United Airlines is closing its secret restaurant at Newark Airport (EWR), and it’s probably good news for premium customers, as flagged by Sean Cudahy.
In this post:
The basics of Classified Restaurant Newark Airport
For some background, in 2017, United Airlines opened Classified Restaurant at Newark Airport. The concept of an airline operating any invitation-only restaurant might sound a bit strange, and to be honest, it kind of is. Here’s how United described the restaurant when it opened:
We’re pleased to welcome you to dine at CLASSIFIED, an invitation-only, contemporary restaurant at Newark Airport.
The creators of CLASSIFIED have created a bright and airy dining space that’s hidden away for those lucky enough to get an invitation. On the cutting edge of airport dining, CLASSIFIED offers a menu that’s inspired by upscale American cuisine with seasonal ingredients and tableside service. We’re offering reservations to select United customers only, and we want to make sure you’re at the top of the list. Reserve a table today to experience this unique, new restaurant that’s the first of its kind.
The restaurant is located airside, and it’s hidden behind another restaurant. The only way to dine here is if you receive an invitation, and invitations are issued through United (often to high value customers, whether based on elite status or the class of service you’re flying).
To be clear, this isn’t some reward from United, where you receive all the food and drinks for free. Quite to the contrary, dining here comes with a hefty price tag.
It sure is a unique concept, given that most high value customers probably don’t spend that much more time at the airport than they have to, not to mention that they probably have lounge access. Anyway, the restaurant is about to shut its doors, so let’s get to the update…
Classified Restaurant closing for Polaris Lounge expansion
As of Wednesday, October 30, 2024, Classified Restaurant will be closing. The restaurant is adjacent to the United Polaris Lounge Newark, so the space of the restaurant will instead be used to expand United’s most premium lounge at the airport.
As a United spokesperson explains, “United is expanding its Newark Polaris Lounge into the Classified space, adding a large dining area and making other enhancements to the customer experience.” More details are expected to be shared closer to the opening date, around early 2025.
The plan is for this space to add about 60 seats to the Polaris Lounge, bringing the total capacity to around 500 seats. What’s especially awesome is that this may continue to operate as a dining room, meaning that perhaps guests will be able to enjoy a la carte dining here (except at no additional cost, rather than with a hefty price tag).
Personally I’d consider this to be a positive change, especially given how crowded the Polaris Lounge can get during peak hours. This isn’t the only Polaris Lounge that United is expanding, as the Polaris Lounge Chicago is also undergoing an expansion, and will increase in size by over 50%.
Bottom line
United Airlines’ Classified Restaurant Newark Airport will be closing on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Since this is adjacent to the Polaris Lounge, the space will instead be used to create an additional dining area in the lounge, with around 60 extra seats.
I’d consider this to be a great development, since an expensive airport steakhouse will instead turn into a dining area that’s included with Polaris tickets.
What do you make of Classified Newark closing, and the Polaris Lounge expansion?
It was great to use when flying domestically; especially appreciated the bathrooms. Sad to see it go.
United tries to lure in the Elites with Invite only and those top of the corporation guys fall flat on their face.
Do they have any women in those meetings? It seems not well thought out.
It would be worthwhile for their success to include women in the top decisions.
Classified was kinda fun, but the fact that they made it a typical garbage OTG Experience with the iPad POS system was a detract
100% agree. Missed opportunity.
It was actually really fun.
The only thing more overhyped and underwhelming was when Geraldo opened the vault.
I had never heard of this place until last year when I got an invite (have been 1K for about 4 years now— fly a lot of paid EWR - LAX J). My first experience was incredible as I was there at 5:30am and had the place to myself. Great service. Private bathrooms and food was a bit better than typical terminal food at EWR (which I find above average). The second time I was...
I had never heard of this place until last year when I got an invite (have been 1K for about 4 years now— fly a lot of paid EWR - LAX J). My first experience was incredible as I was there at 5:30am and had the place to myself. Great service. Private bathrooms and food was a bit better than typical terminal food at EWR (which I find above average). The second time I was with my wife and kids and our entree orders had not arrived after about an hour. We had to go to the plane hungry with the manager following us apologizing profusely and comping us a bunch of things from the grab and go also operated by OTG. That was a nice service recovery but I then had to contest the charges because the refund request at the time this happened is all via the app that you prepay on and it didn’t process. The new United Club at gate 126 is nice but it’s perpetually a zoo and the food like all United clubs is nothing to get excited about.
So mixed bag but on balance I will miss the chance to buy a little tranquillity when I need it.
I think you have it wrong. Classified was an oasis of peace and quiet for those willing to pay for it (all you have to do is try to get work done or peace in one of EWR's packed United Clubs to know what I mean). There are a lot if premium customers who don't always meet the criteria for the Polaris lounge based on their itinerary. Given how crazy the Polaris lounge can also...
I think you have it wrong. Classified was an oasis of peace and quiet for those willing to pay for it (all you have to do is try to get work done or peace in one of EWR's packed United Clubs to know what I mean). There are a lot if premium customers who don't always meet the criteria for the Polaris lounge based on their itinerary. Given how crazy the Polaris lounge can also get, I have on a number of occasions chosen to use Classified instead. It will be missed by many.
and will be missed by no one
around when it first opened I was frequently flying thru EWR and was interested in trying it - but I guess I was never important enough to get an invite or smart enough to scam my way in
...probably for the better considering how expensive I heard it was (and that says a lot considering how expensive everything in EWR is)
This is awesome news. I never did try Classified but I’d rather have a less crowded Polaris lounge.
Totally agree. We got invited to Classified a year or two back but declined. We're passing thru in ten days headed to ATH, Polaris lounge will be fine though it may start to fill up at 3PM when we arrive.
Yikes! Overpriced underused. Go ahead with the Polaris expansion please! Yesterday already…
My husband and I tried Classified once when we were not flying Polaris and it was about $100 for breakfast. While we have generally loved Polaris when we travel internationally, having just tried the new Delta One lounge at JFK, where we had an excellent dinner, there is room for improvement at the restaurant at the Polaris lounge, so this is a positive IMO.
To be fair, while explicitly stated that it’s invite only, they will grant anyone with a MileagePlus number access to and “invitation” through this link (https://promo.united.com/offers/dining)
HA! That sure worked for me and I’m just a basic United member. Haven’t flown them in over a year. Plenty of open tables for tonight. Can’t imagine why this concept wasn’t working.
Zero chance of getting an invite. 100% chance of using Polaris when (if) I fly UA through EWR since I pay for J. Fine by me.
Sounds like an invite only restaurant where the invite list is 0 people long! Sign me up