Polpo

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

I wasn't sure about going here initially as I wasn't sure it could live up to the hype.

However it is really good. The place was full on a Monday night, menu is appealing and varied, service assured, food delicious and prices are reasonable.

Stand out dishes for our table were the fennel salad, meat platter and the pizza broad bean and mint bruschetta; but every single thing we ordered was really good - excellent.

Even though the restaurant was really busy, service was unhurried and we were able to linger over the meal, another major plus point.

Definitely will be returning again!
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SS - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, August 09, 2010

Sorry if what I say might sound quite stereotypical but being a Venetian I feel obliged to stress how Polpo - which is noisy, overcrowded and with largely untrained, staff - has almost nothing to do with a Venetian bacaro. As my fellow (Venetian) diner suggested while eating, with low-cost airlines today is almost cheaper to get a deal and go and try the real thing in Venice.

The Spritz, which is supposed to be the core drink of a bacaro, was forgettable and the cicchetti (the little dishes) were a bad photocopy of the original... the list of wines seemed randomly organised... and, if I may, where are the wines from the VENETO region???

In sum, why the hell having a venetian-STYLE bacaro and not a BACARO in London?

Very surprised by the enthusiastic reviews I read and by the many food critics who praised the place...

Look forward to returning to Venice in order to forget the Polpo experience.
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D.C.
3 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Sunday, June 20, 2010

Absolutely love this place. Amazing, authentic food, fab atmosphere and the most delicious campari cocktails - served with olives the size of a bulls head.

The only downside is the length of time you have to wait to get a table. Cannot wait for their new quirky NYC themed sister restaurant.
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Jessie
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Thursday, June 17, 2010

Absolutely delicous. (cuttlefish in its ink was outstanding, as was pork belly) Fabulous atmosphere, healthy portion sizes and good value. Service was honest (we asked if we were ordering too much for two people and the waiter kindly told us we probably were so we adjusted our choices). The decor is modern and relaxed. Will definintely be going back.
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Odette2611
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, June 03, 2010

Very disappointing. One felt genuinely misled by the reviews. Noisy environment, cheap cutlery, crockery, chairs. Grubby walls, too dark. V poor presentation of food, not v colourful or tasty. Jamie Oliver would have a fit.

Wines well priced, but cocktails (considering how they're served) overpriced. Had hoped to be booking their private function room but on tonight's showing no way!
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Gordon Cooper
6 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 5
Monday, May 24, 2010

Its seems the reviews of Polpo are quite poor ratings.

On friday night, this was a kinda of sex in city girls night out, no rush, moving from one place to another, we already kicked of with a cocktail and stumbled into Polpo.

What a buzzing place, not too posh ! We were told a table will be 1 & 1/2 - meaning if we were lucky we ll be seated by 9pm, fine ! we were in no rush ! happy to have some drinks and to be honest leave - if we got fed up! standing at the bar.

We drank at the bar & then 2 seats at bar became free.

So after waiting 35mins, we were eating at the bar ! in fact more fun then seated tables.

Food was yummy - break, rabbit terrine, cuttlefish in its ink, polenta, roast potatoes and rosemary, dessert their own version of tiramisu - some crispy pastry, coffee cream and chocolate.

The place is entertaining in itself ! The crowd, dates, pass their sell by dates media people trying to inpress, young wanting some fun and yummy foods !
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7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Saturday, March 20, 2010