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    Union Special

    4.2 (125 reviews)
    ModerateBakeries, Cafes
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Order Union Special Takeout or Delivery

    Union Special Photos

    UNION SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Union Special

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    Reviews With Photos

    Salmon Benedict
    Gina S.

    Love having breakfast at Union Special when we can. The coffee and pastries are always tasty; the breakfasts are wonderfully filling and delicious. The hoecakes surprised me (not hotcakes, I also did a double take at the menu) but the sausage was a little spicier than I was looking for at this visit. Service is usually fine and I hope to come back in time for a baguette next time.

    Kendall R.

    I'm obsessed after my visit! They have a small, but delicious menu that I had a very difficult time choosing from. I ended up going with the union special egg sandwich (sauce on the side). This sandwich has egg, cheese, and hash brown on a deliciously toasted potato roll. The sandwich was incredible! I also had a seasonal basil green tea lemonade, which was one of the best lemonades I've ever had-- so refreshing on a hot summer day! The baked goods looked so yummy, but I just picked up a bag of homemade croutons for my husband. The service was incredibly kind and helpful and the restaurant itself is so cute! You simply must go.

    BLT Sandwich
    Nicole L.

    Tried a couple sandwiches here including the turkey melt and BLT sandwich. Both were very tasty! The shop also had some outdoor picnic tables that you can sit at and cute indoor area.

    Videri Chocolate Croissant
    Sarah M.

    I've been wanting to try Union Special for a while, so I thought it'd be the perfect place to grab lunch to-go this week. I placed the order for pickup on Doordash and it was ready right on time! Overall their baked goods are what I would come back for (bread, cookies, pastries, etc). I had a few qualms with their sandwich and home fries. We ordered the turkey melt and BLT, but we got two turkey melts instead. The sandwich was a tad soggy/greasy (sometimes hard to avoid with to-go orders), I couldn't taste any apple, and the roasted tomato aioli was a bit lacking in flavor. The home fries had a nice dark color, but they were not crispy and lacked salt. However, both cookies we ordered were phenomenal. They were perfectly circular, crisp on the outside, with a chewy interior. The chocolate chip cookie was loaded with chocolate chips, and the blue corn cookie had such an interesting sweet yet savory flavor. I also tried the Videri chocolate croissant which, note to future self, do not eat in your car because it is messy and flakes everywhere. It had a nice buttery flavor but was a little dry for my liking - the chocolate filling was rich and ample. I will definitely be back to try more baked goods and give the sandwiches another try! 6/10 s *Videri Chocolate Croissant *Blue Corn Cookie *Chocolate Chip Cookie *Turkey Melt: turkey breast, gruyere cheese, bacon, apple cabbage slaw, roasted tomato aioli *Home Fries

    Coffee cake ooooooooooOoooooo
    Marin J.

    The food is always good. The service is a bit up-and-down. The breakfast bowls are big and have a restaurant/gourmet field. I really like the New York style crumb cake the best the cookies seem very flat and flaccid which is strange because when the guy who started union special was at The chocolate/black and white as a pop-up shop before they got the real place. He had his cookies there and they were large plump and delicious like a Reuben painting . The coffee is pretty much consistent and on point and would be a step above a third wave coffee joint.

    Elizabeth W.

    More reconnaissance for our imminently arriving out-of-towners, I headed to Gateway Plaza inside the belt line for some breakfast & catering research. US's blue corn cookie is like a cross between Boston Market sweet cornbread and a Wegman's Snickerdoodle. Such a unique flavor, I can already imagine them on a fall-themed charcuterie board. I tried their Chai Tea Latte and it was genuinely well crafted and peppery. I'm told they make their own Chai in house and it shows. No knocking Starbucks, but this is better. A note on the Videri chocolate croissant, a large online order claimed the last one for the day right in front of me and it was barely 10am. While the cookies are made all day, they say it's best to pre-order the croissants, to be safe. It's a multi-day process to mix and proof them, they have competing wholesale orders, and they don't keep any ready-to-bake. I don't know what the solution is, but hopefully the owners can develop a better method of keeping enough baked goods inventory in stock to serve in-person customers without it leading to food waste. Friendly service, cute interior, and happy & spacious sail-shaded outdoor seating.

    Cold brew
    Gab G.

    Came for breakfast and had a great meal here. I tried some food and a bunch of pastries: + Union egg sandwich (amazing) and upgraded to side of potatoes (perfect) + Monkey bread + Lemon bar + Blue corn cookie + Strawberry tahini cake + Cinnamon roll + Chocolate croissant + Cold brew The best pastries were the monkey bread and lemon bar, followed by the blue corn cookie. Everything was great though! They also have indoor and outdoor seating.

    BLT Sandwich
    Chris G.

    I've only been to this restaurant once, but I really enjoyed it! I had a BLT and it was well prepared with crispy bacon, nicely browned toast, and quality tomatoes. I also got a croissant and a piece of crumb cake for my husband (his favorite type of cake) and both pastries were delicious. The service was good and reasonably fast and the outdoor seating was great for a warm spring day. I plan to eat here again!

    Cold brew coffee
    Cain M.

    The Union Special nails breakfast! The moment you walk in, the airy atmosphere draws the heat and humidity out of you. This isn't your typical breakfast spot; it's a little different. Count me as a fan of the counter service--I appreciate the casual vibe it brings. In terms of food, the Union Egg Sandwich was eggselent and the cold brew coffee was just as tasty as it was caffeinated. If we're splitting hairs, a smile and some friendliness from the staff could truly make this place the local go-to neighborhood breakfast spot it's so well positioned to become.

    Chocolate, Cinnamon Bun & two ham & cheese

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    2 months ago

    Loved what we had and love the ambiance. Only wished there had been a few more fruit & veggie food choices.

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    9 months ago

    Great bread! Also great breakfast sandwiches and grits. Usually add a fried egg to the grits and their home made hot sauce. Go check em out.

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    9 months ago

    The double pecan croissant was fantastic! Highly recommend, the staff was kind and helpful!

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    9 months ago

    Best bread and sandwiches. Staff and owner are amazing. Their breakfast is always good too.

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    1 year ago

    Great sandwiches and the bakery items are solid. The specials always hit and are great options that I wish were permanent at times.

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    Ask the Community - Union Special

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    We went this morning excitement so glad to say that this all of my expectations. I had the pear jam…read morepastry, my partner had a ham and cheese croissant and our little one had the cinnamon roll. They have fresh milk for sale from dairy farm in Juliet, nc, the coffees are incredible! It was super busy so you have to wait a little for a table, but the pastries are so incredible that it's worth the wait! The ambience feels like an industrial bakery, but it's inviting and cozy. You can tell. It's a wonderful neighborhood spot where people meet up every day. It's definitely recommend it if you're not yet visited. And if you're looking for a place to get your fresh bread weekly then I highly suggest this space.

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    Having been here a few times and Asali is always amazing! Asali is a family-run spot offering…read moreMediterranean treats and Middle Eastern-inspired coffee and tea. The space is fairly large and they stay open late (until 11 PM on weekends), making it a great place to hang out with friends or stop by to satisfy a sweet tooth during a night out. I've purchased their macarons as gifts, tried several desserts here and to-go, grabbed coffee and stayed to do work, and even stopped by for lunch. Their light bites are quite tasty, and I especially enjoy their phyllo-dough pastries. Their latte options are great--the flavors are creative yet still approachable, and the syrup options are delicious. Service is attentive and efficient. There's always a big team behind the counter, and instead of calling names, they give you a number and bring food or drinks directly to your table, which is so thoughtful! They can get quite busy at times - lots of families and big groups stop by to hang out. I enjoy the community it brings, though sometimes this is not the most ideal place to get work done. Highly recommend Asali for anyone looking to try creative desserts, a great cup of latte!

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    Union Special - bakeries - Updated May 2026

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