I really dig the chilled out vibe in here. It's best at around 6 PM on a Thursday or Friday before the crowds when you are pretty much guaranteed a seat at one of the bar stools or comfy couches. That said, we enjoy it every time we go here no matter what time of day. The bee's knees cocktail is the bees knees sooo good and the food is pretty good as well. All in all, a really cool hangout spot with games like Jenga and shuffle board. Check it out! read more

Brass Union is off to a great start during its pre-open opening phase. I highly recommend the spicy shrimp, lobster with pappardelle, and chicken breast roulade (w/ chicken leg, parsnip, mustard au jus). Bigger shared plates and sides are generous and decently priced. The food blew me away with one exception. Brussel sprouts w/ cheese were cooked perfectly but lacking in flavor-- needed salt to offset the very mild cheddar. Final note: dining on the patio surrounded by green herbs of all varieties is a pleasant experience. read more

Is there too much stock put into cooking a burger to the requested doneness? Maybe, maybe not. It's an area that is a hot button issue for burger enthusiasts, because if you are going to be cooking copious amounts of burgers at your restaurant, you should probably be nailing the temps on a consistent basis. If you order a steak and it is not cooked the want you wanted it, it's getting sent back, one would presume, but burgers sometimes get a free pass. Maybe it's a price issue with burgers being on the more affordable spectrum (usually), so it's less of an issue. Where am I going with this? I lean somewhere on the side that it has to be more about the general flavor and enjoyment of the overall burger. Do I want my burger cooked a perfect medium-rare? No doubt about it, and the better spots will hit that temp each and every time, and I'd be foolish into trying to convince you that it's not a factor in my overall grading scale, because it absolutely is. However, if the burger is juicy, seasoned and has the proper meat to bun ratio, I'll take that over a perfectly executed patty with no seasoning or substance. Long story short, and I'm sure you can guess where I'm going with this, Brass Union in Somerville makes a very tasty burger, but on this inaugural visit, medium-rare it was not. The cheeseburger, with grass-fed beef, Cabot cheddar, onion marmalade and green aioli is hefty and has value at $13. This is a small plates menu, however, and it always makes me chuckle when I see a burger on such a menu because I want it all to myself. Even my favorite, Alden and Harlow, has a small plates focus, which to me doesn't scream burger but who am I to say. The Brass Union burger is served on the played-out black pepper brioche from Iggy's, but the thick and meaty patty is wedged in nicely, and the freshness of the bun does in fact fit the bill. A well balanced char brings out just enough background smokey notes, but the patty is very close to a medium-well with one or two pockets of rare for good measure. But the seasoning is dead-on; it's juicy, succulent and meaty, and the thin bottom half of the bun just barely holds together with consistent juices all the way through. Melted cheese plays along too; it's enough to complement but still puts the meat at the head of the class. Onion marmalade is merely caramelized onions and they are delicious if a little heavy handed. A green aioli is actually very white with few speckles of herbage, and tastes a little sweet for my tastebuds, especially in conjunction with the marmalade. Skin-on fries are piping hot, creamy in the center and all you need from a fry, minus a minor dusting of salt. This is essentially a very good pub burger in disguise but aside from the cookery of the meat, it is more than serviceable and flavorful. Don't expect this to be the best burger you've ever had, but for a relatively affordable and relaxed environment in the Cambridge/Somerville area, it is definitely a burger I can get behind. read more

Food was yummy & beer selection was great. Love the ambiance. Portions were a tad small for the price. Ideally suited for a date night - not great for large groups. read more

We walked past Brass Union as some of the other bars and restaurants had queues or were full. If it hadn't been for the bouncer inviting us to take a look and review the menu, we'd have missed one of the best meals we had in Boston. Fabulous salad and drinks together with friendly staff. read more

Went here for drinks the other night with my boyfriend. It was...strange. They have some outdoor seating, which we bypassed to get to check out the inside. The back room had a very fratty feel, with games and lots of young people. We opted for the somewhat nicer feeling bar in the front. I ordered a cocktail, the bf ordered a beer. The cocktail was way too sweet for a "not sweet" cocktail...We thought we'd found a nice place to settle in for a few drinks, but then the music started. It was so loud that we couldn't hear each other talking - in seats right next to each other! We asked to sit at one of the tables outside, and managed to be seated at a table that wouldn't result in completely burst eardrums. Overall, it feels like a bar that doesn't know what it wants to be. As the bf put it, "it's a less cool version of a cooler place" - it has potential, but they need to get the kinks with their waitstaff, the music level, etc. sorted out. Two stars only because the bartender was friendly, and because they have giant jenga out front. read more

Completely agree with other reviewers- come here for the outdoor seating or the games and the drinks. Eat dinner somewhere else. I went there last night, got seated right away in the outdoor seating area. Service was good, and the outdoor Union Square atmosphere was great. Ordered a Sonnet 65 to drink. Pretty, well-balanced, and slightly sweet without being overly so. I really enjoyed it. Also had a Tenacious Tea. Tasted a little too much like whiskey for a cocktail. We ordered the gazpacho, mushroom toast, grilled corn, and fries. The gazpacho was watery and underseasoned. Really disappointing. The mushroom toast was solid, the grilled corn was delicious, and the fries were good and crispy. With the exception of the gazpacho, the food was good, but not good for the price. For the price, I would expect extra details rather than basic food that is easy to make. I will definitely come back and have a cocktail while enjoying the outdoor seating, but I will eat beforehand. read more

Cool space, but disappointing food. The fries super burnt, the burger over-done, the gazpacho watery and the timing all wrong.

We approached Brass Union and were stopped on our way in by the bouncer. It wasn't clear that he was the bouncer initially, as he was standing outside talking to some other guy. The bouncer asked to see our IDs. My husband was at the front of the group and showed him his ID. The bouncer looked at him and asked him to back up. My husband was at the top of the stairs, so he needed to turn around to back up and not fall down the stairs. The bouncer then says "You're not coming in here." He'd had a few drinks at a bar prior to this, but absolutely NONE of us were rowdy or stumbling drunk. And the attitude the bouncer had was just incredibly rude; there's no reason to be a dick. That was enough to put a bad taste in my mouth; I won't be back. read more

i've only been to this restaurant once, and it was only to go to geeks who drink trivia (yay, zach!). they seem like they're a pretty hoppin' place for trivia - there were easily a dozen teams there, and for a tuesday night, that's wonderful. but if you know that there are going to be that many people there for this sole purpose, you need to step up your service game. the waitress that served us took FOREVER to get our first drinks out, even when we were there a whole hour early to eat. she then took a long time getting our food orders in. and then took a long time asking if we wanted a second drink. and then took an even longer time getting our checks. seriously? step up your service game. the only redemption was that they had down east cider on draft, and that their mushroom fettuccine was bangin'. those noodles, man. if it wasn't for that service, i would totally come back. read more

This place looks cool and the menu items look delectable, but don't be fooled. The food falls flat and the drinks are just ok. The vibe inside seemed ok at first until we realized there's a bar in the back so people kept traipsing past our table to the back bar. I will not be back. read more

The most recent review mentioning the scented candle reminded me of the last time we were here........we were very early, no one else was there. The scent was very annoying (on our visit, at the host stand) and I remembered wondering why...so many people are allergic to scents and it makes you think, oh, there must be some really bad smell they are trying to hide (worst trick at open houses). I had the celery root soup and enjoyed it very much. My DC got the pozole that was highly recommended by the server. It was horrible. The corn itself was obviously from a can and had not been sufficiently rinsed. A bad chemical, tin, off taste. My DC did not finish it and the server did not ask if he had liked it, just took it away. It is not worth anywhere near $14. The broth and pork had none of the depth of a good Pozole, but I do have a lot of experience making it myself. We were the only patrons and the music was intolerably loud. We asked if it could be turned down and it was, just a very tiny bit. My DC had tried the burger on our previous visit and found it unappealing and overpriced. He did eat it. This was our fourth attempt at a place in our neighborhood. Probably won't be back. We had heard that the chef was from Chez Henri. We'd go back for a really good cubano, and hope the menu will evolve, and that they get rid of the scented candle. But we are not the target demographic.....no interest in the games and loud music. read more

Paulo did me a solid and printed hockey tickets for me right before the game. That's an establishment that really takes care of its customers. Plus, they have Crocodile Dentist. read more

I came here after the Jingle Bell Run and they had free beers! Also I had a VERY flavorful burger that was perfectly cooked. It was a decent size and definitely more fairly priced than those outrageous wings. I also had a spicy bloody mary with all the accouterments. Our bartender was also cool and nice despite it being super busy and her seeming slightly overwhelmed. Overall a far better experience than the last one. read more

I've never eaten here before, but I've been to the bar on a weekend and trivia night. They have great service and fair prices for drinks. My friends who did order food were all happy and we'll almost definitely be back. read more

Came here between brunch and dinner service for some alfresco drinks and for the kids to play some ginormous connect four and jenga. Can't speak to the food, but can say the drink prices are reasonable and delicious. Had no issues with the service but then again, we were only here to drink and have games occupy our children whilst enjoying the day :) read more

Terrible location. Cold, uninviting, and rude. Do not recomend. A joke of an attempt of a "speakeasy". Customer service here is nonexistent, they think they are above their clientele, which is not the case. They are an embarrassment to Somerville and a black eye to Union Square. read more

It is a fun place to go. I did not have any food there, but the atmosphere was good to hang out with a group of friends. I am considering to go there for my birthday. read more

Brass Union must be figuring things out because we had a great gastropub/craft cocktail experience on Saturday night. We were greeted warmly by Paulo (who manages the excellent beverage program) and got a quick tour of the numerous, imaginatively designed spaces (patio, bar, gaming, lounge, etc. ). The cocktail menu was helpfully laid out in sections for beginner through advanced. I ordered a superb and creative mezcal citrus egg white drink, which emboldened me to go off menu and order a proper old school rye whiskey sour (also with egg white, of course). This drink is almost never properly made these days but the bartender (Julie?) served up a well balanced mix of booze, spice, citrus and froth, the best I've had in months. The food is similarly well chosen - every dish has a unique spin on it. The mushroom toast in particular is a winner. Like any ambitious young restaurant, Brass Union is going to hit a few bumps on the way (the staff seems so serious about doing a good job that you want to tell them to chill out and enjoy themselves a little more) but it's off to a great start and we'll definitely be back soon. Unlike many places that give lip service to the high end gastro-mixology concept, this place is for real. read more

Taking away a star because of the darn TVs in this fine establishment. Brass Union offers excellent entertainment: board games, shuffleboard, cocktails, beer, food......... So what are the TVs for? I'm pretty sure people don't come to this hipster joint to watch the game or watch anything, for that matter. I vote jettison the distracting TVs. Other than that, I love this place for it's food (although not excellent, still very good), cozy atmosphere, drinks, music, overall vibe. Yay! read more

I love this place! I only put up this review because they deserve way more than the three stars they have. The games are super fun, Mac man, shuffle board! Great food and my bartender Maggie was perfect. I'll be back and I will bring my friends! read more

I had went to Brass Union last night with a friend of mine. We chose is that in the back where I was a little bit more quiet because it was trivia night. That's okay but I'm not really a trivia kind a guy! we had the pleasure of having Briana has our bartender. She was pretty hip, her cocktails are really good, she had a broad range of knowledge of different combinations of letters to make really cool drinks. She had met me halfway on a highlander reference which is pretty cool! read more

We've been here for dinner before and it was excellent! We went during the snow storm in February and they had almost no staff and still our meal was excellent and the service was great. This past weekend we had our baby shower here and it was SO GREAT! Scott and Jason were extremely helpful and hospitable. The food was extremely good! The bar service was perfect, all of the staff were so friendly and helpful. I cannot say enough good things about this place...everyone that works there gave great service and the food and drinks are always phenomenal! read more

Nice place and vibe for a Saturday night. The music was great but the bartenders were so slooooow and rude. It made me quite uncomfortable actually. read more

A classy addition to the Union Square scene. Creative crafty cocktails and a surprisingly extensive-yet-reasonably-priced draught beer list. Haven't tried much in the way of the dinner food, but the desserts are quite good. Manages to pull off being casual and classy at the same time, so you'll fit in whether you're in your Saturday night best or a simple t-shirt. The dozens of board games and good music in the back room (sometimes with live DJ) make this one of my favorite places to hang out. read more

irish gin & tonic- delicious, AND arrived with dried flowers sprinkled on top! stunning. cider roasted parsnip side dish was delicious read more

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If I could give this place zero stars I would. This place is run by a bunch of discriminatory, rude individuals who have no idea how to run a professional business and are comfortable humiliating clients in front of other patrons. I stumbled upon this bar with my sisters and our significant others when celebrating my graduation. We were all in the back room keeping to ourselves, being quiet and respectful, and genuinely trying to have a good time when the manager on duty, Lizzie, took it upon herself to be incredibly rude to my boyfriend. She claimed he was drinking behind her back after they declined his ID for no reason other than it was Mexican and they couldn't tell it was real since they didn't have a scanner. Because he is a nice guy, he apologized although he had done absolutely nothing wrong. She continued to yell at him in front of other patrons and then threatened to kick him out of the bar. When my sister and I asked for an apology for this unfair treatment we were attacked by both Lizzie and the blonde bartender. Even though the bartender was the only one on duty, she left her customers to create drama, and the manager took us to the most public part of the restaurant to discuss this so everyone could witness this event (incredibly professional, right?). It was completely unnecessary, not at all what should be done, and uncalled for. A simple apology, that's all we asked for. Yet they refused, most likely because my boyfriend is Mexican, because he clearly looks over 21, we were all in our late twenties and early thirties, and based on the other reviews of this bar having racist and discriminatory vibes, I have reason to believe that isn't the first time they have pulled a stunt like this. We contacted the general manager after this horrible experience and apart from not apologizing for his employees' clear discrimination, he also didn't even apologize for his employees' behavior, acknowledge that they shouldn't have brought the drama to disrupt the other clients, or even that the bartender was wrong to give me the middle finger and talk about us to the other people at the bar. The GM only refunded the money for our drinks after profusely trying to get across how completely unacceptable this behavior is. Long story short, if they had to refuse my boyfriends ID because they couldn't tell if it was real, they should have said upfront that he couldn't be in the bar because if they claim he could be a minor (even though he is 6'2", has a full on beard, was dressed professionally and in no way looked underage) then they would have been harboring a minor in a bar when they weren't even serving food and there was no reason he would be there other than to drink. No wonder the bar was almost completely empty on the weekend. Avoid this place at all costs. If you think this review doesn't reflect any reasons why you should avoid it, here are a few more: 1. There wasn't even music playing. 2. This place was dead apart from what appeared to be a couple of regulars at the bar 3. The cocktails were definitely below average 4. The staff clearly did not care about looking professional. Both had their hair in a messy bun, had oversized T-shirts on, and no makeup 5. The patio wasn't even open on a summer day to play the "lawn games" and "giant jenga" that are advertised online nor is there a live DJ. 6. The service was slow (probably because they had to pick a fight with other customers) 7. There are plenty of bars even just in union square that won't treat you terribly and are just generally better in every way. If you are set on playing games while you drink and want to stay in the Somerville area, go to Aeronaut brewery instead. read more

I have passed this place for a couple of months now and finally had a chance to try it out last night. Overall the experience was positive but there is nothing drawing me to go back. The food is small plate style but the prices didn't seem to match. The extra $2-3 dollars a plate adds up over the course of a meal. We ordered a steak, cooked medium, but was served well done. Presentation of the food was adequate, but the modern style serving plates didn't quite match their theme. My drink may have been the high point of the visit. A well crafted drink is always appreciated, but the beer menu lacked any inspiration. Overall a positive experience but I would consider other options if you're looking in the area. read more

First time I went to Brass Union, I got : calamari (deliciously seasoned), burger (onion remoulade tah dahye for), brussel sprouts (aight), and the pac-man cake (very cute presentation - pac man eating blueberries) and solid as far as cakes go. Very dense and flavorul. Today I went for brunch and had the mushroom toast (mediocore at best, and when you stop to think that you're paying $10 for 1 piece of bread, sliced up mushrooms, and 1 egg, well, it doesn't make it seem any better) and the chicken confit benny (SUPER salty, to the point where I had to use my will power to get it down). The cocktails are solid, and a reasonable $10. All in all, I'd say def go for lunch or dinner, but skip the brunch. The service is good, and the life-size Jenga and four square are fun while you wait for your food. read more

We had 3 good apps, beet salad, mushroom toast, and crab cakes. The lamb entree was ok, not melt in your mouth or anything special. Service was good until they forgot about us and didn't bring the bill. Pint of beer were $7, as usual in this area, way too much for a simple beer. I would go back if other people were going, but I would not choose to go back, would rather try something else. read more

Amazing all around - wait staff, food, beer & atmosphere. I've lived by Union Square for a couple years now and never had a strong desire to go to Brass because it didn't look like much from the outside and no one really raved about it. I went last night with a friend and had an extremely pleasant experience. Our waiter was super friendly, casual and made us feel relaxed; he gave us honest recommendations on what to get to eat and what beer we might like based on our personal preference. The pasta is hand-cut and phenomenal. The restaurant itself was really quaint, clean and had romantic lighting. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

I was kicked out because my speech impediment made me seem "too drunk". The bouncer was very aggressive and mean. I was there with an entire wedding party and the manager was inconsiderate and offensive. Don't even know what the inside is like, but they escalated the situation to a place where it didn't need to go. read more

Snobby, overpriced, and not that great. There was a literal live bug on my burger, and the waitress was extremely rude about replacing it. When we wanted to split the check with friends, she said she "couldn't," which I find hard to believe. Between the critters and the mean waitstaff, I will not be back. read more

Had such a wonderful experience on my birthday. Food and drinks were delicious and I left my sweater at our table. The host ran down the street to give it to me! Great food, even for me as a vegan. Can't say enough kind things. read more

First off, I have to say: I rarely write reviews but I overheard Ali G. at the table next to me saying she was writing a bad review, and I honestly don't think they deserve it. She sent back her steak, fine, that happens. But they offered to make her another one and she refused, and then offered to get her anything else for free, and she refused. She ended up getting her meal free anyways. That's all they can do for someone who just wants to be upset. Anyways, on to my experience: My boyfriend and I intended to have brunch at the Independent, but while we were waiting in line to be seated we saw Brass Union's patio opening up and it piqued our curiosity. I'm so glad we came here instead of the Independent! We got a nice shady table outside and got to people watch and enjoy the folks playing cornhole and oversized Jenga on the other side of the patio. I really enjoyed the fresh-squeezed orange juice and especially the fresh lemonade, just the right amount of sweet and tart. My boyfriend got the Bloody Mary, and it was delicious. Smoked tomato juice was listed as the main ingredient, not sure how they do it but I guess that's the key! I ordered the cod cake benedict (I always have to try the bennys at any new restaurant, they're so easy to mess up but so good when they're done right!) It was perfect. The egg was just the right balance of solid and runny, the hollandaise sauce was not too lemony, but just enough to complement the cod cakes, which were just moist enough. Delicious. My boyfriend got the chorizo omelet, which was gone before I could even grab a bite, so that says a lot! The breakfast potatoes that came on the side were crispy on the outside and soft inside, just like they should be, with some onions thrown in there for good measure. The bacon was thick and fatty, just melt-in-your-mouth amazing. The service was a little slow, but for a new restaurant starting out, and having to run from the outside patio downstairs to the bar and back, I say they did very well. And when you're sitting outside on a sunny Sunday morning, and the food is amazing, I'd rather eat leisurely anyways. And on top of all that, we spent less than we would have at the Independent or Bronwyn for a wonderful brunch meal. I got a peek at the Pacman table and other games downstairs when I went to the restroom, and I can't wait to come back later for drinks and games! read more

I don't even know where to start. It's been a few times I've gone in there and had bad service/bad food. My food was under cooked. Twice! One time it was chicken. Bleh. The food is inconsistent. Service is really bad when it's slow. The vibe is pretentious beyond belief. Bartenders are pure attitude and I've literally seen the (owner? manager?) edge out people they didn't like the look of. The dress code for employees is weird too. The women wear whatever they want and the men all dress like butlers. Precinct used to have a great neighborhood vibe with live music! It was awesome. Now they just seem like every other midscale restaurant. Cocktails are unoriginal and so is the food. They have games, but most of them are broken, falling apart, dirty or missing pieces. Like a sad dentist waiting room. I would absolutely recommend spending your time or money at one of the other places Brass Union is trying so desperately hard to emulate. read more

Not great...not even good. My husband and I went here for dinner on a Wednesday night. There were some tables on the patio so we grabbed a seat outside. Sitting outside in the summer was the best part. Everything else was pretty bad. To start, the server was really inattentive. My husband's drink came out slowly (after being brought the wrong one at first) and my request to find out what non-alcoholic beverages were available (I'm pregnant) was never answered. The waitress said, "let me find out for you," but she never did, so I had water. Service was way too fast also - it was obvious by the timing that nothing we ordered was prepped freshly, and it was also obvious by the temperature and taste. Brussels sprouts were under-cooked and slathered in mild cheddar cheese - swimming in water and oil. Gazpacho wasn't bad, but it basically tasted like watered down salsa, and the plantain chips it came with had been fried a very long time ago, if they were made onsite at all. My husband had the fried chicken, which was dry - though the buttermilk dressing was good. We also had the corn, which came out lukewarm, and a bit dried out. We were served all the food too quickly, and didn't get silverware or plates until a couple of dishes were already on the table.The waitress rarely checked in, and when I told her she could clear the brussels sprouts dish she didn't bat an eye, even though it was obvious we hadn't eaten much of it and were not interested in continuing since they were so bad. Honestly - we were shocked at how bad everything was from the service to food. We were out of there quickly though, since they rushed all the orders out and it didn't take long to not finish the sub-par plates. I feel like a jerk being so blunt, but this place is in a great spot and reportedly has a great chef. I expected so much more from it. It was really disappointing. I wish I'd read the Yelp reviews before going, because it seems like our time at Brass Union was pretty similar to what other people experienced. read more

Visiting family Easter so went for brunch. They had buffet or omelet. When the bill came it was $35 each buffet or omelet, plus one drink each. For 4 of us it came to $180. Really. read more

My wife and I just left here and I think it is most important to note that we both now feel sick. The service was rather nonchalant and disinterested. The general ambiance was good, nice and Gastro-pubish. We did not have any cocktails so cannot speak to the bar tending. The seating was really quite uncomfortable. All of the high top chairs were very worn (clearly repaired with gaff tape in spots) and at least mine was broken. The biggest disappointment was the food. My wife's chicken was appropriately crispy, but completely dried out, and her risotto overly wet, and the flavor generally bland. My grilled cheese and tomato soup tasted something more akin to ricotta pie on perfectly fine toasted bread and a bowl of canned tomato sauce with a sprinkling of parsley or basil or something (no flavor. not soup.). We had the daily empanadas to start and the filling was unevenly spread and the the crust way too thick, almost cakey. Essentially nothing was good. We both feel unsatisfied, wish we could throw up and go have dinner somewhere else...and we may yet. Considering all of this, it's way over priced. Applebee's level food, if that. read more

Found this place sort of by accident when our favorite restaurant had an hour-long wait. Excellent service - the waitress was willing to talk with you and make you feel more than just another table. She was very humorous and made you feel very welcome. They had one of our favorite beers - Lunch by Maine Brewing Co - and they also have an old fashioned on draft!! Their menu consists of an unseparated mixture of small dishes and entrees. We got a steak frites for less than $20 (hard to do in Boston!) There is this really cool bar in the back with some shuffleboards and they also give you a giant poker card with your receipt! We'll definitely be back - overall a really affordable, hip spot in Union Square. read more