From the moment you enter you feel the room almost more than look around; cozy, easy-comfort, friendly, warm, familiar... and... happy. It's like a an upscale but understated speakeasy, modern but no pretension, where you kinda feel like a local soon as you walk in. I spoke briefly with the owner, Michelle, who created this place; she says Union refers to the fact that everyone on Wallingford avenue technically has a view of Lake Union, and she always knew she wanted a "horseshoe bar." (bar in the shape of a horseshoe, so that everyone can see everyone else.) Go for the awesome happy hour and enjoy tapas versions of 3/4 of all on the menu. I had the Fried Chicken (spicy!) the tuna Conserva (tuna fish tapas bite with a cucumber coriander pesto that's interesting), brisket slider (loved this -- yummy but mild), and a pretty good home made cole slaw and side of spice Landjaeger sausage and mustard from Seattle's Bavarian Meats (don't miss this please). This is a place I shall lovingly return to more often than I need my iPhone glass repaired in 30 minutes across the street at Jet City Device Repair. :) See, there's good even in the tragedy of breaking your iPhone glass. :) read more

This is absolutely our favorite neighborhood bar. The food is consistently great and the cocktails too. We have been there for happy hour, dinner and recently brunch. Their fried chicken and gravy was to die for! I had the poached eggs with beef cheeks and it was so well done! All I can say is, great great job! Tip: you must have the carrot cake for dessert read more

Union Saloon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Loved this restaurant! We didn't have a wait for indoor seating. Food was fantastic but the carrot cake was fabulous!! I took a slice home. Service was excellent! read more

Very intimate local bar. Good selection of beer and wine. Love the atmosphere. Would love to come again.

tl;dr: great (but expensive) food.. slightly watered down drinks..? --------- Really conflicted with this review. I want to give it a 5 star but I just couldn't. Here's why: + the food here is AMAZING! I got the beet salad and dare I say it was the best beet salad I ever had?! My coworkers got the brisket sandwich and she was in love! + the atmosphere is great! Friendly service and I really like the decor. Great for catching up with friends or date. - the cocktails are kinda watered down, especially the manhattans :( For a place that has 'saloon' in its name, I had higher expectation for the drinks - food portion is small and rather pricey :( My beet salad was $12 and an open face sandwich (more like half a sandwich) is $16. All in all, I'd definitely come back for food. Maybe next time, I'll stick with the wine. read more

Love the feel of this place! Every time I have an impulse to come here it happens to be a Monday or Tuesday - when they are CLOSED! So don't make the same mistake as me and head down here hoping for happy hour Negroni on a Monday afternoon only to be sadly disappointed (happy hour is W-F 4-6pm). Anyways... back to the important stuff. I've been here 3 times now and I'll continue to come back. Great cocktails, rustic atmosphere, and well-presented comfort food. Happy hour cocktails ranging from $6-$8 (Gin & Tonic, Dark & Stormy, Manhattan, just to name a few) and discounted bites - try the chips and house-made onion dip! As far as dinner, I've ordered the open faced brisket sandwich ($16) and the fried chicken ($12). Enjoyed both and felt prices were reasonable for the quality. I've only had an issue with service once, server was slightly inattentive and it took a while to get our order taken/drinks but I think they have improved now that they have been open for a while and maybe worked the kinks out. Overall I don't want to fault them on this since everything else is on point! Definitely worth a try! Even with a wait, they get you seated pretty quickly. read more

My husband and I were excited to see a new place come into the more residential area of Wallingford! The place itself is gorgeous. We had cocktails, wine and a shareable plate, which were all fantastic. I recommend the Negroni cocktail, as well as the Sturgeon rilette and the open-faced veggie sandwich with burrata. Wonderful sounding menu, including snacks, smaller dishes to share, sandwiches and several delicious looking cakes for dessert. Every dish that came out of the kitchen looked wonderful. A very customizable menu, allowing you to just grab a bite, or spend a lot of money. Friendly staff, great music, and super comfy chairs! read more

Union Saloon - Sturgeon rillette w/ creme fraiche, dill, pickled pearl onion, fried pita bread. Highly recommend! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We have been going to union saloon for the past 5-6 years & mostly have had great service....with the exception of one bartender!!! We went with a small group to celebrate our anniversary & my sisters & I just wanted a good martini3 tries later we finally got a version of a martini & were met with complete rudeness, made to feel like his lack of ability to make a martini was somehow our fault. He was so blatantly short & rude with us that we chose to leave & cancel our dinner order. This was also not the first negative encounter with this bartender. He's obviously burned out & should not be in the service industry. We've all worked in service/ restaurants. You don't treat people like this. How could an owner of a business want someone like that working for her???Sonething we will never understand. So sad, because unfortunately we will NEVER go back. The owner did comp our drinks when we confronted her, but she also employs this a hole. read more

Came here as a last minute find after our other choice fell though. So glad we ended up here. My friend had the ceasar salad. I had the chips and house-made carmelized onion dip, the brisket open-faced sandwich, and the carrot cake. The chips were crispy and flavorful, the dip was slightly spicy, but not very much. It complimented the chips. The brisket was so tender I could cut it with a fork and the house-made bbq was amazing. I was tempted with the carrot cake and was not disappointed. It was moist and had so much flavor. The frosting was light and not heavy at all. The entire meal was a "food-gasm" in my mouth. Will definitely be coming here again. read more

Union Saloon - Wine and carrot cake. Mmmmm! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place has the best brunch around! The pork verde is to die for, great drinks, friendly service, and lovely atmosphere. I can't recommend it enough. I bring all of my out of town guests here and everyone's always happy. read more

Great little neighborhood spot. Rad food, rad people. Do yourself a favor and get the fried chicken. Also, call ahead and ask if Christina is working because she is an absolute gem! read more

I really love this place. Great for brunch, happy hour, or evening drinks and snacks. I like the staff and the menu and the space itself is well crafted and beautifully put together. Perfect little neighborhood bar. read more

If you're ever in Seattle do not miss this hidden gem. Enjoy some Campari & soda at the beautiful bar and don't forget to try the fried chicken and carrot cake. read more

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My GF and I showed on a Thursday Night, and when we walked in, all the seating was full. I was extremely impressed with the service, as they immediately greeted us, offered to get us a drink, and gave us an expectation of when something would open up. We were seated 15 minutes later, had prompt, courteous service, and ordered some great food. The drinks we had were top notch, and they had a unique and awesome craft beer selection. The food was great as well. Nice options and not super expensive. $5-$10 for apps, and $10-$20 for dinner plates. We've been looking for a neighborhood place that isn't overpriced, and has solid food options at various price points and think we've found it. It never felt pretentious, and really felt like a comfortable neighborhood hangout! read more

Their Caramelized onion dip (and their chips) and fried chicken salad is probably the best I've ever had in the state. Insane how flavorful it is. read more

Went for drinks tonight- best cocktails I've had in a long time! Kind, courteous service and great music too. Food coming out of the kitchen looked so so good, will have to go back to sample more items! read more

First and foremost, we love walking to our eateries being long time residents of Wallingford. And when Union Saloon opened, we have been avid customers ever since. However, tonight we noticed a major change, starting with a complacent bar keep and wait staff. Then the small pour on the wine glass, which is new, and an Old Fashion in a tiny glass filled with ice? Why? Because it was Happy Hour? Hasn't happened before. Did the previous bar keep leave (who has been there since it opened) because they were told to cut back on generous pours and use smaller cocktail glasses to save money? Don't become penny wise and pound foolish. If you don't understand the quote, look it up. And stay with the original business plan.... Hope management reads these reviews..... read more

Seeing all the reviews here I'm feeling like I'm crazy! I've been here five or six times now and the service gets worse and worse every time. Most recently, I went with my husband and the bartender took our drink order and dropped them. We didn't see anyone after that, despite attempting to make eye contact multiple times. We would have gotten another round or two but by the time he came back, our empty drinks had been sitting there for over 15 minutes. I don't know, as someone in the industry, it kills me to see hospitality staff clearly on their phones when their guests need something. Doesn't sit well with me. read more

We sat outside in newly built sheltered seating with heat. The service was great, friendly and knowledgeable. Lots of people seemed to be taking out as this is in a great neighbourhood. We had the onion dip, pork tenderloin, a warm sandwich each, a couple yummy cocktails, and dessert. Every single dish was delish. Get take out, but if you want a night out that still feels safe, swing by here--or stick with take out so there's room for us:) read more

It's relatively new in the neighborhood but oh am I glad it's here! I walked over on the Friday night after Thanksgiving and it was lovely to just destress after hosting a large Friendsgiving. The drinks were strong and the appies we had (potatoes and chips and dip) definitely hit the spot. Looking forward to coming back and trying what I hear and looked like phenomenal dessert cakes! read more

Ordered two happy hour brisket sandwiches $4 and I got one "double" brisket but, the guy near me also ordered the same thing came out at the same time, his didn't look much smaller then mine so I felt ripped off as the staff never asked me if they should make two one. The open sandwich was nothing to right home about and their tangy sweet bbq sauce needs a lot of work. The staff were indifferent, not a hold lot of chatty-ness to them just there for the pay-check but, did make sure my glass was full. Likely would not go back. read more

This is one of my favorites in Seattle. It's local staple in Fremont/Wallingford. Pre-covid it was always packed. Now they have a super cute outdoor dining set up with heaters etc. definitely would recommend to anyone who hasn't been yet. read more

Brunch is out of this world good. Drinks are tasty and cheap. Music is on point. They have one hell of a front door. 5*

I visited this place on Sunday evening 10/22. I live in the area and was excited to try it for the first time with my family. Unfortunately, we won't be coming back. I ordered their brisket sandwich without mayo. They brought it to me, but unfortunately there was mayo slathered all over it. That's ok, as someone who frequently customizes orders due to what some close to me characterize as childish pickyness, I'm used to the occasional restaurant mistake and so long as it is corrected, no big deal. But what happened next is something I've never experienced before as a customer. They brought the sandwich back to me, and rather than preparing a fresh new one, they simply wiped the mayo off (rather sloppily I might add...it was still visible and mixed in with the meat), presumably hoping that I wouldn't notice. Never have I experienced this before and never did I expect this from an otherwise classy looking/feeling establishment. This is the kind of thing I wouldn't be shocked to see at a fast food joint, but not a $15-20 per plate restaurant. The waiter was mildly apologetic and offered to "comp our drinks" which turned out to be our two soft drinks but not the one alcoholic beverage purchased at our table. I'm really surprised and disappointed, I've never had a dining experience like this before in Seattle. read more

For a restaurant that has been open less than a month, I'm very impressed! Union Saloon was completely full last night, but a server greeted us right away and took out cocktail order, then seated us in less than five minutes at the U-shaped bar that takes up most of the interior. We ordered an asparagus dish, the yellowtail special and the halibut for our main course to split between the two of us. Each dish was exactly what we were looking for; unique and well-balanced with both freshness and rich flavors. The cocktails were also original tales on classics without feeling gimmicky. They went down easy, and none were overly sweet (my biggest cocktail pet peeve). The staff worked with a friendly and efficient vibe, handling the packed seats without any struggle. Also, the cake is delicious! read more

I usually give an establishment at least 2 chances before I post a review. As new as they are, after a half dozen visits, I'm woefully behind on giving Union Saloon a rave! It is a beautifully done space with a small but attentive and delightful staff. I'm a huge fan of their main menu Manhattan, and the whimsical choices on Old Fashions (I prefer Michelle's!) Everything I've tried on the menu has been delicious. I wish there had been a bigger serving of the pasta, but that's because I enjoyed it too much. The cakes are a MUST try (I'm not normally desert person!) The carrot cake and the fennel olive oil are a perfect balance of texture and not too sweet while still delivering a phenomenal flavor; and while the German Chocolate is sweet for me, it's exactly what I want when my sweet tooth does act up. Really a wonderful addition to Wallingford and Seattle! read more

A good range of unique pub fare. It's probably unfair to even call it pub food. Strongly recommend this place.

The Union Saloon is a great find. The bartenders are always friendly and the drinks don't disappoint. Everything is a little on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for. read more

Pretty unimpressed with the food and service until the manager/owner came by. She had a great wine list and took some time to talk about it.

Melissa is kind and funny and her signature drink is worth a try! The menu is short but packed with quality ingredients and flavors. A great date night spot or for a little get together with friends on the patio. read more

I really like this place.... it's quaint, delicious and sweet. We have the Romanesco (fancy green cauliflower) and roasted beets (expect juicy cooked beets that is no longer crunchy) and good ole ceasar salad. Service was on point. Oh.... snd i loved the bobcat on their front page! the only thing is that I wish they have a bit more wine by the glass selections! read more

We stopped in on 9/14/17 for a night cap on a recommendation. Very cool space, designed with an eye for details. Feels like you back in time a bit. Old photos, and light fixttures give this place a great vibe. We ordered the two house old fashioneds. Both were great. Not sure exactly what set them apart but both were very good. Lots of bars do not take the time to make this drink correctly. 5Stars. We shared a slice of carrot cake which was moist and delectable . Very good. Good service from our bartender. Attentive but not overly so. Recommended spot. Can't speak to their food with this review however. read more

We had dinner at Union again tonight and we're really blown away by the taste, quality, and attention to detail of all the dishes. The Fried chicken is the perennial favorite with delicious pickles, hot sauce and roasted potato salad. The Pork cheeks sandwich Is an excellent dish that literally melts in your mouth. It comes with a tangy pickled fennel salad on the side. The wine and beer list is very reliable with excellent options. Friendly and attentive service. Kudos to Michelle, the owner, for creating a lovely neighborhood vibe. read more

I was just passing through and found this great local restaurant and bar! I stopped in for a few beers and chatted with the super cool owner who gave me a bunch of really good recommendations of things to do in the neighborhood. I didn't eat any food but I wish I did. I'll definitely be back! read more

I love that you can make the sandwiches GF and do polenta instead!! All the glassware is unique and beautiful.

I like it when a restaurant has a concept and they go for it full throttle. Here we have a saloon, and a fancy one at that. The decor has lots of wood, a oval painting of a wolf, old-fashioned flowery plates. Even the bar condiments are in crystal bowls that evoke a Western feel. The bartender was mustachioed and I have no doubt he uses some product to get the curl just right. The staff are friendly, and the owner is always very busy making sure everything is ideal. The menu is small and I immediately noticed the prices for food were a little low -- later we realized the portions are more like small plates. I had salmon. We also ordered the chips and popcorn. I love the fact that the cakes are on display and therefore at a perfect room temperature when they are served. I liked the fennel cake and the carrot cake. I do wish they'd serve diet coke -- or at least a diet fizzy drink of some kind. Maybe that's not Western enough. read more

Came here for happy hour. Really great space. You can see in photos that it gives off an old saloon vibe. Happy hour food menu was pretty sparse. We ordred the chips with onion dip to share and then I had the two sammies on the happy hour menu. Weren't a fan of the chips, there were a little too delicate for my liking. Both sammies are quite small. I ordered both for a light meal. The tuna sammie was okay. Didn't have a lot of flavor. The pulled pork was a lot better. Good flavor and tender. Lot's of good happy hour cocktails. Would go back and try more food. The waitress did offer us more onion dip when she saw we had more chips to be eaten and didn't charge us which I always commend. :) read more

The food was absolutely delicious. The place itself is small but comfortable. Very cute and awesome service!

I live close to Union Saloon, but since it is located on a quiet street, we never knew it was there. The only reason we found it a couple days ago was that the establishment was kindly selling to-go food through a window (at a distance) during the current crisis (thank you!). What a great find, oddly during such crazy times. Their fried chicken is truly the best I've ever had (and I lived thru a few years in the south). It's not inexpensive, for sure, but I'll still be going there again. We also enjoyed the pork cheeks very much. And geez, the German Chocolate cake was fantastic. Not overly sweet (usually hard to say about brown sugar icing), moist and fluffy, rich chocolate, and clearly homemade. I don't usually order chocolate dessert, this was my husband's pick, but I'd get this again too. Thanks Union Saloon. I pray for our community during this health crisis, and I know we will help each other get through it. read more

Fantastic addition to the neighborhood! Beautiful, uncomplicated decor, super friendly staff and owner, and man what excellent food! Took the owner's recommendation for wine and was extremely happy with the choice. The tunes were perfect for the atmosphere, Johnny Cash, Elvis, and some good roots music. The real winner is the food! We were impressed from the first bite of the lettuce wrap bahn. Get the gazpacho if they have it. Taste the wow. The fried chicken thighs were amazingly delicious, and my wife declared the halibut to be the best she's ever had. We will definitely be making Union Saloon a regular for date night and plan to introduce it to our friends. read more