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Bravo! All I've read/heard about this place is true.
Sure, it's kind of a journey from my house here, but the famous fried chicken & jo-jos were DEFINITELY worth it, and the karaoke is SO much fun (My Mick Jagger impression was at an all-time high, boosted by a dance-party of ladies who appreciate The Stones)!!!
Dive-y only in the sense that the building has some history and no decorating frills, this place has good eats and a super-friendly staff that called a cab for us when we asked, and smiled big when I delivered a few $ for that favor, saying "you don't need to do that!".
I'm sold, Marco Pollo. I'll be back.
Five stars: no mistake. The service was that of a nice restaurant. The staff was professional. The prices were good with rotating drink specials. Also, for the OCD folk, everything was clean with pristine bathrooms.
The karaoke was perfect. Awesome rotation, well organized selection, great host, nice stage and above average sound system.
The plan: return again and again with the expectation that each experience will be just as good as the last.
Marco...? Can I get a 'Polo'?
23 years in seattle and i have never stepped into georgetown. until tonight. for some fried chicken. i spent a chunk of my life convincing strangers that Ezell's had the best chicken. Well i lied. and oprah was wrong. THIS place has the best fried chicken. here's a breakdown:
1) Ezell's is famous for that thick crunchy skin. It's good but its a bit too much. Beneath that layer of skin, there's always a layer of blubber. Moreso in certain areas than others. It's actually pretty gross.
2) Marco Polo's pressure-cooked fried chicken is crunchy but the skin is really thin. It's practically health food.
3) Ezell's (Skyway) = meat is a bit dry. Plus it's in skyway.
4) Marco Polo = meat is surprisingly moist (like roast chicken!)
I forgot what Ezell's prices are but it was ~$9 for 3 pieces of chicken + fries here. The bartender (Brad) was great it's a great place to hang out, drink, and play some shuffleboard for free!
I really enjoyed my experience here. Had to get a flat fixed at Les schwab and had an hour to kill, so I wandered in for a beer and a sandwich. The bartender was great. He was funny and recommended I add bacon to my French dip, which was awesome. I definitely recommend this place... And there are pool tables!!!!
Amazing service!!!!!! Stopped in while my tire was getting fixed. Super nice bartender and good food drinks were awesome !!!!
Watch out Ezelles... this chicken is awesome. Did you know its fresh to order with handcut Jo Jo's? Delicious. Plus the karaoke is amazing.
I finally got to tag along with my friends and see what all the fuss was about. Now that I have been enlightened, I have become an official devotee
to this wonderful little hole in the wall. The pressure fried chicken was tasty, juicy, downright delectable! Burgers were pretty dang good too, not to mention the drinks, which is why we go bars in the first place. Great cocktails with generous pours all night long. The staff is friendly and very attentive, always at the ready with extra napkins, clearing away glasses, then reappearing with another icy cold vodka tonic. This definitely is neighborhood gathering spot, where you get a nice mix of ages and types of folks. My pals and I will be back, sooner than later no doubt.
I am becoming what you might call "a regular", not sure if that's good or bad, either way, this is the best place to be a regular.
This might be a dive bar, but the staff is better than some of those 'fancy' places. They get your drinks quickly (just like I like) they wisk off your dirty plates, they are at the ready.
I will definatly try to maintain my status here ....
In plenty of my reviews I've praised the wonderfulness that is Georgetown. Its where I grew up and its now an area I love to get my drink on. Marco Polo is yet another reason I head to Georgetown. This classy dive sports bar gives me a tingly feeling any time I think about it.
You have your typical bar food here. The fried chicken is their claim to fame. My parents used to come here in the 70's and have the fried chicken. When I ate meat I enjoyed the cheeseburgers greatly and the crinkle fries are excellent. Now, my options are limited but the grilled cheese hits the spot. The drinks are cheap and the bartenders are amusing. One night Alison R. and I were treated to a shot of water from a gracious bartender. Thanks for looking out, buddy.
There is karaoke every Friday night and music every Saturday night. The stage it set up at the back of the bar. And I know there used to be a pool table there but I think it may have gotten the ax due to the yellow race car that now inhabits the place. I went almost the whole night without noticing this huge ass vehicle sitting there.
Marco Polo is the kind of bar you come to with some friends to chat, eat cheap food, and drink even cheaper liquor. Don't come to this place expecting a trendy flair. This is so far from trendy its an antique and that's what makes this place such a charmer.
So, I was all set to go to the last night of Planet Georgetown, but apparently they were already closed. No problem, Marco Polo, here I come.
I met some friends on a Saturday night. I walked in and it was only somewhat full. The decor is dive baresque and they have a race car inside. Yup, a full sized race car. It took me nearly an hour to notice it, but it's there and bright yellow.
There was a bluesy band playing on the stage. The music was a bit loud for conversation without shouting, but hey, it was a Saturday night and all the old folks there were really rocking out to it. And for me, it provided background music - easy to ignore - and awkward moments where I'd be shouting to talk and the music would end.
It took a while for a server to notice that I had slipped in and join a seat at the table. However, once they noticed I was there the service was pretty good. The one bartender was pretty funny and was encouraging us to drink. He brought Kiki M. and I a very dangerous shot - of water. The friendly staff was definitely a plus.
I had some mozzarella sticks while hanging out. They were pretty decent. Nothing that knocked my socks off, but I'd order them again if I was in the mood. I was just expecting a few, but I got 8. Lucky for the people at the table who were a bit hungry too, because I couldn't eat all of them!
I look forward to checking this place out on another night. The crowd the night I was there was older and pretty much cleared out by 11:30, but then again that's not a surprise for a Sat night in SoDo. They have karaoke on Fridays and the rest of their menu looks pretty tasty!
I'm a big fan of Marco Polo.
I would recommend you check it out for their pressure cooked chicken and jo-jo's -- but just as impressive as the food -- you should also check it out because the folks who own, run and work the joint are great.
My partner and I stopped by the other night for dinner. We had just missed happy hour - but not to worry, when the Mariners are on the tube they always have a drink special brewing.
The chicken, as mentioned earlier, is some of the best in Seattle (Ezell's is of course still at the top of the list). The jo-jo's come out steaming hot. And as much as you want to pop one in your mouth as soon as they hit your table --you'd be wise to hold off a few minutes...trust me!
Speaking of the friendly staff and the Mariners...we saw one lucky customer score a couple of tix to the next day's ballgame. Apparently one of the owners had to work that shift and couldn't make it to the game. So he offered the tix up to a good natured couple at the bar. What a deal!
There's plenty of good energy all around this place -- do check it out.
I only give this place 4 stars and not 5 as I was a bit disappointed to learn that they only serve Cougar Gold Burgers on "special" occasions; i.e. things like the Apple Cup. I mean, I can understand that, but when a girl gets her hopes up...
Otherwise, I was impressed! The staff was awesome and the crowd, for being in a "non-neighborhood" (walkable), was larger than I expected! Our group grabbed the fire-pit seating and attended a Cougar basketball game on Friday night...the Blues band that played at the opposite side of the bar set an odd soundtrack to the evening, but they were good!
Great service, great food (burgers and appetizers!) and great (divey) atmosphere!
I, like others, felt a bit skeptical about this place, but rumor had it this was a great Coug bar for Apple Cup watching, so we headed down. After securing a parking spot close by on the street, the roommate and I made our way into the bar, as we're turning the corner around the front area, he mumbles not so quietly "diiiiivvveee" to which I reply, "I know, right? I LOVE IT!" So we head on in, survey the situation, looks good, lots and lots of Crimson! +1 Yahoo! Make a bee-line for the bar, order a few drinks, get some menus, the staffer practically jumps over the counter to hug me when I hand him my WSU debit card, he shows me his, +1
We find an open table, take a seat. My roommate, the tech-god, complains about the quality of the HD, and that the "big screens," aren't really so big. Okay, so we have a sweet ass TV in our house, and we watch everything in HD, so it's probably a good thing I was watching from across the room and was soon intoxicated enough that I didn't care that the game wasn't in HD, but suffice to say there are lots of TVs, so even when you turn in another direction there was a TV there to see the game on.
Alli D spots me, she comes over and says hello. Being regonized by fellow yelper +1. The roommate ordered some food, he said his burger was good, failed to get a Coug Gold Cheese burger for $6, but I'll forgive him. Even though it was busy, staffers tried their best to be as attentive as possible and made sure we always knew we weren't being ignored +1 for even more good customer service.
Bathroom stall was tiny, kind of smelled a little bit like pee but it didn't appear to be dirty, just... unkempt, I wasn't scared of it. It was cleaner than the bathroom at the Coug in Pullman.
Rubbing elbows with random Coug fans and high fiving people you don't even know out of excitement for a WSU field goal, +1.
I will definitely be here again for football games that I am not attending, and definitely for some basketball games. Love this place! A real dive, with a lot of attitude.
Delilah says "I'll be in your 'hood, let's kick it"..
How we end up HERE, at what is generally the end of the earth to ME, I have no idea.
The trip was worth it though. Like so many bars, it's no big deal...TV, Guns N' Roses pinball table, jute box, pool tables, and ample space for groups that meander in or for watching the game.
The bartender is a hoot, very funny and a strong pour. Strongest glass of water I have *ever* had. I did get a buzz just from smelling Delilah's drink, if that counts.
The burger that was on special,...Super burger, was good and the jo-jo's on the better side of any I've had.
Not a long night, but a fun night indeed. The smears of mascara from laughing so hard I cried multiple times was worth the drive so far from my 'hood.
Lunch / Dinner
TVs could be better. Fried chicken is really good.
Update:
04/29/2008-BEST FRIED CHICKEN EVER!!!!
**Ok, so I went back here for the M's game on Tuesday and it was fabulous. Not crowded, strong drinks as said before, lots of room to get rowdy and no complaints when yelling at the TV. Nice. Also, tried their "famous pressure fried chicken". OMG. Delicious. So, sooooo so good. Not to mention, they serve homemade jojo's with said chicken. Wait, there's more....not only do they offer your usual condiments (ie; ketchup, mustard, ranch) but included in their six-pac oh sauces is a "special sauce". If you guessed the mixture that consists of mayo, ketchup and some seasonings you guessed right!
The server (Brad-again) was awesome. I never had to ask for a drink, he was on it. We didn't have to ask to have the one TV my pal was facing to be switched to the game b/c as soon as we walked in, Brad took into account that we were looking at the game and took it upon himself to change the channel before we had the opportunity to ask. Splendid. After getting the run down that Karaoke is only on Fri. and our exclamation of disappointment, he mentioned putting a word into the DJ and maybe having him come on a few Wednesdays to see how it pans out.
I've got to say, this has been an established bar since the 50's and for them to have such great service, harsh drinks (blended well yet still strong), great (and I mean GREAT) food, and a neat/clean scene well man...if anyone deserves props-Marco Polo does!!!
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I'd like to mention first that this place has been remodeled since 2007 in an effort to attract new clientele. It has worked.
As this is located in the industrial area of 4th, right before the SODO Dist. you would think that this place may not be a good pick! The outside is OK at best and though there are no lines drawn, people often park right in front....on the side walk.
This is not a swanky or posh bar, nor is it your average "shit hole" dive. It's more or less a locals watering hole. I have been here a handful of times and never had a bad experience. Their remodel now attracts those who get off from work and want to get to the closest happy hour they can find! And who wouldn't want to come here for HH? 1$ Rainier, $5 pitchers, $3 well drinks, $4 liquor drinks and a few TVs to watch the Mariners games!! What's not to love? It is clean, friendly and comfortable.
This past Friday night was the big hit for me. I was at another bar to watch the M's game after getting off late from work! (I had plans, so my boss is in my bad book.) My friends and I go to a bar that we've been going to lately just b/c they've got an abundance of TVs. However, after I had three rum and cokes, two duck farts and a glass of beer and was not buzzed I decided mid game or not, I wasn't havin' one more drink at Gators! Ever. I found Marco Polo using my cell in connection to the Internet with a search for Karaoke.
When I showed up with my 6 or so people, I straight up asked how the drinks were! Brad the bartender looked at us and said, "we make em' how you like em' strong enough to second guess getting the next". It was near 7p on a Friday night but he let us know that all HH specials applied b/c the game was on! We sat, had our drinks right away with a SMILE and got in the roster to sing next.
The place is small! They have a cute fire pit style booth to the left when you walk in and some comfortable separate seating throughout the rest of the area. I would say that a group would be good but mostly if you show up early or let the barkeep know you're coming. The drinks are strong here and with 3 Rainier's, 2 Sex on the beach, 2 Heineken, 1 Vodka Red Bull and 2 Jack and Cokes at only $29 for all, we all were able to leave the bar satisfied and drunk....and ended up cabbing it home!
This is going to be my new spot for watching the games! I'll keep this updated as to whether the service and/or experience gets better or worse. Call me optimistic but I have a good feeling about this one!
Good place for happy hour drinks and bar food.
Love the way that the owners of this place have morphed the bar into one cool club! The food is outstanding (especially the chicken and the chile), I like the feel of the place, and the blues bands that I've enjoyed here keep me coming back for more! Yay, Marco Polo!!!!!!
OK, it's official: I'm moving to Georgetown. I was a little skeptical about watching the Apple Cup here, especially as I endured one harrowing bus trip in order to get to the place, but DANG. This might be one of my new favorite bars. Case in point:
1. The marquee outside said "Go Cougs." Good first impression.
2. Not three minutes after I'd entered, (to find that my friends had already commandeered the table with its very own fireplace in the middle) I was asked if I needed a drink by not one but TWO crimson-sporting employees, and found myself with a nice cold $2 glass of Coors Light.
3. Three minutes later, I spotted the lovely Amanda Y. across the room with her roommate, and we shared some yelp love.
4. TV's everywhere. Didn't have the best HD reception, but any which way you turned you could watch the game. Awes.
5. Cougar Gold Cheeseburger, y'all! If you don't know what Cougar Gold is...well, I pity you.
6. Crinkle. Cut. Fries. Which came with my burger even though I'd asked to exchange them for Jo-jo's. Of course they brought me the jo-jo's too. Many potatoes had to die in order for me to have lunch today.
7. Now, listen very carefully because this part is important: Your VERY OWN bottle of FRY SAUCE at your table. Not even rationed. And people claim our country's in a recession!
8. Also available for your enjoyment: pool tables, pull tabs, and Big Buck Hunter.
9. And available for MY enjoyment, an extremely cute boy who I know I knew from somewhere, but just couldn't put my finger on where. Too bad he was in a purple t-shirt, otherwise I would have gone to chat him up.
Not sure what else Georgetown has to offer, but it doesn't matter. Marco Polo has it all.
MARCO!!! (I'll just wait right here till you scream "Polo".... ...... Still waiting.... ) Ok good. A group of us came down here on a Friday night for one reason and one reason only, it wasn't the food... Nope it was karoke. All night long as one singer crooned. The atmosphere was quite interesting, I wanted to sit at the table that had a fire going in the middle of it, but we got the door turned table instead. Yes, a door. Lots of alcohol was consumed at very fair prices, and I got in a little pinball with Guns N Roses (the machine not the band themself) cause I'm a pinball whore. Now, the service wasn't the speediest even though it wasn't packed, so we all would just go to the bar to get drinks. The atmosphere was a bit odd too with a NASCAR car right ni the place, and hoods all over the wall... Yet it wasn't really advertised as such a place, and I wouldn't call it a sports bar either. It seemed kind of like... Sybil decorated the place. The karoke master was great, although the garage door was weird to see behind the stage.
Oh and the bathroom was gross. Someone threw up in the one urinal, and then someone tried to flush it down and flooded the floor. Sick
I have only been here a few times for lunch and had a cheeseburger each time. I have to say that the staff is friendly and the food amazing. If you are in the neighborhood for lunch, I highly recommend it!
I had to give this place 4 stars and may just change it to 5. Having read the reviews and dared to go anyway, I must say I was impressed.
A group of us went here Friday night for a friend's birthday pre-func. I was a little nervous when we arrived and found parking on the side street, right in front of the boarded up crack house, but we braved it and went inside. (Inside Marco Polo, not the crack house...that's another review altogether.)
The place is surprisingly well-lit and has a happy little atmosphere...there's a race car just behind the little fire pit/round table where we ended up sitting, a stage for karaoke, a juke box and actually a fair amount of seating. We ordered the fried chicken & jo-jo's to share, and yes, it was just as the other reviewers had said...mouth-wateringly yummy. I had a couple vodka tonics that were very generous and very good. But my favorite part about this place is the service. Wow. The bartender (cute blonde - his name has escaped me, dammit) also served as our waiter and was busting hump. He was friendly, genuine, and attentive - always making sure we had everything we needed and did it with a smile. You do NOT get service like that at some of the typical places people go and spend double what we did that night. Great food, drink, prices, and service with a [genuine] smile. What more could you ask for? Well, it'd be better if it were closer to my home, but I'll definitely go back. That chicken is addictive...maybe THAT's what they're making in that crack house around the corner. Hmmmmm....
Oh, I'm the first to review this place? Probably because I'm the only one who's been in there and lived to tell about it. If you like divy shitholes where there's a good chance of getting shanked...look no further.
Ok. So this place is definitely a dive. And I've got some negative things to say about it, but before I do any badmouthing I've got 3 words for you. Delicious fried chicken. And...damn. It's a weakness. I crave fried chicken. And I can't fucking stand no goddamn KFC bullshit. So where does a girl go in this town to get delicious fried chicken? My prayers have been answered. I heard rumors about it, but was understandably skeptical. I mean, have you seen the place? They just recently put up a new sign and have made some effort to make it look a bit more presentable on the outside, but in the six years that I've been working just down the street from this bar, I was never brave enough to venture inside...until recently. Late in the afternoon one Saturday, while sitting at work, I decided I really needed some food. So I got it in my head that the time had come to finally explore this fried chicken option. I looked them up on the web to find out if they were open. They don't currently have their own website up, but the info I found on them told me they were open from 12pm-12am. Perfect! I wandered down the few blocks on foot only to find out that they were in fact not open at noon on Saturdays. The time was about 2:30 and they weren't going to open for at least another hour and a half. THAT was not an option. So no fried chicken for me that day, and strike one for them. A couple weeks later I thought I'd give them another chance, so this time, just to be safe I showed up around 6:30pm. Success! I went in, the place was completely empty but clean. There was a friendly young gentleman at the bar who happily gave me a menu and served me a glass of Blue Moon (Score!). So far so good. I ordered my fried chicken dinner - 3 piece with Jo Jo's. He told me it would take a bit of time, but since I had my Blue Moon to nurse, I was not mad. Then he politely mentioned that they close at 7pm. What? On a Saturday night? What kind of bar is this? Fine. Okay. Not a problem, I should get it to go and get my slackin' ass back to work anyway. So that's what I did. And the chicken was mouth watering. Spicy, but not too spicy. Greasy, but not too greasy. It was flavorful and satisfying. And the Jo Jo's were pretty tasty, too. Although at that point they could have tasted like cardboard and I still would have been happy. My only other encounter with this bar/grill was last night, when I strolled down to get myself a sammich (can't eat TOO much fried chicken and still keep my girlish figure. HA!). This was a Thursday night around 8pm, and the place was pretty hoppin'. The bar staff were all young attractive males, so that's always a plus. Their sports bar atmosphere doesn't attract my kind of crowd, though, and they had a ridiculous acoustic guitar playing fella entertaining everyone with hit alt-ballads from the early nineties. No thank you, sir. But I got to sit and enjoy a couple more glasses of Blue Moon (on the job) and a rather nice grilled turkey grinder. All and all, not a bad time.
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Category: Art Galleries
Neighborhood: SODO
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Category: Bars
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
