Ponty Bistro

I love the service and the food. Awesome little spot. Never disappoints. Came again this morning for the yummy crab Benedict and sat in the lovely outdoor area. My server Cedric was attentive and very pleasant. I will continue to dine here when I’m in Harlem.

We visited Ponty Bistro upon a friend’s recommendation and were very glad we did. I believe this was my first time eating at a French & African restaurant. It appeared to be a very popular place for locals, as everyone else in there seemed to know each other and the restaurant staff. I really loved that.
We arrived early for dinner (around 6pm) and were immediately seated. Our friend recommended the lamb burger, and our server adamantly agreed, so that’s what my husband ordered. I admit I had entrée envy! I ordered the lamb shank, another very popular dish on the menu. Served with couscous and an onion sauce, it was delicious but HUGE. When I say huge, it could have comfortably served 2 – 3 people. I really enjoyed it but oh man, that lamb burger was divine.
We had great, friendly service and loved the atmosphere of Ponty Bistro. Will definitely go there again!

I just recently started working in the neighborhood and was dying to check this place out. My co workers had mentioned that it was pricey but very good. I came on HH and on top of that it was ladies night. KRISTEN is a great bartender and she is super friendly. I was alone for a few hrs there and she hooked me up! The manager is also very nice and making sure everyone is enjoying themselves. The calamari was delicious! Cant wait to come back !! They even had a dj come in. I left early around 8 but im sure it got poppin afterwards.

Ordered the salmon burger with mixed greens and chocolate croissant for delivery. Burger was inedibly fishy, tasted frozen or spoiled, and there were fries instead of greens. Fries were packaged in plastic alongside burger, so they and the bun were mushy. Also some fries were raw and others were burnt – clean your fryer. Chocolate croissant tasted good but was dense inside and soft outside, rather than light and flaky.
I called about the burger. The woman on the phone was rude and should place patrons on hold rather than put down the phone and talk about them. The chef sent over a fresh burger, which was just okay, with overdressed greens, for which we waited an additional hour. This place is crazy overpriced. If you want to be gourmet, then uphold gourmet standards.

Wonderful addition to Harlem. I ordered a basic breakfast platter that exceeded my expectations as far as quality and taste. This place is a must for delicious cuisine.

I’ve been waiting now for 35minutes. Still have not received the appetizer I ordered. Still hungry. Told the manager and his response to me is «I don’t know what happened». Never coming back here.

The ginger martinis. the moules Africana. The risotto. These are just the things I tried. All of them delish. The service was great too, very friendly, chill vibe, fresh décor. Get your life!!!

My family and I have eaten here twice. First time was last year during NY marathon, we came to celebrate a family member’s successful completion of the marathon. Second time was recently, we brought our mother to celebrate Mother’s Day. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and food both times. The service was impeccable. We were a big party yet they attended to all our needs. Everyone loved their food. The foods did not only taste good they looked good too. I was basically in a food heaven. Their wine is a bit pricey but the great food compensates for it. Although, the food is pricey too but who cares it tastes great :) It can get pretty crowded so booking a reservation especially for a big party is wise. Décor is pretty laid back, they are always playing great music especially African music which I love. This is one of the best places to eat in Harlem and I highly recommend it.

Amazing food !!! Little misunderstanding on what we order but overall, management handle it amazing. The food is what is important, love the crispy tuna!!! The ambiance and music was very contemporary!!! Next time we will bring our friends !!!

Had dinner last night. 1^st time there. Excellent service, personable, eager to please. Ate Grilled shrimp, rice, Vegs. Delicious & served fast. Also ate Truffle Mac & Cheese. Also delicious & big portion. Will definitely tell my friends about this place & will return again & again. Oh, & the Rum Punch was great, 2.

I’m never going to this place again. I made a grubhub order of a café latte and benedict I had to wait an hour and 10 mins even though the estimated time was 25 – 35 minutes. I called the restaurant twice and both times they said that the delivery man already left. I waited 25 more minutes until I finally got my delivery. I COULD WALK TO THE RESTAURANT IN 5 MINUTES.
The food was cold. The café latte was not a café latte, it was a regular coffee so I threw it away. Expensive food. Wrong order. More than an hour wait for 3 blocks distance. Basically they should not offer delivery if the food becomes poor quality from the slow delivery.

This is a reminder review so I don’t order from here again.
Ordered the chicken paillard salad. $ 18 for a pile of slimy and old mixed greens and a small half chicken breast (which was not cooked well done like I’d asked). There was no vinaigrette dressing.
But the best part were the «bonus items» on the salad, not listed in the description in the menu: shredded carrots and sliced raw apples, which guess what, I’m ALLERGIC to. So that was half the salad in the garbage and now my tongue itches.
The mashed potatoes were okay, but since the order was 20 minutes late, they were lukewarm.

I was running an errand in Harlem (a bit hungry) and good friend steered me toward Ponty Bistro. But I live — and dine — in Brooklyn, which has really taken cuisine to a whole new level in the past decade, and I’ve watched the tide rise all around the borough as Brooklyn continues to raise the bar of truly exceptional food. So after a few disappointing Harlem tries, I was dumbstruck at how awesome this place is.
I went with the waiter’s recommendation, far from the most expensive item on the menu, so it was hardly a «bigger tip push» and was really surprised at the complex layers of flavor and changes in texture that the chef was able to get from a simple mushroom risotto. And I’m totally biased because I love Senegalese food and I was eating in a predominately Senegalese restaurant, but the menu was incredibly diverse.
Then I see all of these other reviews praising the truffle mac & cheese, the lobster BLT, the mussel crosque monsier… and I’d only had my eyes on the fish yassa! I’ll be moving to Harlem in a few months and Ponty Bistro is now at the top of my list.

What an incredible dinner and evening out. I don’t venture up to Harlem to often but I’m so glad I did. Ponty Bistro is absolutely incredible. Honestly, from the moment I walked in the door, I got the feeling as if I was being invited into someone’s home. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that this place has a homely feel, not at all. In fact, I found the décor to be very chic and modern. The walls were beautifully appointed with Africa art and other eclectic pieces. It was clear from the faces of those dining that this would be a place they would soon revisit and recommend to others; me included.
I was dining with ten others and most chose the mussels with fries but I chose the fish dish served on a bed of curry risotto. Man, it was out of sight. Oh yes, I don’t want to forget the appetizer I chose which was the crispy tuna. Again, an absolute hit!!! Oh by the way, the staff/​our waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly.
At the end of my meal, I ordered the standard Tiramisu and my friend next to me ordered the same thing. My dessert seems to be a bit dry and flat. My friend compare and she agreed. The waiter overheard us speaking about it and asked if I wanted to talk to the chef. I declined because I had already finished it and didn’t think it was worth making a fuss over. After all, it’s not like the dessert was terrible, just a bit dry. Would you know, he told the chef anyway and the chef gifted me with a new dessert. Amazing the second time. Lol
Please treat yourself to this wonderful experience. You will be so pleased, I promise!

Pros
Great food– I had L’onglet A L’Echalote, Grilled hanger steak, yukon french fries (which are to die for) spinach, bordelaise sauce
Great Ambiance
Attentive staff
Nice and clean
Cons
I gave them a 4 star only because I went here for dinner on a cold winter day and the place lacked enough heat. I was wearing my winter coat the entire time; this detracted from an otherwise positive experience.

This spot has been on my to try list for months and I finally got to try them out.
I found them on Unilocal when I started working in the area. The place was cute and warm.
Staff: super attentive and patient. Being that I am on a mission to try different cuisines this year I asked probably too many questions about the menu. He was really knowledgeable.
Foooood: I had the Poisson, which was delightful and fresh. It was a light dish with great flavor. We also had the steak which packed some heat. I think the steak was my favorite and I’ll be back for it.

This is a very nice, classy place with pretty amazing food and decent atmosphere. It is French/​African fusion and the quality is up there! Service was above average, albeit a little slow. Drinks were delicious and the cocktails were inventive. Arugula salad was fresh and delicious! I added shrimp which was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Seafood risotto was varied and prepared with care. The French fries were homemade, but a little disappointing — a little soggy and not very crunchy. I think this place could go well with a few tweaks. The prices were very high for the area, but the quality of ingredients made up for that. I can’t wait to go back!

Never thought my dream would come true until coming to Ponty Bistro – french&african cuisine! I had the Salmon Burger, French fries on the side.
Salmon was well seasoned with fresh herbs and spices, brioche bun tasted fresh also. And the French fries were baked instead of frying (I’m pretty sure). The best part was the service– I sat at the bar where the bartender was attentive, funny, personable and enthusiastic (especially during the holiday season)! I recommend anyone to go.

Mussels, Lobster BLT, Chocolate Fondant
If you’re looking for the best mussels in NYC, look no further Ponty Bistro is the place for you! My favorite is the Moules African… the spices give this dish so much flavor. You’ll be requesting bread to souse in the leftover broth.
Lobster Blt was okay. I’d prefer different roll or have it toasted. It wasn’t horrible just nothing to wow about. Now if you dip it in the broth from the mussels, that okay rating becomes a good!
Chocolate Fondant!!! This dessert! If you’re a chocolate lover, this is not your typical lava cake. The chocolate flows like a never ending river of fondue! The cake is light and airy. I just died and went to chocolate heaven.
The ambience is cozy, the 4 – 8 happy hour (beer, wine, and small bites) makes it even cozier, and the staff makes you feel like you’re family. Ponty bistro is where you want to be. Each dish on the menu sounds absolutely delicious! Definitely will try the other dishes sooner than later!

Making the trip to Harlem is always an experience and this was a good one.
My family went for my sister’s birthday and everything tasted so amazing. Very well seasoned, many choices.
And the waiters and waitresses were friendly and attentive.