Polpo, London

Polpo serves Italian small plates at several London locations.

The Covent Garden branch was packed to the rafters when we arrived on a Wednesday night. While it’s always good to have your choice of restaurant approved by others, the layout of Polpo is so long and narrow waiting for a table is a stressful experience. Perched on high stools in the gangway,,we were constantly buffeted by passing staff and customers.

Ordering a round of negronis to take the edge off our growing anxiety, we were disappointed to have to wait 15 minutes to be served. Once they arrived, they were decently tasty. Once we were finally seat,ed things took a positive turn.

Our waitress was friendly and attentive despite the number of tables, and our food arrived within 30 minutes. The small plates concept is one that is incredibly popular around the world, meaning parties order a number of dishes to share. It makes for a more communal meal and means you can try a wider range of dishes from the menu. Polpo does it well, with plates to suit every taste.

After a rocky start, Polpo won me over, and if you manage to get there on a less busy day you won’t have to deal with the stress of waiting for a table. The bill came to $35 per person with wine and a digestif, which certainly isn’t bad considering the quality of the food and the location of the restaurant.

41 Beak Street

London W1F 9SB

England

44 207 734 4479