We came on a non-football Saturday. As soon as we were seated, an employee let us know that they were understaffed and informed us there would be delays with the kitchen. We really appreciated being told up front so if we were in a hurry, we could go somewhere else. We were also given complimentary chips, salsa, and guac for the anticipated inconvenience. I ordered the bbq cauliflower wings and the Caesar salad. My mom ordered enchiladas. Everything was excellent. I didn't think the service was really that slow and it certainly helped that we were told in advance. The ambience was very cool and our waiter was super nice and knowledgable about the menu. We will 100% be back. read more

So lovely and tasty! the vibes are immaculate from the rainbow chairs to the massive pretzel on the wall. Seems undiscovered and a real gem

Tried this place a second time after a disappointing first experience and wished we hadn't. One side order I ordered never came. A second drink took 20 minutes to come to our table and our server didn't check on us during that time. Also found a bone/cartilage in my pork taco. Will not return or recommend. read more

The food and menu have gone down hill! The Caesar salad was all Romaine ribs and barely any greens, very tasteless and no more giant cornbread croutons - just little masa croutons which were okay but not like the cornbread. The best side on the menu, the southern greens is gone. The pulled pork was dried out. Portions have decreased while prices have not. Not nearly as good as it used to be. Ambiance and service were good. Over all not up to par read more

There are plenty of good things to say about Union Rec. The food was very good as well as the drinks and service. The room is pretty big but somehow feels intimate. It's bright and colorful with lots of eye catching decor. But it's loud. Probably no getting around it but it is. Our table tried multiple versions of tacos, brisket, the smoked wings and the mac and cheese. All delicious. So what's my gripe? I just don't care for the way the restaurant handles paying the bill. I'll admit I'm certainly older than most of their clientele, but I'm used to being presented with a check. I think it's only fair with all the demands of a server that the guest has the opportunity to check their work regarding the tab. Our server, who was lovely, after asking how we wanted to pay, told me that I owed $34.25. No check, this is what you owe. She was super nice about letting me look at her hand held computer to make sure it was correct but it made me feel uncomfortable. Then, as she continued to stand there I had to sign and add the gratuity in front of her. Her service was excellent and choosing the 22% tip option wasn't a problem, but I know I would have felt differently if the service was poor. One more quick item; I ordered two tacos and asked to hold the rice but I wanted the mac and cheese side instead. Although I didn't ask if they would substitute I thought maybe they would. They didn't, and even though I didn't get the rice I was charged $4.95 for the mac and cheese, the same price as a side of the rice that would have been included with the tacos. Fair, I guess... You live and learn. read more

We've been several times and have loved it enough to go back. The vibe inside is interesting and eclectic-which translates well to the menu; there something for every palate. I'm GF and our vegetarian friends loved it too. Don't miss the sweet potato burrito, the nachos, or the Mac & cheese. The drinks are great and the decor tells a story. Ask a host for a tour, it's worth it to get the back story! read more

They have delicious and reasonably priced coffee. I came with a friend for a snack and a latte and was impressed with their vibe. Staff is super nice and personable. I can't wait to come back :) read more

Union Rec - Lattes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Great food and great staff!! Their smoked meats and tacos were outta this world! Would highly recommend if looking for a place to eat in Ann Arbor! read more

Nice ambience, good food, attentive service. My only complaint was the table side payment system. In hindsight, I think I paid for some else's bill because my total was more than $15 greater than I think I should have paid based on the menu prices. I didn't review the itemized tab before signing. Don't be like me! Review your tab on the server's handheld device before signing! read more

Atmosphere was incredible, music was awesome, interior design and aesthetics are gorgeous, but unfortunately we went there to eat and drink which they made very difficult. Hopefully they work the kinks out with their staff, training and kitchen. You would have thought they would have worked this stuff out during their soft opening with friends and family before opening to the public.... They were out of some of their featured menu items. Waitress was terrible, zero knowledge on the menu items and had an attitude when basic questions were asked about clarifying some menu items. Two people in our party ordered mushroom tacos (after being told they were out of their first choice, Arepas) and apparently they were also out of mushrooms but she didn't tell them. She just brought them some thing else instead without even asking what they wanted instead. Took forever to get a round of drinks then waitress disappeared for eternity. Luckily we had great company to pass the time but the food, beverage, and in particular, service experience was brutal. To sum it up, great atmosphere, but they laid an egg on the service. We will definitely go again to hang out with friends at the bar or fireplace setting, but next time we will to be sure to eat before we go and BYOB. Hope they can clean this up. read more

I'm not the type that normally leaves reviews but I'll make an exception for this gem. Our so prior experiences dining in have been good, not great, so we thought we'd try carry out. After the app failed to confirm our order, we called to see if the order had gone through or if we needed to place it by phone. After giving our name, we were assured that yes, it had...no need to order by phone...and to stop by in 20-30 minutes. Well, after waiting the 20-30 minutes we showed up and were told that our order hadn't gone through after all. We were offered the chance to reorder at a discount, but passed. read more

My financée and I decided to eat here before an evening in downtown Ann Arbor and it was FANTASTIC. One of the coolest restaurant vibes I've seen recently and the food was tremendous. We each got a taco (she got hers "dorado" style and I got mine "champ" style) and split chips and queso for the table. Take some of the queso and use it as a topping for the tacos; you'll thank me later. Will ABSOLUTELY be stopping here next time we're in Ann Arbor! read more

I came in last week and my server Josie was amazing! She recommended the cauliflower to go on top of my bowl and it was so good. She made me feel so welcome the whole time I was there and served with great poise. Such a fun environment with a staff that really cares! Would definitely recommend and come back! read more

A new Union Joint with the same casual vibe as our other favorite joints. Some of our favorites are the cauliflower wings, the sweet potato burito, and the banana pudding. For drinks the Jobby Nooner is always a favorite. Will be back. read more

If you like yuppie Mexican or bbq dishes this is the place. I enjoyed it but it may not be for some. Steer clear of the slaw but go for the collard greens! read more

Our server Colton was outstanding. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and answered all of our questions. The brisket and Mac and cheese were delicious. However, the burrito could've had more meat. The atmosphere and the service made our nieces birthday. The interior was very unique!! read more

We've really tried to love this place because the the atmosphere and food are great, but the service is just terrible. We've been 3 times and we struggle each time with even remotely attentive service. I've had to go to the bar to get our drinks and to the host desk to get our check everything. As much as we love the vibe there, we.wont be rushing back. read more

Went here for studying with some friends, coffee was great and so was the desert some raspberry chocolate thing the latter was the special almond one which rocked. Staff was super friendly, definitely wish they had more food options for studying I'd be there daily only downside is they don't have wifi hoping they get that soon cause I won't be able to study until then I used my wifi hotspot which works well but I have a limited amount of data cause I'm broke :) inside was super cozy and I loved the vibes. I saw the complaints of noise but it was pretty empty when I went and it was quiet, couldn't hear the people talking two tables over so i didn't even notice. Very nice :) love it! Can't wait for the wifi, I will definitely be back! read more

What a fun Ann Arbor restaurant to try for the first time. Great vegetarian options (I had the cauliflower bites and the vegetarian postole and the Manhattans on the Rocks were fabulous! read more

Tried this place for the first time and it was great. The food was delicious, the prices were reasonable and the service was excellent. Very nice people in there and a cool environment too read more

The Painkiller frozen drink is the best! If you like sweet frozen drinks, you must try this one.

the food was AMAZING. so flavorful and really affordable pricing. the drinks were really great too and we were able to get a table for two immediately on cinco de mayo. katherine was our server and she was extremely kind and helpful. handsome date was a bonus too. read more

Union Rec - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ambience super cool Service above average Food mediocre - but I didn't eat their meat Prices - too high - over priced Overall - meh Good for a drink and snack or a coffee by the fire Not a go to place for me read more

Just horrible management, amateur time to say it best. Even the Executive Chef was rude and way over rated. It's like a deluxe QDoba without much deluxe. Very disappointing . Took almost an hour to get the food and it was barely warm and lacked any real flavor. The coleslaw belongs on Korean food instead. Smh. The decor was nice. The hostess was great. Mediocre on everything else. Except the cocktails were great! read more

Great atmosphere, and the staff was friendly and attentive, but the food was pretty disappointing. Of the six menu items we ordered, two were just okay, and the other four were downright BAD. It reminded me of theme park fare. The cocktails were even worse than the food. The place has so much potential, so I hope they figure out the issues with the kitchen/bar. I'd hate to see them fail. Go for a beer, but that's about it. read more

Food is okay. My husband and I got tacos and were quite disappointed for the price. You can pay an extra $2.50 for an extra shell and some melted cheese. Which is ridiculous and I'm embarrassed to have paid for that. $6 for a side of fries too. Ambiance is nice but our server was not attentive. Didn't check on us until after our food was gone and my water had been empty for quite some time. Most likely won't be back read more

Might be nice for drinks, but would not recommend for dinner for two especially compared to the other great choices around Ann Arbor. Food took a long time and was not very good. We had tacos (which actually were good) and mole enchiladas which were burnt and did not taste like mole at all. The worst part was the cilantro lime rice which was undercooked and luke-warm. The environment was sub-par for a dinner for two, as we were hidden from the waiting staff behind a wall next to a booth and were ignored by our waitress for the majority of the time. I would have left a low tip, however was not even given that option as the lowest tip was 18% without clicking custom tip with the waitress hovering over me. Overall, would not recommend. read more

My wife and I met five other family members for dinner last night at Union Rec. We will not return. Reasons: NOISE! We liked the appearance of the room but we could barely hear people across the table. The prices are too high. Although the food was deftly prepared we came home hungry. My wife had the small chop salad with the addition of salmon. We estimate the portion of salmon was maybe 4 ounces. And it was just a lettuce salad, not mixed greens. All for $20? I wish the waitress told me the two catfish tacos came with cilantro rice - I wouldn't have oredered an extra portion. I told the waitress that I had 2 Honcho Lagers when the bill came but I still see I was charged for a more expensive Wolverine NZ Pils. I know, $0.50-big deal, but it's still wrong and wasn't corrected. Still, it was fun being in the former Fingerle Lumber Millwork shop and we appreciated the efforts of your staff. But, not worth a return trip. read more

was disappointed with my recent experience at Union Rec restaurant. Despite visiting on a Monday night when it wasn't very busy, the service was incredibly slow. It took over 20 minutes for our drinks to arrive, and this isn't the first time I've encountered such delays. The fact that the brisket, a key item on the menu, was unavailable added to the frustration. While I appreciate the efforts of the waitress, it seems like the management needs to address these recurring issues for a more enjoyable dining experience. This experience serves as a reminder of why I hesitate to visit Union Rec. read more

I love Union Rec! Their taquitos are incredible, as is the mac and cheese and the barbecued meats. The rest of the menu is eclectic but more hit or miss (except the cocktails which are great). Decor is very eye catching and it's a spacious interior. During the day they open the whole space up to use as a coffee shop for working--probably the best and most consistent spot to find a place to sit and work in town. read more

Really yummy food! Prices are a little high but the ambience of the space makes up for it.

I have no complaints about this place at all- we were told it was a 20 min wait because we didn't have a reservation but they sat us in 10 mins. Food was real good and our server, Olivia, was amazing at suggestions, refills and being attentive. We are planning on going back already and sitting by the fireplace next time. Oh yeah- MAKE A RESERVATION! read more

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What a great addition to Ann Arbor dining! Was excited to see on site parking, as well. The decor was interesting and eclectic. We found the menu had something for everyone with some Union favorites and new additions. The buffalo cauliflower was huge and tasty. And the salads were interesting and more than enough. The wait staff paid attention and accommodated some of the dietary restrictions and preferences. read more

This was a really cool place to eat and the food was excellent. They were short staffed, but gave us a complimentary chips. We didn't wait any longer than you would normally expect on a Saturday, but it was very refreshing to have them let you know right as you sit down. We are definitely going back and bringing the rest of the family. I hope we get to sit in the tables that look like tents! read more

Love the atmosphere. We had the enchiladas and the burrito. They were delicious. Drinks and service were great!

Extremely poor service. I had to ask for my waiter, who clearly had not received much if any training. I also had to ask the hostess to get me a glass for my beer and a condiment and also to chase him down when I was ready to pay. The food was ok, nothing special. I do like the ambiance, it is attractive and soothing. but I won't be coming here again unless friends insist. read more

Went on my 40th birthday, have had great experiences at all the other union properties. Had a reservation and was sat immediately- that's where the promptness ends. 10 minutes later our server finally appeared, said he would be with us in a bit. It was 30+ minutes before we got one of our drinks.. the other one never made it. Hour and fifteen when our food made it out... the two tables near us - a party of 6 and a party of 4 came in after us and were done 20m before us. There wasn't a wait at the door and plenty of open tables... No sense of urgency, zero concern... just bad. And disappointing for a special day. read more

So delicious! I highly recommend the sweet potato burrito!! The parking is an added bonus for a downtown AA restaurant.

Union Rec has great food and we love the upscale, campy atmosphere. It's a fun place to hang before or after a game. The food and drinks are familiar but jazzed up so there's something for everyone. We'll def be back. read more

Very cool place, large space and lots of tables for 10+ parties- kind of wordly type food, it wasn't shockingly amazing food but it was great for the price, the price was pivotal for the experience- had a vegan dish for $10 witch was great!!! If it was much more it wouldn't have been so awesome. Lots of food and drink to choose from, a fireplace a coffee bar what else do you need! read more