Cantina del Ponte

A group of 10 of ate here yesterday for a birthday lunch. We had booked a table outside (the whole point of choosing to eat here) and were told our table was not available so were put inside. When asked about the absence of Pizzas from the menu we were told that the oven was broken.. some explanation without prompting would have been nice.One member of our party was late so we hung on 15 mins to order but were then told rudely that if we didn't order in the next 5 minutes then we wouldn't be able to eat at all. We ordered and then the food arrived...... all dishes looked bland/messy and as if they had been thrown on the plate by someone who clearly didn't care and not one dish came out looking particularly appetising. Same with the main courses, I paid £15 for what amounted to 2 fatty noisettes of lamb, 3 undercooked new potatoes and less than 20 peas. Desserts: same. Past their best and thrown on the plates with melted icecream. Staff were incredibly nonchalent and unhelpful and we all left feeling very disappointed. There are many good restaurants in the area and this one is not a patch on many. Not 1 of our party would recommend this one of ever return.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Sunday, April 29, 2007

I went again to La Cantina yesterday and was very disappointed. The food was average, rather bland. The service was really poor. The staff was rushing all over the place and were rather unfriendly. They were pouring the wine without even asking if we wanted another glass, which I found extremely rude. The heating was turned on full blast and we were boiling hot. The best part of the evening was getting out of the restaurant.
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Linda Lou
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Friday, April 27, 2007

Cantina del Ponte has become one of former-Conran's "enfant pauvre". I first ate there ten years ago, and I remember light, crisp and fresh food. The place now shows fatigue in every corner, staff is untrained, and, most of all, the food is appallingly dull, with a hefty £50 price tag for two (one course + one shared desert, no wine - some of us still are students). It starts with a Tesco-like ciabatta, continues with grease bathing fowl and roast potatoes served in the most unimaginative way, and ends with a sloppy tiramisu. A quick glimpse in the plates left and right of our table confirmed that it was the same story through the board. Blame it all on the Sunday night shift? Unless I manage to travel back in time, I shall henceforth give CdP a miss. Period.
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Cambridge_Student
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Monday, March 19, 2007

This restaurant is a great place to stay. Food is just excellent. Please note the name of the new head chef: Agostino! He's perfect in mixing typical Italian tastes and new ingredients...My boyfrend and I are Italian and I must tell you that at Cantina del Ponte I had one of the best lunch of my life. Pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff!
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Elena and Donato
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, March 19, 2007

Went for lunch last sunday with some friends (and a hangover) who promised me a good meal as they are regulars there.Beautiful setting, good food and friendly staff who were giving me all different cures for a night before.Outstanding !
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Graham Woodley
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Rubbish! No atmosphere, amateur staff, food not as good as Zizzi/Pizza Express.
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Chris Smythe
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, October 13, 2006

I had a delightful evening with Canadaian friends. A lovely view and a table outside under the awnings. The food was great, mine was the guinea fowl on braised fennel, the others had rack of lamb and sword fish, and the panna cotta was scrumptious. The young women waiting table were always attentive without being stuffy and formal. I shall go back!!
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Leon Ferguson
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, September 28, 2006

Oh dear, I'd love to say that we had a delightful experience at this restaurant but I'm afraid I can't!

The plus side is the location - fabulously situated beside the Thames, if you're lucky enough to get a table outside then grab it while you can or even better, book ahead.

That's the plus point.....but unfortunately the food and service was pretty awful. It was overcooked, cold and looked as though it had been sitting around for ages. I suspect that a microwave had been at work at some stage!

The staff were very friendly and pleasant and were eager to please but were totally overworked and frazzled. Whether there was a delay in the kitchen I'm not sure, but some of the dishes we ordered were cold, some were over-cooked, some looked like they'd been lying around for ages and some didn't arrive at all!

We won't be back.
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karen - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, July 25, 2006

I will start on the positives, great location, now the negatives, staff made manuel of faulty towers look competant. After waiting an eternity for my starter it finally arrived,the tuscan bread salad was actually two pieces of lettuce, half of a tomato and a dry piece of warburtons bread. We all ordered a simple margarita pizza not wanting to make it difficult for them, they could'nt even get that right,we decided not to have a dessert because we wanted to get home before breakfast. We have never complained before, but we feel we have to say something because it was so bad.
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CALVIN NEWTON
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Saturday, July 22, 2006

We visited Cantina del Ponte for the first time yesterday for lunch. Our friends had come over to visit from Germany so we wanted to take them somewhere with the fantastic view of Tower Bridge.

We were seated at 14:45 and even though the kitchens closed at 15:00 we were not rushed at all.

We ordered a mixture of dishes including pizza, pasta, fiah and salad all of which were delicious.

You could tell that the sauces were home made using authentic ingredients unlike so many 'plastic' italian reataurants in London.

The service was friendly and efficient.

Even though it was a cool day we were able to sit outside under the canopy as they have outside heating.

We found the prices to be very reasonable contrary to other reviewers. Where else can you get a Rocket and Parmesan salad for just £3 in London?!

All in all an excellent dining experience which we will most definitely be repeating.
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Annabelle Pounder
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, April 19, 2006