Classified

We decided to give it a try after a couple of invites to see what the hype was about. A bit gimmicky. You walk through the Saison restaurant right next to gate 120 and enter through the blue door at the back. For an "upscale dining space" as United describes it, I shouldn't have to place my order via a QR code with barely there wait staff. Vegetarian options are very limited, prices are high and the food is just okay. I paid $60 (including tip) for a liter of Pellegrino water, truffle Mac and cheese, and cauliflower steak. I would have been much happier ordering from the common folk places for cheaper or even eating for free at the United lounge. Another thing is there were no outlets to charge phones etc. I won't be returning.

Was excited to receive an invitation to dine at Classified. The overall experience was average. Servers are very attentive. The food is good but nothing outstanding. Prices are within range. The ambiance is great! The bluefin tuna was good. The beef dip was tasty; however, the tiny bowl of Au Jus was awkward to actually dip the sandwich. The crab cake was excellent; no fillers, fresh and perfectly seasoned. I won't say it's worth a second visit, but it's worth dining once for the experience. Additionally, I was somewhat perturbed, having to finalize my order with gratuity on the app before actually receiving any drinks or food. Hence, I don't know what level of service or quality of food I will receive, but I've already provided my gratuity.

A great place to dine at Newark Airport if you have at least 90 minutes. The food is good, the service congenial and hospitable. We had breakfast before our flight and were very pleased with our bagel lox platter, the mimosas and Cappucino. You order via phone and the hosts come around every once in a while. However the wait staff is not there for you for incidentals. There is no one in the dining room that you can flag for any questions or concerns. Highly recommend getting a reservation.

I've been wanting to try this place but then the pandemic happened and I'm finally returning with a decent layover so pulled the trigger on a reservation. The best part is you are whisked away into a calm and private seating area. Feels sort of like dining in the Polaris restaurant but the food isn't as high quality but still pretty good. We came for breakfast so the menu items are somewhat limited. You currently have to order via the mobile QR code which makes it easy to customize your order. The egg dishes are quite large (3 eggs), choice of meat and potatoes (or fruit substitute) and toast. The coffee or tea come in a separate small teapot which is nice so you can refill yourself. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Window views of gates and departing flights. I would come back if I had a lengthy layover and no access to a United lounge

A nice private spot created by united behind the Saison restaurant near gate C120. The menu is the same as Saison, as are the prices, which are not inexpensive. It’s nice to have a small private restaurant and the room is very nice. There are also private bathrooms adjacent to the room. The food is good and the service is also fine, although it doesn’t seem like there is staff dedicated to Classified, perhaps because it’s relatively new and not at all crowded. There were also tables that had not been cleaned and there was food left there from customers. Not great. Overall a nice escape but could be better.

Invitation only restaurant inside Saison near gate 120. Only seats about 30. Very nice, quiet, clean atmosphere. Order via QR code when you sit down. Didn’t like being asked for tip before any service done. Ordered French dip, chicken sandwich and sparkling water ($65 after 15% tip). French dip was good but not enough au jus. Chicken sandwich was dry. Order took over 30 minutes from time of order to arrival. The server wasn’t present most of the time so had to grab her when she was in room such as to ask for more au jus. Don’t think I’ll go back.

It's a fun place to say you've been to but don't come expecting 5* dining. The dining area is quiet besides the hum of a plane. When I arrived there were a total of 4 other travelers. Much nicer chairs and seating than what you'd get at any other restaurant at Newark. The food on the other hand was no better than anywhere else. Eggs ordered over medium were served over hard. Steak was very tough. Potatoes were cold. The service is great when you actually have a server come to your table. Don't expect them to come check in on you unless you order something and they come out to drop it off.

I was very happy with Classified - easily beats all the airport restaurants and lounges I’ve suffered through previously. It was very quiet, maybe all of three parties dining at once, and the food and service were on-point. I had the 28-day dry aged La Frieda burger, cooked to order, and was very pleased to see how thoughtful and prompt the servers were. They were personable, no stinginess over condiments or extras, and just made everything as easy and relaxing as can be when trying to catch a break from the chaos at EWR (shout-out to Myra and Barbara!) Sure, it’s pricy, but I’d gladly pay more just to dodge the hellscape that is the rest of this airport. I really can’t emphasize enough how pleasant every aspect of dining here wound up being, can’t wait to come back!

A upscale restaurant speakeasy within the airport is an intriguing concept. I had heard of this while ago and forgot about it. But then after booking a flight out of EWR with United I got the invitation a couple days before departing.When you arrive at Saison in Terminal C, someone will walk you to the back to Classified. As an aside, my flight was actually leaving from Terminal A. You can still go through security at Terminal C and take their free shuttle to Terminal A, located near Gate C71. I think the first thing is to realize that you're still getting a meal in an airport. Once you've gotten past that, this place is quite decent in comparison to some of the meals I've gotten. It is pretty pricey but again, to be expected in the airport. If you have the United Card, you get a 20% discount on your check. The other thing to note is that there aren't too many clientele in here - it was quiet and comfortable. I personally enjoyed being away from the crowds for a bit before getting on my flight. Staff was attentive and didn't rush me. You scan the QR for the menu and place your orders via a tab on your phone. Your orders arrive somewhere between 10-20 min I got regular coffee, mimosa and a farm omelette (goat cheese, mushrooms, caramelized onions). Again nothing to write home about - it was a perfectly decent meal that filled me up right before my flight. Glad I got to do it once at least!

The primary advantage of this restaurant is that it's quiet and secluded. Another important feature is two private restrooms available only to Classified patrons. Depending on your preferences, these might be enough to make any airport restaurant worthwhile. During my visit for breakfast, there was only one other person in the place. Yet, my placemat was dirty. Service was very good: friendly and mostly attentive. The food was average and relatively expensive even for an airport. I suspect they share the same kitchen with Saison. It's not nearly as good as the Polaris Club and isn't free, but then doesn't require traveling on an international biz class ticket. There was a $5 up charge to substitute fruit for potatoes. Most of the fruit did not seem fresh. One glitch, although I made a reservation after getting an invitation from United, I never received the promised email telling me how to find the place. I had to enquire at a United Club. Hint: it's near Gate C120.

I was excited to try Classified when I received the invitation from United. Access to the restaurant has a speakeasy vibe (you're escorted to a secret door in the back), and the dining area, while quite diminutive, was well decorated. Unfortunately, that's the best I can share, except to say that the service was friendly and attentive. Menu is very limited, portions are small, and price was outrageous. While I did expect the bill to be heftier than other eateries in EWR, I also expected a higher quality of food. I.e.: my ahi was overworked in ponzu and the accompanying avocado chunks were had to find without my reading glasses (contrast that to the picture, which was much more heart). Overall the food was ok, but not worth the expense.

Got invited to the Classified restaurant, made a reservation online and was excited to give this a try. When I got the entrance of the "cover" restaurant , told the hostess about my reservation and she immediately led me to the back and handed me over to the next hostess who then took me through a private door down a hallway and into the Classified restaurant. Was a really cool way to get to the restaurant. The waitress told me to scan the QR code and order the food online. I was hoping this would have been a more personalized service with the waitress taking the order based on the prices. You pay once you are done with the order and had to tip up front with your payment. I guess that is why I did not get service anymore after giving a 22% tip upfront. She then brought me my drink and disappears until the steak was brought to me and disappeared again. I was trying to get some service after and was not able to get her for the next 10 mins. I wanted a printed receipt and she said, I should take a snapshot from the online order. Looks like she was the only one managing all the tables. The ambience was ok, food was ok and service was poor. I would not repeat this again and could not recommend this place.

Got an invite to try Classified during a recent layover at EWR and decided to check it out. It is nicely hidden away in Terminal C, where you enter through another restaurant and are escorted to the back. Speakeasy type ambience is nice and there are large windows to see planes take off. There are private restrooms which is really nice! Food is pricey as expected for the airport, but there is a 20% discount for United cardholders (need to enter info when ordering) Quality of food is okay - similar to rest of the airport. Servers were attentive. As a side note - It was interesting that the knife in utensils was plastic. Not something I had expected in this place Bottom line - Fun place to have at least a one time experience, when there is a layover at EWR!

The experience was worth the price of admission, and by that I mean the cost of the meal (to be clear, there was no cost to enter). My meal was a little higher than I would usually pay for breakfast, but not so unusual at a hotel or airport. The food was good, and service was as well. It was nice and peaceful because other than us, there was only one other gentleman. We could have gone to the lounge/club and had free food, but the food was better here. Plus we enjoyed how quiet it was so we could easily sit and chat. I might not do this every time I am at this airport, but I would certainly consider it again.

I mean this is airport food so as a baseline you gotta expect it to be mediocre and pricey. As a pro, the place is quiet and peaceful. If it wasn't for the view, the atmosphere could pass as just an ordinary restaurant away from the chaos of Newark Airport. Cons: it's airport food so again, expensive but mediocre. Because you order and pay via QR Code, the staff barely come by. Took almost 40 min to get my small glass of water refilled. Interesting to try, worth a visit if you want some peace and quiet, but wouldn't feel too bad if you don't qualify to make a reservation here.

Received an email for this "by invitation only" joint and it peaked my interest. After reading the reviews- and having little expectations- I booked a reservation. Ordered a cocktail and an appetizer. I would like to suggest that they rename this an amuse bouche. This tuna app - while very good was something that could have been eaten in one bite. The cocktail was lovely and the atmosphere was one that I enjoyed because while I was at EWR , I felt like I was somewhere a little more special. Great concept - glad I tried it. Will likely not accept another invite. Thanks for the memory.

Very interesting concept - hidden walls, invite-only appointment and everything. Decor is chic and the way going into the main dining area was quite exciting. Food was alright, classic american menu, airport food quality, not cheap but also with good portion. Only thing is that the food came very slow - we basically sat there watching TV and waiting for food for a long time. Glad I left enough time till we board but still it was a long wait. Overall nice experience - but apparently less flexible and hard to say when I will visit again.

Ordered: Half Dozen East Coast Oysters (~$25): with classic mignonette, horseradish, and lemon French Dip Ultimat (~$27): shaved prime rib, horseradish creme, garlic butter, gruyere, and side of fries Passionfruit Soda (~$9): passionfruit, lemon, cayenne, ginger Aya's take: You think you know airports but a private invite-only restaurant!? Even though it's not complimentary like lounges, I knew I had to give it a try. Classified seats 36 people, so it's a very intimate space with views of the United planes. You order by scanning the QR code with limited exposure to the wait staff honestly - they just come by to serve the food and make sure you don't need anything. The food itself was good quality, but nothing out of the ordinary. The Oysters were super fresh and the French Dip Ultimat was super satisfying and definitely hit the spot before our 7 hour flight. The Passionfruit Soda lacked flavor and being ~$9, it was not worth it. All in all, it was a good one-time try!

If you like an Adventure, check out this Sleakeasy restaurant in the Newark Airport!Hidden away in the C concourse is a gem to get away from the airport hustle. You must have a reservation, I got mine when I landed. Once you do that they will send you the information you need to find and to get into the restaurant. It's a very small but cozy place with a view of the gates outside. There are TV's to watch but for the most part very quiet. You order off a QR code on the table. The Service was a little slow, but I didn't mind because I had plenty of time. Started off with a Margarita, it was very good! They have several tequilas to choose from. They did have some very good sipping tequilas like Rey Sol and Gran Patron. For lunch I ordered a French Dip sandwich with hand cut fries. It was pretty good, The thing I liked it was quiet and laidback. Cheers!

This restaurant is by "invitation only"; I received a notification to make a reservation, and since I was going to be at Newark Airport, and would be having an almost 4-hrs layover between flights, I decided to book it. The entrance is totally hidden from public view, you have to enter through another restaurant, tell the host "I have a reservation at Classified" and she will escort you to the back of that restaurant, then through an obscured door, then through a dark hallway which leads to the restaurant. It's quite small, all windows are facing the high C numbers (terminal), great ambient music. The A/C needs to be regulated as it was very cold. The service was fantastic, very attentive but the food was pricey and a big disappointment. I ordered a dry aged burger "medium" and it came cooked "medium well". The wine by the glass I chose was their Cabernet, didn't finish the glass as it didn't taste well. And...nice place setting, silverware but...plastic knives? Insane decision for such restaurant... Overall, the only asset is this restaurant is that it provides a very serene environment vs a United Club or spending time at the gate. I don't believe I will go back due to the reasons above (food is way too average for the price it commands)...

The best kept secret in terminal C and it's invite only, two things I can't say about her terminal. Food was incredible except for the horrendously overcooked halibut.

What the heck?! We came to this restaurant because it sounded cool and fun. I know we should have trusted the Yelp reviews, but we didn't. Instead we thought it would be cool to go to a secret restaurant. We arrived and were escorted in the space. The space is low key with nice music, but a little odd. You order off a QR code. Nobody around to answer questions and you tip in advance. Food arrived. Charred cauliflower steaks and a hamburger. The cauliflower was accompanied by a puree of unspecified derivation that was the wrong temperature. Asking for it to be warmed up totally threw the server who explained the chef had just arrived. (!?) The hamburger was accompanied by undercooked fries. The burger itself was just not good. Aged beef and all. It was served with a hothouse tomato and wilted lettuce. We had asked for a salad substitution in the original order, which showed up late and turned out to be very ordinary. Same food on menu in public restaurant. So, basically mediocre airport food at high prices. The staffing situation is odd. Several workers sitting near the entrance when we left. One or two were the only ones we ever saw. While we were there, two parties arrived .. and walked out. Unfortunately we didn't. Pros: 20 percent off with United credit card, private bathrooms. This place will be closed soon, so if you want to go, go now. (United club is steps away)

I did teeter between 1 or 2 stars. Bluntly, the food was sub par, almost terrible. The service was different, but I'd certainly say adequate. And the quiet location was nice as the airport was so loud. So, the details. It is a cool, almost special experience as you get escorted through Saison to the secret entrance. It's quiet, with non intrusive music played in the background. Clean, although there was a pesky fly. The service I received was good. I only saw one service person, but she was attentive and did check back. I see several comments on the pre tip and I agree. Once again, a restaurant has lost their way in the rationale behind tipping. It's supposed to happen afterwards. Since you leave a tab open, I shouldn't be asked for a tip until you close it out. Anyway, everything through online is bizarre and I, too, expected more one on one traditional service rather than the same process through the entire airport. Now the food and beverage. I got an old fashioned. It had a red tint. Cherry juice. That is not an old fashioned. I also got their aged burger, and it was, quite frankly, awful. It was bland, served with one piece of bacon cut in half and so over cooked it looked like two small strips of old leather. Tasted like it too. For $27, you need more than one piece of bacon. The bun was cold and hard. But, the fires were tasty, so there is that. Finally, I ended with the crème brûlée. It was a pre made dessert served room temperature. It tasted ok, but cool custard just made this whole $75 mean feel like a total rip off. Summing up, if you think it's worth a try, it's not. I won't come again. Let me bad trip be a warning, save your $$$ and head elsewhere.

I was a bit harsh, long day. Forgot to mention the atmosphere, very nice quiet and peaceful. If you're looking for that and to get away from the madness at the airport and lounges, come here, only if you're invited. Lots of potential for success. Price needs to be more reasonable or at that price, executed much better. Up a star.

A nice change of pace from standard airport dining. I was flying into Newark for a business meeting and received and invite from United to try Classified. After reading a few reviews, I decided to give it a try. I will leave out the details on the "secret" nature of this restaurant as they have been covered extensively. I arrived in the new terminal and had to take a bus across the airport to get over to the C gates because this airport was seemingly designed with Soviet era efficiency in mind, but I digress. When I arrived at the restaurant for my 6:15 pm dinner reservation, I was shown in and was quite literally the only person in the place. Another table was seated as I was wrapping up my meal. It was nice to find a quiet spot in the airport. It's well appointed and there are a couple of TVs, which was nice with the NBA Playoffs on. The service was friendly, and all ordering is done via your phone. The food was good not great. My attic char was a bit overcooked, but not so much as to be sent back. The Caesar salad was solid and came with anchovies, which I appreciate. Total bill with tax and tip for a large Pellegrino, Caesar salad, and arctic char was $66. This included the 20% discount for being a Mileage Plus Chase Card holder. Interestingly, I didn't have to actually pay with the card. Classified has food that is superior to most airport restaurants and the space is much quieter.

Thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Classified. As a very frequent traveler, it was great to escape from the hustle and bustle of the airport to enjoy a meal. Contrary to the experiences others had in their reviews, the staff constantly came by asking if I needed anything, and to fill up my water. Food isn't different to what you get in the normal restaurant outside, but for me the ambiance was unique and worth the visit.

All was well represented Dined with my family and all was pleasantly enjoyable. Chef came out to thank us for the business and wanted to ascertain all was enjoyed.

I've been wanting to try this place but then the pandemic happened and I'm finally returning with a decent layover so pulled the trigger on a reservation. The best part is you are whisked away into a calm and private seating area. Feels sort of like dining in the Polaris restaurant but the food isn't as high quality but still pretty good. We came for breakfast so the menu items are somewhat limited. You currently have to order via the mobile QR code which makes it easy to customize your order. The egg dishes are quite large (3 eggs), choice of meat and potatoes (or fruit substitute) and toast. The coffee or tea come in a separate small teapot which is nice so you can refill yourself. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Window views of gates and departing flights. I would come back if I had a lengthy layover and no access to a United lounge

For the much anticipated visit to the 'secret' restaurant - what a disappoinment! The floors were hugely slippery while walking back and in the space; the floor was dirty under all of the tables; water provided tasted dirty; I had a salad fork and plastic knife; there are NO charging outlets; chicken for the sandwich was overcooked and therefore extremely dry; skimpy amount of aioli was spread on the bread and I had to request more, including more ketchup. The atmosphere was quiet, two televisions, air condition blowing very cold, and the view is of the ramp. Nothing exciting. For me, it's a NO!

Best place to wait for a flight at Newark airport. I was unaware of it and received an invitation to check it out. So glad I did! One has to show the reservation to the host of a different restaurant, and you are then walked through secret doors to reach the intimate, full-service restaurant, lovely service and a delicious menu. I can't wait to escape here vs the airline lounge.

Recently visited after I received my email invitation to visit this exclusive gem at EWR. The food was delicious - although I'm only giving four stars because the menu is VERY similar to Saison, the French restaurant this is connected to (they definitely share a kitchen and apparently menu items too). Not that it's a bad thing because Saison's food is good, I would just expected a little more from this restaurant, given the air of exclusivity and prestige surrounding it. The service was great, views of the tarmac were amazing and it was a fun experience to go through the back to find this place!! I'll return soon.

Just dined at Classified during my layover to an international destination, and was excited by what I read (unfortunately didn't check out Yelp prior). What an unimpressive experience! While the space is quiet, relaxing & offers pretty views, that's where it ends. The only way to see the menu & order is through a QR code, and paying through your phone. Not a luxury service experience. The menu is basic & nothing to write home about. As was the food. Basically what you could get at any other airport restaurant nearby, as others have said here. There was no tableside cocktail preparation as I had read about. Selling this as a special & exclusive experience is ridiculous...

I honestly loved my experience. Newark Airport is so loud, overstimulating, and densely crowded. CLASSIFIED provided the perfect retreat from this cacophony during my long layover. They have soft non-assuming music playing, the wait staff genuinely cares about their jobs, and the food was probably the best food you'll find at this airport. The experience began with a small warm towel - an imperative touch after going through TSA. There were at most 3 other guests here during my visit. Will it win a Michelin star? No. But does it hold its own against a pretty great steakhouse? Yes...especially at an airport. If you have a moment at EWR, and need to escape the craziness outside, ask United for an invite and come spend an hour or two here. You'll thank me, even if slightly pricey, the concept is worth a visit. I even preferred my time here over the much coveted, but overcrowded Polaris lounge. These ratings are on the "airport food scale" and taste only (presentation was excellent): 4/5 - French Onion Soup 5/5 - Whipped Mashed Potatoes 4.5/5 - 8oz American Wagyu Steak - so good, I'd didn't even need the sauce.

There must to be some sort of mistake. United offering this to their premium customers does not fit the picture. First of all, you need to enter the restaurant thru a back door on Saison at terminal C. A cool feature, but the greasy floors at Saison kind if ruins the mood. Restrooms were not the cleanest. They are "Airport Grade" at best. AC at the restaurant was blasting. For a pretty empty place, made it very uncomfortable. In any other place, I would be a little more tolerant. But there, United Premium customers, invitation only, premium prices... no way. I expected more. Did not even tried the food. We left before ordering.

The ambiance is cool and chill. Nice jazz music playing in the background with soft lighting and leather seats. I really like this speakeasy restaurant. There is a whole side of window where you can see the airplanes taking off and landing. Besides the ambiance, the food is surprisingly good. We had the dry aged burger, steak frites (from the kids menu), truffled Mac & Cheese and whipped potatoes. All the dishes were very tasty and seasoned well. I personally think the steak frites from the kids menu is the best value. Although the steak is on the thinner side (makes sense since it is for kids), it is juicy and very tasty. For ladies with smaller appetite, this is an awesome option. In short, it was a very positive experience and we will be back again.

I've been here twice now and I will continue to come here if I continue to get the invite-only emails from United. Once you get the invite from United, you are able to make the reservation online even for your guests. Although it is not free like the United Club or Polaris Lounge when I'm traveling international for business, it is still much better than being in Terminal C as restaurants could get overly crowded and the only thing you really want to do is relax after getting through all the airport madness. Classified is one of the few places in Terminal C where you can get peace and quiet. The restaurant itself is pretty small but it's never overly crowded. The food is decent and the staff is on top of it. Food and drinks are expensive but that's Newark airport for you. With Classified, I don't mind as you are paying for a better experience. Don't forget to use your United card so you get 20% off your purchase!

Definitely give this place 3.5 stars. Love the concept. Speakeasy type of restaurant within Terminal C at Newark. How cool is that? I enjoyed a table for 1, which great views of the tarmac. I was disappointed that all my few diners were offered a hot towel, but I wasn't. Plus. I love this concept of a secret restaurant, but surprised to see the tablets to order. Tablets are definitely not a deal breaker, but little things like getting water never happened. I saw other people getting their own water. My waitress who checked-in to make sure I knew how to use the tablet was super nice. I love the decor and the intentions for this restaurant. I would come back for those reasons.

I've wanted to check out Classified for a long time, but I rarely connect in Newark, and my admission requests had been previously rejected. On a recent connection, I found that have spent enough money with United to earn entry to this oasis. Classified has many things going for it. In a crowded airport with disgusting bathrooms, Classified offers soft piano music, an upscale menu, and spotless facilities. On my visit, service was fairly good -- while my server was dedicated, it appeared that he was being stretched thin. But the concept that comes so close to the mark in some areas is so off in other areas. The quiet space is cluttered with several big TVs showing ESPN, giving the upscale space a sports bar vibe. Most of all, though, the OTG iPads have to go. They cheapen the atmosphere -- showing ads during your pricey meal. They are distracting -- getting in the way of conversations. And above all, they remind you that you are in Newark airport, which is exactly what Classified is aiming NOT to be. Please remove the iPads and put in a conventional ordering system. I enjoy the iPads in other areas of Newark and Houston airports, but this spot deserves something special -- real menus and personalized service.

A hidden restaurant in the airport. You have to be walked through by a hostess and through another restaurant. I believe you have to have special United perks to even get in. Service was top notch. We got a complimentary app and hot towel. Food was really good for airport food. I tried the steak sandwich and lobster roll. Lobster roll was spicy. They are on the pricier side. They gave us chocolate as a parting gift.

This place is an example of the triumph of sizzle over steak. The food is mediocre and service is spotty. It is nowhere near worth the cost when an excellent free lounge is 3 minutes away. The only reason to go is to see it, but maybe just buy a glass of way overpriced wine and go eat at the free lounge nearby

Eating a meal in an airport is almost always a bad experience. Not so much because of the food - airports in general have really stepped up the offerings as far as the types of restaurants and the quality of food available. The bad part is being packed, elbow-to-elbow, into a small area that's not meaningfully separated from a terminal chockful of scurrying people, screaming toddlers, beeping vehicles, etc. And of course, you pay luxury prices for this awful restaurant experience. What if you could have your meal inside the airport, but in a peaceful, quiet spot, far from the cacophony? This is what is promised by Classified, an invitation-only restaurant in the Newark airport. We happened to be flying to Europe through there recently and my wife received an invitation (Mrs. Mike F is a United million miler, so they cringe and scrape before her. Me, they treat somewhere between "pond scum" and "scuttling invertebrate" unless I'm travelling with her.) She went ahead and booked us a tabld and at our appointed hour we went ahead over to the top secret entrance to Classified, which is through a door behind a more typical airport restaurant. Immediately, we were ushered into a calm, quiet room, seemingly a million miles from the cacophony of the airport. Soft music played, and a QR code on the table beckoned us to open up the menu on our phones. And then it turned into Door Dash. You don't just look at the menu using the QR code, you order and pay and tip (before you know whether the service was any good) using that QR code. Bad. So we browsed the menu, noticing that the prices were pretty much at New York restaurant levels - i.e. pretty pricey. And then I looked at the wine list. They had the Vieux Telegramme, a nice bottle of Rhone wine that retails for around $60, for $70. I was very impressed to see pricing like that in a restaurant until I realized that they charged $70 for a GLASS. I won't try to compare that to physical experiences involving bodily orifices as I don't think the Yelp folks would be happy, but suffice it to say we did not order a glass of that. We ended up going with the low end of the wine offerings, which were more in the $15 - 20 range. Food was fine, but not memorable given that we paid in the $25 - $30 range for our entrees. Service was attentive, which was nice given that we'd already tipped. The best aspect of the whole thing was that we were able to eat in peace and quiet. So the summary: Excellent atmosphere, particularly for an airport meal. Inappropriate food ordering system. Insane wine prices. OK food. 3 stars. Mike sez if you're desperate for a quiet meal at the Newark airport and you're ready to pay for it, then check it out!

A surprisingly impersonal and a bit clumsy experience for what is billed as an exclusive opportunity for private dining at the airport. The dining space is in a room behind the Saison bistro. When you arrive the host/hostess will escort you to Classified which is a slightly narrow space but gives you a view of the runway and the planes taking off. You are then told to use your phone to scan the QR code for the menu. You are expected to order on your phone and pay when you place the order, including tip. I will, of course, ALWAYS tip a server, but I do like to do so at the end of a meal to add more to account for good service. The menu is as far as I can tell similar if not identical to what is at Saison. On the two time I went, service was spotty. In particular, the 2nd time I went for dinner, it took a long time for the food to be delivered, and it was not until then that the waitress advised us that they were out of one item. When we remarked that we should have been told that before she served everyone else, the waitress shrugged and said "it's not my fault" and walked away. To be fair, a senior waitress saw this, apologized and explained that the missing order had something to do with a recent training, and gave us some chocolates for our trouble. The meal is essentially what you can get at one of the nicer restaurants in the terminal, and the space allows you to enjoy your meal in a quiet space with a nice view. But we felt that we actually had less of a personalized experience than you get from a server at your average restaurant. With United upping the offerings in the United Club, this has less appeal.

This is an exclusive restaurant that I usually get invited to whenever I pass through Newark on a layover. I think the concept of a small, exclusive restaurant is a good idea, but I don't think they executed it well. The food was good, but nothing special, and standard airport food pricing (overpriced). Yes, we got a free gift and some chocolate bonbons. Unfortunately, I felt there were more things that annoyed me than impressed me. Whats really annoying: There are those EWR food ordering iPads at every seat. So you can't really look or talk to your friends sitting with you. Not without those iPads and their screens on. I thought this was supposed to be some exclusive experience, but it felt like every other restaurant in the airport. They got our food and drink orders wrong. There are TVs running on the walls, running various news and other programs, with the audio on.

This used to an amazing place prior to Covid19. Now, not worth the additional effort. Gone are the days with an exclusive menu that included top tier wines & spirits for a reasonable price. The food menu is uninspiring but tasted alright. Where Classified falls short is service. No warm towels on arriving for my table (could blame it on incompetence or were they truly racist as other tables got the warm towels). No one shows up to explain the menu or ask if any recommendations are needed - yes, I am well aware that it is self order... had been this way since it opened circa 2018. No one shows up to ask how the food is once delivered. No more mignardaise on departure. Moving forward, I'd rather spend my money where I feel welcome than food merely being placed in front of me. To add insult to injury, they require adding a tip when the order in placed - so no chance to change it for poor service.

Airport food = ok at best and $$$ But you would expect more from an invite only place. Only benefit is that it's quiet and has clean bathrooms. But service poor bc understaffed. 2 servers for the entire place- No one refills your water, finished tables not cleared, etc. Very poorly managed. Great concept that is not executed.

Service was terrible. They lost our order and then the waiter ignored my request for the status. 2 sandwiches were 65.00. Don't waste your time.

Classified is a semi-secret restaurant at Newark Airport hidden inside Saison. You need some level of United status to make reservations. At the end of the day, it's still an airport restaurant. Taking into context inflated airport pricing, I thought menu prices here weren't unreasonable. I did expect a bit better food though given the exclusivity. We ordered via the airport-wide tablet system. Who else loathes these tablets with passion? Yes I want to touch germy screens right before I eat, said no one ever. And it's a single point of failure - the servers are unable to put in orders for you if the tablets break. They gave us a mystery amuse bouche - some uninspired yogurt-like drink vaguely like Peruvian leche de tigre with strong onion notes. Most of the meal was typical bland airport fare. The shrimp salad was slightly wilted, the beef fat fries were mushy, and the spinach was definitely too mushy. It got interesting with the "Chanterelle Mushrooms" though. The description mentioned a few other mushroom types, but to our surprise, we got no chanterelles. Chanterelles are very seasonable and weather dependant, so I could understand the substitution....but to explicitly label a dish "chanterelle" instead of just "mushrooms" and then fail to mention the cheaper substitution seemed a little shady. Once we asked our waiter about this, he brought over a manager who spoke to the chef. The manager came back and acknowledged they didn't have any chanterelles. He politely offered us anything else on the menu. We said the crab we were initially eying was dinner only, and our server said he couldn't process that on the tablet since it was about 20 minutes before dinner. The manager said they were actually out of that anyway. We asked about the tablets, and he explained the pain-points - how they can't edit the menu copy, outages, etc. My low rating wasn't about the service. I thought they resolved the mushroom issue as professionally as they could. At the end of the day though, if the best thing about the meal was the complimentary chocolate, I couldn't bump up my rating just because of a good resolution. Hopefully they figure out the tablet management issues, so they can more accurately reflect the availability. And at the least, be honest about what they are serving.

I was surprised recently to get an email from United Airlines inviting me to dine at a secret restaurant located at the Newark Airport's United Terminal. The email stated only those invited may make a reservation so how could I pass up that opportunity! We had a 9 am flight out of EWR but fortunately they open at 6 am. Since it was early we breezed through check in and TSA, got the location at 6:30 am, no problem with seating and we were the only guests there. Food: Similar to the rest of the restaurants in EWR, ordering was done via tableside tablet. The breakfast fare was pretty standard but the food offerings later in the day looked really good. The meal was pretty standard but tasty with eggs, bacon, and an omelette. They also had a liquor cart out that had some very nice (at a price) selections, I'm talking Pappy 23, Macallan 25 & 30, Weller, and Boss Hog. If it wasn't so early I would have been tempted to try a couple but be aware that the pours are .5 ounces and run from $40 to $125 each. Service: Service was great although we were the only ones dining at this early hour. Our sever came by often to check on us and it was fun chatting with him to learn more about Classified. Atmosphere: Really cool, located down a long dark hallway, one has to be escorted to the entrance. The space itself was setup so it was long and narrow but great windows with spectacular views of the tarmac for plane nerds. It was quite nice to watch the sun come up over the terminal, nice to way to kill an hour before our flight. Value: Two breakfasts plus some coffee came in a little over $30 which is not bad. Really nice touch, after we placed our food order on the tablet a pop up screen came up saying they paid for my meal as a thank you for my loyalty. I suppose if I had ordered the Pappy or Mac 30 that offer may not have come up..but a nice gesture and great way to begin our long day of travel. Overall: Loved the concept and hope to return the next time we are passing through EWR. I'd love to try their evening fare and maybe get that Pappy next time through!

Who doesn't like to feel special? Once I got an invitation to dine at CLASSIFIED, I was looking for an opportunity to try that "secret" restaurant, located behind Saison restaurant in Terminal C - and finally opportunity presented itself. Once I was taken to my table, I saw the familiar iPad ordering stands, and my excitement practically disappeared - I was really expecting to see the menu instead of the all familiar impersonal device. Nevertheless, order was placed, and the rest of the experience was not any different than at any fine restaurant (with the exception of plastic knife instead of a normal table knife). I want to mention the wine list, which was quite extensive, with good selection of wines by the glass at a reasonable price. I had Provençal Rosé which was excellent (and $11 per glass). First I was presented with Amuse Bouchet - white bean and tomato bisque, which was a very tasty beginning. My main dish was Salmon Eggs Benedict (part of the Saturday/Sunday brunch menu). It was served with the home fried potatoes. The eggs were cooked perfectly, with runny yolk, as one expects. I also got a side of chanterelle mushrooms, which was large in size and perfectly cooked and seasoned. Service was friendly and attentive. Yes, you pay the fine restaurant prices - but you also get quiet and nice fine restaurant dining experience - at the bustling airport, so I think it is well worth it. Definitely recommended.

FOOD: 5 SERVICE: 4 VALUE: 4 AMBIANCE: 4 YMMV, but here was our experience. Classified is located within Saison Restaurants close to gate 120 in terminal 3. You have to be invited or "qualified" in order to get a reservation for this restaurant. You approach the host in Saison and he/she will refer you to the Classified host. The host will lead you through Saison to the back and into a hidden hallway leading to a bright airy dinning room with a wall of windows facing the airport tarmac. The deco is contemporary, a little whimsical, but inviting. Being an OTG restaurant, they use iPads as menus, there is a credit card reader by each iPad and there we outlets with USB ports at each table. Having so many gadgets on the table meant they could not provide white linen service. Once seated, we were promptly greeted by our server and offer water. He asked whether we knew how to use the iPad and offered to explain the process. We told him that we are familiar with the system. Again, being technically savvy, I like their iPad menu with a picture and detail description of each dish. We ordered the following: 1. French Onion Soup - very flavorful with lots of onions, could use a little more cheese (wife's preference). 2. Poached Shrimp Salad - 3 HUGE shrimp served on a fresh bed of garden greens with onions, grapefruit and orange pieces. Servers with a citrus dressing and a blue cheese dressing. The shrimps were poached to a perfect firmness and they were very fresh. With the amount of greens, this could have been a meal in its own. 3. Colorado Rack of Lamb - perfectly roasted Rack of Lamb, juicy and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. I don't eat lamb, but my wife saids it was very good. 4. Butter Poached Lobster - sweet buttery lobster, a full tail with four pieces of claw meat. Not quite as good as Gary Danko's, but excellent for "airport" food. 5. Chanterelle Mushrooms - flavorful sautéed mushrooms and not over cooked. 6. Caramelized Apple - baked and caramelized Apple. My wife ate it all, so it was good. 7. Chocolate Mousse Cake - this is actually a gluten free, flourless cake. Very chocolaty, with a mixture of mousse, cake and torte textures with dark chocolate flakes and sugar crystals imparting a crunchiness. Service was very good. We ate leisurely, so, our server told us to tell him when we were ready for desserts. Since we were celebrating my wife's birthday, we received complimentary Champagne. We also received little boxes of their chocolates are Petite Fours. Yes, this place was expensive (we received 20% discount with our United credit card), but it was by far the best airport food we have ever had. Classified is on par with some fine dine restaurants we have been to. I think it is a must try restaurant in Newark airport.

We were specially invited to this new Newark Airport restaurant by United Airlines. This hidden space (need to enter via another restaurant) is designed to deliver an aura of exclusivity and sophistication. The room is very pleasant. Unfortunately it is understaffed, under supplied drink menu and expensive. We ordered a bottle of champagne from the limited menu, paid for it in advance only to find out they were out of the champagne. They offered a replacement Prosecco as an equivalent replacement. It appears there is only one waitress for the room who runs from the hidden kitchen to the tables and is missing in the room for long intervals. Ordering, tipping and paying is all done through an app which requires a prepayment before service, food and drink are delivered. I would avoid this restaurant and stick to the Polaris Lounge.

I left my lounge to come here after getting an invitation. I figured it was worth the try, even though there's free food and drink and I was at the Polaris lounge. The wait took forever, I'm not sure what the allure is of this place. It's more over priced than other restaurants in the airport and has Medicare service

Classified is United's semi-secret dining restaurant located inside Saison in Terminal C of Newark Airport. You must be invited or be connected to get a chance to dine at this unique restaurant. How I got invited, I have no idea, but I jumped on the offer when I got the email. When you arrive, you must walk up to a host/hostess at Saison and let them know you have a reservation and you will be escorted to the back of the restaurant, where you are taking through a hidden portal into Classified (think Speakeasy). When you sit down you order from an iPad - which is okay, in the beginning I did have questions about some of the items. With limited time before my next flight, I just ordered and hoped I didn't make a mistake. The waiter, Pascal, was pleasant and attentive after I placed my order. What I liked about him was that he always had an upbeat attitude. I wanted to try something new and tried the Cherrystone Clams. They were large and briny, and for me perfect start to the meal. The last one did have a fish-ier taste, but I didn't get sick, so all good. The Raspberry Cosmopolitan was unique, creamy and delicious. The tartness from the fresh raspberry made this drink a must get for any Cosmo lover. I lucked out with the seared Tuna. Perfectly cooked and served on top of braised artichokes. This was mind blowing and the best meal I've eaten at an airport. The only miss was the Lemon Meringue Puff. The Puff itself was hard and very difficult to eat. The Lemon filling was delicious. The best part of Classified was the view. Tip: If you are a United MileagePlus Explorer Card member, you get 20% off the bill when paying with the card.

This is probably the best US-airport food I've ever had. Started off with a decent Mint Mojito, which didn't skimp on alcohol and had a clear taste of muddle mint. For my main, I had the Brick Chicken with a side of Chanterelle Mushrooms. The chicken was surprisingly good. The meat was tender - not over cooked, the skin was crispy, and the sauce wasn't overpowering. I'd actually order it again! Given the reviews for the mushrooms, I was pretty disappointed with the side. It was just "meh". Overall, with the service, ambiance (for an airport!), and the quality, I thought it was pretty cool (again - for airport standards!). I might actually have to arrive on time for once so I can enjoy my meal and not scarf it down.

I've had an open invitation to Classified since it opened. I finally had the time before my flight so I followed the link in email and made a reservation while I was on the airtrain. There were time slots open all night. Mine was for 5:30pm.I was held up in a long TSA pre line and emailed letting them know I'd be late and they responded promptly. On my arrival at Saison I checked in with the hostess and she asked my name. She wandered off for a split second and came back with a United representative. I was warmly greeted and then hustled to the secret dinning area. In the room that seats bout 30 there were about customers. I was seated and explaining the ordering system on the iPad and payment system. I ordered the 6 oysters, 2 beers and rack of lamb. The local beer was great, oysters were delicious and fresh and the lamb perfect. My entire experience couldn't have gone any better. At the end when I checked out I scanned my boarding pass for a 20% discount and then went to pay, I was a little surprised when United picked up the tab. In all it was a really good experience. For what it is I gave it a 5. I ate at the Capital Grille the night before and it was close to that quality.

Found out about this and thought it was cool to check it out. At the Classified website you enter your United account to see if you can gain access and make a reservation there. Accessing the restaurant was fun; you talk to the host at the Saison restaurant and then is led to the back of the restaurant through a nondescript door to another entry for Classified. The lounge is modern, quiet, offers iPad menus and a nice view of the planes docked outside. We just had drinks since food costs were really a bit crazy expensive. Nice though to get away a bit from the terminal and enjoy a "secret" place.

Glad I finally went to Classified, the most restful place in Terminal C besides the Polaris lounge. I really, really appreciate that the people at Classified work hard to ensure patrons have a great experience. The ambiance is serene and restful. The staff was very helpful in ensuring food came out quickly and that diners didn't miss their flights. Another huge plus are the bathrooms. They are individual little rooms, very chic and obviously a rarity in an airport. Note: the flushing is very loud and audible in the dining room but this is a fairly minor issue, all things considered! We enjoyed the food - try the deviled eggs. We were also served an amuse bouche (agua fresca) which was a lovely surprise. Upon leaving we were presented small boxes of chocolates to enjoy on our trip (they were wonderful). I absolutely hated the ordering process (dreaded QR code menu and ordering via your phone) but hopefully some of it was one-time setup issues. NOTE: United credit card members receive 20% off.