I'm not from the area but wanted to take a friend to celebrate her birthday to a fine dining restaurant to do so. This was the perfect choice. From making the reservation through having dessert, the experience was wonderful. The meal was excellent and beautifully prepared. I had the special, rack of lamb, my friend had the halibut- perfect. We shared a mushroom risotto-rich in flavor and very satisfying. Mario, truly enhances the experience by being friendly, informative and professional. Noise level is low so very conducive for conversation. Fine dining in an elegant, comfortable environment. A true gem. I recommend this restaurant and will be back. read more

Lovely venue with the tables a bit too close together, but with terrific service and most importantly, excellent food. The service was impeccable, with water and wine glasses being refilled as needed. Main dishes of duck breast and filet were cooked to perfection, and the appetizers and dessert were totally on point. Great BYOB find for a couple who is looking for a higher-class night out. read more

My wife and I came here for our 5th year anniversary. This place was amazing. Starters: My wife had the warm lump crabmeat and wild mushroom crepe to start. As she wouldn't share much, the only 2 bites I did get out of it were amazing. The crabmeat was very fresh and the overall flavor was perfect. I started with the Salmon tartare. As I finished it very fast not too much detail here. All I remember was the first bite was better than any tartare I've ever had. Main course time: Wife had the special. It was a whole sea bass. The flavor was amazing but as my wife isn't used to eating a whole fish, bones were a slight issue. Nonetheless I'd order it for myself. It was, like everything else, perfectly cooked. Now my main course was the Rack of lamb. As I've only eaten my mother in laws rack of lamb, I wasn't sure what to expect. Bottom line, this rack of lamb was like BUTTER. It was cooked medium rare, just the way I like all meats, but this was just a wow factor. I've never had a meat that was prepared so well. The finale (dessert time): wife ordered the creme brûlée and I had the molten chocolate cake. We were also given the berry trifle for our anniversary. The creme brûlée was barely touched at the end. It was good but the other 2 were better. We couldn't stop eating the molten cake and the berry trifle. Try either one and you won't be disappointed. You can thank me later. We can't wait to return. It was on the expensive side but not outrageous. Definitely worth it. We'll be back sooner than later. Compliments to the chef of course. read more

Great place new location is large and nice plenty of space. Dinner in the bistro in front same menu as more formal dinning room in back. 6 people at the table everything was gone by the end no doggie bags and portion size is generous not high French one bite and gone. Service was also very good prompt and attentive. Wine prices OK nothing low cost but nothing crazy either. read more

My husband and 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 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, my husband, 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 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 my husband of using profanity. My husband never ever curses at people. I'm so absolutely disgusted with how we were treated. I'm a big supporter of places in SOMA but I won't be going back to Lorena's. read more

ive been going here a lot lately, almost once a week, and im really tired of the menu. The food is good, decent portions, a bit expensive, but I think perhaps they should put a little more spunk into "bar food". Lots of us locals eat at the bar and I would love a little more variety. Had the mussels once,,they were small, tasteless, and overpriced. Had the thai salad a few days ago. So much vinegar it was inedible. Burgers and pastas are good, but im so tired of them. read more

Expensive yet the food was nothing special. The linguine, based on the description, sounded like it was in a garlic white wine sauce with fresh tomatoes but was basically shrimp in a tasteless red sauce. Not good. The waitress never checked in to see how our meals were. Although my mixed drink was delicious, overall I was disappointed. read more

Dined at Lorena's on 12/29/2019 and loved it. Very cozy table, great service, and the food was excellent. The lump crab crepe was outstanding and had a sauce that paired very nicely with the dish. Also had the rack of lamb special which was perfectly cooked, tender, and accompanied by a couple of small lamb sausages and finely diced blend of vegetables. We did not opt for dessert, but since they knew it was my wife's birthday, they brought out a complimentary coffee Panna Cotta for us to share...very nice touch! Highly recommended. read more

Food is outstanding and the service is attentive and pleasant. My only issue is with the hosts who always make me feel unwelcome.

Terrible bar policy!! Can't stand at bar to wait for a seat or table...maybe you can have a drink at the bar if you have a reservation but it's very unclear. The hostess/manager or whoever she was couldn't give us a clear answer and let us walk right out the door. Very disappointing. read more

Been to the new space twice, both times at not-crowded times, and it was such a disappointment. Service was incredibly slow and not friendly, and there were 3 errors with our very simple order, which were not fixed. For the prices, we could not justify going back again. It's a shame because we'd had wonderful experiences at the prior location. read more

I am giving this restaurant a 1 star because I'm pregnant and they packed the wrong food which I ate and felt sick afterwards. I reached out weeks ago with no response. I was willing to bypass the fact that the waiter gave me sparkling water instead of sprite and messed up my dessert because everyone is entitled to an off night and he was nice. The food was good however no one should be subjected to eating another patrons dish. The fact that I am pregnant makes it even worst because who knows what that person could have had and I'm grateful my unborn child is okay. I only realized that the dish was not mine once I wasn't feeling well, called my husband and looked at the menu online. It's a real shame. read more

Restaurant Lorena is perfection. The interior is absolutely beautiful. The food is amazingly delicious! The wine list is very extensive with fair pricing. The service is flawless. I highly recommend this establishment for a wonderful dining experience. read more

We have been going to Lorena's consistently for more than 5 years and have always been impressed - UNTIL yesterday: The service was severely lacking and and owner/chef was not in the kitchen. Food was very disapointing and certainly not up to their regular standards. sorry - can't recommend this place any longer read more

Delicious food, expertly prepared and beautifully presented. Our server, Desiree, was friendly, knowledgeable and very attentive. The suggested wine went perfectly with our food choices. Relaxing, sophisticated dining experience, with attention paid to every detail! read more

He runs a special pre-fixe menu Tues and Thurs. we went today and the waiter handed us the regular menu. We thought his special wasn't running so we ordered. From the regular menu. When we left, I saw 2 pre-fixe menus on a table in the vestibule: one $29 and the other $39. I asked why didn't we see this. The owner said because you have to ask for it. That is too sly. You send out advertisements for it but when you make the date on Thurs or Tues you don't give it your clients unless the client asks for it. Bad business practice. Restaurant behavior like this will create bad karma. read more

Simply the best in everything! Steak was just perfect, crepe with crab meat-fantastic! Very friendly staff! read more

My wife and I had a fine dinner last Friday. The food was excellent, including the crab crepe, salad, scallops and the filet and short rib combination. The service was excellent. I made the reservation through Opentable which asks if it is an occasion and it was for my wife's birthday. They brought some delicious ices with a candle. read more

Probably the best restaurant in Essex County. Glad to see they have a new and larger facility.

Food quality is top notch perfectly prepared. I had the seared foie gras app I'm pretty sure it was the smallest portion I've ever been served $27 for barely 2oz. read more

This is one of the best and understated restaurants I've been to in a LONG time. The place is small, I think only about 10-12 tables, so you definitely need a reservation, and they take them 2 months in advance, so you are forewarned. It's also a BYOB, so come prepared. I was there with several family members and we all had truly delicious meals. I started by sharing the lump crab meat crepe which was melt-in-your mouth delicious. My mother had the salmon tar tar which is always great and my father tried the risotto, which he said was good, even after he spilled a bit of his wine into his bowl. For my main course I had the filet mignon with a side of baby brussel sprouts. The meat was tender and the sprouts were perfectly sauteed. My parents both had the venison with lingon berries. I tried the venison and it was AMAZING. The meat was perfectly cooked and each bite melted in your mouth. We skipped dessert, mostly because we were so satiated from our dinner, but the desserts that came out to other tables looked supper yummy. I can't wait to go back!! read more

Um. I don't know what to say. Valentine's Day menu was prix fix, a starter, main, then a dessert. $125 per person and they automatically included a 20% gratuity (even though the service was fair at best). The menu they advertised on their website for the holiday event (specific to this day and time) was not what was presented to us at the restaurant. We had picked out our courses (and wines to pair) ahead of time, then arrived and those weren't the options. The online menu included coffee service with dessert, the 'day of' menu only listed dessert and we were charged for the coffee we ordered. We have dined there several times before and the service and timing was on point! Not today. I would encourage you to visit for brunch or dinner on a random night; but know you are overpaying (and under receiving) on their occasion events. Quite disappointing. read more

Decided to dine here with my parents after reading multiple reviews of Lorena's online. Considering that many have called this one of the best restaurants in all of New Jersey, I was expecting a lot. To my delight, they absolutely delivered on both food and service. Let's begin with the food. Appetizers - Salmon tartar: Served with creme fraiche and wasabi tobiko. This is probably one of the best tartars I've had, ever. Everything just worked so well. It was smooth, creamy, and delicious, and had a hint of spice from the wasabi tobiko. It was beautifully plated, served over thinly sliced cucumbers. - Lobster risotto: Served in a saffron emulsion with peas. The risotto was creamy with large chunks of perfectly cooked lobster. Very good, but not the best I've had. It was slightly underseasoned for my tastes. - Butternut Squash soup: Served with foie gras nuggets, huckleberries, and a brioche crouton. They poured the soup at the table. Never tasted a soup quite like this before, and it made me crave for more. The foie gras nuggets were a nice surprise and the crouton added to the dish some much needed variation in texture. My dad could not stop talking about the soup throughout the meal. Entrees - Venison daily special: Served over braised red cabbage and pork belly. Venison was cooked perfectly medium rare. I usually don't like red cabbage, but I enjoyed this a lot. The bacon added flavor and saltiness that worked well with the dish. Only critique I can make is that there was too much coarse black pepper in the dry rub. - Mahi Mahi: Served with local mushrooms and spinach in a truffle broth. Just delicious. Nothing more to say. - Rack of lamb: My mom ordered this medium, while I prefer my rack of lamb to be medium rare. The lamb was served with a caponata and little cakes of polenta. Everything was cooked well, but we agreed that there was a lack of seasoning... it just needed a little more of that amazing sauce on the plate. Dessert: - A fig crepe with creme fraiche: Delicious. Light, flaky, not too sweet... good way to end the heavy meal. One comment I can say about the food: They really let the protein be the star. The food was prepared simply but with a lot of attention to detail. In fact it was often so simple to be slightly underseasoned in my eye, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. They tried to let the ingredients speak on their own. Service: This is a small, formal restaurant. The waiters were always attentive, but not overbearingly so. They were very friendly and remembered everything to the last detail. Another plus is that this restaurant is BYOB. Bring a bottle of your best wine. The meal was over 2.5 hours long, but that's what you should expect at a restaurant like this. The check came out to about $80 per person with tip. It's not cheap, but definitely worth it. Overall rating: 9/10. Excellent. read more

The bar is very high when two Park Slope, Brooklyn residents head out to New Jersey for a meal. How was it? SPECTACULAR! There were four of us in our group. Two had a 3-course tasting menu (the chef usually only does it for the entire group, but we were fortunate he agreed to do it just for two of us). They loved being surprised by what the chef wanted to send out (after having indicated what they would not want from the menu). A very lightly cooked salmon which was light and delicious and so were the veal chops with beef tongue (I know, I would never order that either, but you wouldn't have guessed.) I had the corn soup, poured over a small salad with balsamic vinaigrette - I am getting hungry just thinking about it. My second dish was the mahi-mahi. I am very picky about my fish, and this was not only fresh but perfectly cooked, with perfect bites all throughout. Warm chocolate cake with raspberry ice cream ended our meal with a bang! Best of all, it's BYOB (no liquor license so you bring your own wine(s)), which makes a fantastic meal less expensive than usual. Definitely worth the trip out to Maplewood! read more

Truly one of the best restaurants in the whole area. I've only been twice, but each time I was greeted with amazing service, and a completely different menu which highlighted the best ingredients in season. The fact that it is BYO makes the slightly higher-than-average prices seem completely reasonable. Here's the kicker: I came with my parents for the first time many months ago. My dad loved the infused olive oil (that they serve with the bread) so much that he bought a bottle. Well, apparently he left the bottle on the table when we paid. Fast-forward about 6 months and we are back at Lorena's, and he is remembering how he left the olive oil at the table. As we are leaving the restaurant, the waiter delivers us a paper bag with a bottle of the olive oil. On the house. That's the type of gesture that separates good service from great service. Can't wait to re-visit Lorena's- both for the food and the service! read more

If I could give 6 stars, I would. Everything, from the food to the service, to the ambience, was fantastic. I categorize our experience below. The food: I know this is what you care about the most, and it met our expectations after reading all the glowing reviews. It's the class of food that you see on pro chef shows, presented to you right here in your own backyard. Every dish had multiple notes of flavor balanced perfectly to take you on a culinary journey. I would classify the food as Modern Fancy French. We ordered: --Salmon Tartare. Fresh, deep flavors...the salmon was on a bed of cucumbers and had a creamy wasabi sauce on top, along with droplets of other sauces on the plate. Great way to start the meal. --Lobster Crepe. Perhaps relied too heavily on butter, but it was warm and decadent. The crepe was very thin and had the right level of chewiness. The meat was cooked to perfection, and the sauces added another note to keep you interested. --Duo of beef with vegetables. The beef was steak and a soft brisket-type thing. The steak was cooked medium-rare on the money. The soft meat fell apart at the touch. The vegetables showcased different textures (whole carrot steamed and pureed parsnips or something). Really solid main dish. --Molten chocolate cake with banana ice cream. The French know how to do their desserts. The cake was not too sweet, and the right level of chocolatey goodness. The homemade ice cream really tasted like fresh bananas and complemented the cake nicely. The fresh raspberries were a nice touch. The service: This is where I would add the extra star. --From the moment we walked in with our 5 month old daughter (sorry, fellow diners, we don't use babysitters yet and wanted to go out), the staff bent over backwards to make us feel comfortable. They set up an extra chair for her, each waiter came over to smile and coo at her, and they gave us privacy when I BF at the table (again, sorry patrons) --We split everything mentioned above - we're not big eaters so we knew it would be enough. The waiter brought everything already pre-split so we didn't have to break apart anything. And they didn't give us attitude for splitting. The bill was $110...very reasonable for the amount and quality of food. Fantastic food and amazing staff. Thank you, Lorena, for a memorable night out for these new parents : ) read more

This is the finest restaurant outside of (the finest restaurants in) New York City. The food is first-rate -- delicious and beautifully presented. The service is top notch -- knowledgeable and professionally courteous. And the ambiance is intimate, with elbow room. Know it's BYOB, but it is the classiest and most romantic restaurant I've ever been to in New Jersey. Well worth the price, and our go-to place for special events. We went at 6:00 pm for my wife's birthday on 2/22/15. My wife got the skate and I got the Ahi -- both brilliant. But just as brilliant were our polenta and seafood appetizers, our warm crusty bread, and our incredible creme brulee and apple tart desserts. I want to reiterate the quality of the service. From the fellow who took our coats, to our wait staff and servers, to the way they held our left-over bags at the front, we were treated like royalty, and that makes a huge difference. You can get great food here and there in these parts of NJ (though none better than this), but no one comes close to this level of five-star service. No one. read more

Haven't been here in a while and the first time for brunch. Still great service and probably the best eggs Benedict that I've ever had! Can't wait to try their new place, Luna Stella, around the corner! read more

Lorena's is such an asset to the neighborhood and I'm so excited they have a new, bigger space with a bar! We went the other day for a martini and as always, service is impeccable. Can't wait to go back. read more

So, I have a soft spot for BYOBs, and that's one of the attributes which led me to Lorena's, beyond the rave reviews. The restaurant is located in the gentrified section between S. Orange and Maplewood, which is cozy, and pleasing to walk around during good weather. We were seating promptly at our reserved time, and whisked to a table for four, even though there were only two of us. I enjoy having the elbow room, so this was a welcome start. Service was solid overall. Not every byob will pour your wine after the first pour, but our waiter did. The summer menu isn't quite as interesting as their Spring menu, but I dove in nonetheless. I ordered the Halibut, and the Mrs has the filter. She orders her steak Medium, so I can't hold them accountable, and won't judge. My Halibut was perfectly cooked and served. I also ordered the salmon tartare which was very good. Dessert is probably the only disappointment. First, they use a Nespresso machine, which does a consistently fair job, but not phenomenal. Second, all of the following were mediocre: Apple Tart (meh), Banana Split, and my biggest let down was the panna cotta. The panna cotta was too fluffy and not as dense as I'm accustomed to. Dress was business casual to sophisticated, but there were no jackets on the lads. Still, things were not stuffy. The interior was romantic, definitely date worthy. I'd like to see them up their game on the desserts. I love desserts. I'd also like to see them reintroduce the scallops. Overall a good experience, and recommended. read more

Only 4 stars on Yelp as I'm writing this review? Shameful. This restaurant was absolutely FAN-TAS-TIC!!! The chef/ owner Humberto Campos Jr. greeted us at the door as we entered and even ended up pouring our wine for us! The place is BYOB by the way. I've read reviews of the place being described as "cramped." I would describe it a cozy and warm. The small seasonal menu consisted of 6 appetizers and 6 entrees, with each one sounding more delicious than the next. We ordered the Scottish Salmon Tartare (Sake, Wasabi Tobiko, Creme Fraiche, Fried Wonton), the Warm Crepe of Jumbo Lump Crab (Mushrooms, Fresh Herb Emulsion, White Truffle Oil) as appetizers. The Salmon Tartare was pretty damn good in it's own right, but the Warm Crepe of Jumbo Lump Crab was absolutely PHENOMENAL!!!! Both my girlfriend and I agreed that this dish was one of the best things that either of us has ever eaten, ever. It was creamy deliciousness pure and simple. The crab was sweet and tender. Perfect. Humberto actually informed us that this was created by accident at the end of one night, and first contained lobster. Ultimately, he decided that the crab worked better. I would make a trip here for this Crepe alone. Seriously. I don't smoke, but I almost needed a cigarette after eating this. For entrees we had the Filet Mignon of Beef (Haricot Vert, Cipollini, Potato Gratin, Beef Jus, White Truffle Oil) and the Roasted Pepper Crusted Venison Sirloin (Braised Red Cabbage, Spaetzle, Juniper Game Jus). Both were quite flavorful as was the side of Roasted Baby Artichokes that we had ordered. The Filet was cooked to perfection! The Venison, however, I had asked for medium, and although was cooked to medium, was a bit dry. My fault, not the restaurant's. I should have ordered it at least medium rare. Despite the dryness, it was still rather good. For dessert we had the Tahitian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee. Think about those words....isn't your mouth starting to water?? The perfect end to a FANTASTIC meal. The personal touches and hospitality make this place what it is, of course in addition to the amazing food. Can't wait to go back!!!! read more

Food here is amazing. Everything we got was great and the service is very good. I still fantasize about the crab crepe appetizer (TMI I know). I go to a restaurant for the food so I love this place but it is very very small and the decor will not knock your socks off. This will bother some people who expect more for the price. However, the food......sorry I was dreaming about the crap crepe. GO HERE! read more

The customer service here is incredible, they make you feel special every time you go. I'm a vegetarian and they're extremely accommodating of my dietary needs, and even remember my specific likes and dislikes each time I return. Their Sunday brunch is also an absolute treat. Looking forward to our next visit! read more

I had been to Lorena's a few years back, and remembered it fondly as the best French I'd ever had. When I decided to propose to my fiancee, I knew that this would be the best place to do it. The staff and chef were delighted to work with me in constructing a tasting menu that fit with our vegetarianism and in helping me plan the exact moment. During the meal, the service was impeccable: extremely attentive yet unobtrusive. The food was sublime. Absolutely sublime. Some highlights include the mostly perfectly cooked salmon I've ever had, an incredible English pea soup, lobster risotto. This is as good as it gets - I've been to my share of Michelin French places, Lorena's is just as good as them. I could not have picked a better, more romantic, or delicious venue. You should go there for a special occasion, or for any excuse you can think of. I've started saving money again to come back. P.s. BYOB makes it such an incredible value. read more

French food isn't my favorite but Lorena's is truly an exceptional experience from start to finish. The olive and sourdough bread are excellent - always a good sign when the bread is fresh. The lobster crepe appetizer was delicious. I had the skate wing for entree and it was perfectly cooked. Tender and perfectly seasoned. The chocolate cake was rich and complimented perfectly by the ice cream. I will definitely return for a special occasion. read more

Lorena's - Yummy beets - French Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey

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I came here for brunch and although my dish was delicious I have to say I left hungry! I ordered the crab crepe which was $21 and it was portioned as a very small appetizer, literally 3 bites! Being French I'm used to small portions but this was beyond ridiculous especially for a brunch main dish! My friend got the cavatelli carbonara which she did not love... I may try this place again for dinner at some point however was disappointed with brunch. Service was good and attentive. read more

Went here for brunch for my mom's birthday. Lorena's certainly has flavorful food but it's a place where they give you little portions and charge big prices. Now, I can appreciate a lovely place like this, however I also like to eat. I enjoy the first world problem of leaving overly full and bordering on self-hatred because of a self inflicted food coma. Sadly, I didn't leave satiated. (Or maybe I did and I'm just used to rolling out of restaurant and not walking out on my own volition. Hm...) I had the heirloom salad which was really fresh and a great way to start off the meal. My main dish was a delicious take on Eggs Benedict using chorizo. SO good. A couple people shared one or two desserts so I was able to taste the peanut butter bread pudding and the chocolate cake. Both were good but nothing I haven't really experienced before. I'm a tough crowd with desserts. Above all, the staff was flawless. Very attentive, knowledgable and well trained in basic service etiquette. THAT is something I can get down with no matter where I eat. read more

The food was divine. The restaurant is cozy and quiet and is perfect for celebrating a special occasion or spending a romantic evening with your loved one. BYOB is always a plus. The waitstaff were all extremely attentive and knowledgeable of the menu which is changed and/or updated often. That evening, to start, we ordered the lobster crepe which is a must. For our mains, off of the December menu, we had the skate wing, the duck breast, and the sirloin of lamb. And finally, we finished the evening off with the pumpkin trifle and the bread pudding. All of which were impeccable. We will be sure to visit this gem as often as the menu changes! read more

Where to begin ... there are at least 20 other NJ restaurants that serve much better food at this price point. Why this restaurant is listed as one of NJ's finest is hard to understand. The staff was poorly trained. They ALL could not explain the menu and the menu selections were very limited. I'm not complaining about the limited menu because that is acceptable at a (allegedly) fine restaurant. However, I expect the staff to know the menu inside and out ... really bad first impression. We did not bring wine and the staff seemed annoyed - perhaps there is a $20 uncorking fee they missed out on? I'll never know. We had iced tea which we enjoyed BUT they ran out after we each had 1 glass! Really? The food was bland and uncreative. We even skipped dessert and drove to nearby Westfield for a great cappuccino at a little coffee house in the downtown area. Did I mention that the food was bland and uncreative? The atmosphere was also bland and uncreative. What a disappointing wedding anniversary dinner. Consider yourself warned. read more

Love this place whether for date night or a night out with a friend. Classy place that's intimate and not pretentious and the food is very good. They sometimes offer a weekday prix fixe menu - definitely a deal! Very good food and byob. read more

Lorena's - French Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey