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local, Places to eat, things to do, Tucson nightlife, Tucson Restaurants, Union Public House, Union Tucson
If you haven’t already heard of Tucson’s newest gastropub, Union Public House is a restaurant not to be missed! Union is a place where you can come have a beer and watch the game or can come dressed up on a date; their dress code is come as you are. Owner Grant Krueger and General Manager Chris Thompson told us how they wanted to keep Union true to the culture of Tucson. To do this, they’re trying to make Union an everyday restaurant with really good food and a great bar! They have even brought a first to Tucson, wine on tap. Currently Union has 16 wines on tap and beers ranging from a basic Bud Light to Lost Coast. Their circular bar invites you to sit and enjoy a glass, and finds a way to draw in the entire restaurant. Both Grant and Chris recalled a night when they were busy with a line out the door, and nobody wanted to sit in their private dining room, so as not to miss anything going on in the restaurant and bar area. They truly have created a place unique to Tucson, mixing great food and drinks with an incredible atmosphere that almost feels like you are transported out of Tucson.
Union is doing more than adding another great restaurant to Tucson; it is also filling the gaps that in our opinion Tucson was lacking. One of these gaps is creating a place for the post-college crowd to go. If you are someone in your mid to late 20s looking for a place to go out, the options were limited. Fourth Avenue, for the most part, is often filled with people looking to get drunk while restaurants that try to be lounges at night usually draw an over 40 crowd. Union brings a fun atmosphere mixed with a combination of yummy drinks and delicious food. It is somewhere you want to go, and where everyone fits in.
Another gap Union is filling is late night dining. After 9 p.m it can be hard to find a good restaurant still serving food. They are committed to serving their made-from-scratch food all night long, and recently announced their kitchen will be open to 1 a.m. How many times have you been out and after a few beers wanted a bite to eat only to find out the kitchen was closed? If you happen to find yourself having late night hunger cravings after a few drinks at Union, we both recommend the pretzels! And for those with a sweet tooth, Thompson would suggest the brownie.
So what do you need to know about Union? Its located in St. Philips Plaza in Acacia’s former space. Their “social hour” (happy hour) happens seven days a week and goes until 7 p.m. Another great tip–they are the only restaurant open during the St. Philips Farmers Market, and on Sundays offer a build your own Bloody Mary bar. If you can’t decide what to order, we can personally recommend the pretzels and the burger. Union’s burger is topped with Red Dragon English cheddar, pickled onions, arugula, and bacon jam on a house-made bun. Krueger’s favorite item off the menu is the UPH pork chop, served with a Gouda and Nueske’s bacon hash brown and fried parsnips. For even more information on Union check out their website or their Facebook page.