The Union Restaurant & Bakery in Oklahoma City: French Pastries and Lunch in Midtown

The Union is a French-focused bakery and casual restaurant occupying a former bank building in Oklahoma City's Midtown neighborhood, serving laminated pastries, sandwiches, and a short lunch menu alongside espresso drinks from open to mid-afternoon.

What The Union actually is

Opened in 2014, The Union operates as a combined bakery counter and sit-down restaurant in a restored Art Deco structure on NW 23rd Street. The bakery produces croissants, pain au chocolat, and Danish varieties made in-house; the restaurant portion serves soups, salads, and sandwiches built on house-baked bread. Service runs weekday mornings through early afternoon, positioning it as a destination for breakfast or lunch rather than dinner. The space seats roughly 40 inside and maintains an open kitchen visible from much of the dining room, a design choice common in Parisian bistros that distinguishes it from both casual chains and fine-dining establishments in the city.

Menu, pricing, and what to order

Croissants run $5 to $6 each depending on filling; a plain butter croissant is $5. Pain au chocolat costs $5.50. Espresso drinks (cappuccino, latte, americano) range from $4 to $6. Sandwiches at lunch start around $12 and typically include options such as French ham with béchamel on a house-made baguette or seasonal vegetables on ciabatta. Soups rotate daily; a cup runs $7 to $9. The pastry case changes daily, though croissants and pain au chocolat are standard. Most customers arrive between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. for pastries; lunch service (soups, salads, sandwiches) begins at 11 a.m. and runs until the kitchen closes, typically between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

How The Union compares to other Oklahoma City bakeries

The Union's focus on laminated pastries and French technique sets it apart from Buttermilk Pie Shop, which specializes in custard-based Southern pies and operates as a takeout bakery without table seating. Scratch Bakery, located in northeast Oklahoma City, emphasizes naturally leavened bread and operates on similar abbreviated hours but offers more baked-good variety and fewer prepared foods. The Union's strength lies in its Parisian-style sit-down format paired with espresso service, making it closer in function to a European café than other local bakeries. If you want croissants and coffee with seating, The Union is the closest match in the city; if you're seeking elaborate decorated cakes or wholesale bulk orders, both Buttermilk and Scratch serve those needs better.

Who The Union suits and who it does not

The Union works well for those seeking a genuine French pastry experience before work or for a casual weekday lunch, and for diners comfortable with a limited menu that changes daily. It suits people who value quality ingredients and house-made bread over speed or variety. It does not accommodate evening dining, large groups without advance notice (the space is modest), or anyone seeking a full-service restaurant with dinner service. Customers should expect to order at the counter and seat themselves; table service does not apply.

What a first visit involves

Walk in and survey the pastry case at the counter, typically stocked with 6 to 8 pastry options. Order pastries and drinks at the counter; payment is usually cash or card on the spot. Seats fill quickly during morning hours (7 a.m. to 9 a.m.), so arriving early improves the chance of a table. If visiting at lunch, the counter menu posted behind the register displays soups and sandwiches available that day. Most visits last 30 minutes to an hour.

Hours, parking, and logistics

The Union opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and closes between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. (confirm current closing time by phone or website, as kitchen hours shift with season and staffing). Saturday and Sunday hours vary; many weeks the bakery closes on weekends, though some Saturdays it opens at 8 a.m. Parking is available in street spots along NW 23rd Street and in the small lot adjacent to the building. The space is wheelchair accessible.

The Union fills a specific gap in Oklahoma City's food landscape, offering technique-driven French pastries with a proper café setting during the hours when most bakeries operate but few provide seating and real espresso service.