Popular Manatee County eatery to expand, hire new top chef

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Polo Grill and Bar, a prominent east Manatee County restaurant popular with local business executives, is going through a large-scale renovation project that spans from the menu to the decor.

Owners Jaymie and Tommy Kluaber, who also own Polo Grill's sister business, Fete Catering and Ballroom, announced the changes in an open letter posted on Tommy Kluaber's Facebook page. The interior decor, say the Klaubers, will be turned into smaller, more intimate dining areas. They also intend to add a new private dining room.

The menu changes, meanwhile, focus around organic and clean eating items. The Klaubers consulted with a local registered nurse and nutritionist for ideas on the menu upgrades. Other changes with the business, according to the letter, include expanded catering services, more events and new customer service training for employees.

The Klaubers, who run Polo Grill and Fete out of the same building on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch, also seek a new executive chef to oversee both the restaurant and catering services. Tommy Klauber, in a separate release, says Executive Chef Andrew Thompson will leave the company in August to open his own business. Thompson has been with Polo Grill for five years.