Polpo specialises in Venetian sharing plates.
I’d be hard pressed to have found a better time to visit Notting Hill’s Polpo, with its line of red-painted windows open to London’s warm and breezy June summer evening. Watching Notting Hill Gate's buzzing 6pm street from the comfort of the restaurant's contrastingly calm interior made for just the evening vibe I needed after a long day's work. The Venice-inspired spot also promises a fuss-free dining experience with a choice of sharing plates - could this stripped back venue be exactly what West Londoner's have been waiting for?
If you’re forced to take the restaurant at face value, you won’t be disappointed. Its bottle-lined bar and round saddle bar stools are the first sights you’re greeted by against its soft, off-white tile and rustic brick walls. The rest of the dining space is comfortably spread out with cosy red dining booths perfect for chattering with friends. The space is intimate enough to swoon a date – with dim natural lighting and each table being lit by a small candle – but also open enough to be fit for after-work drinks.
Admittedly, had I peeked at the website before showing up eager to eat, I would have been sceptical. It’s rare that a venue’s live creations look as good as its carefully composed photos, but Polpo’s dishes look just as picturesque in person (I have the Snap stories to prove it). It specialises in small sharing plates, with offerings from its fish, veggie and meat menu, but I’d be lying if I said I was a willing participant in this aspect of the restaurant. Luckily my dining partner was much more neighbourly and graciously shared her roast chicken with olives & pea pesto (£8.80) – a perfectly tender and mildly flavoured duo – along with the zucchini, basil & Parmesan salad (£5.60), which complemented her palate well with memorable tangy zest.
Polpo has a vast drink menu including several delicious red wines, cocktails and beers.
I kept the meatballs with tomato sauce and Parmesan (£6.80) all to myself receiving three medium-sized beef and pork meatballs, each packed with flavour, well-cooked and covered in cheesy goodness. It was so good I could have finished it all in one sitting, but decided to be only moderately hoggish and save room for dessert. A caffeinated Italian pudding affogato al caffè (£4.00), with its drizzle of espresso shot, saved me from falling into a satisfied slumber following my feast.
I can’t promise an easy time deciding what to order from Polpo’s menu, as nothing on it seems like a second thought. What I can promise is that whatever tempting dish you decide on, you’ll have an equally satisfying drink to accompany it regardless of your chosen poison. I went with a Pinot Grigio (£5.50), but could have easily gone for one of their more complex wines such as their lime and white peach infused Verdicchio (£5.50) or even a plain ale and been just as satisfied. If you're there for a special occasion, the venue is also geeky about prosecco with a variety of bottles waiting to be popped.
The DesignMyNight Digest
Sharing plates are new to me and I was wary of the notion (being from the US where the dining experience is typically a one man, all-you-can-eat show). I couldn't wrap my head around why someone would willingly settle for smaller plates, especially when the meals are as appetising as here. Selfish aversions set aside, I'm glad Notting Hill's Polpo was my first introduction to the concept. Its savoury dishes lend itself to sharing because you're eager to see your mate's face once they get a bite of your impressive selections. It's an approach that may not work everywhere, but that Polpo handles with sophistication.
