RUSSELL Norman's self-styled Venetian bacaro chain, Polpo, has established its first Northern outpost at Harvey Nichols in Victoria Quarter, Leeds.
We had had our eyes on Leeds for a while...
Inspired by the 'bacaro', a Venetian term used to describe a humble stand-up wine bar serving cheap and tasty Italian cicchetti (similar to Spanish tapas), Polpo specializes in small plates, spritz and Prosecco served in humble interiors designed to mimic the 'rustic back streets' of Venice...
...minus the squark of excitable American tourists and stench of floating human effluence, of course.
Luke Bishop, managing director of Polpo, said: “We had had our eyes on Leeds for a while, as it’s a vibrant city with an impressive restaurant scene, so it is very exciting to be working with Harvey Nichols and the Leeds store to launch Polpo’s first restaurant in the north.”
Polpo Leeds will offer a number of the restaurant's big-hitters, costing between £3 and £10, including: cod cheeks with lentils & salsa verde, fried stuffed olives, zucchini arancini and fig & prosciutto crostini and deep fried polenta-crusted meatballs. Whilst the bar will stock the group's own label of wine and bubbles, along with the usual suspects, Aperol and Campari.
Now ten restaurants strong, Norman - who cut his teeth as director of Caprice Holdings (owners of The Ivy) - opened the first Polpo on Soho's Beak Street in 2009, going on to win a number of Michelin Bib Gourmands.
Confidential's full scored review to follow...
