Polo Restaurant — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

I dearly love the polo. I remember it from way back when it was a just another club with pokies. I have since rediscovered this hidden gem during covid times.

The club itself is a retro wonder. Authentic and almost untouched by gentrification. Check out the restrooms, palaces of tile and troughs of stainless steel. In the library you can dine among the translated works of Poland's writers. There's a shaggy orange rug on the wall and icons of his holiness PJP2.

Like many places, the polo had to innovate due to covid. They installed a fairly reliable online booking system and they converted the dance floor into socially distanced dining space. Check in on entry.

The polo used to be a lovely little live music venue with a decent stage and room to dance. Dancing is now illegal, but at least the music is back. It's a great space with great sound.

The bar stocks your favourite European beers and Aussie wines. They usually have Polish beers but were out last night. Various schnapps to guarantee your hangover. Staff are friendly if you ask them about their day.

My favourite thing about the polo is the food. Sure you can get a schnitzel or whatever, but the people come back for the pierogis. So many veg and non veg options to choose from. They have desert pierogis too which will make you wish you ate less at dinner so you still had room. There's a huge freezer full right in the dining room. You can buy some to enjoy at home but why would you when you could come here?

Don't ever change. We can grow...

Disappointed to learn that the kitchen was not actually run by Poles but pleasantly surprised at the food once we got it. The pierogies with cabbage and mushrooms were fantastic...just like my mommas. The stuffed cabbage was good although made with a rice filler which I am not used to. The tomato mushroom sauce that accompanied them was very tasty. The Beef goulash was incredible. The beef just melted in your mouth. The food took a bit of time as the restaurant was busy and mainly because each dish is made to order. We sat right in front of the kitchen window and I assure you I watched every move the guys made. I'm a Polish food snob and have very high expectations. Sadly the only dessert to choose from was a chocolate custard or plum donut and I had been happily awaiting the poppy cheesecake. The chocolate custard was delish. The menu choices for the night were sparse but my boyfriend and I both licked our plates clean. Bardzo...

Very disappointing. We booked for 18 people for our mum's 90th (she was Polish) although sadly she died just weeks before. We still went along as a granddaughter shares the birthday. We arrived at 6.30pm and ordered pierogi for entree for everyone followed by main courses. After 11/2 hours we received 5 main courses and no pierogi!! At 9pm after waiting another hour with children crying we enquired about our meals only to be told that they had run out of schnitzel and other meals - even a bowl of mashed potato didn't turn up. We had no other option but to request our money back. No restaurants could cater for the group at that time of night so it was a very disappointing evening to what was supposed to be a lovely celebration. Unfortunately the restaurant also missed out on a food order of...