UNION

BEST REASON TO GO there is NO infernal TV in the bar!!!
The bar guy was chatty in the best sort of way… interested and interesting. We choose to sit at the bar as we had requested (they even mentioned that we had requested it, so they read their reservations which is impressive!) and we ate some excellent, fish and meat dishes. The atmosphere is relaxed but efficient and the kitchen guys know their onions… all in all a good evening out.

Quite possibly one of the best Manhattans I’ve had. They make it with an Italian liqueur called Cadamaro. Very smooth and delicious. Highly recommended!
Definitely was of the classier joint in this sleepy winter northeastern town. Wear a button down or sport coat

Finally went the other night. Was very excited when I first heard about it but then concerned when I heard the original team left. But I’m happy to say it didn’t hurt it at all. The décor is modern and clean and has a great vibe. I like that you can see the kitchen and the bar scene was hopping that night.
The lobby of the hotel is unique and quirky, and does a good job of honoring the history of the press building. I love the suitcases and typewriter displays.
The duck was a standout, as well as the pear risotto. Good wine list and the staff is top notch. Will definitely return!

Four of us went for Sunday brunch. Nice table, pleasant wait staff but not very efficient. We had to ask for our first coffees 3 times and ditto for the refills. Really? For brunch?!? Eggs Benedict were tasty but the French toast was beyond horrible. It was made from brioche cut in thick slices then in cubes. These were barely dipped in the egg mixture. Except for the outer edges it was cubes of dry bread. Hardy French toast! Overall experience a real minus. We won’t be going back to this pretentious place.

Amazing. We had the hardest time finding a place to eat brunch on New Year’s Day without having to wait hours, but the Union got us right in. Even if we had to wait, the bar was big, and there were plenty of beautiful couches and chairs right next to the bar with a gorgeous view.
They catered to my gluten free needs spectacularly. I had the first gluten free Eggs Benedict of my life, and it was superb. Delicious bloodys and mimosas. The staff was super helpful and polite.
We left full and satisfied, absolutely no complaints.

Staying at the Press Hotel, it was natural to want to try the restaurant attached to the hotel. My husband and I came here for our first dinner during our vacation and it was so good, we came back for our final brunch before we checked out.
From start to finish, our meal was on-​point. The service was friendly, welcoming, and we’re very impressed with how each server supports each other when they need help. We never felt overwhelmed or pushed at any time.
With a menu that changes seasonally and focuses on local food, we knew that the price would be on the higher side. That being said, the quality of the food, the overall environment, and the delightful service made it worth every penny.
We both had a cocktail with our meal as well. $ 12 is a bit steep, but they certainly didn’t skip in the booze.
Afterward, we had a chance to speak with the head chef (thanks to their open kitchen), and he was happy to take the time to chat with us. That’s not an experience you get every day!
The ONLY thing I wish was different was that there were more vegetarian options on the menu. With such a focus on local food, I know they can be creative enough to offer at least 2 vegetarian options in each menu category.

We came here for dinner after a concert across the street at Merrill auditorium. We were blow away the moment we entered. The atmosphere here is great. A chic little place with a beautiful bar. We had reservations for 8 but the show got out early. We decided to head over at 7 and see if there was a spot at the bar we could grab until 8 rolled around. When we got there, they were ready to take us even though we were an hour early!
For an appetizer we got the charcuterie board which was very good. Perfect size to share with 3 people. We all also got specialty cocktails. I got the St. Croix Mule which was incredible.
I got the scallops for the main course, which I would HIGHLY recommend. You get about 3 large scallops with this delicious squash all in a pumpkin broth. Absolutely incredible!
The breakfast and lunch menus also looked very good and I hope to be back soon. This restaurant holds an immense deal of potential and will definitely become very popular among Portland foodies.

It’s true, a hotel restaurant that is a cut above.
I had the white bean soup and lobster roll sandwich. Both were delicious. I sat at the bar, which has a marble top; the chef insisted that a placemat be put under my soup since marble draws heat. A nice touch.
The service was very attentive without crossing the line into overbearing. Great attitude by staff all the way around.

Nice ambience. Great menu. Salad was very good and large enough for 2. Had the
Monkfish. Nice presentation, good portion but under seasoned. The cod was also underseasoned. Service was a C.

Great Saturday night dinner at Union. First time there. Staff was upbeat and professional. We can’t stop thinking about our appetizers: generous bowl of roast beets & goat cheese dollop, and this AMAZING pan roast shrimp — which had THE best sauce ever! However, it was $ 15 for four lightly battered shrimp. Boo. I could eat that every night though! Still think prices are just a tad high overall.

When I called to make a reservation the woman that answered the phone was very pleasant. We booked an early reservation on a Thursday night due to my child’s needs and it worked out perfectly. Upon entering you are greeted by friendly staff, sleek décor, and the hostess was happy to show us to our seats. They brought over a height chair and made sure we were all comfortable.
The menu: All dishes are well composed and highlight local ingredients. Unfortunately, the menu has changed since our dining experience so I’ll describe what we ate. The appetizer was a small plate of gently fried chickpea pillows. Think light crunch on the exterior and smooth, creamy heaven on the inside. The serving is small, as an app should be, but if you are sharing get two! For our entrees we ordered the baked sole in brown butter and Scallops with shrimp and seasonal vegetables. Both were delicious and well balanced.
One thing that impressed me was the options for children. They actually have better options then the typical mac ‘n cheese and chicken nuggets. We ordered the grilled Salmon and my daughter loved it. Thank you for breaking away from the norm. these are the things that people remember and make the want to come back!
We passed on dessert but will definitely be back at some point.
Note: the restroom is off the lobby of the hotel so you’ll get to experience the cool, laid-​back vibe of lounging patrons on the way to the loo. This hotel will do well for many reasons and I see it as a great place to bring clients.

I had breakfast here when I was visiting with people who stayed at the hotel the night before.
I love the ambiance, the attention to decorative theme details and the open kitchen. Service was friendly and prompt-​ish.
I ordered the omelet with lobster, cheddar and mushrooms ($ 19). It was somewhat flavorless and it was missing the cheddar. The presentation was bland– it was on a plate with a halved strawberry. It came with fingerling potatoes served on a mini skillet. Gimmicky, yes, but again lacking in flavor. They were greasy and infused with what tasted like paprika. I was underwhelmed with my meal but it wasn’t bad.

Though I was staying at the Press Hotel where Union was located, I found it impossible to get a reservation except for breakfast which required a lengthy wait. Was it worth it? Yes. The food here is good. The omelet I ordered was excellent and artfully presented. Cappuccino was also quite good. My son order the Eggs Benedict which he liked quite a bit.

You’re thinking «how good can a restaurant be if it’s part of a hotel?» Well, I was impressed. We went for brunch, and it was delicious. Nice drinks, inventive accompaniments for classic meals. Great service, and not much waiting. I have to say this was a pleasant surprise. Also, no waiting was a huge bonus.
I’d go back!

Excellent meal. Excellent service. We had drinks, apps, salads, main courses, and desserts. The six of us enjoyed everything. I had the tomato and plum salad, which was on the small side, but it was delicious. My daughter enjoyed her local catch and then had fun sitting in the lounge by the fire after dinner. All-​in-​all, a great experience, especially since our reservation didn’t end up «on the books.» They handled the mix up admirably and we will be going back.

The food, the presentation, the service, the atmosphere, everything was fantastic! I actually created a Unilocal account just to write this review!
We came for a birthday dinner with a party of 6 and chose to have the chef create our unique three course meal. We even had food allergies at the table and they were still able to create a spectacular and unforgettable meal. Hands down the best meal I’ve had in Portland, ME.
Also the Oysters were fantastic! Everything was amazing.
P. S. Ashley was a great waitress too, she really took great care of us!

Great place for a quick drink at the bar and some apps. We were staying in the Press Hotel so it made sense to start out night here. The bartender was great but I felt the select of spirits was too minimal. I am a tequila drinking and only option they had was unfamiliar. I tried it anyway and hated it. My wife ordered her regular french 75 which came out great. We totally enjoyed the cheese plate the half dozen oysters for our appetizers.
I love the décor and convenience of to the hotel, I just wish they would work on their selection of spirits and beers.

This has been our favorite meal in Portland so far, both for the wonderful service and the delectable dinner we had here.
The flash-​seared tuna was the best dish of the night, and the scallops were a close-​second. The burrata dish was also delicious, paired with the great olive oil and fresh spring peas.
Pair that with the well-​crafted cocktails, good wine, and cheese plate to finish and this place gets our seal of approval.
PS– Sarah was the best waitress ever!

Awesome new addition to the Portland dining scene! The décor is modern, open and fun, and the crowd appeared to be a mix of young hipsters, hotel guests, middle-​aged foodies, and local professionals. The menu was both incredibly creative and wholly welcoming. Plenty of interesting choices, but nothing fully «expected.» We started with two perfectly made cocktails, fresh and obviously with local ingredients. Moved on to their wines by the glass list, which avoids the cliché brands and has some well-​priced, interesting options.
For appetizers, we had the local burrata — a creamy, delicious mozzarella served with thin crisps and freshly shelled peas; and the clean-​tasting «compressed peaches» salad which included cured ham and kale. Main courses were exceptional. My wife loved the steak — cooked perfectly medium rare, then sliced and served with an earthy combination of trumpet mushrooms and fingerling potatoes. The gold star, however, went to the confit of lamb leg, served with heirloom carrots. The flavor was spectacular: almost caramelized, with a touch of sweetness mixed with lightly salted meatiness. Holy yum-​ness! The service was super professional and responsive, and the whole team worked together to support each other. We can’t wait to go back and try the rest of this creative, comfortable menu!

I don’t really do lunch, but when a friend was available to meet at noon for a bite, I couldn’t resist (because you should never pass up the opportunity to spend stolen moments with a good soul). She had wanted to try UNION, the restaurant inside Press Hotel. As of this moment they’re still super new, so maybe they’re still working out the kinks but… wow, talk about an underwhelming experience.
Food/​Drink:
+/​-​DRINK #1, $ 12: My friend ordered a lunch cocktail (the «Because, Vodka» made with Titos, Pisco, St. Elder, and pineapple juice). It took nearly thirty minutes for the drink to arrive because the bartender had to locate the alcohol and then (what appeared to be) learn how to make it. In the end the drink was delicious — very light and refreshing, I think my friend and I could have just had a liquid lunch of these and been perfectly satisfied — and UNION ended up comping it because they genuinely felt badly about making her wait so long when «they weren’t set up yet».
+/​-​DRINK #2, $ 3: I asked if they served coffee and/​or espresso. They did. I asked if they had any dairy alternatives. They did not. So I asked if they could make me a red eye with no cream or sugar. They said they could. However, it was very clear the server didn’t actually know what I was ordering, and within minutes came back to ask me 1) what a red eye was and 2) how to make it. It came out shortly with a side of milk. Still, it was a pleasant cup of coffee! So glad Coffee By Design has created a Press blend for them! I also think I got this for a steal — their website says coffee alone is $ 4, espresso alone is $ 3. I wonder how they figured out what to charge me.
— FOOD #1, $ 13: We got a a «Berry Salad» that was supposed to be made with arugula, black berries, wheat berries, local feta, raspberry infused balsamic sunflower seeds, and sprouts. There were no sunflower seeds or sprouts on it, and barely any feta. Neither one of us finished it because of how lackluster it was. Also… $ 13 seemed a little steep, in my opinion.
— FOOD #2, $ 16: «Artisanal Cheese Plate Of Three Seasonal Cheeses» with local honey, black mission fig jam, toasted walnuts, sliced bread. I digress: what is going in Portland right now where people are charging THIS LUDICROUS AMOUNT OF MONEY for cheese plates that are so underwhelming? The three cheeses we got here were a tomme, a triple-​crème brie, and a bleu; they were all fine, however the local honey looked more like a chunky apricot spread and tasted entirely crystallized (maybe this was that intentional?); also, I’m not sure the walnuts were toasted at all. Again, my friend and I didn’t finish it, which is unheard of as I think my entire right thigh is made solely out of cheese products.
Service:
— I felt swooped down upon the hour and a half I was there. Five different people spoke to us — a server, our server, the bartender, a gentleman who jumped into the middle of our conversation to talk about Coffee By Design AT us like we had no idea who they were (don’t assume everyone coming in is from out of town, sir), and some other woman with short-​hair. I felt watched. I felt like I had to constantly repeat myself. Ugh.
— The right hand doesn’t what the left hand is doing here yet. When I asked for no milk for my coffee, I got milk for my coffee. When we asked for them to not take our plates, they took our plates. C’mon, now.
Atmosphere/​Location:
+ I think this is the best part about UNION. It’s great that this part of Portland has something so cool, modern, and welcoming like this. I think it’s going to be an awesome spot for cocktails pre– and post-​Merrill shows.
So, would I come back here for lunch and/​or dinner?
No, probably not. From a vegetarian perspective there’s not enough on the menu that entices me to do so. Especially since the prices seem expensive for the current quality and portion size.
Would I come back here for cocktails?
Absolutely. I’d like to try some of their other offerings when they’re «set up» better.
Would I come back here for breakfast?
Yes. This is the meal I actually wanted to come have here, but circumstances dictated otherwise. I wonder if it would have been an entirely different experience? And now enough places in Portland offer awesome breakfast every single day, so yes, count me in for a revisit (and updated review) once I can try the bloody mary, the pastries (are these being made in house?), the «Light Hearted» ($ 11: three egg whites, local tofu, caramelized onions, mushrooms, spinach, wheat berries, with bliss breakfast potatoes, and choice of toast) or the «Pain Perdu» ($ 11: vanilla brioche French toast with local maple syrup, whipped butter, and grated cinnamon).