Ponti’s Restaurant in Covent Garden has got an outside inside feel to it that’s pretty cool all year round. I only ever go there when I meet up with an old friend from University, so it’s always pleasant enough. Set in the tourist trap that Covent Garden sometimes is, it can be pretty busy, but it’s always pretty easy to get a seat at Pontis, the place is huge. The other thing is that the food will be on your plate faster than a pigeon at crumbs dropped at Trafalgar Square.
The last time I went was a few weeks ago, again to meet Emma from Uni, with my main squeeze Emily. It was a busy Saturday at Covent Garden and we went to a few other places before we even thought of Ponti’s. However, every single one of them was rammed. It was only when desperation set in and my stomach started to gurgle that we decided on Ponti’s. As usual, we had seats in seconds and food on our plates within minutes and we could get on with catching up and talking crap about the laminated lady story from back in Uni.
I had tomato soup, that arrived looking a sort of off-brown colour, which kind of put me off, so I loaded it with parmesan cheese. It tasted nice and the slices of chunky bread are always good, but that’s just it with Ponti’s, it’s nice, OK, it’s a safe bet, the one you can always turn to if all else goes wrong. It doesn’t have any special qualities as such, except maybe the amazing array of puddings that I’m yet to try. However, when you’re in need of a place to go for good food, quick seats and friendly service, then it’ll always be there like a slightly up market, Italian McDonalds.
However, after the food, the girls went to the loo and left me milling around the back of the counter and I swear I heard the manager say to a waiter that the rest of the staff were only aloud to eat the shepherd’s pie, which I thought was kind of weird for an Italian restaurant.
Pontis, Covent Garden review: 2.7/5
