Union Picnic & Rotisserie

It seems like most of the other reviewers are big Williamsburg fans who’ve been here a lot. I am neither, and I’ve been here only once, but I still think that qualifies me to write a review. Since if you’re reading this you may be trying to decide «Should I eat here?» And I was reading the same reviews on Friday trying to decide the same thing, and I decided TO eat here, and I kind of wished I hadn’t. So!
The place is on a deserted street in Wburg next to a bunch of warehouses, but it’s only about 10 minutes from the Bedford L. PLUS. It’s cute inside with retro-Southern-50’s-diner décor and a big photo of one of my personal gods, Dolly Parton. PLUS. We showed up at 9pm on a Friday and it was super busy and there would have been an extremely long wait, but all the other waiting couples were put off by the prospective wait and left, so we got seated relatively quickly. However, the staff was all weird and discouragey about us waiting. Since we will regularly wait for 45 minutes at Fatty Crab or Habana, waiting doesn’t bother me and I thought that was an odd attitude. MINUS. Although I’d heard plenty of horrible tales of the horrible service, our waitress was a very cute and very sweet girl with no attitude or unwashed qualities. PLUS.
First, the menu is kind of wacked. You can’t order fried chicken + sides; you either order bbq pork, pulled chicken, pulled pork, roast chicken + sides or you order fried chicken + stuff they’ve already decided for you, which I hate. I love how Mama’s (in the East Village) gives you a plethora of side options, and their sides are so good that they are the standard by which all Southern/​soul food restaurants are judged. So MINUS on the lack of options with fried chicken. I asked the waitress what I should get since I wanted fried chicken but not like ten pounds of food, and she suggested the chicken-​fried chicken. My BF ordered pork, mac-​n-​cheese and creamed spinach.
Our food came out relatively quickly PLUS and was steaming hot PLUS. My chicken-​fried-​chicken was delicious, tender chicken with nice fried outside. The mashed potatoes were good too. The green beans were overcooked and not nearly as good as they could have been. So, overall, good but not great. My dining partners mac-​n-​cheese was totally not good at all. Granted, I am a big fan of the classic so I am sort of picky, but underdone macaroni with a tasteless cheese sauce that was kind of sweet is NOT good mac-​n-​cheese. Even Velveeta on it would have been better. I don’t think he was very excited about his meal at all, although he ate all of it (being a boy and all). So MINUS on that.
I think 2 stars might be a bit harsh, but it really wasn’t anything special and there are so many southern/​soul food places in NYC now that there’s no point at all going out of your way for this one unless you’re in the area and dying for fried chicken. I will say I thought the chicken was very good.

I had been jonesing for some Southern-​type food. I am from Virginia by way of Texas so I’ve got my preferences. I have to say that U.P. is wonderful. I got the ½ bbq chicken with 2 sides (Mac&Cheese of course, and mashed potatoes) and was wonderfully satisfied. My sister got the pulled pork sandwich which was great too. We started out with the disco fries and goodness — that was the best decision of the night. French fries + gravy + cheese = Heaven. I’ll be hitting up U.P. again soon, now I only have to figure out what my vegetarian boyfriend will eat… hmmm???

This place seems to have been around for as long as I’ve been hanging out in the area– maybe around 7 years or so. It represents more of what the area used to be (a mix of old neighborhood NYC with some young starving artists) rather than what it is today (million-​dollar condo city). I never really felt let down by UP until recently, but I think that’s because now there are so many more take-​out and dining options in the area than there were before, and I can’t help but make comparisons. UP hasn’t upgraded with the changes of Williamsburg/​Greenpoint, but is that a bad thing… NO! Just expect things to be a little rough around the edges and you won’t be disappointed (and you’ll even appreciate it more than the newer spots with zero character). FOOD PICKS: Avocado Reuben with Sweet Potato Fries– you can’t go wrong. Fried Green Tomatoes are also great. The Waffles are my fave for a hang-​over brunch. NOTE: Whereas the food can be hit or miss, food via delivery (and even take-​out) is nearly always a miss. Don’t bother unless you’re going to stay and eat!

I don’t understand the folks at Union Picnic. Sometimes, it’s amazing, as with the pulled pork and the burgers. Other times, like the other night, you wonder what the heck they are thinking??? My bf ordered the avocado reuben for delivery and no joke, the whole thing was inedible. Rotten avocado, no joke. I had the patty melt, which was possibly the best I’ve ever had. I’m confused how this place can be so excellent and so poor, in the same day! Never eaten in, only delivery, and the soggy grease-​factor is a drawback, but they’re smart enough to package the bun separately when you order a burger!

Pulled pork sammy; put the slaw right on that s.o.b.
Hell yeah.
Never have had a bad meal from there.
I’ve had a lotta great meals there.
Big portions, as well.
I like it.

I’ve ordered delivery from here (a po’ boy) — not good at all because of the sogginess in transit — and I’ve eaten here with my gf.
That time, I got the chicken box dinner, which was exactly what I wanted. And the blueberry iced tea capped it off nicely. My gf got the red beans and rice, which looked amazing. With smoked sausages and collard greens, it’s the dish I’m going to get next time I go.
Great southern-​inspired menu, décor that’s a lot of fun, and friendly wait staff. One of my favorites; I don’t go enough!

Well I think having an avocado Reuben on ones menu is a pretty solid decision. I LOVE that sandwich. Never mind that it takes a half an hour to get, you need to wait for that kind of grilled sandwich perfection. My b-​friend always gets something involving fried chicken and goes crazy for it, so I guess the meat parts are good.
The venue itself is a little bit gross, just a little, not enough to send me away, but gross enough to think «god i wish those hipster servers could show me proof that they shower frequently.»

So, I just had the unsweet tea, but the atmosphere was great!

I’ll say only this — don’t bother getting stuff delivered because grease don’t sit well on the back of a bike. Fughetit. Yuck. I ordered onion rings once and got a big take-​out container of greasy onions, not really battered and not really fried, it was aweful. I’ve tried delivery about 3 times and not going to do it again. I’ve had dinner there once and wasn’t impressed. Better off trecking it down the street to Dumont where the crowds are out of control — for good reason.

I just had their chicken fried chicken last night. It could have been crispier, but their country gravy is lip-​smackin’ and goes well with everything on the plate. Love the consistency of the mashed potatoes; thick and creamy. The collared greens were almost sweet, which I’m not used to, but they grew on me. The fried chicken is brown, flaky, and ju ju juicy! I would rate it 4 stars if it was a bit cheaper.

Really, really, really good. The pulled pork BBQ sandwich is just that: pulled BBQ pork and a soft bun, and that’s all you need. Really that’s all everyone should order, but everything is good. Wash it down with an Arnold Palmer and you’re set. Plus, they deliver!

The blueberry cobbler here is top-​notch, although I did get it for free because whoever they had in the kitchen took over an hour on an Saturday afternoon with no customers to make 2 sandwiches. At this point, for me, they’re running about 50% on screwing up badly with major logistical issues. The milkshakes ($ 5.25) are thin and weak, so avoid those. On the good side, items like the pulled pork sandwich, the Thanksgiving sandwich, and the avocado reuben are exceptionally good. The chicken box (three large pieces of fried chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, and a piece of their excellent cornbread) is enough for two meals.

Pulled Pork BBQ sandwich knocks my socks off. Cole slaw knox my sox. Mac and cheese knox my sox. Creamed spinach knox my sox. Whole place knox sox. San Francisco thinks they are foodies, but we got it all right here. Sorry San Fran.

union picnic is going bad to your old kentucky home. pie and iced tea, clown parties, big burgers.