- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Poleng Lounge - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Asian Fusion Nightlife Bars Lounges Asian Fusion, Lounges [Edit]
1751 Fulton St(between Central Ave & Masonic Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94117
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA
(415) 441-1751
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
782 reviews for Poleng Lounge
Review Highlights
-
"Sweet potato fries with banana catsup - must have." In 46 reviews -
"Try the crispy adobo wings and garlic crab noodles." In 62 reviews -
"Another good little dish was the crispy adobo wings." In 48 reviews
Loading...
782 reviews in English
-
Review from Criselle O.
San Diego, CA
11/2/2010
Good food, good people, good music.
Went here on multiple occasions with my old roommates but the one time I recall actually going here for something was with my boyfriend and two other friends. We were up in the bay visiting and went to see DJ Neil Armstrong spin.. place was packed. I remember having a grand ol' time.
Too bad this place is CLOSED now. Wack. Oh well, I'm glad I got to experience this place before it closed down... hmph. -
Review from Rachel F.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2008 ROTD 12/26/2008
I'm a total idiot. Seriously. (Hang on, don't agree so resoundingly AND quickly now).
I had NO idea that this place existed mere blocks from many friends' houses and that it served up some seriously yummy grub.
We went on a Friday evening around 7:30. We sat at the bar and were hypnotized by the photos of Asia on the slideshow on the tv's above the bar (one complaint, though, if you sit there for long enough, you can predict which photo will come next).
Not even five minutes after we ordered, out came our appetizers. We started with the sweet potato fries with banana catsup and edamame. I've never had edamame done quite this way, and it was lick your lips good.
Seconds later, the ceviche came out (yummy!) with the calamari, and everything was awesome.
And whilst sitting at the bar, there was a "mis-pour" of a couple of cocktails that were politely handed to my dining partner and I. Super service.
All in all a pretty awesome experience. I've heard the club is pretty fun, but it's not exactly my scene. The food is enough to get me to come back, though. -
Review from Janice C.
1/31/2010 4 photos
Unlike Kid Cudi who's in "pursuit of happiness" (great song BTW) involves rolling up weed, mine has to do with a certain list.
A food list.
My gf and I needed some gossip time, so naturally, I steered her to a place that's on my Big Eat SF list.
I'm not sure how Poleng Lounge is on the weekends, but on a weeknight, it was the perfect spot. Low lighting, an inviting fireplace in the dining area, a long bar right near the entrance, it's very welcoming.
The menu is a mish-mash of Asian foods, with some interesting dishes like Filipino Kinilaw, Green Papaya salad, Samosas, Kalbi short ribs, etc. This is also a tea lounge, so expect a varied tea selection as well.
I ordered a cucumber spritzer because I got jealous of my friend's. Muddled cucumber, mint, simple syrup and club soda. Refreshing indeed but pricey at $5 a glass.
The item on the Big Eat SF list is:
#83 sweet potato fries with banana catsup.
At $5.50, these are served on a wicker basket/cup, cute but small serving size. I relished each crispy bite of my fries. The banana catsup's consistency is too thin for a ketchup and bit spicy, but I couldn't taste the banana flavor. I'm not much of a sauce/dip fan so it didn't bother me too much.
We shared the crispy adobo wings. The meat itself had a nice sour taste from the vinegar complemented with a coating of sauce that tastes like sweet-chili. Served with "atchara" (picked carrots and jicama)
The chicken sesame salad is a healthy option on the menu, but it was just so-so.
I feel accomplished on what I've checked off so far. Another 49 more to go and happiness will be mine.
Take that, Kid Cudi.Listed in: 7 X 7 Magazine's Big Eats SF…
-
Review from Alexandra N.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 2/1/2010
Goodbye, Poleng. You are now closed. I came to bid you my farewell last night with a final drink, but you were not serving. Your furniture was all moved out and the bar was bare.
There were people in the back watching some movie about Muhammed Ali and James Brown. Ting was already there watching the film, and Gill walked in with me and Ben. We sat down for a minute, but some girl yelled at me for blocking her view, and we really wanted to get a drink so we left.
I'm sorry we couldn't celebrate with you throughout the last hours of business, but I wanted to let you know that you will be missed. It was nice to have a decent Asian-fusion restaurant nearby.Listed in: Thatz my hood!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/10/2009
I like their fireplace. Small plates are good because you get to try a bunch of different items… Read more »
Comment from Desi D. of Poleng Lounge 7/15/2009
Did you know the wings are $0.50 during happy hour? But the… More » -
-
Review from Keane L.
5/5/2007
I deleted my original review because it was full of drunken obscenities and crazed observations. Sorry you missed it. Here are the comments. Maybe you can figure it out...
For your review of: Poleng
wow. you're capable of writing a coherent review even when drunk! you only misspelled one word... that's talent!
For your review of: Poleng
Your writing is pretty coherent for a drunk. ;)
For your review of: Poleng
You ARE a rockstar!!!
For your review of: Poleng
I hate when that happens.
Poleng is nice, and the service is good. Troy and Matthew (bar manager... I think...) made an obvious effort to please us. They have a dance room in the back that's wide and spacious. There's a $10 cover that's only slightly justified by the ample space and beautiful crowd within. -
Review from andy r.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2006
Poleng was HOT. Poleng was COOL. Thanks, Yelp for a great time. The drinks were refreshing and the food was yummy. Though we were too hyphy to take part in the tea, we'll be going back to have tea and dinner soon.
Major points for the Buddha poised to pick-up the 7-10 karmic split. She could totally clear it! -
Review from Earl G.
1/13/2010
Man, Poleng Lounge is closing!?!?!?!
I had some good times and good eats here. From the shochu flights (like Sake but stronger), the adobo wings, Filipino ceviche, sizzling sisig, etc. all served in a modern and trendy looking space I know I'm going to miss it. Man, I even partied here before when it was Storyville!
Now that Poleng and Palencia are gone, there aren't any Flip-fusion restaurants in SF anymore.
From their website -
"Last call for food is this Sunday, 1/17/10. We'll be running 1/2 off Wine, Sake, and Shochu all week or until we run-out."
----- I doubt I'll be doing this last hoorah but I will pour some of my 40 out for Poleng.Listed in: Date night!, Filipino food - I am what I…
-
Review from Juliane N.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2008 6 photos
Came here on a Friday a couple weeks ago and to my surprise, it's actually not bad. I've always wanted to come try the food here but never had the chance.
I didn't like the fact that we had to pay $10 cover since we weren't on the guestlsit cuz we originally wanted to go Element lounge. We got there around 11 and the place was already packed. Really good mixed crowd which makes me happy. I hate going to places with ALL Asians... The bartenders were very friendly and the drinks were good, strong and cheap. The Adios was probably the strongest I've ever had and had to give it away cuz it was way too strong for me since I already too like a bazillion shots of Henny before hand, I didn't wanna yack...
Dance floor area upstairs isn't bad but it can get pretty hot when everyone next to you is dancing up a sweat and it would kinda smell too so I suggest you bring some cologne/perfume with you. PLEASE.
I would def come back for the lounge and to try the food. -
Review from Honey L.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2006 ROTD 7/27/2006
One star is the honest rating I would give Poleng. They have mediocre food, and it's extremely hot inside and not an easy place to enjoy. The service was polite but not stellar. I liked the space, but the ceilings were low and I felt crowded.
I still believe that if you are a business and you hire a person to work there, one day a week or whatever, that person represents your place and is a direct reflection of the type of place you want to have. The musician who works there should know that.
(Props to yelp for removing the nasty, fucked up, psycho review he wrote. BOO to anyone who gave this guy compliments on his hate review. That's lame because you don't know him and the story behind all this crap. Thanks for showing yourself so we all know who you are.) -
Review from Angela C.
10/20/2008
Umm thanks but NO thanks. I will not be coming back here again... ever! This place was soo weird! We arrived a little after 10pm and the bouncers made us wait in line even though the restaurant/lounge was obviously not packed. After entering we figured out why - they wanted to wait for the time to hit 10:30pm so they could charge us the $5 entrance fee! How whack is that?
We entered and there was such a diverse group of people that we were all very confused. I saw a grandma on one corner eating her meal, some parents, and a bunch of people dressed in clubbing clothes. We walk towards the back and up the stairs, pass the bathrooms and find another back room with tables where people were eating, but with red lights. I felt dirty. I felt like I had just walked into a brothel with Asian women sitting on mens' laps and another grandma eating her dinner on the next table over.
We finally found a nice, center table to sit at and ordered some drinks. They don't come and serve you so you'll have to go to the bar and get your own drink. I tried my friends' midori sour and it was the worst midori sour I've ever had. How does one go wrong with midori sour?? At 11pm a guy came over to us and told us we had to leave our table cuz there were reservations made at 11pm. Whack.
Oh and get this - ONE stall for the women's bathroom?! HELLOO!! Bad drinks, weird vibe, whack bouncers makes this a no go for me.Listed in: Don't Come Here!!!
-
Review from Ryan V.
San Francisco, CA
9/11/2008
This place epitomizes the definition of a Lounge in this city. There's a large, comfortable area in the front which you can hang out with. You can even bring a ton of friends, because there's plenty of room here; host a party here, even.
In the back there's a dance floor and they have events here which aren't too big to attract the more annoying crowd, but you can get some people here who really just enjoy listening to some music and dancing a little. Again, there's plenty of room and seating for you and friends. This is an easy place to just go and hang out without worrying too much.
The staff has also been proven to be accommodating. A friend just hosted a going away party here and it happened to be on a night where there was a release party for a local hip hop artist. The owners waived the cover for all his guests since they didn't tell him about it. That's pretty reasonable, right? This is my new favorite Western Addition lounge. -
Review from Seong P.
3/31/2008
We got here a little on the later side after making a few other stops in the East Bay and SF. We met the 3 location minimum for it to be a real night out. That's what someone told me anyway. After some crazy K-talk, we got in here and I met the #1 Warriors fan (he's very friendly) before dancing it up for the rest of the night.
The layout of the place has not changed since it used to be Storyville. There is the front room that's more loungey, with a long bar and fireplace. The backroom feels kind of like a basement because the ceiling appears low, it's dark and there is no real style to it. The ladies restroom only has one stall which I think is dangerous.
So why 4 stars? It was just a really great night. -
Review from jason g.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2008
The place is nice but you can't charge people to get in to this joint, so we just got bottle service. A place like this can't warrant a 249 bottle of grey goose. (They can't charge 250 because that would be club rates.........so they charge 249?) Our server was super sweet and she really took care of us, but the clientele is just blahhhh. Another word would be "ghettolicious" I think. There is no dress code. That is a good and bad thing if you know what I mean. If you are into ghetto parties then bingo you hit the jackpot with this place. The back is very badly ventilated. Very stuffy!!! Hot. Dana our server was very nice and friendly hence the other star.
My cousin works there so I would probably go back for the food but the lounge and club is not working for me. If you ever wonder how you can get buzzed and not have a good time, which is really rare for me, then this would be a place to check out. -
Review from Lara H.
Los Angeles, CA
5/21/2008
NoPa is the Silverlake of San Francisco. Within the past couple years, there has been an influx of great new bars and restaurants in the North Panhandle area - Madrone Lounge, NOPA (Restaurant), Bar 821, Tsunami, Little Star Pizza, Ziryab, Candybar, The Independent and one of my favorites, Poleng Lounge. What used to be 1751 Social Club is now Poleng Lounge, and under the new ownership came much improvement - a sleek Balinese restaurant/lounge, savory Asian-influenced small plates and a superior nightclub. I used to live a hop, a skip and a jump away (literally, on Fulton and Central), so Poleng quickly became my neighborhood watering hole.
A highlight of Poleng is it's the only upscale restaurant in the city that features Filipino cuisine. Being part-Filipina, I commend any restaurant that serves Filipino food. When I need a quick fix and flying home to Costa Rica isn't feasible, Poleng always delivers! Their crispy adobo wings and lumpia shanghai aren't as good as my Mom's, but they are definitely good enough to satiate my cravings. Poleng's other dishes, like the spicy garlic Dungeness crab noodles are to die for! They also serve exotic elixirs like the La Nopa Ninja, a libation made with fresh lime, orange juice, tequila, green tea, and topped with a dash of chili. It sounds repulsive, but the contrasting flavors actually complement each other.
The best part about Poleng is the nightclub. They book great artists! I've seen DJ Vadim, Metro Area, RD, Boreta, Hieroglyphics and Kero One perform there. The only downside is the ventilation isn't great in the back room, so it gets kinda hot and stuffy in there.
I give Poleng two stars for food, one for ambiance and another star for music. Oh NoPa, how I miss thee!Listed in: Kick-Ass Restaurants
-
Review from Luis C.
1/31/2010
Today is the last day of this popular bar, in case you want to drop by to get one last drink (no food, just drinks).
Also they'll show free screenings of the movie "Soul Power" at 5:30pm & 8pm, - limited space, first come, first served. http://www.youtube.com...
Closing, closing, closed... -
Review from Kati K.
Portland, OR
4/26/2008
This is a top-notch joint. And their hostess, Kelly Kate, is one of SF's greatest treasures.
Try the crispy adobo wings and garlic crab noodles. And wash it all down with a couple of Yellow Fevers. -
Review from grace m.
San Francisco, CA
9/21/2008
Poleng management and bouncers were extremley rude and not polite whatsovever. Callled my white friend a faggot a$% nigger, which is very inappropriate, and just were downright in our faces yelling for no reason. I hate the MANAGER who did not have a care in the world about our situation. Our friends waited over 2 hours and then they decided they were not going to let them in..
I hate this place they are extremely RACIST and RUDE and they obviously have no idea how to run a business. We were all on the guestlist and they still made us pay to get in. PLEASE DON'T EVER GO HERE IT IS THE WORST BAR AND RESTAURANT EVERR!!!!!! DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT IT IS HORRIBLE AND EVERYONE IS RUDE.
Honestly if you are thinking about going out to have a good time I would not recommend this place even if there was nowhere else open. First off it was an EXTREMELY BAD business choice to hire the bouncer that they used on Saturday night 9/20. Not only did he ruin everyone's experience his use of profanity was unnecessary and inappropriate. Now there are about 20 people that will never be going back to this place and a few of them happen to be very influential restaurant owners, which means if they ever get asked for recommendations of places to go in the city they will never recommend this place.
I HOPE THIS PLACE GETS CLOSED DOWN. -
Review from Jessica T.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2006
Poleng is so close to where I live, that I had love for it, from the very moment it opened, if even just for the convenience of it. It's a vast and much needed improvement over the confused 1750 Social Club. The owners ( both really nice guys) have done an great job with the place. There's a cool ambiance and they actually have a very prominent Asian theme which they achieve pretty well - rather than their predecessor, which has personality issues - by not picking one.
They deserve even more love for their impressive and creative drink selection and their "on point".bartenders. I'm not a huge drinker and enjoy most anything which doesn't taste like alcohol, so their drinks - flavorful, unique, and most importantly (for me at least) strong - were executed perfectly last night. The tea mojito (can't quite remember the real name) was incredible, so tasty, and I could have easily thrown back a couple, without making the oh so popular alcohol pucker face, which comes out at most places.
The music has been good both times that I've gone - a mixture of old and new-school hip-hop.. The last time I went their dance floor was sweaty and uncomfortable due to the heat, but they've listened to the masses and installed some much needed fans, which make a welcomed difference to the once steamy dance area. Perhaps my favorite part of this place besides the high caliber drinks - is the wonderful bouncer staff . They're easy and fun guys to talk to and add some real personality to the place, further contributing to the nice neighborhood vibe of the bar, which I've been missing in my area for so long. -
Review from Jason R.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2008
Anyone else feel like Poleng is kind of a confusing place?
I liked the food and the service was friendly, but nothing seemed to make sense.
No sense of how much food to order, seating is a little odd, but cozy and it's in no man's land.
Other than that it's great. -
Review from Ali R.
San Francisco, CA
12/3/2007
*Not a dinner review - dancing only*
Came here Saturday night with high hopes of dancing my booty off and boy did I ever! I had so much fun. HUGE dance floor which is a major plus for me cause I like my space when I dance. I have never seen so many people here - line around the corner at 11pm (when they started charging). It could be because they had two amazing DJs that night - or that the party was being promoted by http://Inkwellsf.com, but all I know is I had the best time ever!
The front area played some nice R&B lounge music and provided a place to rest up, have a drink, and visit. The decor was excellent and made feel very elegant and sophisticated. They even had a nice fire going in the middle.
The back area was filled with tons of people getting down to hip hop, some R&B, and some reggae. They even played Soulja Boy and a bunch of us broke into the Soulja boy dance. The only negative was the bright lights facing the stage. If you were up front and faced the room you were blinded by the light. :-)
The drinks were great and pretty cheap. I was dancing too much to drink up a heavy tab but spent only $10 on 2 drinks. (not including tip)
Overall I will definitely be heading here more often. Although I think I'll need to hit the gym a few more times cause I am SORE from all that dancing.Listed in: Places with Small Plates, I'm a dancing queen!
-
Review from Kandace J.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2009
Poleng is one of the many great places in my neighborhood, but also one of my favorite little spots in the city. There's a few different sides of Poleng so I'll give my review of each:
Restaurant/Bar: Great food! Also, the prices are pretty reasonable. My favorite dishes are the crab noodles, edamame (it's pan fried and ridiculously good) and the thai lettuce wrap thingys. I like to sit at the bar and enjoy a glass of wine...or two and share a few plates with a friend or the husband. The staff is always nice and the food is consistently good. Be careful of the spicy dishes because they are very spicy.
Events: The owner throws a lot of great events for the neighborhood which I think is fabulous. He's super involved in the community and that goes a long way with me.
Club: It gets really packed!!! So be careful having dinner to late because you might be overrun with the clubgoers as the night changes over. The crowd is mainly 20-somethings asian with classic hip-hop. The music can be a lot of fun, but like I said, it gets packed. The lack of a 5th star is because there are only two women's bathrooms which sucks on a busy club night.
Side note: Lucky has a parking garage right across the street. -
Review from SeLLe A.
Chicago, IL
1/14/2010
Why OH why are you shutting your doors?!!! I've gone here several times and not once did I have a bad experience.
I loved the atmosphere, dining experience-quality of food, service and nightlife experience. I got the news from http://sf.eater.com/ I regret procrastinating coming back here.
Its not too late though! (website)
Last call for food is this Sunday, 1/17/10. We'll be running 1/2 off Wine, Sake, and Shochu all week or until we run-out.
Last call for Drinks and Nitelife is Sunday, 1/31/10. Stay tuned for our schedule of month long closing parties.Listed in: My (SF) favorite restaurants
-
Review from David D.
Updated - 11/8/2009
It just keeps getting better!
While half the neighborhood was crowding into the New Mexican place a few blocks away, Poleng was still doing a booming business on Friday night. With the whole dining area jumping, Desi was pitching in, greeting guests at the front door, assigning tables, and making sure service was fast and smooth.
We were seated by the fireplace immediately, and we were given a set of tea samplers to choose from. A menu cannot compare to actually smelling the luscious teas and choosing the one that stands out in the moment.
We chose an small plate and two entrees, and it was more than enough for us. Scallops katsu led off, with a glorious sake touch to them. Then a chicken lettuce cup for My Lady, and a bowl of long life noodles topped with crab for me. We were subsequently surprised by a bread pudding dessert, compliments of Desi!
This great evening feast was presented to us for the low, low price of $30.36 + tip. Entertaining, tasty, and economical. You can't beat that!
Oh, maybe you can. You can drink and dance here, too. A dance floor in the back, and a DJ station and full bar in the dining area, promised fun for everyone who would arrive later that evening.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/20/2009
What a day!
Poleng announced, through every channel it could find, that it would be open… Read more »
-
-
Review from Liz G.
Cambridge, MA
7/6/2007
My brain: DONT ACT DRUNK DONT ACT DRUNK
Me (to brain): What do you wanna drink?
My brain: TOO DRUNK TO MAKE DECISIONS
Me: Do you have any, like, specials?
Bartender: $4 Blue Moon
My brain: TOO DRUNK FOR BEER NEED COCKTAIL
Me: Do you, like, make anything, uhh, good?
Bartender: Screwdrivers.
My brain: YEAH YOU AND THAT BIG DRUNK GUY WHO THREW ALL THE PARTIES FRESHMAN YEAR
Me: Really?
Bartender: Yeah.
My brain: DONT GET A SCREWDRIVER EVEN YOU CAN MAKE THAT
Me (to brain): Shush.
Me: Okay, two screwdrivers!
The screwdriver at Poleng is not that big drunk guy in your college dorm's screwdriver, unless he was the kind of big drunk guy who made his screwdrivers with vodka-not-from-a-plastic-jug and an ENTIRE fresh-squeezed orange. Very yummy.
I am docking some stars, however, because, although I've never been for dinner or anything, I don't really understand how to hang out here at night. It's too loud to talk to anyone you're not on a face-to-ear basis with, and no one ever seems to be dancing. So, uh, it's a good place to spend the evening either canoodling or standing around trying to look cool? -
Review from Denise Q.
1/4/2009
My experience here has only been with dinner and drinks, and not for the club experience here but if the club is anything like the restaurant then I love this place!
Not only is the place a sexy and fun Asian inspired atmosphere, but the service is really great, the drink menu creative and full of yummy drinks, and the food is delicious!
From the adobo wings, to the sweet potato fries, to the amazing garlic noodles with crab, to the papaya salad, I have never had anything here that tasted bad.
I always come here and eat too much since I can never hold myself back from ordering everything on the menu at one time! -
Review from Mary Grace V.
Pittsburg, CA
Updated - 8/26/2008
Saturday nights at Poleng definitely beats Friday nights at Poleng!!
Guestlist is still $5 cover but without the guestlist it's $10. Music was better, more urban/hip hop beats--yay for the Bay. Both rooms had a good vibe this time. The crowd was cool.. friendly people I must say. =P Oh, and when youre on the dancefloor, try going next to the FAN or AC vent.. without that, you couldn't breathe. =)
Cons. Every one and their mamas go here. I always always see someone I know. Not like its a bad thing, but sometimes it's nice to just get away. Nah mean?!?! And the ladies bathroom = ONE stall only. I dont know why it's a biiiig ass handicap stall when you can easily fill up 2 more stalls. Whatevz.
Anyways, had a good time. Too bad we had to leave early, a little before 2am cuz one of my friends had a tummy-ache (in reality, she just needed to poop) So having bathrooms with more than one stall is very helpful at a time like this. HAHAHHA.Listed in: Club Hype: good & bad
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/30/2008
Friday nightlife: 21+ club w/ $5 cover charge if you're not on the guestlist.
Pretty nice layout.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Danny P.
1/11/2009
**Lounge Review**
$10 cover on a Saturday night which kind of sucks but it is the City.
This place is only a couple blocks from where I live so I don't have to worry about parking. There is a parking lot in the Lucky's supermarket center but I don't know if they charge you.
Their are two rooms: the room right when you walk in is the lounge area with a lot of seats and the bar area is easy to get a drink. The back room is where they have the dance floor and another bar area. I think they have tables in the back for bottle service as well. The music in both rooms is really good. They played a lot of hip hop and R&B oldies that brought back "the good ol days" memories.
The bathroom can basically only handle one person unless you want to sword fight (urinal and toilet right next to each other). So make sure you use the bathroom every opportunity you get.
There is also no dress code so you can wear whatever you want. -
Review from Samantha L.
San Francisco, CA
9/18/2009
Reservations for 2 at 6:00pm on a friday evening was completely unnecessary. It didn't get crowded 'till around 7pm - so make reservations if you plan on dining 7pm and after. They start playing music, the bar fills up, tables fill up, and the vibe is great for a date or fun evening with friends. But, it can be a little too loud if you're trying to have a sober conversation.
I was surprised by the mix of people at this restaurant! There were young diners, older, big groups, couples, and families?! There was even a cute 2 year old boy sitting in a high chair next to me the whole time I was sipping on my alcoholic drink! I'm impressed by any place that can create a cool and sexy atmosphere as well as attract such a wide range of customers. They need more on staff though! I swear it seemed as though only one person was waiting on everyone.
Good drink menu. Quite a variety on the menu since it is afterall, an asian fusion tapas restaurant, right?! All the unusual combos made everything seem so appealing.. but here's what I thought of some of the dishes I ordered:
Yellow Fever drink ($9): I didn't like the cucumber. But the lychee aftertaste was lovely and sweet. Not as smooth as it should be though. There were little bits of cucumber that made it unsettling to drink.
Sweet Potato Fries with Banana Catsup ($3): Thank you happy hour! The fries are great. But the slightly spicy banana catsup is off putting.
Walu Kinilaw ($11.50): My LEAST favorite by far. Butterfish that's just too fishy tasting/smelling for me. I've never been a fan of sushi so if you're not into sushi too, you should skip this.
Lumpia Shanghai: I prefer the traditional lumpia to their version. It's good but there's nothing special about it.
Long Life Garlic Crab Noodles (Bowl $7): The BEST dish of them all. This isn't Thanh Long but this was really flavorful and great.
DESSERT won Poleng Lounge my 4 stars! A chocolate banana pudding with a taro and tapioca sauce that blew my mind! If they're offering this while you dine here, DO choose this one.
After tax and all we paid $70 for dinner here. -
Review from Ben P.
Los Angeles, CA
7/20/2006
A slightly improved Bambuddha Lounge transported to the Panhandle. I took away one star (for a total of three) since a large carved wooden panel of a vaguely Asian landscape fell off the wall and almost cracked my skull open. I think that Buddha was angry that his image is now often used in combination with bars (Seriously, why aren't there any Jesus bars? That mofo could DRINK!), which serve alcohol, which is explicitly inconsistent with Buddha's teachings. I think that Buddha was trying to peg the drunk guy in the designer DIY-looking t-shirt/designer jeans/designer sports coat combo who was standing about ten feet away from me. But, although Buddhism is useful for learning to overcome your desires, it does not improve your aim.
_________________
IDEAS FOR NEW YELP COMPLIMENTS THAT I THOUGHT OF DURING THE ELITE EVENT AT POLENG:
"You're a loner! =) " Polar bears can't swim circles around you, because you're too busy walking around and around the bar with a drink in your hand pretending like you're going somewhere, but after your 7th trip around the bar, I figured you out! Keep up the pacing -- exercise is good for you! That's how I stay in shape myself!
"I'm not going to introduce myself to you, but I know from your posts on Yelp the exact state of your pubic hair! =) " [Self-explanatory.]
"Wash that Yelp shirt! =)" American Apparel makes their shirts sweat-shop free. Keep them that way!
"I'm sorry! =)" When it looked like you were going to come sit with us, I started making out with my girlfriend so that you'd be uncomfortable and go sit somewhere else. It's nothing personal -- I just don't like to spend too much time meeting new people when there are only two hours to pound free booze! -
Review from Chris T.
San Francisco, CA
6/11/2006
They have a pretty extensive list of cocktails for you to choose from and most incoporate tea blends in there, which could be seen as gimmicky. Tea with booze? Sure! And they worked well. The vodkas/sake infused with the fruit juices weren't overpowering and it definitely delivers a unique twist to your usual lychee or appletini's.
On the night we went to they had just opened their restaurant portion of the lounge. I mainly saw finger food or small plates. Don't expect to get full here. Although I didn't eat there for dinner (or should I say snack?) I did however sample a dish when Poleng was at the Haight Street Faire the next day. It was the Lemongrass Satay, minced meat with a lemongrass skewer with a sweet n spicy sauce. It wasn't cooked fresh, but DAMN it was good! Very tender and the sauce was kickin'!
Bonus points for decor! Loved the back wall with green tiled mosaic that has a water trickling down it. Seating and tables seemed very comfortable and fun. The fireplace added a nice romantic mood to the room. Bar could use a bit more ambiant light though. Boo for a single stall bathroom.
And now the crowd... we got there really early at 9pm. Pretty sparse with the only people being diners still noshing on their skewers. 10:30 arrives with a mixed crowd of hipsters. People generally keep to their cliques, no cheesy pick up lines are heard. 11:30 and the place is pretty packed and the hip hop crowd arrives in anticipation for the show that plays in the spacious back room. I dig the crowd, because it was extremely mixed... ethnically and culturally. I'd come back to see the crowd react to the live show and when Poleng gets more word of mouth. And definitely curious about their other menu items. -
Review from John Eric S.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2008
THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE FOOD, NOT THE CLUB.
As a Filipino-American, I've got a lot of love & respect for how they're trying to bring Filipino & Filipino-inspired cuisine into a more upscale, mainstream dining level.
With few exceptions, I have had great small & entree sized dishes here both times I have been.
In fact, I have COMPLETELY WRITTEN-OFF any need or desire to EVER return to CRUSTACEAN ever again (I have had nothing but bad vibes and rudeness from their staff every time I've been), now that I know that Poleng offers not just GARLIC NOODLES, but garlic noodles with CRAB! Which, I think a blind taste test would show, are FAR superior to Crustacean's noodles! -
Review from Ryan M.
11/19/2007 1 photo
Finally, this place was definitely an interesting spot to be at for my birthday celebration. My Faux Hawk friend, got the suggestion from his cousin. So we picked up two of my friends (let's call em D and H), and off we went to the Poleng Lounge. I was kind of skeptical of the place at first, because it was a sit down restaurant, with a load of people enjoying the food and atmosphere.
Don't get me wrong, I have no qualms with that but I thought it was a lounge? Shortly thereafter, one of the hosts came up to us and asks if we wanted to be seated, after questioning him if we were at the right place he said instinctively that the place turns into a night club at around 10pm. Alright so off we go, being seated in the far back near the DJ Booth. A waitress came in and decided to start us up on some drinks...and here was the starting line up:
First Round of Drinks:
2 Black Berry Mojitos (a secret specialty)
1Calamansaki (yes it's their own concoction)
1 Raspberry Tea
All the drinks were delicious (especially the mojitos, it was the best ones I've had thus far), but the Calamansaki had too much ginger, so I didn't enjoy it.
Next up is the food and here were the orders:
1 Beef Siloin and Bone Marrow w/ Coconut Toast
1 Half Moon Ahi Poke
1 Crispy Adobo Wings
Everything was delicious, although I should have tried the toast with the watered down marrow. Poke was on point, chips and fish, while the Adobo Wings we're something I wish I knew how to create. After tasting the wonderful delicacies of this place, it finally transformed into a lounge. Slowly people trickled in from all sides, and my other guests during my birthday celebration showed up (the guests being C and J). The DJ didn't start to play good stuff, until 10:15pm, and by then we all decided another round of drinks we're to commence.
Second Round:
6 Kamakaze Shots
Then another Round, after dancing to some good beats...:
Third Round
1 patron shot
2 Long Island Ice Teas
1 Buttery Nipple
Afterwards a fourth round with more "buzz filled" dancing:
7 Red Headed Sluts
Then finally a bonus round, courtesy of the cute chick from Hawaii (named after a flower) who gave me a birthday drink...and took a snapshot with me (sadly I retain no record for myself):
1 Long Island Ice Tea
After all the drinking and commotion, flirting, dancing some more, and entertainment value courtesy of my friend H, we all decided to call it night once it closed down around 2am. Great times indeed, crazy pictures taken, and good food.
Poleng you deserve this rating, keep doing a great job.
P.S. Some pictures are provided, so enjoy.Listed in: CLOSED! WTF? What happened?…
-
Review from Marti L.
4/2/2009
Poleng Lounge caught me by surprise, in both a good way and bad.
Good:
-Trendy decor. Intimate atmosphere. I can see why its a popular place to lounge.
Bad:
-Asian small plates?! That is an oxymoron!! How come no one warned me? I would've eaten beforehand.
-The waitress meant well, but she got a bit too pushy getting us to order more food. Even after we said we are fine with our order, she insisted to add on more dishes.
Food:
Only 3 dishes stood out to me.
-Walu Kinilaw (butterfish ceviche): Coconut milk and lime juice. Very interesting and delicious
-Szechuan chicken lettuce cups: The chicken was cooked really well. topped with crunchy noodles. Delicious! There were only 4 cups though
-Bo Luc Lac (shaking beef): Nicely cooked! tender and flavorful. Interesting dipping sauce, but the beef is good by itself.
We also had:
-Lumpia Shanghai: All I'll say is, I've had better lumpias.
-Sizzling sisig: Wasn't "sizzling" to me. Not much flavor. Too much grease.
-Crispy salt & pepper squid: Lightly battered which was good, but nothing outstanding.
-Long life garlic crab noodle: First of all, out of crab. But the waitress insisted the noodles is also good by itself. Wrong! Where's the key ingredient, garlic? It was just sad tasteless naked-looking noodles.
Don't get me wrong, I love tapas and small plates. But this place was just disappointing. I would like to come back for their lounge some time.
2 stars for food + price
1 star for decor & atmosphere
**Sorry I don't have pictures of the food since Jenny L was busy snapping away...and which she has not upload. *ahem* Jenny L, your picture-taking priviledge will be taken away if you don't upload the pictures soon. -
Review from Kokoro I.
San Francisco, CA
5/3/2008
Yup this is my new work. After the mojito supercharge, I'm now doing "elixirs" with all kinds of fresh fruits and herbs muddling to make beautiful cocktails.
Seriously, I've never made a cocktail with cilantro and Thai chili in it, or Thai basil and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, but they are all super tasty. I hate to make them when it's busy but I gotta admit that they taste super good.
Food here is really off the hook. Gotta give it to the award winning chef for bringing many Philippino items and other homey Asian street items into hip fine dining tapas. Presentation, consistency, the kitchen executes it very well here, I'm super impressed.
Thank you Poleng for giving me my first job in SF, and exposing me to your Michelin star but hip and fun top notch culinary culture and giving me super cool co-workers!
Dude, where can you get vodka and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice for 4 bucks kinda happy hour anywhere else? None.Listed in: Places I Love Dearly San…
-
Review from Jen D.
4/7/2008
*Bar Review Only*
Came here on Saturday to meet some friends. There was a line to get in. Wait a second... A line to get in to a restaurant? Or is this a lounge? This is the weirdest concept for me and I don't know why. It's a restaurant that turns into a lounge/club after dinner time.
Seriously? SF is so small that they can't find enough space to have clubs separate from restaurants? WACK!
Anyways... Waited in line. Paid $10. Yeah, $10! To get in. WACK! Super crowded. Took a long time to get drinks, but we finally got them. Thanks Seong! Special performance that night. Two guys on the Giant Step label from NYC. YEP! NYC baby!!! They were awesome. I would have liked to dance, but it was really crowded.
Biggest downfall to this place is the bathrooms. The womens bathroom has one HUGE stall that could easily fit 3 toilets, but it only has one. YEP! ONLY ONE TOILET! Seriously, the stall is so big. If it were a Manhattan apartment, you'd easily pay $1000/month for it.
This place is wikity wikity wack. -
Review from k. w.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2007
Had a great time dancing with all of my girlfriends at Poleng recently. The bartenders were very friendly, poured nice stiff drinks, and there was never a long wait at the bar. The DJ's played great music and the dancefloor offers enough space to guarantee your group doesn't hip check one another, or worse, some poor stranger dancing next to you.
Best of all was how the staff treated me when we realized a cut on my hand had opened back up and was bleeding pretty badly. One of the bouncers/staff (Dustin?) brought me into the back kitchen area and Desi, the owner himself, bandaged me up. I was so impressed with their care, and how easily and quickly they reacted.
So, big points to Poleng's staff for a great night and taking care of my bloody hand. We will definitely be back. -
Review from Rosalynn D.
San Jose, CA
6/7/2009
When they say small plates, they really mean SMALL plates.
i must admit though, their food is yum. The service, however...not so much.
We ordered the scallop katsu w/ corn = DELISH, ceviche = yummy & coconutty, and short ribs = ehh, expensive for what it is? $14 for like 6 small pieces of short ribs (not full pieces, but cut up bits from probably just one piece of meat)
Our waiter seemed seemed a little clueless? We only ordered 3 plates, and he came back 5 minutes after we ordered to ask what we had ordered again. Can we say annoying? That wasn't just it though, because when "our" first two plates came out....they were the wrong items. Wrong table. AND then soon after, another waiter came by to drop off some crab garlic noodles....uhhh we didn't order crab garlic noodles. Wrong table again.
Our total came out to $52.88...we paid cash and gave him an even $62 to include tip. He took it and soon came back to ask us if we want our change back. UMM...what kinda question is that? Wouldn't they just give us the change back whether or not we want to leave it as tip?
I just thought overall it was annoying and unprofessional. I'm giving this place an extra star because of the dj & music last night. -
Review from Catherine O.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2008
I fell into a coma after eating here! Then I thought it was smart to dance it off and got a side ache, but I dont mind getting side aches for the rest of my life if it's eating here...
If you like asian fusion food, this is the place to visit!
The food, although small portions are SPECTACULAR. My bf and I celebrated our anniversary here, and I enjoyed the evening here a lot.
First off, I was a lil annoyed because we made reservations at 9:15 and didn't get seated until roughly 10 pm. The point of a reservation is to have the table ready when we arrive...at least the last time I checked the dictionary that was the definition. Well we got an apology, and the food made up for it.
The waitress was super nice, and the food was promptly brought out.
We ordered way too much food, but forced myself to eat it all:
1. Crispy Adobo Wings: DELISH! Sort of a sweet and sour flavor. YUM
2. Chicken Karage: I'm a HUGE critic on this dish, but it was EXCELLENT...the wasabi sauce went well with it.
3. Sweet Potato Fries: AWESOMENESSINTHEMOUTH! The banana ketchup, is BANANAS!
4. Sinigang: oooooOOo so flavorful!
5. Chicken lettuce wraps: YUM...excellent flavor!
6. Samosa: Very yummilicious....I can do without the sauce it comes with
7. Green Tea Gelato: OOOO I LOVE GREEN TEA, so this topped it off well.
i'm drooling...anyways...I highly recommend any of those plates. The drinks weren't bad either...they have some interesting cocktails. I ordered the No Can Do drink...pretty yum.
So after dinner, they open up the back room where it consists of a bar, and a floor to dance. I wouldn't say it's the best place to have a dance err club/lounge thangy thang. I don't find this room as nice as the first room in front. But the DJ's mixes weren't bad. Upon entering this room, I noticed it was infested with Asians.
Well I'll be returning here hopefully soon. After all that food, and a couple drinks...the bill ended up being roughly $60, which wasn't bad at all! Kudos to the chef. :)
Thanks Poleng!Listed in: Eat Eat Eat all day loooong...
-
Review from Kathy Y.
San Francisco, CA
8/24/2008
Good if you like trendy Asian food in a fashionable ambiance. Everything tastes pretty good, the presentations are striking, and the drinks are awesome.
Bad if you are hungry - itty bitty portions for the prices. It says family style but the portions are good for a family of 2 girls on a diet. -
Review from Christine G.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2009
Text from Ann Marie R.
"dinner at poleng on Friday night...come with?"
Of course! I missed my HH with the best co-workers ever to hang out with the girls cause I missed them. I was a bit reluctant to try out the place cause I've been to the 1750 Social club and let's just say I went once and never came back.
The food was great but when they say small plates - they mean small plates! We ordered a ton of food. I loved the roti, crab spring rolls, garlic noodles and coconut rice! Everything was delish - I just can't get over the small plates concept for Asian food?! But I'll definitely return sometime soon. The food was yummy.
