Union Square Cafe   

21 E 16th St # 1
New York, NY 10003
212-243-4020
www.unionsquarecafe.com

Directions   Email   Send to Cell   Make a Reservation

With Union Square Cafe, it can be hard to tell where the meal ended and the myth began. When it opened in 1985, star restaurateur Danny Meyer's groundbreaking eatery was as fresh as the ingredients he collects from the Farmer's Market in nearby Union Square. Numerous Zagat accolades, tons of tourists and a tray of imitators later, the concept -- upscale, unpretentious, Italian-tinged New American cuisine -- may no longer be fresh; luckily, the ingredients and the beautiful people still are. Still in-demand are the crispy lemon-pepper duck, the shell steak, the onion-and-gorgonzola risotto and the wasabi mashed potatoes. The legendary quality of the waitstaff makes this a standout in a city where service is generally subpar. But the big ticket item remains the burger (both the yellowfin tuna and the USC beef), which is worth the price of admission.