Everybody’s favourite British bácaro presents newfound reason to get up and out on the weekend with a just launched brunch menu available on Saturdays and Sundays at all Polpo locations. If you already love Polpo, you’ll love it all the more for introducing a range of cicchetti and sharing dishes designed for convivial and relaxed daytime dining. And if Polpo’s not yet made it to the top of your preferred eats list, keep reading and see what you think.
It had been awhile since my last visit to Polpo. But an invitation to try the brunch menu was one met with agreement. As I remembered the restaurant (the original one on Beak Street – which as I recall played a transformative role in London’s casual dining scene when it opened almost a decade ago) it had the right atmosphere for striking up quality conversations while working your way through a menu of northern Italian foodie favourites.
It’s the same case at brunch. Just get up a bit earlier (from 10am in Soho – but best check all locations for hours), request a bloody Mary rather than a Negroni or Aperol Spritz, and prepare for most of the dishes to be more eggy and breakfast-y.
Highlights from the menu include a brunch pizzetta (Italian salsiccia, wild mushroom, Parmesan and soft egg, £8) that’s ideal for social sharing while taming a hangover or perhaps revving up for a big day in town. Soft poached eggs and scafata (£6) provide lovely, flavoursome nourishment. Wild garlic, mushrooms and ricotta on toasted sourdough (£6) offer oomph. Coffees are to a high standard, and as mentioned, a bloody Mary from the bar ain’t a bad idea at all.
Polpo Soho is located at 41 Beak Street, W1F 9SB. There are six other outlets in London as well as restaurants in Leeds and Brighton. Weekend brunch is available at all of them. Find out more at polpo.co.uk.
