Tap Room Replaces Union Cantina

Feb. 8, 2015

When one door closes, another one opens. In the case of TC Grills, this is certainly true.

The restaurant group is a partnership between brothers Matt and Mark Davies and their wives Patty and Jenny. The four decided to close their Mexican-themed Union Cantina in downtown Traverse City and reopen it as Union Tap & Grill, which Matt Davies says better fits both the area and the company’s other holdings.

"The main reason is this is what we do at our other places," says Matt. The partners own the Western Avenue Grill in Glen Arbor, Peninsula Grill and Bad Dog Deli on Old Mission Peninsula and the Riverwalk Grill and Tap Room in Elk Rapids.

The preponderance of breweries and restaurants in the downtown area also played into the decision.

"The landscape has changed since we opened four years ago," says Davies. "There are more food trucks and restaurants."

THE SCENE

Davies says the challenge of competing with other restaurants was exacerbated by the high costs of preparing many of the Union Cantina items in-house.

"The labor costs of Mexican food, with all our own sauces and salsas, while trying to keep a $10 entrée "¦ we decided to go back to what we’re good at."

Thus, the Cantina became the Tap Room, with a baker’s dozen draft choices and another 14 brews in bottles, plus wine and mixed drinks. "We added eight more beer taps," says Davies.

THE MENU

The grill specialties, which include New York strip, pecan-crusted chicken, prime rib, and baby back ribs, plus a nightly special, are just a small portion of the menu. From the surf, they offer maple-glazed salmon, pistachiocrusted tuna, perch and whitefish.

Flatbreads include pulled pork, fungi, garlic chicken and black and bleu, with blackened tenderloin and bleu cheese. Sandwich options are lobster roll, mushroom Swiss burgers, bacon cheeseburgers and your choice of tenderloin or oyster sliders.

Soups, salads and small plates (mussels, wings, fried pickles) round out the selections. It’s all part of what Davies calls an upscale, but still approachable, pub food aesthetic.

Some of the Mexican favorites do remain.

"We’ve still got fish tacos and the pulled pork nachos," says Davies.

THE BEST

Davies is bullish on the meats from the grill.

"The prime rib, New York strip and tenderloin are all great value at under "$20," he says.

Keeping the tasty signature nachos on the menu was a good move, with house-made chips topped with pulled pork, avocado salad and cilantro lime sour cream.

The flatbreads are every bit the equal of their delicious counterparts at Peninsula Grill. The macaroni and cheese uses sharp cheddar and Pinconning cheeses and can be topped with ham or lobster.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Davies says most of the people who have stopped in have been accepting or downright enthusiastic about the change. "Some people were upset, but as soon as they came in, they were happy with what we’ve got going," he says.

The menu wasn’t the only thing that changed.

Davies explains they spruced up the interior, removing much of the Mexican-style frippery, and added three 60-inch flat screen TVs.

"It’s an awesome place to watch hockey, basketball or football," he says.

Other improvements included changing the lighting and extending the bar. And there’s more to come, though not here. Davies says they plan to open a similar restaurant on the east side of town, toward Acme, at the former Mr. Bill’s T-shirt location on US-31 next to Pebble Brook miniature golf. "We hope to open mid to late spring," he says.

THE SKINNY

Salads start at $9, sandwiches at $9. Appetizers start at $6, flatbreads at $11, entrées at $16, including items from the grill.

The Union Tap & Grill is located at 127 South Union Street in downtown Traverse City. They are open 3-10pm Monday through Thursday and 11:30an to 10pm Friday through Sunday. For more information, call (231) 941-5038.