How Legendary NYC Restaurant Union Square Cafe Stays Fresh After 40 Years | Forbes All-Star Eateries

Under the leadership of Executive Chef Lena Ciardullo, Union Square Cafe is a distinguished entry on the Forbes All-Star Eateries List. For over four decades, this New York City institution from restaurateur Danny Meyer has sought to tell the culinary story of the city right now. Chef Ciardullo describes the restaurant’s core ethos simply: "Food should feel like a hug." The kitchen’s unwavering commitment is to deliver comfort met with exceptional skill, providing guests with a delicious, welcoming experience that doesn't seek to challenge them.

This philosophy extends beyond the dining room into Meyer's philosophy of "Enlightened Hospitality," a model that prioritizes the team. As server Bob Yee, a 28-year veteran, attests, taking care of coworkers creates a virtuous cycle that ultimately benefits the guests. Chef Ciardullo maintains that an executive chef is only as good as their team, emphasizing the critical mission to get staff invested enough to make the right decisions, even when she isn't there.

The menu is a testament to locality and seasonality, treating the nearby Union Square Green Market as the restaurant’s backbone. A culinary highlight is the 'infamous' balsamic broccoli with black garlic, candied pecans, and pomegranate. This beloved dish, which has been on the menu for years, is what Chef Ciardullo calls the definition of "under promise, over deliver," scratching every flavor itch—crunchy, tangy, sweet, and a hint of heat.

Union Square Cafe's commitment to community and responsibly sourcing quality ingredients from local farmers has kept the 40-year-old restaurant profitable and on a path to its next 40 years.

Find the latest All-Star Eateries list on Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/restaura...

Subscribe to FORBES: https://www.youtube.com/user/Forbes?s...

0:00 Time & Place On the Plate
0:22 Chef Lena Ciardullo: Food Should Feel Like a Hug
1:26 Lumache San Gennaro: A Dish Inspired By NYC
1:53 Enlightened Hospitality & The Power of the Team
3:43 The Infamous Dish They Can't Take Off: Broccoli
4:36 Seasonality, The Green Market, and Responsible Sourcing
6:15 Farmer/Chef Relationship and What's Ahead

Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:

https://account.forbes.com/membership...

Stay Connected
Forbes newsletters: https://newsletters.editorial.forbes.com
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter:   / forbes  
Forbes Video on Instagram:   / forbes  
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com

Forbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.