Cafe Ponte - Clearwater

Café Ponte did not disappoint! As soon as we arrived for dinner to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary, we were seated at our table that had an anniversary card waiting. As soon as we were seated, we were given two glasses of Champagne. Audra our server was pure perfection. She was warm and engaging. She knew the menu top to bottom and explained all of our options when we asked questions. We decided to try the pre-fix menu to have an opportunity to sample several courses, from soup to desert at an outstanding price. We decided to have Butternut Squash soup. She suggested that in addition we try a sample of the mushroom soup which is the only item on the menu that has never been changed or removed…within the last 16 years. Another server arrived with 4 selections of bread and returned frequently to check on us to see if we wanted more. We had salad and then the main course, which was cooked to perfection. My husband had the Sea Bass which melted in his mouth. I so enjoyed my flavorful Pork Chop which was so tender! When finished, Audra brought desert and then another hand crafted desert treat for us to try. The room was beautiful and elegantly decorated for Christmas. You could hear other conversations but it was not loud. The piano music was soft and wonderful. I had the opportunity to speak with Audra and asked her how long she had been working at CP. Being a Concierge, I always love to hear how people arrived in hospitality. She told me about herself and she said she had only been at CP one month. I have to tell you I was so surprised! She came across as very seasoned, truly professional and she made our experience at CP extremely special. I know good service as I work at Sandpearl Resort and our signature restaurant, Caretta’s on the Gulf, has some of the the best servers in Clearwater. Well, Audra is right up there with them. She just did an amazing job. She expressed and showed us just how important it was to her to be the best for her guests. Her employers are lucky to have her and we were quite lucky to celebrate our special anniversary at Café Ponte as it was amazing. Thanks to Eric who made my reservation and was delightful to speak with. Well done Chef Ponte! It was a very memorable evening and we will be back! I am telling you if you haven’t been…You simply must go. Yours truly, CC Veltre Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce Member, named 2017 Volunteer 💁of the Year , Concierge at Sandpearl Resort 🙋and Your Clearwater Beach Ambassador 😎

The Chef's tasting menu is a delight in varied 6 course dishes. Relax and be served the most amazing flavors. Our server, Audra was a delight and they made our Anniversary celebration a memorable event. Kudos to you Chris Ponté!

The loaded potato pizza was amazing! The lunch portions are on the larger size and totally worth it. It beautifully decorated. The staff are so nice and helpful, our drinks stayed full and our waiter was so nice! I can't wait to go back on date night.

Best 6 course meal I have ever had. Wonderful service and delicious food. See pictures. All I can say is, WOW

World Class service and food. A special dinner for mom's 90th and she felt special!! Will absolutely return. All 10 of us had fabulous meals! See pictures.

Marcela's service was Outstanding. The attention to detail on every course was amazing. One of the best dining experiences I've encountered. The beet salad, donuts & coffee pot du creme were standouts for me.

This is a hidden gem in a very unsuspecting location. If your looking for an awesome date night, this is the place. The food is amazing. I had the sea bass ,which was quite possibly the best sea bass I have ever tasted. I highly r recommend it along with the bouillabaisse. We finished with a very well executed deconstructed strawberry shortcake..yumm!!

Food was excellent. Beautifully served presentation. Flavors and preparation outstanding. Terrific service. We were seated in a back room. Very private and quiet which was good for having conversations. The main rooms were quite busy and noisy. Piano player was very good.

Fantastic food and cocktails. Eclectic menu, hard to decide what to have, so we ordered a variety of things and loved everything. Plus they took care of our large party close to closing without hesitation, and provided outstanding service. A real gem!!

The food here is exceptional and it's in my top 2 favorite restaurants in the tri-county area. I have been here roughly 10 times and have been equally as impressed with my meal every time. If you get the chance, I highly suggest the tasting menu that is offered seasonally. The building doesn't look like much from the outside of the plaza but the meal will leave you in a state of euphoria.

Came for the Summer tasting menu special, and was thoroughly impressed. The wagyu beef was the tenderest I've ever had. All the dishes were plated perfectly and every one of the courses were delicious. What struck me most though was our server. We were never waiting for service yet were never interrupted. Fantastic service. We will definitely be back.

I've been there several times and always had outstanding food and service. Last week I had the Rueben which was a special for St Patrick's Day. It was a phenomenal sandwich. Unbelievable taste and top notch quality corned beef. They always nail it! Highly recommend.

Went for my birthday with my husband. Hands down best food we have ever had. The service was amazing. The food was timed perfectly. Not to mention the dessert was insane. Our new go to for special occasions. Actually any occasion. A must try restaurant. You will not be sorry.

Excellent place for lunch or a dressed up dinner. Great for Saturday night date night or a group. White table, so come with the credit card and expect to wear a dress or jacket, though it's not required. The night we went they had live piano, which put the ambience just that little bit over the top. Everything is good, you can't go wrong. The flour less chocolate cake is a great way to end the night.

Had an amazing birthday dinner experience here. Superb, genuine and friendly service from Stephen. We felt very welcomed and taken care of. All of the food looked and tasted fantastic. The entire menu was unique and tempting. We went with the wild mushroom soup, kale salad, calamari (our favorite of the night), lobster & crab cake, cauliflower au gratin, and the chilean sea bass. All of these dishes were delicious and prepared creatively with a fusion of cuisines. The warm chocolate souffle was the perfect dessert.

Impeccable service and delicious food every time. I come here occasionally with business contacts, but have also enjoyed special occasions here. One of the nicest restaurants in Tampa Bay. Not sure if you want to splurge? Try the lunch menu- feels like a deal for the quality of the food and a bit cheaper than the dinner menu.

Great prix fixe menu. Short ribs for sure. Pumpkin soup awesome. More like Thai curry. Kale salad so complex and tasty. Short ribs much better choice than scallops. Ribs tender whereas scallops were on the tough side. Service with Tom was excellent.

Let's start with the fact that the mushroom soup might be the best soup in the history of soup. Service is always great, servers are knowledgeable of the menu which is unfortunately rare these days. I've had several dishes and they are all mindfully crafted, well balanced and just a delight, but do yourself a favor and have a Ponte Burger at least once. If you go once you'll be back.

This place is amazing, from the 1st phone call with Alex to make a reservation, to the most professional and friendly service from Steven. I've never experienced this level of excellence from ANY restaurant in the Tampa Bay area. Oh, did I mention the food was world class, thanks Matt! You would truly be missing a great experience if you don't visit Cafe Ponte

I absolutely love Cafe Ponte. The food is an awesome experience. The staff are top notch and the environment is comfortable yet chic. My favorite dish is their tuna, the coconut rice cakes that accompany the dish are delicious. This is a great place for lunch or dinner (they close at 2pm until dinner?). Go for a super dinner or a romantic evening.

Not much from the street view but it's an elegant, classy establishment. I only had lunch. The short rib sandwich was about as good as a sandwich can get. The bread was buttery fresh and the perfect consistency. The short rib meat was tender and tasty, combined with the 2 sauces that are used...OMG! I cherish each bite. The service was also excellent.

Everything we ordered was amazing. We started off with the fig and prosciutto flatbread. I easily could have eaten it all and not had room for my entree. I had the sea bass. The sauce it came in was great and the fish was tender. Our waiter brought us several things to try from the menu like their mushroom soup, which was very creamy, and their Mexican chocolate and lavender macaron. I definitely recommend this place and plan to go back soon.

One of my favorite places for a great steak. The staff members are all very personable. My girlfriend was feeling warm and the manager brought here a cool damp cloth. They went way above great service.

My husband and I share out anniversary dinners here. We usually do find a great deal on groupon, that's actually how we found this gem. Worth every cent! The food is ALWAYS amazing and the service is fantastic. The whole food experience is fun, we usually do the seasonal tasting menu. There aren't enough great words to use to describe Cafe Ponte, you have to experience it for yourself! Just for a comparison, we did spend 1 anniversary dinner at Ruth Chris and we were EXTREMELY disappointed! Cafe Ponte blows everywhere we have been out of the water!

This is a great place to have lunch with work or personal. The best seating by far is outside on a nice day. I can eat their short rib sandwich every day it's so good. Also the sea salt fries are fantastic with it. Everyone should try this place for great food.

My boyfriend took me here the other day for our first fine dining experience and let me tell you, it was worth every penny! Our server was attentive, sweet, and helped to accommodate my dietary restrictions perfectly! He recommended the best cocktail I've ever had as well as a fabulous wine to pair with my sea bass. The food is impeccable, service was wonderful and the overall experience was to die for! We will definitely be returning for every special occasion to come

Pricey but definitely fine dining. Everything was prepared with great care and the presentation was outstanding. The waiters are polished, charismatics and knowledgeable. Also Lars is awesome. Live piano music - which was wonderful. Definitely a place to take a date ( or wife ) that you want to impress or maybe an important client.

We went for our anniversary. We had the 6 course tasting menu with matching wine pairings. The food & wine were outstanding. Our waitress, Heather, did a great job. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for the perfect place for a special occasion.

My wife picked up a groupon for the tasting menu, what a wonderful experience! We took wine pairing to go with it and had a great late Valentine's dinner! If you never tried a tasting menu anywhere, try it here! You won't be disappointed. Great crew out here!

My husband and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary here on June 15. We were 15 min late to our reservation due to traffic, and they were very accommodating. There were special touches peppered throughout the night. Our server Brittany was kind and upbeat. They had an anniversary card, a champagne toast, and mini desserts for us (we did not request any of it). Those tokens made the night truly special. The food and drinks were superb. The mushroom soup is as good as they say. The oysters were very fresh too! Can't wait to return next time we are in the Tampa area. Thanks again for making our night special with the small details.

I have been here a handful of times for lunch. Usually for business. Every time the service is impeccable and the food is perfectly prepared. Everything I have had is delicious. The flavors are nuanced and well developed. I highly recommend this restaurant, but make sure you have a reservation, even during lunch!

Great service and food. Very special salad,tender greens,sprouts and cheese. Deluxe assorted bread. My steak was perfectly cooked rare,and my friends scallops were large and juicy and well seasoned. This was a banquet so it was a pleasant surprise to get such a fine meal.🌈🌈

Plain and simple..I freaking love this place. The food is always excellent, the atmosphere is great, the service is perfect and the food presentation is spot on. Make reservations though since this is a popular place otherwise you may wait...but, you can wait at the bar where they make phenomenal drinks. The food/service is more than worth the money. Get the sea bass and/or the mushroom soup..they are truly amazing. Lito is the pianist there and is truly great at what he does! I always throw in a request (or 5) for him to play.

This was a gorgeous dining experience! The food was delicious, and we sat at the piano bar where the most lovely pianist played whatever we wanted. They were a bit short-staffed, but everything else was perfect.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Tampa Bay! Went here for my honey’s birthday. They had a nice card on the table for him and gave us a free dessert! The steaks were cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. Everything at this restaurant is amazing!

Probably the best restaurant in Tampa Bay area! Delicious food, everything on the menu cooked to perfection! Always fresh and full of flavors! The service is beyond perfect! We are here at lease once a week and can’t get enough of this place. Highly recommended!

This was my first visit to this restaurant and a wonderful surprise from my daughter. The decor is calming and unique, a little reminiscent of the "Rat Pack " The kitchen was open to view through glass to protect the integrity of the food. I really enjoyed the ambience. We had the tasting menu 6 courses. Between courses we had a palate cleansing spoon. The first was a beet mixture I did not care for. We started with Lobster Bisque and it was devine. Smooth, flavorful and the perfect temperature. The basil pesto oil on top really added to the dish. Next was a very fresh Heirloom Tomato Salad with watermelon. The flavors were very complimentary . Our next spoon was a mango sorbet with fresh mango pieces in it. Excellent. The mini Casarecce Pasta was missing flavor. It had onion , pecorino and garlic, however, we both looked at the dish with a small sigh. We asked for salt, more cheese and fresh basil which was happily provided ( I had hoped for more pecorino, they brought parmesan ) We added some unique salts , cheese and basil. Then we ate it all. Delicious. I should have read beyond Sea Bass and looked at the rest of the dish when selecting my entree. Israeli coos coos , served cold, and salsa verde should not be served with one of the most delicately flavored, beautiful fish on earth. My humble opinion. I loved the Sea Bass medallions on their own. The after dinner cheese course was perfect. There was also a sweet crostini on the plate that paired well with a dollop of apple butter and honey almonds. The dessert was a Tiramisu. This was served non traditionally as more of a mousse with the lady finger layer nestled inside and a crisp on top, softer cake on bottom with a smear of salted caramel. This dessert was wonderful and our waiter brought this out with tall candles, since we were celebrating both of our birthdays, nice touch. If you visit CP I highly recommend you select a piece of the focaccia bread they offer for your meal. The top is covered with herbs and the bread is soft inside. It pairs well with the pasta and cheese plate. The lobster bisque was the star of my dinner and I wanted more. Overall a great experience and great service.

This is one of my standby favorites. I have never had a bad meal here! I always choose the chefs tasting if at all possible because it never disappoints. Do not miss the mushroom bisque. Quite simply the best soup I've ever had. This visit I ordered the short rib, which was cooked perfectly, but was served atop a carrot puree that was a bit sweet for my liking. Overall, it's a dining experience everyone should have if at all possible.

I absolutely love this place. I think the consistency is great and the quality of food is well above average. I actually don't like their main courses as much as the appetizers and tend to just order a bunch of appetizers. I think that is the way that I am anyway, more appetizer inclined. Although... I do consider their appetizers to be better more effort in presentation too. I gave it 4 stars for that reason, I think that they can step outside the box a little with the main courses and then they will be a 5 star restaurant. I hope you enjoyed your read and obviously my opinion and pallete ;) We had a very large party come with us and they catered to us extremely well. We called ahead and they had a large table set up very nicely for us and everyone enjoyed themselves. Anna

The mushroom soup is phenomenal. The gnocchi were excellent too. The service was a little slow, but they were busy. The waiter took my glass when he cleared the plates and didn't bring it back while we waited to pay. Food gets 5 stars, and service is a 3.