Ponty Bistro

“For my entree I had Poulet Yassa, a chicken dish prepared with traditional Senegalese spices.”

“I tasted the Chicken Tagine; the pungent African flavors of the chicken and sauce were deliciously paired with a flavorful couscous.”

“Highlights from our visits:

The Seafood Risotto is possibly the best risotto I've had in the city.”

Ponty Bistro

Delivery: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Apple Pay: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes

Price range.

$$ Price range $11-30

8 reviews

  1. Dinner for two on a Saturday night! This was the only place in our list of restaurants that had a table available so we decided to give it a try. It was a small restaurant but very cozy with great decor. It's a great place for a date!

    We ordered the crab cake special for appetizers. It was extremely tasty. They also put this cole slaw type thing on the bottom which complemented the crab cake. I was impressed. Only thing was the portion – there was only one serving, I think we each took like 3 small bites max. I wish it was a bigger portion. As for entree, I ordered the seafood linguine and my friend ordered the seafood risotto. They were both great. The risotto wasn't too soggy or too hard. My dish was too saucy and too bland for my taste. I was looking for pepper and salt but I didn't want to ruin the dish. We also got a free creme brulee for checking in via Yelp! But it was a disappointment. It was a pre-made refrigerated dessert, we did not like it at all.

    Overall, the experience was great! Our waitress was attentive and nice. I would come back!

  2. The Quick: Great brunch with standard and more eclectic options. Easily seated a group of 5 with no wait. Great indoor/outdoor option for summer.

    The Details:  overall we had a great experience at this restaurant. The staff was friendly, they kept our coffee mugs full, and did not rush us out. The scramble was the groups favorite with a side of lamb sausage, but everything we had was very tasty. We did not love the bloody Mary as it was I have a taste of tomato. But absolutely return.

    Pro tip: They have a phenomenal happy hour with drink and food specials if you're in the area.

    The Damage: Brunch for 5, with multiple sides and one drink was ~ $100 before tip.

  3. We came here thanks to a Travelzoo deal and had an excellent lunch!  Ponty Bistro has some pretty unique offerings like octopus and escargot, and this is definitely the kind of place where you should consider deviating from your food comfort zone.  Everything we got was delicious, service was fast and friendly, and we will definitely be returning again!

  4. Went here for a first date recently and I was pretty bummed out by the service to be frank. While the food was delicious and the portions were reasonable, our food took quite a while to come out and then they forgot about our bill to top it off. Because my date was so patient and interesting to chat with, it made the 3 hour dinner experience bearable. I came to the place based on great ratings for both the food/service, but can only vouch for the food itself. Besides that, like others have said, the atmosphere is cozy and a smaller space. Demographically speaking, most of the people there were 60+ so we were definitely the youngest of the crowd. Overall, good food but crummy service. My tip would be if you plan on coming here, pay special attention to the waiters or you could easily be forgotten!

  5. We came here for an early anniversary dinner, small but charming little place. We started with the foie gras and found it rich and pleasant. My boyfriend ordered the lamb chops and I ordered the seafood pasta (can't remember the exact name). Although the lamb chops were perhaps not as filling as expected, my boyfriend enjoyed them and the scalloped potatoes. I liked my pasta  and its assortment of seafood, all of which was fresh and tasty (scallops, squid, shrimp, mussels). Dessert was strawberry creme brulee – the fruit really added a new layer to the taste. I saw that there were quite a few happy hour specials and would venture back to sample them.

  6. African, French, AND Mediterranean cuisine? Anything but the kitchen sink right?

    For a restaurant that touts three cuisines in one, you can't help but want to try. The place is fairly small, typical NYC restaurant. Tables are close together, but still enough room to have a private-esque meal with whom you're dining with.

    TRY THE GINGER MARTINI: has specks of ginger inside for that extra kick of flavor  but doesn't overpower the drink.

    We ordered the Mussels Africana as an appetizer, and as entrees, two whole Branzino – Poisson Braise A Le Guet Ndar (prepared differently), Lobster ravioli, & the Kasbah Lamb Shank Merguez, bone in. The Branzino came with a side salad and sliced plantains. The fish was cooked perfectly however there wasn't that much flavor besides the lemon I has squeezed on top. The other Branzino had a tomato/vegetable based sauce atop and was served with the same side fixings. The lamb shank came with a side of vegetable couscous, a couple of spiced sausage links, and was doused in a very rich sauce – definitely a must try if you like lamb. The lobster ravioli came in a lobster cream sauce – the ravioli itself was mediocre, the lobster was shredded inside and I couldn't tell if it had fake crab mixed in – sure tasted something.

    Overall the experience was good, the waiters were attentive and the food came out in decent time. This is a place I'll definitely check out again. Very intriguing restaurant.

  7. Sick of the boring old pasta or hamburger? Then try Ponty Bistro, a restaurant that specializes in a fusion of West African and French cuisine in the heart of New York City.

    Crispy Tuna

    Wrapped in pickled ginger and cilantro, the Crispy Tuna is an absolutely mouthwatering dish that you must order. Perfect for sharing, this appetizer highlights fresh chunks of raw tuna with crispy skin. It is served on a bed of sweet soy-ginger vinaigrette with wasabi aioli and a hint of chili oil.

    Soft Shell Crab

    The lightly fried soft shell crab is topped with a bed of marinated olive oil and other vegetables like peas, onions, green bell pepper, and carrots. There are four pieces of asparagus to add a bit of extra crunchiness to the dish.

    5 Stars Seafood Risotto

    The rich and creamy 5 Stars Seafood Risotto packs generous amount of fresh seafood, from the meaty lobster to juicy shrimp to plump scallops. The rice is cooked perfectly al dante, and the creamy, rich base of the sauce will make you want more of this delicious goodness.

    Le Poulet Yassa

    A traditional chicken dish from Senegal, Le Poulet Yassa features juicy, half-chicken in savory marinade with onions, bell peppers, and olives. The dish is served with a side of white rice to soak up all the delicious juice and sauce on the plate.

  8. Great option for a nice casual dinner with excellent choices!

    Their menu is very varied from traditional dishes to typical NY new american type food. Aka great to bring people to dinner here since everyone can find something.

    We came on a Thurday( before a holiday weeked) at around 6:30 and was completely empty, but by 8pm it was packed!

    Our waitress was great! Super nice, gave great suggestions, we decided to get the traditional senegal dishes because, why not, I can get an asian steak salad at panera if I so desperately need too.

    We ordered the crab cake to start, it was pretty good, a little dry. The "Yassa" dish was so good, the chicken tasted super delicious, it reminded me a lot of coq a vin, with rice. Would reccommed trying something different. Also, the portion is HUGE.

    We also tried to do the yelp (check in for a free dessert!) but that only applies to the tiramasu and creme bruelee, but we wanted the nutella crepe, it was SO good….heavy on the nutella, which is always good.

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3rd Avenue 218
New York 10003 NY US
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Monday, 10:30 am - 11:00 pm
Tuesday, 10:30 am - 11:00 pm
Wednesday, 10:30 am - 11:00 pm
Thursday, 10:30 am - 11:00 pm
Friday, 10:30 am - 12:00 am
Saturday, 9:00 am - 12:00 am
Sunday, 9:00 am - 11:00 pm