Union Square Restaurants in NYC

Union Square is one of downtown New York's most famous tourist sites. It is historically a site of political and social activism. It is also the site of the Union Square Greenmarket, which is held year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Here, you can choose from thousands of varieties of fruits and vegetables---or allow someone else to cook for you, at one of the square's beloved eateries.

Union Square Café

Any true New Yorker will tell you that Union Square just wouldn't be Union Square without the Union Square Café. This veritable institution has become a landmark since opening its doors in 1985. It specializes in traditional American cuisine with a touch of Italian influence. Try the cream of celery root soup and/or the pan-seared sea scallops.

Union Square Café
21 E. 16th St.
New York, NY 10003
(212) 243-4020
unionsquarecafe.com

15 East Restaurant

Reviewers claim that 15 East Restaurant is one of the best places for sushi in all of Manhattan---a high claim, to be sure, but one that just may ring true. Even the appetizers here are delicious; try the slow-poached octopus with sea salt.

15 East Restaurant
15 E. 15th St.
New York, NY 10003
(212) 647-0015
15eastrestaurant.com

Steak Frites Union Square

This classy upscale restaurant offers brunch, lunch and dinner menus daily. Having garnered rave reviews from the likes of Gourmet Magazine, Steak Frites is a French-style steak house specializing in its namesake steak frites, angus beef burgers and fine wines. If you arrive in time for brunch (served from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), try the steak and eggs or the Union Square hamburger, which comes with your choice of Swiss, cheddar or blue cheese. Dinner, served daily from 4:30 p.m. onward, features delectable options such as coq au vin rouge.

Steak Frites Union Square
9 E. 16th St.
New York, NY 10003
(212) 675-4700‎
steakfritesnyc.com

Souen Restaurant Union Square

Longevity is a sign of strength in New York City's super-competitive culinary scene, and Souen has been serving up organic macrobiotic vegetarian cuisine since 1971. It refrains from dairy, meat, chemicals and preservatives in preparing such fanciful Japanese dishes as Wakame soup, sesame sourdough bread, crunchy cabbage salad, scrambled tofu and broiled tofu Okabe.

Souen Restaurant Union Square
28 E. 13th St.
New York, NY 10003
(212) 627-7150
souen.net

Article Written By Zach Feral

Zach Feral has been writing and editing professionally since 2003. He has a B.A. in philosophy from the New School for Social Research in New York and pursued postgraduate studies at the Open University in the U.K. His writing has appeared in numerous international publications, including "Dazed & Confused," "Artforum" and "Think Again."

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...