Polpo

I visited Polpo last night at around 6pm, I was told by a rather surly woman with a clipboard that there would not be a '3' person table for about an hour. We agreed to wait and settled into the bar. An hour came and went, and we asked how much longer it was likely to be, we were told that they only had tables for 4 people available at the moment but we were the next 3 table. Finally we were seated after 1 hour and 45 minutes. Now, I don't mind waiting and appreciate that a table of 4 is worth more money to the restaurant than a table of 3, but to keep people waiting 1 hr 45 minutes is completely unacceptable. There was no apology for the delay or even an update after an hour as to how long it would be.

Apart from the delay, the food was very nice and served relatively quickly. Wine however, was served in tumblers instead of wine glasses

Overall, not the most impressive restaurant I've been to. If you are going to not take bookings you need to have a better system for seating people.
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4 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Friday, June 03, 2011

A big reason why I like this place is because of the buzzing atmosphere there. The food is good, quick and not expensive so would definitely recommend it. Service is sometimes a bit off but generally ok.
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Gospodja - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Thursday, May 12, 2011

Worst experience ever.

We were pleased to sit at the bar to have our meal. 25 min. for a Fritto Misto which was not the best

10 min to clear my plates full of head of the fish and tissue used to clear my hands.

I have ordered an affogato al caffe and was looking good but as soon as a girl behind the bar gave me a dirty teaspoon of chocolate used by someone else i started to not appreciate the looking nice dessert.

i asked the bill and i expected anything, rather to be charged for a discretional service anyway.

i am sorry to say that I will not go there again.
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lele
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, April 15, 2011

Really not good at all. It has a lively, buzzing atmosphere, but that's where the positives end for me, I'm afraid. The food was decidely poor, and I won't be returning. Why on earth anyone would queue for this...
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Michael
5 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Monday, March 28, 2011

POLPO! What is left to say about this place?

I hate the fact that don't take evening bookings which means that you all always have to wait 45 minutes plus to eat if you arrive after 7pm. It's better now that they have a basement bar serving Campari and cichetti but I would much prefer to be able to reserve.

The food is noticeably better than when it first opened 18 months ago - perhaps the chef is more assured or their success has allowed more research and menu development? Who knows? But Goat Cheese, Walnut and Grape Bruschetta is a revelation and the Mackerel Tartare gets full marks from me every time - perfect. They make their own carta di musica too: gotta love that!

Like Polpetto, their tiny sibling above the French House, the wine list is limited, but the redeeming feature is the stunning Dolcetto d'Alba at £45.

Great music, good lighting. Has anyone else noticed that all the waiters have tattoos?
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Sean - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Sunday, March 06, 2011

Small plate dining, associated with the tapas of Spain and the mezze of Greece and Turkey, appear all over the region. The less known Venetian equivalent, chicchetti, have many similarities. Combinations of meat, fish and vegetables, often served with bread or polenta. Can't go wrong. In the past few years, alongside several excellent new Spanish joints, we've also been lucky enough to welcome both Bocca di Lupo and Polpo to Soho. The latter, a buzzy little place on Beak Street, was opened by Russell Norman (ex Caprice Holdings) to solid reviews and even more solid word of mouth. A strict no bookings policy at this 'locals' restaurant led to regular queues down the street once the word had spread. He's just done it again too, with Polpetto, a beautiful little matchbox above the French House. 

Decorwise, it's got that Soho House style shabby chic look down to pat. low light from bare bulbs and simple furniture bely the thought that has gone into the joint. The staff are friendly and surprisingly relaxed considering the unruly mash of drinkers and diners crammed into their tiny bar space. A smatter of seats aside the bar are the best in the house, keeping you cozily ensconced in the amiable bar crowd. It's not a place for the shrinking violet. The Literary Lady and I are certainly no violets but we struggled to make ourselves heard at times. Like little brother Polpetto, this is definitely somewhere to come and meet and mingle and if you grab a bite, then it's a result. The atmosphere is key to the experience. 

But what of the food? There was a fair amount of it that grabbed us on the throwaway paper menus, and plenty of tasty morsels certain to soak up a lovely big Sagiovese, well priced for house at £16.50. We went for five plates to start and added another two on at the end, greedily tempted by a neighbouring order. Garlicky mushrooms served in a rather dry flatbread was so-so tasty, but no more than you'd expect from a student dinner party. For me, a duff note came with another student standby, sparse handful of garlic prawns, part shelled, in an insipid tomato and bean sauce.

More positive notes came with thick slices of pork belly, tenderly braised and meltingly sweet with hazelnuts and the edge of radicchio. Mackerel tartare is a favourite on the menu, winter and summer, cut through with a horseradish cream, it's a pleasing combination and provides contrast to the meatier dishes. Their polpetta, gamey and (slightly too) salty meatballs are great winter beer fodder but not too sophisticated. The duck ragu was another welcome winter warmer, served with wormlike fingers of strozzapetti pasta and the bite of green peppercorns. Not 'posh nosh' as such, but simple and pleasing. 
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www.grumblinggourmet.com - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Saturday, December 04, 2010

Polpo has taken a turn for the worse. It was one of the few places I loved enough to queue for hours. Our lunch last Saturday was a shambles and other people were complaining aggressively. The kitchen was losing orders and sending out the wrong things everywhere. Our cold crostini came well after everything else when logically should have been first especially as we waited ages for hot food. Our polenta accompaniment arrived after the bill was paid. Food was mixed instead of the usual brilliance. Mushroom panini was burnt and over-salted, duck ragout was on overcooked soggy pasta with tepid sauce. Arancini and sprouting broccoli were good. A disappointing downturn.
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L. Hemsley
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Friday, November 19, 2010

Unfortunately, Polpo was a big disappointment. With some reluctance from my husband (who is from northeast italy) and yet still some anticipation on my part (given overwhelming reviews from previous diners), we set out to have a good evening. Although the ambiance brought us back to dens of east village in NYC, the food tasted just about as authentic and tasty as the floors of those particular dens. Even the fritto misto was abominable, with too much flour and apparently time sitting on a kitchen counter. The pork belly lacked any crisp crackling and sat in lukewarm sauce like sad socks in a puddle. In general, we felt a bit as though everything had been prepared hours before, and also perhaps that we were eating somone else's leftovers. This is a shameful attempt to represent a bacaro.
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Suzanne M.
4 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Disappointed to say the least! More Soho than Italian which isn't always a good thing. 6 out of 10 for me. A 2 hour wait for average food and not particularly authentic like some suggest. Would I go again? No way, couldn't be bothered and it has nothing to really drag you back. The crowd seemed more like lemmings than people who are knowledgeable about Italian cuisine. Sorry to sound snooty but it really was average.
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Stephen johnson
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, October 06, 2010

I had heard so much hype about this place and I am afraid it was a bit of a let down. I was of course expecting to wait a little for a table but an hour and a half on a Wednesday night was a bit much. It is so crammed that what I hoped would be a relaxing glass of wine turned into a moshpit of people pushing and shoving to go to and from bar. The food itself (once seated) was very alternative and it was quite hit and miss. The small pizza style breads were to die for whilst the cold runner beans and parmasan left a lot to be desired. Strange combinations. However this perhaps could have been saved by a pleasant atmosphere yet ultimately the place is too small and far too loud with the same music on repeat making for a rather hectic and stressful environment. A shame.
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6 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Thursday, August 26, 2010