We used to frequent Union Rec and loved it but the past few times we've gone service feels different as well as a more limited menu (rip the enchiladas) when it comes to pork/red meat. Further, we went yesterday and they were out of everything we ordered but we weren't told until we were ordering and they even didn't have some of our backup orders. In the future it could be helpful for servers to let people know on the front end especially when much of the menu is unavailable. We also didn't receive our appetizer until after our entrees. They were kind enough to waive our app and agreed to not charge us extra since we had to order a more expensive protein (the brisket which is consistently pretty tough). read more

Food was fabulous. Absolutely loved the atmosphere and ambience. Our server was Morgan whose attention to detail was second to none. 10 out of 10 for her service. read more

This place is... weird? It's Mexican but also BBQ and there's BBQ sauce at the table. The decor is super all over the place despite seeming "cool," by someone's standard (not sure who). I'd agree with a lot of the other reviews saying the service is lacking. Our server didn't seem to have a "section" but had tables all over the large restaurant which made it tricky to flag her down. The cowboy caviar is just pico with corn and the tortilla chips, if they are made in house, are not good. Not worth ordering this. My first cocktail was great except for a gigantic burnt sprig of rosemary I had to remove in order to drink. Was that intended? But then I asked them to take a mocktail and add some booze to it because there was only one vodka cocktail on the menu. Whatever they gave me was so syrupy I didn't want to finish it, and I questioned whether they had added any Tito's. I did enjoy my bendeja rice bowl thing with added pulled pork. The vegan chicharrones were honestly just weird. The "fried plantain" advertised as coming in the dish was literally one overcooked, tough disc. I enjoyed the rest of the contents, however. I guess I'd go back here if pressed and try to sit at the cool bar or fireplace they have off to the far end of the bar. And I'd just order a meat plate, because what I tried of the BBQ was decent. Hopefully this place works out the kinks in time for what will be an insane football season for them. read more

Union Rec - Mole enchiladas - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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This place has been on my list of places to try and we finally had the opportunity to try it. We went on a Monday night around 6 and there was no need for a reservation. The interior is definitely a vibe and there was lots of seating by the bar. I could imagine this place gets pretty loud when it's busy. Our waitress helped us with some beer recommendations and we started with the queso which really was the star of the show. It was so so good, not like a regular old queso you can get anywhere. And the leftovers heat up nicely too. I got the breakfast tacos which were super filling and definitely worth the $11. My boyfriend got the chicken and mac and cheese. He liked them both, I was underwhelmed by the mac, it was kinda dry and tasted a bit too smokey for me. Overall, the service was fast (in and out in less than an hour), the vibes are fun, and there are some good food options. Some of it seemed a bit overpriced but not all of it. Might try this place again during a happy hour and try out the cozy seating by the bar. read more

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I have visited Union Rec twice now and have been relatively happy. The food is good, I order the chicken and mahi magic tacos which have been very good. The portion size is food also. The only issue I've had is with service. They seem to be short staffed so both times we have visited while it was never turning a busy time our order was either delayed, something Missing or all came out together (appetizer, kids food, soups and main meal). Still not enough for me not to return the food is very good. Just minor hiccups with a new business. read more

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We got just in time before the closed. It was a Tuesday and it was trivia night. We did not play but it make it for a entertaining evening as we followed along. My daughter and I shared the Honcho Nacho. It was plenty. We added the BBQ brisket to our nachos. The sauces were delicious. Spicy and sweet. The greeter at the front was super nice and welcomed us in and showed us to our table. The interior decor is like no other place I have been to. Each column in the restaurant is adorned differently. Different areas for sitting and dining. Since it was our first time, our super waiter made some suggestions. Fun spot, definitely will go back again and try the other food. read more

Union Rec - Honcho nacho with BBQ brisket - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Stopped by Union Rec on a quick trip to Ann Arbor to visit some friends. The place is super cute and the location is perfect. The service was amazing, our server Kathrine took her time with us since it was our first time and recommended thing off the menu. She was wonderful and treated us like we were regulars. The food was also delicious, get the Mac and cheese you won't regret it. The only complaint and why I didn't give it a full five stars is my French toast was a little on the sweet side and I wish I could have added my own maple syrup since I don't like a ton of it but it was already on the plate. It's a cute place for photos if you're looking for that. And while we didn't get coffee this time were already making plans for a trip back to try some! Please stop it and give it a try. read more

Union Rec - Mac and cheese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I love all of the Union Joints, so when a friend suggested we have lunch here, I jumped at the chance. This group does an amazing job repurposing unique old buildings and this restaurant is no exception. I loved the vibe from the minute we walked in and the hostess sat us at a really cool booth. The menu is definitely a unique mix of items...it reminded me of the menu at Gran Castor in Troy. I ordered the Honcho Nacho. This is not something I would normally order, but it was very good. The only problem was that it was ridiculously large. I ate about a third of it and took the rest home. I'd love to go back and sample some additional menu items in the near future! read more

Union Rec - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

When i say cozy, it literally defines this place! Huge menu, which I love! Caters to so many types of food lovers. Waitstaff wear a smile on their faces, and are a delight to be around. read more

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I went back a few days ago and loved the flavors in all of my food, but the hot stuff needed to be hotter. I loved the Korean BBQ sandwich, but I was expecting it to be moister and more flavorful. Thanks for my Costa Rica BBQ sauce, which is deeeelicious, I was able to enjoy my sandwich without choking. I loved the jalapeño sweet mash, but it, too, needed to be hotter. The "Painkiller" frozen drink was sufficiently painkilling. The best part of the night was the Horchata Banana Pudding was like "Christmas in a cup" (quote from The Proposal movie). I must have that dessert again. The funky decorations in this place are great fun and I enjoyed sitting in one of those giant circular booths where we could spread out. Our waitress, Hayden, was fantastic! I appreciated her knowledge of the menu. Didn't steer me wrong on dessert, especially given that the doughnuts are no longer on the menu. I was hoping that by now they would have had the food temps regulated appropriately, but not so much. Nonetheless, I'd love to come back for my drink and that banana pudding!! read more

What a great vibe!!! Seriously, this place is a little whimsical with many different seating options for whatever you are feeling. The area around the fire was super cozy and the rugs made you feel right at home. Both of the bartenders we had were great a props to Joe and Stevie! Both were super personable and friendly. The Espresso Martini and Rec Marg were both delicious. Definitely can't go wrong with either one of these. We also had a side of fries and side of mac & cheese. While we were shocked that you didn't have ranch, we coped with the dipping sauce provided as well as this slight green sauce that Stevie recommended. The Mac & cheese was good as well. I wished it had more of a sharp taste to the cheese, but overall not a bad bite. Highly recommend this place to you and your friends...fun overall place and I'll definitely be back. read more

Union Rec - Rec Marg - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

The tacos are a little overpriced for the portions but unique with lots of flavor. We had Korean pork and bbq cauliflower. Great ambience and the coolest vibe. We sat in a large booth but next time it will be a cozy chair for coffee. I forget our servers name but he was helpful and friendly. read more

Union Rec - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

I've been here twice and am noticing some patterns. The food is pretty good, actually. And by today's standards, I guess the prices are fair. But the service has been ok at best--typically slow. And there are some cleanliness issues. The tables and seats have had crumbs on them when seated. The bathrooms have been not great. Some out of soap. Some out out of paper towels. And we found a hair in my son's French fries. Not sure we are going back. read more

This restaurant has the WORST SERVICE in Ann Arbor, I would highly recommend you dine anywhere else. It took over 30 minute to get a round of beers. We then ordered our second round while we still had half a beer left given how long it took last time; after waiting 40 minutes we still did not receive our drinks. When we communicated this to our waitress she said it would be up shortly but offered to remove it from our bill. Taking her at face value, we opted to wait. After 15 additional minutes we told her we still had not received our drinks, at this point she got very rude and confrontational and screamed "it's going to be a minute, they are way behind" as if we were not aware of this. She also did not remove the charge from our bill. I will not be patronizing this establishment further and would not recommend that anyone else do so. read more

The food was delicious and the staff was very friendly . The ambiance was festive with bright colored booths eclectic decor. A definite stop if you're in Ann Arbor. read more

Service was horrendous, food was good/decent, atmosphere was kind of weird. It's like they couldn't fully commit to something one way or another. Bizarre, almost cozy, kind of mid century... read more

Service excellent Good a nice change from typical Tex Amex Outdoor and interior ambiance fun Clean!! read more

Don't order the guacamole or the queso. Both are gross. Guacamole is made with peas, mainly, that are puréed and some left whole, with a couple small pieces of avocado. It tastes like peas, not guacamole. The queso is pale orange paste that tastes nothing like cheese. Hard pass. Rice is super bland, beans are funky. This is not your best option in A2. If you're visiting, just know the townies are not eating here. We've all tried it multiple times and it's off the list! read more

Union Rec - Margaritas are on tap. They're good, not great. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Quirky and beautiful space with a unique vibe. Would be a cool place to drink coffee and work, or come for a post football game drink. However the food was a bit lacking. Brisket was dry and tough, and was $20 for a half pound (4 slices). The Union Mac n cheese was ok, but nothing to write home about. The cornbread was burnt and overcooked/dry. Our guacamole app was decent. Overall, I was between a 2-3 star range. The space itself is really neat and funky, and the service was ok. Seemed like our waitstaff was covering a large area and fairly inattentive. If you're looking for a culinary experience or great barbecue, this probably isn't the spot. If you're looking to grab a beer at a quirky hangout spot, this would suffice. read more

Union Rec - My appetizing cornbread that came with the brisket. Both were burnt, overcooked, and dry. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Great food and amazing service! Waitress was awesome and I tried 3 different taco! All were delicious! The atmosphere is fun! I would def come back! read more

Union Rec - I got 3 different taco!! The pork, chicken tinga and regular beef, they were all delicious!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

I was there yesterday and have no plans to return. It was a Monday and not busy at all yet the service was poor. Everything was served at once, drinks, soup, main meal . Our plates were not cleared . Felt very rushed. They were out of many items, '45 (beer choice) the cocktail of the week, no Pinot Grigio. Their excuse was that they hadn't replenished their stock from the day before. Best food choice is a taco. Bowls were fair. No one raved about the food. read more

Stopped by Union Rec for lunch on a Tuesday to try a new spot, but really the Union joints don't do a whole lot of deviation from each other... they usually specialize in tacos and BBQ... The place is extremely cool, almost seems like a lounge and not a restaurant. On the menu at lunch I saw the tacos and taquitos and went for those because they sounded good. As others have mentioned you get more than enough food, but the food I had was just okay. Between the beef taco, brisket taco and the chicken taquitos, nothing stood out. I did enjoy the Rec margarita, basically a pina colada marg which is a great idea. With some salt on the rim (to balance the sweet) instead of the toasted coconut it would have been perfect. To be fair I didn't try the main staples like the brisket, smoked chicken, ribs etc. Those items may have changed my thoughts on the food. read more

Union Rec - Rec Marg - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Great place with a selection of different foods with a touch of their own flavor. We wandered in here after a football game as we were walking down Main Street on our way to a different restaurant. As we passed, my better half wanted to take a peak inside. We stayed, we ate and we enjoyed. Atmosphere is fun and decorated in no particular fashion. read more

Union Rec - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

The two stars were for the ambiance and customer service!! The greeter at the door was amazingly pleasant after she seated us the experience got bad fast. The waitress was pleasant but forgetful to the point were everything I asked her for she didn't remember. The food was underwhelming. I think this restaurant is trying to fuse all of these different flavors and elements in the food and it just didn't work. They took the simplicity out the food, dressing it up so much that it doesn't taste anything like what you ordered. For example I ordered a Caesar salad and the flavors were so all over the place it was uncomfortable. My partner ordered the ribs which surprisingly only came with bread and chicken wings as an appetizer. The ribs and chicken had so many layers of different salt on it they were inedible. Even after he scraped some of the seasonings off he still couldn't even eat any of the meat. read more

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The atmosphere is roomy, stylish, and feels like home. The server was knowledgeable and the food was delicious! Highly recommend this spot. read more

Union Rec - Korean Brisket Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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A mighty fine establishment! Boy, does Union Rec know how to do it nice. My go to the past few times has been the 1/2 pound of brisket, get some fries, and a side of the union mac, you'll see God. I went during a high volume time, so there was a tiny wait for my drinks, but it was so worth it. I'm always floored by the ambiance of the restaurant, it's so camp. Finally, I just had to pull two of the managers aside, Victoria and Makayla, no problems with our service or food, but I just had to know where they got their outfits! I just wanna put them in my pocket! Finely fitted women they are, glad I've finally found in a place where I can not only be full for a reasonable price, but I can step out in style per the advice of my new besties. read more

Union Rec - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Finally tried this place and we had a fine time. Overall the service and the ambiance in there is pretty cute but I wish I liked the food more! The salsas and chips/queso were delicious, but my chilaquiles were really soggy and drenched in the salsa they put on there. My husband said his rice bowl lacked some flavor. The drinks however? Totally delicious so if we come back I'll probably stick with drinks and apps! read more

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I really wanted to like this place, the actual restaurant is an adorable set-up! But, the food was rather disappointing for me. I found the chicken to be very average along with the Mac and cheese. Along with that, the cornbread tasted a bit dry to my liking that I couldn't eat it. I would definitely recommend the disco fries as we went through them quick! read more

Union Rec - Disco Fries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

The ambiance was wonderful! They have a quant spot by the bar to sit and relax by the fire place which is nice. The service was great. My chicken tortilla soup came out 30 seconds after I ordered it.... Not even exaggerating. I got the Korean burger and it was super yummy! My boyfriend got the tacos and they weren't his favorite but, the enchiladas he said were amazing!! We both tried each of the loaded coronas and the first, simple one definitely tasted better (fruitier). All in all definitely a place to check out in Ann Arbor. Xx read more

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Huge space with awesome retro vibes! This could definitely be a cool go to hangout spot with friends. Came here for lunch on a Sunday and was really impressed with the space. There's a parking lot outside and it was easy to find a spot! The lunch menu was good! Lots of your typical bar food. I got the house burger, and it was giant (honestly, three of us split it). The food was tasty! The reason I'm giving this place 4 stars is that the desserts were not the most satisfying. We had the banana bread and chocolate cake, which both could have been a little better. read more

We were there Saturday, Jan 11th, 2025 @ 5:30 pm & had no wait for a table. If going @ a later time, then you may want to get reservations. Food was really good. There were 4 of us & we had the Union Rec Chips & Salsa appetizer. Of the 3 dips, they were all really good, the Peruvian salsa does have a kick to it (about 30 secs after putting it on your mouth), but it was still tasty & not overpowering. We ran out of the chips & the staff brought us more without asking. I had the Union Rec Burrito with the pork bbq meat. It was huge & very delicious. My husband had one of the Birria Beef Ramen bowl. Also it was a huge, filling & tasty. The atmosphere was really cool as well & not loud as some restaurants can be. We could easily talk to each other without talking really loud. The only issue was parking, we had no problem at 5:30 pm, but when we left @ 7 pm, cars were waiting for people to leave. It was kind of nuts getting out of the parking lot. read more

Union Rec - Birria Beef Ramen - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Upon walking in we were promptly greeted and I totally fell in love with the vibe. There's bar seating, booth seating, table seating and even some couches. The menu is just the right size - not too many choices but a wide enough variety that there's plenty to choose from. The kids menu is fantastic. Each meal comes with carrots or apples, chips, a drink and Chiclets gum. I really liked that they also had non-alcoholic (declawed) drinks. I didn't have any this time but I plan to next time. Prices and portions are reasonable. Definitely check this place out. The Disco Fries were fantastic! It's an appetizer but could definitely be the meal too. There's plenty to share with the table. Union Rec has only been open a few months but I really hope it becomes an Ann Arbor mainstay! read more

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The foods ok it's not amazing but the waitstaff are not great. It takes forever to get your bill or any service and you end up sitting a lot longer than anticipated but it looks really cool inside read more

We liked the vibe and service, just wish the food was better. All the meat we had was very dry. Drinks were good but small pours.

Great bbq, awesome place to hangout and have drinks. Really cool cocktails. Lots of stuff you don't find at traditional bars. We were in town for a work trip, and for a college town, it's a really good place to go that isn't over run with students, even tho it's just off campus. Definitely recommend. read more

Overall the ambience is great, it's very cozy 70s. The service was ok not outstanding just your typical expectations. We got the bramble of the day. It was peach juice and blackberry infused tequila with a lemon slice. The drink was perfectly strong and sweet I'll be getting it again the next time!! To start we got the tres salsas which consisted of a verde chile, jalapeño lime crema, and a standard salsa. I 100% recommend getting this starter instead of the queso. Next we got the birria ramen, two tacos: the ginger honey beef and the Korean both with the champ shell with a side of the Union mac and the pulled pork sandwich with a side of fries. The birria ramen I've had here before so I knew to ask for extra broth otherwise it's a shallow bowl. The ramen was much better than last time, had the slow burn you usually get with the consume and a hint of an underlying brown sugar taste. The noodles though were extremely gummy to the palate bringing it down to a 7.8/10. The two tacos I had were delish. The champ taco shell created a perfect crunch to balance out the juicy meat filling the tacos. Between the two I would go with the ginger honey beef more. Overall an 8/10. The pulled pork sandwich was 7/10 it wasn't anything special, tasted great though. The Union mac was delightful and light, not too heavy but I wouldn't get it as a main, it's perfect as a side portion wise. 6.7/10. Overall I love this place, I thought I already did a review on it but I guess not. I come here as often as possible, and so should you!! read more

Union Rec - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Everyone has always been wonderful absolutely love how eclectic the menu is but still has the signature Mac and cheese cali tacos are an awesome vegetarian option read more

Place is so cool and cute but the food was so bad. I got the brisket ramen and couldn't even finish it. Change the menu and this place would kill it read more

Terrible service and food was lacklustre and over priced. Not worth the wait or the money. They are either short staffed, disorganized or both ! Get rid of the hostess that stands there and picks her nails and hair. Highly disappointed I'm only giving 1 star cuz I can't leave a zero read more

An interesting restaurant with an eclectic menu. Last evening was our first of what I expect will be many visits to this newish local restaurant. Our table enjoyed the Mac and Cheese entree which arrives baked with a very nice crust on the top. The two featured cheeses blend nicely to make a very good dish. I personally would have preferred the noodles to be a bit more "al dente" but this was a minor ding in an otherwise very good dish. One of our companions who is vegan had a salad that she pronounced as pretty good but not outstanding. It hard to put a lot of "points on the board" with a salad so this dish is forgiven. There are several other more interesting sounding entrees that are vegetarian and can be made vegan so those so inclined should definitely make the trip. Another companion enjoyed the guacamole appetizer and a Squash soup as her main and pronounced both of those dishes as excellent. The service was reasonably quick and very friendly. I should note that in this visit nearly every table was occupied but there was no line waiting to be seated so the staff wasn't under undue pressure. The decor is eclectic, unique, interesting and entertaining. There are several booths that are covered with canvas tent-like material that suggest a Bedouin tent and likely provide a more intimate dining experience. There are several Ramen bowl dishes that looked interesting and which we will definitely try on our next visit. There is some limited on site parking in a lot on the property. But fear not, there is plenty of on street parking nearby, especially in the residential area to the west of Main Street. read more