Restaurants in Union City

Though Brittany Rice first honed her creative flair in photography school, a brief stint as a private chef inspired her to pursue her foremost passion: cooking. Today, the Cordon Bleu-certified owner of Rustik Chef draws on her experiences in the restaurant, catering, and pastry industry to prepare home-cooked meals from seasonal, organic ingredients and locally sourced cutlery. Using winemaking skills sharpened alongside her culinary chops, Rice pairs each made-from-scratch course with her own brand of wine—Millesime Cellars—made from organically grown grapes. Integrating photography into her vino business, Rice labels each bottle with a snapshot from her treks through Europe. Brittany also travels to her clients’ homes or local businesses to host private culinary programs. The intimate classes accommodate as few as two students and cover topics ranging from food and wine pairings to alphabetizing a produce drawer.

The stout, mottled brick front and black and white striped awning of BFC Cajun Seafood's storefront conceal the carefully crafted and spicy Cajun fare waiting inside. Bone-in catfish fillets come on sandwiches or as part of fried-fish plates sporting rich batter with an extra crunch that frequently alarms local seismologists. Beneath the glittering shell of a glass counter, an array of fresh-baked homemade pies and cakes divest themselves of single slices or travel whole to patrons' homes packaged in carry-out orders.

Touch of Soul’s chefs translate homestyle Southern recipes into platters of comforting standbys. Land-dwelling favorites such as fried chicken and poboys mingle with Gulf staples such as red snapper, sole, and oysters that arrive tableside decked in delicate grill marks or donning healthy coats of fresh-fried batter. From Tuesday through Sunday, the kitchen also preps nightly dinner specials such as marinated steak smothered in beef gravy, or turkey wings seasoned and slow cooked to perfection. These dinners come flanked by three authentic Dixie side dishes, including red beans and rice, fresh yams, or corn bread baked into the shape of Jimmy Carter’s silhouette.

Once upon a time, a bubblegum-pink catering truck was the only outlet for ShugaHill Ice Creamery's fried fare. Today, the catering truck continues to ferry burgers, barbecue, and seafood around town, but a brick-and-mortar eatery also doles out the sizzling eats. The eatery’s menu grants patrons artistic license over their plates, showcasing meal components such as mac ‘n’ cheese, smoky turkey wings, and po boys stuffed with oyster, snapper, catfish, or sole. Beneath the murals of various sweets that line the walls, main courses culminate in cool hillocks of ice cream, which delight any diner who hasn’t just lost a pet glacier.

The chefs at American Natural Food & Cafe strive to expand American palates with a menu of dishes influenced by foods from all over the Mediterranean basin. A perennial list of French-inspired Moroccan cuisine—such as fava-bean soup or saffron-coated roasted chicken—anchors an ever-changing lineup of specials drawn from such countries as Spain, Egypt, and Libya.

For those inspired to whip up their own Mediterranean dishes at home, the eatery's grocery-store section provides aspiring chefs with spices and hand-selected, naturally raised foods from around the world. The packed shelves provide a backdrop to intimate tables lit by strings of lights and candlesticks, which, unfortunately, do not come to life to welcome you in song.