Through the ages, tea has caused quite a stir. Sam Adams sparked a revolution with the Boston Tea Party. And rulers have risked kingdoms on tea leaves for centuries.
Thankfully, there’s less riding on your brew at Poleng Lounge. The new restaurant embodies the Balinese notion of duality in everything from the menu to the mood.
Buddhas, jewel-colored triangle pillows, bamboo, and trickling water set the scene. Timothy Luym’s exotic plates exemplify Asian culture in every bite. Luym (of Fifth Floor fame) lends Cali panache to dishes like Buddha’s Treasures, lush dumplings dusted in matcha; and sake-marinated Twice Drunken Shrimp, sauteed in heady tea liquor.
Pair sharable fare with communal flights of sake and shochu or shaken concoctions of liquor and tea. As the notion of a balanced lifestyle settles in, converge with fellow enlightened revelers in the DJ-dominated Temple Room. A collective from Massive Selector, Fu-Mando, Fresco, and Electric Friends ensures that minds interact over cutting-edge beats.
The masses might get a little rowdy, but no battles will be fought.
Poleng Lounge, 1751 Fulton Avenue, between Masonic and Central Avenues (415-441-1710).