Bridgeport dining- The Polo Inn ” A hidden Gem”!

**** Unless you are a South-sider or a White Sox fan, you may no be familiar with a dining spot that is in the heart of a residential neighborhood, off the “beaten path”, called The Polo Inn. Nested between apartment buildings and single family dwellings on Morgan Street , one will see a structure that doesn’t seem to fit.  The address is 3322 S. Morgan, just west of White Sox Park. The structure houses the restaurant ( that was at one time a candy store) and a banquet hall ( that at one time was a local movie theater) and upstairs, a Bed & Breakfast that brings neighborhood history to those who spend the night.

The dining room is where it all happens. Although a neighborhood eatery, you will find the feeling on being in an elegant dining room ( cloth napkins et al). Chef/Owner Dave Sambor, is the gentleman who provides the fine dinner on Christmas for the needy where I serve as Santa each year and his talents are amazing. It is always a special treat to visit with Dave and to enjoy his wonderful food. Being North suburbanites, we seldom get to the south side , but Saturday there was an opening at The Court Theatre ( see my theater review of “Falsettos”), so being just 10 minutes away and with a parking lot a few doors down, Jane and I were excited to stop by, say hello and enjoy a scrumptious3322 S. Morgan is “in the neighborhood” and Bridgeport is one of the nicest dinner.

We started our dinner with one of Dave’s amazing appetizers, Baked Crab Cake Nuggets. I am a great one for crab cakes, and the nuggets ( with sauce on the side) were delicious and quite flavorful, with or without sauce. I tried both ways.

Jane chose Sally’s Homemade Meatloaf for her entrée (two generous slices of ground certified angus beef topped with their tangy sauce, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy along with seasonal veggies- delicious and we had leftovers for lunch the next day!

I am a nut for Gnocchi ( in particular potato) and their is wonderful. they also have a special creamy potato-mushroom sauce that truly adds to the flavor. Ask for some bread to dip in the sauce and you will be in heaven.

For desert, a Crème Brule and a little coffee. FYI- Polo Café is a BYO ( there is a charge, but they will take care of mixers).

They have a very nice selection of other dishes on the menu as well as weekend brunch (Saturday noon til 3 p.m.), Check www.thepoloinn.com for more information.

The location at 3322 South Morgan is in the neighborhood! Those of you old enough to remember Mayors Richard J. Daley and his family knw that this was the area where the politicians lived. In fact, there is a suite in the Bed and Breakfast that will give you lots of area history. There is also a suite for White Sox fans ( I am sure many still exist) and this location is just down the street from the ball park.

Always a delightful experience to visit Dave and his crew- they are like family and treat everyone as such. They also have some marvelous cookies available for the holidays ( and they will even ship for you).

Call773-927-7656

Their hours: Wednesday and Thursday noon-6:30 p.m.

Friday   noon-8 p.m.

Saturday BRUNCH noon- 3p.m. Dinner: 3 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Sunday GOSPEL BRUNCH  10 am-2 p.m.

CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY

The Polo Inn Cafe “Something different…something wonderful!”