We got in to the secret restaurant at Newark Airport. Here's what it's like
We recently undertook a classified assignment.
But it wasn't White House documents we were looking for. Rather, we got word of a "secret" restaurant, tucked away near Gate 120 in Terminal C of Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey.
It turns out Classified is a real thing: a 36-seat restaurant that, indeed, is secreted away in the back of Saison restaurant, part of OTG, a restaurant group that provides food at airports, and which is the kitchen for Classified.
And it's not just for anybody. Classified is exclusive to United Airlines customers — but reserved only for patrons who rate in United's loyalty program.
I tried with my measly 5,000 United miles and was turned away. My buddy with his 700,000-plus miles and silver rating was given a reservation. United did not get back to the Paste BN Network to clarify what it takes to rate an invite for a reservation.
What it's like at the secret restaurant at Newark Airport
The menu has many French accents, and while Classified might not, especially given its airport-inflated prices, make it in Manhattan — it works for Newark Liberty.
"Best food I have had in an airport," said my dragooned compatriot Jim Smith, who logs many miles as the head of his internet-based 1st-in-Coffee company.
Classified could just as easily be called an oasis, as in an oasis of culinary calm in one of the world's most bustling airports, or it could, if part of its spiel didn't rely on its exclusivity.
Once you get a reservation, you are greeted at front of Saison, ushered to the back dining room, whisked through a door and escorted through the dark hallway that leads to Classified.
Your first impression is a quiet dining room with unobtrusive jazz piped in and TVs that bookend Classified's white curtains, which themselves frame the large windows that look over the coming and goings of 767s and 757's and crews loading baggage.
The seats are comfortable leather and there's a refreshing amount of space and natural light. The service is deferential. The temperature was a bit on the chilly side.
It was also quite empty when we went. Noon weekdays, we've found, are remarkably inactive, even for a major United Airlines hub. A few embattled souls straggled in later on in our meal wearing cargo shorts, hoodies and sliders.
The secret restaurant in Newark: What's on the menu?
Classified, despite some French accents, is not stuffy. The meal starts with an amuse bouche, a small bite, French for "amuse the mouth" and in this instance, a solitary yet tasty mussel with a frond of fennel.
As the mussels tickled our palettes, we scanned the code to peruse the menu, which is several virtual pages long. Much of it straight forward like the filet, raw East Coast oysters, a Caesar salad, and a massive, 32-ounce Tomahawk-style steak with an equally massive price, $122. Classified also offers a breakfast menu and kids menu.
We ordered the raw oysters, tuna crudo (bluefin tuna, with ponzu and avocado) to start and the butter poached halibut and the filet. Of the four items perhaps most surprising were the half dozen oysters, which were very good. The other dishes were also well-executed.
One interesting aspect of the experience is that the knives are plastic, and if you order a steak, even the "$122 ax handle ribeye," it will be cut for you in the kitchen.
"We'll bring it (the tomahawk style steak) out whole," said our server, Beata. "That way they can see our beautiful steak cut."
Beata added that while the goings that day were slow, the number of patrons can vary widely.
Currently Classified is unique in the United Airlines universe. It only exists in Newark. In part because it is a hub where passengers may layover and looking for a quiet time, a United official said.
Some, like Richie Hsiung, a Californian who arrived earlier than usual for his flight. He prefers Classified over the United Polaris Lounge, also located in Terminal C.
"It has a better ambiance," Hsiung said. "I come if I get here early enough."
Time can be a factor. We spent 90 minutes but we were lolly-gagging, which may not be an awful thing when you are laying over for several hours.
How much does it cost at the secret restaurant at Newark?
As can be price. Figure on spending at least $80 a person for a full dinner, we paid $12 for a can of Jersey-brewed beer, Jim spent $15 for a Chilean merlot, we also tried the $20 negroni. All were well prepared. We forewent the dessert choices, crème brûlée, a seasonal Pavlova and chocolate hazelnut mousse ensconced in choux paste.
Go: It is a bit of challenge to find info about Classified. a simple search of the United website won't uncover it. A search is required or visit promo.united.com/offers/dining.