Union Loafers Cafe and Bread Bakery

GO HERE. We stopped by on Sunday afternoon for a hearty, rustic bread to pair with the soup we were making for dinner and also bought one of the large pretzels so temptingly on display by the register. We were blown away.
The pretzel had that perfect, crunchy crust that gave way to a chewy interior. It tasted unlike any pretzel I’ve ever had – slightly bitter, even more slightly sweet on the finish – and paired perfectly with the large-​grain spicy mustard with which it comes. Worth the $ 4.
For the bread, we settled on a large round of sunflower rye – WOW. It had a beautiful crust and that wonderful punch you expect from a rye. Both toasted and untoasted, it stood up really well to getting dipped in the soup. Worth the $ 7 – 8.
I can’t wait to go back, perhaps to try dining in the café. I appreciated, by the way, that there was a separate entrance for the retail customers. The retail cashier isn’t separated from the restaurant, but it was nice not to have to wade through the diners to get to the register in the back.
Overall, kind of pricey, but very worth it.

Went for lunch at the noon hour and it was packed! However, the wait was only about 5 minutes. They do a great job of quick (but not rushed) service. The space is so bright and fresh and welcoming. It is is a little hard to hear people at your table as the ceilings are tall so there is a lot of noise bouncing around with a packed dining room. I got the beet sandwich with a side order of pickles. The pickles were quite tasty! The flavor of the beet sandwich was so good and just what I wanted but it was hard to eat. The thinly sliced beets caused some major slippage. It is hard to eat something with your hands that slips and then causes red stains on your hands. Kind of the risk you take with beets… Lol. I think a chunky beet paste might be the way to go to adhere it to the bread. The bread was amazing as expected and I’ll be back for more bread and to try the soup! My friends loved their meat sandwiches and the soup!

Today had ham n cheese on rye and garbanzo/​kale soup. So yummy! Really tasty sammies in wonderful environment. Hope they’re here for a long time!

Amazing sandwiches. The smoked beet sandwich is my favorite. Best PBJ I’ve ever eaten. The only issue is the space is too small and there is nowhere to wait for a table except to stand around other people as they eat or cram the doorway.

Fantastic food and bread. I have had the turkey sandwich and the chicken and rice soup. Both were phenomenal and beyond filling — sandwiches really are not finishable in one sitting. The cheese bread and pizza bread appetizers are also great. And of course the bread itself is fantastic. Beer selection is varied and good.

There is something to be said for doing a few things very well rather than trying to do many things acceptably. And Union Loafers Café & Bread Bakery does those things it attempts very well.
I stopped by today to pick up sandwiches to go and was very impressed. I ordered the ham and cheese along with the braised beef on ciabatta. I also ordered a side of potato salad and the vinegar-​based cole slaw. My order was ready in less than five minutes. And the sandwiches came on rich, warm, freshly baked bread.
The décor is a throw back to the mid-​twentieth century, all white tile with stylish lighting. The space is not large, but seating is available at the bar or at tables. Despite the cold, January day, the place was packed with patrons. A row of beer taps also looked exciting to explore.
I can’t wait to return and grab a pint of beer with my next Union Loafers sandwich. We’ll return.

Very limited menu but damn the bread is fresh. Service and ambiance are very contemporary but the main attraction is the bread. Try to go as soon as the place opens because the first loaf to come out of the oven is the freshest!
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It probably isn’t fair for me to write this review because I have literally ordered the same exact thing each time I have visited. I cannot help myself.
Go visit. Dine in the small and artfully minimalistic dining room or carry out at the retail register. Order the roasted pork sandwich. It is the answer to all your lunch time questions and concerns. Soft and chewy ciabatta with the perfect crust, roast pork and thinly sliced ham, garlic mayo and yellow mustard, topped off with house pickles. I don’t even like pickles, but these, oh man, these pickles are something special.
In a city filled with cured meat sandwiches, Union Loafers gives us something new to enjoy. I’ll be back. Often. However, chances are I won’t order anything else even though the menu items look fantastic. It’s beyond my control. The pork has spoken.

PB & J was heavenly. So creamy and delicious. Their bread is tasty too. Love this corner of restaurants.

Super great lunch spot! Very small space with additional bar style seating. Limited menu full of tasty things. A few salads, soup, sandwiches and sides. They also have some delicious bread apps to start with – cheesy bread, pretzel bread & pizza bread. We started with the pizza rossa, topped with fresh oil and a tomato sauce. Perfectly crisp! I enjoyed the roasted pork sandwich, fresh meats, cucumber, mustard and garlic mayonnaise. The BF got the chicken and rice soup and he loved it. I’d have to say my favorite was their potato salad! I LOVE potato salad and I’ve had it lots of different ways, but theirs is amazing. I wish I would have gotten more to go. Can’t wait to go back!

Amazing place. Small menu but everything we had was so good. Below is what we had and they were so good I can’t pick a favorite
Pizza Rossa
Chicken and rice soup
Toasted Pork sandwich
We will be back so soon!

Well first off their customer service is very good when you are there (although they do have some challenges with email or phone orders that I am hoping will be worked out soon). I have not eaten a mean there but ordered different breads from there. We especially liked the Rye and the Ciabatta bread. You can tell both were freshly made.
We also ordered some rolls from them for our Christmas dinner. The tops were a bit overcooked and too be honest they were nothing special. I think I should have ordered a loaf of bread instead and sliced it.
There prices are very reasonable. I will definitely go back to them for fresh bread.

This place is phenomenal. Their passion for good food comes through in every bite. Their bread is naturally leavened — the slow way — and that’s one of the reasons why it tastes so good. Almost all of the ingredients are made from scratch: the sauces, the butter, even the pickles.
The sandwiches are the stars of the show. The roasted pork and the nut butter and jelly are my favorites. And yes, they make their own peanut butter and their own jelly from scratch!
Do not miss the Little Gem Salad. Light, clean, and delicious. The bread crumbs add incredible texture, and the fresh herbs makes it truly special.
Finally, be sure to try the snacks: Pizza Rosa (tomato sauce and chili oil on focaccia), Cheesy Bread, and amazing Bavarian-​style soft pretzels with homemade grainy mustard.
Union Loafers is the best new restaurant this year, and it’ll be one of the best in town for a long time to come.

This bread is AMAZING! I’m partial to the Light & Mild, but hubby loves the Rye. The pretzel is also incredible. It’s perfectly salted and sized to share.
I agree with some other reviewers that the lack of lunch options prevents it from being a 5. I wish there were more exciting sandwich options. Word on the street is that they’ll be serving pizza for dinner. I’m definitely looking forward to that!

Best rye bread in St. Louis!
I went there the weekend they opened and got to talk to the guys who opened the place. Awesome group of people and a great addition to the community.
The bread alone is amazing and worthy of its own shop. The lunch menu is a little small, but everything is very good. Things are generally affordable although a loaf of bread could be a little cheaper than $ 8 (maybe that’s fair and I’m just poor/​cheap).
Also, don’t sleep on the soft pretzels!

4.5 stars. 5 for the bread, because it’s awesome. 4 for the general sandwich/​salad options. I hope they continue to expand their bakery menu to include more products.
The sandwiches are quite good– I think the stand out sandwich is actually the beet one. The smoky flavor is quite strong, and the sandwich has a great combination of flavors. If I go back for lunch, I would get the roasted pork, then beet, then ham, then turkey (because I’m more of a carnivore).
You should definitely check out this addition to the neighborhood.

So I’ve heard everyone talking about this place and all the great reviews it has so I had to go in and check for myself. I was not disappointed at all. The bread is fresh the service was excellent. The specials were tasty fresh and inventive, everything was well paired and spent reasonable for artesian food. We will be back again!

5 stars for the lunch. I had a very tasty (and very filling) roasted beet sandwich. My companion had the lentil soup and liked it.
The lunch menu is short, which is a GOOD SIGN. This place only makes what it makes well.
5 stars for the bread I bought to take home. It was a wonderful hearty rye.

The whole menu is so good.
I have eating everything on the menu, and I can honestly say that I have been surprised how good and simple everything has been.
Get the «little gem» salad. Is is stupid good!!!

Best bread in St. Louis, no question. Maybe the best bread between Ann Arbor and Berkeley.
I haven’t tried anything else. Who cares?! When bread is this good, it doesn’t need anything else.