Introducing: Union Social Eatery, a new midtown outpost of the popular Mississauga restaurant
Name: Union Social Eatery
Contact Info: 12 St. Clair Ave. W., 416-901-3456, unionsocial.ca, @UnionSocial
Neighbourhood: Yonge-St. Clair
Owners: Steve Proulx, George Kakaletns and Michael Rame
Chef: Michael Rame, who is also the executive chef at the Mississauga location
The Food: The menu lists an international hodgepodge of comfort dishes (dragon rolls; curry bowls; wanton-wrapped short ribs), plus salads, burgers and bar snacks. Everything is under $20, including an eight-ounce steak served with aioli and fries. A separate menu caters to customers with gluten sensitivities.
The Drinks: The bar’s 20 taps pour a mix of craft, domestic and premium beers. The rest of the drinks menu is still a work in progress (management welcomes suggestions from local tipplers).
The Place: Formerly home to Harry’s Social Kitchen (and before that, Fran’s diner), the renovated space is more or less a carbon copy of the Mississauga location. A poured concrete bar takes up a big chunk of the space, which is outfitted with high-top tables, brown leather banquettes and an oversized iron chandelier hung with decorative mason jars.
The Numbers: • 200 lbs of potatoes per day to satisfy customers’ fry cravings • 38 lbs of poured concrete on the bar top • 20 draught lines • 12 liters of made-from-scratch soup stock simmered per day • $5 beers on Wednesdays • 4 HD plasma TVs • 1 house smoker
