Jamie B.
Yelp
I love Brass Union! Set your expectations accordingly that their dinner menu is small (better for late night snacks than dinner, in my opinion), but the food is yummy and the cocktails are A+.
The B's Knees cocktail is my go-to here - gin, honey, lemon, spiced pear, basil, & cucumber, yummmmmmm. Most of the cocktails here rock 5+ ingredients (including some funky/interesting combinations!), so if you enjoy sampling your way through a cocktail menu at the hands of bartenders who know what they're doing, this is your place.
Food-wise, the honey hot drumsticks were very good (but at only 3 to an order, consider it more of a snack than a full-sized appetizer), and the sliders & fries were worthwhile too. It seems they change their menu up a few times each year, so I suggest not having your heart set on anything too specific, and instead sample 2-3 small dishes as a compliment to whatever cocktail(s) you're enjoying.
The vibe in here is great (yes, it's technically a basement, but it's a cool basement!) - I consider it about halfway between being a lounge and a bar on most evenings, which means you can probably hear yourself talk (yay!), but it also still feels like you're going "out" (and the vibe does become more bar-like as the night goes on, not surprisingly). My favorite part about Brass Union is actually the shuffleboard table that they have right by the bar - I'm always up for a little friendly competition during a night out!
If you're looking for a place to go for post-dinner (or pre-dinner) cocktails in Union Square that isn't pretentious but also serves up quality, reliable food & drinks, look no further than this local staple.