Ponty Bistro

Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The best happy in Harllem 4 - 7 pm.
The esgarot appetizer is one of my favorite but the happy hour Leche martini that Reese makes is the best and Mohamet is on point as far as service. Oh did I mention LIVE jazz music on Thursday (weather permitting) starting at 8pm. This is definitely the joint!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My friends and I consider this our spot. It’s grown up! The truffle Mac & cheese is to die for.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We randomly chose this restaurant for date night, and I'm so glad we did. Ponty Bistro is quaint and welcoming, with genuinely friendly staff that immediately made us feel at ease. While a couple of things were slightly off—the escargot was a bit overcooked and the steak leaned more well-done than rare—none of it detracted from what was overall a delicious meal and a lovely evening. We started with the escargot and the seared tuna, the latter of which was absolute perfection. For mains, we had the steak with mashed potatoes and the linguini with shrimp, which quite literally melted in the mouth. Dessert was tiramisu—delish. The service deserves special mention: extremely attentive, on point, and proactive about making up for the minor imperfections. I definitely recommend Ponty Bistro. Pure delight.

Ponty Bistro is the perfect blend of West African and French fusion done right.
From the moment we arrived, the vibe felt warm, stylish, and intentional.
The passion fruit mango margaritas were refreshing and perfectly balanced.
The escargot surprised me in the best way rich garlic butter, a hint of cognac, and incredible flavor.
The truffle mac and cheese and rack of lamb were both standout dishes, cooked beautifully and full of depth.
Seafood lovers will appreciate the creamy risotto packed with shrimp, mussels, scallops, and lobster sauce.
Dessert sealed the experience, and I’d absolutely return to explore more of the menu.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

In town for 9 days, I enjoyed Ponty's 3x...great food, great service and great vibe...💥💥💥💥💥

Youre gonna kill someone if youre making mistakes like this. This was buried underneath, and the most insulting part is that the vegetables weren't even steamed correctly

Food: 1

Service: 1

This restaurant welcomes taste experiments. Their dishes are superb. The care shown to diners here was exceptional. The kitchen team has talent. You ought to try this restaurant promptly.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

I find myself here for lunch frequently. He talked freely with people at multiple tables. The setting continues to enhance my meals. The experience satisfies completely. Our plans include coming back on our next trip.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Honest review…. The food is decent which is why I’m giving two stars, however they really need some help. We were in with a large party for lunch.

The service is atrocious, it is so so slow. We waited over 30 minutes just to get drinks and bread. Come to find out the bread was HARD AS A ROCK. The bread was so hard we were tapping it on the plate and it was making a clanking sound and you had to physically squeeze it to crack it open.

They messed up the food order on three of our dishes and had to correct it. One of our guests had a piece of metal or aluminum about 4 inches long and about an 1/8th of an inch thick, in his chicken dish. (They did take it off the bill)

The place needs a good deep cleaning as well, the bar is dingy with stains visible on the walls, the windows need a good cleaning with just some windex, the bathrooms are disaster, just no upkeep. Like I said, we had a large party so we had a bunch of little tables made into one large table, every single table was wobbly and not secure, so our drinks kept moving and tipping, it was just an overall unpleasant experience.

Like I stated earlier, the food was decent, but we will not return, it was just disappointment all around.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 1

My future includes many visits to this place because they clearly know what they're doing. Food lovers who care about quality and price will appreciate this restaurant. The entire group of employees performs wonderfully. Their menu succeeds throughout and the place matches my daily path. Without a doubt, I'm coming back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Dirty bar every time. They need to shellack the bar so it doesn’t absorb the food and drink stains. Also when I asked the staff to wipe the bar down, of course, they did it with grand attitude. Get it together!!! #FixIt

Update: this restaurant has improved over the years. I like supporting local restaurants. The floors need to be redone because they’re always slippery regardless of the shoes I wear. The food and drinks have greatly improved as well as the service. Upgraded stars ✨

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

I visited Pony Bistro in late September 2025 for a work dinner. Let’s just say I’m glad this was a work dinner and I didn’t spend my money at this restaurant. We dined from a Prefix menu. I was concerned the food would be spicy as it’s an African/French restaurant. For appetizers we were served chicken wings, calamari and some type of puff. The puff was spicy and the chicken wings were the only thing that was good. For dinner I order the steak which came with some type of sauce that wasn’t good. The steak also had an after taste to it I stopped eating it. For dessert I ordered the chocolate lava cake which wasn’t any better. It also had a weird after taste to it. I also tried the crème burlee which also wasn’t good and had that same after taste. This isn’t a restaurant I would be visiting again.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 2

Fantastic spot in the heart of Harlem!
Ponty Bistro is an absolute gem — their cocktails are outstanding, with creative Afro-Caribbean influences that make each drink unique and full of flavor. You can really taste the balance of tropical and African elements in every sip.

The Senegalese chicken is a must-try — perfectly seasoned, tender, and bursting with spices that are bold yet beautifully balanced. It’s one of those dishes that stays in your memory long after the meal.

The atmosphere is lively yet relaxed, and the location couldn’t be better — right in the center of Harlem, making it a great stop for dinner, drinks, or a casual night out with friends.

Highly recommended for anyone looking to experience amazing African-inspired cuisine and a vibrant Harlem vibe.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Always have a great time when I eat here. Food is excellent and the service is even better! The owner and staff are very accommodating!