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The Highlawn, West Orange, NJ

The Highlawn

4.4
4.4
1437 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 36 times today
  • Great for scenic views
  • Fancy
  • Romantic
Nestled atop the picturesque Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange, NJ, The Highlawn is regarded throughout the region for fine dining and its dedication to making each celebration memorable and unique. It has been the trusted venue of many private groups, Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations, local community associations, and many more, and is a recipient of OpenTable's Diners' Choice Awards for the Top 100 Scenic View Restaurants.

The landmark has been revitalized to provide patrons with a premier fine dining experience and world-class site for weddings and special events. With world class Culinary Director and Executive Chef William Prunty now at the helm, diners can expect an out-of-this-world meal.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Steakhouse, Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 11:30 am–3:00 pm Bar Tue–Sun 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Dinner Tue, Wed 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (973) 731-3463
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Catering
    Built into the Watchung Mountain Ridge of West Orange’s Eagle Rock Reservation, the Wine Cellar is a venue like no other for private events, corporate functions, tastings, and celebrations. The event space hosts 15-65 guests and is the ideal setting for any gathering.
  • Private party facilities
    The Skyline Ballroom features the most iconic panoramic views of New York City—anywhere. The event space hosts up to 200 guests and is the perfect setting for receptions of any kind
  • Neighborhood
    West Orange
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Chef's Table, Entertainment, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View

What 1,437 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 3.9Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • New Jersey

    Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

  • Essex

    Great for fine wines

  • Essex

    Romantic

  • Essex

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Highlawn offers an exquisite dining experience with breathtaking views of the NYC skyline. Guests praise the "spectacular service," "phenomenal food," and "exceptional atmosphere." While some note areas for improvement, especially regarding service and pricing, the venue remains a cherished spot for special occasions, thanks to its stunning setting and attentive staff.

1,437 Reviews
  1. Michael

    New York City

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful ambiance, food disappointing, still a worthwhile experience

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  2. Jen

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was exceptional the French onion soup is one of the best I have ever had .

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  3. Katherine

    VIP

    New York City

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food is overrated. Nothing was special. I wouldn’t come back.

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  4. Maryann

    VIP

    New York City

    41 reviews

    3.0

    41 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Not a good evening for us. Our filet mignons were not cooked to our liking. They were sent back and they still were not cooked..  They did compensate us with dessert, but overall it was not a great experience.

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  5. David

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    I felt the waiter was over worked and did not have time to really engage with questions about the food. The appetizers were good but the main course meat was just ok. The desert and coffee were of an ordinary quality. Not what I remember as the quality I have experienced at the Highlawn before. Maybe Christmas was just a stressful night.
    The HighlawnResponded 3 days ago
    Thanks for visiting us, David. We're sorry to hear that your experience didn't match your past experiences at The Highlawn. We always strive to provide a balance between attentive service and engaging with our guests. We're glad you enjoyed our appetizers, but we apologize for falling short on the main course and desert. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to improve. We hope you'll give us another chance to impress you in the future. Best, The Management Team

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  6. Christina

    Denver

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Second time that we were disappointed with the food quality.

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  7. Paul

    VIP

    New York City

    32 reviews

    5.0

    32 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The Christmas buffet was a bit disappointing. The overall buffet food was good, but the carving station items of prime rib and turkey were extremely disappointing in comparison to the normal quality of these items on a regular day. The prime rib was served cold and the turkey was dry and overcooked. The normal high quality was definitely not there. Not even the B Team.

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  8. Donna

    VIP

    New York City

    19 reviews

    1.0

    19 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Worst experience!!! Very few employees working Service herrific 2 bartenders and one man was a server and bartended for the entire grill room! Waited 30 minutes for drinks ! Salad and sushi ok but when we finally got food cold ! Steak overcooked I specifically asked for scallops to be carmelized!! Bartender did write it down but they came out cold and pale? I also asked for them not to be put in a bed of squash which no one listen to either No music until we complained then in and off with commercials ! Saw woman in ladies room Who was having a party in the wine room she said absolutely awful?? I don’t know what’s going on there but a lot of people we knew have a quick I must say Danny the manager took very good care of us and was running Over the restaurant helping in every area! We have spent many holidays there never had such an awful experience don’t plan on returning until they get their act together thank you

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  9. Daniel

    VIP

    New York City

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was fantastic!! Waiter was very informative and attentive. Would. highly recommend this restaurant!!
    The HighlawnResponded 3 days ago
    Thank you for joining us; it was our pleasure to host you. We thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Your feedback is most appreciated and welcomed. We look forward to seeing you again! Very best, Laine Facatselis HL Assistant General Manager

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  10. Elizabeth

    VIP

    New York City

    13 reviews

    3.0

    13 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Server took a while to come over & introduce himself, drinks took 45 min. Apps came out before drinks. Duck carbanara was bland, tasted like pasta water. Server took it off the bill. No gentle background music. View was nice. Save your money. Overrated “fine dining”, didn’t feel special at all.
    The HighlawnResponded 3 days ago
    Thank you for your feedback; I am very sorry to hear about your unsatisfactory dining experience with us. We can assure you that our aim, day by day, is to create an unforgettable and satisfactory experience for every guest. Please provide us with an email so that a member of our management team can be in contact with you shortly. Very best, Laine Facatselis HL Assistant General Manager

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Highlawn is rated 4.4 stars by 1437 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
9:30 PM
Booked 36 times today
Google Map for The Highlawn

1 Crest Dr, West Orange, NJ 07052

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    West Orange
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 11:30 am–3:00 pm Bar Tue–Sun 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Dinner Tue, Wed 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Steakhouse, Italian
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Chef's Table, Entertainment, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View
  • Phone number
    (973) 731-3463
  • Catering
    Built into the Watchung Mountain Ridge of West Orange’s Eagle Rock Reservation, the Wine Cellar is a venue like no other for private events, corporate functions, tastings, and celebrations. The event space hosts 15-65 guests and is the ideal setting for any gathering.
  • Private party facilities
    The Skyline Ballroom features the most iconic panoramic views of New York City—anywhere. The event space hosts up to 200 guests and is the perfect setting for receptions of any kind
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  • Terms of Use
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