After my write-up of my visit to Union Square Cafe with poor service, 
managing partner Sam Lipp contacted me to apologize for the employee’s off-attitude toward me and three other women.
A year later, I decided to try it again.
Their homemade breads are served with fresh butter and their house made dukkah, an usual well-seasoned blend of roasted ground pistachios and sunflower and pumpkin seeds. (Just ask, and they’ll give you a copy of the recipe.) We sipped on the Bellus, Giraole 2010 ($64), a full-bodied, stuctured super Tuscan as we nibbled that and perused the menu.
We couldn’t decide between the salad of shredded Brussels sprouts and Honeycrisp apples ($15) with a chicken liver pate on a toasted bread crisp and the sliced Cara Cara oranges covered with salty thin strips of ricotta salata ($12) and toasted pine nuts all in a light fennel vinaigrette. And, so we had both, each an interesting light way to tickle our appetite.
Same thing happened with our “pasta” selection, so we ordered small portions three! The best were the lightest pillow-soft ricotta gnocchi ($17) I’ve ever eaten drizzled with a delicate tomato basil sauce with fresh Pecornino Romano. Not to be missed.
The Frascatelli ($18) was described to us as comfort food; sort of a grown-up mac & cheese, with free-form dumplings tossed risotto-style with some guanciale, shallots, cream and black pepper. I’d also recommend this indulgent flavorful dish. The third consisted of spaghettini ($18) with flaked Long Island fluke tossed with broccoli rabe, lemon, parsley, garlic, chili flakes and olive oil, , all topped with flavored bread crumbs. Also good. Wanting some “greens” we had a flavorful side of roasted cauliflower and Brussels sprouts ($9).
We craved something dark chocolatey to end our meal. Our server accommodated. She had a dark chocolate anglaise added to the milk chocolate mousse with mascarpone ice cream ($9.50). Perfect.
What a difference! This visit was back to the Union Square Cafe I knew and loved. I sure hope they find a new location close to the original to re-open after they close the doors of this institution at the end of 2015.
In the meantime, I need to go back again soon — especially for the gnocchi.
– bonnie
Follow @BonnieBOTB
Union Square Cafe
Right off Union Square
21 E 16th St New York, NY 10003
(212) 243-4020
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