How to Get A Holiday Reservation at Polo Bar
You can’t… Sorry to do that to ya, but trending audio isn’t growing our audience, so we’re forced to take more drastic measures.
The long and short of it is this: Polo Bar has become—and will likely remain—the hardest reservation to get in New York. The reason? The reservations simply don’t exist. It’s run like a private club. Despite the promise that if you call right at 10:00 a.m. a month in advance and wait on hold all morning, you’ll land that coveted corner table for you and your wife, it’s a lie. Those seats are reserved for models, private equity guys, and Jim Cramer, who apparently eats there every night.
Credit to RL for running an honest system on the phone line—a forgotten practice that seems to be the one effective deterrent to bots (outside of Blackbird). For the very lucky few, if you call at just the right time and sleep with a spoon under your pillow, you might get an 11:30 p.m. two-top on a Monday in August while everyone’s in the Hamptons. But in December? Forget it.
The good news? It’s New York—the food capital of the world. There are plenty of options to scratch that holiday itch for you and the Mrs. Go get ’em!
Minetta Tavern
A French classic from Keith McNally—ask to be seated in the back room. Reservations for December are still pretty available, and the food is better, no question. Pro tip: Skip the deluxe black label burger and go for the Minetta burger—it’s a better option and a solid price performer.
Hudson Club
A newcomer from the folks behind White Horse Tavern. Just down the street from Polo Bar, they seem to have taken a page straight from Ralph’s playbook. A big wooden dining room with an even bigger bar welcomes you as you descend the Midtown steps. The PR machine hasn’t cranked up for this soon-to-be hit yet, so now’s your chance to get in early.
Monkey Bar
A place that needs no introduction, Monkey Bar borrows notes from the Carlyle Hotel’s Bemelmans Bar or Bobby Vans with whimsical wallpaper in the back room. You probably won’t get back there (it’s a tough res), but the bar up front serves a full menu and starts taking names at 4:30. Go too early, and you’re eating dinner at 4:45, but time it just right, and you’re in business!
Cheers,
Ryan