"I've been wanting to visit this restaurant for years but never made my way there until now. Nestled in the lobby of the Marriott near Laurel Park Mall, this little café has received quite mixed reviews.
I walked into Sweet Lorraine's from the hotel lobby and felt a little disoriented at first, but then a manager welcomed me and guided me to a booth. I chose to go for lunch since the menu didn’t seem appealing for a nice dinner out.
The decor evoked an Art Deco vibe that reminded me of Ann Arbor, but as I always say, I’m here for the food, not the ambiance. The waiter promptly took my drink order, and as a big soda lover, I was pleasantly surprised by how attentive he was with refills.
I decided to order two dishes because, while I may be petite, I certainly have a hearty appetite. The waiter returned shortly with a bread plate and a basil tomato sauce. The bread was rather unremarkable. The focaccia, which he seemed proud of, was just okay—nothing to rave about. The sauce was clearly homemade, but again, it didn’t impress. There was also a peculiar muffin that seemed to contain corn, orange, and perhaps nuts. It was odd both with the sauce and on its own. It felt like someone had overdone it with the orange and almond flavors—very strong and unusual.
Regardless, I remained hopeful because, unbeknownst to them, this was my private birthday lunch. My boyfriend has never found the menu intriguing, but I've always been drawn to it. So, I treated myself to dining alone.
First up was the avocado-crab BLT, which included a crab cake, applewood bacon, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, and red bell pepper aioli, priced at $10.95 and served with homemade chips.
The sandwich was impressively large on the plate. However, it seemed like they might have received an award for using the most lettuce—there was an abundance of it. I took a careful bite and was pleasantly surprised. I would rate the sandwich a solid B+. The thick-cut bacon and sizable crab cake stood out compared to the minuscule versions served elsewhere. However, the chewy bacon made the soft sandwich quite messy, and it felt like it was missing something—perhaps a slice of red onion or a bit of zest. The crab cake had good flavor on its own, but it didn’t quite shine as part of the sandwich, and the aioli tasted just like red mayonnaise. Overall, I’d rate it a B+.
As I moved on to my next dish, I dove into the hot yellowfin tuna “Niçoise” salad, which featured sautéed Yukon Gold potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, capers, fresh herbs, and Dijon vinaigrette, topped with crispy onions, priced at $13.95.
This dish was generally an A. Conceptually, it earned an A+ as the flavors came together beautifully. Little bowls made of red cabbage held individual lime and lemon wedges for squeezing, along with tiny olives. My only issue was with the tuna—it wasn’t “hot” when it arrived, and it was inconsistently cooked; some pieces were well-done while others were rare. Both textures worked in the dish, but the inconsistency was a drawback.
Overall, I had a nice dining experience and would consider returning. However, with just an “okay” experience, I’m not sure if I’m ready to spend $30 on brunch just yet."
