Great all round. Duck hearts + the fried ball appetizer (name?) were great. I'd recommend both. Had the Hog for the main -- good, but I'd recommend the fried chicken -- some of the best I've ever had. Side was the grits -- also highly recommended. Deep fried cake was a great dessert . We also got the carrot cake, which was decent, but it wasn't as "soulful". They have a speakeasy downstairs, camouflaged in style. I had the 大した as a cocktail. It was okay -- if you like umeshi you'll probably enjoy it. Overall, atmosphere + food quality + food cost is worth the 5 stars. read more

Their Monday TV dinner special was super filling and delicious. Definitely would come back.

Had reservations, and ended up still waiting 40 min. Food came, looked great but the chicken was ice old and raw inside. I had asked the the manager (guy was hairy hipster beard) if my chicken was cooked and he said it was. I couldn't tell since it was so dark in there. I continued to eat it but it just didn't feel or taste right so I literally took my chicken to somewhere with more light and found that my chicken was basically raw. I had asked this bearded manager/waiter again and he had not apologized or even bring me a new dish. Ended up with massive diarrhea and was hospitalized for 2 days with salmonella poisoning. I would never go back to a place like this again. It was a serious health concern. read more

Amazing jem in Ottawa. Went here for a date and I ordered the Steak Frites. I asked for medium and it was perfect. It's very hipster vibe and it's communal tables which if you're looking for a romantic date night may ruin the mood because you can hear the conversation next to you. Super cute male personnel. Will definitely come back! read more

Union never disappoints! Went for brunch today and we had another most enjoyable meal. The vibe and decor alone are worth the visit. Brunch was very lovely: 100% comfort foods jazzed up in a very hip way. The bacon is what real bacon is all about: thick, smoky, meaty and both crisp and chewy. The homemade sausage also earned 2 thumbs up. Baked eggs and beans, smoked trout and rôti are the kind of creative breakfast foods offered (both very good). Top it off with crispy home fries and we have a winning brunch. Worth mentioning: they offer a very decent cup of good old fashioned coffee. Today, we stuck to caffeine but the cocktails are difficult to resist and always a fantastic way to start your dinner. I am particularly fond of a bourbon lemonade they make. Anyhow, Union is simply a really cool place to go especially if you enjoy good hearty Southern influenced fare. Yelp should offer half stars: I give this one 4.5! read more

Union Local 613 - Southern Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Good food but slow service. We waited about 40 minutes. The service itself is fine. The bar looks like a good place to drink up after work. I'm kind of torn. On one hand the food is unique and not bad, if you're okay with Ottawa pricing. On the other hand no one wants to wait 40 minutes for food. Maybe I had bad luck. We had crawfish boil (This NOT first-date friendly food), brisket, grits, and cornbread. I don't know what a "real" crawfish boil tastes like but this one was pretty good, though it is a bit of effort and the promised andouille was nowhere in sight. Bottom line - Worth a look if you're not in a rush. read more

Legitimately one of the best breakfasts I've had in quite some time. The pulled pork has just the right amount of heat. The decor is adorable and the staff are quite hospitable. read more

I don't know that I've ever been happier with a breakfast/brunch choice. I had the Belgian waffle with bananas, banana purée, candied pecans, and bacon. Got a buttermilk biscuit on the side. Amazing! read more

Another stop at the "local" and they came to my aid. Boiled peanuts...... good as always. The scallop ceviche was outstanding! The ribs were not up to standard but I know it will not go unnoticed. The team was very attentive to my dilemma and did not charge me and I tried to turn that table as I do not offer an opinion in order to get a discount or what ever people try to do to receive a free meal. That said, they would have nothing of it and hoped I would be back again and that is without question because the food, staff and vibe is just right. Thank you all for turning the table to the positive side. Cheers! B read more

Fun place with great ambiance with a relaxed hipster-vibe to it - many fans of Mumford and Son seem to be part of the staff. Interesting take on southern-inspired comfort foods with delicious cocktails. Portions are reasonable, but slightly overpriced for the 'sophistication' level of the food. A good spot to go out with friends in a friendly, cozy atmosphere. Word to the wise, It does get loud as the evening progresses. read more

This restaurant has a very aesthetically pleasing layout, although the seating is mostly communal there are one or two private tables. Every table gets a little bowl of boiled peanuts to start which are unreal. We had the green tomatoes and devilled eggs to start. Both were great but if I had to recommend one I would definitely say try the green tomatoes. For the main we shared fried chicken, grits, cornbread and green beans. The cornbread and the grits are an absolute must try, you are seriously missing out if you don't. The fried chicken was good tasting but there was a nontraditional spice on it, maybe cumin. I wouldn't reorder the chicken although it certainly didn't taste bad just not my favourite dish of the meal. Union 613 also makes their own sodas in house, we tried the root beer, ginger beer and cola. Be warned they do not taste like regular pop but go very well with the meal. I would definitely recommend and reorder the cola and root beer. The portions are very generous and overall our bill was only $70. Definitely a must try restaurant in Ottawa. read more

Amazing out of the way service, delicious food and a wicked subdued atmosphere. I'll return!

Went back here for dinner on a Friday night. The atmosphere was great and we got a great seat in a corner booth. However, the food was not as good as it was at lunch when less busy. The smoked ham and pimento cheese app was delicious, the foie gras on the spoonbread was tasty even though I don't like foie gras. However the oysters were terrible! Main meals were good - I wouldn't order the short ribs again but my date loved the pork belly pastrami. Don't order dessert, it left a lot to be desired. All in all, I think Union 613 is a lunch place for me. read more

2 years ago when I visited, I wasn't very impressed by the food. Will try it again though. The service was great.

I've been here twice, and what really stood out to me was the service. I came here for dinner a few years ago, and my wife was feeling a tad under the weather. The server took good care of us, and even gave her a sweater to borrow. On the second time, we came to brunch with a party of six, with two very young children. The server also took great care of us. The food is very enjoyable, especially the brunch. read more

I am giving this 5 stars for the secret basement bar alone. The food was about a 3.5 ... Having a mom from North Carolina makes me picky on my southern food- so I always expect a lot from a place that claims to have good southern food. That being said the food wasn't bad but certainly wasn't the best I have had. The great drinks though certainly made up for any of the oomph the food lacked. Overall a fun/ good place to go especially with out of town guests (secret bars are always a hit). read more

I really like Union 613. The staff, ambiance, food, and drinks are great. The cocktails are expensive, which is a drawback, but otherwise I really enjoy Union 613. All the food is good, but the chicken and grits is the best item on the menu hands down. read more

We discovered this place last week and already went back this week. The food was delicious - the menu is unique and the food is superb. Excellent flavours and great service. They took the time to go over the dishes, ingredients and preparation. Liked the fact that they make their own cola and other nice drinks (great lemonade, with or without the bourbon!!) The decor is super artsy and the ambience good overall. I only wished the seats were a bit more comfortable. We kept sliding off the seat at the bar area ( and that was before the drinks!!). A place for your coat would be great too! The important thing is the great food and service so I'll definitely will keep going back!! read more

This place was AWESOME! Some friends asked us to join them for dinner and I am so happy we said yes. I had the southern fried chicken with the cornbread and as everyone here has mentioned, it was delicious! I would recommend his restaurant over and over again! Oh and the boiled peanuts they give you while you are waiting for your meal were really yummy! I have to learn how to make them. read more

Second visit and I can't add another star. The food just doesn't do it for me. If you're a fan of breaded and fried, this is your place. This visit I had the catfish. Nothing special. Friend had the short ribs. Nothing special. Service is still pretty good. Cornbread is tasty. Cocktails are very good but the all-things-fried menu at upscale prices is lost on me. Sorry 613. I love NOLA and wish I could love you more. read more

Just a quick update, hadn't been in a while and good to see that things are still very good. Went on a Wednesday without a reso and they were fully booked, that says something. Luckily, we got a seat with the promise of being out in 1.5 hrs. Service good, food great, fun vibe, not much else to say. Oh yeah, get the cornbread, don't worry its healthy :) read more

Sat at the bar and was treated to a wonderful meal, in a great setting by a cheerful knowledgeable bartender. Started with a tequila drink that had tons o kick to it. Home brews that were very tasty. Ceviche appetizer was very different, served on a cracker like crust that gave something delicate, crunch (not my favourite) but main of fried chicken with slaw and a great vinegar based sauce was crazy good. Add in a side of beans.....wow! Can't wait to return. read more

A True dining experience. Delicious food , I started with the Quail appetizer then onto the hangar steak. The staff really brings this place together , friendly and attentive. Very happy to eat a place where they truly care about you. read more

This is a lovely speakeasy hangout for a date or with friends. Very crowded so do make reservation beforehand if possible. I really like the spicy catfish and pork loin dishes here. Drinks are a bit pricey but very well worth it. I would also recommend the bourbon lemonade drink. read more

I was out with a friend of my the other day and ended up going to Union 613 for drinks. The main floor where Union 613 was packed so we went upstairs to Jabberwocky, which was a lovely and more quite place to sit down and relax, without having to yell to hear each other. Once we sat down I politely asked out waiter for water, as it was a hot day out, to which he replied "I can only do so many things at the same time." My friend looked at me and there was an awkward silence for a few moments. I found out waiter to be rude from the start, lippy, and with a bit of a rotten attitude. I didn't DEMAND that he bring water immediately, nor did I seem impatient. I always ask for water at every place I go, just like every normal person does. Dear Union 613: you can market yourself as this progressive and "we-protect-our-workers'-rights" joint but you can't treat your customers like dirt. I doubt I'll go back to Jabberwocky but I'll still go to Union 613, where I always had great service. read more

The ambiance is good but the food very poor. I had the chicken over cooked with a sort of an accompaniment tasteless. The salad was also without dressing not fresh. The melasse pie was like a month fresh! You may go go for a drink. read more

We had a really nice meal in the 'speak easy. The food and cocktails were unique, but a little on the pricy side. Our service was fantastic. Worth checking out. read more

I've lived in Ottawa my whole life, but have never found the Ottawa food scene to really measure up to some of my favorite food cities in the world....until recently. The resurgence of our restaurant scene has really picked up in the last 5 years, and Union 613 is a big part of that. I took my cousin from Toronto to Union 613 last night. The first thing that really stood out to me was the quality of the ownership group. I dealt directly with Ivan (one of the owners) for my reservation, and I was treated with a sort of old-school touch I had not seen in a long long time . I have back problems, and they really went out of their way to make me feel like they'd accommodate my needs, and look after me. I've always thought that this was the pillar of a good restaurant, and other owners would do well to follow Union's lead in this area. We started with some of their signature cocktails, and I was immediately blown away. I had a Sazerac, my cousin had the Sheri's Sack. The Sheri's Sack may be the best cocktail I've ever had in a restaurant. I've seen a few people complain about the prices, but a 2oz or 2.5oz drink in the $12 range is fairly typical. I wouldn't go to Union if I was planning on 5 drinks, but for a few cocktails I think their price point and quality is great. They have one of the best impressive Bourbon collections I've ever seen, and I plan on trying several next time. The food was to die for. We both had the catfish, and it came with a choice of side (I saw a previous review that said it didn't). We both had the grits, and I can honestly say that was one of the most incredible things I've ever eaten. I doubt I could eat that 7 nights a week, it's very rich. But for the experience, I highly recommend you try the grits. The catfish was delicious, and I had a tough time settling on that over the ribs. The main choices are indeed somewhat limited (so I wouldn't go expecting dozens of choices), but it was exactly what I was expecting for Southern BBQ. The wait staff was prompt and pleasant, and the food came in a timely fashion. As we left, and my cousin from Toronto says: "that's one of the best restaurants I've ever been to", and he's been to all the good ones in Toronto. 5 stars Union, I'm proud that this is an Ottawa establishment. read more

I've just moved to Ottawa and I've been looking for good places to eat. Most of the good places I've found have been mom'n'pop Lebanese and Korean, but was excited to hear good things about a different dining experience, Union: Local 613 (yep, there's a semicolon in the name) Firstly, let me mention the good parts of the experience: the staff were really great. They were attentive, flexible and friendly. Some of the cocktails that they served were really neat and delicious. The personnel seem to be working really hard, and I appreciated them (thank you guys!). Some of the diners I was with had really good things to say about their meals (the brisket). Unfortunately, the food I ate was overpriced and underwhelming. To be fair, I am a vegetarian and this is a southern restaurant, maybe a big challenge! I started with fried okra, which was OK. The veg fell right out of the batter and we ate the okra and the fried separately. My entrée, zucchini boats with corn and some tomato relish, was one of the worst vegetarian dishes I've been served anywhere. I really didn't understand what I supposed to be tasting -- the corn was from a can, the relish was bland and zucchini is a sponge-vegetable. This bad choice of mine might have been alright is it weren't got the cost of the thing. In the end, it was a bad and pricey meal. I think the restaurant has just opened, so they have lots of time to improve. The staff is great so I look forward to going back in a year or so when the restaurant has ironed out all of its kinks. read more

Reminiscent of Charles Southern Fried Chicken in Harlem (now known as Charles' Country Pan Fried Chicken), the yardbird at Union Local 613 is a true homage to its blue-collar southern roots, even if the price suggests that they are paying auto-sector wages to their staff. With sides that satisfy such as baby turnip and corn bread, and quirky college, faux-hillbilly dinner and glass-ware, Union Local 613 is a good solution to your group's collective dining bargaining process. That being said, be prepared to bring your wallet. Like most hip(py) Ottawa joints, the upsell potential means that it's tough to dine here for under $50. read more

Food is good. I went awhile back but never reviewed. It's good to try, I will not be rushing back. Service is great. read more

This place is amazing. Their purpose, their efforts, their food. Ever since the first visit in 2015, every time we're back in Ottawa, we try to book a time to go to Union. A very friendly environment, with the leaders serving as well, you know that they care right away. Met some guys there who are interested in the food scene in Toronto as well, was very nice to talk to. As mentioned at the front of their menu, they're paying good wages to their staff, and even tho drinks might be a bit higher, their staff gets benefits. This is what i would call ethical business, with a good morale. Kudos to the guys for trying and changing F&B, its really inspiring and a great way to show how to make a change locally. As for food, every time I go, I order the pork chops (very well made and juicy), with different sides. The potatoes with liver (i think) is my fav side. They have a house-made cola, delicious. Their environment fits for a casual dinner, to long awaited meet ups, to after work stress release. My rating says it all, a true 5 star. Can't wait for the next trip to Ottawa to visit them. read more

The food was okay, nothing to write home about. The waitress was sulky and looked like she didn't want to be there.

We have been in a couple times, prices are steep for the quality, service can use some refinement. We travel the world and don't need to be told this is how we do it here? Far to hipster (trendy) for us. read more

Must be the best shrimp and grits north of the border. Chill, industrial vibe, 8 local taps, and plenty of locally sourced content. Pleasant, fun, and knowledgeable staff. Go! read more

I'll start off my saying that I'm not usually a fan of southern or Louisiana cuisine. But I tried this place with my partner on a recent trip to Ottawa, and I can't wait to return. The food is interesting and nuanced. Classics are successfully reinterpreted. Of particular note were the boiled peanuts and the cornbread. Amazing fried pickles! Catfish was superb. I agree that the fried chicken was not quite the crispiest ever, but it was more than adequate. The only weak spot was perhaps my own fault: the hominy grits. Just a bit overly rich and repetitive. Great cocktails, and interesting dessert (pineapple and sour orange jelly). Charming and delightful service. read more

Excellent selection of beer, bourbon and whiskey as well as unique cocktails. Quick and courteous service. Very well seasoned and cooked dishes. There were a few dishes with organ meet which we avoided, but other options are available too. Our favorites were the flank steak, green beans, and cornbread. The cherry pie desert was truly one of the best deserts I've ever had. I'd recommend this place based on that dish alone, but the other factors truly make it a solid recommendation. read more

Great place. All the details have been very well considered. Nice decor, great wait staff, food is amazing and the plating was very unique. We ate downstairs in the speakeasy and thoroughly enjoyed it. Anyone who complains that it's expensive doesn't understand the difference between cheap and value. The experience was worth every penny, an all round excellent meal. read more

I'll make this short and to the point. This place is on my MUST GO TO list. Went there over the US Thanksgiving weekend and had a wonderful meal. Everyone there was friendly but not overbearingly so. The walls are decorated with books and I loved the idea of using piping as shelves. Alone or with a group you'll be well fed and entertained. Oh and the boiled peanuts are yummy too read more

Wicked place, wicked straight chill vibe with a great music atmosphere! Boiled peanuts are excellent with you beer