Amazing service and great food and drinks. Got the red sangria which was very good and got the beef rib with crispy potatoes and veggies. My mom got the veal chops, mashed potatoes, and veggies which was also delicious. Also, had enough for leftovers to take home and had lunch for work the next day lol. The ambiance is very beautiful especially for a date nite, awesome background areas to take pictures. Restroom was very clean and smelled fresh. Surprisingly found good parking right outside restaurant. Will definitely be back. read more

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Came here on a Friday evening for dinner. It's so happens to be there 13th anniversary celebration. They had a DJ and we're giving out prizes. It took us about 10 minutes to get seated. Then it took us about another 10 minutes to get a menu. They brought out bread, butter, and seasoned olives. We ordered our food and drink drinks. Our drinks took about another 15 minutes to come out. We ordered the garlic chicken, salmon, and a side of rice and beans. The food took about another 30 minutes to arrive. The food was just OK. My salmon had bones in it so it turned me off from eating it. The garlic chicken was just OK. We also ordered the caramel chocolate soufflé and the crème brûlée. Both were just OK. The service could have been better, but the place was packed and they were also serving a big birthday party so I understood. All in all I will come back but mainly for the vibes and drinks. Vibes 10/10 Food 5/10 Service 6.7/10 read more

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Stopped in for lunch while we were in the area. We were provided olives and fresh bread as soon as we sat down. We ordered the stuffed jumbo shrimp & baked clams. Both dishes were excellent! Ended our meal with the pistachio espresso martini - my two fave martinis combined. What's not to like? While it was nice to sit outside with live music, it was hot that day and they had fans going which helped. Feel like this is more of a night vibe, than the day time so I'd definitely come back and check it out for dinner. All in all, is recommend. Food, drinks, vibes, and service were all good! read more

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This restaurant is actually huge- we didn't know how big it was j til we got there. There's two sections- one for a larger crowds and families and one in a more intimate area. We sat in the intimate area but both areas had good music and waiters serving. The wait for the food took longer than we expected but I got a frozen margarita while we were waiting which was good. The lamb chops were delicious as well! read more

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Lagar is a must visit! Drink were way bigger then we expected. Which only means it is worth every penny. We did tapas as we were there to vent and release some stress. The baked clams were delicious and served a good amount. The croquettes were a little more batter then I expected. We also had the fried fish which was great. I wish there were a bit more selections of items not fried on the menu. Potatoes you could never go wrong with. I would come Back to try entrees in the Future. The service was attentive without being over bearing and the staff was friendly. You are able to park in the municipal lot and if Not there is street parking on the residential streets read more

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I came to Lagar for a casual Saturday afternoon lunch. We sat in the covered patio - this was great! The decor was beautiful and the patio itself was very spacious. Plenty of room for large groups. It was also temperature controlled. You would never know that it's a patio. We split a variety of apps and they were all very tasty. My favorites were the garlic shrimp and the baked clams. The service was great. We were never at any point rushed and our server kept checking on us during the entire duration of our meal. I would definitely return especially in the warmer months! read more

Lagar is a nice restaurant with lots of space for private parties, a bar and enclosed patio. During this time of the year it was a pretty chill atmosphere but I can imagine it being a hot spot in the warmer months. They offer happy hour drinks daily but happy hour food specials are only on specific days. I had a mojito that was on special and later enjoyed the house margarita both were good. The shrimp and seafood risotto were the star of my dining experience. Our server was very attentive and offered great suggestions. Overall nice experience and would go back. read more

Lagar Restaurant - Mojito and olives - Portuguese Near Me - Union, New Jersey

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The wait staff was great! We did order the salmon and it was filled with bones. The decor is nice. The live music was a plus. We enjoyed our time here and I would go back to try other things. The happy menu is limited as well which is what we came for initially. Parking is on the street or a little lot next door. read more

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Great ambience, great vibes, great service! The food was good as well. I had a steak which was delicious. It was charred to perfection and the seasoning was top tier. The steak was so big it took me two days to finish the rest. My only complaint with this place is the drinks. The food was honestly so delicious that all you needed was water. I ordered a lemon drop and it was probably the worst drink I've had at an establishment. read more

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Everything is really good. There's a new chef in town. The menu has new offerings, we have tried a few of the new dishes. Everything was superb. It is our go to happy hour place to wind down after a long week. The decorations are so pretty stop in for happy hour have a sangria and and some delicious food. Definitely lots of photo ops PS be sure to read the small print on the bottom. There is a 15% service charge. It is noted on the bottom of every menu page. read more

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The patio area here is so cute! I'm not sure what they do in the winter because they don't have much seating inside, but it was perfect for dinner on a September weekend. They even had live music which truthfully, was a bit loud at times for us to hear each other, but at least he was singing good music. Service was great - some of my party came late and I switched out the sides for my entree and they didn't make a fuss. The food presentation here is definitely thoughtful. My chicken and shrimp in sauce entree was soooo good. My friend ordered the sirloin on a skewer dish because it looked amazing, but honestly the steak was tough as old boots. All show for that one. Drinks were good - we liked the sangria pitcher options. But note... the espresso martini is STRONG. You better call that Uber after. read more

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Came here for an event and the space was beautiful. The decor and the overall aestheti was honestly all that I could ask for for any special events or even a casual date. I was not overall impressed by the food but it was good. Servers were pretty attentive as well. read more

Lagar Restaurant - Portuguese Near Me - Union, New Jersey

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Saw a reel about Lagar! Made reservations! Enjoyed the appetizer and entrees! Calamari was fresh and tasty Love that the menu has bacalhao con natas! My favorite Portuguese dish! It was yummy! My white sangria was refreshing! Staff attentive. Our Server Joel N was great! Thank you Reservations were for the indoor dining area! Opted to sit in the outdoor dining area! Glad we did! Live music!! We ordered two desserts! Chocolate mousse and serradura- Niether was good Mouse was grainy Will come back, pick other deserts though Parking lot across the street. read more

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Great vibes all around the restaurant. The staff and servers are very prompt to service your table and continue to check on you throughout the meal. The complimentary olives already come garnished with red pepper flakes. read more

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Large venue with a small interior bar area, which has a few table & chairs, & high top chairs. Then there is the outdoor portion, which is within an enclosed tent like structure. Service was moderate paced, not fast, but not too slow. The venue does not have its own parking lot, but there is free street parking around the venue. The interior feels like pretty much every Portuguese bar I've been to, and the the outdoor seating area feels like every semi-structured outdoor venue I've ever been to. We had the Bolinhos de Marisco, Camarão Recheado, Camarão Tigre à Mocambique, Lamb Chops, Lobster Ravioli, Truffled Fries, Classic Margarita, Passionfruit Margarita, French Margarita, & Snowflake Martini. The descriptions for some of the dishes in English is in the "grades" section below. I don't know how I forgot to take a pic of the Lobster Ravioli, considering that was MY dish, but I truly did, lol. You get complimentary bread & butter. The bread was very good & served warm. You also get complimentary olives. You DO have to ask for water though. It is not given automatically, as with most places. Overall, I'd happily eat here again, but I wouldn't rush to go back, nor make it a suggestion in a group setting. Grades: Bolinhos de Marisco (Crab & Shrimp Croquettes): A Camarão Recheado (Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp): B+ Camarão Tigre à Mocambique (Pan-Seared Tiger Shrimp): B+ Lamb Chops: B- Lobster Ravioli: A Truffled Fries: B Classic Margarita: D Passionfruit Margarita: A+ French Margarita: A+ Snowflake Martini: A+ read more

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Really cute ambiance and friendly service. However, everything took soooo long. There was a long wait for drinks, then an exceptionally long wait to place our food order. And an even longer wait for the food. It appeared that they were waiting to bring everyone's food together, which was cool, but once it was brought out, 2 people didn't have their food. So we all waited another 15mins or so, so that we could eat together. We had a table of 15, so some of the wait was understandable, but our single server solely brought out our food, 3 plates at a time. There were other staff milling about, so not sure why no one else pitched in. Everyone mostly enjoyed their food, but agreed it wasn't worth the wait. My halibut was overcooked, dry, and lacked seasoning. My potatoes and spinach were good though. Lack of seasoning was a theme for almost everyone. We brought a cake and they sliced and served it without charging a cake cutting fee, which was really nice. Overall, they were very accommodating to our large party which was very appreciated. However I probably wouldn't return for a large gathering. 6/10 read more

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This is the second time I've been here. Saw it on a reel but the first time I stopped by on way home from an event and was hungry. That day I had the garlic shrimp, which was tasty but could use a bit of pepper. The service was great. Today, again hunger assaulted me and I felt for something different. I stopped here again to give them a real solid review. I ordered the sangria, shrimp & crab coquettes and the grilled salmon with mash potatoes as my entree. The sangria is refreshing and the coquettes were quite good. Different and was hitting the spot. Again, service is very good. Patient, attentive, and kind. There were a few patrons but the lowkey atmosphere and vibe was perfect for a bite on a Monday evening. read more

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Was here a number of times many years ago and it was always excellent. Recently decided to give it a try again, and the meal was average at best. Sauces and items we ordered were bland and not flavorful. Disappointed. I see reading the reviews here that there is new ownership and a new chef, which I figured must be the reason for such a change from our previous visits. On a positive note the service was fine, glass dining room is decorated very pretty and has some nice photo spots. read more

This place gets 5 stars 1st because of the staff, Joel was super nice and attentive and the bar tender was nice. They made our little date night extra sweet. Now the food was delicious! The short rib presentation was anything but short. The grilled chicken was flavorful and the shrimp Lagar was delicious. Overall it was a great dining experience. read more

After several years of reviews as an Elite Yelper... this will regrettably be my first poor review! Out on a date night, my wife and I REALLY wanted to love this place because it looks so inviting and aesthetically pleasing. But much to our disappointment, the appearance of the place was all it had that was appreciable. The service and hospitality was severely lacking. We waited for drinks, we waited for menus, we waited to order, we waited for refills, and even to pay... no waiter in sight in between. The food lacked presentation and any seasoning. Bland pasta sauce tasted canned and the bread chicken was thin, dry and tasteless like cardboard. We were so disappointed as we truly wanted to love this place. We left as soon as we could without even considering their dessert menu. The place looks amazing, but sadly it's as far as that experience goes. read more

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We like going here as it is close to home and we enjoy some of their dishes. The drinks are okay depending on which bartender is on for the evening. The service has been good and friendly. we never had to wait long for our food or drinks but there were just the two of us. read more

This was my husband and I first time here we will definitely return, the food was great and gave you plenty of it, we had the Grill Cod Fish. Our server Vinnie was the nicest friendly waiter you could ever meet, he kept the drinks coming I would definitely recommend passionfruit sangria. The place was nice and they also have outdoor dining read more

Lagar Restaurant - Cod fish w potatoes and broccoli rabe - Portuguese Near Me - Union, New Jersey

Came here for a birthday dinner and we were seated in the patio area. We were a party of 6 and they had live music so we asked to be sat inside because the music was so loud you couldn't hear the person next to you. However, when you get seated inside, the service is very slow. The server was very friendly. That's not to be confused, but it did take a long time between courses and between drinks and appetizers. It was a very long meal. The food itself was good, but I think that the appetizers were very small: shrimp and garlic,calamari, and chorizo. and the sangria needed to be stronger. For the entrées, we got steaks and shrimp, but it felt like the fish entrées were much smaller than the meat entrées. For dessert we had the churros which were delicious. I think this place has a potential to be very good. We found it on Instagram but it's just missing that oomph. read more

Normally good food, but I am unable to say that anymore. I came here this Friday and last, waited for a host for 5+ minutes and left. Today I did more due diligence and went by the bar where I saw the manager after he looked at me then went to. Him and two other people from the staff were too busy "entertaining" the group at the bar with shots than to notice other customers. ‍ my kids really liked coming here because of the proximity, but this was the last straw. read more

I love this restaurant. They have some of the best bronzino that I've had with these crunchies sprinkled on top. The mash potatoes are pretty good too. The wait staff is very attentive. Thursday nights are Karaoke. read more

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Service was a little slow...but overall had a great time! We stayed long enough that we became a little part of the Lagar family lol, but didn't feel we wore out our welcome. All smiles and even some picture taking, the decor is classy with a log cabin vibe. One of my coworkers thought a dish was a little too salty, and got an even better dish served to her. They cut our cake, had a super tender Beef-Rib, great rice and sides, and friendly service. I'll be back to try more items on the menu, but you can tell there's some love in the kitchen. We appreciate your hospitality Lagar!!! From the Metro Business Office ;-) read more

Finally found a hidden gem in Union Township NJ. Me and my friends were here last Tuesday for quick drinks and food. As I remembered, last time i was here was years ago, probably that was the old ownership. Make story short! We're so surprised how this place turned out comparing from the old one. The bar is nice and simple with cozy NY style drop lighting. The volume of music is just perfect to have nice conversations at the bar area. Amazing service from the staff specially the bartender Emily & GM Eric. From the bar menu we got amazing tapas from crispy pork belly, chicken bites passarinho and shrimp. All perfectly seasoned. Overall I highly recommend this place from cleanliness, great food, great sevice and beautiful ambiance read more

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My friend and I came here after seeing a video and were really happy with the food. My friend had the seafood paella that was really good and I had one of the steak dishes that was really good. The drinks were really good and the service was phenomenal. We had many times where different employees would check in on us to see how everything was. We were also pleasantly surprised by the live performance that happened especially since we came in on a Sunday afternoon. read more

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Food is average ! Not gourmet. The Cooks are from one low budget restaurant to the next. Bar tenders, lack enthusiasm to greet customers. It's average. Not value based Many better places in Newark or New York. When you go out to eat as a family, you go to ac special place! This is definitely not it ! read more

I have been here before for a group event. I was not impressed then. However the a la carte menu is way better. My halibut was well made. My drink was fabulous enough that I needed too. The Christmas decor gave it a nice touch. There was a band playing that night. I would have preferred softer music due to the ambiance. Service was quick. Though the place wasn't packed. read more

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This is a tale of two restaurants. Lagar Restaurant is a Portuguese restaurant with many traditional Portuguese-influenced dishes. When we parked in the parking lot across the street from the Lagar restaurant, we appeared to be having lunch at a bar. We got this impression based on the banner and big bar doors at the entrance. We opened the big doors and et voila, there was a bar with plenty of bar-height stools and tables but we continued walking down the hallway past the restrooms into a gorgeous dining room with white linens, silverware, and glassware. Our waiter and team sat us and passed out menus. We were offered sangria by the glass or by the pitcher and we decided as a group of eight to get a pitcher for ease. The waitstaff was impeccably dressed and extremely polite and attentive. TIP: Don't fall asleep on the olives and rolls, both were excellent. NOTE: Lagar is not vegetarian or vegan-friendly. The two options that are listed as vegetarian have seafood. I had an open discussion with the waiter regarding several side dishes, one of which was the black beans. NOTE II: The black beans are made with lard so they are not vegetarian and vegan friendly. The rice is vegan-friendly as well as the potato chips and steamed vegetables. The chips were homemade, hot, and crispy. The rice was fluffy and had a good balance of flavoring. The vegetables were just right, not soggy, and not hard. I added a photo of my fellow diner who had pasta with clams as a reference. Many of the diners received beautifully plated dishes and as I stated earlier, the waitstaff was attentive and professional. I would equate it to being at a wedding at the Ritz Carlton. I didn't have to wait or ask for another sparkling water and neither did my fellow diners. If I was not vegan or vegetarian, I would be interested to come back and visit as long as I sat in the back dining area and this is no disrespect for the upfront bar area. Special shoutout to two female waitstaff members who were incredibly attentive, friendly, and understanding of being a vegan. read more

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Enjoyed restaurant. Sat in covered porch area. Attentive service. My shellfish with rice was tasty. Parking lot adjacent. Convenient off parkway . read more

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Went to Lagar in Union on Saturday with two friends. We had an 8 PM reservation and were seated after about 10 minutes. Unfortunately, service was disappointing. Our server Marcelo barely checked in, ignored our table while visiting others, and didn't acknowledge the long delay--our food took 45 minutes and the appetizer came out with the entrées. When paying, one of our credit cards was misplaced and later found on the floor after he insisted it had been returned. The food was good, the ambiance was nice, but the service needs serious improvement--especially for the prices. read more

The food was amazing! Granted, my palette isn't so diverse, but the ambiance was wonderful! The service was nice and accommodated me and my partner well! read more

Came here looking for a new spot to try and what we have is a newish restaurant that would be right at home in the Ironbound of Newark huge portions of spanish food and pitchers of sangria. Since the portions are not only huge, the prices sort of reflect this so it was all about apps. Calamari, garlic shrimp and chorizo. All very good, brought out fast with decent presentation too. I see the holes in the service though. We were lead inside and then the host just disappeared so we waited a few minutes kind of awkwardly before were told to take a table across the room. Shouldn't host lead you to a table. From there we waited some more before the bar lady came over to take orders. She was friendly which helped but the service overall seems like it could use improving. Also the patio area currently is wasted space. So many places now are going the heat lamp route to keep up business as the cold creeps in as well as help with pandemic outings. Why don't they have any?? I mentioned it to one of the servers but who knows. So this place was ok, if you don't want to go down to the Ironbound for this kind of food you may like it here for it's convenience but I don't think it surpasses any of the spots there in food or service. read more

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This restaurant has amazing sangria. However The food is very average. Either way you will not be disappointed . The service and atmosphere is good and they have a parking lot. (The outside patio and bar is comfy. The inside dining room is sort of formal) I usually visit this restaurant monthly for their sangria, but on this day I grabbed some lunch with coworkers. I ordered the stuffed crab flounder fish with a side salad (the fish could have been grilled longer). Overall this restaurant is a Portuguese cuisine which would be great for a casual lunch ,dinner, or date night. read more

Lagar Restaurant - Menu - Portuguese Near Me - Union, New Jersey

Stopped here to have dinner and it was not that great. I had a Dirty Martini and it was almost all Vermouth. Don't believe the hype on Instagram about this place. If you want really good Portuguese food I would recommend Solar do Minho in Belleville, NJ which is 10 times better. read more

My wife & I decided to check out some new restaurants. We went to this restaurant on Friday what day was that 11/15/24 for dinner. The area we sat in, was very cold and asked the manager to turn the heat up. They were having some kind of party on the inside and we were to the outer enclosed dining area to eat. Little confusing on which one was our waiter, but the food was so so. The soup wasn't bad and the salad was pretty good. The appetizer shrimp with garlic sauce was poor at the best. I had asked him to hold up on the appetizer which was going to be a main course till we were done with the salad, but they both came out of the same time. The size of the appetizer was very small then we finally asked for the bill and I've been to many many restaurants and I always tip minimum 20% and more if the service is really really good, I got the bill & was about to pay it and add a tip on and till my wife mentioned to me that the tip was already added at 20%. It was just a two of us and I took that a little strange. The manager said it post all over. I missed that. I guess my idea of checking out new restaurants is definitely check the reviews and ask questions first, I don't think I'll be back at this restaurant in the future. I called and talked to the manager and the best he could do is offer me a few drinks when I came back. I don't drink so that would be a waste. So all I can say for people looking for a new restaurant and something that's good. I would definitely stay away from this place. I don't think it's worth the time or money to come here and there are a lot better Portuguese restaurants around. I wish I could give less than one star but that's the minimum I would give -2 stars. Oh yeah to add I think the manager was too busy entertaining some friends at the table next to us then to really care about I guess the paying customers which I will not be anymore. read more

Ambience and food was excellent service was also great they were very attentive making sure you had drinks and that the food came out as expected. The manager Boris also came out and introduced himself and made sure that everything was as expected. Thanks again guys I'll definitely be back again. read more

Lagar Restaurant - Portuguese Near Me - Union, New Jersey

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Hidden gem with great food, beautiful decor, and a fun-friendly vibe that makes you feel like you're at family party where everyone actually likes each other. My friend and I had the pork and clams, red snapper, french margarita, snowflake martini, and chocolate mousse. All of it was so flavorful and lovely that I can't wait to come back. The drinks were part of their seasonal holiday selections but their regularly offered drinks also looked very enticing. Their Paraiso seating area makes me want to chat, sip, and eat forever. I didn't try the other dining areas, but I could hear the great energy emanating from the back party rooms. The service was also attentive and helpful! They have a free parking lot across the street which is always an amazing perk, in addition to street parking behind the restaurant. I hope this place never changes, especially the chocolate mousse (best I've ever had) and my pork and clam dish. read more

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