Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 4 and Version 3 of Union Cafe, W1U 2QA

Airy, modern restaurant in Marylebone serving contemporary British food, part of the small Brinkley's Restaurants chain.

The dining space is bright and modern, with wooden floors and tables. The large windows make the room feel deceptively large, though the tables are crammed in quite closely together. It gets very busy at lunchtimes (especially on Fridays) with local office workers, and it's advisable to book.

Kat has visited on several occasions with colleagues, usually booking via phone, often with only a few hours' notice. The food quality doesn't always match the price, but the wine list is excellent (in both price range and quality), service is always friendly and efficient, and the menu is consistent enough that we know what to go for and what to avoid. Pick of the starters is a decent portion of deep-fried brie (£7). The foie gras burger (£17) is heavy-going but has to be tried at least once. The crispy duck salad is usually great but I wouldn't bother with the sausage & mash or the crab cakes. There is an additional brunch menu on Sundays. A 2-course lunch in October 2014 (including mineral water, service and two large glasses of Sancerre each) came to around £40 per head.

Kat's verdict: the food can sometimes underwhelm but nothing glaring that would stop me coming back - it's a pleasant, lively environment in which to spend a gossipy lunch hour. It's probably too noisy for my parents, though.

Accessibility: a low step to get in, then step-free on the ground floor. Toilets are down a flight of stairs.

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