It's Polo Baby!

You guys may be familiar with the clothing line called "Polo Ralph Lauren". They are known by their popular logo of a knight riding on a horse that is usually seen at the top left corner of shirts, sweaters, jackets, etc. To my surprise, Polo Ralph Lauren has an actual restaurant that is based off the brand. It is called The Polo Bar and it is amazing. The restaurant is located on the east side of Manhattan. This was the first time I have ever been to the east side, and it is very different from the west side. Although, it was a crazy struggle to get a reservation for this restaurant but it was worth it.

My friend and I went on one our many travels to NYC in search of this  restaurant. Thank God for Google maps because the east side of Manhattan is very confusing. As we arrived, there were people standing outside waiting to be called in for their reservations. When our names were called, someone kindly greeted us at the door and walked us to our table. As you first walk in, there is a mini bar and lounge area that is very vintage and unique. The dim lighting adds to the classy feel. The actual restaurant part is located down the swivel, wooden stairs. Also, be aware that there is a dress code. This was the first restaurant I had been to that required a dress code.

The tables and booths were very homey. The tables were dressed in white cloths and pillows were placed around the seating areas. However, the tables were put very close to each other so it felt like you were eating with more people than you came with. The waiter arrived and poured both my best friend and myself water from what looked like a very expensive bottle, only to find out it was expensive-tasting tap water. My favorite part of my meal was the bread they served. I cannot remember the name of it, but it was French and it was the firs time I had ever tasted it. The inside was soft and chewy with cheese basked inside ; the outside was crispy and flaky. It was DELICIOUS!

Now the menu is a little on the expensive side and it does require some knowledge of different types of food. If you are not used to trying new foods on an up-scale menu (veal, salmon, branzino, caviar), I would suggest viewing the menu before hand and making sure there is something appealing to your taste buds. I ordered roasted chicken and mashed potatoes (can you tell I like chicken and potatoes) and it was the best seasoned chicken I have had. There was a dry mix of seasoning on top of the chicken and it provided a burst of flavor. The mashed potatoes were very smooth and creamy. I enjoyed my meal but was not able to finish it (there is more food on the plate than it looks). The couple next to me admired my plate and decided they were going to order the same thing.

Going to this restaurant made me feel like I was in a different world and I loved it. I would recommend this restaurant after going to a few basic restaurants. This is also the perfect spot for a romantic date. A plus about the location of The Polo Bar is that it is just a few blocks away from Saks Fifth Ave (one of the biggest shopping areas in NYC)!