Union Square Cafe is an American restaurant featuring New American cuisine with Italian influences, located at 101 E 19th St (between Park Avenue South and Irving Place), in the Union Square neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York. It is owned by the Union Square Hospitality Group.

History

In October 1985, Danny Meyer opened Union Square Cafe with chef Ali Barker. In December 2015, The restaurant's lease at 21 E 16th Street ended. In December 2016, Union Square Cafe reopened at Hotel on Rivington, 101 East 19th Street.

Design

The original restaurant was designed by architect Larry Bogdanow. The new location is designed by architect David Rockwell.

Awards and accolades

The restaurant has won multiple awards and honors since its inception, including the ranking of "Favorite New York Restaurant" in the Zagat Survey in the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2008 editions. Notably, the restaurant did not receive a Michelin star during Michelin's 2005 review of New York restaurants, leading to concerns that the guide might be biased towards French cuisine or restaurants that "emphasize formality and presentation".

In popular culture

The 2016 novel Sweetbitter features a protagonist who works as a waitress in a fictionalized version of the restaurant; Vanity Fair referred to the novel as a "love letter" to Union Square Cafe.