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The Highlawn, West Orange, NJ

The Highlawn

4.5
4.5
1133 Reviews
$31 to $50
American
Top Tags:
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.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 37 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Cuisines
    American, Steakhouse, Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Brunch Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (973) 731-3463
  • Website
    http://www.highlawn.com/
  • 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
  • Location
    1 Crest Dr, West Orange, NJ 07052
  • Neighborhood
    West Orange
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Chef's Table, Entertainment, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View

What 1,133 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • New Jersey - North

    Great for scenic views

  • New Jersey - North

    Most Booked 1000-Point Tables

1,133 Reviews

  1. Hank

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    The service was excellent from both of our servers - The appetizers were excellent and my wife's entre was good - I had one of the specials and I found the meat a little tough - It's a nice setting and was very quiet - there were not many customers. Unfortunately the price did not march quality with the food generally overpriced.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    West Palm Beach

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    I went to the Highlawn for lunch with a friend who had not been there since it reopened under new management. He commented on the very inviting decor in the dining room and the service (which was particularly good). My guest is allergic to a number of things and they did a good job accommodating his requests, including checking to ensure the substitutions would work.

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  3. LisF

    New York Area

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    We didn't get a window table as requested, despite having made the reservation a week earlier. Four of the five people in our group wanted to order filet mignon, but it was not available. The one dessert we ordered, black forest cake, was not available. The prime rib au jus was greasy and had far, far too much salt sprinkled over it, and half of the supposedly 20-ounce cut was inedible. Service was incredibly slow, to the point that we thought we had been forgotten. On the brighter side, the grilled cauliflower appetizer was superbly delicious, as was the Faroe Islands salmon. I/we might be back some day, but I'm not sure I'll recommend the place. Yes, it was a busy night, but that's no excuse.

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Wherever you sit you will have a beautiful view. The staff aims to please.

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  5. LeeV

    Atlantic City

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our experience was lovely. I thought the young man playing the piano worked there. He played wonderfully and my husband and I greatly appreciated him. The bartender made an excellent off the menu peach martini. The waiters were very professional and courteous. The food and ambiance was fabulous. Thank you.

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  6. Sara

    New York Area

    10 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall4food4service3ambience5
    Food and service were wonderful. Disappointed that the cappuccino machine was not working and long wait (40 minutes) for dessert to arrive. Some trouble with printer we were told. Otherwise great food we will try it again.

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  7. DanielJ

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Brunch was fantastic! Service and food was awesome and would highly recommend.

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  8. Candace

    New York Area

    28 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful room/place, great view, wonderful selection, staff couldn’t have been lovelier.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    66 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    66 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We went for our 15th wedding anniversary. It was spectacular great food great service and an outstanding view. Thank you for the champagne and dessert ! You made us feel special

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  10. jjnn

    New York Area

    48 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    48 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Highlawn was amazing. The ambience was incredible and the food was extremely delicious. The staff was very courteous. It was a special experience. We look forward to visiting again!

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  11. Greg

    New York Area

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Dinner choices were good, waitress was very nice, ambience was exceptional

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  12. RebeccaK

    New York Area

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Eating outside with the skyline view of NYC was optimum (the beautiful weather and blue sky helped). The food was excellent in taste and portions. Seafood was perfectly cooked and top of the line. Staff is attentive and pleasant.

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  13. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    66 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    66 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food rocked! Service was really good! Can’t wait to go back !

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  14. NJfoodie

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall1food1service3ambience1
    The restaurant is in a beautiful building with an outstanding view. I would urge you to visit, have a drink and skip the food. The food isn't bad-it's fine-just not (at all) worth the eye-popping price.

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  15. Richard

    New York Area

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    everything good, but pricy. would be great to know if lunch menu is not available for sunday ahead.

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  16. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Good restaurant, Great ambience, Food is good and service is good as well..

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  17. Vince

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall3food4service4ambience4
    The place looks very nice and the food was good, however it was a little overpriced. Also, the entire thing with showing up to the bar only to find out you can get a seat at an empty bar because the BAR STOOLS were reserved!!!! WTF That is the stupidest thing ever!!!!! the bar should be first come first served. i have traveled all over the United States and abroad and this is the only place I have ever been in where they reserve bar stools. VERY BAD. I got a seat at a pub table by the bar, however I was not offered a bar menu and had to order way overpriced food and found out later I needed to ask for a bar menu if I wanted one. How is anyone supposed to know another menu is available if it is not offered to them?

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  18. JILLIANS

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall3food3service2ambience2
    A favorite for quite some time but disappointing last two times now. We were rushed from start to finish. Very rushed! Couldn’t enjoy ourselves. Staff cleared our plates before we were done. Drink glasses taken away still with drinks in them and no refills offered. Food wasn’t stellar the way it used to be. A5 was very chewy and tasted bland. Our last experience dining here wasn’t great but we tossed it up to a one-off. This is now 2 disappointments so likely on hunt for a new fave.

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  19. 50lady

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Perfect place for my dads 85th bday celebration!! Food was out of this world!

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  20. OpenTable Diner

    Atlantic City

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    wow wow wow! We went here for our anniversary and the whole staff was just so sweet. They gave us complementary Prosecco and made us feel special the whole night. The service was incredible and we loved her waiter! Multiple people came over to check on us as well. The food here is just so good and honestly I’m sure you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. I will definitely be back and telling people to dine here.

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  21. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 6, 2023

    overall1food4service2ambience3
    My girlfriend and I just finished our dinner there. We are in our 20’s. The reservation was for 7 pm. We arrived on time and sat at 7 pm. After we sat, three other tables sat (of older age). They were all greeted and given drinks upon arrival while we waited for even a greeting and a drink request. There were 2 waiters and 2 secondary waiters in the area. Around the 10 minute mark, we finally received water from the secondary waiter who gives you water and bread, and removes your plates. This was after my girlfriend and I spoke to each other about how we should get water ourselves and she had over heard us. After an additional 15 minutes (a total of 25 minutes) we were ready to walk out but the waiter finally appeared and asked us for drinks and we ordered appetizers. The rest of the night was fine and our waiter was very attentive after the initial 25 minutes. The manager, however, went around to every table near us to ask how everything was going beside ours. From the start, it felt very uncomfortable and judgmental. The wait staff (not our waiter) and the customers just seemed to stare at both of us through out the night. The food and view was great but the staff, other customers, and outside park area seem to bring the rating down quite a bit. Aside from all the great effort that was put into the food, due to the staff not being well trained I could get a good view and the same food or better elsewhere.

    1 person found this helpful

  22. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    34 reviews

    5.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on September 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    An absolutely perfect birthday dinner. Shout out to Max, who found us a perfect bottle of wine. Dessert is always a celebration at The Highlawn. A very special evening.

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  23. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 6, 2023

    overall3food2service4ambience4
    Chicken was over cooked sent back. Octopus was burnt on the side plate down. Was also sent back.

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  24. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 5, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    The Highlawn doesn’t disappoint. We had visitors from the west coast, so this was the first place that came to mind that we had to visit. Great view of New York City across the river despite a bit of haze from the heat. Everyone enjoyed their meals (Sea Bass, pastas made in house) and we even stuck around for dessert.

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  25. StevenS

    New York Area

    60 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    60 reviews

    Dined on September 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always superb sertting. Nicholas was a perfect waiter and was supported by a great staff. Managers came by a couple of times to assure we were all happy. Food was wonderful and beautifully presented. Just a lovely evening!

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  26. Nick

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was good and scenery was better. A beautiful restarting with a great view and location.

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  27. SFRH

    Greater Boston

    31 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolutely beautiful restaurant with amazing views of Manhattan. Service was fantastic and the food was delicious. Would highly recommend it.

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  28. Abtb

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    1.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    overall1food1service3ambience4
    The food was horrible. Quality of meat (steaks) was bad and so overpriced. I ordered the roasted beets as an appetizer. Description said roasted beets with apple and walnuts. The beets were boiled with an onion vinegar type of dressing! Both filet mignon and aged strip steak were terrible. Large portions but I prefer better quality vs quantity. A very disappointing meal.

    2 people found this helpful

  29. RobertK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My wife and I sat outside, our first time here. The views alone was worth it. The waitstaff went above and beyond to accommodate us. They helped make her birthday memorable.

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  30. DavidR

    New York Area

    83 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    83 reviews

    Dined on August 31, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Great spot for an incredible view with an option for outdoor dining. The service is excellent. There is also a nice bar and bar area to dine and hang more casually. The dining room is a bit more formal and dont forget your wallet. I ate black bass but I would try a meat dish next time as the steaks are a focus with dry aging visible.

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  31. YelenaL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food there was really good and would definitely come back

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  32. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    overall5food4service4ambience5
    Great view : vibes & very friendly service - food was solid

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  33. PhilietheFodie

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was expensive but a great dining experience. The food was very good, white glove service. The sommelier found me a delicious Sicilian wine for my fish. Highly recommend

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  34. Michael

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We drove up from South Jersey to spend our anniversary at Highlawn. As soon as we walked in we were greeted with a smile. The view from the dinning area was stunning. Our waiter Arthur was excellent and the rest of the team was also on point. There was one gentleman that can to our table to wish us a happy anniversary he was a joy to speak with and a great addition to our experience. They also kindly helped us celebrate our anniversary with some fireworks in ice cream and some complimentary coffee and desert. Then after all this we enjoyed a short walk looking at the NY skyline.

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  35. AfolabiO

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We enjoyed our first time here. We sat outside and enjoyed the views of the NYC. Service was good, the live music was just right, food and drinks were delightful. We'll be back.

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  36. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great experience! Everybody from our party enjoyed. Can’t wait to be back!

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  37. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience5
    Lovely views. Our waiter Arthur was very attentive. The food was okay. The chilean sea bass was too saturated in the miso glaze. The dry aged steak was okay but nothing special. French fries were very good and crispy; tuna tartare was fresh. Overall a nice dinner.

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  38. JoeO

    New York Area

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on August 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It's always a wonderful experience here. The location and ambiance are unmatched with a commanding view of the NYC skyline. Exceptional drinks and food complimented by outstanding, super attentive, 5 star service.

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  39. OpenTable Diner

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 25, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Had the Black sea bass and the Chilean Sea Bass. Very good! The croutons and crostini were quite stale on the salad and tartare but it was easy enough to put to the side

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  40. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome evening. Staff was attentive, polite and very professional. Made our event memorable. Kudos to Stephanie, Manuel and Patriso

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers

  • Physical distancing

    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables

  • Screening

    • Diner temperature check required
    • Staff temperature check required

FAQs

The Highlawn is rated 4.5 stars by 1133 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 37 times today
Google Map for The Highlawn

1 Crest Dr, West Orange, NJ 07052

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    West Orange
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Brunch Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm
  • 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
  • Website
    http://www.highlawn.com/
  • 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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