Reviews & Ratings for Cafe Ponte

05/04/09

Great Lunch!

by CSMobileUser2 at Citysearch

I had an amazing Balsamic Salmon for lunch. Price was very reasonable.

01/09/09

Not worth hype

by Zaxis at Citysearch

Went for special occasion. Table not ready. My duck was dry and companion's dish lukewarm.

Two of wines requested not available. Nice atmosphere, but waiter was disappointing.

07/10/08

I don't see what all the fuss is about

by sabrina9 at Citysearch

Having read many reviews praising this restaurant my husband and I went here for lunch a while back. We had crabcakes for an appetizer. This may be our personal taste but they were so overly fishy it was difficult to eat them. He had a asian kind of beef stirfry which was really really tough. And my meal was luke warm. Maybe it was an off day, but based on our lunch experience I would never go there for dinner.

02/06/07

Overall Great experience and a special place to experience food

by mifisher01 at Citysearch

We have been to Cafe Ponte several times and have always had great service. The quality and uniqueness of the food is something you do not find in the Tampa Bay area. Waitstaff is great and the different dishes are phenomenal. We take all of our friends there when they are in town. It is expensive but you get what you pay for. We do not go there that often but everytime everything has been great.

• Pros: Great food, service, ambience
• Cons: sometimes a bit noisy but always friendly

06/26/06

Best restaurant in the Bay area, period, no contest!

by m_atteniese at Citysearch

We found this place a couple of years back and it's our go to restaurant for any special occoasion. We celebrated our first anniversary last Saturday, and it was just phenominal. They had the table covered with rose pedals! Nice touch, but the food (Foie Gras appetizer, Duck breast meal) is world class. Our waiter was just awesome as well. I can't remember his name, which is a shame because I would request him every time. When Wolfgang Puck comes to town to hock his wares on the Home Shopping channel, he eats here. That should be enough validation right there!

• Pros: Great food, service, wine and atmosphere
• Cons: None

04/15/06

Who knew you could find this in Tampa Bay?

by wandering_foodie at Citysearch

Foodie paradise from the focaccia with tapenade and European-style butter to the surprise demitasse to the fig/prosciutto tart to the perfectly prepared Ahi tuna to the just light enough lemongrass panna cotta. Absolutely exceeded my expectations of what I could find in Clearwater. Waiter was fabulous and staff kept the water coming. If appreciating great food makes me a yuppie, than so be it buddy. More tapenade for me.

• Pros: Easy parking

09/15/05

Over rated

by northwinthrop at Citysearch

Booked well in advance requesting 'discreet' table. Got there, table wasn't ready. Finally seated nearest a bar area and what looked like a service prep area. So overcrowded, patrons (and waiters) had to bump our seating to get in or out. Wait staff slow and unattentive. Evening was too long, taking an unreasonable amount of time to place and receive orders. Food was cold and mediocre. This place is all hype. Total bill for one drink per, one bottle moderately priced wine, six entrees, two desserts and a coffee - $500! I paid the bill and vowed not to return. This place caters to pretentious yuppies with more money than sense or sensibility. Cafe Ponte is the latest Emperor's New Clothes - "hey I just don't see what everyone else does". PS: The restrooms were a mess! For a spectacular night out try some other place.

• Pros: Tasty Mojito
• Cons: Overpriced, Bad service, Pretentious

08/05/05

very disappointing meal at Cafe Ponte

by redgrouper at Citysearch

Having read several positive reviews here and elsewhere of Cafe Ponte, we decided to try it for a celebratory dinner. Although some dishes were good, the meal was a disappointing experience overall, especially the dry and tough osso buco served with gummy risotto. The burrata and fois gras were quite good, the baked oysters drowned in their topping. We also found the service very unaccommodating.

If anyone has had any better experiences there, I'd love to hear about it.

04/14/05

WOW!!! A Bright Spot In The Bay Area

by ciatampa at Citysearch

Once you get past the location (in a strip center next to a Holiday Inn Select) you will be pleasantly surprised with an imaginable menu and flawless execution. My partner and I have heard of Cafe Ponte but did not expect world class food in our backyard. Our hat's are off to the Chef Chris Ponte for his imagination and execution of an excellent dinner. The wine list was comprehensive and fairly priced. My partner and I plan on being regulars at this very good establishment. BRAVO!!!

• Pros: Food, Creativeness, Execution
• Cons: None

05/19/04

The Best Outside New York

by chris13505 at Citysearch

Upon walking through the entrance of Cafe Ponte, you immediately notice a decor and ambience hardly ever seen in the Tampa Bay area. The hostess was very inviting and pleasant. Our waiter was very friendly and extremely knowledgable. We were excited to finally meet a waiter that not only knew what was in all the elegant dishes prepared at Cafe Ponte; but actually knew what wines were carried and how to pair them. The presentation was nothing like anything I have ever seen in this area! I felt like I was in Paris! Overall our experience was one that we will remember forever! We plan on returning to this place of heaven as soon as we are back in the area.

• Pros: Ambience, Price, Professionalism