Reviews - Polēpolē Kitchen
Reviews summary
Was Anonym at Polēpolē Kitchen a mag?
really tasty, different eat. had a set menu for 9 people with a mix of meat and vegetarian options that included the chocolate tea with fairy food for dessert. only place to improve would be a little more quantity View all feedback.
What Anonym dislikes about Polēpolē Kitchen:
Servers were friendly and pleasant, however they should have done more in explaining the size of the serving. Wasted at least half the ‘Feed me more’ menu we ordered. Portions were ridiculously large. We were served about 500g of meat with rice and veggies. Arrived about an hour early but still didn’t have time to finish all the food. Kitchen isn’t very good with their timing as they served an additional dish to the... View all feedback.
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Reviews from various users
Last update : 11.12.2022
I often visit this vast when in Melb . 8 it had lovely atmosphere, good happy hour specials and I just enjoy the service, wibe, atmosphere... I haven't eaten here yet but am curious?!
In a city of unique bars (to an extent that is), this once certainly stands out namely because it specialises in African craft beer.
What a great spot to catch up over dinner and drinks with friends! Food is a good variety and there is also an assortment of African style
Loses massive points for the 2 hour wait for a table!! The food was good but after waiting 2 hours, it had better be good! The staff were really nice and
We had been upstairs at Glamp earlier in the year, and going out for our anniversary I suddenly remembered Polepole was on the the first floor. Definitely recommend making a table reservation on the weekend as between 7-10pm is usually busy. Food was amazing, particularly the duck fried potatoes, cheeses and goat curry. Found the corn cobs just a tad too spicy for my liking- stung the lips a wee bit! Staff were fantastic at making recommendations on food. It truly is the closest to African dining you will get, even my South African friends were impressed. Will most certainly be coming back!
The restaurant offers a small and intimate setting that is perfect for enjoying a cocktail or a delicious meal. While some diners found the pace of the meal to be rushed, others enjoyed the unique African BBQ dishes offered on Tuesdays. The variety of food options, attentive service, and cozy atmosphere were highlighted by many patrons. A few mishaps with hair in the food were reported, but management seemed to handle the situations appropriately. Overall, the restaurant appears to be a hidden gem worth exploring for an unforgettable dining experience.
Last update : 14.04.2024
A fun, city Bar showcasing African inspired grazing plates, cocktails and motifs. The only African dish that I am familiar with is the Injera a sponge like wrap. I had something similar at a Ethiopian restaurant. By itself, it is a bit tart. But if you roll pieces of the injera with the meat dishes, with some of the spiced oil, the whole combination sings. Several standout dish the lamb ribs char, melt in the mouth, spiced chilli heat. The pumpkin pastillas with that bright green pebre (fresh, chilli heat) sauce is a winning combination.
I usually avoid posting about places I didn’t enjoy, especially considering the impact of COVID-19 on the dining industry. However, my experience at Pole Pole was disappointing, particularly given their recent glowing reviews. I’ll try to be objective in my feedback. Upon entering the restaurant, I was struck by the unique, exotic atmosphere. The beautiful glamping tents adorned with fairy lights, bartenders expertly crafting cocktails, and the upbeat music created an inviting vibe. Unfortunately, things went south when they mistakenly gave our reservation to someone else. We had made the booking online, which clearly outlined the minimum spend per person, time limitations, and booking guarantee charges. While this mix-up was frustrating, the staff apologized, so it wasn’t a total deal-breaker. The menu featured a tempting selection of exotic dishes, raising our expectations. We chose five items: Sliced Ostrich ($15), Kenyan Fried Chicken Ribs ($16), Cape Malay Goat Tacos ($16), Roast Pumpkin ($15), and Injera ($6), along with two bottles of African beer (around $12 each). To start, the beers were fantastic and easily some of the best I've ever had. However, the food fell flat, looking and tasting nothing like the enticing photos on Google and Zomato. The roasted pumpkin spring rolls ($15) tasted like they were frozen, the six pieces of Kenyan chicken ribs ($16) resembled average chicken wings, and the eight slices of cold ostrich ($15) left us wanting more. The prices seemed unjustifiable for what we received. Being unfamiliar with African cuisine, we had hoped for attentive and knowledgeable staff. Regrettably, many seemed uninformed and frequently hurried back to the kitchen to ask about the dishes. While the service was quick, it lacked warmth; plates were placed on our table with little communication—imagine an auntie with a "who cares" attitude at a local Chinese restaurant! To make matters worse, some staff couldn’t even pronounce the menu items correctly, yet still had the nerve to ask for tips afterward, which only elicited a bitter laugh from me. However, I must commend the restaurant’s ambiance and decorations, which were truly lovely. If I were to return, it would likely just be for a bottle of their African beer!
I've enjoyed many wonderful meals at this restaurant, but my recent visit was quite disappointing. I came in wearing shorts and a t-shirt and received poor service from the staff. It seems like the front-of-house team could benefit from some training.
This place is truly unique and comes highly recommended. The service is top-notch, and the staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. They take the time to explain each drink and cocktail, offering great suggestions. I had a fantastic time with my friends. The drinks are of excellent quality and are beautifully prepared and presented. The interior is stunning; it's hard to find the words to describe it. However, don't expect the food to be anything extraordinary—it's not the main draw. Come here for amazing drinks and a great atmosphere!
Amazing food, great friendly service, and beautiful location. Highly recommend.
Last update : 03.02.2024
Food was delicious. This was a great place to get out of my comfort zone. The lamb sausages, goat and the ostrich did take me by surprised, it was very delicious. Salad needed a little more dressing but all the sides and sauces did compliment well with the dish. Presentation was well done. I recommend this place. We did, however felt a little rushed by the service.
The food was absolutely delicious, making it an ideal spot for a meal with friends. The "Feed Me" menu was incredibly satisfying, and we were pleasantly surprised and intrigued by the game meat special! We will definitely be coming back.
Celebrated valentine’s day, ordered the Feed Me menu which had 3 courses. It was plenty for 2! It was our first time trying African fusion. Everything tasted good, especially the pork belly. <br/ <br/ The only thing was that it was crowded on a Friday night so service was a little slow. Waited about 45 minutes for our first course. Overall we had a great experience and would definitely come back to try out the other dishes!
Decor was beautiful and the service was very relaxed yet attentive. We had the Wild Wednesday game night special, which featured a delicious entrée platter and a buffalo steak. I think my favourite part of the night was the pate and pickled vegetable combination in the starter. The buffalo steak was a bit gristly, but it's what you expect from game meat.The dishes were spot on, with every dish an explosion of well melding flavour. The salted caramel dessert was the perfect finish, especially if you're not much of a sweet tooth. Overall, a wonderful introduction into contemporary African cuisine :
After a drink upstairs in the African safari themed Glamp bar, the six of us were seated in one of the cozy booths and served by an excellent staff member who really engaged with us to guide us through the menu and suggest what to order.<br/ <br/ The entrees were honey sesame haloumi balls, fried chicken with a light drizzle of honey, and charcuterie board of melt in your mouth duck liver parfait and biltong pastrami.<br/ <br/ For the mains we opted with the tender pork belly, harissa lamb shank, and of course the saucy, spiced smoked goat curry which inevitably was everyone's favourite. A side of greens and tagine style eggplant perfectly complimented the mains.<br/ <br/ I don't think any one of us could fault Polepole, from its creative concept and ambient vibe to the fantastic African cuisine... we will be returning here without a doubt.
