Polaris revolving restaurant in Atlanta features artful prepared dishes plus it is perfect for a romantic date night!
High atop the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta is the much famed Blue Dome or Polaris. Though quite popular from it’s opening into the 1990s, the Polaris closed down in 2004. After being closed for about a decade the beautiful restaurant was redesigned and re-opened. There’s a reason the Polaris was so popular. Just look at the gorgeous sunset we were able to view during our visit. Atlanta was bathed in a sea of gold.
The Polaris is the perfect kickoff to an Atlanta staycation. Make sure to make your dinner reservation to coincide with the sunset. My recommendation? Get the Blackberry Jalapeno Margarita (see below right). There are also house made sodas like the cherry soda featured below to make younger ones feel special or for non-drinkers. Below left is a cheese lovers’ dream – the cheese and charcuterie plate. Polaris makes it a point to source their cheese from local GA producers and the bread and crackers are made in house.
DYK? Polaris makes their own honey and grow many of their own herbs. While you are rotating 25 stories above Peachtree Street, you can glimpse the bee garden on the top of the International Tower (yes, the hotel has two towers). The 15,000 bees are “rescue” bees that were saved after a truck accident and given a new home.
We were taken care of by Sous Chef Jenn Yoo, who keeps the menu small and changes it quite often. This time we were sampling the new summer menu. A sweet corn soup and Spinach Arancini were also presented well and and whet our appetites. The Arancini had lovely tomato preserve and injective balsamic sauce too!
I’m not usually a fan of soft shell crab, but Jenn makes it dazzle with her signature Asian sauce coating the crab. I love that most of the appetizers are entrees are not full of pasta or extra carbs you don’t need. The use of summer vegetables used in dishes compliment them well and allow you to save room for dessert!
I mentioned the menu at the Polaris is small, right? Like only five choices of entrees small. But that’s okay. We were still enamored with the selection. Just so you know, the Steak Oscar, a filet topped with crab is so popular it never leaves the menu. While I would not be opposed to returning for that dish, I had my eye on two other offerings: the duck breast and the scallops. The scallops with their heirloom tomatoes and corn coulis was light and lovely – just perfect for summer. We also sampled the Chilean Seabass which is my favorite fish ever, so buttery and amazing, it’s a great choice too.
I love duck and the Orange and Juniper Berry Brined Duck was a must try for me when I saw it on Polaris’ new menu. The light pasta pearls, summer squash as well as the mango and peach salsa all scream “summer” don’t they? I just wish it was done a bit more. It was quite rare. If you order, make sure you ask your Polaris server to cook it to your desired temp.
It would be a crime to dine at the Polaris and not get their signature “Blue Dome” dessert. A mousse interior gives way to a chewy caramel filling inside. It would also be disappointment to not try some of their seasonal desserts as well. Check out the Georgia Peach and Raspberry Coupe. It was our favorite dessert of the three we sampled.
Disclosure: My meal was complimentary but opinions expressed are my own.
Read about more downtown Atlanta restaurants and hot spots:
Guide to the Ultimate Girls Weekend in Atlanta
Downtown Atlanta Hyatt Staycation
ParkBar – Burger spot in downtown Atlanta
Peachtree Center Must Try Restaurants
RED Restaurant at Philips Arena
Smoke Ring – barbecue joint in Castleberry Hill
The Sun Dial at the Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta
