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  • Union League Cafe

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Reserve at Union League Cafe

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Union League Cafe
Union League Cafe

Union League Cafe Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://unionleaguecafe.com
  • Phone: (203) 562-4299
  • Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:45am - 2:30pm; Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 5:30pm - 9:30pm, Friday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 10:00pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: French
  • Executive Chef: Jean Pierre Vuillermet
  • Dress Code: Smart Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Fireplace, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
  • Catering: Please inquire for details.
  • Private Party Facilities: Whether planning a simple luncheon or an elaborate dinner, we look forward to taking personal care of every detail of your entertaining needs. Together these timeless entertaining spaces offer you and your guests a relaxed but elegant ambiance complimented by exquisite service & the refined cuisine.
  • Private Party Contact: Christina FitzGerald (203) 772-2053

Getting there

  • Cross Street: College Street
  • Parking: Public Lot
  • Parking Details: The parking lot may be entered from crown street. Additional parking may be found at the Schubert Theatre garage at the corner of college and crown streets, or in an additional parking garage found at the corner of crown and high street. These parking spaces are less than a block away from Union League Cafe and all three are within walking distance of the restaurant.
A word from Union League Cafe
Reminiscent of a Paris brasserie it is where old world charm meets the new. Warm and welcoming to New Haven's cafe society, it is located across from Yale University old campus. The restaurant offers menu and ambiance in a casual elegant style. Always using the best ingredients of the moment, Union… League Café's food combines French classical traditions with a more contemporary approach to flavors, textures and native ingredients. Local and organic fish, meats, cheeses, produce and rare specialty products from around the world help our chefs create our award-winning cuisine.Continued
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerNotable Wine List
  • Diners' Choice WinnerSpecial Occasion
  • Diners' Choice WinnerMost Booked 1000-Point Tables
Diner Reviews
  • "Took us 35 minutes to get our wine (which wasn't what we ordered) and 1.5 hours to get our dinner. Staff and manager were apologetic and in the end did take care of us. Its nice but not the Union League of old. I wished we booked plans elsewhere for what was a special occasion. "
    Dined on 5/8/2015
  • "We went to dinner recently for my wife's birthday, and had a great time. The food was amazing showing the classic skills employed in the kitchen. The service was excellent but not stuffy."
    Dined on 7/22/2014
  • "The food at the Union League Cafe continues to be the best Connecticut has to offer! Taste,quality,presentation,and service are outstanding. The desserts were out of this world!!"
    Dined on 7/22/2014
  • "Considering the prices and what it used to be the Union League Cafe has come down a notch. It is still an elegant place with good service and a nice wine list. The food is good, but not outstanding. We were disappointed to see the fries we ordered were not fresh and the desserts went from inedible, a frozen concoction that was completly melted, to less than ordinary. The main courses were quite good, but not outstanding."
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "The Union League continues to be a place to cherish as a memorable place to spend with family and friends. I was staying in New Haven for a week and had already dined at the Union League another night, but it was the meal on Friday that I will most especially remember. The service was flawless, as our server was helpful and friendly in the ordering process. She was especially superb in choosing out glasses of wine for each of the courses, uncovering a wine that was truly outstanding for the duck entree. The food was outstanding as usual. A corn soup and a tomato soup were well balanced and flavorful, and the lobster and duck entrees complex and satisfying. Chocolate soufflee and strawberry tart were a heavenly way to end the meal."
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "One of our favorite restaurants. Located in the heart of New Haven and Yale University. Outstanding food and top notch service. We reserve this for special occasions as it is expensive, but always a treat."
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "We had one of the best dinners we have had in a long time at The Union League last week. With the addition of the specials the selection had a nice balance. Traditional items that one would expect in a high end restaurant with some twists, like the pea risotto as an appetizer. Delicious and not as heavy as one would think. We were still able to finish our entrees of duck and filet mignon, cooked to perfection. Our waiter was very attentive and formal. He loosened up as the night progressed, thankfully. His recommendations were spot on. One negative: if I am spending $250 on a dinner for 2, I do not want to see patrons dressed in jeans, polos and sneakers. A dress code of at least business casual should be enforced."
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "Travelling to New Haven we look forward to having lunch at Union League Café. The food in this last lunch experience had a lot to be desires. The lobster salad was miniscule and lacking lobster and taste. The main course BOUILLABAISSE which was described including "Monkfish, squid, mussels, braised fennel, saffron potatoes, rouille and croutons, Provençale fish soup" was too salty and came without the rouille or crouton, the rest of the ingredients included two mussels and small pieces of the other items. We were wondering where the fish soup was. the "Seared New England sea-scallops, fava beans, almonds, Meyer lemon vinaigrette" was excellent just as the deserts were. The service was excellent. The place was as wonderful as always."
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "Union League Cafe lives up to its reputation as the best restaurant in New Haven. The setting is sophisticated and lovely, the food is beautifully presented and delicious. The confit de canard continues to be my favorite appetizer here. Always a wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion!"
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "Excellent service - The wait staff was wonderful in remembering what we were celebrating and adding special touches to the dessert."
    Dined on 7/10/2014
  • "My fiancée and I came here for an early dinner and the entire meal from start to finish was fantastic!! We were greeted warmly by the front desk with smiles and promptly sat. Our sever (Sherwin) was kind,welcoming,and very knowledgeable about the menu.The food was every bit as fantastic as the service!!"
    Dined on 7/3/2014
  • "Very enjoyable lunch. Food and service excellent."
    Dined on 7/2/2014
  • "Everything exceeded my already high expectations, the food was unbelievable and the service was extremely well trained and knowledgable. This is another level of dining and I beg everyone else to try it."
    Dined on 7/1/2014
  • "We were set at a lovely table by the window, but a loud person made the location intolerable. Upon request we were quickly moved and went on to have a lovely meal."
    Dined on 6/30/2014
  • "Fantastic 95 th birthday dinner. Great service, great food and ambience"
    Dined on 6/28/2014
  • "French influence, interestingly personnel use some French words like mercy. I like it actually it's unusual . Also brad was cold I use to have hot bread , and it was very nice when we request to change sits to soft sofa they were satisfied our request . There were no problem , treat us with respect and full attention even we were dressed casual in opposite numerous people had jacket or formal dress. It was ok we felt pretty comfortable , just tourist after hot day visiting all those attractions. Glad we choose this place the food was good , my son cook and he really enjoy food, oyster 3.50$ was price compare to other prices in Connecticut , but when I m in vacation :-) it's ok"
    Dined on 6/20/2014
  • "Our anniversary. Staff was great, and gave us extras."
    Dined on 6/17/2014
  • "The welcome is warm, the service attentive, the presentation witty, and the cuisine delicious. A great place to meet for lunch (order the lobster omelet with morels and/or the confit de canard) or dinner or to celebrate a special occasion (spring for the Chassagne Montrachet). You can sit at a little table or you can nestle side by side on a banquette or you can have six or eight people around a table next to the window with a beautiful view of Yale looking like Oxford. In winter there's a fire in the fireplace. Save room, even at lunch, for dessert -- a descendant of Careme, it seems, is loose in the kitchen."
    Dined on 6/16/2014
  • "Union League never fails to impress with its high standard of food preparation and service."
    Dined on 6/16/2014
  • "Our experience at Union League was indeed exquisite. The ambiance and scene were amazing. As was the taste of all if our food. Magnificent. If I had any critique it would just be the portion size. At to gourmet establishment smaller for presentation is to be expected. But some dishes were a bit extreme. My wife only had 5 total gnocchi in her dish which was the substance behind the veggies. Also the size of the cheese really only a bite for each. But taste was to die for. Highly recommend for a fancy night out."
    Dined on 6/14/2014
  • "The food is always great, the menu changes but is consistently delicious. Staff is helpful and knowledgeable. A real gem."
    Dined on 6/14/2014
  • "It was just fantastic, we had a great time , always love the place"
    Dined on 6/12/2014
  • "has always been very good for us....our favorite ct cafe"
    Dined on 6/6/2014
  • "I have come to the Union League every year for my Birthday for the past 3 years. Only because I have only been in New Haven for 3 years. It never disappoints. The food is always perfection as well as the service. This is a special occasion restaurant that when you go there makes it a special occasion. By far the best restaurant in New Haven in a town with some very good restaurants. Just go there and enjoy you won't be sorry!"
    Dined on 6/5/2014
  • "AMAZING cheese selection! Our server Dennis was extremely knowledgeable of the menu selections "
    Dined on 6/4/2014
  • "The sauce on the fish was too salty. One steak was perfectly cooked, the other was a bit tough. The omelet and spinach salad were fine, esp. the salad, which we split 4 ways. Reasons to return: we've learned for next time. Darryl, our waiter, was 1st rate, as was food presentation, and the atmosphere and pace are pleasant and leisurely. "
    Dined on 5/29/2014
  • "Given the reviews of the Union League Cafe, we expected a lot on our first visit. Our hopes were fulfilled. The room is elegant with the look of an old-fashioned men's club without the smoke. The service was outstanding with our waitress giving an exhaustive rundown of the specials while answering our questions directly. Table service was perfect without a single slip. Oysters were delicious with two sauces. A striped bass special with spinach and fennel was perfectly cooked. A dessert of strawberry sorbet, meringue and chantilly was an inventive as we have seen in a long time. Only the coffee disappointed slightly; it wasn't special. For an occasion, this is THE place in New Haven!"
    Dined on 5/29/2014
  • "Spent an enjoyable evening with good food and wineMS"
    Dined on 5/24/2014
  • "We celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary there as we do every year for the past 25 years. As always the food was 5 star as was the service!"
    Dined on 5/24/2014
  • "There really is no competition and when you take into account the fact that some other "comparable" restaurants charge as much, I would suggest you're getting the most bang for your buck here — even if it is a pretty penny!"
    Dined on 5/23/2014
  • "a delightful experience once again. the main courses are wonderful and the wine list is superb. A bit noisy with all the Yale graduation celebration, but hey, we have all been there. highly recommended."
    Dined on 5/16/2014
  • "We choose the Union League to celebrate family special occasions. The service, setting,ambiance and food and wine is superb. We especially appreciated the wine steward who shared his expertise and knowledge about wines. "
    Dined on 5/13/2014
  • "It was a great place! The food might have been a tad salty... just ever so slightly. Very pricey but worth it. Would I return? Absolutely"
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "Mother's day lunch was excellent. All dishes were perfect and the service very attentive."
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "Food was excellent! Our anniversary dinner, so the restaurant worked with us to get a table near the windows in front, which was our preference over the quieter table in back. The layout, however, made it a bit difficult for our waiter to engage with our table, which is the reason the service was very good rather than outstanding. They wrote out Happy Anniversary in chocolate on our dessert plate, a nice touch. I had heard that the place was pricey, but it wasn't that bad. Overall, a great dining experience!"
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "Our food was very good and service attentive. Very traditional atmosphere and menu, good for groups with diverse ages and tastes. The tables for couples in the back are lined up too close together...no privacy. We moved easily to another table. Wine list was nice and the waiter knowledgeable."
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "Lovely classic french restaurant (almost a time warp). Always dependable to provide good service and delicious food, our go-to place for special occasions. "
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "Was a few minutes late for our reservation. The 74 mile drive from Laguardia took almost 3 hours- a bit of a surprise. Not from the area, so didn't understand that that was a real possibility. Apologized for being late and obviously hungry and tired. Food very nice, but waiter very annoyed with us and very short. Wrongly assumed that male in our party was paying, so when I paid, he was a bit surprised. Not as friendly to me during meal as to male in the party....Wish waiter had been kinder."
    Dined on 5/9/2014
  • "We have been dining at Union League Café for years. The food is always delicious -- the prices are reasonable, and the wine and beer list is good, too. The staff is professional and the chefs are very accommodating for special diets i.e. gluten free or vegan. The lobster is the best! "
    Dined on 5/9/2014
  • "Union League can be relied on for delicious food served elegantly."
    Dined on 5/6/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
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  • Notable Wine List
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