Category: Bistro (££) 
Sometimes it happens that,when you have finished writing a post,you press a wrong button and everything is lost. (why does the auto-save only work when you don’t need it I wonder…). This happened to me with my truly excellent Bocca Di Lupo post and I am writing it now again with significantly less enthusiasm I have to say.
Despite my computer disability Bocca di Lupo deserves to be written up. I wanted to go there so many times already but never managed to get a table. This time however the queue in front of Spuntino was too long,so we moved on to Bocca Di Lupo located in a little Soho side street. After 20 odd minutes that we spent sipping prosecco and people watching we were finally seated at the bar.
I like the atmosphere at Bocca Di Lupo very much. It is stylish and down to earth at the same time,the patrons being a good looking mixed crowd of post-theatre and pre-party diners. From the people at the reception to the waiting staff,everyone was very friendly,attentive and forthcoming.
As the name already promises,Bocca di Lupo serves Italian food. I thought I would know or at least be able to translate most Italian dishes but when looking at the menu I realised that I had still a lot to learn. There were quite a few dishes I had never heard of and had not the faintest idea what they could possibly consist of. Provenance is a big issue as it is also stated in the menu from which Italian region the respective dish originates from,
I do really like the fact that you can order small and large portions of most dishes which makes the food at Bocca di Lupo ideal for sharing (or not sharing for that matter). It is not exactly cheap and some of the dishes (see below) are bordering on seriously overpriced,but there are enough dishes under 10 pounds to choose from that you can get away with a non-bank breaking bill when ordering carefully.
I had no idea what Crescentine,prosciutto sardo &squacquerone (7 small,14 large) could possible be,so it had to be ordered. The ‘bread’was reminiscent of fried pizza dough,still warm and very pleasant eaten together with the mild and creamy cheese (squacquerone stems from the Emilia Romagna) and the thinly sliced delicious prosciutto. This is comfort food of the highest standard.
I have to order a dish that promises to be ‘extremely spicy’,in this case the Orecchiette with ‘nduja (extremely spicy home-made salame) red onion &fresh tomato (7.00 small,14 large). Finally a place in London were you get your pasta served al dente without having to fight for it and send the plate back 3 times! Again the thought of comfort food comes to mind. I have eaten more sophisticated pasta dishes,but this in its earthiness was rath enjoyable. Of note,it was spicy but not extremely so.
For some vitamines we chose the Broad beans,rocket,lemon &mint (7.50). This I really thought was overpriced. Not a bad dish and certainly healthy but slightly tasteless and absolutely not worth 7.50 pounds! Or are broad beans an expensive ingredient?
After so much green there had to be space for dolce . None of the usual suspects on the dessert menu –no tiramisu,no panna cotta and no zabaione. Again a lot of stuff I have never heard of and our choice finally fell on the Palle del nonno (6.50). 2 fried dough balls came filled with a hot chocolate/ricotta mix,faintly tasting of orange and this was unlike everything I have ever eaten before. It was quite nice but I don’t think I would necessarily order it again. In addition, 6.50 pounds is just overpriced for this,particularly also considering the presentation (or better lack of any).
In the end I did enjoy my visit at Bocca Di Lupo and I am intrigued to try more of their food. I was considering a green light and I would have given it,but the pricing seems a bit random particularly for dishes that can’t cost very much to make.
- Food: 6/10
- Service: 7/10
- Atmosphere: 8/10
- Value for money: 6/10
- Chances of returning:20%
- Verdict: In the end it’s an interesting restaurant and good food –I like it but I don’t love it.
I went to Bocca di Lupo last year and had a similar experience to you –some dishes I loved in their simplicity (a plate of raw seafood with lemon,and fried courgette flowers come to mind being the two I remember the most),but a lot I thought was overpriced. I had “the perfect peach”for dessert,joked to my friend that “what if it’s just a peach”,and…it was! For £6,or something like that. Good peach though!
@ Hanna –6 pounds for a peach! that’s rather funny actually…! Interesting that you had a similar experience,I think in the future we better stay off the desserts and focus on other dishes. fried courgette flowers sound wonderful,I don’t think they were on the menu now.
I really liked Bocca di Lupo but I do think there is an issue with “small plate”restaurants racheting up the bills –it all adds up quite quickly!
Very interesting (sorry for not making it to LandofKings) read. The place is one of the most loved in Soho to my belief and like yourself I do not like it!! I went when it was first opened and a few people told me to go back. Reading your post,however,sort of makes me feel it’s wise to stray away from Bocca di Lupa. That said,the ice cream shop opposite is rather scrumptious ^_^
@ Gourmet Chick –you are right,I end up spending much more money at cheapish sharing plate restaurants than on expensive places! One thinks everything is so cheap (one feels everything under 10 pounds is cheap really) until the bill comes…Still like the principle though and will continue to pay and sometimes overpay…
@ The Skinny Bib –Ohh I haven’t tried the ice cream yet,in fact I have tried none of the Soho ice cream shops,shame on me! I am glad you agree on me with Bocca though,I wouldn’t exactly rush back either…
i really enjoyed my meal at Bocca:their truffle pecornio salad and the artichoke a la guida oh my and their negronis were spot on too! We shared a rib of beef it was falling off the bone;but i’ve heard amazing things about zucca and trullo so ill have to see!
@ Jingan –I used to live next to Zucca before I was sent to exile and absolutely loved it. It’s about the same price as Bocca I would say but the food feels more sophisticated and I do prefer it. Trullo still high up on my list!
[...] in the Anglo-Saxon world.Gelupo is the younger brother of the hugely successful Italian tapas place Bocca di Lupo and in addition to its main shop in Soho has also a subsidiary at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. [...]