Union Square Cafe—the flagship restaurant that launched Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group—has been one of the country’s most beloved dining institutions for over 30 years.

Founded in 1985, Union Square Cafe pioneered a new way of dining, drawing inspiration from the Union Square Greenmarket and showcasing the best local ingredients in a casual and contemporary dining room characterized by warmth and hospitality. Having trained and mentored scores of restaurant professionals for over three decades, Union Square Cafe is the birthplace of a generation of renowned restaurants, chefs, and restaurateurs.

The restaurant has won five James Beard Awards and ranked in first place on Zagat Survey’s Most Popular Restaurant list an unprecedented nine times.

Through the Years

Awards & Accolades

Union Square Cafe's Bar Nuts

Every afternoon at about 4:45, a piping hot batch emerges from our ovens and is sent to the bar, where the sweet rosemary fragrance wafts throughout the restaurant. Can't make it in? They also make for a great dinner party snack at home.

YIELDS 5 CUPS

Ingredients

• ¼ pound each of peeled peanuts, cashews, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, and whole unpeeled almonds, or 1¼ pounds unsalted, assorted nuts.
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary.
• ½ teaspoon cayenne.
• 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar.
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt.
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted.

Method

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Toss the nuts in a large bowl to combine and spread them out on a cookie sheet. 
• Toast in the oven until they become light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• In the large bowl, combine the rosemary, cayenne, brown sugar, salt, and melted butter.
• Thoroughly toss the warm toasted nuts with the spiced butter and serve warm.

From The Union Square Cafe Cookbook.

Winner of the New York Press award for "Best Bar Nuts in New York".