A former server at The Polo Bar, Ralph Lauren’s upscale Manhattan restaurant, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, sexual-orientation discrimination, open cocaine use by staff, and retaliation for reporting misconduct. The Polo Bar lawsuit was filed in July 2025 in the Southern District of New York and is now in discovery. The restaurant denies the allegations.
Who Filed the Case and Against Whom
Frank Nobiletti, a 42-year-old former server and bartender who worked at the restaurant for roughly seven years, filed the complaint on July 22, 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.1CourtListener. Nobiletti v. Polo Bar Ralph Lauren, Case No. 1:25-cv-059762PACER Monitor. Nobiletti v. Polo Bar Ralph Lauren et al3New York Post. Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar Gets New Operations Firm Nobiletti is represented by Jeremiah Iadevaia and James Bagley of Vladeck, Raskin & Clark P.C.4CourtListener. Nobiletti v. Polo Bar Ralph Lauren – Parties He was fired in February 2024. The complaint describes a “toxic culture” that Nobiletti says ran from the restaurant’s 2015 opening through his termination.
What the Complaint Alleges
Harassment After Being Outed
Nobiletti alleges that after a manager outed him as bisexual, coworkers began making sexually explicit comments, including remarks about wanting to watch him have sex with his wife once the restaurant reopened in 2021.5Eater New York. The Polo Bar Sued for Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation The complaint further alleges physical misconduct by two supervisors under the pretext of “checking his uniform”: events manager Michael Lewis is accused of touching his inner thigh, and international hospitality director Darnell Dodson of grabbing his buttocks.6New York Post. NYC Polo Bar Workers Used Drugs on Shift, Sexual Harassment Rampant: Lawsuit Neither was disciplined, according to the suit, and one was later promoted. The complaint also claims Dodson hired attractive men regardless of experience in hopes of pursuing sexual relationships with them, and that men who obliged got preferential treatment.7Fox Business. NYC Bar’s Employees Used Spray Bottles, Cocaine During Shifts, Had Rating Game for Female Guests: Lawsuit
Cocaine and Drinking on Shift
One of the more striking claims: employees “regularly mixed cocaine with water in a spray bottle” and ingested the drug through their skin during shifts, according to the complaint.7Fox Business. NYC Bar’s Employees Used Spray Bottles, Cocaine During Shifts, Had Rating Game for Female Guests: Lawsuit The suit identifies the wine room as a frequent site of cocaine use and says one employee acted as a dealer on the premises. Managers and servers “openly used cocaine on the job,” it alleges, and staff routinely drank alcohol intended for customers at private events, in some cases overcharging clients to cover the difference.5Eater New York. The Polo Bar Sued for Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation
The “Rating Game”
The complaint describes a practice called the “Rating Game,” in which male servers judged female customers on their appearance and made what the suit calls “offensive and graphic sexual comments” about them.6New York Post. NYC Polo Bar Workers Used Drugs on Shift, Sexual Harassment Rampant: Lawsuit Female staff members complained about it, according to the filing. The suit also says a long-time server showed nude photos of women he was dating to coworkers, and that managers “frequently condescended to female managers in front of other staff.”5Eater New York. The Polo Bar Sued for Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation
Retaliation Claim
Nobiletti says he began reporting the harassment to human resources in the fall of 2023, both directly and through counsel. He was fired in February 2024, with management citing drinking on the job. He argues that reason was pretextual given the alleged culture of unchecked drug and alcohol use, and that the real motive was retaliation for his complaints.5Eater New York. The Polo Bar Sued for Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation
What He Is Asking For
The complaint seeks reinstatement, lost wages, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages for what Nobiletti calls “willful and reckless disregard of his rights,” and attorney fees.8Yahoo News NZ. Ultra-Exclusive Polo Bar Slapped With Lawsuit No dollar figure has been disclosed. The suit was brought under federal job-discrimination statutes covering sexual harassment.1CourtListener. Nobiletti v. Polo Bar Ralph Lauren, Case No. 1:25-cv-05976
The Polo Bar’s Response
The restaurant denies the allegations. In a statement to Eater, The 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.” It said Nobiletti’s firing “was based on clear evidence of his misconduct” and that an internal investigation found his allegations “have no merit.”5Eater New York. The Polo Bar Sued for Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation A source told Eater that the restaurant’s attorneys sent Nobiletti’s counsel a letter after his termination “detailing his behavior following his termination that made Polo Bar employees uncomfortable.” The defendants filed their formal answer on November 7, 2025.1CourtListener. Nobiletti v. Polo Bar Ralph Lauren, Case No. 1:25-cv-05976
Where the Case Stands
The case is before Judge Lewis J. Liman. No motion to dismiss has been filed, and there is no settlement. The court initially referred the matter to mediation after the defendants answered, but the parties were relieved of that referral in January 2026. Under the current schedule, fact discovery closes September 30, 2026, expert discovery runs through November 16, 2026, and summary judgment motions are due December 18, 2026. A proposed pretrial order is due January 13, 2027. If the case reaches trial, it is estimated to last five days.2PACER Monitor. Nobiletti v. Polo Bar Ralph Lauren et al