A wonderful family / chef owned restaurant with fabulous food. Not for the faint of wallet, but this is truly gourmet food. Great, extremely professional service to go with the always impressive fare. read more

Great Brunch. Jazz music was cool. Food outstanding. Staff was very efficient and friendly

Disappointing experience due to food contamination, and poor customer service from Management. Yesterday, my husband and I went to Lorena's in hopes of enjoying a nice dinner on his birthday; however the evening quickly took a turn for the worst after finding a MARBLE in my entree, but what truly ruined the night was the response from "management". I ordered the linguine with shrimp and lump cramp; after 2 bites, I noted a hard glass object in my food. When the manager was notified, he came to my husband and I's table only to deny it was possible that the marble got there due to any fault of theirs "because there's not even marbles in here"- embarrassing us, and insinuating that I/we put it there- never once simply apologizing for not only the choking hazard, but contaminating my food. As my husband and I got ready to leave, the "manager" returns to our table to admit that after "investigating", the marble feel into the entree from where they place their food tickets. The manager expected that we were going to pay for the horrible birthday experience", and we had to suggest a compensated meal. We left Lorena's hungry, and with a horrible taste in our mouths- not due to the food, but simply deplorable customer service and poor food handling. This was all after a less than satisfactory experience with their gritty muscles that almost chipped a tooth. Disappointed to say the least... read more

Fantastic restaurant. I went for brunch/ lunch on a Saturday morning. I had the smoked salmon on bread with ecoutremonts and the sweet potato hummus with toasted bread. They are both listed as appetizers but I had both as main course. Bother we're WONDERFUL. Also had one of the best Bloody Mary's I've had in a long time. The waitstaff was very Kind and polite but very distracted. The quality of the food overcame this. My two companions were not as enthused with this restaurant as I. read more

Lorena's is a tiny French restaurant in Maplewood center. The girls in my family go here every year for brunch on Super Bowl Sunday. It has never disappointed us. My mom got the mushroom soup, which was nice and creamy with truffle oil on top to add a depth of flavor. I ordered a smoked salmon appetizer which was very fresh and not at all fishy. My grandmother and aunt shared the pastry basket which had buttery flakey pastries, and when I say flakey I mean the table will be covered with flakes of croissant when you are done. They loved it. Someone ordered the french toast, which had a deep flavor of fruit and cinnamon. The star of the show whenever we come is the crepe. I do not know what is in the cream sauce of the crepe but I could eat 10 of them and not want to stop. The crepe itself is nice and light. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I highly recommend going to Lorena's. read more

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Delish and fab cocktails, too! Lovely setting and professional waitstaff. One of our faves

This place is straight out of a fairytale . This restaurant is beautiful, cozy and delicious. Glen the waiter was exceptionally hospitable and friendly. Only fueling my satisfaction of why this place ROCKS!!!! The presentation of their dishes were exquisite to the point you feel like diving in head first. We had the Long Island Duck and Braised Short Ribs and from the moment the dishes came out we were transported into a World of BLISS!!! The Long Island Duck simply melted in your mouth while the Short Ribs was simply mouth watering. We were so caught up in the moment that we forgot to take pics. This restaurants food and service will do it to you. You will eventually look up from your dish wondering where you are. They truly have the combination that would make any date you take fall in love with you, even if its for one night. If you have never been to Paris or have heard what it is like in terms of food , well this is the place you need to bookmark and go. Be prepared to spend a pretty penny but my goodness it is so worth every red cent. read more

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When reviewing a dining experience, I try to avoid using descriptors like "sublime," or "superlative," or "exquisite," but referring to a meal at Lorena's with any of those adjectives would not be far off the mark. I have eaten at a lot of fine dining establishments in my day and while Lorena's may not be a place I'd rank nationally, it is certainly a local gem and a shining beacon of light in the Garden State. My review is only for dinner service, FWIW. I'm in a list kind of mood today, so here are the key take-aways: 1) It's small and somewhat dated. The quarters can feel a bit tight and a tad formal. The front room faces the street with windows, and the back room (which I understand is a more recent addition) is just four walls. You want to sit in the front, if possible. 2) You will need a reservation, and they book up pretty far in advance. 3) If you are 40 or under, you will likely be the youngest people in there by 20+ years. Not a big deal to me, but it seems like a lot of their clientele are older regulars who've been coming for a while (Decades? Kidding, sort of.). 4) BYOB! Whether you like Schlitz in a can or magnums of back vintage Dom Perignon, you are welcome to bring it free of charge. 5) Because of #4 (and the lost potential revenue), they compensate for that by charging handsomely for their food. I'm talking about, on average, $18 appetizers, $40 mains and $15 desserts. That can add up quickly, so be prepared. 6) In spite of #5, it's worth it! The food is outstanding. The execution and presentation are flawless, and the service is spot-on. Attentive enough to handle our needs, but not hovering and certainly not rushing us in any way. 7) If you're looking for a reliably satisfying, decadently pleasurable, and undoubtedly wallet-depleting fine dining option for your next special occasion (or random Wednesday night), I highly recommend checking this place out. read more

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I have one word for this restaurant EXCELLENT! From start to finish! It's up to par with the French restaurants in NYC. Everything was outrageous absolutely loved the rissotto especially! The only complaint I would have is the crab stuffed crab crepe appetizer although it was amazing at the $21 price point I expected to be given a larger portion. Also an idea they should add ala carte sides as an addition to the menu for people who would like a little more carb or extra vegetable. Otherwise everything was truly exceptional from the Raisin cranberry bread to dessert! I highly recommend! read more

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Went for brunch this noon, was good but not overly so. Service is very attentive which is a plus. We ordered the mushroom and crab crepe.... Was Teensy Weensy&Spectacular. My entree was the baked eggs & my husband had the chorizo eggs Benedict with fingerling potatoes. We also had dessert..... Because after seeing our trainer and the yummy teensy 1st and 2nd course....we were so hungry. He had the peanut butter bread pudding and I had the creme brûlée. Dessert was the best and each were $12. My husband, who supports us as a math teacher almost fell out of his chair at the cost of my triple espresso, they itemized my one beverage separately as a double at $9.00 and a single at $4.50. #SAYWUT? Brunch & tip was $95.00.....see you next Saturday Toast Montclair..... read more

Lorena's - Observe what a triple espresso costs here - French Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey

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Elegant cuisine. Impeccable service. Intimate, yet not overly romantic ambience. Everything you'd expect from a top-rated restaurant in NJ. And we went all out. Despite the fairly small dinner menu (about 12 items total), we had difficulty deciding, but knew we wanted to share everything. Surprisingly, our waiter Craig was okay with this, and went as far as to say he appreciated our approach. So we settled on 3 appetizers and 2 entrees. Unlike most places, Craig didn't bring us all 3 appetizers at once and both entrees at the same time. Rather, he treated it like a 5 course meal, splitting each dish for us. A lot more work for them, but we appreciated the gesture and the perfect time management between each serving, which allowed us to pace ourselves and better enjoy each course. Appetizer #1 - We started with the half-dozen oysters ($21), and they brought us 2 plates with 3 oysters on each plate. Nice and tender, as advertised. I was even willing to eat the seaweed salad underneath, but it was only intended as a garnish. This is the kind of place that might look at you funny if you don't mind your table manners. Appetizer #2 - Puree of Spring Pea Soup, served with Lump Crabmeat, Crouton, Orange Puree, Micro Greens ($11). This was super good. One critique is that peas were included in the garnish. As is, the puree is quite pea-sy so I didn't think this was necessary, but there might have only been 5 peas in each bowl, so it wasn't terribly distracting. Appetizer #3 - Duck Confit, which had a nice spicy Thai-flavored dressing ($16). Loved it, despite tasting like something I would never expect to have in a French restaurant. Main course #1 - Pan Seared Monkfish, French Green Lentils, Braised Beef Short Rib, Smoked Bacon, Saffron Emulsion ($38). Perfectly cooked and outstanding flavor, and I don't really like monkfish. It had the consistency of a scallop and wasn't stringy, unlike other monkfish dishes I've had. Main course # 2 - Roasted Honey Glazed Duck Breast, Calvados Apples, Red Cabbage, Celery Root Puree, Star Anise Duck Jus ($42). A great combination of flavor with just the right amount of sweet. I ordered it medium-rare, but some parts came out a little more on the medium to medium-well side. Still, this duck quacks in among my top 3. Dessert - Crème brûlée duo: vanilla bean and coffee ($11). The vanilla bean was pretty standard, but the coffee was definitely a first for me and very unique. Our bill came to just over $140 before tip, but we did get three appetizers and two entrees. Yes, the place is pricey, but at least it's BYOB and they don't charge a corking fee. The complimentary amuses bouches are a nice touch as well. If you don't know what that is, that's okay. We didn't either. The only knock I have with this place is the air conditioning. The dining room is tiny and can maybe squeeze in 35 heads at full capacity, so you can definitely feel the AC when it kicks on full blast for about 5 minutes, then back off. Then back on. Then back off. Kind of distracting, but it might have just been where we were seated. I'll definitely be back, but most likely only for a special occasion. read more

Excellent French restaurant, from the food to the service to the ambiance. We celebrated my birthday here and had a delicious meal. The server accidentally discarded my take-home leftovers and the manager proactively insisted that the chef make me a new meal to bring home. It was such a nice and unexpected gesture! Thank you for a great dinner! read more

The reviews are mostly correct about the actual food quality and the dining experience. There's no need to reiterate what has already been stated by them. The food really is just excellent in general. One reviewer also mentioned that it's not like French cuisine in France, and that is true. I would go so far as to say that it is nothing like French cuisine in France, other than some French influences here and there. Normally, I would not mind this, but the website states clearly in bold letters "Fine French Cuisine." They should not advertise that when they do not serve French food. However, for most people who have not toured France's finest bistros, they can think of French as "very fancy, high-end dining" instead. I do not think it is small and overcrowded. I really liked the size of the restaurant because you know that the chef personally prepared your dish, and you get individualized attention. The tables are also evenly spaced apart. Downtown Maplewood is also a classy place to go out to dinner. The service is very formal. You can tell that they are directed to keep their distance but still be available. You do not have to flag them down for anything either, and they gave us a lot of time at the table. However, another gripe I had is that when they asked, "How was it?" they didn't seem to really care. They would just walk away when I wanted to discuss anything about the food. We made our reservation over Opentable for a Wednesday evening, and we had to hold it open with a credit card. Turns out that we wanted to reschedule, but we could not change it on the website, and the restaurant was closed both Monday and Tuesday. We could not change the reservation until the day of, and by that point, we just went anyway because we did not want to have our credit card charged. I don't see why they couldn't have had voicemail or let us change the reservation online even two days before the reservation. In sum, excellent food, though not really French, very formal service, and classy downtown setting. read more

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Intimate, delicious...nothing short of AMAZING! Cheesy as it may be--Lorena's puts the "fine" in "fine dining". Located in the heart of downtown Maplewood, Lorena's offers French-inspired cuisine, in an intimate restaurant space (maybe it has 15 tables or so?). Lorena's is strictly BYOB, which, in my opinion is great! This way, you can enjoy your favorite wine--and of course, you don't have to pay the outrageous markup typically associated with dining out. The dinner menu at Lorena's is rather limited (although not extremely so). Still, it includes options for fish, chicken, and beef eaters, alike. To start, I tried the Warm Lump Crabmeat and Mushroom Crepe--not something I would typically go for, but according to our waiter, it's one of the chef's signature dishes. IT. WAS. AMAZING!!!!! For dinner, I had the halibut. Once again, UNBELIEVABLE!! It was pan-seared to perfection, and then finished off in the oven. It was served with eggplant, chorizo, and basil. An interesting combination...but more importantly, an unforgettably DELICIOUS one! I went all-out and enjoyed dessert at Lorena's, too. I had the chocolate cake, which was served with a little vanilla ice cream and raspberry jam. OH. MY. GOD!!!!!! It was just one of those meals that won't soon be forgotten... The portions were not extremely big, but I happen to think that's great! Every bite was thoroughly enjoyed--and personally, I'll take quality over quantity, any day. At the end of the night, the chef even walked around the restaurant, to interact with diners, and to ask about their experience--lovely as it is, that's just not something you see too often! If you plan on dining at Lorena's, reservations are recommended. Because the space is so small (and there is no bar to wait at), you're much better off reserving a table in advance. Everything about Lorena's was nothing short of wonderful--the setting, the food, the charming French waiter. Without a doubt, I HIGHLY recommend Lorena's to anyone looking for a fine-dining experience in North/Central Jersey...and I most certainly hope to be back! :) read more

Lorena's - Chocolate cake...AMAZING! - French Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey

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Lovely evening at Lorena's. Delicious cocktails made by Jennifer, the best bartender around - so lovely engaged & polite made us so comfortable & an enjoyable evening! The food was delicious best crabmeat & mushroom crepe. The oysters are always divine - very fresh, perfectly scrubbed clean & shucked. A wonderful evening out! read more

Had the Penicillin cocktail, the burrata, octopus, salmon tartare, and crab crepe appetizer, halibut entree and coconut Panna cotta dessert, and I'm telling you each part of this meal was flawlessly executed. It's a bit more expensive than I would have expected given the location (thus 4 and not 5 stars), but the food is fantastic. read more

Lorena's - Octopus and chorizo (left), salmon tartare (top), crab cake crepe (right), burrata (bottom) - French Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey

Delightful brunch choice with all the elements of good service and tasty food included. The big plus is jazz. And the comfort of a light filled contemporary design. read more

You will not find better service. I was feeling cold, and they actually gave me a shall to wear! This place is very intimate and romantic. Great for celebrating a special occasion. As for the food, it did not disappoint. They brought out complimentary pea soup, which was outstanding. We shared the crab meat crepe, roasted organic chicken, and salmon. We don't usually order chicken at fancy restaurants, but it looked so good on the menu that we had to try it. Our meats were cooked perfectly. My husband says this was the best cooked chicken he ever had. The crab crepe was nothing short of delicious. Food is pricey, but well worth it. Lorena's is a byob, so that helps bring down the cost. read more

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I have been in the resturant service for 40 plus years, fine dinning to corperate/chain resturants. The atmosphere is a perfect combination of upscale while inviting and approachable.It's not easy to achieve. My husband and I sat at the bar on a busy Saturday. Jen was making service drinks while handeling her area. We still managed to get to know eachother and connect. If you could clone her the resturant would be like a well oiled machine. I wish I knew the other staff names from the front to food runners. read more

I'm so lucky to have this gem of a restaurant in our neighborhood. We dined outside last night since the weather was so warm for March. My husband and I both had the crepe with crab (no sharing here!) and enjoyed every morsel. For my entree I had the duck which was the perfect savory dish...peppered with figs and crispy skin. It was delicious. My husband had the linguini with shrimp and crab and loved it as well. Service was quick and gracious. It started to get a little chilly (there are no heat lamps) so we left before dessert. We will definitely be back on those warmer nights! read more

Lorena's - Duck Breast Linguini with shrimp and crab - French Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey

Wonderful menu. Amazing food and drinks. Perfect service. An absolute must go to place. Perfect for a night out with friends,, date night, celebrations or a business dinner. read more

My fiancé took me here for my birthday dinner. We LOVED everything we ordered. The lobster with crepe was outstanding!!! I normally don't like kale, but the kale in my fiancé's dish was absolutely delicious. Furthermore, the service here is great! I highly recommend this restaurant especially for special occasions =]. read more

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Perfection as usual... food, service and ambiance was spot on. If you are looking for the best in NJ, this is it. Shout out to Mario for great service. Hats off to the chef, always making an amazing meal. read more

I fell in love with this cozy & quaint French restaurant. Since I've been introduced to Lorena's three months ago, I've been here four times and I'm planning to bring my friends in two weeks. Short ribs is my go to dish, but my favorite is the Lump Crab meat crepe...it's addicting. Anything you pick off the menu will be tasty and exquisite because Chef Humberto is a genius! Plus it's a BYOB, and there's a wine store across the street. There is no question that Lorena's is a gem in Jersey. read more

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What a jewel in Maplewood! Two family members had been there several times, so we returned with them to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. I loved our waiter - he recited the specials with the passion of someone who really cares about your dining experience. Delicious apps, entrees and desserts. The reason for 4 stars and not 5: since the place is so darn tiny, our table was against a wall. The waiter had to constantly reach across me to fill my husband's glass, clear his plates, etc. If this didn't happen, I'd surely give it 5. read more

We are fortunate to live near this culinary gem. Fine dining at its finest. We liked Lorena's in its smaller location but it's nicer now that tables are not packed into a small space with diners having to listen to other diners' conversations. The table times were staggered so we were not right next to anyone. Everything was delicious - oysters mignonette, salmon tartare, venison, salmon, molten chocolate cake and coconut panna cotta. A great special occasion place. read more

We had the best time at Lorena's for our anniversary! Every aspect of service in this restaurant just knocks it out of the park, from the greeting at the door, to the management, to the waitstaff, to the bussers, and the pace with which the kitchen sent out food! And now onto the food, chef Humberto and his team our true experts at contemporary French cuisine! It was a perfect anniversary, but Lorena's definitely should not be saved just for special occasions... We will be going back often even just for appetizers and drinks at their bar! read more

Food and service was great! Wine list is not extensive, and it's pricey. I'd go back for a special occasion

Awful. I almost didn't come, since I'm a vegetarian and there was nothing meatless on the menu. But I called ahead and was emphatically told that the chef would be happy to make me pretty much anything I wanted, and that it would be as good as the entrees on the menu. So I went. I told the server that I was in the mood for some kind of mushroom dish, hopefully in a cream sauce. He asked me if I was a vegan, and I said I wasn't and explicitly stated that I did not want something vegan. What I got instead of the mushrooms in cream sauce was about half a serving of quinoa, three carrot sticks, and about two cauliflower crowns. I know the portions here are tiny, but this was ridiculous--and it cost about $40. Not to mention that it was absolutely disgusting: it all tasted like it had been seasoned with about 3 cups worth of salt, and it was so over cooked that I didn't even have to chew. I should've stayed home: I would've had a much better vegetable dish there. I want to emphasize again that I was told on the phone that the chef would be happy to cook me anything I wanted, and that they accommodate any type of diet restriction. I absolutely did not show up here and expect to be accommodated with no prior warning. I will NEVER come back here. If you're a vegetarian, steer clear no matter what they tell you on the phone--the chef has no idea how to cook and season vegetables, and you'll end up spending an arm and a leg on a meal you wouldn't even feed your dog. read more

Service: I've been here a few times now and I can't recall whether that was on a weekend or not but the service was a little slow. I came on a Tuesday evening. It's starting to feel very old. The clientele was plus 60 the last two times. Presentation: Was much better when Humberto was in the kitchen full time but I get it, that's not scalable. Taste: Overall good but not great. I'm averaging all three experiences. Overall, I enjoyed the frisee salad with duck confit and the venison (on point!) but the scallop dish my wife had was entirely too salty/creamy. For the price, you should nail this. Value: I'm having a hard time deciding on a fourth dinner for the future. The price without any wine (it's BYOB) is pretty hefty. read more

Sat outside last night and had a stellar meal. My wife had the mushroom risotto, which was cooked perfect. Filling, delicious, with tons of high quality mushroom varieties. I had the duck breast at the recommendation of the waiter. Fantastic. Olives and some cooked down golden raisins created the perfect sweet/salty glaze for the duck, with a nice crispy skin. Would totally eat here again. We ate everything and were too full for dessert, but I guess that means we will just have to go back soon! read more

Excellent food, fantastic service, and a great atmosphere to go for a professional dinner or with friends and family. Food came out prompt, perfectly cooked, and looked fantastic! read more

this is one of those places the rents LOVE to take us, not sure why, a little stuffy and pricey. The food was very rich, not bad, not great, the people seemed to enjoy being in a fancy setting more then care about the actual food or service. I was not paying, so I should not complain. Anyone over 50 will love this place. not my scene. read more

One word describes Lorena's - Meh. For all the hype and accolades this restaurant has received, my visit was rather underwhelming. My wife and I ordered a variety of appetizers and entrees which we shared and everything was just okay. The food tasted good but I expected this to be one of those places where the food is so good you want to lick the plate clean. That definitely wasn't the case. Given the prices, I can't really justify going back here. I think there are a lot of other places in Maplewood that have better food for much more reasonable prices. read more

Beyond the beyond, heavenly cooking, great service, beautiful ambiance- what more could you want! I had halibut and my wife had a combo short rib/ filet mignon and we both loved it. This is an upscale intimate restaurant for fir special occasions. Yet his is a cut above almost anywhere- be prepared for a suitable bill read more

Nothing beats great service. The chicken sandwich from the lunch menu is amazing . Restaurant is very clean.

Yah, no. We ordered takeout and it was just awful. The veg plate was the worst thing ever. Steamed undercooked veggies are unacceptable. Just a disappointing and overpriced affair- no thank you! read more

There is a great little gem of a restaurant in downtown Maplewood Village, one that should not be missed. I had the opportunity to have a birthday lunch here and will definitely return, not just for a special occasion next time. Nice varied menu, geared toward each season, with many choices. First courses are smaller dishes while entrees may be larger portions of some of the first course choices or other choices. Our party of 2 enjoyed a crab crepe in a truffle oil sauce, and monkfish with vegetables and then we also had the creme brulee and panna cotta. Charming and quiet atmosphere with a cozy yet elegant decor - I can't wait to return. read more

I went to Lorena's this evening as I was craving a burger and they have good ones. We were having a lovely time. I ordered two glasses of cab Sauvignon at 12 each. When the bill came, we were charged $52. We mentioned this to our waitress and the manager Mario came over. He proceeded to say that they didn't have the wine on the menu. I said that was never shared with me. He said "there's nothing I can do". At that point I said of course you can do something you are the manager. He ended up taking a glass ($26) off the bill. As we were leaving the restaurant, the owner/chef Humberto was waiting for us and asked us about our experience. I said the food was good but I explained what happened with the wine. He then proceeded to accuse me of using profanity in the restaurant. I never ever curses at people. I'm so absolutely disgusted with how we were treated. Entire fiasco could have been avoided by taking off the glass of wine without an argument in the first place. Wow. read more

The food, atmosphere, and service was outstanding. The squash dish was a party of flavors in my mouth that I continue to crave well after eating. The decorations, fireplace, and modern vibe was a pleasant bonus surprise from the last time we visited. The overall experience is 5 stars, well worth the drive. read more