Good for a last minute dinner in Soho.
I like the place and the tapas concept, unfortunately I’m not super excited by their food. We took a pizzetta with mozzarella di bufala, a zucchini salad, meatballs with fennel and sea scallops.
Nothing was bad, but nothing was impressive. Especially the salad and the pizzetta.
I know it’s typical of the restaurant, but I am also not a big fan of the Spumante served in the small water glasses.
Service was good though and prices reasonable for the area.
Everybody’s favourite British bácaro presents newfound reason to get up and out on the weekend with a just launched brunch menu available on Saturdays and Sundays at all Polpo locations. If you already love Polpo, you’ll love it all the more for introducing a range of cicchetti and sharing dishes designed for convivial and relaxed daytime dining. And if Polpo’s not yet made it to the top of your preferred eats list, keep reading and see what you think.
Mary Ellen @ Pâte à Chew
+3.5
Solid Italian small plates, lots of meatballs but the menu also has a wide variety of vegetables, seafood, and breads/small pizzas. They are also very food-allergy friendly!
This place is small cozy and have crazy delicious meatballs. They are true classics. Their crab pasta is a must try. It's ridiculously tasty. I had their classic meatballs and side. Needless to say, they are delicious. Recommended.
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A couple of weeks ago I took my dad to see The Book of Mormon. It was actually my anniversary present to S but we're sadly no longer together so I roped in the other man in my life to join me for some seriously brilliant satire. But, first came food and when Dad suggested Italian for lunch, I knew we had to head to Polpo in Beak Street. Part of Russell Norman's Spuntino, Mishkin's, Ape & Bird family, the Polpo and Polpetto restaurants dotted around town are Italian/Venetian dining at their best and I have been dying to try them since forever.
It was a beautiful day and we managed to grab the last two lunch seats on one of the high benches they have by the window with perfect people-watching opportunities and an excellent view of the bar. I started with an Aperol Spritz (channelling last year's holiday and my upcoming trip to Italy in the next couple of weeks) which was deliciously bitter and sweet, with juicy brined olives adding that extra bit of bite. Dad had a carafe (250ml) of house red which at £11 was a little pricy for lunch but pouring it in to small water tumblers made it last longer in the end, so no love lost there.
Eating Venetian at lunch is simple with the cicchetti approach - small tapas like plates that arrive whenever they're ready and you can dip into and share. We started with the warm, salty anchovy-stuffed fried olives that I fell in love with in Venice and quickly converted Dad to before the octopus and fennel carpaccio arrived. This completely turned Dad off but I wolfed this down with hunger as the meaty cephalopod was lifted by the sweeter, fresher fennel. A distinctive tasting dish, this was a nice twist on an old favourite of mine but I would have liked a little bit of lemon or seasoning on the top.
Next came the coppa, pepperonata and goats cheese bruschetta - lightly toasted but thickly loaded with toppings, this was a simple and effortless dish that instantly transported me to Italy. A classic, the combination of the salty meat, tangy cheese and sweet pepperonata is much-loved for a reason and although basic, definitely effective.
We also had the bresaola and rocket pizzette - a thin and crispy bread base that shattered into scoopable pieces when attacked with the knife - and the meatballs 'alla Vedova'. Having visited the Ca D'Oro alla Vedova bacaro in Venice when I went a few years ago, I urged Dad to try the famous polpette that gondoliers and tourists alike come flocking for (and which were originally recommended to me by a former flame of the restaurant owner). Three large pork meatballs, breaded and fried, arrived at the table and were quickly devoured. First bites are deceiving as you almost feel you need a sauce but the seasoned meat itself is enough on second, third and fourth bite, and you can see why these are so popular. (Fun fact: when I first had these, I filled up on two of them and my previous ex had to eat both his dishes and mine of the ensuing three course meal. Well done, Becks.)
At this point we declared no more and rolled ourselves out on to the street, having been perfectly accommodated in our short window of an hour, despite a full restaurant. I'm so glad I finally made it to Polpo as it lived up to its huge reputation and I can't wait to go back during the evening for a lazy, lengthy languish. Four and a half out of five.
Had a fantastic evening at Polpo Soho, wine, service and food were all A+++... Heard through the grapevine that the Duck Ragu may be coming off the menu, don't please, by far my favourite dish of the night!
I must call these place a fish fast food or a tapas fast food, is a lovely little place in the middle of London the food is very good and the prices are accessible.
Polenta. Runny + perfectly cooked - comfort food to the max!
Nice - But Hype. Ben meaning to go for a while have been to spuntino and now da polpo but never made it to the orginal.
All was nice but not great.
Service hit and miss and the food the same.
Can be very good but often wait ages between dishes to the point that you have gone off the idea by the time they arrive. The quality is good and a cracking house red.
Am totally mad for Polpo. Foot stamping joy and conversation halting food.
Each one of the tapa size portions caused my partner and I to do a 'When Harry Met Sally' scene of orgasmic joy.
The service is informal yet quick and attentive.
Yes; the tables are close together and the music is a little too loud however this is not the place for a formal meal out or for a romantic evening. We waited about 30 minutes for a table being seated at 7:30. There was no pressure to give up the table and no rush to order the next dish which is an annoying policy of many Soho restaurants.
Ridiculously good value and really tasty. I've been to Polpo three times in as many weeks. Every dish is packed with flavour. The pork belly is my favourite but there are so many options (chicheti and crostini, fish, meat and vegetable dishes - all served tapas style). You can easily fit five different dishes - much better if you can share with others and get to taste the whole menu.
The interior is cosy and informal and the service enthusiastic and efficient. I can't understand how this restaurant manages to turn out such excellent food at such a low price - they're less than a minute's walk from Regent Street! I really hope they keep it up.
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Polpo, Soho, London. Polpo is the bustling, new Venetian bacaro bar in the heart of Soho.
The Greedy Diva perched herself up at the bar and knew she was in for a good night when the lovely bacaro man recommended the Barbera from Piedmont, Greedy Diva's food and vino holiday nirvana. Wines come by the glass, carafe or bottle - half a litre arrived in a quirky, old school crockery jug, bringing an instant smile to the dial. And they serve Aperol. Greedy Diva and The Peanut Gallery (GD's loyal accomplice) settled in for the evening….
Dishes here come in smallish tapas sized portions. Loads of delicious sounding cichettis, crostinis, pizzettas, meat, fish and veggie options. And the desserts…. I'll be upfront. We had 10 dishes. Let's get to specifics.
Lovely bacaro man had already sorted out a complimentary pizzetta bianco to share. Good start. Tiny, but crisp and delicious. The Greedy Diva wanted more.
We followed up with prosciutto, fig and mint crostinis and a cuttlefish in ink dish that was so rich and lip smackingly good the Greedy Diva checked over her shoulder as she momentarily considered licking the plate. Next was the pork belly, radiccio and hazelnuts - sweet and evocative of the meaty nocciola delights we recently scoffed in the valleys of Piedmont (more on that later). Roasted duck with black olives and green peppercorns in a rich tomato sauce divided us (thumbs up from Greedy Diva, Peanut was not impressed).
The polpetto were fabulous. Often a disappointment, the polpetto were ordered as an afterthought. The three big dollops of rich, meaty meatballs that arrived in a tomato sauce would soon become cherished memories.
A fennel, green bean and cobnut salad was refreshing, (mostly) crisp and delicious, if a little let down by the flaccid beans. Our potatoes with rosemary had been forgotten but eventually arrived looking a tad on the pale side, reminding us of the London winter to come. But looks can be deceiving…. Packed with flavour, crisp and fluffy all at once. Bring it on.
Desserts. What to choose, what to choose…. Eventually we settled on the ciambella with chocolate sauce (doughnutty-cakey texture which was right up Peanut's alley) and honey and walnut semifreddo, which came in a cute chocolatey waffle cone - creamy, nutty, yum (not sweet enough for The Peanut Gallery, but coming from a man who eats sugar on toast for breakfast, make of this what you will).
So, we loved it. Great atmosphere, casual but fun, stylish but simple, helpful service and reasonably priced. All up, our bill came to £68. Crostinis fluctuate around the £1.50 - £2 mark, and other dishes range up to around £7. No photos this time but I'll be back.
The Polpo name is already flirting wildly around the Soho streets and foodie blogs, so scramble for a seat while you can…
Polpo, 41 Beak Street, London, W1F 9SB
Russel Norman’s Beak Street restaurant is not classically ‘special occasion’ dining. It shimmies its way on to this list because it’s romantic. Not traditionally romantic, but that ‘toss your head and let your non-existent wavy locks fall upon your shoulders’ kind of romantic. Polpo invites you to believe you’re in a teensy Italian trattoria and a very attractive someone is flirting with you across the dimly lit room.
Polpo was one of the first of its kind to embrace the scruffy-chic interior, with the exposed walls, paper menus and hipster staff. But unlike the many places that have gone on to imitate this style, there is a reason for it here. The inspiration comes from the small Venetian backstreet bàcaros, which are humble little restaurants that serve simple food (I’ve read the intro in the Polpo cookbook- definitely one for the shelf). But this is very much Soho’s interpretation of a bàcaro, and despite the deliberately worn-out decor, it is anything but humble. Several years after opening, it still remains as busy and good as ever, and it is still one of my favourite spots in Soho. Sticking with the whole informal bàcaro vibe, they don’t take reservations for dinner and you aren’t allowed to go elsewhere once you’ve put your name down. I get this from a business perspective
On a cold Friday night after visiting the opening weekend of Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park we were looking forward to a bowl of hot ramen at Tonkotsu in Soho. Especially after nearly freezing to death in the -12C temperatures of the ice kingdom with wonderful ice sculptures. We knew we were chancing it on a busy Friday night but we didn't expect to be ignored by five members of staff who showed absolutely no interest in greeting us at the door. The scenes inside were not any better, one drunken customer was even slumped face down at one of the tables. This put us off greatly and we soon left shocked at the service or lack of. Shame really as I have since had a decent ramen at Tonkotsu East, recently opened in Haggerston. The next place on our list of to do places was Polpo so we made the short walk over to Beak Street. The welcome couldn't have been more different, we were greeted with enthusiasm despite it being packed to the rafters. There were parties standing to be seated, h
Polpo means an octopus, and Russell Norman has opened 3 restaurants in London called “Polpo”, which he describes as a “bacaro” or a Venetian tavern that serves simple food. The original Polpo opened in Soho in September 2009 (it is a total coincidence that the building was once home to the Venetian painter Canaletto), but it has become so successful Mr Norman has opened 2 more (in Smithfield and in Covent Garden) as well as a few sister restaurants like Spuntino and Mishkin’s. Ever since opening, Polpo has received the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand and was awarded 2 Rosettes in the AA Guide for Culinary Excellence 2012-2013. Russell Norman has also published a cookbook called “Polpo” that I have at home and have attempted to make various dishes from it, although it really is not easy, hence I appreciate the food served there even more. My friend Pet
The Cuttlefish and ink was my favourite dish, seemed to also include baby octopus, a great flavour, very black rice, rich risotto.
I have been to Polpo quite a few time and the menu changes regularly, while sticking (wisely) to a few firm favouries like the spinach and egg pizetta. Be sure to try the Polenta – runny and buttery and perfectly cooked. Two to three dishes per person is plenty, which comes to around £30 a head with wine and a desert.
...we practically ate the entire menu, ferociously hungry after seeing so many slender models on the runway. The roast potatoes with rosemary , and the wild mushroom piadina may well be on my last supper menu. If they ever take them off the menu there will be trouble. There’s a restaurant bar out front where you can eat a full meal or just a few plates New-York style, and there’s a Campari den underneath the restaurant. Go, just go.
I thought the food had less wow-factor, perhaps it had to do with my expectations. I assumed at least one dish would make me close my eyes, grin and go ‘hmmm’. That said, I didn’t cringe at anything either. Just not overly excited about it, and wasn’t rushing
Ponte del Diavolo Refosco del Friuli 2008 is smooth and bursting with blackberries. The rest of my meal included a Spinach, Parmesan and Soft Egg Pizzetta, Linguine Vongole and a slab of Taleggio.
Very few things are truly original, and personally I get more New York than Venetian inspiration, but we all owe a lot to Polpo.
In particular I adored the cuttlefish and squid ink risotto, and the steak in truffle cream. Such gorgeous, mouth watering flavours.
...grilled thin cut sirloin...was so flavoursome...it was thoroughly enjoyable mopping up the leftover sauce from the soupy scallops, pancetta, and peas with some grilled foccacia.
With the news of Polpetto opening on Monday, and Spuntino later in October, I’ve been thinking about revisiting Polpo for a few weeks now. I adore the food at Polpo. I adore the by-the-carafe wine list and I adore the quirky staff. But just the thought of
I had been to this cosy and rustic Soho joint in December, and was again standing for a table as the Friday rush began.
A Venetian tradition is the Bacaro or Osteria, a small cozy restaurant that serves small bites called cicheti, but you won't need to go to Venice to try them as in London thanks to Russell Norman we got a place to find it quite conveniently in Soho. The place Polpo , equally famous as its siblings (Polpetto, da Polpo, Spuntino, and Mishkins), similar atmosphere, rustic, cool and relax yet fast pace, same concept, and same formula. Opened the lunch with mozzarella bocconcini, rocket and walnut pesto, light, nice flavour, walnut gives a nice crunchy texture. Then chopped liver crostini, quite good, strong and punchy flavours. Third dish Arancini nice crunchy crust and soft rice filling. Then for main a chicken cotoletta and baby gem, nice battered, excellent traditional flavour, it remind me my mother's one which was brilliant, baby gem was nicely seasoned, and perfect, home mayo good but not needed you can eat the cotoletta without it.
Where : Polpo , Soho With who : The Literary Lady How much : £75 for the pair of us. More food than we could cope with (almost) and a bottle and a half of a very acceptable house red. Come here if : you don't care when you eat and you're catching up with
So I finally got to Polpo after having wanted to go for months - I had a lovely birthday lunch with some work buds, who also paid so it was doubly good! Polpo did not disappoint - I loved the look of the place (as supposedly did Cannaletto), the staff wer
Polpo, on Soho's Beak Street, is modelled on a Venetian bacaro - the kind of place tourists leave to the real Venetians, where people go after their passagiata for a Spritz or an ombra and a plate of cichetti, a kind of Venetian tapas.
The chopped chicken liver crostini was unreal. Such great flavour and texture. For something so unassuming it packed the biggest punch of the night, but I am a sucka for offal in all its many forms.
Dishes here come in smallish tapas sized portions. Loads of delicious sounding cichettis, crostinis, pizzettas, meat, fish and veggie options. And the desserts…. I’ll be upfront. We had 10 dishes.
This tiny Viennese tapas restaurant in the middle of Soho has really made quite a splash since it opened earlier this month. Harnessing the power of social media, Polpo 's owners have managed to drill down into the heart of the London foodie community and
Having just written about another Soho restaurant that offers good value for money, I am happy to be scribbling about another one which I recently discovered. Somewhat to my surprise, I was not the last London food blogger to visit the rather new and ever
Where the hype goes, discerning foodies often follow begrudgingly. Some don't want to miss the boat, some simply want to know what the fuss is about. Me? I just want a good feed. Polpo is one of "those" places. A decent PR push saw the name get out there,
Throughout our meal the service was swift, assured and helpful. I’ve only got two complaints but they are about the sludgy brown ceiling and crappy loos.
I've been past a Polpo a few times, and the queues have always deterred me from going. The restaurant operates a no-reservations policy during dinner time which means if you want a table, you have to go early, wait or get lucky. So I decided to try my han
For our next dinner out whilst the kitchen undergoes renovation, last Tuesday I tried my luck at very late notice and managed to bag a table at Polpo for the very same evening. There had been a cancellation and I was booked in for 2 at 7:30, perfect. Upon
I was in Venice for only one day last year, which left no time to explore the local bacari or traditional taverns of the city. It was also so overrun with tourists that I was quite happy to return to Bologna at the end of the day. However, a bacaro by the
If you've been keeping your finger on the pulse of the London foodie scene, you'll be aware of the carnival that followed the recent opening of this latest Italian venture to hit Soho. It has been a couple of months since it's opening and it is ever so bu
One of the best Italians I've eaten in! Lovely dishes with lots of character. This place beats all of the Italian main brands we tend to come across.
I can't remember a huge amount of this visit (due to a few long islands before visiting) but I remember the tapas portions being very tasty, in particular the meatball dishes. Prices were very much as expected for soho. Will definitely visit when sober for a memorable experience!
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Since opening its doors in 2009, Polpo has become an icon in Soho, renown for serving delicious food in a lively and casual atmosphere. In that time, the Polpo brand has gone from strength to strength and now number four strong across London (not including other associated restaurants) with branches in Notting Hill, Covent Garden and Smithfields. But as with so many things, their is no substitute for the original product and for me, the Soho branch still retains that je ne sais quoi.
In their own words, Polpo is a "bàcaro" which in Venetian describes "a humble restaurant serving simple food and good, young local wines". Past experience has only confirmed this claim and if nothing else, solidified it as to say they serve "simple food" is criminal modesty and does do the menu justice so I took it upon myself to give it the kudos it so rightly deserved with an order of the arancini, fritto misto, broccoli, chilli & garlic pizzette and the rabbit ragu, black olives & gnocchi.
The meal that arrived was excellent and consistently at the high standard I've come to expect from the Polpo brand. Personal favourites were the fritto misto (which I embarrassingly order every visit) and the rabbit ragu gnocchi which was superb. However, that's not to discount the pizzettes which are so fresh and moreish, I ended up ordering another (the spinach, parmesan and soft egg number) just before dessert of the rhubarb and pistachio slice and an affogato.
With all the choice now dotted around Soho, you'd be forgiven for struggling to settle on a place to dine. But for me, Polpo still remains one of the best and still one of the first I consider. I suggest you do the same!
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Visited here during lunch time and had the octopus with borlotti beans and focaccia as a side dish. I love octopus and this dish was very tasty and healthy at the same time. The focaccia was very good and salty on top (that is how it should be). Service was fast and the waiters very nice and approachable. They even let me charge my phone behind the bar! Furthermore, prices are varied and not too high overall and will suit customers on a low budget too.
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I have recently been watching this show on BBC2 called The Restaurant Man and I came across this quote that I loved, “Opening a restaurant just to make money is wrong but it is very important that it does make money”. Who said these great words of wisdom? Russel Norman- the man behind Polpo. I genuinely believe that when you do something that you’re passionate about- it shows and it pays off. Polpo is the exact personification of that quote.
I can’t remember how I came across Polpo. I suppose it was one of many strolls across Soho in hunt for something new and different. Until Polpo, I had not really come across an Italian/Venetian place that I genuinely liked or would recommend. Yeah, there are chain restaurants (like Vapianos- not impressed) or places that may do a good pasta dish- but nothing like Polpo. Since my first trip to this humble restaurant some where in early 2013, I haven’t stopped going there. In fact, I even had my birthday lunch there.
The first Polpo opened in September 2009 on Beak Street and they have opened a few more branches in key locations around London. But still, quite a lot of people I’ve told about Polpo had never heard of it before. That’s London for you. So much choice, it’s crazy!
So what’s so great about Polpo? Other than the food (which should always be the main focus), the location, the staff, the rustic charm and decor, the tapas style menu, the amazing vibe in each of their restaurants and again, the FOOD!
Everything on their menu is top notch. One of my regular favourites has to be the Zucchini salad (usually up on their Specials board and there’s a recipe card for it on tables too or you can ask for it) and potato and parmesan crocchettes. Their menu keeps on changing but meatballs are a special favourite of mine. I had the vegetarian meatballs once and let me just say I am a hardcore carnivore but those meatballs were soooo delicious!! I could’ve eaten them twice. Why don’t you guys ogle at the food photos attached!
I’ve gone to several branches of Polpo and I haven’t had any occasion where the food or the service has been off. It’s always been great and consistent. The food is super yummy and it’s a fantastic place to hang out with friends, an intimate dinner, lazy Sunday lunch or even a family dinner! I cannot recommend this place enough. It’s worth it. Please do check it out- it’s usually quite busy on Fridays and the weekend so try and book in advance.
The place offers delectable Italian food. The food here is absolutely fresh and delightful. The quality of the the food is impeccable. It is served in Tapas-style portions and thus you can order a variety of dishes and share it. The food is a bit expensive, but the food completely justifies it. The place is usually packed with people.
This is a pretty nice place in my opinion, in fact i recommend people to check it out for sure. They have amazing standards and they are maintained consistently. I have never left disappointed in my numerous visits. The place can get a little crowded but that is pretty normal. The food is of great quality and the portion size appropriate for sharing. Do not miss the Fritto Misto!
I have seen many different restaurants of this genre open in this neighbourhood in the recent times. It is like a trend that is catching on. This restaurant is actually the better ones of those that are being opened here. It has a very nice and extensive menu, and the food is of a very good quality and the flavours are particularly authentic in nature. The drinks are served in a very genuine Venetian manner, which accents the theme of this place. I really recommend trying the spaghetti because it tastes really nice.
I visited this restaurant for my birthday and had a wonderful dining experience here. The food is delicious and absolutely delectable. The wine list is also extensive and quite good. All the dishes that we ordered were incredible and very well-prepared. I would definitely recommend this place and visit again.
The place always boasts a long queue at the entrance and not wrongly so. The ambiance is lively and appealing. the decor is funky and artistic. The staff is competent and the service is swift. the food is delicious with generous portions. the cocktails need a special mention as they are savory.
We had a very refreshing experience at this restaurant. The atmosphere is lively and pleasant and it offers a casual dining experience, which is a quite good. The food is served in small plates and is somewhat Tapas style, because of which you can order quite a few dishes and share it among yourselves.
I had been thinking of visiting this place for a long time and finally did a couple of days ago. The food was mediocre, and though it was not bad, it wasn't great either. The same was with the service, it was good but wasn't great and the overall dining experience was mediocre.
This restaurant is my opinion is only suitable if you are looking to have a casual time and not at all for business meet or an intimate meet. The ambiance is really noisy and the background music extremely loud. The waiting time might be a bit long but it is definitely worth it. The service too is very warm and there is no rush to finish the meal faster.
Talking about the food , it is absolutely one of a kind and terrific.It is damn tasty and heavenly!
The bar is a superb place to spend your weekend evenings in the neighborhood. The atmosphere is lively. The music is up beat and trendy. The drinks are superb. the staff is courteous and friendly. We had ordered half liter wine and that arrived in a jug which brought a smile to our faces instantly.
I have been visiting this restaurant regularly for the past three weeks. It is my opinion that every dish served on this menu is delicious and flavoursome. I especially prefer the pork belly dish and it comes in so many varieties that is amazing. There are five different dishes that you could probably accommodate in your belly. It is preferable to share with others so you can sample more. I love the cozy and homely feeling of this place. The service is very nice and chatty. I really love the food served here, and at these prices it is a steal.
Poplo possesses two more branches in London with the same name. This place specializes in Venetian dishes. They possess the best chef's in the entire London and the food they offer is delectable. The service provided is mind blowing and the decor of all the branches are pretty high standard and very exquisite. Definitely recommended.
We decided to visit this restaurant after a great day at an amusement park. We were all quite hungry and were feeling very cold. The restaurant was quite busy but we were seated quite quickly. The staff here is helpful and friendly along with being efficient. The food was quite delectable. Definitely worth a visit.
I am very fond of the idea of sharing the tinier entrees. I loved the quality and theme of this place, and found the service to be absolutely flawless. This place is the perfect location to hang out and eat with friends, and just relax. This place has a really nice and peaceful vibe to it.
This is one of the best restaurants to have taken up the kind of decor it has. The walls are exposed, the menus are on paper and the staff is very trendy. I have been to a lot of restaurants with similar decor but none of them pull it off so well. The food also happens to be quite delicious and worth every penny. Definitely worth a visit.
I love this place mostly because of the lovely atmosphere, not for the food! I have visited this place with my friends and we were not happy with the flavours and taste. It is not purely authentic Italian they serve and one is left disappointed as the ragu is not up to the mark.
The pasta might be overcooked and does not do wonders for me. Visit this place only to enjoy a lively atmosphere.
After experiencing a very bad service and average food in some other branch of this restaurant, we decided to try out this place to check whether this one will be the same like the previous or not. To my surprise, we were greeted very nicely and our staff was quick and efficient. The food here was appealing and appetizing. I would recommend this branch to visit!
This is one of the restaurants that surprised me from the beautiful interiors to artistic paper menu. It has a vast variety of seafood and meatballs. Luckily the food we ordered was amazing and i was delighted by the flavor.
We ordered ricotta, spinach and meatballs in a rich ragu, and this gave me a heavenly feeling. The restuarant has a bar too with fabulous cocktails served.
It's actually one of the best places i've been to by far. Highly recommended. :)
This place is almost always crowded and I happened to visit this place last week to find out the reason behind so many people visiting this place. Almost all the dishes that we ordered were exquisitely prepared and presented, and tasted absolutely delicious. The service was pretty okay and the atmosphere had a lively feel to it.
Highly recommended.
This is one of those places that is a rare treat to visit. The place is small and cosy. The decor is artistically done and is a pleasure to be in. We ordered six dishes which were more than sufficient for us. We tried the famous meatballs and relished them thoroughly. Make sure you reserve a table in advance to get a wholesome experience.
If you happen to be a person who loves Soho then this is the place for you. The staff is amazing and the services provided are incredible. The place usually gets a bit crowded hence I would advise you to get a booking done prior to your visit. I would recommend their meatballs, they are delicious. Recommended.
Very busy restaurant with a great buzz. If that's what you like then you'll love this place. If, however you are looking for a quiet, romantic spot with a candle lit dinner then look elsewhere. I think there are better places to eat if you're considering taking a date. Especially considering that the prices aren't brilliant value considering that the food is only satisfactory. A side dish can vary between £7-12 which is pretty steep. In my opinion, whilst the food was okay, I would recommend finding a restaurant with better value for money.
Polpo first opened in 2009 on Beak Street and has since opened in Covent Garden, Smithfield and Notting hill. Bringing a little bit of Venetian to London, this Bacaro serves up a whole different range of small plates for you and your fellow scoffers to share.
Serving up all things Italian, this is a great place to sit with friends, catch up and eat. Start off by ordering 4 plates, with the knowledge of ordering more, because it’s going to happen. You have the options from Arancini, Pizettes, Meats, Fish, Meatballs and more. The meatballs in particular were one of my favourites. All of a sudden, I'm wishing ‘cloudy with a chance of meatballs’ was reality, because they were very good.
If you’re not too sure what options to select, the staff will always help you to choose a couple of plates. The service in general was ok, although there was a slight delay with our drinks, and the price of the bill was very reasonable.
We had a short wait before being seated at the bar at Polpo - sadly, all of London seems to have discovered just how good these tiny plates of Venetian food are.
Polpo has the kind of menu that makes ordering very difficult, everything is just too tempting.
But, it's not only the food that's a treat at Polpo, but the atmosphere. It manages to hit that sweet spot of feeling just special enough to make you feel like you're really out to dinner, but not so fancy that you'd be uncomfortable in walking in off the street, impromptu. They've totally nailed that lighting that makes you feel glow-y and attractive. Service is just right: attentive, friendly and casual.
Polpo Soho is one of the great italian venues that London Offers to you.
Located close to Picadilly tube station, the restaurant offers you various italian dishesh you can enjoy with yours friends or beloved person.
The prices are very convinent dishesh start from 4,50-9 pounds.
I also love the decore in the restaurant- battered wooden panelling and exfoliating paint, great chick atmoshphere!
Meals to order: Duck ragu, black olives & gnocchi, Sliced flank steak, Portobello mushrooms, Braised octopus, Treviso & borlotti!
Great service as well!
Polpo is one of those great places to have in your back pocket for any situation - first date, tick. Catch up with the girls, check. Impromptu business meeting, perfect. The only challenge is getting a table, but then you can usually get a seat at the bar and enjoy some wine and nibbles.
As with all of Russell Norman's places, the ambience is welcoming and the right level of buzzy. I've always found the food great, not particularly wow, but along with the decor and service makes for an overall lovely dining experience.
The meatballs, pizettes and prawn and artichoke linguine are particularly good. Its good to order a few things to share, but as with all these places the costs start to add up once you get a few dishes and some wine.
Hoping that the expansion of Polpo doesn't mean it loses its charm and becomes another bland chain, as its really quite special.
Its good but not as good as it use to be, gets very busy and cant book so do avoid these days.
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Went here after, like many I suspect, watching the restaurant man on TV. Because of this I perhaps had too high an expectation . That is not to say I did not enjoy the experience but it wasn't overly special.
The décor is I guess fashionable and works with the theme, but along with cheap plates and cutlery, the place feels slightly too run down for my liking. I enjoyed the simple pricing on the menu and the food did all look appetising. The noise inside was perhaps too much with quite loud music; although the choice of music was great and this did generate an atmosphere.
I had a clam, cockle and monks beard broth which was delicious, despite a small portion size. The price was only about £7 so I understand the portions, however I feel they are designed to make you think you are getting a good deal when in fact you have to order another course negating the low prices.
Service was good and overall a decent experience. Despite this, having watched Norman the owner on TV have such high standards and be so particular, this left me feeling slightly disappointed
Visited this trendy little joint as I'm a huge fan of Russell Norman (the owner). We didn't have any cocktails however the bar looked great. I love the way the windows open out so on a sunny day it makes a very pleasant atmosphere. Food is small portions of decent grub at reasonable prices. I had a simple rocket and beef salad which I enjoyed.
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Mr Silver took a back seat this weekend as I was reunited with two of my lovely friends who I met on a course a few year ago. Traze lives in Bristol and so we don't get to see each other often. The third member of our tripartite, Jess, lives just outside London and we get together for lunch as often as possible, but it was fantastic to have a reunion of all three of us.
Our reunion was the perfect excuse for my next Saturday Soho Lunch Club. The venue of choice?
Polpo! A restaurant in Beak Street that has been on my list of places to go for about five years...
Polpo is Russell Norman's take on a Venetian Bacaro serving small plates of delicious Italian favourites.
The interior of Polpo is shabby chic with rough wooden floors and tables and exposed brick walls; the effect is rustic, laid back and inviting.
There's also a chilled out Campari bar downstairs.
At an Italian, I love ordering a bottle of Prosecco, which I find (almost) as enjoyable as champagne. Polpo even have their own brand of the Italian fizz!
Wine cracked open, we chose a few different plates to share.
Polpo offer a choice of meatballs and we chose the spicy pork and fennel, these were tasty with a rich and piquant sauce.
Frito misto was lightly battered and crunchy! A tasty dish that would have been enhanced with an accompanying aioli or tartare sauce.
Our favourite dish, pizzette with tenderstem broccoli, chilli and garlic. Perfectly crunchy base and gooey cheese.
Prosciutto, mozzarella and basil bruschetta. Another hit!
'You can't go wrong with melted cheese on bread' said Traze. Definitely a truism!
Finally, from the cicheti selection, some arancini. The chef at Polpo is a little heavy handed with the salt but it didn't spoil the food for us.
The meal at Polpo was delicious comfort food and perfect for myself and my foodie friends. I'm definitely looking forward to trying the recently reopened Polpetto, the sister restaurant to Polpo, soon.
I came here for a team lunch with work and was quite impressed. The restaurant looked a little dark and dingy when I first entered, but I think it was styled that way. It felt like I was entering a rustic Italian hide-away that you would only find if someone had told you about it. We found the food simple but tasty, and it was great that the dishes could be shared so you can try a bit of everything if you come as a group.
We had the crochettes, the fennel salami, the pork belly, the flank steak, the cod with lentils, the duck with spaghetti, and the chocolate salami for dessert. A very tasty selection. Needless to say, work that afternoon was not too productive.
This little chain is a hit among Londoners and finding a table is an everyday struggle. The decor is certainly nice, with peeling paint and battered wooden panelling, making the ambiance relaxed and cosy but the food is quite average... Its popularity has given birth to a second address in Farringdon.
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Nice, simple, good Italian food.
For all Italian food lovers and for the other who appreciate tradition healty family kitchen this is the righ place for you.
Try the cichetti (the appetisers) with a glass of wine while you are waiting (they do not accept reservations at dinner so you will probably have to wait) with a glass of Prosecco.
The menu offers many different choises, even for vegetarians, and has an excellent dessert menu.
The atmosphere is cozy, noisy, but the restaurant is pretty small, do not think about bringing 20 friends all together!
The food was wonderful. And the service okay. Spent a lot of time waiting around and trying to get servers attention. Food however made up for it was lovely and fresh.
Wasn’t a personal fan of the meatballs they were way too soft. The deep fried olives was a first but definitely not be my last
Real Italian in Soho, London. I meet family here for dinner, wasn’t thinking much of it but left pleasantly surprised. Striped back, a bit rustic inside with dim lighting - not only was it relaxing on a Sunday evening, but unpretentious and friendly. Small plates and pasta were all amazing, and felt like a slice of Italy. Affordable for Soho, absolute must try.
Place is beautiful, nice location, we enjoyed our food and drinks. Potato croquettes, prawns and asparagus were fantastic. Octopus tonnarelli was good as well but a bit too much of onion from my point of view thought pasta was al dente and perfectly cooked. I would definitely come back but will mention next time that i am not really fan of onion so they can correct my order or dish
Very good Italian food, amazing service. Tasty food, We highly recommend the potato and truffle croquettes, spaghetti and meatballs and pannacotta, tiramisu was good but a bit dry for our taste. Good prices and quick service! Also good wine
Nice small restaurant with above average attentive service. The ambience is very cozy with nice details. The food tasted excellent and the bellini was very good! We will come again!
Love the food and the atmosphere of this restaurant.
A lovely italian tapas sharing food!
I really recommend it.
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First time visiting a Polpo Restaurant and it was so so so good!
The staff were so lovely, the manager and our waitress Oana especially.
We tried the Mozzerella Pizza which was very tasty! The Zucchini Fries and Garlic Aloli Sauce (as people on Google reviews said it was nice and they were correct!)
We also had the potato croquettes and asked for no parmesan. The menu says Truffle and Potato and I was a bit unsure about trying them as I am not keep on truffle but I couldn't taste it at all (unless it was mixed in to the parmesan that we didn't have) highly recommend, they were so soft... We ordered a second potion half way through our meal.
We then had Tiramisu and Breakfast Tea. The Tiramisu is the best one I have ever had, a very subtle coffee which I really like and so creamy and light. We took one away with us well and couldn't eat it for a couple of hours after and it was still cold and super tasty!
The food was served really quickly which was great and everything was super hot in temperature.
We had a coke and also a Espresso Martini which I am told was very nice!
Very clean, nice atmosphere. Highly recommend and we will definitely be visiting Polpo's again!
Nice place venice Italian inspired cicchetti (tapas). Spaghetti meatballs a bit plain. Artichokes salad I was expecting something else, very few Artichokes from a can and lots of rocket but ok
really nice place with tasty pasta, the only ‚minus’ is that the portion was rather small..
I would expect slightly bigger lunch portion (had spaghetti with meatballs), even just a but more pasta would be ok I think
Other than this all good
Food is nice nothing too special. Atmosphere is lovely, it’s a cute little cosy restaurant good for a romantic date or a catch up with friends. Only downside was service really rush you to order, to eat and they’re constantly taking plates away.
overall: decent food, tho the portion size for mains are slightly too small for that price point. great atmosphere for a date or small groups of friends.
cacio e pepe arancini 🍄: love the prominent truffle aroma. it’s fried til light & crispy, capturing the creaminess inside.
potato crochette 🥔: good smooth cheesy filling.
octopus strozzapreti 🐙 : juicy & tender octopus, paired w/ a refreshing tomato sauce. pasta cooked til al dente. tho wished the sauce was thicker & maybe richer infused of that seafood umami.
tiramisu ☕️: big hefty slice that definitely had to be shared. great balance of coffee flavour, tho would’ve liked the cream/ cheese to be whipped more smoothly.
(for restaurant): when you pack leftovers for tiramisu, the top (ie side w/ cocoa power) should not be at the bottom 😅
Food was good! Went there for lunch and thought the price and quality of food was at a good standard. There were some unique dishes that I don’t often see at other places.
Lovely, speedy service. Great spicy, fennel and pork meatballs. Recommend. Small dish size but lovely with some toasted bread to dip in the tomato sauce. Will visit again.
A bit disappointed by the seafood spaghetti. Was very chewy and the meatballs were also a bit dryer than expected but on the whole it was a very good meal, the staff were lovely and the atmosphere was pleasant. We were sitting at the end by the kitchen door so got knocked on the back of the chair a couple of times but the staff were busy and apologised each time. Will definitely go again. Perfect for a post work dinner with a mate or a date.
Polpo is always good, venetian style small plates. The pork and fennel meatballs being a favourite. Love being sat at the bar top right in bustling Soho.
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