Lorena's or Ninety Acres for 40th birthday?

My husband made two reservations for my 40th birthday and I need to decide which to keep. Would love to hear from anyone who's eaten at both. Thanks!

If you are local and going with 4 or less people Lorena's is wonderful. If more than 4 people and perhaps a bit boisterous Ninety Acres is the place.

Lorena's food and service are both impeccable; if you want to stay local and cozy, you cannot go wrong there.  If you are looking for more of a destination, then 90 Acres might be the better option. 

Personally, I enjoyed the atmosphere more at 90 Acres. But it is a hike to get there so you need to have someone who can be a designated driver home. If you could walk to Lorenas, you wouldn’t have to worry about celebrating too much!

We were at 90 Acres in mid-September and thought the food didn't live up to the atmosphere. Some weird combinations that didn't quite work for us. We also thought it skewed kind of on the old folks side and at 40, you're a whippersnapper!

who's driving?

Thanks all! One thing I forgot to mention and curious if it changes people's opinions. The only reservation we could get at 90 acres is in the bar room. Is that a deal breaker?

The bar room is very pretty too.  

wmayer08 said:
Thanks all! One thing I forgot to mention and curious if it changes people's opinions. The only reservation we could get at 90 acres is in the bar room. Is that a deal breaker?

bar room isn't that separate from the main dining area but definitely doesn't feel quite as special. and is it the same menu? maybe wait for another visit.

rhw said:
If you are local and going with 4 or less people Lorena's is wonderful. If more than 4 people and perhaps a bit boisterous Ninety Acres is the place.

In Lorena's added room, eight of us were able to celebrate my wife's 50th birthday a couple of months ago with laughter -- decorous laughter, natch -- that lived up to the delight of the food. My one regret was losing track of the time and staying later than the staff probably wished, but not once did anybody try to rush us. It was a memorable night. 

I've never been to 90 Acres, wmayer08, but I doubt you'd be disappointed if you chose Lorena's.

My recommendation would be to go into Lorena's (if you haven't before) and just get a feel for the atmosphere. The food may be good (I've only been for brunch, it was decidedly underwhelming) but I found the atmosphere really stuffy and hushed. And the decor uninspired. Though I am perhaps overly and unfairly offended by drop ceilings in fancy restaurants. So ugly. I've never been to 90 Acres.

I enthusiastically recommend Lorena's. The food and service are both outstanding - the décor is elegant and unpretentious. The fact that Lorena's is local (depending on where you live in town) and you could easily walk if you happen to over imbibe would make the decision that much easier for me. When we first moved to the area, my wife and I would venture out of town to some wonderful restaurants ie. Pluckemin Inn, Ryland Inn, etc... in retrospect, I regret the chances that I took driving home after those meals. The wine store across from Lorena's (or take a trip to Wine Library) has some great wines and champagnes. BYOB at Lorena's allows you to drink wines that could cost potentially hundreds of dollars at 90 Acres (btw, 90 Acres does not publish prices on their on line wine list - never a good sign) for $50-75 at Lorena's. We recently ate at a Jean-Georges restaurant in NYC and saw a wine on their list that we have purchased for $75 offered at $425 a bottle.

Enjoy.

it's harder to get a reservation at 90 acres, and it's a truly beautiful setting and the drive up adds to the drama.  I say go there.

Then, as a thank you, and ideally when Maplewood has its next restaurant week, you take him to Lorenas!