Saison

Overpriced and poor service. My mimosa was not cold. Beers are $15. Food is mediocre. We waited a long time just to get water. Our server was kind and that’s why we gave an extra star. But service was slow and tables were not cleaned. Another staff member was extremely rude and dismissive. I’d rather just pay to go to a lounge next time even if it is just for an hour.

Flight was delayed 8 hours so I thought I would splurge on a nice dinner. The French onion soup was spot on (highly recommend!) but the sea bass was so so (tasted more like trout and not sea bass). Service was friendly, not great and not at the level I would have expected for a high end (based on the prices) restaurant, even if it was at the airport.

⸻ Saison – Abuse, Antisemitism, and a Cash Scam at a New York Airport We had a humiliating and infuriating experience at Saison, located inside a New York airport. Tired and hungry before our flight, we ordered a simple meal: • Chicken Paillard Salad – $26.99 • Avocado Toast – $22.99 • Coke and Diet Coke – approx. $11.00 The total, according to the printed menu, should’ve been around $66 with tax. Even with a generous tip, there’s no way it should exceed $80. But the waiter: • First claimed the total was $65 • Then insisted on cash only, refusing card payment — with no signage or explanation • Took our $100 bill, disappeared, and returned saying the new total was suddenly $84 • Refused to provide any breakdown or receipt when we asked why the amount changed • Became rude and hostile The most disturbing part? His entire demeanor changed the moment he realized we were Jewish. What started as cold service quickly turned into open aggression and discrimination. This wasn’t just a billing issue — it was a blatant case of antisemitic behavior wrapped in a cash scam. We refused to pay and walked out without eating. This is how discrimination looks in a modern airport restaurant. To anyone passing through a New York airport: avoid Saison. If you’re Jewish — especially. If you value honesty and dignity — stay far away.

Excellent food and atmosphere. Stopped in for some breakfast before my flight. The restaurant has a wonderful French cafe feel to it with lovely decor and comfortable seating and tables as well as a nice large bar with seating. Tried their eggs any way plate with a choice of meat and it comes with potatoes and toast and it was delicious. Eggs were cooked perfectly , light and fluffy and delicious with wonderful potatoes and Canadian bacon and toast and portions were large and filling. You get your money's worth. We also ordered their bagel and lox with a side of scrambled eggs and it came with a side salad. Bagel and lox with cream cheese was excellent and the eggs were perfect with a nice salad. Coffee was very good and not weak and it was wonderful. Service was fast and friendly. I Love the background music that fit the restaurant theme so well and made the experience very nice. Very pleased with everything. Loved it.

I wish I got the chance to try the food but I was quite distraught by the service, I ultimately left before even given water. I sat down, two bartenders can clearly see me, never said hi, or be with you soon, so I wait. I am a bartender at home, I understand a rush...the bar had 2 other people there not including me. I waited about 10 minutes before asking politely for a menu when I was met with hostility and abrasive behavior from one of the bartenders. She snapped back saying to wait and I will be dealt with when she is ready, as if she had a crowd of college kids all asking for natty lites. I understand there are times when it's busy and the environment is fast, this was not that time. I don't believe this bartender is a sole reflection of the business, however, seeing other unhappy social encounters certainly calls for a revisit at the Newark Airport location.

When I was checking in at Newark, the CLEAR rep told me to eat breakfast at Saison because it is “boogie” and has nice outside seating. She was right. Saison is a relaxing place to wait for your flight if you don’t have club access at Newark. The omelette was quite tasty.

After 25 days traveling across the U.S., meeting kind, helpful, and genuinely courteous people in every state I visited, my experience at Saison in Newark Liberty Airport was a deeply disappointing way to end the trip. The food was unjustifiably overpriced — even by airport standards. The quality did not come close to matching the cost: bland flavors, limited options, and no attention to detail. But by far the worst part was the service. The staff barely spoke to us and showed no interest whatsoever in being helpful. They were cold, dismissive, and made it clear that customer experience was not a priority. Sadly, this was the single most negative interaction I had during my time in the U.S. I don’t expect luxury at an airport, but I do expect basic professionalism and respect. I cannot recommend this place to any traveler. Just walk past it.

The trouble with all these OTG restaurants at Newark is that it’s all window dressing. There’s no real individual personality or ownership. Each one feels like a high schooler’s graphic arts project: make a logo, make a menu, design an interior…done. I fly United every two weeks. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve eaten at every restaurant in Terminal C as I have no other options. Saison is supposed to be French, or at least French-inspired. Last time I asked for mustard for my fries I was handed a packet of French’s mustard. Not the end of the world by any means, but an example of how it only looks like a real restaurant from a distance. Once you deviate from the company line, it falls apart very quickly. Every time I eat dinner at Saison it’s $100+ for questionable service and average food. But again, if you’re gonna be flying for 24 hours, you gotta fill up somewhere, and OTG is the only game at Terminal C.