10/17/09

Very good food, nice and cozy

by cizium

I'm CMU student and my bf and I have been eating there very frequently for over one year. They have decent price with great food. Waiters are friendly also. Here, what I like abt Union Grill

.Their soups are fabulous (wedding soup and potato soup are my fav)

.Pittsburgh salad (salad u can eat is your main course . huge n delicious) around and price is around $13

.Five hour pot (I forgot the exact name)

.NY steak (my bf like it but they are expensive $25 at least)

.Philli Cheese Steak around $10 (I prefer authentic one not pgh cheese steak)

That's all. hope it helps.

• Pros: delicious food, friendly staff.
• Cons: wait time

04/05/09

A Class Act in the Heart of a College Town

by TacoCope

When I was a graduate student at CMU 5 years ago, I was introduced to this establishment. After my very first visit, I was absolutely hooked, frequenting this place at least once weekly. Sure, the menu has undergone frequent updates, but these updates only serve to improve upon the quality/diversity of the previous menu. The Union Grill has become an indispensable institution to Oakland. The crowd is diverse, and sophisticated, however, that doesn't make it the perfect spot for a family dinner! I highly recommend this restaurant to family and friends, alike. If you've never been, do yourself a huge favor, and stop in sometime !

• Pros: Cozy & friendly atmosphere, perfect service, perfect menu
• Cons: Too crowded during peak hours

02/16/09

Oh how I love you!!

by kappabettahottie35

New and wonderful menu items!! Thank you Union Grill!! Pot-roast is to die for!! Telling all my friends!! Also, what a wonderful grilled cheese (loved it!!~~) I will be back!! Everyone needs to go there now! Best restaurant in Oakland!!!

• Pros: everything!
• Cons: nothing!

02/02/09

Can we give this place a break...

by stillers11

I feel bad for the union grill..everyone is always giving it such a bad rep..I am a student who has been going to the union grill since I was a freshman, and I am now a senior. It has changed a little bit, but I don't think it's for the better or worst. I think change is essential. The union grill is a very busy restaurant, with great food and great drinks. They have always had big portions, which for me, I love because as a student I am broke alot of the time. That's one of the many reasons why us students flock there so often. I have never had a bad experience there, and this is coming from someone who eats there once a week, at least. I bring my family when they are in town, and they are always pleased. I am in marketing, and I can say that it doesn't seem like a bad idea to change things around, you want to stay on top. I do miss alot of the old menu items, and I would love to see them back, or at least some additions to the menu that they have. It's pretty uninteresting, but delicious, none the less...

• Pros: close to everything, great wait staff, big drinks
• Cons: non smoking

01/31/09

What happened to this restaurant

by pittsteeler98756

Union Grill used to be a great Restaurant 2 YEARS AGO!!!!!! Note I used to go here a lot a couple of years ago, Since I moved back to Pittsburgh recently I decided to go back to my favorite restaurant, was I in for a shock not only is the menu almost completely different which isn't a bad thing but the quality of the food has gone downhill. They no longer have crab cakes which at the time were the best around but no longer have any specials which used to be great, a totally different take on the menu so you were getting best of both worlds, even the fish selection went downhill they used to have great variety of fish. I got a burger to be on the safe side and my two friends one of which got a salad and added salmon for 8 BUX!!! what a rip, it would be one thing if the salmon didn't taste like it was sitting around for 2 weeks but come on I guess its only as fresh as the day they THAWED it out, on top of that the salad greens where bitter and wilted. My other friend opted for baked ziti, yum overcooked noodles covered with crappy marinara sauce and rubber cheese. The only highlight is that they still serve giant drinks A+. After we got our check I asked our server what happened to menu and food because its completely different from a couple of years ago and they said that they had gotten a new chef, well if that's the case get a new chef or get the old chef back for that matter get someone who knows what food is suppose to taste like. If you are used to the great restaurant Union Grill used to be move over and usher in the new era of bad food served at the new defunct Union Grill.

• Pros: Big drinks, close to almost everything in Oakland
• Cons: Food and Value

09/30/08

Great Food/Service/Drinks/Atmosphere! Burger fans, this is your place..

by blondie55

I was at the Union Grill this week and the food, service, and atmosphere was fantastic. The staff seemed to be having a good time and helping one another out. My server was not rude at all! The food was great, I had pot-pie, (which was a special last year) my server said that so many people were requesting it that they put it on the menu. The menu is seasonal. It was very busy and everything seemed under control. Our food came very quickly, and dessert was absolutley delicious. My husband got a "Chophouse Burger" which he said was the best he had ever had. The other couple that joined us ordered off the "fresh seafood" menu and the scallops and trout were thorougly enjoyed. I recommend that you try this restaurant if you haven't, or give it another go if for some reason you had a bad experience. We were pleasantly pleased and will be returning with friends very shortly. I suggest that you do the same.

• Pros: Big portions, lots to choose from
• Cons: Hard to find a parking spot

07/21/08

downhill

by johnboy1206

I totally agree! This place has seriously gone downhill just within the past year. I understand that the restaurant may want to keep a fresh menu but these constant changes are ridiculous. Not only are the new menu items uninteresting and totally lack creativity (and flavor) but RAISING prices and LOWERING quality is not the best way to keep customers coming back. The specials have become a joke...seriously, hot dogs?! What happened to his place?

• Pros: walking distance of all universities
• Cons: boring, tasteless, inconsistent menu

07/14/08

STOP CHANGING THE &%&%&$ MENU!

by flipflapjack

This used to be one of the best go-to places for lunch or dinner around Oakland. Good food, big portions, nice atmosphere...but several changes in the last year or so have really shown a downhill trend. And why does the menu change monthly??? Just when I find something that I really like (chicken cobb sandwich), they remove it and replace it with an alfalfa sprout and cream cheese sandwich. huh? Before that, it was the buffalo chicken sandwich. Seasonal menu changes are one thing, but constantly changing what is already a relatively small menu gets dangerous if you're a creature of habit.

• Pros: nice atmosphere
• Cons: frequently changing menu, slow service

07/01/08

Rude Staff

by pedrichild

Waitress tried to intimidate us into ordering before we were ready, acted like ordering $12 of food a person wasn't ordering enough, and was generally absent or unhelpful the whole time. If they don't want business, they should just say so.

• Pros: decent food
• Cons: pay $15 for a meal and being mistreated by staff, no thanks

04/04/08

the hostess is a business killer

by bmurn

The Union Grill, although ideally situated, priced moderately, and chock full of good food choices is absolutely ruined as you enter the door by a hostess that should know better and should act better.

I, for one, do not like getting greeted at the door of a restaurant by a scowl. Nor do I enjoy having my party of 6 be made to stand in the entrance and clog the entire flow of the bar and restaurant because we have a 7th lagging a few minutes behind to park the car.

I especially have a problem tolerating a hostess snipping at me because we have a late party member.

The icing, is being informed that, after we protested, we could be seated but if our 7th arrived after we ordered ANYTHING, that person would be banned form ordering.

In short. I opt not to be treated as a child in an establishment where I aim to enjoy and spend my well earned money.

To the Union Grill, you hostess cost you 7 customers with high paying jobs and clients to entertain in the immediate area, 7 customers with big mouths and many friends.

if you rule was aimed at curtailing the 20 something college kids that straggle along and fill up your tables...what you have resulted in doing is displaced 7 more affluent and paying customers.

Enjoy.