Union Kitchen and Tap Debuts Downtown

Union Kitchen and Tap Gaslamp officially opens for dinner tonight, serving up Chai Seed Crusted Albacore to natural and hormone-free meats like a 16 oz. Duroc Bone Pork Chop.

It's the newest venture for proprietor Eric Leitstein, whose Encinitas restaurant of the same name has been a North County staple since 2011. The 8,000-square-foot Gaslamp locale has lots more space than its sister, with a patio and huge garage-style doors that open at street level. Union scored an entertainment license, so expect live music and pairing dinners.

Inside holds two main bars, a corner cheese and charcuterie station, a rolling craft cocktail cart and a separate private dining area which seats 70 with an additional adjacent bar. The lunch menu launches Monday, with a thick selection of sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads.

In order to form a more perfect Union, Leitstein handpicked the culinary team to include Executive Chef Sean Langlais, formerly of Oceanaire, and Executive Sous Chef Jimmy Tessier from Las Vegas, who appeared on Food Network's Chopped. Sous Chef Luis, formerly of Searsucker, rounds out the pack.

It was a quick turnaround for Leitstein of OMG Restaurant Group (an acronym standing for his children, Olivia, Mason and Gavin), who pounced on the former Donovan's Prime Seafood space in December.
· Union Kitchen and Tap Gaslamp [Official Site]
· All Opening Alerts on Eater [~ESD~]