Lorena’s

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.

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 crêpe, 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 crêpe was nothing short of delicious. Food is pricey, but well worth it. Lorena’s is a byob, so that helps bring down the cost.

No need to go into NYC for some of the best high end French food around.
It feels intimate both in terms of the setting and how they treat you like family.
One bonus of being a BYOB place is that a fancy dinner and a nice bottle of wine will not kill your wallet.

A very nice restaurant. Food is good. Services is good. Every time I went, I felt like going out for a date, a date with my husband of over 20 years!

EDIT: Looks like this was hanging out in my unfinished reviews section for a while. This was probably a year and a half ago. Hopefully Menu has changed, and the below merely reflects an off night (listen, it happens). But, still worth posting in case it happens to be of use to anyone.
My wife and I decided to celebrate our 6^th wedding anniversary here after reading the many glowing reviews. We either did haven’t the same experience as everyone else on Unilocal or we simply expect and enjoy very very different things from our evenings out. Or, we simply came at the wrong time (right around the 4^th of July holiday) and caught everyone when they really REALLY wanted to be doing something else.
Décor: The place felt a little dark and tired, to me… Older décor, probably been a while since a major renovation. This is not to say that it is untidy, or unclean. Indeed, the silver, linens, etc were all immaculate. It’s the space itself that just feels a little… tired. Could have just been our area (first two-​top by the window). Not very distracting, and not even a negative. It’s just an older style and feel to the place. FYI.
Service: I do not remember out waiter’s name, but he was the highlight of our visit. I don’t think I will ever forget him, and that’s probably not a good thing. Imperious might be too strong a word, but not by much. Descriptions of dishes was given in a bored drone, while glancing everywhere but at us, further queries (for instance, his own preference between certain dishes) resulted in bored recitation of the menu verbatim… If I tried, I’m not sure I could give a better impression of the stereotypical haughty (potentially Haute-​y?) french waiter. This guy was a laugh riot… but only in retrospect.
Food: Lobster Crêpe was good. Not mind-​blowing, not life-​changing, but good. I was worried that it would be overly heavy handed (butter, cepes, salt SMASH!) but it was treated deftly.
Beets: So, this is a dish of many many many disparate parts and ideas. Unfortunately, the beets themselves were bland. I don’t mean that they were cooked improperly, or there was some sort of error. I mean that, in all likelihood, the beets were, at their raw stage, not the best exemplars of that succulent, sweet, earthy root vegetable. Hard to liven up a bad beet. The rest of the plate (cheeses, sauces, what I’m almost certain was [and remember, this was MONTHs ago] a dab of possibly pistachio nut butter?] were fine, but can’t save a bland beet.
Lamb: Avoid this dish. In one’s imagination, I suppose the idea of Brioche crusted lamb over treacle-​sweet quinoa and a random scattering of potatoes COULD make sense… maybe. In practice however, it’s just not a coherent dish. Best to ignore the dessert-​like quinoa, but at that point you just have lamb and roasted fingerlings which are basically just separate dishes with nothing to unify them.
Other Main Dish: I completely forget what my wife got. It was fine to good. Well, in her opinion it was «fine», but I remember greatly, GREATLY preferring it to my dish, going so far as to label it as «good».
Berry Trifle: So, it turns out that Bland Berries + Sugar = sugary bland berries, NOT an awesome trifle. Same as with beets. Hard to make bland berries into an awesome berry trifle.
Beets, Lamb, and Berries were all low points for me, and while the Beets and Berries are mostly the result of mediocre produce, why still list them? At the price point, I’d figure you’d adjust a menu if you’re not happy with the product…
In any event, these guys could have had an off night. In fact, that’s the most likely thing I can think of, as this was RIGHT around the 4^th of July, and honestly, who REALLY likes to work around the holidays? And it’s simply too hard for me to believe that THIS MANY Unilocal reviewers could be wrong about a place. Probably just an off night…
But then again, for the money, it had better have been a really REALLY off night.

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.

What can I say; Another amazing Meal! I have been going to Lorenas for my Birthday for 10 years now. Lorena and Umberto greet you and make you feel so at home. I had the cavatelli app and Venison steak (rare) and my Wife had the Short Ribs. Everything was amazing! Umberto sent us a cheese plate (I didn’t even tell him it was my birthday either). I highly recommend Lorenas!

top notch food, top notch service!
I have been wanting to eat here for a while and when my fiancée’s birthday came up, it was the perfect spot for an exquisite meal.
Service was great and the waiter was friendly, professional and had a great sense of humor that we appreciated.
We bought our own bottle of wine and they immediately offered to uncork and serve it.
While we were lucky to get a reservations on the day of, I would highly recommend booking out a few weeks in advance if you can, as reservations go quickly.
I can’t wait to go back as the food is delicious!

Best romantic byob restaurant I have ever been to. Multiple visits. Food is over the top every time, and I am a major food snob!!!

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!

I’ve been about 4 times. Three of those visits absolutely lived up to the hype. Lorena’s routinely ranks among the top restaurants nationally, and it is priced accordingly. The BYOB policy helps keep the bill down compared to similar options in Manhattan, but it ain’t cheap. The recently expanded, but it is still a very intimate restaurant. Service has always been impeccable. Food has been world class three of the four times I’ve been. One time I ordered conservatively and was not blown away. Presentation is A++. The space itself is unremarkable — you park on the street out front, and there is no hint of what lies within. Décor is clean and simple — no character really. But that’s ok with me. The experience is so unexpected that the lack of flash makes it that much more remarkable.

I came here with my family for dinner on Sunday — my brother and his fiancé had Valentine’s day dinner this past year here and absolutely raved about it. It’s a little pricey but it’s BYOB so that saves a lot if your dinner company is anything like mine.
Every single thing we ordered was phenomenal! I had the crab and mushroom crêpe with a truffle sauce to start, which was so delicious I scraped every bit of sauce off the plate with my fork. I would have licked it if I was at home.
My soon to be sister in law and I then shared (we went halfsies because we’re women and couldn’t decide on just one thing) a perfectly cooked, pan roasted salmon filet with braised cabbage, mushrooms, parsnip purée, and a mushroom-​truffle foie gras sauce, and the duo of roasted filet of beef and braised short rib with baby vegetables, potato purée, and a black truffle veal jus. Everything was so elegantly planted, well cooked, and perfectly sauced — I have a thing for sauces and these were just about some of the best I’ve ever tasted.
We ended the night with a special chocolate lava cake which was fantastic. Hot, with liquid fudge on the inside and awesome homemade vanilla ice cream on the side.
My only complaint is that this place isn’t in Hoboken.

Great food, atmosphere and service. Perfect for an anniversary celebration with your loved one.

We’ve eaten here 5 – 6 times and have always had an awesome experience. Very small restaurant with great staff and an awesome chef/​owner umberto.
Start off with an amuse bouche. Usually an unusual concoction in a shot glass… a gustatory delight. Next, warm, fresh baked bread.
Hands down, probably my favorite appetizer ever is their salmon tartare with crème fresh and roe. It is an experience by itself. I could get this as my appetizer, entrée and dessert. Yes, it’s that good. When I am not lucky enough to have it on the menu, we have enjoyed their salads, pea soup, risotto, and crab crêpe appetizers. You really can’t go wrong.
For an entrée, I usually choose the salmon or halibut. My bf has enjoyed the chicken and beef. Our friends have tried the pork and lamb options and everyone has agreed that the food is awesome. There are so many flavors to each dish that each is an individual experience. The food is locally sourced and supports the neighboring farmers.
I am usually full for dessert. We have loved the crème brûlée.
Now, to mention the service. It is impeccable. Properly trained staff who are extremely attentive to detail.
Thanks Umberto. We love your restaurant. It’s one of our favorites. And we love that it is a byob.

Excellent restaurant! Took my husband for his birthday and could not have asked for a better dinner. The service was 5 stars and the food backed it right up! I had the butter poached lobster risotto special for an appetizer and it was to die for. The best lobster risotto I’ve ever tasted. The rest of the meal for my husband and myself was again great.
Service was on point– constantly clearing the table and making sure our wine glasses were never empty. We are not usually dessert people but decided to order the lemon cheesecake which was out of this world! They brought the cake with a candle for my husband and it was on the house!
We will definitely be back for another special occasion.

I took my wife here for her birthday and must say it was one of the best meals of my life! The steak tartare was one of the best dishes I have ever tasted. It is truly an amazing experience. The changing menu, excellent service, and cuisine to die for make this a can’t miss!
The only downside I have seen is it is cozy inside and tables are close together, but once you taste the food it is always worth it!

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 crème brûlée 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.

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 crêpe 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!

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.

My fiancé took me here for my birthday dinner. We LOVED everything we ordered. The lobster with crêpe 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 =].

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 — Purée of Spring Pea Soup, served with Lump Crabmeat, Croûton, Orange Purée, Micro Greens ($ 11). This was super good. One critique is that peas were included in the garnish. As is, the purée 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 Purée, 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.