant feeling well fed, well cared for and having made a great selection for a memorable experience. Well worth a try if you haven't already, and if you're having problems getting into some of the more trendy places on short notice, rest assured that the Union League Cafe is more than an "old standby" - it's just darn good any time. read more

I dine here all the time and I must say the consistent excellence from the kitchen and staff is superb. edit: If the service is snooty or snobby it is because you are a douche-bag. read more

Oh man, how I love thee. The delicious goodness of their food has left my mouth salivating for those flavors long after I ate there a couple weeks ago. I would eat there every day if I was a gazillionaire (Ok, a millionaire would do, but you get the picture). Went here to celebrate our three-year wedding anniversary. Every dish we consumed was impeccable and had unexpected flavors. We ordered a lot of things, so I'll talk about the highlights, even though EVERY dish was memorable, but these items in particular are something every patron should order: -Pork Terraine (Sue me, I can't spell): Delicious layers of fatty, light pork with other delicious things (I can't remember what, but it doesn't matter, order it. now!) -The Octopus appetizer: Usually, I associate squid either being rubbery (at sushi restaurants) or fried calamari style. I don't know how they did this, but they managed to make the octopus creamy and melt-in-your mouth delicious. (Yes, I am going to use the word "delicious" in every other sentence in this review) -The steak with bearnaise sauce. OH.MY.LORD. I had no idea steak could be this amazing. Seriously. Unfortunately now I have extremely unrealistic high standards for every steak I eat from now on, but man, it was that good. All I can say is NOM NOM NOM. I'm out. read more

Très Ordinaire Food - okay. Nothing special (at all) - but not toxic. Food doesn't become special by charging twice its value. Ambience - okay. Noisy, but kinda 1930's gentleman's club. Not romantic at all - not special. Too many hard surfaces (to amplify and bounce sounds and voices) and tables too close together to be really comfortable. Service - abominable. Snooty waiters who really need to realize that in order to be snobby about your service, you first have to be GOOD at it. First time in YEARS I've objected to leaving a tip. OH! One very very good thing - terrific bartender. Best martini I've had in a good long while! read more

Best restaurant I've been to in ct so far, service was great and food was even better. Best salmon I've ever had in my life and the boar was astounding. The dessert was world class and the quality of the food was amazing. Going for Valentine's Day as well because it was so great. read more

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We had a reservation, but when we arrived we still had to wait 30 minutes for a table. That would have been less annoying if the barman had paid us any attention when we tried to order a drink as we waited. Once seated, the comedy of service errors continued. No one arrived to take our order for another half an hour. The food, once it arrived, was excellent - but at those prices, both the food and the service should be good. After dinner, we comically couldn't even attract someone to give us the bill. All in all, a three-and-a-half hour dining experience - ridiculous. read more

I went to Union League Cafe once before for my birthday, and it was truly a memorable experience. As a broke college student, I can't afford to go out often, but Union League was worth it. So when I realized Union was participating in restaurant week, I jumped at the chance to go back for a great price. Four friends of mine and myself went on the second day of restaurant week and it was fabulous. We had our own issue with adding someone at the last minute and having to push back our reservation 30 minutes, and the restaurant was very accommodating. I don't know how to write or pronounce anything we ordered, but it was all delicious! None of the portions were huge, but they were not downsized from their regular menu. Everything was cooked to perfection, and our waiter, I think his name was Nigel made us feel like a million bucks. We all felt more than satisfied and it was a wonderful treat during a stressful semester. I had some kind of cheesy gratin thing as my appetizer, house made sheep's milk ricotta filled tortellini for my entree and the bittersweet chocolate tart along with a dry Normandy cider for dessert, and it was so, so good. I tried my friends steak and it was cooked perfectly to medium rare, and his mango mouse dessert was delish. They also made a "fruit plate" for my friend who has an actual gluten intolerance and it was something we were all envious of! What's great about Union is that they really give you space to enjoy your meal and the time you have with your group. We never felt rushed and there was enough time in between courses to talk and enjoy without ending the night feeling hungry or adversely, too full. The only thing I could remark on in the negative was the fake candles and the paper on the table. Not that it mattered much to us, but if we were paying the regular price I would probably care more, we just thought it was funny in the setting of such a fancy restaurant. read more

My ex- and I took our family and son here for a graduation dinner (with reservations). My sisters are big Francophiles, and they enjoyed it all. The server provided excellent service - knowledgeable, considerate, and low-key. Each course and dessert was divine. It did cost a bundle, though....close to $700 with 7 people and two bottles of wine. Despite the extravagance, I'm very glad we came to ULC; it was an evening that we'll always cherish. read more

Union League - Rasperry dessert ...delicious! - French Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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A true let down. Menu is dated and boring. Food was average at best, at a high price tag. Servers are like robots, and could use a class on friendliness. The maitre' d or host seemed a bit intoxicated? or maybe just bored of his job. Decor is dated and really needs to be refreshed. Not worth the price for average food , and snooty staff. read more

Food wise, all very competent - if not a bit uninteresting. At least what we sampled in our one visit. Perhaps another visit will yield different results. Reliable French standards done well. Although reviews on service here seem mixed, we had no issues whatsoever. This is a great special occasion restaurant. It's formal and has a grandeur about it. The room is a great piece of history, and has an old world charm to it. read more

I loooove French food. To me, there are few things better than a fabulous French meal. And I have been raised to know my French food: my first trip to Europe when I was 11 was to Paris, and my graduation gift was a month long trip to the French Riviera. Alain Allegretti is also a very close friend of my family (he was the executive chef of Le Cirque and The Ritz-Carlton). So I was incredibly excited to eat French food in New Haven. But now it just makes me sad. The "normal" americanized foods were fine, and the wine and service were spot-on. However, other traditional foods, like foix gras, were over salted. In fact, last time I was there, the food was so consistently over-salted that we left after appetizers. read more

A group of us dined this past Friday night and everyone enjoyed both their appetizers and mains. A friend and I ordered the duck, which was beyond delicious. Most impressively, we received great advice and service from our server, who was attentive and polite. He was very knowledgeable on the wine choices we were considering, and made food recommendations also that did not disappoint. As one of my friends was considering the strip loin, he immediately went to check on how many were left and advised they were down to their last two. He then advised if any of us wanted those, he would put the order in right away and we could continue to debate wine and appetizer choices. As a result, he secured those last 2 steaks for our table. This is a great place for a special meal. First class staff, great atmosphere and amazing food and wine! I will certainly return. read more

Ye-gods, the food was terrible. We were so disappointed So overpriced...so mediocre. Save your money and go somewhere else! read more

Expected a lot more from this place being a New Haven, native I hear so much about Union League, the server was great but the food was bland. I understand it's a French style type the ambiance fit well beautiful inside but food they can do little better. I enjoyed the soufflé. Over all pricy but you be the judge. read more

Union League - Great dessert if a chocolate lover - French Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

My boyfriend took me here for our second valentine's day. probably the most romantic restaurant you can find in new haven. we were two college kids among a bunch of aged people, which made us feel very mature. We even saw our science professor there, which was slightly awks but whatever. The salmon that I ordered literally melted in my mouth, and the lamb that my boyfriend ordered was simply exquisite. Highly recommend for dates, but probably should avoid sitting next to your professor. read more

Best French restaurant in the New Haven area. Always be sure to make reservation ahead of time before the restaurant week. Their restaurant week menu is awesome and worth the price. The setting and service of the restaurant is nice too. Recommend to people live nearby for social or family get together. read more

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Just okay. Was expecting a lot more because of all the hype it's gotten. The table cloths were made of paper and the candle in the middle of the table was plastic, just a little bit of a mood/atmosphere killer...I was waiting for them to bring over the crayons for the paper tablecloth...Our waiters did not seem very professional, and as I understand training takes time, it seems as though they should practice a bit more before being thrown to the guests. Food overall was good. Gnocchi was very filling and the apple tart which I had for dessert was by far my favorite, it was delicious, rich and creamy! Yum! read more

Union League - Apple Tart - French Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Best experience ever in Western Food Restaurant (西餐) we have. People there are very nice that the warm welcome attitude you can feel from the first step in, through the courses and the last step out. We shared three different style salads in our way and took photos afterwards, just feeling free, and the gentleman who serves us was very kind, helpful and with great humor. I will recommend to my friends for celebrations or special occasions, or for a true-hearted date! read more

The food was just OK, but the portions were tiny. The table cloths were paper? But silverware was shiny. Appetizer was best: a crawfish dish. Main course was lacking: open ravioli for snacking. And the dessert was not as I had imagined- more chocolate pudding than torte- what the heck happened? Came for the Whiffenpoofs, but they weren't there after all. It says they sing on Wednesdays- that should have been mentioned, y'all! Cocktails are $12, but they're small too- have a $9+ glass of wine to top it off for you. It's all so loud that you can't hear a thing. So don't talk to your dinner guests- yell or sing! The waiter was nice, but disappeared when we paid. I guess all of this was just the French way! read more

This place kind of has an old world feel to it. Bit of an "old steakhouse" feel. French cuisine, large open space. I can see it gets quite loud. Lunch was not that crowded and it got noisy. Definitely a dressy place. Some guys even wore jackets. More than half. Bottom line, dressy affair. The food and service were supreme, though. The portions leave you feeling just right and satisfied. Even the house-made chips were delectable. It's one of those places you dress up, relax, don't rush, and enjoy good service, good drinks, and great ambiance. I am not a huge fan of french food, but their service and attention to detail, as well as their goal to rectify any discrepancies immediately made me give this place an extra star. read more

The location and interior are wonderful. Service good. The food ranges from disappointing to awful. And the prices are outrageous for the food quality. Do your taste buds and your wallet a favor: avoid this restaurant. read more

Rating: 3.5 stars Came here for a graduation dinner. First observation made by all my family members: Older crowd. Service: It was good, but also was expected at a restaurant of this caliber. Food: Generally we were all very pleased with our selections (rabbit, lamb, duck, halibut). The favorites were the rabbit, duck, and lamb. The halibut was a tad bit overcooked. However the sauce helped to make up for the well doneness. The lamb was moist and cooked to perfection. My cousin really enjoyed her rabbit and it was her first time eating it. For dessert we had the special which was the strawberry and cream neopolitan. This was good, but not anything special. However, the crepe with some sort of orange zest/flavor was absolutely wonderful. This is definitely not your everyday go to restaurant, but is good choice for a nicer occassion. This place was rated highly in Zagat, but maybe I'm accustomed to the standards of New York that Union League doesn't rank quite up to the restaurants in NYC. But in all fairness to the restaurant, it was still a pleasant dining experience. read more

When New Haven's "Restaurant Week" concept was announced, I knew that this would be my best opportunity to finally try Union League Cafe. It's not very often that you get a complete three course meal there for $29 ($49 with a paired wine for each course). I know this wont be the likely experience for others, but this was a great dining experience for me. The place was packed with a much more varied clientele then the other reviews may suggest, including several young professionals and students. We were seated immediately, even though we had arrived fifteen minutes prior to our reservation. Our waiter was extremely efficient and friendly. The food was either a big hit or a slight miss. My fare, the country style terrine, a pike fillet, and a roast pear were all excellent. They also were paired exceptionally well with the accompanying wine. However, my wife did not enjoy her mushroom soup (with foam??), and her pumpkin / orange creme dessert lacked distinct pumpkin-ness. All in all, it was worth the experience of eating at one of New Haven's most recognized culinary destinations. If they're not booked solid for restaurant week, try to sneak in there. If they are, it might be a bit harder to justify the value of what you're getting: Very Fancy, Very Friendly, Very French. Very Good. read more

My husband and I went here last night to celebrate his new job. We had reservations and we got a cute little table with a wonderful window view. The server was very pleasant and even gave a brief history of the restaurant which was wonderful that he was so knowledgeable and passionate about the restaurant. We ordered the duck appetizer which was to die for and I had the Steak. It was cooked to perfection and came nice and hot. I have eaten here 5 times and have loved everything I have tried. The menu is pricey, for good reason, and the food is worth every penny. I look forward to my yearly Union league meals. read more

Union League - French Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

One of my favorite restaurants in New Haven. French cuisine has always been a favorite of mine and Union League does not disappoint. Their oysters are the freshest around, their cheese selection is outstanding and their cocktails are perfect. I've never had a bad meal here, and I don't expect I ever will. Some people call the staff here snobbish or full of themselves. I've never experienced that in all my visits (too many to count). They are professional, attentive without being obvious and courteous. My favorite time to visit here is at lunch. Treat yourself. It's worth every penny. read more

Went for the first time on Sept 9th to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Our only complaint was why we had never been there before! Top notch dining experience. Old school tremendous service. Great food, super cocktail list and solid wine by the glass. Octopus app was our winner for the night. Can't go wrong here! read more

My girlfriend and I love trying out all of New Haven's many delicious restaurants. We have a tradition of celebrating New Year's Eve with a delicious New Haven dining experience followed by a movie. I had been looking through several "Best of New Haven" lists, and one name that kept on coming up was the Union League Café. I made a 5:30 pm reservation. The French brasserie is housed in the old Sherman Building, which sits on the homestead sight of New Haven's founder Roger Sherman. The restaurant takes its name from a private civic and social club which was located in the building from the 1880s through the 1940s. It is a beautiful, historic old building. The staff were very friendly and accommodating when we entered. The huge wood fireplace was a nice touch. We haven't been to too many French restaurants, so we weren't too sure of the pronunciations of most of the dishes, and the descriptions were equally confusing for us (LOL!) Our waiter was very helpful in describing what everything was. We started off with an appetizer of Nantucket Bay Scallops on a bed of linguini with caviar and a butter cream sauce. It was delicious!!! We knew that if this was a glimpse of what was to come, then we were in for a real treat. For the entrees, my girlfriend ordered the Homard Rôti (Nova Scotia lobster, chestnut and yellowfoot chanterelles, fricassée of celeriac, lobster emulsion) and I ordered the Carré D'agneau Rôti (Roasted lamb rack, glazed salsify, spaghetti squash, natural lamb jus). The food was phenomenal! We also ordered a side of brussel sprouts fricassée for the table. They looked like simple brussel sprouts that had been boiled, but every bite was an explosion of flavor! After our meal, we asked to see the dessert menu out of curiosity. Everything sounded delicious (especially the housemade ice cream and liqueur desserts) but we were just too full. Overall we had a wonderful dining experience. Mind you, the food was very pricey, but this was a special occasion and we had a wonderful experience. Fine French cuisine, attentive staff and rustic old world charm all rolled up into a historic New Haven building. We highly recommend the Union League Café. read more

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My husband and I moved to New Haven from San Diego, CA where we had our choice of exceptional restaurants. By far, the Union League Cafe is the best French bistro restaurant in New Haven County. The food is prepared beautifully and the chef knows how to make a palate sing. Our first visit was to celebrate our anniversary in 2004. I ordered the Braised Alaskan halibut, which came with a King crab "crust", fricassée of spring garlic, young zucchini and snow peas, savory and lemon confit....aaah perfect! My husband ordered the Grilled tenderloin of beef, gratin of macaroni and Comté cheese, bone marrow and shallot confit. The service was excellent, down to the details of my napkin being refolded for me when I came back from using the ladies room. If you want to save on cash, go for lunch. They have terrific sandwiches, salads and other selections for a fraction of the dinner price. This is a very memorable restaurant, expensive...yes, but worth the price compared to other restaurants in the area. read more

Excellent French-style restaurant in New Haven. Dressier than your average spot, but not super formal. My fiance and I split the octopus for an appetizer and the staff was gracious enough to put it on two separate plates for us. The octopus was perfectly cooked and served over garbanzos, an interesting combination. I ordered the filet, done medium rare, and it actually came out as ordered. The reviewer who suggested it should be wrapped in bacon should save their dough and just go to TGI Fridays (and it's bearnaise sauce for god's sake, not aioli). My fiance got the lobster over delicata squash and chanterelles. The delicata was slightly underdone, but the rest was flawless. It paired perfectly with the chenin blanc served by the glass. Which brings me to another point, the wine list. Despite serving predominantly French wines, the wines are listed by the varietal, a nice touch for those of us who aren't familiar with the myriad French growing regions. read more

A lot of people rave about Union League, and it's a big deal to go. My friends took me for my birthday one year and granted, it was fun to go out when you're 20 to a nice dinner in a former home that hosted George Washington when he came to New Haven, it's not THAT great when it comes to pricey food. The first time I had the risotto here, I liked it. The second and third times I had the risotto here, I decided it was only so-so. The rest of the food was immemorable as well. Oh well. The oysters are popular here and it's usually where parents take their children when they come to visit. Of the more "upscale" places in NH, Union League is OK, but I'd take my business elsewhere. read more

Great people and amazing customer service. Highly Recommend! They really went the extra mile for me:)

The service is stellar and my partner LOVED his lobster pasta. My steak was good and the apple tart was good, but I didn't leave this place feeling like I had an experience that I wanted to replicate again and again. Not worth the price and annoyance of traveling to New Haven, in my opinion. read more

Just amazing! Worth every penny. My wife and I went here for lunch. The decor is very beautiful. Dark green walls and beautiful dark brown wood accompanied by stylish gold panels on the ceiling. White table cloths and real silver silverware. Classy all the way. We both had the Cuke, which is an amazing take on a Hendricks G&T with cucumber. My wife had the salmon sandwich and I'd the shrimp omelette. Both were incredible. Like any good French food the dishes were tasty without being overpowering. The portions are just right--not American but European. For desert we'd the crepes. Highly recommended. What I like best about this place is that you leave feeling satisfied but not stuffed. Also the service is impeccable. read more

This is my second visit to this historic dining location. I am generally not a big fan of French food unless it is extraordinary. I found the menu somewhat limited and the food fairly average. The dishes were well presented but portion sizes ranged from adequate to skimpy for appetizers , entrees and desserts. Drinks were mediocre in taste and small in size given the price of the drinks. Overall I think the restaurant is overpriced and overrated. While the service was generally good, our waitress was long on "attitude". That is not what diners should expect in this kind of upscale establishment. read more

Top restaurant in New Haven! Dining experience will rival anything you get in New York. The Macaroni Charlotte is one of the best dishes I have ever had. The ziti sits on its heads and encases a delicious mix of mushrooms, Swiss chards and truffle goodness. A trip to New Haven must include this dish. read more

Union League - The Macaroni Charlotte - A delicious mix of ziti, mushrooms, Swiss chards and truffle goodness. A must! - French Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

James did an excellent job in making my lunch experience pleasant. The lentil soup was out of this world and the dessert was great as well. I am certainly coming back again when I am in the area. read more

It's the restaurant week and a friend invited us for dinner. The main course about fillet is a little salty. Coffee ice cream is above average. However the service is excellent! read more

Union League - French Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

The best for French cuisine in New Haven county. Hands down! I've been going to UL for 10+ yrs and haven't had a single disappointing experience. Food has always met or exceeded my expectations and service is always impeccable. Wine list is spectacular- by the glass as well. If you aren't that familiar with French wine, it might be a little challenging, but simply tell them what you like to drink for a red or a white and they can find a perfect french match. They really know their wines! For appetizers, I recommend the scallops (a decent portion) delicious! And the foie gras is amazing as well. For dinner, the steak you can't go wrong- I've had also had the duck and the chicken. Very good. For dessert, they are all sooo good, but I usually get the same thing. First on the list, the feuillantine au chocolat. If you like hazelnut, it will rank in some of the best dessert you'll ever have! Bon appetit! read more