One of the few restaurants to have dinner in a budget in Covent Garden area. Mid light atmosphere, good for couple dinners. Would work for group dinners as well as it has two rooms. Italian-style tapas. Three to four small plates will feed two. We ordered crab linguini and spaghetti with pork meatballs. The food was nice and the price was OK.
Really nice restaurant! Great environment, really great food.
I recommend the meatballs and pizzettas!
We loved it, would definitely come back
small compact but excellent food , great service and warm hospitality, the portions are too small , service is very fast. value for money.it is better to book a table in advance.
When you say polpo! You know it's a good Italian in London. Portions are delicious but portions are small. It's better to share the dishes. The crab linguini is to die for. The polpo is delicious. Pizzas are not the best in town. The dessert are average. Their spicy pork meatballs are delicious
The place and the staff are amazing. Drinks are delicious, try their negroni.
Prices are little bit high! It's nice to try the place and for a nice gathering!
Bonne appétit
I was incredibly reticent to try this place following my underwhelming experience at Polpo @ Ape & Bird, but considering the significant rating discrepancy between the two branches and the fact that the Covent Garden location is always rammed, I thought I'd give them another chance.
Glad I did. It's like a completely different restaurant! Some dishes share the same name as those at the Ape & Bird location but were executed with more skill. The steak ribbons worked well with the accompanying artichokes and crab linguine was fresh yet not fishy. I even loved the spinach, parmasan and soft egg pizzette, which was way more than the sum of its parts.
I was quite pleased with the experience and shall happily return (though maybe not on Friday evening)!
Perfect platters of decadent meats and succulent veggies. The atmosphere is incredibly inviting and the staff are very helpful in deciphering the menu. Great for value when sharing!
Erica Jeanie Vonderwall
+4.5
wowowowoowowowwo. a super cosy, dimly lit "Italian tapas" bar in the heart of the West End. but wait, there's more. the underground cocktail bar. the super lovely wait staff. the chef that comes out to chat - and what's this? the majority of the dishes are under a tenner?
we had just about everything on the menu, because it would have been rude not to, right? highlights include the seared steak with truffle oil and the chilli crab linguine. oh, AND the cauliflower in GORGONZOLA and parmesan crust OMG it was to die for.
want a quite bite? maybe try the Soho branch as this one was quiiiite full and we had to wait about 40 mins for a table. worth every minute though, and the bartender made sure we were more than looked after in that time, with delicious cocktails and bar nibbles a plenty.
Catarina Moreira Batista
+4
Polpo is a really cosy and trendy restaurant that serves simple little dishes that are a perfect side to a night of casual chat with a friend/significant other over a glass of wine.
It's not your standard italian food but I think that is what makes it stand out. Even better is that the portion size is just ideal for sharing and ordering several plates to try.
To this day I still dream about their chocolate and hazelnut pizza which strikes the perfect balance of decadence and sweetness without being too rich. Another of my favourites was the spinach and egg pizzette.
Fantastic italian restaurant. It works like an italian osteria: order 4 or 5 different dishes, they serve it whenever they're ready and it's meant to share. Excellent quality and the staff is really nice.
This little place was amazing! It's a very simple Italian restaurant ticket away in Covent Garden, putting their efforts into their food instead of they're front window display :)
I tried the following: and each item did not disappoint! (see pictures)
- fritto misto
- grilled focaccia
- radicchio, blood orange, and walnut salad
- chilli and garlic prawns
- Milan style chicken
- lamb osso buco saffron risotto
- roast potatoes with rosemary
The best dishes by far were the lamb osso buco saffron risotto and the radicchio, blood orange, and walnut salad. Those would be my top two recommendations :)
Happy Eating!
I booked it for an anniversary with my boyfriend, and it was great! Friendly staff helped me to organise a candle in the dessert, the atmosphere was lovely and we really enjoyed the evening!
Food is delicious ! Great Italian kitchen and reasonable prizes, the tiramisu dessert is a must! ;)
Will get back for sure!
Good Italian style tapas. Small portions to share, so two people get to try 4-5 different tapas. I really liked the affogato (a ball of ice cream, pour a shot of coffee over it, enjoy!). Nice staff, interesting decor.
Had a great time. Staff are very nice and helpful. Food was lovely bar the pizzette, found the sauce on it too tangy tasted like vinegar
The two of us were seated right at the back. It was just before 12:00 so almost empty but I can imagine it can get very cramped when full, as the tables are set close together and its a small narrow space.
We ordered to share:
- Mushroom Arancini
- Crab Linguine
- Tiger Prawns with chilli & garlic
- Buttered Cavolo Nero
Everything was absolutely delicious and I can wait to have the exact same meal again!
Waitresses kept chatting together near the bar so it was hard to get their attention but when they came over, they were very pleasant.
I would recommend this place to anyone for any time of day.
Polpo is one of my fave restaurants in London! Lovely Italian small-plate dining, great for sharing. My all-time favourite menu item are the chickpea ricotta spinach balls! Looks like meatballs, but vegetarian and tastes so good! Their wines are also a delight. Candle light and cosy atmosphere, makes this place great for a date night too. It is a bit pricey but the quality of the food is right. Service is spot on.
All in all nothing that I wouldn‘t love about Polpo so far!
Great funky hip place. Buzzing with a great atmosphere. Food is tapas style so small plates. Great cocktails.
Staff are nice, good atmosphere, polpo red wine is good... Most important - food is great - not big portions but the quality is there. Fairly fast service as well.
Great tapas venue in an relaxed setting. The beef ragu is a top choice. Bathrooms downstairs.
Amazing food and great ambience. We were 20 min late and when we got there our table had been given away (their policy is 15 min grace) but the manager was quick and kind to find another table for us despite it being a busy Friday Valentine's evening. Service, portions were good. But what made this place really stand out was the taste - our favourites last night were the pork and fennel meatballs, prawns with garlic and ox cheek pasta. Already planning our next visit here! Highly recommend!
Great!! Foods & Service. We miss the other branch at Shaftebury Ave.
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