TL;DR: Great ambiance but very underwhelming food
By now, I think everyone knows the Polo Bar as that one restaurant in the city that is practically impossible to reserve unless you’re fully determined and have the grit to dial their number right at 10 AM and wait on hold for a solid 45 minutes, just to be told that they’re fully committed on the night you’re looking to book—30 days in advance.
After weeks and weeks of trying, I was lucky enough to get a reservation at the Polo Bar for a Friday 10 PM slot.
I was very excited leading up to this reservation, but needless to say, the experience was very underwhelming—and that is an understatement.
I will say, the decor and ambiance inside the restaurant are beautiful. It feels like you’re dining in a country club out in the Hamptons. It was very lively inside and just a great vibe to be around.
The food, however… was extremely underwhelming, to say the least. We ordered the pigs in a blanket, the Polo burger, and the lobster roll.
Pigs in a blanket were fine. To me, it was absolutely nothing special.
The burger was, again, fine… nothing to write home about. It wasn’t bad, but it was nothing special. Just felt like a burger I would get from a golf course or something. I wouldn’t even put their burger in my top 10 burgers in the city.
The lobster roll was quite disappointing. Something about the meat threw me off. (FYI—if you’re looking for great lobster rolls, I recommend checking out Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co.)
I don’t regret coming here, as it’s been on my list for quite some time now, but I was quite disappointed in my experience. To anyone dying to go to the Polo Bar, it simply is just not worth it.
by kermit_the_frise
36 Comments
I’m shocked
I’m not surprised but still disappointing to read… for the ridiculous prices, I understand there’s a premium to pay for the environment, but WHY does the food have to be so mediocre? Why not give a sh*t?
The food looks WASP-y and boring—like you said: golf course food.
Such a FOMO place. Fools.
> It feels like you’re dining in a country club out in the Hamptons
Lmao this sounds like hell to me – musty judgement with a side of boiled goose
Is that Jeremy Strong?
Felt the same as you. Food was meh, but great ambiance and service. Saw Robert from Shark Tank which was sort of cool I guess.
Coffee ice cream was outstanding though
I’ve eaten here, half drunk, with some tourists in town for “a convention”, and I’d say your review is spot on
You got me at a golf course. xD What are your favorite places for a lobster roll?
I went pre Covid and completely agree with your review.
So funny. I just typed in The Polo Bar so I could the web info and first thing that pops up is from 19 hours ago NY post https://nypost.com/2025/07/25/us-news/nyc-polo-bar-workers-used-drugs-on-shift-sexual-harassment-rampant-lawsuit/ not that it matters, just thought the rating game they had was funny.
I’ve been here once for a business dinner. Well designed if you are into Ralph Lauren’s classic American look whatever that means. Food mediocre at best, drinks were decent but super overpriced. The best part of the meal was going to the bathroom to piss on gold urinals
If I am putting in that kind of effort for a reservation. I am going all out and hitting Le Bernadin
Its a solid spot, but for its price and effort to go there it sucks.
i feel as though this is the intended effect of the menu
I heard ambiance and service is great, no one ever complimented their food. It sounds like these opinions are aligned with your review.
Why is this a coveted reservation? I went around when it first opened about 10 or so years ago and even then it was meh
Was it supposed to be known for it’s food too?
Always assumed it was just the exclusivity
What’s the verdict
I just went to their website to look up the menu … and there’s a guest code of conduct:
[https://www.ralphlauren.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-RalphLauren_NA_Library/en_US/v1753524990241/Restaurants/THE-POLO-BAR/Polo%20Bar%20Guest%20Code%20of%20Conduct.pdf?ab=en_US_PoloBar_Slot_3_S1_L1_SHOP](https://www.ralphlauren.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-RalphLauren_NA_Library/en_US/v1753524990241/Restaurants/THE-POLO-BAR/Polo%20Bar%20Guest%20Code%20of%20Conduct.pdf?ab=en_US_PoloBar_Slot_3_S1_L1_SHOP)
Nothing in it is objectionable, IMHO. But what kind of clientele do you have that you have a full page document to remind them to treat workers as humans?
(Also, interesting in light of this week’s allegations about leadership.)
Servings chips with a burger (or any dish) is my number one hatred when going to restaurants.
My buddy had his 30th here last week and we were in a private back room. It’s was pretty awesome. I play into the vibe of the place and the exclusivity of it. I really loved it. Food was classic and everything was really well done. 👍
Middle of the road food—good burger but most finer dining burgers in NYC are—sort of like his clothing except for maybe his couture. It’s about the ambiance and the star gazing.
But is it a good place to take a doll?
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Funny! I was scrolling and a few posts under this one, [this popped up](https://www.reddit.com/r/KitchenConfidential/s/lisFqef3CH). Sounds like the behind the scenes there is pretty messy.
the menu you described sounds unexceptional
Those pigs in a blanket literally look like the mini kielbasa in Pillsbury Crescent rolls that my friends make for potlucks.
I’ve been three times; once with my wife for her birthday around the holidays, once with a couple from out of town, and once with my family. The food isn’t just underwhelming – it’s objectively mediocre and borderline poor. I also found the service to be pretty stiff and (similar to the food) at times borderline sub-par. The vibe and atmosphere is undoubtedly great but that wears off pretty quickly and I really think this place is the epitome of an overhyped snooze fest of a restaurant that at times gives the impression that they’re doing you a favor by allowing you to eat there.
Safe to say, not a fan and I doubt I’ll be back unless dragged along by a friend.
Love when you can’t get a reservation, and the place is empty when you get there.
People still care about Polo Bar?
I thought this was going to be a review of the 24 hour bar opposite Liverpool Street Station.
I went there with some Hollywood folks. It straight up sucked. And the bar was full of pick me girls looking for someone to buy them something. Hard pass.
I shouldn’t be surprised but man this is just criminal.
Someone on here called it “Applebees food with a cool vibe”, and that got us to stop trying to get a reservation
This is 100% spot on