Polpo

"The warming atmosphere of Polpo Smithfield makes it hard for us to resist if we’re on the border of Old Street and Farringdon. Chocolate Salami, six different types of meatball, and “Escaped Birds” skewers tempt you to try something new from the self-proclaimed simple Venetian bàcaro menu. Lunchtimes get busy quickly, so arrive early to avoid disappointment – they don’t take bookings. This small chain doesn’t want your experience to stop there – they also have the extraordinary Polpo cookbook (which you can get 20% off online – thank us later)." - DesignStudio

"Polpo, a Venetian-style spot whose casual, stripped-down atmosphere, no-reservations policy, and menu of small plates proved to be hugely influential among restaurants in London and abroad — Norman, once called “the coolest man in food,” is widely recognized as one of the progenitors of the small-plates trend, and Polpo’s great success led him and Beatty to open numerous restaurants together." - Rebecca Flint Marx

"Polpo Not many restaurants outside Italy advertise their cuisine as Venetian, but then there aren’t many quite like Polpo. Now a stable of six eateries, the brand began in 2009 as a Soho bacaro serving informal small plates with Prosecco and Aperol spritz. It quickly became something of a trendsetter, drawing queues down the street, thanks in part to it being one of the capital’s first restaurants to operate a no bookings policy. Now the pressure to get a table is off but the emphasis on delicious sharing food remains. The fritto misto and arancini are musts, and when you’re done, there’s a nightcap with your name on it in the basement Campari Bar. The original restaurant is in an 18th-century building that was once the home of the Venetian painter Canaletto, which you can’t argue, is a nice touch."

"The décor, from artfully peeled paint to battered wood floors, is as spot-on as the no-fuss Venetian small plates here. The menu ranges from a simple bowl of olives to an intricate cuttlefish concoction. It can be a wait to get a seat at this locale, which is why the bar downstairs serving classic Italian cocktails is often our first port of call. The success of the first location prompted the opening of several more iterations across London."

"The décor, from artfully peeled paint to battered wood floors, is as spot-on as the no-fuss Venetian small plates here. The menu ranges from a simple bowl of olives to an intricate cuttlefish concoction. It can be a wait to get a seat at this locale, which is why the bar downstairs serving classic Italian cocktails is often our first port of call. The success of the first location prompted the opening of several more iterations across London."