Back To Cali - ISSUE 4 FEB 2020

What’s Brewing at
Union Kitchen & Tap?
BY NICK BIANCO
The food is out of this world, the beer menu will make your
head spin, and the location could not be better. Strategically
placed in the heart of Encinitas on Highway 101 is
Union Kitchen and Tap. Walking distance from the beach
and countless shops, Union is a great place to go to after
a beach day or a day of shopping. Regardless, you’ll always
feel welcome at Union kitchen & tap.
Upon walking in, you’ll immediately notice the warm atmosphere
and a friendly greeting. Union seems to present
itself as a sports bar with class. While TVs can be found in
almost every corner, the exposed foundation and piping
work as a perfect canvas for the DIY theme of the restaurant.
Their extensive selection of local craft beers on tap
can be found handwritten on the blackboard that can be
seen from above the walkway as you walk in as well. While
their decor and interior design choices are impressive in
themselves, the food and drink menu are equally, if not
more impressive.
With so many compatible food/beer possibilities, choice
anxiety is a definite possibility. On the chance that you run
into this problem, feel free to ask one of the many knowledgeable
staff members what they recommend. While
we were there, we decided to go with their famous Union
Gumbo, and we cannot recommend it enough. In a place
like Southern California, it can be difficult to come across
quality gumbo at times.
on the lighter side should pair pretty-well. While the gumbo
is rich and full of different flavors, pairing it with a beer
like the Blanche De Chambly allows those flavors to come
through and punctuate them, without overpowering
them. Although we were only able to try out the gumbo,
we think it’s safe to assume that the rest of the menu will
live up to the expectation that the Union Gumbo has set.
With two locations, one in downtown and the other in
Encinitas, Union Kitchen & Tap show no signs of stopping
and should be the only one on your radar. At Union Kitchen
& Tap, you can bet that you’ll be met with some great
customer service, and even better food.
TWO LOCATIONS:
Local Union (Encinitas)
1108 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, Ca 92024
IG @unionkitchentap
Union Gaslamp (Downtown)
333 Fifth Ave, San Diego, Ca. 92101
@uniongaslamp
With that being said, Union Kitchen &
Tap, has raised the bar. At first taste,
the dish is rich and full of savory
flavors, with just enough spice on
the back end to give the gumbo one
good push. Packed to the brim with
Andouille Sausage and smoked
chicken, the Union Gumbo is the
epitome of soul food with a twist.
There’s no better way to pair this
rich dish than with a light Belgian
style wheat beer. While we found
the white Blanche De Chambly beer
to pair nicely with the gumbo, any beer
14
Photo: Nick Bianco