Union Kitchen will close following dinner on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

By Ronni Newton

After nearly eight years on LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center, Union Kitchen’s owners announced in a Facebook post late Tuesday that they will be closing the doors for good following dinner service on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

The Facebook post noted the “rising costs in West Hartford Center’s real estate” as the reason for not renewing the lease.

Bean Restaurant Group opened Union Kitchen at 43 LaSalle Road in December 2018, with the goal of providing “chef-driven but approachable food,” completely transforming – both visibly and gastronomically – the space’s previous incarnation as the speakeasy-themed Noble & Co. The change came after Massachusetts-based Bean Restaurant Group took over ownership of that space – and the space next door that was formerly McLadden’s – from previous owner Mike Ladden.

“After long thought and discussion, we’ve unfortunately decided to not sign another lease agreement,” Nate Yee, director of Hospitality for Bean Restaurant Group, told We-Ha.com. “We’re eternally grateful for the nine years we’ve spent in West Hartford Center, but at this time we felt it was best for us to move on. We are so thankful for all of our employees, patrons, friends, and community that made Union Kitchen such a special place.”

Union Kitchen on LaSalle Road in West Hartford was named one of Wine Spectator’s best restaurants for 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

The Facebook post expressed sadness at the decision, and noted the restaurant’s “incredible 9 year run” in West Hartford. “We hope to see you for one last meal in our dining room or a drink at our bar as we bid farewell to 43 LaSalle Road,” Union Kitchen’s post said. “Thank you to all our guests for your support over the last decade. Thank you to our vendors for helping us do what we do. And most importantly to our wonderful team (past & present) for pouring your heart into this restaurant. None of this would have possible without you. Thank you. We are closing this chapter with a grateful heart.”

Vish Badami took over as Union Kitchen’s director in 2022, and brought his background as a sommelier to elevate the wine program. His wife, Jill Feldman, is general manager and Tim East is the head chef. The restaurant has earned honors multiple years in a row as one of Wine Spectator’s best restaurants, and also was twice named a finalist for the Connecticut Restaurant and Association’s (now the Connecticut Restaurant and Hospitality Association) Restaurant of the Year for Hartford County.

This is the second restaurant on LaSalle Road that Bean Restaurant Group has closed in the past year. After Union Kitchen closes, all of their locations will be in Massachusetts.

Last summer, Bean Restaurant Group made the decision not to renew the lease next door at 37 LaSalle Road, just nine months after transforming the space into Crush Wine Bar. Bean Restaurant Group had initially operated that location as McLadden’s, but after closing for the COVID-19 pandemic it transitioned to Wurst Haus and then in 2023 to Halfway.

Crush Wine Bar, 37 LaSalle Road, closed for good on July 27, 2025, but sister restaurant Union Kitchen, located next door, remained open at the time. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

David Boyajian and his team, which owns Sparrow in West Hartford Center and Tacobarn in Newtown, confirmed in February that they will be opening a restaurant concept at 37 LaSalle Road later this year.

Yee said there hasn’t been any discussion about opening a Union Kitchen in another location, but he didn’t shut the door to the possibility either.

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