We wanted to go on a date night and after some research we decided to try this place . This is how it went : Upon entering I told the hostess I had reservations for 6 pm but since we were about an hour early we would have a drink at the bar first . She didn't look so happy about that . We sat at the bar where there were 3 bartenders , one of them was busy , another wasn't very friendly and completely ignored us after I explained it was our first time there and we needed some time . We ended up with Matt , and he was the ONLY one who made it worth while staying at that bar . We had questions in regards to the food ( he was very knowledgeable of the menu . And he also made the best lychee martinis I've had in a long time . The food was very good , well seasoned and served with great presentation. If you're looking for good food I would definitely recommend the place. If you're looking for good service I would not recommend . Un less they clone Matt . And I don't think what will happen . They honestly need to train the staff , because from the door and beyond they certainly don't know how to make you feel welcomed . read more

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One of the best places for a Sunday brunch. Came here for a family gathering. And this was the prefect place locally. Big place, noise level is not quiet, but far from to loud. The decor is nice. The outside for patio goes out to a lake and a couple mile walking / bike path. The brunch was exceptionally good. Their's plenty of choices to pick from. The pasty table was not that good though. The fruit was fresh. If you do not want buffet brunch. You can order from the plentiful menu. The buffet comes with a free Mimosa or Bellini. But I had a cranberry and pineapple juice mixed. I would recommend this place. If you want to make a day out here. This place is next door to The Turtle Back Zoo. Another great place to visit. read more

Ok I will say I wasn't sure what to expect based on some of the reviews but we had a great experience, First we chose thus restaurant because it has outdoor seating and second because dogs are permitted on the patio. The best part is they have a dog menu. Our hostess seated us outside immediately even though it was pretty busy being nice weather. You get a pretty nice view of the lake with a breeze. For appetizers we got the bread , the flatbread and the pretzel. All awesome. For my main I got the chicken and orzo Which was not what I expected. It came out more like a chicken soup, the waiter took the dish once I asked about it and got me the steak which was quite good. For desert I had the cake which was very good. I got the espresso martini, which I substituted out bourbon for vodka, with the cold foam topping it's incredible. Definitely give this place a try. read more

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Location is great! Parking is easy! Ambience is so nice! Food / service, ok! I've been for Mother's Day brunch and for dinner - overall a solid spot but not my most favorite. We did enjoy the calamari and I did also like my salad. Others at dinner weren't impressed with their orders - I think it's a great spot for an appetizer and cocktail. Pretty walking path behind and they also have a patio option as well! read more

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My coworkers and I had a nice & cozy dinner at McLoone's by the beautiful fireplace a few evenings ago. Our waiter was kind, prompt & our entrees were tasty. I had the salmon & risotto which was tasty & a large portion & we shared the artisan bread starter. I would eat here again! read more

I had the crab cake, onion soup and the skirt steak. The crab cake and the onion soup were good. While the skirt steak was okay, the steak itself was good but their version of chimichurri just didn't go well with the roasted corn. The location is 5 stars, it is located next to the zoo. When you are here it feels like you are in a cabin estate. A big fire place at the entrance and the lighting at the perfect for the ambiance. Our waiter was super nice, I asked if they had an affogato and he made it happen even if it wasn't on the menu. read more

McLoone's Boathouse - French Onion, Roasted Potatoes (GF, V), Skirt Steak - New American Near Me - West Orange, New Jersey

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McLoone's Boathouse was disappointing. While the service was great, the food was not. We started with the oysters, which unfortunately had a lot of sand in them. It was very off-putting and unpleasant to taste. Our server was kind enough to bring us a replacement order, which was better, but there was still some sand present. Our mocktails were also not tasty. We also ordered the fried calamari and shrimp appetizer. The calamari tasted stale and lacked freshness. The peppers helped add some flavor, but it still wasn't enjoyable. The shrimp was probably my favorite item of the entire meal. For our entrees, we ordered the skirt steak with fries. My husband's fries were stale, while mine were decent. I wasn't impressed with the steak, as it lacked flavor, and the chimichurri sauce tasted odd. The corn succotash, however, was quite good. By the end of the meal, we didn't even feel like trying dessert. Overall, the food quality and freshness need significant improvement. Although the service was excellent, unfortunately, we will not be returning. read more

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Earlier this month, I enjoyed Sunday Brunch at McLoone's Boathouse. We were a party of five and celebrating a birthday. Taurus Season! :) While I'm from the area and also frequently visit the Waterfront that's part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex, this was my first time actually inside the restaurant. Brunch is buffet style with a variety of stations. Most of the stations are located in one area between dining rooms, but there are also stand alone stations. On our way out, I caught the "Waffle" station out of the corner of my eye and instantly regretted not doing a better scan of the entire layout lol. The food was very good and was presented elegantly on the tables and stations. Shiny chrome roll top chafers were replenished frequently with hot foods - breakfast eggs, sausages, bacon, potatoes, pasta, chicken, fish. There were also cheese and fruit platters, lox with capers, and oysters, clams, shrimp. You could also enjoy mimosas and bellinis if you like. McLoone's has a charm about it when you're in there. While waiting for the rest of my group, I looked around and saw the variety of seating areas and party rooms. It's nice. read more

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Views and place itself are great. That's where anything big positive ends. Food is ok. Service at the bar is meh. Has so much potential

Came to celebrate a birthday. Place is quite cozy with fireplaces burning and great Christmas spirit. We all started with different appetizers which were all outstanding. Entrees were just a good. Service was great very attentive helped with menu questions. The staff even gave the birthday girl a signed birthday card, what a personalized touch! Will definitely be back! read more

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First timers, we wanted an experience not just a meal. We were greeted as walked in. Our first thoughts were to sit at the bar as we walked towards the bar we saw a high top table for two right in front of the huge fireplace. We decided to sit there. A friendly bartender came over introduced himself and we chatted. Loved his energy!! As we scoped the menu, our waters came out . We were so lucky as a great live band was playing great music. We enjoyed it. We ordered two great cocktails . They were delicious. Bartender came around the bar and took or food order. Our appetizer came out so fast, we were impressed. Looked and tasted Amazing! Our dinner came out shortly. My steak was perfectly executed. Great cut of meat and loved that it was already sliced. Brussels sprouts and red potatoes were perfect. As we enjoyed the band - And the fire, we asked for the dessert list and chose the cream brûlée cheesecake. That was the perfect end of a phenomenal dinner! We will definitely be back!! Highly recommend!! It's definitely an experience you will never forget. read more

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The most perfect holiday dinner! I love going with a group of people because then there is more options to try. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with Christmas decor. With all that said let's go On to the food. DELICIOUS!!!! Everything was mouth watering and cooked to perfection. The Firecracker shrimp were so good I drool Thinking about them. The desserts were the best Way to end the evening. My Only complaint would be the butternut squash ravioli they were drenched in to much butter or perhaps fat from the prosciutto but there was no real flavor either. Luck would have it that it was my meal hahahaha. Our waitress was a star, when picking appetizers she would excitedly agree or if it wasn't a fan favorite she'd give a little hmmm any other choice? It was funny and much appreciated. read more

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The service was great and the food was delicious. We did the Sunday Brunch which is a self serve with a variety of cold and hot foods from breakfast, lunch, salads, seafood, fruits, vegetables, Omelette table, and so much more. Great for the family, group of friends, or even a solo adventure. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. The entire experience was wonderful and worthy of every penny spent. read more

McLoone's Boathouse - Sunday Brunch / Outdoor Patio - New American Near Me - West Orange, New Jersey

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Its always a great time coming here. Food is great, friendly staff. Restaurant grounds are beautiful and after you eat you can walk around the restaurant and take the path towards the pond behind the establishment. Always a pleasant evening. read more

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I've now been here for two events and a dinner, and I have to say that both the food and the service are incredible. They really do go above and beyond. Of course, you can't beat the location and the view either. read more

McLoone's Boathouse - New American Near Me - West Orange, New Jersey

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Went here for a work event ! The place is beautiful right on the water, they have a big bar and some private rooms for bigger parties ! Food and drinks were delicious and servers were prompt and professional.I'm definitely coming back !! Good spot for brunch , dinner and drinks and can even have a large gathering here or a cool date spot too !! I'm going to be back :) read more

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I've been to McLoone's before for brunch years ago (which I loved!) but never went for dinner as I had in mind that it was too fancy but it's the perfect blend of relaxed yet upscale atmosphere! The menu had a pleasant range of options for something lighter or a large meal. I had the shrimp tacos and was impressed by how flavorful they were with just a few simple ingredients. Will definitely be returning to try more of the menu and get one of the incredible looking desserts. read more

McLoone's Boathouse - Shrimp Tacos - New American Near Me - West Orange, New Jersey

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I went to McLoone's boathouse for my birthday, and I had a wonderful experience. I really enjoyed the ambiance, the food, and the excellent service. I spoke with the manager and let her know how great everything was and how professional the entire staff was. Devante was my server, and he was especially professional, pleasant, and attentive throughout my meal. Thank you to the entire team for helping make my birthday special. I will definitely be back for another meal! read more

My family's visit here was fantastic, on several accounts. We were a fairly large group, including several children, coming off a hot and hungry walk around the nearby reservoir. We didn't have any reservations, but we were happily surprised to find they were willing to seat us. Once we entered the space, it was easy to see why. There's a TON of space, both indoors and on their spacious patio. The indoor space is separated into several dining rooms (each with its own name and theme), with an upscale lodge-like feel that somehow both felt casual and nice enough to imagine the restaurant as a potential event space. The menu reads like a fancier diner menu, with plenty of old favorites done well. I ordered the Betty salad, which was a beautifully composed mix of greens, apples, craisins, and candied walnuts. I find a lot of restaurant salads to be overdressed, but McLoone's got their proportions right. My husband's turkey panini was also eaten without complaint. The bread was crunchily toasted and the cheese melty enough to ooze all over the turkey. Around the table, there was common praise for the fries here, which are hot, well-fried, and super starchy. They were good enough that anyone who didn't get fries with their order promptly regretted it. There's been some grumbling about service in some of the reviews here, but I had no issues with the service we received. Our waiter checked in with us frequently to make sure we had everything we needed and silently swooped in to refill water glasses without our asking. Best of all, our bill at the end seemed pretty reasonable for the number of people we had in our party. We had a fantastic impromptu lunch and would definitely return the next time we come to the reservoir or Turtleback Zoo (also nearby). read more

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Today my girlfriend & I went to McLoone's Boathouse and we were very disappointed in our food experience. First off, we started with the calamari ($18) and it was so bad that we had to send it back and have them take it off of our bill. My girlfriend took the first bite and immediately looked at me and just paused, waiting for me to try it...because she already knew I wasn't going to think it was good. Sure enough, the bite was extremely chewy and rubbery. Absolutely NO crisp at all, just heavy and greasy like it had been sitting in a bowl of oil. It was honestly WAY below the quality you'd expect from a place like this. Secondly, we tried the Asian Ahi Tuna salad ($24), and that didn't really redeem anything. The tuna didn't taste fresh at all, nor was it seared properly, and it definitely wasn't blackened like the menu described. The salad had decently good ingredients, but the execution just wasn't there. It looked like everything was thrown into a bowl and the dressing was poured right in the middle without being mixed, so every bite was inconsistent. The craziest part is the contrast with the ambience. The space itself is beautiful. The fireplace, layout, bar, everything was easily a 5 out of 5. It's right on the water, so you can walk around before or after your meal, which is a great touch. We even played mini golf next door, which was a really fun little activity and honestly one of the highlights of the whole experience. But the food just doesn't match the setting at ALL. McLoones feels much more like a spot you go to for drinks and the vibe, not for the food itself. Unfortunately, we didn't even get to try the drinks, but based on everything else, that's probably the only reason I'd consider coming back. read more

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Service was mediocre. Appetizer: Coconut shrimp ls 4 pieces - shrimp was well balanced with the berry sauce and mango. Coconut was not overwhelming. Entree: skirt steak was just ok. I ordered medium but it came medium well. The corn Salad the came with it was excellent read more

McLoone's Boathouse - New American Near Me - West Orange, New Jersey

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The bar staff here has mastered the art of ignoring customers and not making eye contact 9/9 at 4pm not busy at all ....... I have been here before and it has not changed I would never choose to spend my money here read more

Went on a date with someone and we met here because we both lived far away so this was like a halfway point. It looks like it was once an old lodge right on this lake, which I guess is part of this beautiful park, the grounds of which were extraordinary. We both had burgers. I thought they were good, large, with excellent french fries. Maybe a little undercooked, even for a medium rare person like myself. if I was ever in the area again, I would definitely go back just for the park alone. The service was excellent as well. very attentive. We sat outside overlooking the lake. There was definitely an event going on inside and the place is just huge. Sorry, forgot to take a picture again, but I have another one of interest! read more

McLoone's Boathouse - Bullfrog in lake right below McLoone's - New American Near Me - West Orange, New Jersey

Mercedes was an amazing waitress! So bubbly and personable! The food was delicious and would go back!!

My husband and I stopped here to celebrate our anniversary. We stood waiting to be seated and no one was at the host stand. There was a guy at the bartender stand that looked at us several times and didn't bother to come over or even say anything to us even though he saw us waiting. He was too busy on playing on his phone. We left after standing there for over 10 minutes and went somewhere else. A little customer service goes a long way why the bartender couldn't call or grab someone is ridiculous. read more

I went to McLoone's Boathouse with my daughter for a casual bite and Shirley Temples. The chicken wings were decent- no complaints there- but the service was really disappointing. There were multiple servers congregated by the bar, chatting with each other for the duration of our meal, instead of attending to customers- and our server was nowhere to be found for quite a while. I eventually had to walk up to the bar myself just to place our order. Overall, the food was fine, but the service felt unprofessional and inattentive. read more

McLoone's Boathouse - Chicken Wings - New American Near Me - West Orange, New Jersey

had a much better experience this time than my last visit. food was better and service was amazing! Hanifa did such an awesome job and definitely made everyone feel welcomed. She was professional but interacted with us in such a friendly and pleasant way. as for the food: the appetizers were a delicious start - calamari, general tso cauliflower, oysters, flatbread etc and the drinks were good too. For entrees i got their mahi mahi which was cooked flaky perfect and still juicy. Rice was great with coconut and green curry! even the dessert (chocolate cake and carrot cake) was a perfect sweet ending. Good job this time McLoone's! read more

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Wow this place was awesome. Staff and servers were excellent. Food was really good. We sat outside and it was lovely. I'd definitely recommend it. read more

I'm not sure what was worse, the food or the service. Besides waiting 45 minutes for our food, the charged us for two meals were never received. read more

Although a beautiful establishment, DO NOT GO HERE FOR DINING! Price - average | service - below average | management - below average | cleanliness - above average | interior - fancy, upscale, higher end cabin / lakehouse | parking - lot, plenty space Ordered Spring Cavatelli, Pork Chop and Short Rib entrees totaling around ~$110. Now, it pains me to write this because the visuals and ambience of this establishment is absolutely amazing sitting near a reservoir giving lakehouse vibes and situated in an upscale neighborhood showing off the beauty and charms of NJ as many are not aware of. HOWEVER, this rating is for a restaurant not a park...that said, Mcloone's Boathouse missed on many points. Part of any restaurant, the most important factor should be service. You can argue that it should be the taste of the food, but good service goes a long way and I haven't experienced any form of it from the front of house to the manager. Let me explain...I called twice prior to arrival in asking about reservations. I called back after the first time for a closer to arrival time about 30 minutes prior to arrival asking if making a reservation would be necessary compared to walk in to avoid wait times. The lady on the phone told me reservation would not be necessary and we would have no issue with a table upon arrival. I arrived with my party to find out nonetheless that we would have to wait whether for an outdoor or indoor dining. The expression of the lady at the front was distasteful as I kept asking how much longer given the fact I called prior to arrival about reservations. She should've sympathized that the incorrect information was given to me and done beyond efforts to make this right yet alone giving me an expression that was unnecessary. About 40-45 minutes later...we finally sit down. Then, I shared my experience with the manager for no other reason than for them to improve their processes for their benefits. This manager taps me on my arm like I'm a little kid and says "okay okay" while providing no offers of remediation or even sympathy. Again, I was not looking for remediation, but a restaurant with good service would've gone beyond their way to make this experience better, especially, for someone like a manager. This restaurant is lucky that I was in a very peaceful mood this day and accepted everything peacefully. In short, the food was below average for the price and type of place this was. Spring Cavatelli cream sauce was lackluster and dry for a cream sauce, pork chops was nothing better than an average homemade BBQ, and short ribs was far too salty for the reduced wine sauce with nothing more than a slab of short ribs on mashed potatoes. If you're charging over $30+ per meal in suburbs, the expectations should be more than what can be cooked at home. In hindsight, I am realizing the outrageousness of this situation. We were literally the only party waiting as others trickle in with no issues. Granted there was a large private party but all others seem to have sat down while we were the only ones waiting. I don't try to play the race card but now I'm thinking there may have been some sort of discrimination against being literally the only Asian American group yet alone ONLY group waiting at all. AVOID this beautiful establishment at all costs for the food and condescending service! Instead, skip the restaurant all together and go enjoy a walk near the reservoir and leave. read more

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Stopped by after a walk without a reservation on a Sunday for lunch/brunch and there was a bit of a wait but it went by quick. Loved sitting the the outdoor area at the high top tables with our dogs. The staff was so kind and accommodating, they brought out a water bowl for each and they even have a little dog menu. We ordered the lobster rolls and burgers which were both good. I loved the strawberry popping bubbles spritzer, it was so refreshing. I also got the truffle fries which were good. They also have a brunch buffet that looked really good if you were hungry. read more

McLoone's Boathouse - New American Near Me - West Orange, New Jersey

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Came for their brunch service to celebrate a family member's birthday. We had a reservation, so they checked us in quickly, and we only had to wait a couple of minutes before we were seated. The buffet experience was great. We especially loved the raw bar as part of the buffet, and the inclusion of the first round of brunch drinks in the per-person buffet price is a nice touch. The buffet seemed consistently tended to by staff and was promptly refreshed when things ran out. Unfortunately, it was so loud that we couldn't hear our waiter, although we barely needed him, having opted for the buffet. Additionally, while I will say everything seemed well maintained and perfectly clean, the floors in the lobby, dining room, and ESPECIALLY the bathrooms were SLIPPERY. Great service. Beautiful venue. We'll be back to celebrate more special occasions. read more

This is a lovely venue. Casual or special occasions, it's good all around. The service was very attentive. They have. DJ on weekends, nice touch. You also have the lake view. read more

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Family Friendly Spot With Good Options and Prices I'm shocked this place is rated so low. At the time of writing, this place is rated 2.5 stars. I read the low reviews and there is a lot of criticism around the food quality and service. Sounds like a lot of boomers and Karens honestly. Our experience was great. We came on the Memorial Day Weekend Saturday for lunch. We were promptly seated indoors after being given our choice of that or outdoors. It was a bit chilly. Prices were reasonable. Server told us the specials and I opted for the club sandwich special with truffle fries. We thought we were ending the meal with coffee when the server brought over a dessert tray and tempted us to stay a bit longer for a slice of cookie cake. Well... we are not in a rush to go anywhere. Would certainly come back again. read more

McLoone's Boathouse - club special - New American Near Me - West Orange, New Jersey

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Finally made it to Mcloone Boathouse on Mothers Day. Every Sunday they host a brunch buffet so Mothers Day brunch buffet was pretty much the same as their normal sunday brunch but of course a higher price and doesn't include the unlimited mimosa:-(. The brunch was pretty good. Lots of options from omelet station, crepe stations, waffle stations and tons of other hot items. My fav was the mini crab cakes, fresh oysters and shrimp. The downside it was pretty crowded so it was very hard to navigate from station to station and all the items and spread throughout the restaurant. It was a cold and rainy day so we couldnt take advantage of the patio or the lake views but it is quite stunning. I definitely was to return for lunch or a regular sunday brunch. Overall i enjoyed the experience!!! read more

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Its ok. Clearly trying to get one over on the calamari. There are more hot peppers than actual squid. Keep it simple and get a burger or something. Salad are ALL lettuce. Makes it look bigger than it actually is Nice ambience, but its all about the food. Service was slow and not attentive. read more

Came here to sample food for a special event. The shrimp was amazing! Although we didn't stay long, I would love to return and explore the rest of their menu. read more

McLoone's Boathouse - New American Near Me - West Orange, New Jersey

Ambiance gets extremely high scoring as this place is situation next to a lake and massive park/turtle back zoo. The service was good too as the staff were helpful serving the cake and with the brunch buffet. We were there for the brunch buffet and the offerings were plentiful and varied. The food quality was good however nothing particularly stood out. Our party of 9 had a good overall experience and I'd comeback again to try the regular menu & simply for the atmosphere alone. read more

This place is really gross. We came here for Father's Day, and I get that it's a busy day but that's no excuse. We had a 1:00 reservation and didn't get seated until 1:30. No one came to our table to tell us how the buffet works. No one came to give us water or take a drink order. All of the glasses on our table were dirty when we sat down. All the plates at the buffet were dirty. And the food was gross and all picked over too. It was so expensive and there were no food options. Will never go back. read more

Took our grandson to Turtleback and had a 2pm reservation for lunch. Outdoor and inside it's a really great looking venue. We were seated immediately and from there it went downhill. This is the first time I have seen a restaurant with more negative reviews than positive. I read most of the 1-star reviews and it looks like we hit every bump. Bad food--not poor--BAD! Worst service I have experienced in 60 years of dining No rudeness just a lack of everything. If I owned this place, I would do 1 of 2 things. #1 Shut it down--restaff it on the service and chef level #2 Sell it, hopefully to an owner with a proven track record in quality food and service. Other than that, I really don't understand how it stays in business. It was so bad I wouldn't give it a 2nd chance. read more