Union Park at Addison Circle: Food, drinks and play

February 20, 2015September 10, 2015 UNSEEN

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100% potential from morning to night; Union Park (UP) in Addison Circle calls out the area’s many professionals and fun-loving residents to bites and beverages, beats and brunch.

Pull up to Union Park, and from the outside looking in you see what looks more like a lounge than a Gastropub. The signage out front and seating inside glow in a hue of moody red. Find your way to the side entrance, and the courtyard of the building opens up to a wooden porch patio that exclaims, “UP”! Simple enough.

It was Friday at Happy Hour when my buddy and I stopped by to sample the food and drinks at Union Park. We pulled up to a table in the middle of the stretched floor plan, able to see both bars and the array of flat screens that make game watching a breeze. I ordered a Perfect Patron Margarita only after being beaten to the punch by my buddy when he chose the Cucumber Gimlet, the only gin-based drink on the menu. After a few sour sips, I quickly opted for one of the local brews, one of many they have readily available. Plus to that!

Overall, the food we sampled had a very nice pepper forward flavor…like American bar bites with Mexican street stall undertones. One item, the ‘Friday Special’ tacos of pastor and bistek were reminiscent of a taqueria and a welcome choice with my beer. I also enjoyed the elote side dish topped with cool and spice that came with them, which was easy to enjoy at the bar or to-go. Traditional shared bites like the Jumbo Wings and Baby Back Ribs go strong with Chipotle flavor in the buffalo and barbecue sauces.

The absolute best item we tried was the Hang-Over Bowl: a cure-all of well seasoned fried chicken over creamy mashed potatoes and corn that screams, “Fat and Happy”.

While I would primarily categorize Union Park as a late night jaunt, they are determined to put their best food forward and cure you of your hangover with filling plates of chicken and waffles for weekend brunch, daily food specials like the Sunday Gumbo, plenty of shareable choices to enjoy with friends and coworkers, or take home the food to enjoy in seclusion while you recover.