Union Cafe & Restaurant

If you haven't eaten at Cafe Mars, go! We had such a wonderful evening..great food, fantastic service and fun atmosphere. Paul was incredibly accommodating and informed us of all our options given a garlic allergy. (Tip: email before arriving and the team will be ready for you) The Jell-olives are a kick, the pasta dishes are excellent and interesting and the scallops are delicious. Nothing left to say except the next time I'm in town, I'm heading to Mars (Hehe).

wow what a lovely experience, one of the best dine in experiences i’ve had in a long time. everything from the service, food, design, plating feels so intentional. i literally started feeling attached to the dishware LOL just so beautiful. service was beyond hospitable, it was so fun being able to interact with the back of house as well. i think the best part was you could tell every person really loves what they do because their hospitality felt innate and so natural. just a really gorgeous experience, i don’t want to spoil anything — just go!

Fantastic concept with Glutten Free options that were much appreciated! Their cocktails were also fantastic 💗

+1

Such a fun place! Creative cocktails and interesting take on Italian food. Original and tasty.

+2

Sit at the bar if you can to see the magic happening. The staff is friendly, helpful and full of great recommendations. Nothing disappoints and are all a modern take on Italian. If you’re lucky, you get some friendly banter from the chefs and there recs on their local favorites.

Inventive food. Quirky atmosphere. Outstanding service. We tried Cafe Mars for the first time last night and everything was wonderful. Our friend had a minor medical emergency and had to leave halfway through the meal. The staff was extremely professional and compassionate and took such good care of all of us in the aftermath. We were so impressed. Plus the food is unique and delicious. You must try the garlic monkey bread and fried figs. So glad to have found this gem in our neighborhood!

Everything about this place!!!! Danielle and I went there last night, for our 2nd visit and it was amazing. “Lots of Lettuce” was great, and the “Artichoke Raviolo” was the bomb. Drinks were perfect.

Super fun and unique dining experience. You basically have no idea what you are ordering so if that makes you nervous, look at photos of dishes here first, otherwise order away and be surprised and intrigued.

My partner and I are big fans of Leroy's Place, so we’ve been wanting to check out Café Mars for a while—and we’re so happy we finally did! It was such a wonderful experience in a beautiful, creative space. The staff was incredibly kind and thoughtful, making the whole experience feel special. The ambiance was fantastic—the lighting and playlist really set the vibe, and the music level was perfectly balanced. Every dish was exceptional, but the garlic knot monkey bread, baked stuffed artichoke raviolo, smoked scallops, and the olive marble cake were definite standouts. Highly recommend!

I recently dined at Cafe Mars with my wife and son to celebrate our son's birthday. Wow! What a great evening! The entire experience was an elevated blend of food, ambience and service! From the moment we walked in we were treated like family. We shared multiple dishes including the carpaccio, the pork tart, scallops, several pastas and two desserts. Every bite was delicous. Equally important, the staff made us feel so welcome and appreciated. Special thanks to Jordan and Geneva! We'll be back for sure!

From the moment I walked through the door I felt genuinely cared for by every member of the staff. The offerings were creative and went together perfectly; I felt like I was at a culinary Metropolitan Museum of Art! This wasn’t just a dinner, it was an experience. I travel all over this planet and have eaten at some of its best restaurants. None have combined food, art, science, and soul like Cafe Mars.

Ate @ Cafe Mars for the 1st Time on Wednesday night, 27 May and was completely overwhelmed by the terrific experience. The staff is friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. The decor and restaurant layout -- which we heard has just won an award -- is bright, cheery, welcoming and well-thought out. The entire restaurant has a real flair. The food -- well, the food is out of this world. It is authentic Italian but imagined in a way you've never experienced before. Ingredients are all top quality, presentation is stylish and servings are generous. pricing is surprisingly reasonable for such an extraordinary experience. Can't wait to go again!

Amazing food, service, and ambiance. One of my favorites! Monkey bread and lemon pasta were the best.

After years of dining in New York, it can be hard to be surprised, but this place was a surprise in the best ways. Simply put, Cafe Mars is exceptional! The food is excellent - creative and diverse. I would recommend sampling as much of the menu as possible. We tried 4 snacks, 4 apps, 2 pastas, and all 3 desserts, and all were worth trying. The standouts include the monkey bread, which we can't stop thinking about, sunchokes, parmesan in carozz, triangle penne, and all three desserts (Malaga ice cream, citrus Macedonia, olive marble cake.) We nearly skipped the marble cake, but our server graciously threw it in for us seeing that we were uncertain about it, and we are so glad she did because it was excellent! Also, their bar made the best non-alcoholic cocktail I've ever had (the smokin' Giuseppe.) The ambiance is great - kitchy in the best way possible, and the service was impeccable. It was truly a 10/10 experience.

Scallops and monkey bread were divine. The service is exceptional and the experience is one of a kind.

This place is such a treat. A whimsical vibe and some of the most charismatic staff. Every single thing on the menu works. They focus on balance in their dishes, which is my personal favorite when paying for upmarket food.

We had an incredible curated vegetarian tasting menu (13 courses!) to celebrate our daughters 30th birthday. Chef Paul, Jake, Jordan, and the entire staff were so accommodating, fun, and creative. The evening experience was very special and one that we will all remember in years to come. HIGHLY recommend - don’t hesitate, go ahead and make a reservation. You will not regret it!

Wow ! This place is sooooo rad! The vibe is modern and funky; it's a perfect low-key date restaurant .The food has both cravable comfort foods (*see garlic knot monkey bread) , and kooky innovative stuff that spins Italian cuisine on its head! (Jell-olives ?!?!) . New fave restaurant!!

Everything was great, and appreciated the friendly service. Highly recommend checking this place out. + Fires of Vesuvius was our favorite cocktail. Strong flavor and great spice level. + Enjoyed the crudo. It was light and fresh, packed with flavor. + Monkey bread seems popular, so I don't have much to add. I will say, it was larger than expected and pretty filling! + Definitely preferred the riggies over the rotalini. I just don't think we had the palate for the broccoli rabe. + Panna cotta had three or four layers, so satisfying to take a spoonful. + Baba-yaki was interesting. Great texture, and fun to eat. I don't think I ever tried amaro. It was definitely an adjustment. Overall, it was a lovely and creative experience, with lots of little surprises throughout the evening.

Cafe Mars is one of the most creative dining experiences I’ve had in Brooklyn. The gel olives were super unique a really fun, flavorful dish that shows how playful their menu is. The anchovies with the pizza seasoning were also surprisingly good, packed with flavor and a perfect bite. I tried the Riggies, which is originally an Ithaca, New York dish that’s normally made with chicken, but here they do a version with mussels. It ended up being really good and full of flavor definitely worth ordering if you want something different. The decor is beautiful, with a cool, modern vibe, and the service is extremely friendly and attentive. Overall, a great spot if you’re looking for something creative and memorable in Gowanus.

We had an amazing experience at Café Mars, the food is as unique as the space, flavorful and delicious, some of the highlights were the scallops, girelle pasta and the ice cream sandwich. While the vibe is fun and relaxed, it’s a true fine dining experience full of creativity. Every detail has been thought out from the interior design to the pop-up thank you cards!. The service was outstanding and everyone was very friendly. Can’t wait to come back to explore more of the menu!

Solo dining on V-Day and I was treated like family from the moment I walked in. The staff is incredibly kind and hardworking, and all the food I tried crudo for the first time I loved every bite! What could’ve been a lonely night turned into a memorable experience. Above and beyond

Can't stop day dreaming about the Garlic Butter Monkey Bread! Cafe Mars is not just mouth watering food, but a unique experience with the most incredible staff. Our waiter was not only well informed, but funny and friendly and made the night that much better. I recommend everything on the menu. Every dish that came out was delicious and sometimes quirky! From the ambiance to the impeccable service and mouthwatering food, it’s clear that they put a lot of care into creating an exceptional dining experience.

The food and atmosphere is so good and they have lots of nice little touches that made it a great spot to celebrate my birthday. Complimentary sparkling water. You get to choose a fun glass from a basket and the choice between bubbly or kombucha as an aperitif. Matchbooks and a guest book you can sign at the front. Colorful and funky. Great service.

10/10!!!!!!!!! Like not even kidding. Every dish, every bite, every moment was pure delight. The food touches on every level. From the taste, to the feel to the sound. Hits on all levels. Will be coming back. Core memories made.

We hosted our wedding reception at Cafe Mars and it was perfection! Jordan and Paul worked with us to create an ideal menu. So much time and attention was paid to every detail. Our guests raved about the food and the decor, and we felt that we had an evening that really represented our style. Thank you so much!

cafe mars left nothing to be desired. this was the most fun i’ve had a restaurant - everything was delectable and curated! i can’t wait to come back asap!

Food was delicious, service was delightful. Favorite app: jellolive—really unique flavor of Negroni jello. Favorite entree: all the pasta dishes are delicious, can’t pick one! Highly recommend ordering a bunch of plates and sharing. Will define back!

I think our party may have tried everything on the menu? Or almost everything! Literally kept ordering more dishes because everything was so delicious! My out of town friends initially asked to come because of the jell-olives. It did not disappoint. The drinks were also delicious! The only not completely high note was the dessert but I think the fact that the starters, mains, and drinks were so so so delicious that it just did not compare. Will absolutely be recommending this place to everyone! If you go, we highly recommend the garlic knot monkey bread, fluke crudo, and bucatini con mackerel. (sorry we were too busy eating that I did not take pictures of all the items we ate but here are a few for reference)

Delicious and bold menu! The welcome drink was so special with picking your own glassware! The lemon bucatini was amazing especially! Love the funky decor and the fact that the servers were so knowledgeable about the menu! Will def come back!

L. H.

Everything was great, and appreciated the friendly service. Highly recommend checking this place out. + Fires of Vesuvius was our favorite cocktail. Strong flavor and great spice level. + Enjoyed the crudo. It was light and fresh, packed with flavor. + Monkey bread seems popular, so I don't have much to add. I will say, it was larger than expected and pretty filling! + Definitely preferred the riggies over the rotalini. I just don't think we had the palate for the broccoli rabe. + Panna cotta had three or four layers, so satisfying to take a spoonful. + Baba-yaki was interesting. Great texture, and fun to eat. I don't think I ever tried amaro. It was definitely an adjustment. Overall, it was a lovely and creative experience, with lots of little surprises throughout the evening.

John Gonsalves

Cafe Mars is one of the most creative dining experiences I’ve had in Brooklyn. The gel olives were super unique a really fun, flavorful dish that shows how playful their menu is. The anchovies with the pizza seasoning were also surprisingly good, packed with flavor and a perfect bite. I tried the Riggies, which is originally an Ithaca, New York dish that’s normally made with chicken, but here they do a version with mussels. It ended up being really good and full of flavor definitely worth ordering if you want something different. The decor is beautiful, with a cool, modern vibe, and the service is extremely friendly and attentive. Overall, a great spot if you’re looking for something creative and memorable in Gowanus.

Andrea Correal

We had an amazing experience at Café Mars, the food is as unique as the space, flavorful and delicious, some of the highlights were the scallops, girelle pasta and the ice cream sandwich. While the vibe is fun and relaxed, it’s a true fine dining experience full of creativity. Every detail has been thought out from the interior design to the pop-up thank you cards!. The service was outstanding and everyone was very friendly. Can’t wait to come back to explore more of the menu!

Melodie Thurman

10/10!!!!!!!!! Like not even kidding. Every dish, every bite, every moment was pure delight. The food touches on every level. From the taste, to the feel to the sound. Hits on all levels. Will be coming back. Core memories made.

Amanda N

We hosted our wedding reception at Cafe Mars and it was perfection! Jordan and Paul worked with us to create an ideal menu. So much time and attention was paid to every detail. Our guests raved about the food and the decor, and we felt that we had an evening that really represented our style. Thank you so much!

Kelly Connor

Can't stop day dreaming about the Garlic Butter Monkey Bread! Cafe Mars is not just mouth watering food, but a unique experience with the most incredible staff. Our waiter was not only well informed, but funny and friendly and made the night that much better. I recommend everything on the menu. Every dish that came out was delicious and sometimes quirky! From the ambiance to the impeccable service and mouthwatering food, it’s clear that they put a lot of care into creating an exceptional dining experience.

Libby Swofford

The food and atmosphere is so good and they have lots of nice little touches that made it a great spot to celebrate my birthday. Complimentary sparkling water. You get to choose a fun glass from a basket and the choice between bubbly or kombucha as an aperitif. Matchbooks and a guest book you can sign at the front. Colorful and funky. Great service.

Luz Marina Toro

Food was delicious, service was delightful. Favorite app: jellolive—really unique flavor of Negroni jello. Favorite entree: all the pasta dishes are delicious, can’t pick one! Highly recommend ordering a bunch of plates and sharing. Will define back!

Grace Zelden

Such a fun and unique restaurant! The food was delicious and very unique, but the flavors all worked really well together. Had a great time and highly recommend.

Sofia L

I think our party may have tried everything on the menu? Or almost everything! Literally kept ordering more dishes because everything was so delicious! My out of town friends initially asked to come because of the jell-olives. It did not disappoint. The drinks were also delicious! The only not completely high note was the dessert but I think the fact that the starters, mains, and drinks were so so so delicious that it just did not compare. Will absolutely be recommending this place to everyone! If you go, we highly recommend the garlic knot monkey bread, fluke crudo, and bucatini con mackerel. (sorry we were too busy eating that I did not take pictures of all the items we ate but here are a few for reference)

Sheila Xia

Delicious and bold menu! The welcome drink was so special with picking your own glassware! The lemon bucatini was amazing especially! Love the funky decor and the fact that the servers were so knowledgeable about the menu! Will def come back!

Came with a group of 5 for a birthday so we did the prix fixe menu. That set up was perfect for us, you got to try 1-2 bites of every single item on the menu. Specifically, we LOVED the meatball dumpling with sesame and the lemon pasta were excellent. Two friends do not eat pork and they were flawless in respecting that and maintaining the integrity of the dishes. Service was very friendly and enthusiastic about the culinary work. The decor and vibes are fun/kitschy, not your typical Italian spot with brick and old timey vibes, it’s modern and colorful. I would highly recommend a group dinner here.

Kirk Peterson

This place is just a gem. Any time i’ve gone, the staff is absolutely wonderful. Welcoming, attentive, and just work really hard to make the experience feel unique and special. The space itself is also very cool, again an amazing attention to detail. I’ve had food that’s been amazing, some dishes that have been alright - but give them total credit for trying new things and being playful and inventive. Highly recommend.

Julia H

Came with a group of 5 for a birthday so we did the prix fixe menu. That set up was perfect for us, you got to try 1-2 bites of every single item on the menu. Specifically, we LOVED the meatball dumpling with sesame and the lemon pasta were excellent. Two friends do not eat pork and they were flawless in respecting that and maintaining the integrity of the dishes. Service was very friendly and enthusiastic about the culinary work. The decor and vibes are fun/kitschy, not your typical Italian spot with brick and old timey vibes, it’s modern and colorful. I would highly recommend a group dinner here.

Café Mars is such a funky place from their creative dishes to their interior design. The staff were all super friendly and welcoming throughout our time there! My favorite was the girelle pasta. Very strong lemon flavor that reminded me of similar dishes I’ve tried in Italy. Overall, we thought they were all tasty but not too memorable. Ended up being pretty pricey for each person (I somehow forgot to take all photos, but we’ve ordered more than what’s shown here).

Everything that was breaded and fried were excellent— the asparagus, mushroom. The breading was so light and crunchy and flavorful, and perfect with all the sauces that came with it. The monkey bread was amazing with the garlic butter. The lemon pasta was great as well. Portion sizes are on the smaller side.

i loved this place! we came after searing an water review and really wanted to try the “whimsical” experience. we weren’t let down. the olives are fun and should be gotten. lean into it!!! if you’re not here for fun why are you here? after we really enjoyed the lettuce and the octopus with pepperoni. both not just satisfying but delicious. in terms of the pasta we got the girelle (lemon) and triangle penne (beef cheeks). i 10/10 recommend the triangle penne, but i do wish we got the waves (prawns) instead of the lemon. next we had the bluefish with kohlrabi agrodolce — SO GOOD. wow. who knew bluefish could taste so tangy and meaty and yummy? lastly - the strawberries and olive cake. the olive cake - being made literally with black olive purée - was a total winner. i also got an espresso martini with mine which was a little too bitter for my liking. other than that one drink - beverages were great. really like the candy with the check and the first welcome drink on the house. our only negative comment - just wish service was faster. it seems they have limited staff, and way too many tables for their small kitchen. we waited quite a long time between dishes and were there over 2 hours. not a big problem but would prevent us from dropping by on a weeknight again. all in all - a great new spot.

There are some amazing items on the menu. And the staff is fantastic. We ordered almost everything. Favorites included the jell-olives, the anchovies, the chicken liver mousse, the grilled octopus, the roasted kabocha, and for dessert, the breakfast in sicily. That said, the whole concept is a bit too gimmicky for me. Bottom line, I'm really glad I had a chance to check it out but it may be a while before I come back. It reminded me a little of when (back in the day) molecular gastronomy was all the rage.

Vicki

Café Mars is such a funky place from their creative dishes to their interior design. The staff were all super friendly and welcoming throughout our time there! My favorite was the girelle pasta. Very strong lemon flavor that reminded me of similar dishes I’ve tried in Italy. Overall, we thought they were all tasty but not too memorable. Ended up being pretty pricey for each person (I somehow forgot to take all photos, but we’ve ordered more than what’s shown here).

Isabelle J

Everything that was breaded and fried were excellent— the asparagus, mushroom. The breading was so light and crunchy and flavorful, and perfect with all the sauces that came with it. The monkey bread was amazing with the garlic butter. The lemon pasta was great as well. Portion sizes are on the smaller side.

Christopher Taktak

i loved this place! we came after searing an water review and really wanted to try the “whimsical” experience. we weren’t let down. the olives are fun and should be gotten. lean into it!!! if you’re not here for fun why are you here? after we really enjoyed the lettuce and the octopus with pepperoni. both not just satisfying but delicious. in terms of the pasta we got the girelle (lemon) and triangle penne (beef cheeks). i 10/10 recommend the triangle penne, but i do wish we got the waves (prawns) instead of the lemon. next we had the bluefish with kohlrabi agrodolce — SO GOOD. wow. who knew bluefish could taste so tangy and meaty and yummy? lastly - the strawberries and olive cake. the olive cake - being made literally with black olive purée - was a total winner. i also got an espresso martini with mine which was a little too bitter for my liking. other than that one drink - beverages were great. really like the candy with the check and the first welcome drink on the house. our only negative comment - just wish service was faster. it seems they have limited staff, and way too many tables for their small kitchen. we waited quite a long time between dishes and were there over 2 hours. not a big problem but would prevent us from dropping by on a weeknight again. all in all - a great new spot.

Irma Zandl

There are some amazing items on the menu. And the staff is fantastic. We ordered almost everything. Favorites included the jell-olives, the anchovies, the chicken liver mousse, the grilled octopus, the roasted kabocha, and for dessert, the breakfast in sicily. That said, the whole concept is a bit too gimmicky for me. Bottom line, I'm really glad I had a chance to check it out but it may be a while before I come back. It reminded me a little of when (back in the day) molecular gastronomy was all the rage.

The food was fine, but for the price and smaller portion size I expected someone more elevated. The restaurant is too loud to think, much less to have a normal conversation. I could barely hear the waiters talking to me. The service was chaotic and not always attentive, but I could see that they were trying. Perhaps it was just a very busy evening. When it came time to pay, the hostess preselected a 24% tip! First time ever that the tip is preselected for me, and on top of that work an amount much higher than the typical tip, and for a service that's in my opinion wasn't up to par with their ambitions.

An average food experience. I would not go back not recommend it. Money bread was decent as was the fluke. Everything else was average. ( We ordered Anchovy’s, the jello olive negroni’s, a pasta with fish , the skate , chicory salad , fluke and the monkey bread). Go to Runner and stone across the street instead. Nothing was special , it was all just ok , unfortunately.

The inside is cute and we appreciated the creativity! The food was 50/50: monkey bread and lemon pasta were ah-mazing and worth the trip! The fried figs, while individually delicious, was overall a clunky dish. The scallop dish missed the mark. The service was good, however, it was really odd to have the utensil drawer being restocked at our table multiple times during our meal.

The place is fun, the decor is great, the service was very attentive. Fun surprises, like a complimentary drink at the beginning of the meal. The cocktails had really strong flavors. The menu is interesting, features creative dishes that are well executed. The menu changes regularly which is great. Have been here twice and would come back again.

More fun than good. The quirky atmosphere and great service was unable to fully compensate for the meal - that while beautifully plated, failed to live up. The lemon lemon lemon pasta was the standout dish. Bring friends and a light mood and you will have a good time.

Darcy Weidman

The inside is cute and we appreciated the creativity! The food was 50/50: monkey bread and lemon pasta were ah-mazing and worth the trip! The fried figs, while individually delicious, was overall a clunky dish. The scallop dish missed the mark. The service was good, however, it was really odd to have the utensil drawer being restocked at our table multiple times during our meal.

Yelena Conaway

The place is fun, the decor is great, the service was very attentive. Fun surprises, like a complimentary drink at the beginning of the meal. The cocktails had really strong flavors. The menu is interesting, features creative dishes that are well executed. The menu changes regularly which is great. Have been here twice and would come back again.

Tom Klaber

More fun than good. The quirky atmosphere and great service was unable to fully compensate for the meal - that while beautifully plated, failed to live up. The lemon lemon lemon pasta was the standout dish. Bring friends and a light mood and you will have a good time.