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POLPO Italian Restaurant Chelsea — Italian restaurants in London

POLPO Italian Restaurant Chelsea

Italian restaurantsLondon

4.5 out of 5 stars4.5(2,487 reviews)

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Quick info

+44 20 7730 8900
81 Duke of York Square, London SW3 4LY, United Kingdom

About POLPO Italian Restaurant Chelsea

POLPO Italian Restaurant Chelsea is a Venetian bàcaro style small plates spot on Duke of York Square, serving cicchetti and fried plates such as mushroom pizza, potato and truffle croquettes, and zucchini fries. The beef shin rigatoni is a recurring order, alongside crab linguine and an Italian sausage pizette, with torta della nonna and tiramisu to close. The wine list stays curated to Italian varietals rather than running long. Seating is walk-in, and the room is small, so it fills and grows loud at busy times. Outdoor tables are available, and staff bring out blankets and heaters when the weather turns cooler.

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Menu & Prices

61 dishes · mains £2–24
  • Peach Bellini£13.00
  • Lemoncello£13.00
  • Select£13.00
  • Paloma£13.00
  • Negroni£13.00
  • Espresso Martini£14.50
See full menu & prices →

Reviews

4.5/5
2,487 reviews

What reviewers say

Reviewers most often mention beef shin rigatoni, tiramisu, crab linguine and artichoke crostino.

5★
1,842
4★
343
3★
138
2★
55
1★
109

Customer Review Summary

Beef shin rigatoni is the dish diners name most, with several calling it delicious and one the best pasta they have ever had. Close behind are the artichoke crostino, the potato and truffle croquettes, the zucchini fries, the mushroom pizza, the Italian sausage pizette and the crab linguine. The sirloin tagliata, the tomato salad and the torta della Nona also get praise. Reviewers also mention the cicchetti, the spritz and negroni, and a wine list described as not extensive but wonderfully curated. Service is described as friendly and efficient, even during the Chelsea Flower Show crowds, and the outdoor seating gets praise, with one diner given blankets and heaters. The complaints are smaller. One reviewer found the clam linguine bland, another says some small plates are better value than others, one calls the service hit or miss, and the small room gets noisy and hard to hear when full. One solo diner celebrating a 50th birthday was surprised with a tiramisu topped with a candle and a quietly sung happy birthday.

Featured reviews

  • Google user
    “Great food and we had Otto, really good service!! Felt very welcomed in the restaurant and the interior feels cozy. Wonderful spot for family and friends gathering.:)”
  • Google user
    “Beautiful restaurant in the middle of Duke of York Square. The selection of wines was not extensive but wonderfully curated - lots of beautiful Italian varietals. The ambience was lovely - I sat outside and people watched as I dined alone. But what really stood out for me was the service. I was looked after so well by Otto who was such a lovely man and excellent at his job. What a great asset he is to Polpo. He surprised me towards the end of my lunch with a beautiful tirimasu with a lighting candle and quietly sang happy birthday to me (I had told him at the start that it was my 50th and I was celebrating it by spending a couple of days alone in London).”
  • Google user
    “The food here is always good and reliable - must orders are the crab linguine, Italian sausage pizette, and strawberry gelato. The food also always comes out super quickly. Service unfortunately can be a bit hit or miss sometimes as other reviews have mentioned. Lovely outdoor seating for the summertime. Reliable spot so I’ve been a few times and will continue to come back.”
  • Google user
    “A fabulous lunch, served impeccably by Ciro. The cicchetti was exactly what we’d hoped, as were the spritz and negroni beforehand. Would totally recommend to anyone — and worth making the journey for.”
  • Google user
    “You can really feel the care at this restaurant where you can try authentic Italian dishes. The food is beautiful - simple, fresh, and done properly! I suggest trying try polpo, the tomato salad that is full of flavour, the crostini, and the beef pasta! But what made it special was the team - Emanuel was very helpful and informative when bringing the dishes out. He made us feel easy and welcoming. Thank you so much for such a lovely service. And Francesco who just joined the team is also doing a great job. Huge thanks to the GM - your place is fantastic 🤌🤌🤌 Definitely be coming back 💯”

Hours

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Good to know

“Industrial-chic Venetian bàcaro mini-chain spot for local wines/small plates.”

  • Accessibility
    Wheelchair: entrance, seating

Amenities

  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
Show more amenities
Accessibility· 1
  • Wheelchair accessible seating

Location

Italian restaurants near POLPO Italian Restaurant Chelsea

POLPO Italian Restaurant Chelsea
4.52,487
  • Oliveto4.2653
    0.4 mi£30–80

    veal milanese, beef carpaccio, crab linguine

  • 0.5 mi£1–15

    club sandwich, breakfast, chocolate fondant

  • Olivo4.3397
    0.5 mi

    artichoke pasta dishes, sardinian cuisine, coffee and mirto

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