(212) 777-1616

218 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10003 40.736216 -73.985056

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Neighborhoods: Gramercy Park, Midtown

Hours:

Monday 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM

Tuesday 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM

Wednesday 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM

Thursday 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM

Friday 10:30 AM - 11:30 PM

Saturday 9:00 AM - 11:30 PM

Sunday 9:00 AM - 11:30 PM

Last updated 10.14.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The food and ambiance are warm and inviting, and they play very cool music.”
  2. “have taken a couple of visiting gourmet foodies here, and they loved the cuisine and cool ambiance, with all the great African music.”
  3. “The service at was incredible and the atmosphere was warm and cozy.”
  4. “First of all, the ambiance is really nice.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “All the soups, salads and desserts are all great too.”
  2. “For desert we have warm chocolate cake ,it was melting in your mouth with the vanilla ice cream.”
  3. “Great coffee, desserts as well.”
drinks
75.0% positive
  1. “Great coffee, desserts as well.”
  2. “tasty food and awesome drinks!”
  3. “The food was do good that I ate every last bite and am now too full and tired from the great wine and am off to a nice sleep to dream about going there for breakfast!”
  4. “Im not a big drinker but we tried a couple of the house cocktails, feeling adventurous, I went for the red pepper martini (I can't remember what it was actually called on the menu) which I know sounds really strange but it was so good!”
food quality
92.58999824523926% positive
  1. “The food was excellent.”
  2. “Ponty Bistro has the most amazing authentic african and french food ever.”
  3. “We have been wondering why the food is so great, and it turns out the two Chefs, originally from Senegal, have worked in the some of the very best restaurants in NYC, including Daniel Restaurant, Vong, 60 Thomson and Towne at the Chambers Hotel.”
  4. “have taken a couple of visiting gourmet foodies here, and they loved the cuisine and cool ambiance, with all the great African music.”
  5. “The best French toast I have ever had, lobster Benedict yummy.”
  6. “EVERY time we order a meat dish at Ponty it is grilled to perfection.”
  7. “ordered chicken tajine and thoroughly enjoyed the spicy, aromatic cous cous.”
  8. “The meat fell off the bone and the sauce was really tasty.”
  9. “The fish soup -- loaded with lobster, mussels, clams, fish -- and the salade nicoise are my favorites at a great price.”
  10. “They always top meats with mouthwatering sauces, and serve generous portions.”
  11. “My husband and I dined at Ponty Bistro tonight and had another superb meal there.”
  12. “You will always get a good meal.”
  13. “had the grilled whole fish as an entree, which was stuffed with herbs and spices--truly awesome.”
  14. “The staff was amazing, food delicious, and it became a quick favorite.”
  15. “All the soups, salads and desserts are all great too.”
  16. “pretentious food and small portions but interesting tastes”
  17. “The food was do good that I ate every last bite and am now too full and tired from the great wine and am off to a nice sleep to dream about going there for breakfast!”
  18. “We both had very tasty butternut squash soup with a touch of ginger.”
  19. “recommend taking the moules africana (in the traditional sauce) which are not only very tasty but a great value for money”
  20. “Best french toast I've ever had.”
  21. “I'd enjoyed some great breakfasts (eggs florentine is KILLER!)”
  22. “In other words each dish tastes great.”
  23. “The last time we were there, the food was awful.”
  24. “The pork chop was perfectly crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside, and the side dishes all work together to create a delicious meal.”
  25. “tasty food and awesome drinks!”
  26. “The food and ambiance are warm and inviting, and they play very cool music.”
  27. “He had a fantastic strip steak with delicious sauce.”
menu variety
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The presentation is always four star, and the prices are extremely reasonable, especially the pre-fixe menus, which seem to offer a real bargain at lunch and dinner.”
  2. “Looking forward to returning soon to try their very interesting lunch or dinner menu.”
  3. “Im not a big drinker but we tried a couple of the house cocktails, feeling adventurous, I went for the red pepper martini (I can't remember what it was actually called on the menu) which I know sounds really strange but it was so good!”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Ponty Bistro is definitely going to be my new favorite East Village restaurant.”
  2. “We live in the neighborhood and agree its the very best restaurant around.”
  3. “the best place in the neighbohood”
  4. “It's a shame too, used to be a great place!”
  5. “the best place in the neighborhood”
  6. “As you walk in you feel the wonderful smells in the air together with the great simple but nice look of the place.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “The chefs are really nice and friendly, and aim to please their customers.”
  2. “The service was friendly and attentive.”
  3. “The staff was amazing, food delicious, and it became a quick favorite.”
  4. “The service at was incredible and the atmosphere was warm and cozy.”
  5. “can't wait to bring my everyone I know to this warm and friendly restaurant.”
value
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “They always top meats with mouthwatering sauces, and serve generous portions.”
  2. “recommend taking the moules africana (in the traditional sauce) which are not only very tasty but a great value for money”
  3. “find with quite reasonable prices.”
  4. “pretentious food and small portions but interesting tastes”
  5. “The presentation is always four star, and the prices are extremely reasonable, especially the pre-fixe menus, which seem to offer a real bargain at lunch and dinner.”
  6. “The fish soup -- loaded with lobster, mussels, clams, fish -- and the salade nicoise are my favorites at a great price.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “The staff was amazing, food delicious, and it became a quick favorite.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/18/10

A neighborhood gem

by dsalted at Citysearch

Just this week alone I have eaten two meals at Ponty. I am so thankful that this wonderful place has found a home in such a convenient neighborhood.

The Prix-fixe brunch is always amazing. The pancakes are pretty much perfect. thickness, crispy edges, soft center...and consistent every time! The french toast is ridiculous. Even something as simple as oatmeal is done so well... I can't believe I used to wait in line for bad food on a week-end afternoon when a place like this exists. They serve quality drinks with brunch too... a perfect bloody mary, and the fresh ginger martini is really different. They even do a 2 for one special after 12, so you can really get your day off to a good start if you choose!

I recently had the pleasure of trying the soft shell crab for lunch, and I was so happy the whole time I was eating it. It has a light fried crispy edge, and was so light and delicious... I would recommend that any seafood lover try it right away. It is really special.

I would recommend this place to anyone looking to find a wonderful meal in a great intimate bistro. This place is a New York find. The international staff of top notch chefs and wait staff will take good care of you weather your group is large or small. I'm sure of it. Highly recommended.

  • Pros: excellent food and service, avoid crowds and hectic-ness
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/09/10

I was appaulled

by mike286ll at Citysearch

About a week ago i was at ponty bistro and it all seemed well until we ordered the wine the server new nothing about wine so my brother suggested we order a bottle of cabernet.Once the server came with the bottle he opened it and never gave a taste test he just started pouring and filled up the glasses to the top and there wasn't enough to go around,then he poured some out of the glasses to the person that didn't get any.Meanwhile the head chef and owner (Cisse) was cursing loudly to another of the server and threatening him to fire him being completly obnoxious and unpleasant so then we ordered i had the bronzino stuffed with greens,finally after thirty seven minutes the food arrived and it seemed ok up until i got to the center where i found a big hair ball and something that seemed like a peace of tin i was disgusted i didnt eat it.During the time we waited for the food to come we watched the other chef in the kitchen (chek) and as he was preparing a steak that went back to the kitchen from another table he kept licking his fingers and flipping it with his bear hands then threw it in the microwave.Soon after, chef Cisse had an altercation with a kitchen employee and fired him telling him out loud to get the f... out of here and go back to mexico,by that tim it was time to go so we left agreeing to never return.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/28/10

Kickin' Flavors at Ponty Bistro

by travlinfoodie at Citysearch

We live in the neighborhood and agree its the very best restaurant around. It is an original! Ordered the special pork chop with potatoes au gratin and sauteed spinach. The pork chop was perfectly crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside, and the side dishes all work together to create a delicious meal. Also love the appetizer spring rolls and crispy tuna! EVERY time we order a meat dish at Ponty it is grilled to perfection. They always top meats with mouthwatering sauces, and serve generous portions. All the soups, salads and desserts are all great too. The chefs are really nice and friendly, and aim to please their customers. I have taken a couple of visiting gourmet foodies here, and they loved the cuisine and cool ambiance, with all the great African music. We highly recommend Ponty Bistro!!!

  • Pros: Friendly atmosphere, great cuisine
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/27/10

the best place in the neighborhood

by tamara82 at Citysearch

I sat there last weekend on a Friday night and had an amazing time with the live DJ. great music.

First of all, the ambiance is really nice. The restaurant is small and really nice decor. As you walk in you feel the wonderful smells in the air together with the great simple but nice look of the place.

The food was excellent. I recommend taking the moules africana (in the traditional sauce) which are not only very tasty but a great value for money .for entrees i had the bronzino ,it's was amazing and for desert i tried the homemade apple tarte with cinnamon ice cream.i cannot wait to go back soon with couple friends.

1 Star Rating: Poor

02/27/10

Lost it's Appeal

by CM1721 at Citysearch

About a year ago my friends and I found this restaurant and instantly fell in love. The staff was amazing, food delicious, and it became a quick favorite. Fast forward one year later, and I honestly don't think I've had a worse experience in this city. The last time we were there, the food was awful. I have a gluten allergy, and told the waiter, he insisted nothing I was ordering had gluten, yet when my food arrived, covered in breadcrumbs. They were also argumentative when I tried to send it back and gave me a problem about taking it off the bill. My next experience was take out. After delivering the wrong dish, they fought with me for no less than 10 minutes about bringing me the right thing - which they eventually did. After they brought my my original order, the delivery guy asked me to take the wrong order OUT OF MY TRASH and give it back to him. I can't imagine for any other reason then they were going to try to reuse the food. Disgusting and disgraceful. It's a shame too, used to be a great place!

The Details on Ponty Bistro

Place Categories:

  • outstanding french food
  • very best east village restaurant
  • mouthwatering sauce
  • best place
  • loved cool ambiance
  • extremely reasonable prices
  • incredible service
  • superb meal
  • great breakfast
  • great meat dish
  • warm atmosphere
  • authentic african
  • really nice chefs
  • great desserts
  • not big drinker
  • enjoyed great breakfasts
  • awesome drinks
  • great coffee
  • great neighbhood treasure
  • very interesting dinner menu
  • best french toast
  • best french
  • truly awesome grilled whole fish
  • great african music
  • totally recommend ponty bistro