Latest news with #PoloBar
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Waiter's bombshell claim New York's hottest restaurant is a den of sexual depravity: Cocaine in spray bottles and 'anything goes'
The Polo Bar is considered one of New York's most coveted dining destinations. Celebrities and the Big Apple's elite sip on $67 martinis - served on a silver platter with oysters and caviar - in dimly lit booths.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Polo Bar employees used water bottles to take cocaine on shift, had ‘Rating Game' for women customers: lawsuit
An exclusive Manhattan nightspot that's counted Meghan Markle, Kamala Harris and Leonardo DiCaprio as customers is a hotbed for sexual harassment among employees — who used spray bottles to take cocaine during their shifts and had a rating system for good-looking customers, a bombshell lawsuit alleges. The swanky Polo Bar, a bar and restaurant owned by fashion icon Ralph Lauren and located on East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue, has a 'toxic culture … and rampant drug use and alcohol consumption at work,' a veteran former server claimed in a federal lawsuit. Male bosses groped underlings under the guise of checking their uniforms and managers and servers often openly used cocaine, Frank Nobiletti claimed in court papers. Advertisement 5 The Polo Bar, located at 1 East 55th Street in NYC, NY on March 29, 2016. James Messerschmidt One server allegedly sold the drug on-site, and workers 'regularly mixed cocaine with water in a spray bottle and used that bottle to ingest cocaine' through their skin 'during service,' he contended in the legal filing. Michael Lewis, the bar's events manager, and Darnell Dodson, its international hospitality directory, both touched Nobiletti, 42, inappropriately at different times, he alleged. Advertisement Dodson was known to hire only attractive men, even if they had zero experience, 'hoping to have a sexual relationship with them,' Nobiletti claimed in the lawsuit. 'Male employees who had a sexual relationship with him … would receive preferential treatment.' Workers also allegedly played a twisted 'Rating Game' where 'women customers are rated based on attractiveness. 5 Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff spotted leaving The Polo Bar. DIggzy/Jesal / BACKGRID 5 Its menu boasts caviar and potatoes for $145, pan-seared Dover sole for $80, and even $18 pigs in a blanket. Brett Beyer Advertisement 'The male servers frequently made offensive and graphic sexual comments about the women customers,' the suit alleged. Since opening in 2015, Polo Bar has been one of the most exclusive celebrity haunts in the Big Apple. The establishment is popular with bold faced names like Tom Hanks, Bill and Hillary Clinton, George Clooney, and U2's Bono. Its menu boasts caviar and potatoes for $145, pan-seared Dover sole for $80, and even $18 pigs in a blanket. One of its cocktails, The Family Reserve — which contains Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Extra Añejo Tequila, D.O.M. Benedictine and Brandy, Crème de Cacao, and Amaro Averna — will set you back $50. 5 George Clooney and Amal Clooney arrive to the Polo Bar on December 13, 2023 in New York City. GC Images Advertisement 5 Kim Kardashian is seen out for dinner at the Polo Bar on August 14, 2024 in New York City. GC Images Nobiletti claimed he 'faced terrible sexual harassment' and was fired in February 2024 after he complained human resources. Supervisors told him he was being let go 'for drinking at work even though, since the Polo Bar opened in 2015, management and staff regularly drank alcohol and used illegal drugs during work hours with little to no consequences for such actions,' he said in the legal papers. 'While the restaurant and its hard-working staff do everything they can to ensure that their guests have a first class experience, defendants completely failed to guarantee that their employees had a safe and legal work environment,' he said in the July 22 filing. In a statement to The Post, Polo Bar said: 'We have high standards for how employees conduct themselves and no tolerance for misconduct, so we take swift action when these standards are not met. This includes Mr. Nobiletti's termination that was based on clear evidence of his misconduct. Because we take all employee-related concerns seriously, we thoroughly investigated Mr. Nobiletti's allegations and determined they have no merit.' Nobiletti is seeking unspecified damages. His attorneys declined to discuss the case. Lewis and Dodson could not be reached for comment.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Waiter's bombshell claim New York's hottest restaurant is a hotbed of sexual depravity: Cocaine in spray bottles and 'anything goes'
The Polo Bar is considered one of New York's most coveted dining destinations. Celebrities and the Big Apple's elite sip on $67 martinis - served on a silver platter with oysters and caviar - in dimly lit booths.
Eater
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
A Former Employee of Polo Bar Is Suing for Alleged Sexual Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
is the lead editor of the Northeast region with more than 20 years of experience as a reporter, critic, editor, and cookbook author. One of the most exclusive bars in the city — The Polo Bar, which opened at 1 E. 55th Street, at Fifth Avenue, in 2015 — is being sued by a former employee. The ex-server and bartender claims that the Ralph Lauren-branded restaurant, a haunt for the likes of Jon Hamm, the Clintons, Drew Barrymore, Oprah Winfrey, and Jennifer Lopez, allegedly fosters a culture that tolerates widespread sexual discrimination and harassment; sexual assault; rampant drug use and alcohol consumption at work; and retaliation against employees who complain to human resources, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this week. The plaintiff demands a trial and seeks lost wages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. Frank Nobiletti, a veteran of the hospitality industry, worked as a server and bartender at the Polo Bar for seven years beginning in 2017. He claims he experienced 'terrible sexual harassment' after a manager allegedly outed him as bisexual. The issues escalated after the restaurant reopened post-COVID in 2021, at which point, he claims, coworkers began verbally harassing him, making sexually explicit comments, including remarks about wanting to watch him have sex with his wife. Nobiletti describes alleged incidents of sexual assault, including two involving managers, with one allegedly touching his inner thigh and the other grabbing his butt. The lawsuit also claims those same managers were not disciplined, and one was promoted despite allegedly allowing harassment. The lawsuit also outlines an allegedly hostile work environment for women, claiming multiple incidents 'upon information and belief,' though female employees aren't a part of the lawsuit. The suit claims one long-time server showed nude photos of women they were dating to employees and that 'multiple female staff members' complained about a so-called 'Rating Game' of female customers' attractiveness. Some male servers also allegedly joked about 'putting it in' with a particular coworker. When employees reported these concerns, human resources allegedly failed to act, according to the lawsuit. Some managers regularly yelled at staff, threatened to fire them, or falsely accused them of misconduct, according to the lawsuit. One manager allegedly 'frequently condescended to female managers in front of other staff,' with no disciplinary action. The suit further claims that Nobiletti reached out to HR — both personally and through legal counsel — starting in fall 2023. In February 2024, he was fired for drinking on the job. Nobiletti contends the firing was retaliatory and that drug and alcohol use among staff had long gone unchecked. The lawsuit alleges, 'management and staff regularly drank alcohol and used illegal drugs during work hours with little to no consequences.' One server, the suit claims, was so drunk they couldn't finish their shift and faced little repercussion. The suit also claims an intoxicated manager allegedly punched a door while threatening a coworker. The restaurant's wine room was reportedly a frequent site of cocaine use, according to the lawsuit, with one employee allegedly acting as a dealer. At private events, the lawsuit claims that 'with management's knowledge and approval,' employees consumed alcohol meant for customers. In some cases, staff allegedly charged clients extra, then drank the difference. One employee is accused of 'fraudulently altering customers' tips if he felt the tip was inadequate.' The lawsuit claims that 'upon information and belief,' this employee was not disciplined until 2023 – despite that he allegedly had been altering tips since 2015. The Polo Bar refutes Nobiletti's allegations. 'We have high standards for how employees conduct themselves and no tolerance for misconduct, so we take swift action when these standards are not met,' the restaurant said in a statement to Eater. 'This includes Mr. Nobiletti's termination that was based on clear evidence of his misconduct. Because we take all employee-related concerns seriously, we thoroughly investigated Mr. Nobiletti's allegations and determined they have no merit.' The Polo Bar has not yet filed a response to the complaint. A spokesperson continued that Nobiletti's attorneys were sent a letter last fall 'detailing his behavior following his termination that made Polo Bar employees uncomfortable.' Nobiletti has not had the opportunity to respond. Since 2020, Polo Bar has been managed by Apicii LLC. Before that, the restaurant was run by Gibsons Restaurant Group.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ralph Lauren's Quarterly Earnings Preview: What You Need to Know
Valued at a market cap of $17.2 billion, Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL) is a globally renowned lifestyle and fashion brand. Headquartered in New York, it designs, markets, and distributes premium products across five core categories: apparel, footwear & accessories, home furnishings, fragrances, and hospitality, including luxury restaurants like Polo Bar and Ralph's in Paris. The luxury fashion behemoth is expected to release its Q1 earnings on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Ahead of this event, analysts expect RL to post adjusted earnings of $3.40 per share, representing a growth of 25.9% from $2.70 per share reported in the same quarter last year. The company has surpassed the Street's bottom-line estimates in the past four quarters. More News from Barchart Insider Trading Alert: Here's Who Bought Nvidia and AMD Stock Before the U.S. Chip Deal with China Dear Tesla Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for July 23 As QuantumScape Hits New 2025 Highs, Should You Buy, Sell, or Hold QS Stock? Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. For the current year, analysts forecast Ralph Lauren to report an adjusted EPS of $13.63, indicating a 10.5% increase from $12.33 reported in fiscal 2024. Shares of RL have gained 68.7% over the past 52 weeks, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 12.7% rise and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLY) 15% return during the same time frame. On May 22, Ralph Lauren released its fourth quarter earnings and its shares rose over 1%. It closed FY2025 on a high note, reporting a Q4 revenue of $1.70 billion, a solid 8% year-over-year gain. Its comparable direct-to-consumer sales jumped 13%, supported by effective pricing, leaner inventories, and reduced discounting. Its adjusted EPS of $2.27 beat Wall Street expectations of $2. The company also announced a 10% dividend hike and a new $1.5 billion share repurchase program. Looking ahead, Ralph Lauren expects low-single-digit revenue growth for FY 2026, with stronger gains in the first half. Analysts' consensus view on RL is fairly bullish, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 18 analysts covering the stock, 13 suggest a "Strong Buy," one gives a "Moderate Buy," two recommend a "Hold,' one 'Moderate Sell,' and the remaining analyst gives a 'Strong Sell.' Its mean price target of $308.35 represents a 7.7% premium to current price levels. On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Sign in to access your portfolio
