The Union Egg Sandwich *mic drop* We were looking for a lazy breakfast option and a friend suggested this place. Once I saw the menu, with the egg sandwich plastered right in the middle, I knew this was the perfect place to hit the spot. Ordered to go and unfolded the most glorious breakfast sandwich I have ever seen. Soft eggs sitting atop a thick cut of sausage (not the microwavable sausage here!), sandwiched between sauced up brioche buns. One bite and I was in heaven. The me-who-ordered knew future me too well and got a second egg sandwich. Yes, the first one was inhaled, but the second one was savored. read more

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This place has been on my list for a while so I was excited to finally check it out! Saturday mornings seem pretty busy. The parking lot was full and there were also cars parked on the side of the rode. This spot is located in a lot shared with other businesses as well. There's indoor and outdoor seating available which is a plus. They have a standard menu and offer daily specials as well. I opted for the Union Breakfast Sandwich with scrambled eggs, fontina cheese, romesco, and a hash brown. It also came with a side salad which you can sub for another side as well. Despite how busy the shop was, it didn't take too long for my order to be ready. All orders whether dine in or takeout are packaged to go. The ambiance is very chill--live plants, art, and other decor. The food is amazing!! The sandwich was hot and fresh. I really loved all the flavor profiles from the different ingredients. The hash brown was a nice added touch for texture. The salad was fresh and included champagne vinaigrette on the side. It was very filling for a breakfast meal. I'm looking forward to visiting again soon to try some lunch options. They also offer pastries, fresh bread, and homemade granola. A must try to the area! read more

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We were over at Gateway Plaza for the grand opening of another HQ Raleigh branch. I had heard of Union Special and was looking forward to stopping in and checking them out. This plaza is being revitalized. This side of Raleigh isn't a big draw for shoppers. Union Special is a super cute small shop on the corner of the shopping center. I went in and took a look at the food that was available. We were drinking beer from the event so we decided not to get any food. We sat at their lovely outdoor seating area and enjoyed the cool (finally) Fall air. They even have a water bowl for your furry friends. We plan on going back again and trying some of their food. It all looked fresh and yummy. read more

Union Special - Outdoor seating. - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Phenomenal! Union Special Bread has incredible breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and more! Their chocolate croissants are to die for, although I will say they are extra crumbly and messy. We also ordered a pumpkin pie and rolls from Union Special for Thanksgiving. The pie was delicious and all of our guests raved about it. Union Special also had a great set up on Wednesday that made order pickup quick and easy! read more

Union Special - Egg sandwich with bacon. Delicious!! Turkey sandwich in the background was also very good! - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I had the Double-baked Pecan Croissant, Wow!!! This was a crumbled pecan pie layered inside of a generous, flaky croissant. I'm not sure if the powdered sugar sprinkle added anything to the flavor, but I most certainly enjoyed this treat. Union Special is right near my job, if I'm not careful, this can become an addiction! read more

Union Special - Ham & Cheese Croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Stopped over for lunch. The hot turkey with gravy sandwich was delicious. The bread was fresh, chewy, and amazing. The side salad was small and dressing lackluster. Tried a blue corn cookie. Very unique. Try to imagine a chewy cookie that tastes like blue corn. It was worth tasting. read more

BLUF: Come here for the pastries, stay for lunch, and leave with more pastries! As an appetizer, we had the Pecan Pie Danish. It was Flake City (in the best way possible). The filling was just enough sweetness and pecan-ness with each bite around the danish. Don't eat this in your car. The Turkey Sandwich, or Hot Turkey, was quite outstanding. Great bread, good amount of sliced turkey, fried onions, and sort of like a mirepoix gravy to moisten everything. This will be in our thoughts when we make our after-Thanksgiving leftover sandwich (with a moist-maker). The lebneh in the Turkish Eggs dish was so good! It had the initial freshness and tang of yogurt, then it transforms. Out comes the milky-ness, cheesey, and garlicky. Spread that across my eggs, toast, whatever, any day! read more

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Updating my review just to let the people know that Union Special now has ESPRESSO. This is not a drill. I stopped by last weekend and to my surprise found out that they had a new espresso machine and were cranking out lattes, cappuccinos, and straight up shots of pure caffeinated deliciousness. I got the iced latte with oat milk and house-made mocha syrup. They also offer house-made vanilla. They have expanded their outdoor area, too, unless it was just for the weekend but it looked great! I also talked to Andrew, the mastermind behind Union Special, at the takeout window and he let me know that their indoor area will be open soon. Fingers crossed! AND, there's going to be a brand new Union Special opening up in Downtown Raleigh and I couldn't be more excited... maybe for the espresso but it's also a huge deal. read more

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Fantastic peach almond danish. Cool community seating. My friend had a blue corn cookie and loved it. I'll be back next time I'm in town ' read more

Union Special - Peach almond danish - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We came in and got the Grown Up Grilled Cheese, Union Egg Sandwich, monkey bread (weekend item), and pecan croissant. The grilled cheese was really good even though the bread was quite oily. I'm not sure if that was from being in the pan or from the inside seeping through. It came with salad (a handful of spring mix) on the side. The union egg sandwich was also yummy. The roll and the hash brown on it makes it a unique breakfast sandwich in the area. For an upcharge, we got hash browns instead of the "salad" - they were okay. The monkey bread (muffin-sized) did not disappoint and while the croissant wasn't very soft, the pecan pie-like filling made it delicious. Next time, I'll get it to go - something about the inside made me sad. I think it was the sterile feel of the tables and metal chairs. read more

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I heard about these place on the internet so I decided to try it. I ordered the union special sandwich which was not bad but not the best one, and i had a coffee which was pretty strong just the way i like it, also a lemon pastry (I don't remember the name) that was good and a coffee latte. read more

Union Special - Latte and lemon pastry - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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The bread here is quite good. I had their sourdough, since I used to live in San Francisco, and it's not as tangy as SF sourdough, but it's got a really good crumb. They prepared it in a sandwich, and it was cooked just right. Their pastries are also amazing. I think if you like a good bakery cafe, this is one of the better ones you can choose. Not a lot of seating at this location, and it does get busy, so be warned. You may not have a place to sit. read more

I would die for Union Special and their Turkey Philly. That sandwich is amazing, from their crisp, toasted baguette that is more than enough bang for buck to the amazing medley of caramelized onions, sautéed meats, and soft cheeses that give a French twist on a American classic cheesesteak. It also has a side salad that you can put into your sandwich if you so choose for a healthier option. I got the order to go, but there is really nice outdoor seating that is similar to a brewery. The next time I go I'm going to try their winter hash! read more

Union Special - Turkey Philly - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

So I got a gift card to this place and had to try it out. I would not recommend getting a specialty drink here, because the employees are not really baristas. So stick with the food and pastries. I got the Union special signature sandwich/croissant and I thought it was too greasy. But they have many other options that sounded good so I'm guessing I just chose wrong. Another time I got a few different pastries and they were all pretty tasty. I have authentic French pastries to compare them to, so that's saying a lot. The poppyseed roll was by far my favorite. The chocolate croissant barely had any chocolate in it, which was soooo not shwae. All in all, I will come back here, I think I just need to give it a few more chances. A bonus: there are windows into the back kitchen where all the baking takes place that you can see from the seating area! read more

We drove 6 hours with the express purpose of eating at Union Special. Our only regret is that we couldn't do it sooner, and we are already trying to figure out when we can get back! Everything is amazing!!! read more

Union Special - Pecan "Monkey Bread" - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Putting the Special in Union Special. Between their bakery and pastries they're out of control then add the kitchen menu in there... Every right to be called special. The brunch specials are always on point and so are the special sandos. Coffee Cake. it slaps. Chocolate Monkey Bread and Pecan Monkey Bread. Delicious. Union Egg Sandwich with bacon added. I can eat two in one day. Pound cake is thicc with two C's. It's delicious, freshly made food by awesome people that love what they do. Also the CSVANW menu was just unreal. The pork chop and roasted grape toast were amazing and that cabbage steak & potatoes just stole the show. read more

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They have a great BLT. Real fresh tasty tomatoes they are a game changer on any sandwich. I also love a good hash brown but would prefer it was made fresh instead of store bought and frozen. Only once did I have an issue here and they left the sticker on the sliced up apple in my sandwich. Which I ate some of. They offered to make me a new one but never tried to compensate in anyway. (Would have been okay with a cookie or discount or something but no one wants to wait for another meal to be made) read more

We came in for Sunday brunch. I wanted the artichoke melt, but they were out, so I had the vegan sandwich. It was ok. I also ordered grits, and they were runny and didn't have much flavor. The strawberry salad I ordered was good, and probably the best thing I had. My boyfriend had the local nc grits and greens. He said the greens had vinegar on them, which is fine, but the vinegar was also in the grits which tasted pretty bad. He added sausage, but he said the seasoning on it wasn't good. He will never order this again. I'd come back to try the artichoke melt, and I'd get the salad again most likely. They bring your food out in a bag which makes sense, incase you can't finish your food and need to take it home. It's also pretty cool to watch them making bread while you eat. I'm going to give it one more shot. read more

This spot was so cute but I was not impressed with the wait time for my food. I ordered a waffle and side of grits. Luckily my mom and I ordered a slice of delicious lemon cheesecake to split while we waited. The meal itself was just okay, I would not order it again. I'd like to try a few of the pastries next time. This plaza is growing with so many great businesses so it's worth checking out. read more

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Such a great addition to the area! This shopping center has gotten a total makeover. It's now very trendy and nice, and it seems like there will be more opening here in the future. Union Special is a great little bakery and lunch spot. They have a daily bread schedule, so you can get different kinds of fresh bread each day. They also have a good lunch/brunch menu. It's not huge and not super cheap, but a solid variety and the quality makes sense for the price. The portions are moderate. I got the grain bowl, which was like a chilled kale and quinoa bowl. It also had some dressing, cilantro, seeds, and I think sweet potato. It was delicious! Again, not a huge portion so it was good for a small lunch. I'll definitely be back to try the pastries! read more

Union Special - Grain bowl - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Gorgeous bakery and tiny cafe. The baked goods look beautiful. Check out thisAiry, cheerful space right off Capital Blvd. The only serve drip and ice brew coffee but it is great quality. They serve other cold drinks and canned beer or cider. It looks like they always have a vegan baked treat option but gluten-free bread is hard to find. There are lots of gluten-free and dairy-free options on the cafe menu. read more

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The best dirty chai latte you'll ever have! Very kind people and excellent service. I take all my friends from out of town here to have a dirty chai, and it never disappoints. read more

Nice place. I had the Turkey melt which came with a side salad. The sandwich was hot with thick slices of bacon and tasty sauce. The side salad of mixed greens was fresh. Nice place for a quick sandwich. The pastries looked good too, maybe next time I'll get one. read more

Union Special is a gem. It is tucked in a newly renovated plaza behind the Greyhound bus terminal off Capital Blvd. The space is industrial yet cozy and welcoming. The menu has something for everyone, but with a twist, like the egg sandwich served with fontina and romesco. I ordered the turkey sandwich (I was told it is leaving the menu soon) and it was so full of flavor it was ridiculous. The turkey was sous vide, and the sandwich was assembled with sweet potato aioli, a raisin schmear, mustard and get this- chicken chicharrones. Union Special has a big selection of breads, danishes, cookies and creative daily specials. The location is great- there's plenty of parking and the service is stellar. I would have given it 5 stars, but the ordering process is confusing. There are two stations - one says pastry and the other sandwiches or menu (?) so it looks like you should line up based on your order. Wrong. There is one line, and you just skip pastry if you are not interested. When I was there people were frustrated, waiting in a line, only to be told to move to another line. Ugh, hopefully this gets sorted out. I'll be back, can't wait in fact. read more

Union Special - Turkey sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Awesome place to grab breakfast or lunch. Love their patio on a nice day. Super cheerful spot in Raleigh!

My first time trying, they forgot about my order a simple soup and grilled cheese, I had to asked about my order for them to make it . Not worth the wait. read more

We're obsessed with your croissants. So much so that we got your info from our local coffee place. This morning I was so hyped to have the opportunity to go! We got there too early after dropping kids off. Totally worth the wait for the delicious goodness. Why the three stars? My excitement to be there was quickly dampened by the lack of service. Look, I know what it's like to be super busy and trying to get things together for the day. We felt we like were a burden to your morning and that sucked. I wasn't expecting the red carpet but, a hey good morning or yea sorry we can't give you another plain croissant since it's been spoken for. Instead, there was no acknowledgement we were even ordering and "I can give you one I have to fill orders." Hope things get better, I know everyone is having a tough time. read more

Been here a couple of times for both dine in and take out and it did not disappoint. One of my go-to bakeries for bread and pastries, though you shouldn't sleep on their sandwiches either. Their breakfast sandwich and the vegan sandwich are both awesome and the coffee is great. Really can't go wrong with any of the menu items and they have both indoor and outdoor seating at their Crabtree location. Definitely recommend following them on Instagram, as they post daily specials that aren't typically on their menu. read more

The food at Union special is consistently amazing! The service however, is consistently unfriendly. The staff seem put out by customers.

Enjoyed a very delicious breakfast this morning at Union Special! The line was almost to the door, but they staff moved quickly to get us all fed as quickly as possible. It was so packed that the chef even came out to make an announcement asking for our patience as they are still a new restaurant and getting acclimated to the high demand. So to the food, the Union Egg Sandwich was AMAZING. Three of us tried various versions of the sandwich. I was quite happy to get a lower FODMAP version with sourdough and no romesco. They also had a great variety of pastries and fresh breads available to take home. It all looked delicious and I will definitely be back to try more! read more

Union Special - Union Egg Sandwich with sourdough - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

It's sad cos I used to love this place! Would love to bring the doggies and BF and chill outside on the benches. The last time I went the croissants were hot trash. They were SO greasy at the bottom. It was a pool of oil. Disgusting! It had been sitting there all morning. And then I tried to order coffee cake and all of a sudden it was sold out. It's annoying they don't link their online ordering system with real life. It's also literally 9am and you used opened. How are you out of stuff already? That's just poor planning. I spoke to the staff about the quality of the croissants were again was unacceptable. The baker gave me a fresh croissant which was also SOAKED in oil!!!! He said it was because they were fresh. I'm not a baker but I'm pretty sure it's oily because you didn't keep the dough cold. Also I had the croissant cold, from the counter as well. The fact they can't seem to keep the dough COLD. It was a dense oily mess, I couldn't believe he wasn't embarrassed to serve that. Also ordered other sandwiches that were meh. Place went downhill fast. Apathetic service, food is poor quality now. read more

Great pastries, you should definitely order online before coming here. That way they won't run out of the delicious cinnamon rolls! read more

Union Special - Chocolate Croissant, ham and cheese croissant( just ok), delicious plain croissant, chocolate chip cookie and cinnamon roll - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Terrible. Grilled cheese ordered without pepper jam came with pepper jam and practically no cheese. I cant do spicy and italian came with banana rings and multiple jalepenos. read more

First it's very expensive for what you get. Dry! And how are you a bakery that doesn't warm croissants and say oh I'm sorry can't cus we don't have a microwave. Kid's chicken strips are gross, my kids. Left hungry.No thanks won't be returning. Better off going to biscutville or and other breakfast spot. read more

I started stopping by Union Special about once a week because it was on my usual commuting route from home to work. I enjoyed their pastry and cafe options and was glad to support a local business and good concept. Then covid-19 hit and shifted everything for everyone. I stopped going to the office every day, but one day I decided that I needed a good pastry, so I ordered online and picked up. Union Special is one of those special places that has truly **improved** during the pandemic--they were great to start with, but they just got better! They figured out how to do online orders well, move customers through the pickup process, and keep innovating on their food. It's been great to watch them in this season! As for the food... you can't go wrong! I've discovered some things that aren't necessarily for my particular taste, but I've never been unhappy to have tried something. I especially enjoy the Union Egg Sandwich, the (grilled) chicken sandwich, and the summer salad. On the bakery end of things, the double chocolate croissant is wonderful, the ham and cheese croissant is succulent, and Union Sour has become my bread of choice for everyday eating. To top it all off, Union Special cares about its customers and community. They've done an amazing job of keeping everyone safe, supporting social distancing and best public health practices, and offering their voice to call for voting and social change. They have an easy option to "pay it forward" and add $5 to any online order to support their program of baking bread for those in need in the community. In the early months of the pandemic, this helped them keep their ovens going when their wholesale business dried up overnight, but they haven't forgotten this important additional effort. All in all, five stars--and I'd add another if I could for their great efforts to stay safe and engaged in this difficult time! read more

I had high hopes but we were disappointed. My grilled cheese had unmelted cheese (the flavor combo was admittedly great, though!) and the breakfast sandwich fell flat. We didn't get drinks. The setup was also a little...cold? And so were the staff. Not sure what all the fuss is about. read more

I decided to make the trek to try out Union Special on a gross, rainy day. Had seen lots of pictures of their food, and thought it would be a good place to try with my daughter. I liked the up and coming look of the location, and the Covid measures that were in place. One side for ordering, one side for call ins. With so many options, I decided to try the Union Egg Sandwich which is more basic than I would normally chose, but I was curious to see how the Romesco would tie this sandwich together. Unfortunately, there was none on my sandwich :( We also ordered the Grown Up Grilled Cheese, and a Pecan Monkey Bread Pastry. The egg sandwich, was of course basic with a hash brown and cheese, and didn't offer anything special, especially without all the ingredients. The grilled cheese however, was so delicious. The pepper jelly gave it just the right amount of heat, and the collard green pesto was so flavorful. I wish I would've ordered 2 of those. The monkey bread was also quite good. It was just the right amount of butter, and ooey goodness that you would expect. Tender dough, and great caramel at ion on top with the pecans to tie it all together. I would recommend this establishment, and would like to try a few more things on the menu that stood out to me in the future. read more

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Amazing food!! Very talented bakers, such a cute hidden gem out of the way of the hustle and bustle of downtown. Staff was very friendly and they had a lovely variety of options. Will definitely be back! read more

Union Special - Bakeries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I will never not recommend Union Special or their pastries to friends in from out of town. The twice baked pecan croissants are my favorite, my best friend loves their cinnamon rolls, and my wife loves their tomato pastries (seasonal item I believe). Their bread is also amazing and they offer daily specials! Canning speak highly enough of them! read more

The service is always good, we love the indoor and outdoor seating, and we love the food. We especially enjoy the cinnamon buns, union sour, and the egg & cheese biscuit sandwich. read more