Reviews of Polpo Covent Garden

This is no Barrafina...<br/>For a high wait, upscale Covent Garden experience; this is not in the league of its peers. <br/><br/>There are two clear observations; <br/>1) Lack of Staff training/engagement<br/>2) Too busy for the level of staff on the floor <br/><br/>The maître d' did her best and was as jovial as she could be for someone run off her feet. <br/>Despite offering to wait in queue [30min] with drinks/snacks, such ordering of snacks/drinks never materialised. <br/><br/>Despite this, the queue did move fast and we were seated at the bar relatively promptly. <br/><br/>The bartender had two glasses infront of us, one was filled with water, the other looked like it had liquid in it previously (like someone else drink) - We order Champagne and upon its arrival, the two wet looking glasses were removed and placed into the stack of "clean" glasses. <br/><br/>The service was sloppy and rushed. <br/>We didn't have an recommendations, engagement and were not run through the menu at all. <br/><br/>It was kind of like sitting at a real bar of a pub, less of bar-side dining. <br/>The guys were hardly engaged and didn't seem to know/care that we were trying to get their attention. <br/><br/>Funnily, he did say "hope you enjoy" after each plate was delivered, but it wasn't authentic. <br/>It felt a little like when your bank messes up, fails to deliver and says "is there anything else I can help with".  <br/><br/>The food itself was relatively un-interesting. <br/>The meatballs were great, but because they had meatballs under two different names on the menu we ordered them twice - which was amusing.<br/><br/>My Crab-Toast thing was so stocked with fennel it had no flavour; but was full of crab shell so I just took one bite and pushed it to the side... The staff never acknowledged it, never asked if it was OK.  It wasn't. <br/><br/>I would have normally ordered a bottle of wine, however we had such low attention  we didn't even get an opportunity. The meal was rushed through and we were ignored.  Again, imagine sitting at a bar in a busy pub, your chicken nuggets arrive and the busy bar-tender is high-fiving the ice guy or at the other end making cocktails. <br/><br/>We didn't even order desert; So in all, the whole meal was done in 35 minutes, we went and spent 60 quid on a bottle of wine and a desert. <br/><br/>The only upside is that we got out of there quickly and it only cost 80 quid for dining and drinks in Covent Garden.<br/><br/>With BASIC improvement they venue would have doubled my spend. <br/>That said, the food really was bland and un-inspired.  But not helped by the fact we didn't have any engagement of what we were eating or recommendations.

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!

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!

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.

Popular place which often has a queue at peak times. The food is very nice and, because of the central location, it's a good stop to grab a bite while roaming Covent Garden. Nice selection of drinks and wine options. Staff are very friendly and prices are reasonable. This is a place to come back to many times, but plan your visit ahead of time and don't wait until you're starving to pop into the restaurant. You could have to wait half an hour before you're seated, depending on party size.

Very good bright cheerful service. Prices reasonable for West Central London. Decor very sober, battleship grey. Lunchtime clientele suprisingly dominated by physically able old people. I enjoyed my food my carafe of house white, my dry vermouth and my coffee. My old school friend enjoyed it as well, but drank considerably less

Best customer service, awesome Italian food. Trying the pasta with fish, I forgot the name. We visit the place at night time and had to wait for about 15-20 minutes to get a table but the guy who took care of new customer was asking us to wait in nearest bar table while looking at the drink menu. The girl who took our order recommended their fave menu. Nice experience

Absolutely loved this authentic Venetian restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden. I loved it because it wasn't a chain, it was gorgeous , it provided delicious food and amazing hospitality with great prices. The menu offers a vast range of delicious Venetian dishes. The restaurant menu is based around the idea of ordering 2-3 tapas like dishes and sharing for the best experience!

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!

Tried several dishes during 2 recent visits. Some were excellent, others were good but nut amazing. The lamb and garlic meatballs were very tasty as was a beef ragu special. The whole prawns with chili and garlic were not that exciting and arrived at the table cold. Service was excellent during both visits.

Absolutely delicious food and absolutely brilliant allergy handling. Ask for the allergy menu and it is as clear as anything and then your order will be taken by the manger. When the food arrives it will come with a little Italian flag that tells you .. '"this has been made specially for the allergy". Cannot fault it, in fact I have never seen or experienced it better. They deal with allergy brilliantly.

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.

Service was fast and the waitress was always around when needed. The food was incredible. I had meatballs, the classic and the spicy. Both were amazing. I also had some facacia bread which was also great. I would definitely recommend this place. Especially if you headed to a show, since it is so close to all the major theaters.

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<br/>The place and the staff are amazing. Drinks are delicious, try their negroni. <br/>Prices are little bit high! It's nice to try the place and for a nice gathering!<br/>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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>I was quite pleased with the experience and shall happily return (though maybe not on Friday evening)!

Went on Saturday night looking to have Italian Tapas since it has quite good rating here. Small tables and extremely dim light atmosphere it was a nice setting for romantic or cosy dinner that you can just about look at the food. <br/>We ordered butternut squash, almond & ricotta crostini, marinated baby octopuses, pork pizetta, fried meatballs with polenta crust, Lamb osso buco with saffron rissoto and tiramisu pot. The dishes were simple but underwhelming.

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?<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.

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.<br/>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.<br/>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.

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 :)<br/><br/>I tried the following: and each item did not disappoint! (see pictures) <br/>- fritto misto<br/>- grilled focaccia <br/>- radicchio, blood orange, and walnut salad<br/>- chilli and garlic prawns <br/>- Milan style chicken<br/>- lamb osso buco saffron risotto <br/>- roast potatoes with rosemary <br/><br/>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 :) <br/><br/>Happy Eating!

Polpo has great atmosphere, but the food was underwhelming. The menu is based on Venitian-style cicchetti, so we had to have the frito misto (not bad, but made up mostly of calamari rings). We then went for skewers of chicken, pork and liver, which were quite dry, and a rabbit terrine which was underseasoned. The best mini-dish we had was a pizzetta with prosciutto and gorgonzola, and we also had meatballs "alla vedova" - again dry and a bit burnt. <br/><br/>For dessert I had a good chocolate salami. <br/><br/>Overall It wasn't something I'd rush back to.

I finally found my favourite Italian in town;) Chicken cotoletta (we can say schnitzel) was extremely delicious. Also Bianca pizza was really delicious even it's made with just mozzarella and onions:) The last one we recommend is meatballs "alla Vedova". Place is a bit small and they don't accept reservation if you are lucky like us you can find a table for 4 on Friday evening;) good price and friendly staff👍

After an afternoon of ice skating at Somerset House we headed over to nearby Covent Garden for a late lunch. Venetian restaurant, Polpo on Maiden Lane seemed like just the place for a quiet bite to eat. Offering small plates, known in Italy as cicchetti, Polpo is a bàcaro. Bàcaro is a Venetian word used to describe a humble restaurant serving simple food and good, young local wines.

I've wanted to visit this restaurant for quite some time but have always been put off  by the stories of queues and waiting in line to get a table. But it seems that getting there early is the trick and I was glad to have had Ayla Warner and Kasha Dubaniewicz nice and early for our catch up dinner who managed to bag a table and keep a space for me! By the time I arrived, we were all suitably starving and decided to put the gossip on hold while we ordered. This is another sharing plate type of restaurant that are all the rage these days and I'm all for this as I love trying small portions of lots of different bits and pieces.<br/><br/>Now given the no beef, no seafood, no nut requirements going on between all 3 of us, it proved harder than we thought to find a selection of sharing plates that would work but with a bit of effort we managed and our dishes included cod with lentils, polenta, vegetarian meatballs, an absolutely scrumptious goat cheese and peperonata bruschetta and some fabulously hot and punchy arancini. I've had bad polenta before and it can be wholly unpalatable when it is under seasoned and poorly prepared but here, they had a lovely crisp texture with lots of flavour. The cod with lentils wasn't quite to my liking and I think that was the only dish that we ended up leaving.<br/><br/>We perhaps ordered one plate too many in terms of wastage but were pleased with our choices and next time, I'd love to try one of the Pizettes as well.<br/><br/>We probably shouldn't have ordered dessert given how full we were but we all egged each other on. I chose the chocolate salami, which was actually supposed to be one of the smaller sized desserts but was still quite a generous portion and was quite rich in flavour so in hindsight, I could have shared this dish. In case you're wondering what chocolate salami actually is, it's a delicious biscuity, rich and nutty round shaped sweet treat, rather mimicking salami!<br/><br/>Service was quite friendly though it is the sort of place where you get the sense that you shouldn't hang around too long, as is often the way with these no reservation places but despite this, I would definitely return when I'm next after great Italian sharing plates.

After an afternoon of ice skating at Somerset House we headed over to nearby Covent Garden for a late lunch. Venetian restaurant, Polpo on Maiden Lane seemed like just the place for a quiet bite to eat. Offering small plates, known in Italy as cicchetti, Polpo is a bàcaro. Bàcaro is a Venetian word used to describe a humble restaurant serving simple food and good, young local wines. The first Polpo opened on Beak Street, Soho in September 2009. It was lovely to hear that the building was once home to Canaletto, a famous Venetian painter of landscapes of Venice. Apparently there is a blue plaque on the wall to commemorate this remarkable coincidence. Polpo Covent Garden was the second to open in June 2011 and since then two further restaurants have opened in Smithfield and Notting Hill. On arrival we were initially sat at the bar which was a bit of a squish in between couples and groups halfway through their lunches. Luckily a table became free which was kindly offered to us immediately. Polpo’s menu is split into sections, offering cicheti (small snacks or side dishes), pizzette, breads, meatballs, meat, fish, vegetables and salads. Our waitress explained the menu, suggested we order two dishes per person to share between us and told us that food would arrive at the table in stages – as soon as it is ready to eat. First up crab arancini. Served on a tiny plate with a cocktail stick holding the two together, the risotto balls were filled with tasty crab, coated in breadcrumbs and fried. I definitely could have eaten more of them if I hadn’t know more food was coming. Next up, pig head crostini. I was a little apprehensive about this one but boy it was yummy! Cold pulled pork cut mixed with pickled gherkins served on a small slice of grilled bread. The pizzette was awesomely fresh, the dough was fluffy and light. Smoked mozzarella and rocket covered the base of the pizza and layers of thinly sliced dry-cured prosciutto drizzled with olive oil perfectly complete the di

I really liked my lunch at Polpo, my only quibble would be that the portions are small and so you really need two dishes to have a "full lunch". This isn't really a complaint about the restaurant per se, it is possibly more a quibble with how Zomato presents its price bracket. I would say it is more like £20 per person. <br/><br/>That said, it's a great restaurant. I had a plate of cicheti, and a really delicious duck and olive ragu gnocchi. <br/><br/>The restaurant is small, but with a great feel. The staff are really friendly and helpful. I'll definitely eat there again.

Now, we are not experts on wine by any stretch of the imagination. Sure we drink the stuff (maybe too much) and know a few names, but that’s about it… I could also go as far as to say that sometimes we get a little intimidated when ordering a bottle, so we tend to stick to what we know or let the sommelier choose, learning a little along the way.<br/><br/>That said, when were invited to a new series of EnoClub wine tasting sessions, hosted by the infectiously likeable Tom Harrow (AKA Wine Chap) held at Polpo Covent Garden we changed our plans and ventured over to a wet, cold and windy Covent Garden ready and eager to learn.<br/><br/>To be honest the main draw was the fact that these wines were to be served with a variety of plates from Polpo‘s main menu. Similar to its big sister Polpo, Polpo Covent Garden is in the style of a traditional osteria. We’re massive fans of Russell Norman and group head chef, Tom Oldroyd, we work in magazines and wish there was a Russell Norman equivalent in the magazine world, everything he does is a guaranteed success. We can’t get enough of Spuntino (I’d go there just for the peanut & jelly ice-cream sandwich!) and plan to re-visit Mishkin’s real soon, but had STILL not been to any of the first three restaurants, Polpo, Polpo Covent Garden and Polpetto. The icing on the clichéd cake was that Russell and Tom were there to welcome us and offer us an Aperol Spritz. Tom had to pay particular attention to Saff as he had to tweak some of the menu to accommodate Saff’s increasingly annoying hatred of cheese, he even came over for a chat at the end of the evening to ask how Saff’s cheeseless meal tasted, what a top bloke!<br/><br/>At EnoClub we got to sample six wines, from a crisp white to an amber dessert wine via a ‘serious’ red that would set you back at least £120 in some restaurants. This time the sessions are focusing on Italian wines and this particular one on wines from Tuscany… In Tom’s words “Tuscany is home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, not forgetting the Super Tuscan wine movement.” We’re glad he knows he’s talking about!<br/><br/>And he does… We thought he may sound stuffy and drone on about legs, nose and body, but he didn’t. In fact he made the whole learning experience fun, humorous and interesting. And when he spoke to us at the table he spent time explaining little facts, like why some wines have a darker, matt colour and put us at ease as he’d obviously worked out we were novices. (Some wines have a darker matt colour because the grape skins are thicker, in case you were wondering). Tom also explained that the prices listed were retail prices, so if you add 100/150% that’s what you would expect to pay when eating out. These were all top quality wines!<br/><br/>Before I continue this write-up, I must state that as the evening went on my notes became more and more eligible and therefore all facts may not be entirely correct. Neither EnoClub nor Wine Chap take responsibility for my bad handwriting or foggy memory…<br/><br/>The first wine poured was the 2011 Solosole’ Vermentino, Poggio al Tesoro £16. We don’t normally choose white wine but this one made from the Corsican grape had a fresh yet smooth taste that complimented the rich Chopped chicken liver crostino and Potato and parmesan crocchetta (so light and fluffy) that were the first dishes out of the kitchen.<br/><br/>Wine No2 was the 2010 Morellino di Scansano, Le Pupille £15. This wine was described as ‘the blood of Jupiter’ but was light for a red. Saff, who has a better ‘nose’ than I (she has better legs too), said she smelt vanilla tones and this turned out to be her favourite wine of the night. This was served with a couple of Wild mushroom Pizzette (a mini pizza to you and I, one with and without cheese). How they get to keep these thin bases to stay so crispy, not go soggy and collapse under the weight of those mushrooms is a mystery (or magic)!<br/><br/>Next up was a 2008 Chianti Classico, Fontodi £18, a ‘fun and bouncy’ red with a brighter colour than the Morellino di Scansano. One little fact, any wine with Classico in the title basically means ‘the hills’. Vines on a gradient benefit from more direct sunlight, a wider variation in temperature and better drainage, so the grapes tend to be of a better quality. Two plates arrived and, shock horror, Saff and I could share them both. The Fennel, curly endive and almond salad was fantastic, if a tad on the salty side, I could have easily eaten a bucketful of those toasted nuts. The Fritto Misto, prawns, squid and whitebait deep-fried in a light batter and served simply with a thick wedge of lemon, no need to over complicate this dish.<br/><br/>Wine No4, the 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Peggio San Polo £56. Apparently ’04 is a great vintage year and this more ‘serious’ red would set you back at least £112 in some restaurants! It had a much darker colour than all of the other wines and had tones of cherry, liquorice and tobacco (although Saff said it smelt of meat, can you tell we’re novices?). Coincidentally, this was served with a plate of cold meats with balls of mozzarella and chopped sundried tomatoes dressed in olive oil.<br/><br/>And finally wine No6. A 2006 Vin Santo, Cantine Leonardo da Vinci £26. An amber dessert wine with the familiar taste of sherry, sweet and thick and… and by now we’re a tad drunk! Vin Santo, meaning wine of the Saints, is made from naturally air-dried grapes (usually up in the eves of the winery) and then aged in a variety of different wooden barrels. This gives its distinctive flavour and colour. An Italian tasting session wouldn’t be complete without a Tiramisu, and da Polpo‘s was one of the best we’ve had. No liquid Camp coffee and not overpowered with alcohol either, even Saff polished hers off, she doesn’t usually go for creamy desserts like Tiramisu but she couldn’t get enough of it. She left my cheese plate well alone, I’m not usually a fan of blue cheese but this wasn’t as strong as I’ve had in the past.<br/><br/>At the end of the night the most popular wine as voted by us tasters was selected to be put on the menu at a very good price as specials at both da Polpo and Polpo, these winners were the 2011 Solosole’ Vermentino, Poggio al Tesoro and the 2005 ‘W Dedicato a Walter’ Cabernet Franc, Poggio al Tesoro. These EnoClub wine tasting sessions are great for both experts and novices. They are fun and informative and not in the least bit stuffy, throw in some amazing food and, at £45 per person, it’s fantastic value for money too. We’re very temped to go back for the Puglian one (we got married in Puglia), it happens to take place close to our first wedding anniversary in June

We tried the Buffalo plate, a towering mountain of cured meats and buffalo mozzarella with rocket. It tasted great and the portion was very generous, which it had to be given the price (£14!) Meatballs seem to be a big deal at Polpo, there’s a whole section of menu devoted to them, so we felt obliged to give these a whirl. And guess what? They were a big deal. Big, and a big deal...The Verdict: Great food, good service and a brilliant atmosphere. Worth waiting for.

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

Polpo is just one of those places you wouldn't go to or less you have heard of it. This is because it's a restaurant that relies on the power of the spoken word. Mind you, not every restaurant can do this; it is only those restaurants that have nothing to show off but their honest food and their exciting yet unpretentious ambience. I assure you it's one of the best pizzas you will ever have in your life-time.Pay a visit!

The food isnt that special, music is way too loud, could barely talk to anyone & doesn't give off any vibe that the restaurant is Italian. I find it rude to be told you can have a table from a certain time to a certain time, but you don't take reservations! If you want a higher turn over have 2 sittings and let people book.

Great tapas was recently devoured at Polpo with a favourite friend of mine. Polpo claims to have a specific passion for Venetian tapas. Having never been, I can only trust that their wares are as quintessentially Venetian as gondolas or…blinds? In any case, the menu is good, always offering crowd pleasing dishes. Polpo is low key, with a slightly staged yet stylish ‘worn’ look. After being advised of the 20 minute wait, the night began near the door with decidedly PG soft, but tasty, cocktails. A table found, our first tapas delivery was a healthy portion of calamari salad with a capers and radish and the classic combination of melon, prosciutto and basil. Both were fresh and flavourful. Appetites wet, we were surprised to greet the sausage cassolette with luke warm reception. In all honesty there was a pedigree chum appeal (i.e. none at all) to the dishes appearance with its brown slop presentation. The taste was nearly there, but ultimately the texture wasn’t right with the sausage e

Everything looks fantastic: the place, the menu, the atmosphere… but although everything was good, I have to be honest, it didn’t blow me away. And it’s not just that I was expecting something more, it’s that I found some of the food a bit irregular. We ordered several small dishes to share, as they suggested.

Terrible service, we waited for an hour without a word of apology. We waited an hour to be seated, having been told the wait was twenty minutes. The waitress paid us no attention and left our group of six people waiting for a single person to finish their coffee on a very large table. We, embarrassingly, had to ask him to move, which he kindly agreed to. But the waitress looked extremely peeved that we took the liberty of finding a table after an hour of waiting! The service then was hardly punctual. And this was a Monday night, so hardly a peak night! All in all, so not worth the waiting and bad customer treatment.

The concept is the same as its predecessors – bustling atmosphere, small sharing plates, great music and tumblers of very reasonable wine. All three are exclusively staffed by hipsters whose arms double as works of inky art. There’s absolutely no bookings, ever. And London absolutely loves them. Polpo have gone for rustic in a big way. The menu is printed on brown paper which doubles as your placemat. There are filament bulbs suspended from the ceiling with (gasp) no lampshades. They don’t seem to work that well either because it’s all dark and mysterious  inside. Everything is made of wood or metal or similar we’re-not-trying-very-hard-at-all type materials. It’s très cool. And now the food. The theme is small sharing plates of Italian origin. It’s meant to be Venetian. You’re meant to feel lik

The girls and I thoroughly enjoyed our evening at Da Polpo. The waiting staff are cool and really knowledgeable. I loved the 80’s soundtrack they had playing –I don’t think I have ever heard The Smiths played in a restaurant! And I loved how, even though they had people queuing and had told us at the time of booking that they would need the table back after 2 hours, they didn’t rush us out the door when those 2 hours were up!<br/>

 London is littered with Italian tapas restaurants and some are exceptionally good (e.g., Zucca and Bocca di Lupo ). One of the more popular chains of Italian tapas restaurants is the Polpo range. We decided to try out  Polpo  Covent Garden.   Pork belly (6/10)   Pork belly (6/10)   Ricotta crumble (7/10)   Ricotta crumble (7/10)   Russell Norman was one of the first restaurateurs to introduce London to the Italian tapas style dining and can be considered as one of the most influential restaurateurs of the past 5 years in London. The  Polpo  restaurants focus on Venetian-based bite-size dishes that are supposed to be shared by the whole table.   Affogato (8/10)   Lamb & Pistachio (7/10)   When we visited  Polpo  we tried: Pork belly (6/10) Lamb & Pistachio (7/10) Roast squash (7/10) Calamari (6.5/10) Fritto misto (7/10) Fennel salad (6/10) Arancini (7/10) Ricotta crumble (7/10) Affogato (8/10)   Lamb & Pistachio (7/10)   Roast squash (7/10)   Calamari (6.5/10)   Calamari (6.5/10)   Co

I wholeheartedly recommend Polpo Covent Garden and will be back myself soon for sure. Portion sizes can vary wildly within the same price range but with some judicious choices this is still great value for money, considering the quality of the food in what can be a tourist trap of a location. Definitely worth an early dinner - oh, and I now covet the cookbook badly.

Ok but would not return. Ate here with 5 friends on mid-week night. The food was good but I would not rush back. The service was a bit hit-and-miss with our waiter's manner a bit odd - either at our table too often at the start or hard to get hold of when we wanted the bill. The food was tasty but rather over-priced. The fritto misto at £9 was tasty but the serving was not that large. A salad of beetroot and rocket turned out to be a bowl of cut up beetroot with rocket pesto - no matter how much you like beetroot who wants a whole bowl of just beetroot? £3.50 for 3 small balls of mozzarella was quite hard to fathom paying for. We were also asked to leave out table quite quickly in order to accomdate three drunk girls.

I can see Da Polpo doing exceptionally well in this location, perfectly placed to capture a broad range of diners, offering unchallenging food that is satisfying and comforting, ideal for sharing but equally easy to nibble on your own to your hearts content. I felt happy to sit at my own at the bar, the service is unobtrusive and I felt unharassed, grazing and sipping negronis for around an hour. I don’t think the food is particularly cheap, but it’s also not expensive, and I think you’d get even better value by dining in a group and sharing lots of dishes (I’m already planning on bringing friends so we can devour more of the menu). My bill was slightly over £30 with the 50% discount but this included two full price negronis and an espresso. Cocktails I have to mention are a complete steal at around £6 each though, and still half the price of many places in the area as well as being expertly created! I’ve quickly added Da Polpo to Spuntino as one of my top London restaurants; somewhere

We certainly had an unexpected feast at da Polpo. When they get the dishes right they are fabulous (calzone, pizzette, pork belly) but there are one or two that we probably wouldn’t order again. Service was friendly and efficient and a bill of £22 a head was extremely reasonable for the quantity and quality. I certainly want to return as there are many more dishes on the menu I would like to try.

The cocktails are traditional (and strong!) and the staff were helpful and friendly. It has a really light and busy atmosphere, lots of people passing through for a snack along with small parties having a proper meal. It's a great spot to go, just off the main streets although it can get really busy so arrive early to avoid waiting.

Da Polpo is Da-licious!. Da Polpo in Covent Garden is the fifth in the series of restaurants. Italian for "Octopus", it features a number of small tasting dishes meant to be shared. The service is friendly and attentive. You won't be disappointed! The menu changes frequently and each of their restaurants is quite different. Get there early though or be prepared to queue. They don't take reservations.

Da Polpo is one of those places that can make you adopt it as your own after just two visits. There's something about the bottle green exterior with Italian lace hanging from the window and the dimly-lit tables that is just so inviting, like a real osteria that you might stumble across in southern Italy.

So is anything really different to the other branches of the 'chain'? And does it matter when the quality is high enough? While there's an element of Norman by Numbers about Da Polpo, for the neighbourhood (deepest, darkest touristic Covent Garden) it's nice to have another option in the area, though by the time you've waited for a table, there'll be another one along to take the crowd.

After 3 weeks of traveling around rural China and eating a mammoth amount of noodle soups, we were in the mood for some food that was as far away from China as we could get. It was almost a year ago since we first ate at Polpo , and having tried 2 of the 3 later incarnations of this ever so popular and cool mini chain of small eateries, I thought it was time to try the latest opening. da Polpo. There is not much I can say about da Polpo that hasn't already been said by every blogger in and around London. So all I will say is that it is bigger and has a slightly more faux warehouse look than the other sites. But still nice nonetheless. But onto the food as that is all this is about. The concept of small plates is again flourishing here, but more emphasis is placed on pizzettas (small pizzas to the unknowing) and meatballs. I like. So we ordered a couple of the pizzattas. A white anchovy and a pork and pepper one. Man had I missed pizza. I grew up as a kid disliking anchovies immensely,

da Polpo is just a little bit less cool than it's sibling restaurants. Russell Norman's first foray outside Soho is located in the more touristy Covent Garden, is easier to get into thanks to the larger space and even the staff seem slightly less cool with a notable absence of tattoos. The entrance to da Polpo Just like Polpo and Polpetto wine is served in tumblers, bare light bulbs hang from the roof and brown paper menus serve as placemats. The menu is familiar from the other restaurants as well and again draws inspiration from a Venetian bacaro with small plates designed for sharing. The difference is the addition of an entire section devoted to meatballs and another to pizzette. The meatballs were great. Neatly and densely packed and doused in a rich tomato sauce. We tried the classic beef and pork (£4.50) but thought the lamb and mint (£5) had the edge thanks to the spot on seasoning. Lamb meatballs The pizzette was also a hit. As the name suggests it was a mini pizza on a c

Foodie Gem lost in Covent Garden. Come in with one or two friends, order a bottle of wine, and let go at the sharing inspired menu - everything's delicious. Just got home from the above...and I won't blow it out of proportion, but da Polpo is one of those city hole-in-the-wall places that doesn't need to try hard to get it right. It's casual atmosphere, great staff, and even better food makes you feel like your coming off a movie set.

Despite what the name might suggest, da Polpo is more than just another branch of Polpo, although it's certainly closest to the original site in character and size. Rather, it's a combination of all the best bits of the other restaurants, with a couple of new details added due to popular demand. A 'Greatest Hits of Polpo' if you like, following the difficult third album, with its interminable delays and creative crises, that was Spuntino.

It's relaxed and cool and most importantly the food is just as good. I started with a spicy bloody mary and some arancini. The risotto balls were great, oozing mozzarella in the centre, creamy rice and a satisfyingly crunchy shell. More mozzarella to follow with broad beans and citrus dressed leaves. I wasn't best pleased with the quality of the mozzarella if I'm honest, I found it rubbery in texture and lacking in flavour. This was the low point of the meal for me. Happily other dishes arrived and were great. The pizzettas, asparagus, taleggio and speck and the zuccini and chilli went down very well. A bowl of chilli and garlic prawns with lemon were also liked, some peeled, some with shells, though my friend had to ask for a finger bowl. Dish of the day though, must go to the piadina me

What can be better than Italian cuisine with New York influence in the middle of London? Well that’s what Richard Beatty and Russell Norman figure it out when they open their fourth venture Da Polpo . The restaurant has the same style as their brothers Polpo, Polpetto, and Spuntino, no reservation policy, pretty similar trendy industrial decor, great food, and good service. da Place Deja Vu I was wanting to visit the place after I felt in love with Spuntino, I don’t know if it was because it remind me Manhattan or just because it is a great place, with simple food, and amazing flavours. So my friend Reter came to visit and I couldn’t resist taking him to the place. da Bar, this time more tables than bar as opposite to Spuntino The menu based on Cicheti, Pizzette, Vegetables & Salads, Meatballs, Plates, and Desserts. Funny enough no octopus at all in the menu, but plenty of options so we decided to try as much as we can. da Menu First the cicheti which means a small snack

Da Polpo in Covent Garden is the newest addition to the Polpo , Polpetto and Spuntino family of small/sharing plate eateries founded by the restaurateur Russell Norman. The concept is ingenious and has taken London by storm. No booking, bustling atmosphere, well prized small dishes to share and a different theme to each of the restaurants. While Spuntino serves fun and delicious American food, Polpo and Polpetto specialize on Venetian dishes. While there is overlap between the menus, Da Polpo has a clear focus on meatballs. I mean a restaurant for meatballs? How cool is this? While I enjoyed the food, it was not a culinary epiphany. What makes da Polpo special and certainly will make me return, is the atmosphere. You wouldn't go there for a romantic date but I don't think there is a better place to catch up with your girlfriends while sisterly sharing the plates as they arrive one after the other and getting comfortably tipsy on aperol spritz, cocktails or the cheap bu

Great early days showing. Turned up for lunch on Day 1 and it was slicker than many other established places one could name. Service charming, nice setting, and the food: all delicious. Pork and fennel meatballs were great. Wine can be served in 250ml carafes, which always makes me happy. <br/>Hooray for Covent Garden! <br/><br/>(nb. was 50% off food for previews but I'd have been happy with full price.)

da Polpo is like the old friend you can rock up to anytime and are guaranteed a great conversation. Like the other restaurants in Russell Norman's stable, da Polpo is cosy, easy and approachable. I find nothing more uncomfortable than a restaurant on edge - week one, new staff, new menu, forgotten service sequences, the smell of paint, and table tops that shine a bit too much. What I love most about Polpo, Polpetto, Spuntino and now da Polpo is how they manage to look and feel lived in, even when brand new. Most things about this place will remind you of Polpo . One has a Campari Bar, the other an Aperol one. Both bacaros use a lot of natural finishes, have distressed walls, tiled flooring and bar counters you can eat at - the single diner's most favourite seat. I even got lucky with my waitress; Tajsa (am near certain I've got this spelling wrong) wasted no time in settling me in and starting me off with a glass of the Polpo Prosecco (£5) - OMG so delicious - and some complimentary s

One can only admire Russell Norman, Richard Beatty and their merry team for breathing revolutionary life to the London dining circuit over the past two years. It kind of reminds me of the Star Wars prequels, how as each chapter unfolded, came the buzz, the anticipation and the new effects. I thought Revenge was the strongest of them all. The last in the trilogy, the most unique, and the one which wasn't held back. Come on folks, you gotta admit, Spuntino was special. Russell and co created a landmark with that one. Who knew that truffled egg toasts, ground beef sliders, grits and a brew, would still taste so good the third time round. And so the Russell is back yet again with the fourth (and last) in the Polpo line (until the next revelation comes to his brilliant restauranteur mind) , and its like sitting down to see Episode Four, after seeing Revenge. You're fooling yourself into thinking you don't know the score, when in fact, you already do. All the hype is in place, as we've seen

Polpo Empire has been expanding fast, this is their third/fourth (have lost count) opening since the baby days that Polpo emerged onto the London eating scene. I love Polpo, never tried Polpetto, didn't think much of Spuntino (despite nearly most of bloggers liking it and I love Da Polpo. It was the most exciting lunch date ever with partner blogger S to this new restaurant on the London scene. We booked, squealed, oozed over the menu and ordered the following: Arancini, Chicken Liver Crostini, Potato and Parmesan crocchetta Grilled asparagus, buttered eggs and parmesen Spaghettini and meatballs Piadina meatball smash Grilled Mortadella, gorgonzola & pickled radicchio Fritto Misto Tiramisu Prosecco (in love with the Polpo empire prosecco!) Before all these decisions took place the scene was something along the lines of this…………….."On the house" the waitress tells us whilst placing this normal looking dip and bread on our table. But normal is not the word once we take a bite,