UNION - RooftopA Hidden Gem!How would you guess that such an oasis existed high above Hennepin Ave??? The lunch menu offered many choices that showed a great deal of originality. The best part was we didn't have to leave our first born child to pay for a wonderful experience. For these who have to protect themselves from the sun, be sure to request a table in the shade.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMRooftop DiningFun venue, great location, nice setting. Retractable roof wonderful idea.
Great food offerings, menu selection interesting. Wine selection was limited.
Service attentive but we felt rushed through dinner. Felt rushed through dinner- chewing last bites and they were pulling plates, had not finished salad course when entree came
Tables are close together and street noise, combined with other tables makes conversation louder than usual but no worse than other downtown rooftop restaurants. Good mix of Twins fans and theatre goers.
Nice to have starter course in addition to appetizers- wild rice krispy bars interesting but I'd pass next time and try something different.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMenuWe loved the atmosphere of the rooftop. The Lamb Meatballs are outstanding, also the Oxtail Burger. The wait staff was over the top with service and very friendly. Will definately return and tell our friends about the UNION Rooftop.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWas impressive to see theWas impressive to see the roof rolled back. Lunch was good. Service was very good.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat space, good foodWe had a steak cobb salad and mahi mahi tacos. Both were good, salad could have been more generous with avocado and blue cheese, tomatoes were like what you would find at Cub, dressing needed more oomph (Dijon? something?) Tacos were wonderful, as was the MsMn cocktail. Great setting and service.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of a kindUnion is the only restaurant in N. America with a retractable roof. So rain or shine, you'll enjoy the outdoors. But don't think that's the only attraction. The menu is creative and unique, our meal was memorable, the service was attentive and friendly. The wait staff even fussed over us because it was our anniversary.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat FoodFine dining however service still very new. From the host station to the servers you end up getting a feeling that people are a still getting use to the service industry, a little different than you would expect for semi-fine dining. Perhaps with time the service will improve.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWe took our 19 year old granddaughtWe took our 19 year old granddaughter there for lunch, and she was very impressed. Her steak frites was the best she'd ever had, and she loved the ambiance. The retractable roof was unique; we'll go back on a day when it can be open because the noise level is high, otherwise.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat cocktails and appsI've been here a few times for drinks and apps, but just did dinner for the first time. The dinner was fine, but nothing special, as was dessert. The cocktail program, however, is one of the best in the city--such creative stuff! As for the apps, if "bacon scallion doughnuts with cheese" sounds like something you'd enjoy, you must order these! And the rooftop dining experience is one of the best in the city!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMLoud - But Enjoyable!When the door opened to the rooftop, it was definitely cafeteria loud. But after getting seated, you become part of the chatter and zone it out. The food was great, along with the service, scene, and location. I would highly recommend this restaurant and it was fun to try foods with a twist. The desserts were delicious as well....and the "snack" doughnuts were a stand out. My husband had the egg noodle with lamb that had a lot of kick! He likes kick, but it tested his limits, and he enjoyed it. For me, it was way beyond my spice palate, but again I prefer mild. I had the trout and it was a great combo mixture with the fish, spinach, artichoke chips, and proscuitto.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMnew favorite restaurant!We had the Apple Blue Cheese Sunchoke Salad, Wild Rice Krispies, Buffalo Fried Oysters, Savory Donut Holes, Burnt Honey Dessert - honestly highly recommend everything. Make a reservation - this place is hoppin!6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat rooftop!Had a great time with friends celebrating a birthday. Service was outstanding! Food was excellent, loved the "snacks"! Atmosphere is fantastic. Would highly recommend for all occasions,6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Outdoor DiningThe evening started great with the roof open but as it progressed it started to sprinkle and the roof was closed. Thats OK, other places you would have to go inside and a new place to dine. We just stayed where we were and we were covered in a couple minets. The food was terrific, the whole experience was fantastic.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful ServiceOur waiter was excellent! His name was Mat, and I can't say enough good things about him. Not a lot of waiters treat three old ladies,as well as Mat treated us. It was a night to remember! Thank Mat from the three old ladies who were celebrating a birthday!6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMBirthdays at the UNION ROOFTOPgreat table ...... Wonderful service. Food was good/okay....I shared a burger with a friend and it was delicious as well as the apple salad. Friends said okay food not great. But a great waiter!5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for entertainingHad a great time entertaining guests from out of town.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMour only retractable roof!Great rooftop dining and what a view! enjoyed the Union ambience but the food was just ok. Oxtail burger very good, nice wheat bun, Trout was good but the presentation not too appealing, steak was good, scallops were ok, just warm and could have been cooked a little more, they were greasy. Too many over priced items, they need more items in the 15.00-20.00 range. They did give us a free desert with a candle for daughter's BD which was a nice touch. Wait staff were excellent and fast service. Have to try Happy hour when it's sunny:)5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMRooftop experienceMy reservation was later and although they were extremely busy they were able to accommodate me and my guests an hour earlier. The rooftop was warm due to the heaters on what was a chilly weekend night. Service was prompt and friendly on the rooftop. Definitely a place to return to again and again.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMOur new favorite!My fiance and I decided to check out Union Restaurant & Rooftop after reading about in Star Tribune's "Best of Minnesota" series. The rooftop dining area was truly unique - I couldn't stop staring around the place! The staff was extremely warm and welcoming, and the food was excellent. There are a lot of unique items on the menu (the savory donut holes were awesome!) which made choosing what to get a real challenge because everything looked so great.
It's a bit more upscale than our budget normally allows, but for the quality of food and service that we got, we agreed that the prices weren't outrageous by any means. I honestly can't think of a single negative experience we had there. We'll definitely be back for special occasions!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGood food and good atmosphere.Good food and good atmosphere. Good list of appetizer.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMHappy Birthday!We were there to celebrate a birthday, and they had a little card signed by the staff for the 70 year old birthday girl. She was tickled, and took it home as a keepsake. Our server made sure to say happy birthday, but there was no gross fuss about it. We loved watching the roof get adjusted depending on the rain at the moment. Much much quieter with the roof open!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat lunch spot on a summery dayMy party of 5 all loved the food (fish tacos, shrimp salad, day's pasta, croque madame, steak salad) -- great quality ingredients, excellent flavors and combinations (not too salty or overspiced), generous but not overwhelming portion sizes -- wine list is nicely diverse in regions but compact and unintimidating -- grown-up dressy casual atmosphere -- not filled with kids or trampz -- closest thing the city has to a decent California eatery5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMRooftop GemThis was my first visit to the Union rooftop and I must say I was impressed. The food was very good and the atmosphere was very warm and relaxing. It was nice to dine and relax in such a nice setting. The service was great and they went out of there way to make it a special experience. I would definately would come back again and recommend to friends.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMsmall portions but very good.small portions but very good. Could have eaten 2 meals with the portion size5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGood RestaurantThe roof top dining has good food and an interesting ambience. We had a small birthday party up there and everyone enjoyed the event. The waiter put a happy birthday sign on one of the desserts.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst timeChecked out the rooftop for lunch - this was my long-awaited first time at the restaurant. Unfortunately, Jim Christiansen has already departed, but his, and McKee's food influence is still very apparent.
Enjoyed our lunch and the rooftop is spectacular, but could use some umbrellas for shade during the hot, mid-day sun.
Can't wait to come back for dinner.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's a great spot for happyIt's a great spot for happy hour, lunch or dinner. It does get crowded quickly for dinner time so make reservations!5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMLove it!Great food! LOVED the rooftop experience!!! Also, absolutely loved our waiter, Caleb--he was FANTASTIC!!! ! He was the perfect host--honest, great advice, and intuitive as to when to come back to check on us & when to just clear the table without interjecting into the conversation. Prices were a little high, but it's a great "date" night or special occasion place. Will definitely return!5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day Brunch-awesomeDelicious spread in a sunfilled room. Make Sunday brunch a regular thing at Union! We loved it.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat table with a beautifulGreat table with a beautiful view. Excellent service. Nice menu selections. A little on the noisy side but enjoyable experience. Hope to come back.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMThe service was very good,The service was very good, as was the food. The coconut milk french toast and "fried" chicken were outstanding. We really enjoyed the unique drinks we had with our Mother's Day Brunch.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWow !Very rare to find a location that has mastered great food, drinks, service and ambience !
I cannot stop talking about my wonderful experience to all my friends and family !
Thank you union rooftop for ensuring a wonderful Mother's Day brunch !5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFirstnVisit to Union RooftopWe had dinner with friends to celebrate a birthday, and we all agreed it was a great choice! We all enjoyed our food, and the service was attentive and professional.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Birthday DinnerWe went here to celebrate my birthday and my friends... it was a great place to have dinner and see the city. Great service and the food was yummy. Would recommend it to my friends for sure.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMDespite the rain great atmosphere.Despite the rain great atmosphere. Excellent lunch menu.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMRooftop LunchMy coworker and I work at a hotel downtown and like to try out restaurants to send our guests to, and we decided to try out the Union. The food at the Union was great, the staff was friendly, and the environment was inviting and comfortable. I would suggest it to anybody looking for a great spot for lunch or dinner.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMVery nice setting for lunch!I did some networking over lunch and found it to be a very nice setting for first introductions. I have a slight hearing loss and found the conversation to be quite easily heard, which surprised me. I enjoyed the table height for lunch- it somehow made it more special. Thank you for a lovely hour filled with sun after this never ending winter!5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good!I think the highlight was the service. Michael was our waiter -- made great recommendations and paced the night so we didn't feel rushed and really enjoyed ourself. Food and cocktails were great.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ambience, awesome foodUnion has a very interesting menu with dishes that range from not too expensive to a little pricey, so there is something to fit every budget. The wild rice krispies and buffalo oysters were awesome snacks. We each had a different entree (Oxtail Burger, Trout and Salmon), all were really good, and the presentation was great. The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of were the rice gnocci that came with the salmon...they were a little gummy.
When the weather permits, the rooftop retracts, and makes for an awesome outdoor seating area. It was still cool, even though the weather wasn't cooperating.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMMy favorite rooftop spotMy third visit and again, food, service, ambience were fantastic. The salmon salad was outstanding, perfect lunch choice. Just with the roof had been open. It was that rare sunny day of late.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was very good. Lamb meatballFood was very good. Lamb meatball appetizer was rare in the middle which I was not expecting but it was very good. Trout was fabulous. Salmon was excellent and large portion. Apple side salad was very fresh and tasty. The roof was open for a while and it was wonderful. The rain came and the roof was closed. Very cool! The negative is that it got really loud. They need something to absorb sound when the roof is closed. They were busy and service was slower than I expected but we were not in a hurry.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience sitting outsideGreat experience sitting outside on the rooftop on the first nice spring night of the season!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFoods are always good andFoods are always good and tasty. However it's a popular place so high noises is expected. When the weather is good, the glass ceiling is opened so you can enjoy the view and open air setting. Love it.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Experience!Great food and great service! Waiter was very helpful in choosing drinks and food. Great atmosphere. Would definitely go again.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous view and the retractableFabulous view and the retractable roof is definitely a sight to be seen. Highly recommend it! The food was terrific and we really liked our server. Friendly, inviting.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMI was thoroughly pleased withI was thoroughly pleased with the whole experience. Food was amazing, yes it was noisy, but I could hear my friend at my table. One end was open to the outside, hope to see what it is like this summer.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMFun atmosphere but loud. FoodFun atmosphere but loud. Food was good but not great.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMI really enjoyed the rooftopI really enjoyed the rooftop dinning. It was nice to have a place to go that takes you out of the season. It was a sunny day (1 of few we have had this winter) and the restaurant decor made it feel like I was dining outside on a nice summer day. The food was excellent. I would like to come back in the evening and try thier dinner entree's.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had excellent service -We had excellent service - were not rushed at all. The Rooftop dining was lovely, but very noisy...hard to hear ourselves talk, but guess that gets better when the roof can be retraced to open air. The food was very good, but not alot of choices. We did enjoy it tho and will come back again.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMI took my husband to UnionI took my husband to Union for his birthday. We enjoyed the view, atmosphere and the food.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AM