| Everyday London Life

Saturday Soho Lunch Club – Polpo

Mr Silver took a back seat this weekend as I was reunited with two of my lovely friends who I met on a course a few year ago. Traze lives in Bristol and so we don’t get to see each other often. The third member of our tripartite, Jess, lives just outside London and we get together for lunch as often as possible, but it was fantastic to have a reunion of all three of us.
Our reunion was the perfect excuse for my next Saturday Soho Lunch Club. The venue of choice?
Polpo! A restaurant in Beak Street that has been on my list of places to go for about five years…
 
 A word meaning Octopus.
 
 Polpo is Russell Norman’s take on a Venetian Bacaro serving small plates of delicious Italian favourites.
The interior of Polpo is shabby chic with rough wooden floors and tables and exposed brick walls; the effect is rustic, laid back and inviting.
 There’s also a chilled out Campari bar downstairs.
 
 
 In an Italian, I love ordering a bottle of Prosecco, which I find (almost) as enjoyable as champagne. Polpo even have their own brand of the Italian fizz!
 
 
 Wine cracked open, we chose a few different plates to share.
 
 Polpo offer a choice of meatballs and we chose the spicy pork and fennel, these were tasty with a rich and piquant sauce.
 
 Frito misto was lightly battered and crunchy! A tasty dish that would have been enhanced with an accompanying aioli or tartare sauce.
 
 Our favourite dish, pizzette with tenderstem broccoli, chilli and garlic. Perfectly crunchy base and gooey cheese.
 
 Prosciutto, mozzarella and basil bruschetta. Another hit!
‘You can’t go wrong with melted cheese on bread’ said Traze. Definitely a truism!
 
 Finally, from the cicheti selection, some arancini. The chef at Polpo is a little heavy handed with the salt but it didn’t spoil the food for us.
The meal at Polpo was delicious comfort food and perfect for myself and my foodie friends. I’m definitely looking forward to trying the recently reopened Polpetto, the sister restaurant to Polpo, soon.
Polpo
41 Beak Street
London
W1F 9SB
020 7734 4479
Polpo on Urbanspoon