Union Fare Gastrohall

​As I mentioned in my last review of Union Fare; this restaurant fulfills more than one purpose. The Gastrohall which opened slightly delayed after the restaurant consists of a bakery, poke, cafe & wine bar, Italian & pizza, roasts & soups, street food, charcuterie and a raw bar. Tell me you know any lunch spot–or food hall–that covers all of those elements, and does it so well.

First, let's talk about the croissants. Probably their most instagrammed asset. I've personally tried Red Velvet, Fruity Pebbles, Matcha, Creme Brûlée and Birthday Cake. I'm sure there are more I'm missing. The winners: Fruity Pebbles and Red Velvet. Flakey and crispy with a gooey filling. My least faves: Creme Brûlée and Matcha. Sad because I was really looking forward to these flavors! I personally don't think the matcha doesn't come across well when raw and the creme brûlée is overly sweet as its basically just coated in sugar (see photo below).

Secondly, the toasts. The call it a "smash bar" consisting of 10+ types of toasts with unique pairings. We ordered two: the avocado toast with watermelon radishes, cherry tomatoes and parmesan as well as the chickpea smash with paprika and goat cheese. They were awesome and great for splitting alongside a poke bowl.

Other favorites from the hall include the tacos (specifically shrimp and pork) as well as the the salads and roast sandwiches. Unfortunately, the space is only open for lunch on weekdays - great for people who work in the area, shitty for me because I rarely get to go anymore!

Address: 
6 East 18th St.
New York, NY 10003
(212) 633-6003

Website: unionfare.com

Price: $$$

Cuisine: American

Reservations: Yes

​Recommendation: 8/10