My first impression of the Polo Bar was a place with great decor and mediocre food. I wasn't too excited about it. I finally tried this a few months ago with my friends and was pleasantly surprised. In fact, the food was really solid. I absolutely loved the ambiance, decor and of course the food. I'm actually surprised the reviews on yelp are so poor! I suspect it may have to do with the difficulty in getting a reservation or the slight pretentious ambiance? Regardless, I actually do recommend this place if you are into the classy ambiance with classic American food.

Ambiance / Decor

The decor is ultra classy with white tablecloths and upholstered leather seatings. The walls are filled with paintings and photos related to polo / horses of course. It's very proper and formal yet dim and intimate. I loved it.

Food

I was very impressed by the food here actually. I've yet to order something I didn't like. I was most impressed by a special they had back in May, the Sante Fe burger with caramelized onions, fries, and some other good stuff. The beef was super juicy and flavorful. I've not yet tried the classic burger so hopefully, that is good too.

A few other highlights that I absolutely enjoyed:

1) Lobster Salad—I was in the mood for lobster and this was very simple, refreshing and light. They were generous with the lobster serving. I highly recommend if you are in the mood for something tasty yet light.

2) Fish of the Day—I tried the snapper with romesco sauce. It was delicious. I usually don't like cooked fish, but the snapper was very tender and paired so well with olive oil, lemon, and the romesco sauce. It could've been a little more tender, but nonetheless, I enjoyed it.

3) Vongole Pasta—They were serving a special Vongole pasta with clams. It was actually very decent. It went well with the Alsace wine. Again, they were generous with clams. It was savory, light and well flavored. Maybe slightly on the saltier side but not bad at all.

4) Desserts—I tried the cheesecake, apple pie and ice cream sundae. The cheesecake was so good. It was made just right. Not too sweet, fluffy, and the right amount of "cheesiness". The ice cream sundae was also one of my favorites—you can't go wrong, it was the perfect amount of sweetness in a cup.

Price

Some may find this place to be overpriced for what it is. But if you compare it to its peers in New York City. I actually think it's very reasonable. I came back again last night and ordered two appetizers, two mains, one dessert and a bottle of white wine, the total was ~$212. Compared to other nice restaurants I'd say a meal like this would cost far more. On average, I'd expect to pay $60-70 per person including tax and tip, excluding bottle service.

Reservation

It is tough to get a reservation here. I definitely recommend making it one month in advance. I don't believe walk-ins are accepted. Maybe at the bar, if you are dressed appropriately.

The Polo Bar

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