Polo Lounge — Restaurant in Beverly Hills

I have been both a recurring guest of the Beverly Hills Hotel & patron of the Polo Lounge for over 25 years with my family. Most of the older staff there recognize us & commonly greet us with familiarity. WE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY THERE. This Christmas Eve, the very young ladies (almost every time these employees seem new these days) at the Polo Lounge entrance podium very casually & dismissively (with utterly blunt affects to boot) REFUSED TO SEAT US citing my girlfriend’s “ripped” jeans in violation of their dress code. Mind you these were the very stylish tasteful type of jeans, but, with yes, small intentional openings, the sort that just about everyone has come to regard as very fashionable for years now. However, my intention then, as it is here now, was & is certainly not to take any issue whatsoever with the very existence of a dress code (much less quibble with the petty details). To the contrary, by and large I am a strong SUPPORTER OF maintaning GOOD STANDARDS & as such view reasonable DRESS CODES as one useful & effective instrument of fairly doing just that provided there is even application across ALL PATRONS regardless. For many years, long before I unexpectedly learned that day that the Polo Lounge had instituted a dress code approximately just a 4 short years prior, my personal dress code called for me to wear nothing short of a jacket or blazer there. Furthermore, I truly doubt that if some ridiculous celebrity showed up there in worse than “ripped” jeans that the staff wouldn’t be tripping over themselves to ask where he or she would like to be seated. All part of the standard hypocrisy my lack of naïveté won’t allow me to not conceive. But this is not a grievance (I actually really don’t have a grievance per se but rather a very sad set of undeniable observations) here now either. Suffice it to say that I do believe in reasonable & evenly applied dressed codes simply because I fully embrace maintaning high standards. So what, in fact, then is MY POINT in writing any of this regarding the dismal experience there that day? It is simply the following: throughout the whole encounter ABSOLUTELY NO ONE at any instance even bothered to simply at least CONVENTIONALLY FEIGN A TRADITIONALLY POLITE, “I’M SORRY…….that we are unable to seat you & your party, sir” with a simple smile would have slightly mitigated the disappointment. Not the 2 young ladies at the podium, not the front desk, not the manager of the Polo Lounge. It is as if this attitude, a basic tenet of hospitality, was completely alien to them. This despite our obvious disappointment, surprise, & yes, at the end, frustration. All in spite of my many years of patronage. The complete lack of this very inexpensive sentiment was quite IMPOLITE per se to say the least. Its inclusion would have gone a long way. It’s lack took a bad experience & unnecessarily made it abysmal. Instead, when one of the older longstanding employees passing by the front podium overheard me telling the manager that I’d never heard of a dress code at the Polo Lounge, he saw fit to interject, unsolicited, “Well, you’ve never shown up like this here before!” When it was my girlfriend, not I, who was not, to our surprise, in compliance with the dress code. A completely classless statement & posture on his part. Mind you not less than 2 minutes prior this very same employee was performing his socially perfunctory but utterly meaningless “It’s nice to see you!” pretense while shaking my hand in the lobby as I made my way to the Lounge. Lastly, the Polo Lounge, steeped in Hollywood history & folklore, rightfully loves to market Tinseltown’s nostalgic glamour. What the employees seem to blindly overlook is that nothing could be more devoid of class than being impolite to a longstanding patron. WITHOUT TRUE CLASS, GLAMOUR, LIKE HOLLYWOOD ITSELF, IS A COMPLETE ILLUSION. When the staff fails to be polite, it undermines what the Polo Lounge should be.

I’ve never written any review for any establishment ever but I felt compelled. This is not a first...

Came here a couple of weeks ago and despite empty booths and tables elsewhere we were seated directly next to the kitchen with clanking plates, pots, and pans so loud I could barely hear my wife.

About fifteen minutes later a waiter appears for his first of two appearances in the forty five minutes we are there.

We ask him if we can be moved somewhere where we could hear each other. He looked around and said he couldn't. I was already discussing leaving with my wife previously and we were sold on it at that point. I think our waiter could detect this and said he'd go ask the host.

We were promptly moved to what I would say is the best booth in the entire restaurant. I've dined here many times over the years - I hope my opinions are worth something.

We looked at the menu and made our decision but by the time the waiter arrived we'd been there for forty five minutes and decided to leave. We explained the situation to our waiter.

"Sorry". He said as he left in a huff without another word. His departure was no surprise. We seemed an inconvenience to him from the start. Not a smile or any gesture of warmth from him the whole night. The hostesses seemed hardly bothered when we informed them of our troubles on the way out. The only person that night who did seem to care was an older French waiter who I believe is the head waiter. I've seen him there over the years and he has been excellent at his job every time we've had him as a waiter. He did seem to understand and care that we received bad service and for that I'm grateful.

For a place that sells dover sole for a hundred dollars (nearly) I'd expect the staff to act like they give a hoot but I didn't see it on that night and so I took my business to BOA Steakhouse down the boulevard where the service and food were as flawless as they have been the many times I've dined there.

On food + atmosphere: I've eaten here enough to know that the food is phenomenal and the atmosphere is impeccable. No honest person could really argue otherwise. But, as it goes, it was all ruined by one waiter with a bad attitude.

I will add that the winter is a better time to dine here from my experience. Because at 8pm on a Saturday summer night the staff here were absolutely spent. I blame the management. If employees can't or won't do their job well it's usually a bad boss that's behind their broken morale and it certainly was a bad morale kind of night. Could also be the clientele. The ultra rich are on the whole an insufferable and entitled lot. They alone are enough to drive anyone insane. Just walk down Beverly Dr at 5pm and you'll see it from the way they drive. I was mistaken for one of them that night I think. Which is understandable. I'm sure the rest of their tables were just that for the most part and that my needs were too much at that point.

Our poor waiter was sweating so profusely I was afraid his sweat would drip into my food. Can the Sultan not afford A/C and a second shift staff for the peak season? Sad! A profoundly disappointing performance from a Dorchester collection hotel and supposedly the best spot in BH (South Beverly Grill would like a word!). To anyone who works hard and values a place where people actually care then based on my experience tonight I'd advise you to look elsewhere for a place more deserving of your business.

My advice to anyone who is not a millionaire is that this place as it was tonight is not worth your money and there are much better places in Los Angeles to spend a night of celebration. If you get bad service anywhere don't be afraid to let them know and walk out. We did just that and it saved our hard earned Saturday night. The pianist that night was...

A Disappointing Experience at the Beverly Hills Polo Lounge: Outdated Dress Code Ruins Summer Visit

My recent visit to the Beverly Hills Polo Lounge left a bitter taste in my mouth. As a traveler looking forward to enjoying the renowned establishment during the summer, I was appalled by the archaic dress code policy that led to our unfortunate denial of entry. It is disheartening to witness such rigid and unwelcoming practices, especially in a time when inclusivity and flexibility should be embraced.

Upon arriving at the Beverly Hills Polo Lounge on a warm summer day, my party and I were abruptly turned away at the entrance due to the fact that we were wearing shorts. Despite the scorching temperatures outside and the relaxed atmosphere synonymous with the season, the management insisted on enforcing an outdated dress code that failed to align with the expectations of contemporary hospitality.

What struck me as particularly disappointing was the unwillingness of the establishment to adapt to the evolving times and meet the needs of their diverse clientele. The world is rapidly changing, and it is crucial for businesses, especially esteemed ones like the Beverly Hills Polo Lounge, to recognize and accommodate the preferences and comfort of their patrons. This refusal to acknowledge the practicality and comfort of summer attire, such as shorts, showcases a disregard for the changing expectations and desires of customers.

As a result of this frustrating encounter, my party and I were denied the opportunity to enjoy the reputed ambiance, cuisine, and service of the Beverly Hills Polo Lounge. It is unfortunate that the establishment's obsession with upholding an arbitrary dress code overshadowed the potential for us to create lasting memories and appreciate the establishment's offerings.

Recommendations for Improvement: Adapt the dress code policy: The Beverly Hills Polo Lounge should consider revising its dress code policy to reflect the expectations and preferences of modern customers. This would allow patrons to enjoy the establishment without feeling restricted by outdated rules that hinder their comfort and self-expression.

Seasonal dress code adjustments: Recognizing the varying climatic conditions throughout the year, the establishment should adopt a more flexible approach to its dress code during the summer months. This would enable guests to feel at ease while experiencing the establishment's exceptional offerings without compromising on their personal comfort.

Enhance customer inclusivity: To foster a more welcoming and inclusive environment, the Beverly Hills Polo Lounge should prioritize the satisfaction and comfort of its diverse clientele. By embracing contemporary values and accommodating a wider range of attire, the establishment can create a more positive and inclusive experience for all guests.

My experience at the Beverly Hills Polo Lounge was overshadowed by the disappointing encounter at the entrance. The enforcement of an inflexible dress code that denied entry to individuals wearing shorts during the summer season reflects a lack of adaptability and customer-centricity. It is my hope that the establishment takes these criticisms constructively and embraces change to provide a more inclusive and enjoyable experience for...