Origin Restaurant and Lounge

Girls trip. We traveled from two different states and The Origin kept coming up on our timeline for a must go to lounge. We took a Lyft and was greeted outside where they checked our purses. We were told that it was $10 to enter. We paid it and went inside. There was no one to greet us. We sat near the bar for 5 minutes and we had to walk around the bar to find a waitress! She advised that we could sit at one another of the many open tables. So we sat at 4 & 5. Then another woman came over and told us that we could only sit at one table. With four people we were very confused. As to the fact that there was no one sitting next to us. Picture to see empty table. We were also told that we only had one hour to drink, eat and possibly smoke Hookah. This is not the customer service we were expecting. What a disappointment.

The closest experience to Africa you’ll ever get while in New Jersey/New York area. I guess that’s why it was named the Origin. A gem. Really loved every second of my visit. Reminds me so much of the night life in Nairobi, vibes on vibes. The staff are very friendly, helpful a and welcoming. They make you feel right at home from the moment you step your foot into the premises. The only thing that sucks is the fact that they don’t operate till morning, they close. It’s not their fault though, I guess it’s just an American thing. Places can’t operate till morning🤦🏾‍♂️. They sell Sheesha/Hookah and alcohol at very fair prices. I totally recommend this place. Gone twice and have all been epic experiences. Made me miss home less. Great crowd, great music, great African dishes. I’ll always Originate for as long as am in New York/New Jersey.

I wanted to experience authentic Nigerian food, so my date brought me here. Security checks you and your bag upon entrance. The vibes when you enter are great, I loved the ambiance. The food was good. However, they timed our stay and limit how long you can sit at a table, no matter if you are ordering all night. It felt rushed, and when we wasnt ready and wanted to order more, we werent allowed. We were recommended to get VIP seating if we wanted to stay. We declined and was about to sit at the bar instead to finish ordering drinks and hookah, but was discouraged.Im not sure how much the bill came up to,but I can imagine it was pricey.

Was seated at one of their tables with friends. I must have asked 3 different people who worked there for a drink. Not one of them returned with a drink. They would act like they are going to get the requested drink, then nothing. What a shame.They were also so rude when requesting payment from our party.

Its a vibe! Great atmosphere, music, and authentic Nigerian cuisine. Great cocktail menu as well I highly recommend the mango margarita and chicken stew. Love this place - grown & sexy vibes!

DO NOT EAT HERE!I ordered food on feb 6 and they said they ran out of food. They told me the order was canceled and I would get a refund . Its been 5 days and still no refund and I have tried to contact them and no answer. I ordered on toast which says preferred by buisness. I would like my money back.Update: Went in to speak with manager I was ignored, then finally told she cant help me today. Manager is disrespectful. Im sure all the positive reviews are from people they know because this place is horrible. Food is overpriced and they give mostly bones.

DO NOT GO HERE!I have been requesting a refund since February 6th for $57.50 for a canceled order and you are giving me the run around. I reported your buisness to consumer affairs. And will continue to report and leave bad reviews until I receive my refund. If you dont get in touch with me regarding this issue Ill continue reporting until it is resolved.

Great food and the whole place is a vibe, but the service can be a little slow at times

I went to Origin to celebrate my birthday and it was a total vibe! The manager Coco really made it a night to remember. Her attention to detail was amazing. The decorations she put together were absolutely stunning, she was so accommodating and she checked on my guests and I throughout the night to make sure we were good, and make sure everything came out at the right time.The music was great the entire night.The food was good too.

Pounded yam and egusi was great. I asked for it extra spicy. They don’t have chicken or Turkey so I got fish with it instead of goat meat. It’s pricey though but it’s better than the other places I’ve tried. The server waitress was very nice and cool. Music was great and the club is well furnished.

This restaurant have zero idea how to cook jollof rice .. 60% shrimp powder, 30% pepper and 10% tomatoes is what they serve you .. if you charge $23 for jollof and chicken , you should be able to hire a real chef that can cook

Great!! I have so much fun! I will be back! The music was amazing! Vibes on vibes on vibes

DO NOT GO HERE!The bartender not only charged whatever she felt for drinks despite the prices on the menu but after closing out the tab with the CC handed to her, I found out that they returned the wrong card to me. She wrapped the receipt around the card which didn’t show the card and I just put it in my purse not realizing that I was given back the wrong card until 3 in the morning when I received a notification that they swiped the card at 3:24 at the same place!!! So not only was I inconvenienced, someone else was because I now have their DC. Despite the website saying they opened at 12 today I drove there and the establishment was closed! Someone finally answered the phone at 3PM and was very rude telling me she had to take my information down and would return my call. It’s been an hour plus. You telling me there’s no lost & found? There’s no place to store customers CC or belongings when they’re left behind?? This place is a big scam

The place is definitely a vibe. Really enjoyed the food..

The VIP section looks pretty if you’re only staring at it. Before entering, you must pay for your party of 8. We happened to touch the table, which was sticky. We told our party not to touch it the entire time. The carpet felt sticky. I was beyond appalled that this was what they considered VIP. Some of us danced on the floor to avoid our feet getting molded to the section.The only time we saw smiles from those who served us was when they first brought out our bottles and did a little dance. After that, everyone disappeared. We weren’t catered at all! We had to look for the server for appetizers and ask for this and that. Then you pay before the food comes out. When the food arrived and we were done, the server never returned. We had to search for her. This didn’t feel like VIP service at all. Our ice bucket melted, and we needed refills to keep our liquor cold. To our disappointment, no one was in sight to serve our table. We gave up and served ourselves. No one even bothered to wipe down our table or take away our empty liquor bottles. We didn’t even place another order because we were over it at this point with their services. This VIP service for a party of eight was horrendous.The music was poppin, and I’ll give the DJs that credit for overall entertainment.I wouldn’t recommend VIP or reserving any tables. It’s not worth the money if this is what type of service they’re offering. Also note that the service on the first floor was unpleasant from the hostess and waitstaff. There wasn’t any welcoming energy from anyone. Stand behind your brand. Give better customer service. I understand its in Newark, NJ, but if you’re charging an upscale price, then you should be serving it with better hospitality than what we received.

I was scared to eat here lol but the food was great. Suya tasted like that old school suya. Croaker stew tasted like aunties Christmas stew. The egusi was actually pretty good too!! We will be back. Only question for the suya is why are a lot of places not puttting the seasoning on the suya itself but leaving it on the side… I guess for the aunties and uncles watching their blood pressure .

So this place sells alcohol and there is smoking and all sorts going on in the lounge but the “owner” does not want guest “drunk”??? I visited the first time because my friend asked me to join her to celebrate a friends birthday. We made a stop at this place and the owner said no entrance after a fee of $20 was paid at the door at about 2AM! . His reason was he doesn’t want anyone to go up already “drunk”. I quoted drunk because he doesn’t know what everybody’s ETOH threshold is and he was a complete jerk. Never Again

No longer in Business but their websites still say they’re open the chairs is not even in there anymore. They’re out of business misleading.

I ordered almost $200 worth of food via uber eats, I really wanted to taste their suya, these people sent me two piece of meat cut in bits of piece and had the nerve to charge $15, I ordered 2 plates they only sent me one plate of suya and they also for got my pounded yam. I called and called no one seem to answer. So unprofessional, so over priced and I kept tasting sand in my bitter leaf soup uggghhh. I dont think I will order again or visit anytime soon. Thankfully uber eats refunded me for the items they refused to send.

The lady who claims to be the manager, lady in dredlocks kept victimizing us throughout our stay even though we had a server and we kept spending our hard earned money. She really wanted to prove a point and I still cant tell what the point was. She picked up the bottles of liquor we ordered and ice chest and dumped on someone elses table. She even wanted to take a chair my sister was sitting on. Our server seemed perplexed by her attitude and I knew at that moment I had to review my Origin experience.

I went here for the first time days ago. The cover is $10. It was decent but parking for the (small) lot is $20 and the DJ selected good songs but wasn’t the best at blending or playing relevant songs. A song was repeated within 10 minutes. The atmosphere looked polished but I didn’t get to see the upstairs or bathroom. Removed one star for the parking and music blends.

Will never order from here again. 2 hour wait for food and the rice was burnt. Customer service is poor. Manager was no help as well.

This club is so unproffesional! Can you imagine they gave us a dirty table with people sitting it. Then we paid with a card. We used our Amex card can you believe the owner took my friends phone without notice and replied fraud in the verification text. These people dont have a clue on how to run business.

Ordered goat meat and jollof rice. Rice was good, but for $27 the restaurant served me two large pieces of bones with very little meat on them. I didn’t order bones. If I wanted bones I’d have ordered bones.

DO NOT EAT HERE!!They will cancel your order and not refund you.AVOID THIS BUISNESS! SCAMMERS!

Jolof rice was divine, and the sweet plantains were good as well. Only problem was the inexplicable additional $30 added to my cousins bill. But the food quality and service was good.

Love the place, Love the drinks and foodHookah is amazing I will always go back

Great music! Great food! Great vibes! Search no further for your afrobeat fix! #originvibes

The only reason you’re getting 3 stars is because of the hookah and not the bartender; the bartender JuniorHe’s simply AMAZING! HeKnows how to make real cocktails I ordered a dusse sidecar and he made it to perfection !!!! Drinks 5 STARSNow as far your hookah absolutely disgusting get people who know how to make good hookahs . If you’re charging $40 make it worth it. I like hookah so I’ll pay whatever but poor quality and lack of flavors will never make me wanna come back

Decent Drink, Food smelled great and tasty. I wasnt hungry so I only tasted my sisters food but wanted to return to have my own dish. Nice chill spot

Simple and nice environment. Oh I love the food too. Good Nigerian food and very tasty too. I love their pepper soup . . very gooood.

Worse service I ever experienced waited 40 mins for wings and plantain never came out the bartender never ask if we were ok she never even asked if I wanted a drink would not recommend I wish I could give zero stars

This is one of my favorite spots to go and have a really good time. Whether Im with friends or alone, I always have a really good time. Its a wonderful atmosphere

I have been here multiple times now about 6 times to be precise,all the visits were good except the last visit on 9th September, the hookah lady ripped me off with wrong/bad order ,I made a complaint but to no avail,also same day 1 of the security guys there was rude to 1 of my guests, I reported that to a staff I thought should be able handle the situation but nothing was done to both situation, my guest paid to get in and he got stamped after paying $20 entrance fee at the entrance ,when he was coming up to the VIP section the other security guy accused him of not paying the $20 ,he said they dont stamp for the payment, instead of him to go back to the lady that was paid the $20 he rather harrase my guests and kept him there until I came there and he wouldnt want him come with me even though we paid for the table... no apology was rendered for all that and no refund was made from the hookah lady even though the gentleman called osisioma said the refund will be made or another hookah given... every time I come I expect value for the money spent and nothing else...may not stop coming but may just come for the music and the drinks etc...

They charged a group of women a $20 cover per person and it was a complete dud, we were basically the only people in there.

Their food is excellent,their service is superbI love everything about ORIGINNo one will remind you to come back when you comes

Today on the 17th of September 2022 I gave the barman my debit card and he misplaced it,the manager came to help but the problem what she was worried about is the drinks payment that was $37 a little money I can say ,but the so called manager had the gutsto ask me if I have another form oftpayment and I was like gal I gave your barman my debit card and I was so so mad at last the barman found my card but the manager didntpologize what a disappointment

They charged me $200 for a bottle of Hennessey served on a picnic table and chair in the supposed VIP lounge 😅That place is a joke...I wish I could turn the hand of time... I would have avoided entering such a place...

I ordered Isewu for 25 dollars and it was rubbish waste of money … it was bad.. the oil was separated from the goat meat.. few tiny pieces of goat meat .. this is not the right way of doing Isewu. If you can’t make it pls don’t sell it.

Only on Tuesday and Wednesday night they sell crab legs ,potatoes and corn on the cob 25.00 its was pretty good. This is in NewarkN.j on Clinton Ave.

I love to go to this club. I feel very safe and hell of fun.

Had a great experience at origin thanks to Tandy and Marie keep up the excellent customer service.

The club is empty and they telling us we can’t sit and if we do sit we gotta get up in one hour. Can the owner do something about this phuckry!!! Kmt

Aww man. Place is the bomb. Food amazing. Nice music and the vive is sick.highly recommend.

Its was my 1st time there. The ambience and music were intoxicating. I will definitely revisit.

I was sitting at the bar with my friends we order food and drinks my drinks came on time when my food come out I went to the bathroom to was my hand the employee took my chair and sit on it at the door I hve to stand and eat my food......that was rude and disrespectful to take the chair in front of my friends..( a staff did that)

Good food, good music & great drink

Great place to eat your 🇳🇬 food in New Jersey.

Junior make really good drinks. Good server. Good vibes. I love this place!

Nice lounge! Fish was top notch. Good music and cozy environment.

Fish was delicious wow!!

Beautiful and vibey please get more a condition it’s very hot and also the if the sound can be louder

Best pepper soup in town..and best afrobeat club in town..fellas ,it a must go for afrobeat party

Kinda sketchy and over developed

Friendly people, great vibes and splendid atmosphere... Will visit again.

Food very much delicious. Try and see.

Big Nigerian lounge/restaurant with great ambience & energy.

Great vibe, good food and drinks. Nice ambience

Nice vibe, good music and great food

Its a nice club but area is scary

Fun afrobeats club with great hookah!

Awesome service & authentic African food

Always packed but fun music

Great place to eat ,and drink, and socialize.

Good place with great customer service.

Atmosphere is great and services is top notch

Premium quality service from the entrance to the bar.

A classy establishment...great service.

Best To Club For Now!

Was okay, nothing exceptionally spectacular.

💎💎💎💎💎loved it..our bartender was amazing

Cozy and matured. Really enjoyed it

Fun place to enjoy your weekend

Nice chill Nigerian pub

Nice customer service

Not clean, service was poor

Love it

Cool place to hangout

Nice place to chill out.

Really nice place

An awesome experience!

Feels like home

Too Crowded.

Limited seating

Nice spot!

Beautiful place to be

Fire

Nice environment

Loved it!

One of the best restaurants here