The Polo Bar
Restaurant · Midtown East
1 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
Highlights
Upscale American dining with classic dishes, celebrity sightings, and exclusive vibes
Upscale American dining with classic dishes, celebrity sightings, and exclusive vibes
"An upscale Ralph Lauren-branded Fifth Avenue bar and restaurant that opened at 1 E. 55th Street in 2015 is the subject of a lawsuit by former server/bartender Frank Nobiletti, who worked there for seven years beginning in 2017. He alleges he experienced "terrible sexual harassment" after a manager allegedly outed him as bisexual, and that harassment escalated after the restaurant reopened post-COVID in 2021, including coworkers making sexually explicit comments such as remarks about wanting to watch him have sex with his wife. The complaint describes alleged incidents of sexual assault — two involving managers, one allegedly touching his inner thigh and another grabbing his butt — and contends those managers were not disciplined, with one promoted despite allegedly allowing harassment. The suit also outlines an allegedly hostile work environment for women, saying, "upon information and belief," a long-time server showed nude photos of women they were dating to employees, "multiple female staff members" complained about a so-called "Rating Game" of female customers' attractiveness, and some male servers joked about "putting it in" with a particular coworker. The complaint alleges widespread substance misuse: "management and staff regularly drank alcohol and used illegal drugs during work hours with little to no consequences," with the restaurant's wine room reportedly a frequent site of cocaine use and one employee allegedly acting as a dealer; managers and staff are accused of drinking at private events "with management's knowledge and approval," sometimes consuming alcohol meant for customers or charging clients extra and drinking the difference. The plaintiff says he reported concerns to HR starting in fall 2023 (and through counsel) and was fired in February 2024 for drinking on the job, a termination he contends was retaliatory; the suit seeks a trial, lost wages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The establishment disputes the allegations, stating, "We have high standards for how employees conduct themselves and no tolerance for misconduct, so we take swift action when these standards are not met. This includes Mr. Nobiletti's termination that was based on clear evidence of his misconduct. Because we take all employee-related concerns seriously, we thoroughly investigated Mr. Nobiletti's allegations and determined they have no merit." The restaurant has been managed by Apicii LLC since 2020, and previously by Gibsons Restaurant Group; the venue is noted as a celebrity haunt reportedly frequented by Jon Hamm, the Clintons, Drew Barrymore, Oprah Winfrey, and Jennifer Lopez." - Melissa McCart
"Verdict: The Polo Bar is so preppy, their tap water tastes like seersucker. Ralph Lauren’s tartan-filled, subterranean Midtown country club has cornered the market on equestrian paintings and parquet ceilings, and it’s the closest you’ll get to a guaranteed celebrity sighting. Is the food good? Who cares? You’re here for the scene. (But yes, the food is good. Try the corned beef sandwich.) In order to book a table, you have to call 212-207-8562. Reservations are released roughly one month in advance on the matching calendar date—on September 30th, for example, you can book for October 30th—and the phone line opens at 10am. If you can’t snag a reservation, try calling around 4pm on the day-of to see if there were any last-minute cancellations." - bryan kim
"Ralph Lauren’s preppy, wood-paneled Midtown bunker is indescribably annoying to get into. If you do manage to land a table, you may even arrive a little disgruntled. But wait, what’s that? A flaky popover that looks like an ice cream cone? And it’s free? Well played. In order to book a table, you have to call 212-207-8562. Reservations are released roughly one month in advance on the matching calendar date—on September 30th, for example, you can book for October 30th—and the phone line opens at 10am. If you can’t snag a reservation, try calling around 4pm on the day-of to see if there were any last-minute cancellations." - sonal shah, bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman
"You might be skeptical of a sceney restaurant run by the guy who’s single-handedly responsible for millions of popped collars, but the food here is surprisingly good—especially the burger, corned beef sandwich, and strip steak. If you’re lucky enough to snag a reservation (which are only taken over the phone), you’ll earn the right to sit in a subterranean dining room with a massive collection of equestrian art and ample opportunity for celebrity sightings. In order to book a table, you have to call 212-207-8562. Reservations are released roughly one month in advance on the matching calendar date—on September 30th, for example, you can book for October 30th—and the phone line opens at 10am. If you can’t snag a reservation, try calling around 4pm on the day-of to see if there were any last-minute cancellations." - bryan kim, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore
"Ralph Lauren’s tartan-filled, subterranean Midtown country club has cornered the market on equestrian paintings and parquet ceilings, and it’s the closest you’ll get to a guaranteed celebrity sighting in New York City. In order to book a table, you have to call and speak to a reservationist who will gently take your hopes out back and bury them six feet under. (For a more realistic shot, reach out day-of to check for cancellations, or try a concierge service.) Is the food good? Who cares? You’re here for the scene." - team infatuation
