News

United expands Newark Polaris Lounge with beautiful new dining room

Zach GriffSenior reporter
Zach Griff is a senior reporter at TPG. He writes travel and product reviews, deep dives into loyalty programs, news about the airline industry and more.

June 18, 2025 • 7 min read

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Quick summary

United Airlines has opened a dedicated dining room in its Polaris Lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport, expanding the lounge to over 30,000 square feet.
The new 1,500-square-foot dining space offers a la carte waiter service, with breakfast and all-day menus, and seating for 60 guests.
Travelers can enjoy airside views and a refreshed, modern design, though power outlets are limited by design to discourage workstation use.
The lounge continues to offer a buffet area, helping to reduce crowding during peak travel times.

What to consider

The dining room does not feature branded dinnerware, and power outlets are not available at every seat.
Waiters can accept tips, but tipping is not expected since no check is presented after the meal.
Menu transitions from breakfast to all-day options at 11 a.m., and seating may be limited during peak transatlantic departure times.

What you'll miss from the article

A detailed look at the dining room's design, menu highlights and how the new space fits into United's broader lounge upgrades at Newark.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

United Airlines is breathing new life into its seven-year-old Polaris Lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with the opening of a dedicated dining room.

The Chicago-based carrier took the wraps off the 1,500-square-foot space on Wednesday, and it officially opened to the public on Saturday, June 21 — perfectly timed for the start of the summer travel rush.

The entrance to the dining room is in the corner near the lounge's bar, and the granite-lined entryway should be easy enough to spot as you're walking around the lounge.

newark polaris lounge — ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

There's a host stand just outside the dining room, which is where you'll go if you'd like to sit for a meal.

With 60 seats, there hopefully shouldn't be much of a wait during the day, except for possibly right before the afternoon and evening transatlantic departure banks.

The good news is that United will keep the existing dining space open for travelers looking to grab some bites from the buffet, which should hopefully help ease some of the crowding during the busiest times.

The dining room features a host of different seating options.

Lining the windows, you'll find a bunch of solo tables for single travelers, complete with phenomenal airside views of Terminal C's C2 and C3 piers as well as the New York City skyline in the background.

The rest of the seating is around the perimeter of the lounge. Interestingly, all of the remaining tables are in a two-top configuration, but staff can move them together in order to accommodate families or larger groups traveling together.

I love the dining room's design — it feels a bit more modern than the rest of the lounge, though it still blends seamlessly into the space.

The use of frosted mirrors helps promote a feeling of spaciousness, while the gold sconces and light fixtures add some warmth to the dining room.

Missing from the dining room are flatware and dinner service pieces from Crate & Barrel — a partnership that United debuted as part of the renovated Polaris Lounge in Chicago. While the airline is still considering expanding the partnership beyond Chicago, the Newark dining room (as well as all the other Polaris Lounge dining rooms) features nonbranded service pieces.

The dining room is also missing power outlets and USB charging ports. This is partially by design, United explained, because it doesn't want the dining room to turn into a workstation. There are a handful of power outlets throughout the space to charge a phone or laptop, but don't expect to find one at every seat.

The dining room takes over the space of the former invite-only Classified restaurant. The space will likely be far more utilized now that it's in United's hands than in OTG's, the operator of the now-shuttered Classified.

Everything you consume in the dining room is served a la carte with waiter service. There's a breakfast and all-day dining menu, and the transition between the two will happen at 11 a.m.

The airline is debuting slightly refreshed menus as part of the opening, and they include choices like a vegan signature burger with an Impossible patty and lump crabcakes.

You'll also be able to order drinks from the cocktail, beer and wine list while seated in the dining room.

You won't receive a check at the end of your meal, and while tips are certainly not expected, it's worth noting that waiters are allowed to accept tips if you feel you enjoyed the service. (Tips are technically referred to as "gifts" to your waiter since no check is provided and no tip is expected.)

Once the dining room opens, the Newark Polaris Lounge will span more than 30,000 square feet, making it the second-largest business-class-only outpost in the United network (behind the one in San Francisco).

newark polaris lounge food — ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

In addition to the dining area, United has refreshed the furniture and added more power outlets and seating options to the Newark space.

This is certainly appreciated as United keeps adding more long-haul flights from Newark, making Terminal C one of the busiest international gateways in the New York City area. In total, the airline offers the Polaris business-class experience on flights to 40 destinations served out of Newark, including the recently launched service to Palermo, Italy; Bilbao, Spain; Faro, Portugal and more.

“Newark offers business class travelers ample opportunity to travel across the Atlantic, and we’re excited to offer them more room to dine before or after their long-haul flights. For years, we’ve been investing in our club and lounge portfolio at Newark, and it's our first hub to fully reflect our new designs and amenities," Aaron McMillan, United’s managing director of hospitality programs, said in a statement.

Related reading:

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
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Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.