Union Kitchen Ballston

Absolutely love the roast beef sandwich with roasted vegetables! 5 stars when they get it right! I will say that the food is not consistent. I've ordered the same sandwich two days in a row, and the first day they did not include cucumbers and had a very spicy mayo (not the pesto aioli listed), and yet the second day did it wonderfully with very fresh tastes. The Team likely needs a little additional training in regards to assembly. I received a large amount of roast beef both days, which was wonderful.

I got an avacado toast, but i was not aware they would pour honey on it. i was expecting it to be savory, not sweet. It was alright, but i was a bit disappointed. their chai latte was very good. i tried to use the bathroom, and it would not open. asked the staff several times, and they were not attentive. so i gave up washing my hands. personally would not repeat.

My favorite breakfast sandwich is the sausage and cheddar with sriracha mayo followed by a warmed chocolate croissant. The drip coffee is superb. They have full-sized napkins which is a nice touch as I become rather messy while I gobble down all the yummy, deliciousness at my table. Highly recommend this place.

I’ve been walking by for month and finally stopped in. The caps sandwhich was amazing (thanks for the rec Lorenzo) and the prices for things inside were honestly not bad given the location. I will be back for sure.

Very disappointed that my favorite foods have been taken off the menu. Loved the meatballs and grilled cheese as well as the multigrain bread. I was also told today that my favorite breakfast sandwich (sausage and cheddar) is going away. I don’t know if I’ll continue to come here as often given these changes. Additionally, I have been coming here at least 1-2x/week for more than a year but have yet to receive any rewards to redeem, even though my account is linked to my credit card.

It's a small neighborhood café/grocery store that sells a variety of items, including freshly made sandwiches, coffee drinks, and other products. We ordered an iced coffee, a matcha latte, and chocolate chip cookies, and they were all really good. It was a nice break to sit by the window and watch people walk by.

I cant say enough positive things about Union Kitchen Ballston - every time I visit the experience is inviting, friendly, and with FANTASTIC coffee, pastries (their chocolate chip cookie is so good), and delicious sandwiches/salads. I am also really impressed by their unique and wide-ranging speciality grocery items that really help showcase local vendors and small businesses. On top of everything else, one of the best aspects of the Ballston location are the amazing team that bring tremendous warmth, friendliness, and expertise to their roles. They are the reason I keep coming back (shout out to Essence, she is amazing!) and the sense of community that Union Kitchen have built in Ballston is something really special. Dont miss out!

Essence and Daisy are so helpful and kind- my spouse has a lot of medical food restrictions, and this is one of the only places we can go out to eat safely. Every staff member is patient, knowledgeable, and wonderful at what they do. <3 (As of 11/6/25, they have gluten-free bread without potato starch or other nightshades.)

Great spot in Ballston! A mini grocery market combined with a counter service deli serving both breakfast and lunch sandwiches. The Turkey Club was phenomenal! A sauce makes a sandwich, and the sriracha mayo was perfect for this sandwich. I substituted the lettuce for arugula, but the real standout of the sandwich was the rosemary bread! When ordering the empanadas, be sure to ask for a side of chimichurri!

I've been trying to find a breakfast spot that opens early and is delicious and I found it! The staff is friendly, food is delicious, and there is a build in store for small grocery grabs. I got the bacon and goat cheese on gluten free with a Vietnamese coffee. Both were great. I ordered online and it was great to see them pull my iced coffee from a fridge for pick up, small touch, but very appreciated! The small store has a selection of wine and health/speciality food. Looking forward to trying some other menu items!

The two young ladies working this Saturday morning were a breath of fresh air with their spectacular customer service and warmth - in a neighborhood that can oftentimes feel... well... ya know ... they confirmed my gluten allergy is a preference and I asked for it extra toasted - hello New favorite brekkie sando!!!!! Goat cheese - a real fried egg- crispy bacon, on great gf bread, and a compass coffee they're brewing !! Delightful from start to finish- as long as these folks keep up with this service and quality, I'm sold !! So many fun and tasty and speciality items as well for sale!

I really enjoy ordering the Italian sub from here, it's hard to beat. That being said the service can be better. I've waited almost 20 minutes one time because an employee decided to tidy up their entire station rather than man the register. To be honest if the food wasn't good I'd just walk out. So if you're looking for a great Italian sub and decent service most of the time, I would suggest coming here during the day when there's more than one persons working.

Not my first time at Union Kitchen as I've definitely shopped their snacks and wine before, but it is my first time ordering more than coffee at the deli. I had taken a menu back to my office so I could decide there and order and pick up, hopefully as seamlessly as I do my coffee. They have a counter ordering area and then a pick up spot in the middle, near the fridges. I waited at the pick up spot to no avail. There was a girl behind the counter who neither greeted, nor asked if I was waiting for anything. My name was not called and I received no text updates. OK. Whatever. I enjoy browsing. When I was done I just stood near and waited. Finally a guy came back from break (or something), saw me, and asked me if I had an online order. I said yes, and we were able to make the handoff happen. He was pleasant and apologized so I'm not holding this confusion against him, though it did add another 10-15 min to my carefully scheduled lunch pick up (mid-work day). I would really like to eat here, but I'm not a fan of the indoor quickie area. It's def more of a market set up than a restaurant. The outside is nice and had space with three picnic tables but it's just so sunny and hot that I couldn't. Back at the office I was pleased to discover that all my additions and changes to the salad were made as asked. The Vietnamese coffee was delicious as expected. I'm not sure how I feel about a meatball + brussel sprout salad, but I'm open to trying more interesting combinations they might have on the menu.

Generally, loved my experience here! Ambiance: (5/5) They have indoor and outdoor seating. They also have games available to play while you are there. It does get a bit cold in there. They have some frozen items for sale too so this is a unique spot. Price: (4/5) Prices are average for the area. Food: (5/5) I only got the Vietnamese coffee but it was really good. It was a bit sweet but I didn't mind. The bagel sandwich my friend got also looked really good so I want to come back to try more. Service: (5/5) Staff is very nice and food comes out quick.

I really liked this place and wish I had one near me. There were so many diet friendly snacks. The coffee was pretty good and the service was great. It was cool that they have board games as well. I got snacks and coffee here every day on my work trip and it was super convenient. I'll have to try the food next time.

The service is quite fast and all the employees are super friendly. Super chill atmosphere with free wifi to study or get some work done. The chai latte here is also pretty good. love the bodega feel of the place.

My wife had gave me half of a leftover meatball sandwich from here. Me being a savage I ate it cold ‍ for a cold meatball sandwich it was pretty good. I was so surprised I told myself if i was ever around her job I'd pick up a hot one. Surprise surprise! I walked in one day ordered the meat ball sub and saw an empanada for 2.99?!? I said why not. I had to grab something from the car, 5 minutes later and it was ready! CAUTION: that meatball sub will burn your mouth if you dive in. I would say the sub was about 6 inches (trying to be generous here) but for 13.99?!? Geezz and the empanada? Bruh!!! Barely the size of my palm (I do have somewhat big hands.) Kinda overpriced but I try really hard not let the price affect any review I do but best believe I let it be known all jokes aside. That meatball was incredibleeeeeee the gooey melting cheese with the perfectly cooked meat balls is to die for! 13.99 or not I will definitely pay it again for another one! Sauce was also flavorful. As small as the empanada was, that little guy packed a punch of flavor. Not bad not bad at all, I'd even get the empanada again. I barely looked at the menu cause I was determined to try a hot meatball sub. I will be back to try other items no matter how much my bank account hates me after ‍

Such a cool place to sit down and get a cup of coffee or eat their amazing croissant. Great atmosphere!

Came in to pick up some coffee. The service was meh, but it might have just been an early morning. Was not a super big fan of the drip coffee, but the latte was pretty good. If you love lattes this could be the spot for you. The drip coffee had a harsh taste at the end of it. Not super impressed but the inside looked very clean and modern.

I'm obsessed with this place i walk here with my roommates every Sunday hungover and the food and coffee SLAPS. the music is usually good and we can always sit at a table. It's become a ballston staple for me

I really like their sandwiches. The dijonaise and rosemary bread is next level. Discovering Union Kitchen has made my day-to-day much easier. I'm picky with food and hate spending a long time getting lunch--it's sooo easy and fast to just stop by and get a delicious sandwich. Wish I tried this sooner

All the folks working at the Ballston location have been so wonderful to me and my family. Ronan went above and beyond in customer service tonight. Hope he gets a bonus.

They always say hi and make great food for us. The team is very nice as well. I look forward to seeing them every week. Lots of color in the store as well.

This little market is a gem! The staff were super friendly and helpful and the breakfast sandwich was out-of-this-world!! Coffee only okay but I would definitely come again. This is also a market to grab any small treats or needs you may need as well, love the vibes! I am able to work remotely from here both inside and outside

This is a great neighborhood sandwich/ coffee shop.I have been living in this neighborhood for a year now and I should have made this a long time ago because I found this place within my first few days of living here and I love it !! I live two blocks away and I'm here at least once a week. Mostly for coffee but every once in a while I have to eat. And the sandwiches at this place are amazing ! Eat at this place ok. Just definitely eat at this place.

Cappuccino was weak and overpriced but better than Starbucks. There are better options nearby. However, in a pinch I'd go again.

I love this place....I come here every week from WV. The staff are always friendly and I get treated very nice. I love their Thai Chicken with Rice soup, soooo delicious! I always get some snacks there too. May be a bit pricey, but it's totally worth it

One of the few new places at the new Ballston (2022 early 2022 for future people reading this dumpster diving crap) where you do not mind waiting in line for the register. Besides the artisanal patron saints decked out in the latest fashions and the deliciously displayed accoutrements, you dont even need to bring out your phone to stare at since the menus are on display and interesting to peruse. Perhaps a breakfast sandwich and an oat latte or an oat sandwich and a breakfast latte? Can you smell the all natural peach scented deodorizers hand picked and squeezed from some foreign place probably or the farmers market down the street and marked up 3x for the hipster tax? The busy-ness of this business does not take away from its splendor. You need to visit at least once. Walk around the store in clockwise fashion, check the cold and dry goods displays as well as the packaged cheeses and drinks aisle in the corner. Its a small store but chock for of many delights. Enjoy your stay and good luck getting out of there spending less than $30.

A cute little market with a few grocery items, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks), and a deli that serves coffee; snacks; sandwiches; and pizza. They even had Vietnamese iced-coffee! They have a few seats indoors and a few picnic tables right outside.

Was very pleasantly surprised with the made to order food! I also love that Union Kitchen is a business accelerator and helps local entrepreneurs launch and build their food business. I think it is a good thing to support as a customer! I ordered the berry and goat cheese salad and added chicken. It was delicious!!! It came with a vinaigrette dressing. The salad had strawberries, blueberries, goat cheese, grape tomatoes, cucumber, pickled onions, walnuts, and mixed greens. You can add chicken for $1.99 extra. Worth it as they gave me a great portion of chicken. I thought the salad was worth the money as it was fully loaded with all the goods! I have already stopped back to order a salad again! I also like some of their convenience items like the poppi soda! I really would like to try one of their coffee/tea/espresso drinks sometime and I definitely would like to try a sandwich!!! You should drop by Union Kitchen in Ballston, absolutely!

Very surprised by the good reviews. We decided to grab a couple sandwiches for breakfast. Got turkey provolone and salami. Both were around $13 and both were awful. VERY salty, lackluster ingredients on old bread, and absolutely nothing taste wise warranted this price. $6 NYC bodega sandwiches are infinitely better. Honestly the worst sandwich I have ever had.

Always a good place to stop and grab lunch/snacks. I like their sandwiches and the staff is always friendly. The inside of the shop is cute and always seems well kept.

They place is nice a bit pricy but if you're looking for a good sandwich or sum it's decent

Best local sandwich shop / specialty grocery store in the area! Everything is always fresh and the employees are kind. My roommate and I try a different sandwich every time we go until we work our way through.

Quick service, incredible ambiance, and the best caprese sandwich I've had in a long time. Highly recommend!

Food prepared well and sandwich very tasty. Definite go to for lunch or quick meal, very healthy too.

This review is for the grocery side of things. I've never gotten food made to order here. The price gouging that occurs here is pretty epic. It pains me because the location is so convenient to where I live but I would rather walk the extra bit to Harris Teeter or get in my car and drive to get specialty items/wine/beer. The cost of alcohol, in particular, is the most offensive. That being said, when I have come here staff are always SUPER pleasant. Which makes the insane total amount being announced a little less harsh but still shocking. Union Kitchen - please leave the DC prices at your DC locations.

Tired of crouching in your computer chair while you "work" from home? Making sad sandwiches out of wilted spinach you found in the back of your fridge? Looking too pasty even though it's the dead middle of summer? Get out and head to the new-ish Union Kitchen. Union Kitchen is a blend of a coffee spot / quick lunch place / covenient store located near Ballston Quarter. When you head inside, you'll find the counter to the left where you can order a hot meal or drink, with packaged snacks and other goods to the right. I only learned after my visit that they serve as an accelerator space for small brands. Cool! They have a few seats indoors, plus picnic tables lining the front and side of the space (lucky you if you're able to snag one with an umbrella). Yes, their wifi works out there, and yes, it's super loud, but who are you kidding? You aren't really doing any work anyway.

Love this place! Cashiers and food makers are always nice , coffee station, tables are clean , food is tasty and fresh . They make great compass espresso drinks .

Roast Beef + Pesto sandwich and Chicken + Brussels salad were delicious! Very fresh and tasty ingredients and filling portions.

The turkey bacon avocado on rosemary tomato bread was top 5 best sandwich I've had. Service was friendly, coffee and sandwich were served quick and they have Compass coffee. The local snacks/general grocery selection was great as well, with a nice selection of cheese, wine, local ice cream brands, etc. I look forward to coming here more often!

Amazing food and really fast service. Love their acceleration program to help small businesses and entrepreneurs. Grocery selection is great and they have almost everything you need for the week. Breakfast sandwiches and cold brew are my go to orders here

So, I ordered a grilled cheese and tuna. Bought a coke along with it. I sit down to eat it, take two bites of the sandwich and, no kidding, a bug crawls out of my sandwich. I take it back to the counter and everyone feels bad and is appropriately apologetic. They ask what I want to do. I say let me sit down and recover. They say, "of course.". After a few minutes, I get up and go to the counter. Some dude I've never seen comes up with an attitude. Says he knows my situation and asks what I want to do. I say I have lost my appetite, I can't eat anything else, I'll take a refund. He processes the refund for the tuna sandwich, makes me pay for the coke, no apology. All with an attitude. Like he's the hired gun. Not impressed. This place is over priced, serves living insects as protein, and treats you like sh*t afterwards if you dare to complain. And then make you pay for your drink. Lots of other places in Ballston at which to dine. Go there and avoid Union Kitchen!

Expensive and terrible. $15 sandwiches with no sides, and they taste terrible - just bad recipes smothered in bad sauces used to hide the flavors. Go to any of the other dozen restaurants in the 1 block radius. Never buying anything here again.

Stopped in and finally tried this place the other day. Love that its local and all the food is super fresh. Being a really hot day I opted for the chicken salad sandwich which ended up being one of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever had. Definitely want to go back and try out their empanadas and some of the other sandwiches.

Looks like a grocery store but has delicious deli food. Had the Brussels and hummus and it was really good.

A bad experience...firstly there grilled sandwich is not grilled. Then we ordered the BLT sandwich which was really badly put together and tasted really bad not worth your $$ ...the staff also seemed to forget our order and our sandwich was so cold and not even heated. Really disappointing experience... you can make out from how the sandwich looked is it worth 12 bucks? They don't even serve the sandwiches in a plate it's just handed to you wrapped in a paper sheet. The least they can do is serve it properly.

Employees there are rude. I asked for a simple thing like butter to put on a $4 croissant and they said I had to buy it. So you offer dry ass bread with no cream cheese, butter or anything? And to buy butter?? Come on ..

Excellent cheeseburger and fries. The burger was perfectly cooked at the requested medium and arrived delicious and juicy. The fries were hot, crispy, and potatoey and pillowey inside. It is rare to find expertly cooked fries. I also love all the plants-- very welcoming! We will make this a regular feeding place!

Fresh baked goods made on site. Banana nut bread as good as my mother's. Fresh, clean decor. Good selection of beer on tap and cans. Good wine choices too. Excellent spot to grab a breakfast or lunch bite or snack. Outdoor seating and a few chairs at the window. Friendly service.

Really solid breakfast sandwiches. The soup goes great with everything and I really enjoy their selection of local takeaway foods.

Don't get the avocado BLT! I ordered one today (added fresh mozzarella). It was drenched in Mayo and all I could see was lettuce and tomato. There was barely any bacon (so little I actually went up to the counter TWICE because I thought it was totally missing), avocado, or mozzarella. It was really disappointing :(

Love the food here! I would recommend it for anyone wanting something good and quick to eat. Selection of wines are great and reasonably priced. Only reason it loses a few stars is the service. Few months ago would have gotten 5 stars but past few times I've gone it feels like I'm bothering them by ordering. Both times there was no one even in line! I get it - service industry but made me feel like crap just trying to order. Makes me think twice before walking in and grabbing some snacks/meal.

amazing food and really great service! Had a blast but do make reservations in advance!!

Such a great addition to the Ballston area! They carry so many awesome local brands its always fun to browse the store and see what you can find! They also have an area where you can order coffee and food! On weekends they have extended hours on the breakfast menu so definitely perfect to stroll on by and pick up a bfast sammy for your lazy Sunday. Last time I visited I got the tomato avocado breakfast sandwich. The wait takes a little while because its a popular spot, but the ingredients were fresh and the brioche bun it came on was delicious. The staff there is also always so friendly...I'll definitely continue to visit!

The best sandwiches. Always quick, delicious food. Would spend here every day if my budget allowed!

Was excited for a hash breakfast. Veg for me, crab for him. Microwaved mushy potatoes, overly salted seasoning mix, rubbery microwaved eggs. Unpalatable. Great coffee, though.