4. Restaurants

Ponti Seafood Grill

3014 3rd Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109
  • (206) 284-3000
  • Store is closed

Ponti Seafood Grill Menu

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  • Chad Y.

    Friends and I went here for Easter brunch and had a great time here. The food was very simple yet extremely tasty. You could tell the freshness of their proteins and their sauces are just full of flavors! The only reason I'm giving three stars was our waiter was ok...She seemed a little overwhelmed on how busy it was, but when you have to ask twice (out of 2 emptys) to have your water filled, that's not really a good sign for me. That being said, our valet was awesome and so was the host! All in all, a decent place to check out.

    (3)

  • Jeremy M.

    After endulging in a soup, DEEP FRIED crab "spring roll", one entree a person, I still felt unsatisfied! Our waiter dropped off couple dessert menu then made couple suggestions and ENUNCIATED that the chocolate mousse cake was FAT FREE, ZERO CALORIES!! WTF?! At first I didn't really think anything of it, but then I started feel a insulted! Is there something wrong with my weight?! Hmmm........there goes your tip! Sad to say I think I still tipped out pretty good, I have a bad habit of not being able to do that since I myself work in the industry. I think that is going to be my last time dining at that restaurant!

    (1)

  • Whitney W.

    We sat on the patio for my birthday dinner, the view was nice the food was average. The bill was 150 for two people which was way overpriced for the average meal. Service was good however.

    (3)

  • Pat C.

    Going with very below average on this one. We ordered off the regular menu during Seattle Restaurant Week. Maybe this was a mistake. The entrees were much less than what we had remembered from previous visits. Ordered Ahi Tuna and Scallops. Both were what we would consider "lunch" size portions. My husband ordered the Cream of Asparagus soup. Full of "wood fibers" from the woody stems used in preparation and not put through a food mill. Instead of garnishing with asparagus trips there was a pathetic drop of sour cream. Shame on the Chef!! We will only re-visit Ponti's for occasional Happy Hour. This is their only strong suit. My husband made me promise on the way home to never make him go back there for dinner , EVER.

    (2)

  • Tom F.

    Two stars has more to do with me in some ways. Not a huge fan of seafood. Their salmon is good, but just one chicken dish or some very spendy steak. The occasions that I've tried their entrees, they were good but not spectacular. My wife is a fan of the Thai curry penne, but the scallops spoil that one for me. Last outing I got creative and tried the smoked salmon chowder. It tasted good, but was a tiny portion - maybe 6 ounces - and was barely warm Their custard trio is excellent; alas, I'm living the Primal Blueprint now, so I tend to forego that. Lacking as they do even Manny's Pale Ale, I'm afraid I find little to recommend them. The view is nice if you go before sundown.

    (2)

  • Angela C.

    I went there last night for HH. First off, I think that the HH menu is misleading, because only half of the menu has HH prices. Even though the restaurant is clear about which items they are, I think it's a bit unfair to put items on the HH menu that don't have HH prices. With that said, we got the Salmon Quesadillas, Pomme Frites, and Mixed Green Salad. The salmon quesadillas were really good actually, and I wouldn't mind getting them again. The pomme frites were excellent, but it's hard to mess up fried potatoes. The Mixed Green Salad was a bit dry, in my opinion. I personally like my salads with more dressing, and I thought that my salad was a bit light on the dressing. Drinks there were good though. I had some Melon drink that had two types of vodka in it, and I couldn't taste the vodka - which in my book is a sign of a good drink. My friend had the Hawaiian Martini, and she must have liked it since she got two. Overall, the place was nice . Attentive service and able staff. Valet parking is only $2, which is great. However, Ponti's won't go down as one of my favorite HH in Seattle.

    (3)

  • Thanh L.

    Their 30 for 30 menu was delicious! The manila clams were awesome!!!!

    (5)

  • J.J. B.

    Ponti has all the makings of a fantastic, up-scale seafood restaurant...except the food! Ponti has a great location, very nice interior ambiance, friendly/knowledgeable wait staff, cordial owner, large wine selection, fresh specials, and a menu that is not too extensive. I've been here several times (only due to special circumstances, otherwise 1-2 times is enough). Each time I've left Ponti craving, needing more out of the food. Their price points are reasonable, but the restaurant itself deserves better food. Go for happy hour and try all their flavorful options, but only commit to a full dinner there if you are impressed with what you get for HH.

    (2)

  • Nora C.

    First, I love their Thai Penne Pasta. Now for a DO and a couple of DON'Ts... DO NOT go to this restaurant during their special event promotions (Mother's Day, etc.) The place becomes a chaotic circus with too many waiters on staff bumping into each other to serve you the most meager of portions (I guess to help pay for extra help). Seriously, we attended one special occasion luncheon advertising four courses and not a single course provided more than a small dollop (I'm being generous here) of food on the plate. We left starved. DO go to their happy hour and order from their half priced menu. You are sure to find a few things you'll like and the atmosphere in the bar is cozy, especially if you can snag the fireplace. DO NOT eat in the main dining room area if you do not want a loud dining experience (noise amplifies off the walls) or over-exposure to the light and other tables. Opt for eating in the lounge instead.

    (3)

  • Richard N.

    While the food is not amazing, it is very good. I have been there more than 25 times and the food is never, never disappointing. I always eat fish there (the black cod is great). I do a lot of business dinners there because the ambiance is so nice. It is quiet enough to have a conversation but far from being "dead." Because, the view is lovely, it is also a good place to go with friends or your significant other. Service is good but a bit on the slow side. The wine steward is very helpful. So Ponti is a safe place to go for a business dinner or a date.

    (4)

  • Andrew H.

    Service here is excellent from start to finish. The host was pleasant and seated us right away, the pre-server was nice, server was pleasant and knowledgeable, and even the bus staff had a very outgoing and friendly demeanor. The food is pretty good. I can't say that after sharing a small app and soup, and having a fish dish and dessert, that I wasn't still a bit hungry, but all of it was delicious. I was a bit worried that their fish dishes were prepared in a boring way based on reading the menu, but boy was I wrong. Would definitely go back. The place wasn't as busy as I'd expect for a Saturday night... not sure why. Certainly good for a romantic meal or a quiet evening out. Nice to see a more old-school nice restaurant without obnoxiously "hip" dishes or uber-modem decor.

    (5)

  • Ms. G.

    Thanks to Groupon my hubby and I got to try this place, and we were blown away! If we didn't live all the way in Vancouver we would have already come back. The food and service were amazing. I also had a drink, and it didn't taste too strong nor too watered down. I was pretty tipsy after just that one drink so they obviously didn't go light on the liquor. The atmosphere was also really nice--very romantic, and yet not too upscale or dressed down. Just perfect. There is valet parking, but we found parking on the street for free. We wished more restaurants would get it right like Ponti. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Miss B.

    This was the first restaurant I ate at in Seattle 11 years ago, when I moved here. I remember fresh flavors, and friendly service. It was a favorite place of mine for quite some time. I think the only reason I stopped going was change of address in the city and I started branching out and trying new fun places for food and atmosphere. Fast forward a decade or so to a snow day in November. My boyfriend and I now live down the street and had been meaning to stop in for many months. My boss really likes the bartender and has nothing but good things to say. We also couldn't drive anywhere so we decided to walk down and enjoy some food and drink with this great bartender of Ponti. Mistake. Maybe I should have dropped my bosses name and then the service would have been better. He wasn't rude, but he certainly did not seem to be happy to be there. Slow to greet us initially, things continued at the same pace throughout our stay. We had to give sad puppy eyes down the bar towards him for a refill, menu's, order food, ask for the check...Etc. And no one said thank you on the way out. The food was not memorable, and my boyfriend saw one of the employees exit the restroom without washing his hands. Unacceptable.

    (2)

  • Shawn J.

    The only thing missing here is good bike parking. Otherwise rhey would get 4'stars. This may be the best hamburger meat I have ever had. The paddy was thick though the burger small. Good selection of $3.00 beers on tap. The view is wonderful of the Fremont bridge and canal. Great service. Great happy hour. No drink purchase required. I hear they serve a strong martini.

    (4)

  • Jiggy F.

    Ponti is in a great location and has been in business for quite some time. And I have no idea how they have managed to stay in business. The food was decent, not great, but decent. However, the service was ridiculously unaccommodating. It was a quiet night and there wasn't much going on at all. The server was downright rude. We had a pretty large tab at our table. It was all put on one bill and we were told that we had to split it up ourselves. The server "wasn't going to do it." So one by one, we passed it around the table using the calculator on our phones, tallied it up to make sure we were paying enough, and handed the server a stack of cards. Then we were told that the parking tax wasn't included and would be extra (Btw, the only parking is valet parking. Not a big deal in Seattle. We are used to it.) Needless to say, I will NEVER EVER go back to Ponti again. There are so many great restaurants in Seattle. Why would I ever choose to go back here again when there are so many other places with exceptional customer service?

    (1)

  • Solaris D.

    Amazing decor, wonderful staff (prof and kind), excellent food. Spendid wine by the glass, prawn app was yum! Really good deals to be had for a high end. Didn't rate them high simply because they insist on the two big screen tvs with espn! I can not for the life of me understand that part of their dining idea, but other than that they are awesome.

    (4)

  • Desiree V.

    I have very mixed feelings on this place but because I LOVE their happy hour and crab spring rolls I am giving them 4 stars. I would advise people not to go here if they want to go to a nice dinner. Their food is okay but definitely not worth the price. On the other hand, they have a GREAT happy hour. The food is delicious and the drinks are great too. The waitstaff is friendly and it's a nice atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Glenn C.

    We took out of town guests for dinner at Ponti, although we had never been before. We were very impressed! They dealt with dietary challenges very well. All the entrees were experterly prepared and perfectly cooked. The setting on the water was ideal. The custard trio was a perfect end of the meal. We will be back! I certainly disagree with a previous poster who compared Ponti to Rays unfavorably. We had eaten at Rays Caf a week ago, and felt this was MUCH better.

    (5)

  • Maureen M.

    A favorite place to bring out-of-town guests for a drink on the deck. The Ponti provides a tranquil & quintessential Seattle scene watching boats sail by as the Fremont Bridge raises & lowers. Richard--the welcoming owner-- graciously escorted us to the deck a smidge before the restaurant's opening. Thanks Richard, for a highlight of my friend's visit to Seattle.

    (5)

  • Jacob L.

    Why should the hosts take you to the worse possible table in the restaurant? I wanted to treat my wife to really special experience and took her to Ponti for dinner. We got there a bit early for dinner service with a reservation. There were only 4 other tables with people seated... Did we get a window seat? You might think so, but you would be wrong. Did we get a seat with a view for both of us? Nope. Though those tables were all available, but we got the closest one to the kitchen. A hundred dollars for two people and the absolute worse seats in the house. My wife and I who hardly ever get out together got to listen to the servers yap about their personal problems with the noise of getting place sets ready and bare kitchen noise and traffic of servers going back and forth... To be reasonable I could totally understand if the place was full, but there were plenty of other tables available through our entire time there. I endured the drive to Seattle, got a baby sitter, paid $100 for two people... only to be swept under the rug. The desert was nice. But the experience was much less than desired. In front of my wife I could only grin and bare it. For a high end restaurant we were treated with low end care .... I won't be back & I definately won't recommend it.

    (1)

  • Alice C.

    Both my trips have been spectacular- once was with my Mom, and was before the dinner rush. The second was myself and family, probably around six people, right in the middle of the dinner crowd. Both times, service was detail oriented, quick to refill water/bread, and attentive without being intrusive. What i love is how they DONT overcook the salmon, which Ive run into @ Ivars ore often than not. On the fast note, this is not one of those restaurants where its easy to pop in and out for a meal: this is one of the places you go to not only for dinner, but for conversation and catching up. I personally dont mind this, but it may not be such a place for those wanting a more in and out type of deal. Not cheap, but a good place to go if you need a restaurant to blow half a paycheck. Wait... you dont do that?

    (4)

  • Brandy T.

    Why have I waited so long? Its been too long since I went to Ponti, a place I spent a lot of time at in the past. We decided to try it out again for drinks and appetizers Saturday night and sat in the bar. The staff was very attentive and the owner Richard came by the table to see how we were doing, when I told him I was sad to see the BBQ prawn appetizer dish was not on the menu he said "We can make it for you"! Wow! They made a dish that wasnt on the menu and was just as good as I remember it. Although Ponti is a great place for special occasion dinners the bar is a great place to go for that casual dinner too! They do a happy hour menu in the bar all night long! Still has the neighborhood feel but with great service, something that is missed in the newer less established restaurants. We all sat there and asked ourselves "why havent we come back here sooner?" It was great to see that Alvin Binuya the original chef is back and doing his magic in the kitchen! We will be back!! They have still got it!

    (5)

  • Stefanie G.

    One of the best restaurant in Seattle! I would definitely go there again! It is not in the best location, extremely difficult to get a taxi, however, the food definitely makes it up! I had the Alderwood smoked Alaska black cod, it was amazing!! The tempura nori wrapped ahi tuna is also delicious as well. They have awesome dessert menu - everything on there are so good!!

    (5)

  • Iris M.

    3 1/2 stars. The view of the ship canal is great. I've been here many times, but I think my first experience back in 2003 was the best. I went here with a friend and had their amazing bouillabaisse. It was the best thing I ever ate and it was an amazing dining experience. Afterward, they took the dish off the menu and replaced it with a seafood paella, which just could not compare. I was really excited when a few years ago I saw they had it on their menu again, but it just wasn't the same as my first experience. The broth just didn't have the same rich, silky flavor I remembered. Well, I went back to have their bouillabaisse again yesterday, but once again, it didn't have the same punch as it use too, but it was still tasty, but a little small on the portion size. I only had five really small mussels, four shrimp, three clams, two crostinis, and one scallop. The must go for a 5-4-3-2-1 concept for this dish. Hehehehe. Their soups are always really flavorful. Yesterday, I had a carrot curry soup and it had a great mild flavor and was a nice appetizer. My husband had the Thai Curry Penne, which I recommend checking out. It is a little sweet, but tasty. Overall, the food is good and the view of the ship canal is really nice, but the past three times that I have been here I've had strange service. I'm not saying it was bad, but kinda awkward. My foodie friend and I were being teased/criticized by our server on her first experience at Ponti in March. She is a food blogger and commented on how bizarre this gentlemen was acting towards us, which I agree. Well, this gentlemen was our server yesterday and he definitely was toned down and was attentive about my special requests, but still a little awkward. Valet parking is two dollars and they have half price wine by the bottle on Sundays. I also heard that their happy hour is good too.

    (3)

  • Jessica M.

    I can feel my mouth salivating just thinking about the food at Ponti. Let me just tell you exactly what made it so good! - Appetizer: Dungeness Crab Spring Rolls were juicy and they were served with a delicious chili sauce. - Caesar Salad: now that is the way a caesar salad is supposed to be...plenty of creamy dressing, crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, and shredded parmesan cheese. - Entree: Thai Curry Penne- it is no wonder it has been on their menu for 20 years, they have this dish perfected! The curry sauce was not at all overwhelming and the scallops were generously portioned. I can't believe we waited 9 months to try this restaurant, despite living within walking distance. Our plan is to return for their happy hour menu next time.

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    Hmm... Not sure what to make of Ponti. Six of us came here for dinner during Restaurant Week and it was PRETTY good, but not great. It was dark and our table wasn't by the window so we missed out on the well-known view. Our reservation was at 7pm, and they had already run out of half the desserts (which were the ones we all had ordered)... That turned out just fine, but it seems like the restaurant under-planned a bit. The waiter was great, but the rest of the staff seemed frazzled and disjointed. Example #1: A busboy asked if I was finished with my salad, I said yes, he asked if I liked it, I said very much, and he walked away. Without my finished salad. Example #2: We asked for more bread. A gal came with our bread, almost set it on the table, seemed to change her mind, and walked away. With the bread. Weird, right? The quality of the food was very good - I enjoyed my risotto and lemon tart (and of course the salad), but it was just a funky night overall. I'll give Ponti another chance someday!

    (3)

  • Winston P.

    Came here for SRW with my family. The food was just "OK". We felt it was about the level of McCormick and Schmick, and it was pricey, particularly with the $10 surcharge on some items. We had the Thai Curry Penne which others raved about, but we found it mediocre. Same for the Black Cod. Also thought the quantities were quite small, particularly for the appetizers we had (mussels/clams and crab spring rolls). Could they be giving half-sized portions for SRW? Dessert was the best part of the meal, and we will echo some other reviews that the Trio of Custards was very good. We are experienced with SRW and Dine Around Seattle, and did not come away feeling we had a great meal, nor a great value. You can find better.

    (2)

  • Penny S.

    The best view and happy hour burgers - love this place!

    (4)

  • Carrie S.

    We came here for my husband's birthday recently. We were seated right away, but then left to mull over the menu for what seemed like forever. Finally, they came by and took our drink orders. Then more waiting. then bread....t hen finally they came and took our food order. We were in somewhat of a time restraint due to the fact we had a babysitter, but things did speed up then. The food was OK. I ordered the salmon and my husband had the halibut. Honestly? I have made better salmon on my own at home. So i wasnt exactly blown away. Anyways, since we had gift certificates from my husband's work, I guess it wasn't all that bad. I wont go back, but I wont tell people not to go there. Two things though: The bathroom was a bit on the dirtier side, and there was some confusion as to who to pay for the valet.

    (3)

  • Jim P.

    best piece of fish I ever remember eating....alderwood-smoked black cod...truly, simply amazing.

    (5)

  • Ed T.

    Last night, party of three. Service was spot on. Food was A+++. We brought a couple bottles of special wine and then ordered from their spectacular list. Brian and Stacy took care of us like family. We sat on the back patio with a perfect view of the water / canal. The Black Cod was to die for. We each had it, but prepared different ways. Ended up there for 3 - 4 hours. Going back soon ! Cheers, Ed

    (5)

  • Connie C.

    Hhhmmm... The experience was so-so. Not sure where to start... OH the VALET... pulled up to the establishment and there was a Valet for $2. Looked around and there wasn't any other parking so I handed the keys to the valet. (keep this in mind) Once seated it took a little time for the server to get to us. She was nice enough but ...a she was a dial-tone. No recommendations, slow service, was over on the other side of room gabbin' forever completely unattentive. We had to go to the Host to order our dessert AND hand her our bill to run the cards. DIAL TONE. Oh at one point, she took our shell bowl (for the clams and mussel shells) and never came back with another one. So we had to place our shells on our own plates. Did I mention she was a dial tone? The stars are for the yummy food. The appetizer Mussels and Clams, the roasted beet salad and pasta were all de-lish-shus. The pasta was SUPER fresh and the clams, prawns...all yummy. Not super OUTstanding...but yummy nonetheless. After the meal, we went outside. My car is parked 4 steps away from me. So I still had to pay the dude $2 and asked for the keys. He replied that he could pull the car up... I judged the distance between me and the driver door and where he would have pulled up the car... the former was closer. I chose the closest route. SO...Ponti's makes you valet the car, won't let you add the $2 onto the tab AND the parking is right outside the door where you would feel like the biggest douchbag if you made the guy pull up the car 4 feet. Now I am a HUGE believer in valet service. But that really because (A) I don't want to find parking or (B) walk that far to where I parked. That's what you pay the valet to do and tip them for their trouble. gr... Summary - Food, Drinks - good Forced Valet - Not so good. Valet dude - not his fault, he was fine Server - Dial Tone Bussers/Water Guys - attention Total Experience - Ho hum...

    (3)

  • Danika F.

    I took my boyfriend here last night for his birthday because neither of us had ever been. Wow, it was fantastic! Our waiter was very attentive, kind and sociable, the ambiance was beautiful and the food was incredible. For an appetizer we had the dungeness spring rolls with a sweet chili sauce which had incredible flavor. Then for our main dishes I had the black cod and my boyfriend had the seared ahi tuna. They both had aioli sauces that complimented them very nicely. The restaurant is slightly on the spendy side, but the food and experience was totally worth it, in my opinion. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Regina F.

    Lovely evening to be on the water. The location is typical Seattle on the water in Queen Anne. We had window seats which made the view that much better. We were greeted by the owner upon arrival. Nothing screams more than personal when you meet the actual owner. He asked us if we needed anything, and then came back to our table a few times to chat. My friend used to own a bar so we all talked about the industry and wine, food, etc. The food was delicious. I enjoyed every dish. We had Dungeness Crab Spring Rolls, Alder Smoked Pacific Black Cod, Grilled Leader Creek Sockeye Salmon, Tempura Nori Wrapped Ahi Tuna, Moelleux au Chocolate and Lemon tart. The Ahi was cooked to perfection and I enjoyed the coconut rice. The salmon was rare and moist. I enjoyed my dinner there and will be back. We were there for the 30 for $30 and unlike other participating restaurants Ponti allowed us to choose from the entire menu.

    (4)

  • Eric M.

    Ponti's is like an "everyman's" Canlis. It's a special occasion restaurant for many and you can see first dates and birthdays going on during every visit. The layout of the place is even a bit Canlis-like with a perky hostess to greet you when you walk in, an inviting bar as you walk in off to the side, a fireplace to warm you from the cold, and a bistro/bar dining area overlooking a water view which is one of my favorite spots to eat since it seems to be filled with regulars. They have a patio that's open in the summer with overhead lamps and is worth waiting for if you can get a table there. The view of the Fremont bridge is interesting and one always hopes for it to open up and let a huge boat pass while dining. Ponti's has consistently good food and I have never had a bad meal there. That said, I tend to stick to their smoked cod and grilled salmon dishes which they do well. I've sampled the seafood pasta and found it to be made with very freshly made pasta and a good amount of shrimp. I also appreciate that they serve their Caesar salad with extra anchovies if you want. The service is very "old school" with frequent visits by the wait-staff and even the floor manager that always keeps a keen eye on what's going on. I have eaten here for New Year's and also used the private dining area for business dinners and I can tell you that the service never waivers when you are in one of those back rooms. They visit often and check on you which is appreciated. I have never had a water glass less than half full. These people are trained and it shows. I see people have compared this spot to Ray's Boathouse. Having tried both, I prefer Ponti's. I find the staff more mature and knowledgeable about the food and wine and also the patrons more gentile. Ray's can be a bit of a tourist trap and tends to get loud and its staff overwhelmed. If I had to be picky I would say that the decor needs a bit of an update. The faux curtains adorning some of the windows and doorways should go-they are tired and detract from otherwise clean lines. Ponti's frequently runs promotions and is on Groupon or the Passport card. Pounce on them when they appear, it's a great spot for fine dining.

    (4)

  • Nima H.

    Incredible ambiance, fresh, delicious, seafood, and great service.

    (5)

  • Raina B.

    Ponti treated us well, especially the drinks and the crab spring rolls (which were very tasty, fried, and I highly recommend) but the ceasar salad and entrees flopped. The ceasar was awful, large leaves of lettuce piled on a plate next to a skinny lemon wedge and one oversized and soggy cruton... ceasars requiring a knife are not fun, why is it so hard to chop up lettuce? I'm not sure if their grilled steaks and pastas are better, but the Sitka Halibut and Scallop meals were just ok. My Halibut was generally bland and was just a massive cut of fish, plopped on a plate next to stringy crispy potato-esque nonsense. The potato strings were not tasty or delicious and I would have much rather had plain mashed or baked, etc. The few vegetables accompanying the fish were cooked well. The apple crostata (spelling?) was good for dessert but nothing life changing and by the end overwhelmingly sweet. In general there isn't anything really wrong with the food, the service is good and I wasn't unhappy at the end of the night. But it just wasn't great. And for $150 it better be more than good. Both Ray's and Anthony's serve better food for the same price (and sometimes less). The highlight of the evening was my mango mint martini. If you're in the mood for something mildly sweet that will go with white fish, give it a shot. It was de-lish! All three were delicious ;) I would go back just for that - but only that.

    (3)

  • William G.

    The Crab Spring rolls were absolutely amazing! Andrea was a terrific wait person, I'd ask for her next time. I had fresh Alaska Halibut, which was cooked perfectly. A nice sauce to set it off, it really let the fish be the star of the show. The sommelier recommended a great Oregon Viognier, which complemented the meal nicely. My wife had the Ling Cog, it looked fantastic, but she was disappointed in how bland the dish turned out to be. Be sure to ask for a window seat if possible; also, lots of families with small children were here, so if you are looking for romantic intimacy, this may not always present that type of atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Jeff A.

    Great food, Great Happy Hour... Yes on the Grilled Calamari appetizer.

    (4)

  • V W.

    Delightful dinner with scenic view. As visitors to Seattle, we were fortunate to find this gem way out from the tourist restaurants near the wharf. Seating on the patio here with nice weather and view of the bridge and water pushed the rating to 5. Everyone liked their dishes which included the crab spring rolls, Willie Greens salad, Thai Penne Pasta, and Alderwood black cod. Asian touch to some dishes were done well. When service and everything works out so well, we didn't mind the prices at all.

    (5)

  • Michael J.

    I go to Ponti about once every three months. If you are looking for an upscale place then that's what you get. The food is good and you'll pay for it. I like to go there and take my time with dinner and converse over a bottle of wine with friends. It makes for a very pleasant evening. Service is top notch and the food is perfectly cooked. If you know you want some good seafood then they won't let you down. Just remember you pay for what you get.

    (3)

  • Hanna K.

    I have gone to Ponti several times for their happy hour and thought it was pretty good. Decided to go there for dinner and was sadly disappointed. Service was slow and not super friendly. We weren't even asked how everything was, which would have gotten a reply of "eh, it's ok. One salmon is overcooked and I would have expected more for my spring vegetables than two tiny carrot quarters and a broccolini for a $30 meal. Oh and the garlic mashed potatoes literally taste like something from a package". We weren't even asked if we wanted desert, menus were just placed in front of us. Overall, the decor and location are misleading, the food and service just did not match the caliber of restaurant I was expecting.

    (2)

  • Todd T.

    Very very expensive upscale dining overlooking the Fremont Canal. My parents were visiting from the East Coast and I really wanted to find a nice restaurant to make their visit special. Seeing as this was a seafood restaurant with a great street presence we decided to give this place a shot. We walked in and immediately felt under-dressed. This is not a place you want to be in showing up in jeans and sneakers. However, the wait staff was friendly in guiding us to a table with a great view of the canal. We ordered a crab spring roll appetizer with an wasabi aoli and three entrees, mostly seafood items. My mom had a black cod with black rice entree, my dad had a salmon entree, and I had an Ahi entree. The crab spring rolls felt a little understuffed and we got way too few considering it was over $10. The crab wasn't substantial enough in them to make much impact on taste. The black cod by far wowed us the most among the three entrees (We all sampled each others' dishes). The cod's white meat was very lightly seasoned, allowing the fish's original flavor to really shine through. The sauce wasn't overpowering or dominant, which was a good thing, and the rice was a great compliment on the plate. The salmon and ahi were less impressive, as they were a little tougher and the flavor didn't seem to fully immerse and soak the meat, leaving the meat tasting like any other well-cooked specimen of their species. All in all, we had a great dinner with a great view. However, was it worth over $35 a person? No.

    (3)

  • Randall M.

    Ponti's easily provided us with the nicest birthday dinner in years. We had pretty much decided that good service was unavailable in current-day Seattle, despite our patronage of only the purportedly best restaurants. I won't take the space here to relate how Canlis destroyed New Year's evening. So fast forward to my wife's birthday in February - we decided to go to Ponti's. We arrived early and went to the lounge. We each ordered a different red wine, and after deciding that my wife's choice was superior to mine, I confessed my preference to the waitress , who cheerfully replaced my glass of wine with the one I preferred. She came by later to see how we were enjoying the clam appetizer, when we mentioned we had thought we had ordered mussels, but we weren't positive. Moments later, mussels arrive, and are outstanding. We then are shown to our table -- which they covered with white rose petals along with a very warm, personal card . Nice touch. After dinner a luscious molten chocolate shows up with a candle for my wife--unbidden and accompanied by half the staff wishing my wife a happy birthday. This level of service has been provided every time we have eaten there--a treasure in a sea of forgettable alternatives

    (5)

  • Pierre Trudeau I.

    Given the vibe, setting, scenery, service and menu selection at Ponti's, all of which are superb, everything seems to set up perfectly here to deliver a first-class experience. So I was a bit disappointed with my main entree. The steelhead salmon was a bit on the bland side and needed help from the salt shaker. With that out of the way though, everything else was a delight. The trio of custards we had for dessert was to die for. The sweet potato fries as an appetizer was delicious. I sampled two different local brews from the beer list. Our table was right up against a window overlooking the water so we watched the occasional boat float by. The vibe at this place is very elegant, and soothing, but I didn't feel out of place at all wearing blue jeans (though that could be because I'm from Phoenix where dressing up for dinner is unconstitutional, so I'm blissfully oblivious to dress codes).

    (3)

  • Jonathan R.

    I went here for the $70 per person pri-fixe dinner on Valentine's Day. Much of what people say on here is true, the service isn't that great. We were seated right on our reservation time, but we had been in the small waiting area for about 15 minutes prior. Much of the seating in the dining room relies on the bench-on-one-side, chair on the other style of seating. I hate bench/seat split seating. Luckily we were seated right against the window in a prime spot, so we didn't have to deal with sharing a bench with four other tables. The view is great and I plan on trying Happy Hour. V-Day was a splurge and we had a good time. If we had sat in the bench seats it probably would've been an ugly review. Waters were filled when they should have been, but that task was performed by a waterboy and girl, not our waiter. We really only saw him when a course came out from the kitchen. Overall I was pleased, but the service could use some work. At $70 a head it should have been better than 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Sue C.

    We went here again for our anniversary because we had good food and service 2 years ago. This experience left us wondering if Ponti is having a hard time finding servers who help the pretty nice food and lovely canal venue live up to the pretty high prices. The greeter was awkward and uncertain, not a promising start. We were seated on the patio, the weather was perfect, it was a nice touch to have some rose petals in the table and a little anniversary card, and it should have been magical. But the server was very slow to take just our drink orders, and we waited quite a bit for her to come back and inquire about appetizers. She wasn't unkind or unpleasant, just oddly uncomfortable in her role, totally out of sync with the normal sophistication, attentiveness and timing you would expect in a high-end restaurant.. She brought our dinner wines just as I was finishing my entre. The entres were very good, so no complaints about the food. But this visit didn't leave me wanting to return.

    (2)

  • David M.

    It was a warm spring evening and we were offered on opportunity to dine outside. The hostess was nice enough to let us choose, from the tables available, the one we felt had the best view. The food was fantastic and the service impeccable. Ponti is a great choice for those seeking great food in a warm non-pretentious setting.

    (5)

  • Mason H.

    I came during dine around Seattle with my girlfriend and friend from out of town. The food was excellent! I was completely amazed by the freshness and colorful flavors. I got the swordfish and my girlfriend got the scallops. However, the down side was the bus girl with red hair pulled up. She's gotta go. I asked for more bread and she gives me a smirk, and brings me/the table two pieces. Two pieces for a table of three! My message to her is if you can't handle people then get out of the service industry. Her appearance alone doesn't fit the ambiance. I would've said something to her then, but I didn't want her to spit in my food. Otherwise, great place. Give it a try.

    (5)

  • Me H.

    I can't believe I haven't reviewed Ponti yet it's one of my favorites. First I should admit I've never been in the dinning room just the bar. I have ordered off both the dinner and bar menu and everything is wonder. My all time favorite dish is their Thai Curry Penne, its Grilled Scallops, Dungeness Crab and Tomato-Ginger Chutney which is party in your mouth. Big chunks of crab three or four large cooked perfectly scallops my mouth is watering just typing this. This is another restaurant that does a nice happy hour with well, beer, wine and food discounts everyday, twice a day. The happy hour grilled marinated calamari is a winner it comes with yummy olives, crisp watercress and a gremolata with just enough garlic to make it tasty but not over powering, at happy hour it's only $5. Their grill Caesar panzannella is tasty as well. I've heard great things about their bacon cheeseburger and salmon quesadilla but I personally have not tried them. If you are lucky you might be able to score yourself a seat by the window and watch the Fremont bridge go up and down while enjoying your tasty nibbles in Ponti's bar, I'm sure you get the same amazing view from the dining room as well.

    (4)

  • Joelle A.

    I took my parents here for Dine Around Seattle, and we all had a great dinner. The menu was extensive, with lots of options to choose from. I had the tuna poke as an appetizer and the tuna-nori-tempura entree. Both were very tasty, although the entree wasn't quite what I expected - there was a lot of tuna with only a thin tampura coating. Between the two of my parents, we also had the greens salad, which was very tasty, and the crab spring rolls, which looked great, and as entrees, a prawns and spaghetti dish and a scallop dish, which my parents both seemed to thoroughly enjoy. The desserts we had were equally enjoyable - a sorbet, cinammon cheesecake, and my choice and favorite, a trio of custards. In sum, the food was great, the ambiance was nice, and the service was not lacking. Would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Mark O.

    We usually slip into Ponti's on the ship canal on the Queen Anne side of the Fremont Bridge for their wonderful appetizers at Happy Hour, but last night, we invited friends from the Bay Area to join us for dinner and were absolutely delighted with our meals. Although we dined inside, the covered deck provides a wonderful view of the ship canal as the Fremont Bridge lifts to make way for a wide variety of sailing vessels. This is a fine dining house, but like much of Seattle's hospitality industry able to cope with casually dressed diners without taking anything away from those who have chosed to dress more formally.

    (4)

  • Suzanne B.

    It was because of the recent Seattle Times article that I was intrigued to try the 'new' Ponti Bistro menu- which is a lower priced menu on the patio and in the bar. The location is great for me and view is truly lovely watching boats sail through the canal. But what I didn't realize was that the staff would have a chip on their shoulders because they are forced to serve a 'lower priced' menu. We went in early on Saturday night and the patio was only half full and the restaurant almost empty. Yet, we were practically ignored by our server and sat waiting for ridiculous lengths of time. When she did come by our table, she could barely contain her disappointment that we were asking questions about the bistro menu. The food was good, my wine was very nice- but this was all overshadowed by the poor service. Despite the fact that for 4 of us our bill was $200, we were still treated like we asked for a handout. I find that completely unacceptable and doubt I will ever go back.

    (2)

  • Steph A.

    The food overall was just okay. Meh. Woulda been maybe 3.5 stars if the seafood were good. My fiance and I got pasta dishes. One with scallops and one with "prawns". Both had very small quantities of small-sized seafood. Literally 4 mini scallops and he got 6 small shrimp (the smallest of shrimp that aren't bay shrimp). The seafood was disjointed from the pasta dishes/sauce and none of it was salted or seasoned whatsoever-- just poorly cooked seafood thrown on top. My scallops had faint grill marks when scallops are best with a heavy sear on a flat-top. Furthermore, the pasta was also just okay--nothing to write home about. The sauce on my penne was too light to handle the heft of penne. I'd give the pasta and sauce 3 stars. His pasta and sauce was probably 4. It was really the seafood was really was took away from this experience, albeit very fresh seafood product. The atmosphere is very classy, pleasant, and comfortable.

    (2)

  • Max S.

    Great happy hour! Have not eaten dinner yet but the dinning side looks nice. Great patio!

    (5)

  • Danphi V.

    My visit to Ponti was undoubtedly one of the most bizarre dining experiences I've ever had. A few glimmers of good (in key areas) and quite a few stumbles that a well run operation could avoid (or minimize) easily, but instead the wheels flew off. Buckle up and I'll fill you in. I chose this place based on some good PR from neutral sources and the fact that GF hinted she wanted some good salmon. Since this was to be her birthday dinner, I figured I'd better pay attention to the hints and make it a great evening. I went to Ponti's website and made a reservation (I hardly ever make a res) thru open table. Good experience there, made my request for a cozy table for 2, etc, etc. We arrived a bit late and I saw my name on the screen at the hostess stand and she acted like she was waiting for us. We were taken to a nice 2 top by the window which had rose petals all over it, along with a birthday card that was handwritten from the staff. Impressive!! The bus boy came by with menus and water pretty fast and let us know the server would be by shortly. We looked over everything and the server stopped by and dropped off a wine list. My back was to the entire room, so I was unaware at the time that our server was responsible for the entire dinning room. I think there were ~6 tables, most couples, but a couple of larger tables. Eventually, our server stopped by and we ordered a drink to start. I noticed that Kevin seemed a little out of it, we didn't get the usual "Hi, my name is Kevin and I'll be your server, just a "do you have any questions". The underlying feeling was "you are ___?? and this is regarding ___"?. If this had been presented in a less cryptic format, I could have at least responded to that and stated my intentions (A nice birthday dinner for my sweetie). When you go to a restaurant, much of this is implied, but I digress. We ordered the crab spring rolls (after reading about them on Yelp) and they were tasty, but tiny. A half order for $8 is 2 little spring rolls. Kevin did advise when we asked that there were 2 spring rolls in the half order, we assumed the were the full size edition, but unfortunately they were not. Dipping sauces were good, adding a little heat to the lukewarm offering. GF and I both went for the wild salmon with sauteed arugula and garlic whipped potatoes. This was the highlight of the evening, a great mix of flavor, a little pricey but a decent portion. Before the main event, we ordered a salad and a soup. While we waited for these to arrive, GF and I switched seats, since she was right next to an uninsulated door to the patio that was blowing cold air right on her. This gave me a full view of the dining room and the unexpected floor show. Salad was an interesting presentation of a big romaine heart with some anchovies across the top along with dressing. My soup was pretty tasty, but not very warm (was it the chilly breeze blowing on my back?). Meanwhile, major drama unfolding at other tables. Kevin is bringing the wrong entrees to people and a lad straight off of greek row at the U decides that raising his voice enough so all the other tables know what is going on is a good idea (impressing his date perhaps?). Whatever focus and confidence the server had to fulfill his obligation to the customer is shot to hell with this exchange. Service for everyone disintegrates (it wasn't really great to begin with) and the timing of our meal continues to suffer. We enjoyed everything that we had, but the awkward timing on delivery of our order made this a really poor experience. Eventually, we were given the dessert menu, which was followed up by nothing for nearly half an hour. Time to start people watching again. You can hear other tables complaining about wrong bills, missing items, or not getting any service. We tried to get assistance from the bus boy, who was very attentive about keeping water filled, but little else. He even had the hostess helping him out with table change overs. The server's MIA time is longer and longer, when he comes back it is walking into another crisis. We finally get some attention (dessert anyone?) but we thought we should just get the bill and get out of there. Dessert menus are picked up and dropped off at some other table and we wait at least 20 minutes for the bill. I joked that I hoped the server was not also the cashier and he said that he was. I quickly looked at the bill and it was not even our bill. Several more minutes to get the right bill and many more minutes to come and pick it up with the payment. We were offered a free round and a free dessert, which we decided to take a chance on. I truly felt bad for the server as everything that could go wrong did and his support crew was not much for helping him out. All the food offerings were great, but the service and the lack of a manager to make things right is not a recipe for success. I doubt we'll try this place again.

    (1)

  • C Y.

    I've been a long time fan of this restaurant, in fact attended the grand opening yrs ago. Ownership and chefs have changed over time but Ponti food has remained consistently great. The seafood fusion of the Mediterranean, Asia and NW works well. We hadn't been to Ponti for some time and recently checked out their bistro in the bar area. Lower price menu items seem to be a common theme for restaurants to survive in today's economy. Everything we ordered was delicious. Prawns, Caesar Salad, Calamari, Smoked Salmon Quesadilla without exception were good. Service, was prompt and friendly. The happy hour prices are especially attractive.

    (4)

  • WILLIAM G.

    We had a party of five on a Saturday night. From our table we could see thru the trees and across the ship canal, nice view. Restaurant is very cosy, not a lot of bright lights or industrial decor. Long bar as well. Hosts and servers were so friendly it made the meal very enjoyable. Vast selection of food, nobody complained and we all had a wonderful time. Staff even went way out of their way to assist us in getting a cab back to hotel.

    (4)

  • Rylee O.

    Friends and I made reservations for Ponti's on Thanksgiving. After looking at their website and down loadable menu I was extremely excited to have the "Herb Crusted Chairman's Reserve Prime Rib Steak with Pan jus" as my Thanksgiving meal. Just typing prime rib and thinking of horseradish sauce makes me salivate . . . Anyway, in preparation for our 4:30 p.m. meal I had nothing but a soda on Thanksgiving Day. That is right - just a soda. I was truly excited for this meal. Hell - I'm not a big fan of pies in general, but I was even yearning for that slice of pumpkin to finish off the dinner. Sit down at the table, with a mixed drink I had ordered at the bar, and open up my menu . . . WHAT THE HELL?!?!? Top sirloin has replace my prime rib. The prime rib I have been dreaming about for a week, the prime rib I had emptied my entire stomach for . . . NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Because I'm not a big fan of the traditional turkey dinner, and wasn't in the mood for salmon or a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner - I ordered the top sirloin - rare of course. And it was just okay. Definitely not something I would dream about for a week. All in all our Thanksgiving at Ponti's was just okay. A bit expensive for the meal, but we knew what the price was going to be upfront. I think next year I'll go back to a favorite dives and enjoy the $15 Thanksgiving meal.

    (3)

  • John C.

    This has been one of the consistent dining pleasures we have experienced in Seattle. With one exception, every meal has been top notch, well prepared and served. Favorite part: Ponti is open late for food, and whenever we eat somewhere and it sucks, we roll by Ponti for late nite spring rolls and dessert. Love the crab spring rolls, choc. deserts, wine selection, fresh fish...and occasionally the lamb. Atmosphere-wise this place rules. Main dining room is spacious, both decks are great, and the bar is one of our favorite late night snack stops. Highly recommended. Make a reservation. If not, eat in bar...happy hour prices are killer. Would we go back: YES, and we do go back often.

    (4)

  • jessica c.

    my experience here started off a little shaky. we had made a reservation for 7:45, but were already in the area so went in at 7 thinking we might be able to get in a little early (clearly, not realizing how small this place actually is). the hostess told us it wouldn't be a problem though and that the people at our table were just paying their bill and the table would be ready in 5 minutes. well, at 7:50 we finally got seated..... i wouldn't have been as annoyed had they just told us that they probably wouldn't be able to get us in until our reservation time, but they set the expectation that it wouldn't be an issue - so 45 minutes later i was a little irked. BUT, it was restaurant week and we did arrive early, so i guess i can cut them a break. the dining room is very small. if you're seated at certain tables you will be seat back to seat back with the person at the table behind you. the waiter was very nice and helpful though. now to the food - it was exceptional. the crab spring rolls.... i'm not even a big crab fan... but these were TO-DIE-FOR. delicious. I got the shrimp penne paste and it was a very large serving, i had plenty to take home and have for lunch the next day. for dessert I got the mini apple pie/crisp... nice sized portion and again, delicious. will probably be back soon, if you fill out their comment card that comes with your check they will send you a $20 gift certificate to use when you come back for dinner!

    (4)

  • Heidi B.

    How have I missed going to this great Seattle Seafood restaurant? Honestly if it wasn't for the gift certificate I was given by a vendor for Christmas, I may still not have made it there. OK, the place shows its age just a little. The decor is need of sprucing up, but thats where I stop finding fault with the place. We started with these amazing spicy prawn appetizers in the bar for happy hour. The sauce was so good you wanted bread to savor every drop. From there we had dinner in the dining room. Great view even though it wasn't a sunny day. My husband had crab legs (hard to go wrong with that) and I had the Lamb shank which melted off the bone and in my mouth. It was so rich and flavorful. A true comfort food on a chilly day. I know they specialize in seafood, but this was heaven! Next time we go (and it will be soon) I look forward to another great meal, hopefully outside on the deck and overlooking the canal. And, we know there will be a next time because they were kind enough to send us 2 $20.00 off coupons for a return visit. Don't delay like I did. If you love seafood and good service Ponti fits the bill!

    (5)

  • Matthew B.

    We went here for valentines night. They had a 5 course meal that was quite good. My biggest complaint, one one of the courses they ran out of two out of three choices leaving only one option. Not exactly what you hope for when spending $70 a person. Regardless all of the food was lovely. The staff was attentive and drinks tasty!

    (4)

  • Morgan F.

    My parents and I went here on Sunday evening for my birthday dinner because my mom bought her very first Groupon- $60 at Ponti for $30 or something. We waited at the door forever, and mentioned to the hostess (and when we made reservations) that we had a Groupon before being seated. As soon as our waiter greeted us, we again mentioned the Groupon. He brushed it off and was nice enough the whole meal. My mom mentioned it was my birthday, which isn't a big deal but the table behind us got a dessert brought out with a candle, which I didn't.. Maybe they brought it in personally though. Food was decent enough, wine was overpriced but good enough, the server was mediocre.. Until the bill came. We put the Groupon out with the credit card but for some reason it wasn't picked up. Then the credit card was charged the whole amount.. When we pointed out that we had $60 off the total, the waiter flipped out and told he us wished he would have known we had it VERY rudely. Mom pointed out that we had told him -twice- and had forgotten to mention it with the actual bill. He was way dramatic about having to re-run the card and take off the $60- the only reason we tried the restaurant in the first place. The restaurant was not even close to busy; it wasn't like he was running around super busy either. I know, as a former server, how people forget to tip after a coupon comes out, but we aren't like that. Dad still tipped him 25% of the TOTAL bill, but I totally wouldn't have. The guy totally ruined the whole dinner and his attitude put a bad taste in my mouth for the restaurant. I've never given a negative review on anything, but felt this warranted SOMETHING. His attitude was horrible! I won't recommend going there to any friends or family. Overpriced and under served.

    (1)

  • Chau L.

    Great food and service the night we came for Restaurant Week.

    (5)

  • Tiffany S.

    3.5. Went here b/c we have the Passport card, so the good news is we saved $24! Whoohoo! I felt like it was prom night, and we were in one of those adult restaurants that we were really too young for (apparently I'm in deep denial that I'm over 40). The food, however, was delicious, and they were very accomodating about a substitution, even complimenting me by saying, "Oh, good choice! That's what it really should always be served with." I had the smoked Black Cod that was truly amazing (imagine a Baconfish, if you will) and Chris had the seafood curry which was awesome. Our server was really terrific. The atmosphere just made me a little uncomfortable, like I kept wondering where my parents were. When we left, we told the valet guy no need to get our car since it was two steps away. He was cool since we tipped him anyway. I would have just felt dumb having him drive our car two feet - like a scene out of LA Story. So that was our big night out last week. I'll say it again, Whoohoo!

    (3)

  • Ashley H.

    Food is outstanding , staff delightful, location lovely. Cannot recommend highly enough .

    (5)

  • Amol P.

    We recently bought a groupon ($60 for $30) for this restaurant. We were seated at a windowside table with a view of the fremont bridge and the canal. We were greeted by our friendly server who was very meticulous in talking though the menu and making recommendations. We had the mango mint martini which was one of their signature cocktails. It was fruity but not alcoholic enough to make it a cocktail. We had pre-decided that we would order the dungenness crab spring rolls and oyster mushroom tartlet from the appetizer section. Trust me these dishes will not disappoint you. The spring rolls were juicy and the housemade sweet chili sauce was excellent. The mushroom tartlet was a bite of heaven in my mouth, had it been a tad warmer it would have been the perfect icing on the cake. Our server tried hard to sell us the thai curry penne which is the only dish that's been on their menu for the past 20 years. We were tempted at first but it was hard to pass off on fresh seafood that he also talked highly about. We eventually went with the pacific ling cod with toasted aioli and asparagus. The cod was cooked perfectly and was very tender and moist. The only pet peeve I had was that it had a smoky flavor to it which is really not an appealing taste for my palate. We ended with the trio of custards (espresso creme brulee, chocolate pot de creme, caramel flan). The espresso creme brulee was the hands down winner amongst the 3 choices. Our check (believe it or not) was exactly $60 which caught the server by pleasant surprise (as if it had all worked out according to the groupon plan!) I believe their happy hour is also a good value proposition since they offer their signature dishes at reduced prices. Definitely something worth checking out on our next visit there. They also offer a $20 gift certificate if you fill out your feedback which can be applied towards a special occasion.

    (4)

  • Randi M.

    Delicious food and great service, every time. Worth the extra money.

    (4)

  • Carolyn S.

    Groupon introduced us to Ponti, and they surpassed our expectations on all levels. We aren't big fans of pricey seafood restaurants, and she-she is not our thing. We started with the Dungeness Crab Spring Rolls, which were delicate and crunchy, wrapped in fresh lettuce. The crab was high quality- no fishy taste at all. The Cesar salad was OK, but made remarkable by upgrading to add the grilled anchovies. We also ordered an asparagus salad (can't recall the exact name and the menu on the Ponti website doesn't have it) that was different and very tasty. For the main entrees we had Thai Curry Penne (perfectly done- spicy but not too spicy) and a ling cod dish. The cod was so perfect it was almost like a custard. It had a nice lemon-grilled flavor. Dessert - lemon cheesecake. Excellent! Light and refreshing. We went in without a reservation, and we felt that they made us wait just to make a point that they didn't appreciated it. (Maybe 10 minutes, and it wasn't crowded). The 5 star rating really is about their exceeding our expectations. We did Ray's Boathouse for our anniversary & were very disappointed. Ponti does circles around Rays.

    (5)

  • Natalie W.

    I am not 80- Spice up my food! Take note Ponti... I think that my brother's assertion that some restaurants cannot elevate their food because their target customers complains is right- his evidence was a certain local seafood chain, not Ponti, had to take razor clams with a deep spice broth off the menu when the first person who ordered it complained about the spice and then it was only ordered 3 more times. Sad... but I get it. We unsuccessfully tried to hh at Ponti last month and were basically sneered at because one of my friends had a denim skirt on. No joking... you know how surfacey hostesses can be... especially when they are the same age as you and working at a place that is geared towards the older... This time we got the last table in the small small small bar/lounge area. The decor was nice- very posh and medium wood style. During hh there are well drinks for $4, beer for $3(stella, alaska, and one other kind), and wine specials. The food on the left side of the cafe menu is all $5 during hh- things like salmon and jack cheese quesadillas, panzealla salad, onion rings, oysters, calamari, sliders of salmon- beef- pork, etc. The right side of the menu is regularly priced items that run $7-15- things like Caesar salad (that arrives with two whole anchovies on top), ahi, burgers, and fish entrees. Because we are dorks we had three orders of the bronzed salmon quesadilla and one Caesar salad that was suppose to be a panzealla salad. The quesadillas were petite- but still filling. They felt like they were missing the cheese but somehow I didn't mind. I liked them just fine but they didn't have a real prominent flavor. I would probably try something different next time. Our server was gracious. He even explained what a well drink was to my newly turned 21 friend without pretension when he realized Tyler was asking a real question. This situation was very entertaining to witness. Ponti has the view and a relaxed yet nice vibe going on. I think I will try back for a water view seat next time and make my dining hh party smaller so that the mission can be accomplished.

    (3)

  • Sharon N.

    Went here for dinner last month. Nice view of the canal and fun to watch the boats go by if you can get a good table. But for how "high end" the place is we expected service to be way better. Our waitress was very slow and not very friendly, it took forever just for her to come over and take our drink orders and even longer for the meal orders. She didn't even check on us during our meals. I got the copper river salmon which will probably taste good no matter what, but I've made better myself on the grill. I was expecting a lot more from an overpriced place but this definitely wasn't worth it.

    (2)

  • MsJackie F.

    We had a great dinner with the Cafe Ponti menu. The service was super and the meal fanstastic. Ponti Seafood Grill is always a wonderful experience- really appreciated how far our $$ went with the new Cafe Ponti menu.

    (5)

  • Jac J.

    My friends and I went here for the Dine in Seattle special 30 restaurants $30 per meal guaranteeing a minimum of a 3 course meal. Dinner was delicious. Had the pan fried trout, with a delicious rice/potato pasta covered in Blerre Blanche sauce. The desert was a melt in your mouth chocolate lava cake with chocolate Carmel filling and boysenberry berry topping. Talk about melt in your mouth! Service is quick and quite impressive. This place is definitely not a place for kids. So keep the kiddos at home. Drinks are delicious however a little pricey. Great date place. Intimate but plenty of lighting.

    (4)

  • Sebastian J.

    To the owners of Ponti, Take a chance. Ditch your geriatric customers from Magnolia and replace them with the more sophisticated ones from Fremont. You know how to make good food but your clientele prevents you from creating innovative dishes.

    (3)

  • Ray Z.

    Being the undisciplined bloke that I am, I did not have my Yelp notepad with me. But if I had, this is what I might have scribbled... "A 2-1/2 star performance for Thanksgiving. Food: Underwhelming. Unimaginative - plain and not particularly tasty. I've had better, even at places like The Keg. Careless - soup arrived tepid. Plating of entrees was ugly - looked like it was thrown together on a food line. Dessert was just as careless. One decent-sized slice, the other was a sliver about 1/2 the size of the first. Service: Professional but not particularly friendly. A hint of surliness. Pricing: High for what you get. Total per head was 50-55$, no alcohol. Bottom Line: Won't visit again. At this price point, there are too many more-enjoyable places in town."

    (3)

  • Tom N.

    I love it when Seattle runs the dinner special...although prices has gone up $30 for 30. Fixed menu for $30 bucks at 30 different restaurants. This is the second time I have eaten here and I think I liked it more the first time. I think the menu wasn't as exciting as the last year's. The dishes were pretty good but, it as not exciting. The set menu could have been better for this caliber type place.

    (3)

  • Tkar A.

    Super fresh and beautifly done fish, amazingly tasty desserts, perfect service. $$$, but I would definetely come back.

    (5)

  • Renee F.

    Ponti has always met my expectations, with one exception: need fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. Other than that, I am a fan of the specialty drink menu and the food. The service has always been pleasant. I do enjoy the atmosphere. I keep coming back.

    (4)

  • Jason W.

    I've been to Ponti a number of times, and liked it less and less on every return trip. They rarely have new additions to the menu aside from a couple of fresh sheet items. When I'm spending as much on dinner as I do there, I expect to have more than a couple of new options every quarter year. The last time I was at Ponti was probably the last time I will ever go there. I ordered my fallback meal (seared ahi) since their fresh sheet wasn't very exciting. Usually this is a fine choice, but the medallions I received were more cooked than seared (cooked nearly 1/2 way through) and were not warm. I assume they were probably properly seared at cooking time and then sat on the line waiting for delivery. The big positive for this place is the great patio seating they have. It makes a great place to spend an evening in the summertime sipping on a nice white.

    (3)

  • Mack M.

    How wonderful was last night at Ponti's? The food was fabulous, service exceptional, and the window seat by the canal made the entire evening fabulous! This may not be the newest, trendiest restaurant in town, but it is among the very best, and last night re-affirmed it!

    (5)

  • Jeannette B.

    I gave the place another chance. Nice dinner and atmosphere. Service: can be improved a lot...Try the terrace!

    (4)

  • Lisa C.

    Took my husband for his birthday. I had beet salad, and scallops. The beets could have used a little something, but it was good. They served "carrot/jalapeno fritters" with the scallops and they were delicious! Tasted like Indian pakora. Husband had salmon with rice pilaf and he said it was very good. Both came with green bean/carrots that were cooked just right (little crisp). He also had Caesar salad with a giant crouton that was a bit awkward. We were seated in a side room with only 5 tables which was nice & cozy, but it was dark so we couldn't enjoy the outside view but knew we were right on the water. Since we were able to take advantage of the Dine Around Seattle ($30 for 3 courses) and I had a homemade chocolate cake at home, we ended up taking our desert selections home. I later tasted my lemon tart and it was good.

    (4)

  • Bunneh L.

    Ponti is a small-ish restaurant that serves up some outstanding seafood. I was expecting one of those mammoth, cavernous restaurants, but it wasn't, so we were all pleasantly surprised. The view of the water is really nice (right by the Fremont Bridge) and provided plenty of entertainment throughout our meal. Or at least something to look at when you're stuck at a stuffy dinner with your parents. They don't have the largest menu in the world, but it was adequate. The grilled calamari appetizer was amazing. As was my seafood pasta pomodoro with fresh linguine (though a tad heavy on the tomato). My sister's halibut was wonderful and cooked to perfection (it seems that everyone overcooks their halibut until it's tough and dry these days). My dad's black cod was another stellar dish. The only misstep of the evening was my mom's lamb shank. It was dry, overcooked, and tough. We should've sent it back, but oh well.... The polenta that came with the lamb was delicious though. Service was generally prompt and timely. And we scored parking on the street, so we weren't forced to valet the car. Looking forward to trying their HH menu soon!

    (4)

  • John G.

    Went to the Ponti Seafood Grill based on a recommendation. Was seated at our 7pm reservation time. Took a bit, but our server finally showed up. Extensive menu with northwest seafood, of course, being the main focus. I ordered the wild salmon, while my partner had the halibut. Menu has a Pan-Asian fusion flavor to it. Our server was just very bad. He was very inattentive and almost absent for the meal. We asked for some wine recommendations after we ordered. He did send the wine steward over and we had a nice bottle of Oregon chardonnay. However, from the time we ordered, until our main entrees were almost completed, we did not see our server again. The salads and the main entrees were brought out by other employees. Our water glasses needed refilled, and no one seemed to get the message. We finally saw the server at the end of eating the entrees and asked for the water glasses to be refilled and the check. The food was prepared very nicely, however, certainly nothing in the superior or excellent class. The fish was cooked properly and the accompanying sauces/glazes were tasty. Had the server been anywhere near what would be expected from such a restaurant with $27-$32 entrees, the meal would have been enjoyable. Food, service and decor still are the main three items I look for in searching for and determining which restaurants are worth visiting. Ponti is severely missing the Service! There are several other reviews speaking of the poor service. You'd think the management would get the message!

    (2)

  • J R.

    Don't bother. I was so excited to go to Ponti for dinner. What a let down. We had a large party which the owner agreeed to allow us to have seperate checks. I know this is difficult for a resturant however if you can't handle it don't agree to it. Work out another deal with the customer. We were there for a birthday party when some of the poeple at our table were asked if they wanted to order a starter some weren't. When I spoke to the manager about stepping up the service he told me in a very nasty tone "it is a large party with split checks and they are doing the best they can" Even if that is the case you don't speak to a customer like that and you never let them see you sweat! Again, if they couldn't handle it they shouldn't have agreed to it. The starters came out and none of the servers knew where they went. We asked for some tabassco for our oysters and we were made to wait 10 minutes for a simple bottle of hot sauce. The party menu..... nowhere on the menu did it state that it was white salmon they were serving. I was pleasanty surprised when it arrived however others were not happy that it was white and others were not happy that they hadn't ordered it because it was white salmon. The dinner arrived cold and late. I get it, it is difficult to serve a large party but again, if you can't do it then don't agree to it. Three people that ordered the steak said it was full of grizzel and tough. How sad to pay $32.00 for a terrible entree'. One person asked for no potatoes and all veggies he received mashed and veggies. NICE! Trying to cut them some slack we thought that maybe it was just because it was a busy Saturday night. At 9:00 one of the people from our party got up and looked to see that the main area and bar were both nearly empty. 30 minutes later he was up again to check a score on the ball game and heard the vallet come in to ask what was going on because the birthday party was taking so long. We were the only ones left and he wanted to go home... at 9:30 we were the only ones left!!!!! The service was horrible, the management was rude and the food was only so so. Oh and by the way, my husband and I had done a three day fast before so a broiled boot would have tasted good yet his steak was one of the ones that was tough and awful! He brought half of it home for our dog! There are too many other great places to go in Seattle so don't waste your money here only to be dissapointed.

    (1)

  • Dana D.

    To be perfectly honest I would give a 1 star for the service and 4 stars for the food at Ponti, but unfortunately Yelp doesn't allow that so it's getting 1 star overall. To celebrate Christmas Eve and having family in town from the East Coast we chose Ponti for a nice dinner. We were all in the best, festive mood and actually looking back had it been a more typical evening I think I would have been more upset at the service earlier. Our server did nothing to sell us the experience of dining at Ponti or having a holiday dinner. He barely dropped off a wine list or offered cocktails. We were deciding on an appetizer to share and one person prefers calamari that is fried not grilled, so we asked just in case it could be prepared differently. The server responded with "No" and a look of disgust. We chose the crab spring rolls instead and he let us know "there are only 4" (we were a party of 6). Fortunately they are actually fairly large and splitting them in half made a perfect taste before dinner. The real trouble started when our entrees arrived. Two people ordered the scallops and two ordered the copper river salmon, but 4 scallop dishes were delivered. The runner took back the dishes and had the correct orders fired up. Our server came over and offered up the excuse of the buttons of the salmon and scallops are next to each other. We tried to hold off on eating the 4 meals that had arrived, but they were getting cold quickly, by the time the 2 salmon dishes made it to the table everyone was practically finished. Nothing else was mentioned of the misordered plates and then our check arrived. Neither of the dishes were taken off the bill or any other gesture that would show the restaurant wanted to correct the mistake. We asked to speak to the manager, but before he arrived the server grabbed the bill from us to run the credit card. The manager asked if we wanted dessert on him, but everyone was stuffed and tired. He said "Well the server came over to apologize, what else do you want from us?" He ended up comping one of the 2 salmon dishes, but since the credit card had already been run it ended up taking an additional 20 minutes for them to figure it all out. It was just a very frustrating note to end a really wonderful start to the Christmas holiday with family and Ponti didn't seem to care at all. I live within a few blocks of the restaurant and it has been tempting all summer to walk to happy hour there, but I'm not sure I even want to spend another cent there ever.

    (1)

  • Michelle E.

    -id give them 3.5 stars if i could, yes the food tasted good, but there were a few problems -staff: friendly, accomodating, attentive -appetizer: i ordered the marinated squid: yummy but there was a piece of clear plastic mixed in with it, and no it wasn'

    (3)

  • Jessica M.

    The dining room is beautiful, fancy, airy, dotted with art. The appetizers (also on the bar menu) hooked me the first time I came here, with k., during my Seattle apartment-hunting weekend in February. The view of the canal from the deck, I imagine, is nice, though the parents wanted to eat inside. The entrees on the dinner menu, though, are expensive. And plain, even though they boast all sorts of interesting Asian-influenced flourishes. My halibut was overcooked and coated in miso paste -- lots and lots of miso paste. For more than $20, I expect perfectly cooked halibut. I could overcook it myself and slather it with miso paste at home. Dad's softshell crab was good. Mom's white (?) salmon was plain. At 6:30, as I should have expected, the dining room was almost empty, save for the early-bird special crowd. My parents liked it...but I'm only giving it a third star because I'd come back for happy-hour priced appetizers.

    (3)

  • Joyce L.

    We went tot his restaurant for a night out without the baby. I wouldn't really recommend this place unless you're on the older side. We were seated at a nice table--window and the hostess was nice. The server was slow and forgot to bring the wine list. We weren't terribly hungry so we decided to share an appetizer (dungeness crab spring rolls, 6 big pieces for $12) which was excellent. We also shared our entree--the bouillabaisse (mussels, clams, one half of a king crab leg for $28), which was also quite good. Overall, 3 stars. I don't think we'd go back.

    (3)

  • Amy B.

    I recently went to Ponti as part of the $25 for 25 special. I'd never been there before and was very pleased! The service was fantastic - possibly some of the best I've ever had! The wine list was expansive - I had a glass of pino that was just about perfect! They are also celebrating Washington Wine month - and have several great bottles on special. The $25 for 25 promotion consists of an appetizer, main course and dessert all for $25 (not including tax/tip). Obviously a great deal and a chance to test out a restaurant that you might not normally try! I started with goat cheese on a bed of roasted red peppers and toped with gravlox served with toast-points. It was fresh and very springy. My main course was a delicious seafood manicotti. Manicotti was clearly made from scratch and filled with fantastic creamy seafood (shrimp, scallops, salmon, etc...). We needed extra bread to soak up the creamy goodness! This was followed up with a lemon tart - which was just about perfect. The view can't be beat - you watch the Fremont bridge go up and down about every ten minutes. They have a patio that has seating in the summer. Great place. Great service!

    (5)

  • Lori B.

    Took my man here for his 35th bday as he was craving seafood- we made reservations for 8pm via their website/urbanspoon, which was pretty cool. Overall, this was a great experience and we'd go back again. Arrival: Valet was only $2, so well worth it, especially when it's pouring out. When I made reservations, I requested the most private booth/table available, not knowing what the setup was like there. The whole place is very open, so there were no seperated booths or anything. But they accomodated us the best they could with a corner table. The bar was in the middle, we had to walk past it to be seated. They were playing music that you would here on The End (plus an array of other tunes that weren't too appropriate for the restaurant, but suitable for the bar). The tv in the bar was visible too, though I wish it weren't. Apparently there is an option to block off the bar with curtains, but they were pulled back that night. So this place has potential to be a little more classy and even romantic, since it has huge windows overlooking the locks. Service: The busboy was on top of it, keeping coffee & water filled, cleaning up plates, etc. The server was friendly and on her game for the most part. All of the staff seemed to pitch in and help each other out from what I observed, which was nice to see. Food: He wanted the cheese platter and I wanted the crab spring rolls. Both very, very good....except: When I received the spring rolls, they had a couple hairs on them. Um, eww. So, we notified the waiter and she apologized, took them back to have remade, and told us that they would comp us for that. Sweet. The cheeses were awesome, especially the Beecher's Reserve (one of the 4 featured that day). The remade spring rolls were....Wow. I love my spring rolls and these were amazing. For the main course, we decided to get the 2 different types of salmon- him the Copper River and me the King. Both very drastic in texture & taste, but I really enjoyed the King better. To me the Copper River was too oily, but apparently I was schooled by my man that that's how it's supposed to be because of all of the muscles the Copper uses to swim upstream build up that natural oil. But to me, I couldn't taste the salmon, really no flavor to it compared to mine. Potatos were good too, pretty buttery but not overly garlicy. Spinach was way too slimy & overcooked. It was so hard for us to finish our food because we were getting full, but we HAD to have dessert. He chose the Creme Trio and I had the Lemon Tart. All very good, the tart was amazing, not too tart and the berry sauce and raspberries with it made it all the more amazing. Just told them they need more than 3 raspberries with it. :) We would definately go again, but not if we really are aiming for a private or romantic setting. I hope they take this feedback into high consideration. I would love to consider this as a great classy date spot for us. Honestly, if the music was more appropriate, and the bar was closed off, I would say this place is neck and neck with Ray's.

    (4)

  • Tim O.

    Yep the HH is a must: $5 food items & cheap drinks. Plus you got yourself a view of Fremont for free. We also tried it for $25 for $25 but found the visit not really worth it. Too much fried food (my fault of choice, prolly), but didn't expect it from Ponti's. I'm going back for HH!

    (4)

  • Aaron E.

    Ponti's is one of the restaurants my family absolutely loves. I can't even count how many times I've been here. Whether it's been for brunch (which I don't believe they serve anymore but it was so yummy!), lunch, Happy Hour or Dinner, I've never left unhappy. Granted it's not an extremely happening place and it definitely caters to a slightly older crowd, but it's a great establishment nonetheless with delicious food and impeccable service. First of all, a trip here is incomplete without the Crab Springrolls! Get them! You have to. I'm not entirely sure of what all goes into the Springrolls but I do know the meat of about 40 crabs goes into each roll. So packed with crab! The Caesar Salads are a lot of fun... they have the biggest crouton in the world on them =) There's also a Thai Penne pasta that is divine and has oodles of prawns! Several of the reviews have mentioned Ponti's lacks flavorful, spicy foods and while I agree nothing on the menu is exceptionally spicy, it all is flavorful... more in a subtle way but the tastes all blend together quietly. However, if you're looking for spicy, the Thai Penne is the closest you'll come to getting it. The lamb has always been oh so succulent and the Cioppino is excellent! Go ahead and splurge when ordering the Cioppino and add the crab legs in addition the the plentiful and fresh prawns, scallops, salmon, etc that's already in the dish! I don't know where these crab legs come from but I've never seen such big, meaty ones! I remember coming here with a friend when I was 18 or so and I have to say I never have felt more grown up. The two of us were obviously young, but we were provided with the best service ever. Our server was attentive, polite and slightly humorous and always addressed me as "Sir"... something I wasn't used to at all at the time. I'm not sure how to describe it, but teenagers were addressed and served so respectfully! That night was probably one of my favorite dinning experiences. And while Ponti's is great for intimate dinners, it's also great for groups. They have at least two rooms off the main dinning room that are good for groups and if those aren't available they're always accommodating in setting up tables in the main dinning area. When I came back home from college I had a graduation dinner with friends here and was super impressed with the quality of service for the group. My mom was also kind enough to call the Wine Steward and have him serve bottles of Schramsberg Blancs De Noir... one of my favorite Sparkling Wines that I rarely see at restaurants. It's unbelievable how accommodating they've been every trip.

    (5)

  • Heidi S.

    I would rate this restaurant 4+ stars if it were not for the insufferable service. I have been there three times and always been very pleased with the food, which is excellent Northwest-style fare. (The calamari is a particular favorite.) The views over the ship canal are pleasant, the decor is tasteful, and on a summer day there is almost no better place to enjoy a meal than on their outdoor patio. However, on only one occasion was the service adequate in terms of timeliness and civility. The other two times, our servers were inattentive and rude. During one happy hour, which was not even particularly busy, it took me 25 minutes to get the server's attention and order a drink. Later in the meal, we observed her refreshing drinks and taking orders from several tables around us, meanwhile neglecting our group entirely. Since we were identical to the other patrons in every way, her behavior seemed related to the fact that we wore (gasp!) jeans, instead of business casual attire. In any case, the service was very poor. So poor, in fact, that I'm unwilling to suffer through it again, even though I loved the food.

    (2)

  • R A.

    Excellent and friendly waitstaff.

    (4)

  • Alicia M.

    My significant other and I recently came to Ponti on a Saturday evening for our anniversary. I guess we didn't prepare very well for the occasion because we both felt waaaay underdressed. I would have felt a lot more comfortable during the experience if I knew this place was fancy. We had driven past it frequently and thought it'd be a good, new place to try. The entrees were kinda expensive, I think my salmon was about $30. My man got the tuna salad which was almost the same price. He said the tuna was good, but it wasn't much of a salad, just a few stringy greens that looked like decoration. My entree was pretty good, but I've found other seafood places that I like better. The redeeming factor was that we use the Passport Dining Card, so one meal was free! : )

    (3)

  • Sea B.

    Some restaurants are best saved for special occasions. For me, this is just such a restaurant. The atmosphere is great, especially if you eat outside. There is an understated elegance to the place which few Seattle restaurants seem to pull off as well. No surprise, Ponti's is fairly expensive I've eaten here twice and would rate both experiences the same. I've had seafood, including the ahi, and raved about the preparation and taste. I would rate it 5 stars but parking in nearby neighborhoods is necessary when it's busy, which I presume is a constant.

    (4)

  • Emme N.

    I really like Ponti's happy hour. They have great deals early in the evening and then starting again at 9pm until close. Their closing hour is a little inconsistent so showing up around 9pm is advisable. They make an amazing calamari (with olives and greens) that isn't deep-fried. The salmon quesadillas and sliders are also a good deal and extremely tasty. The only negative thing I have to say about Ponti's is that their waitstaff seems generally well-meaning but usually rushed or distracted.

    (4)

  • Nina T.

    I dined here for the first time over the weekend and was happy with the meal and service. Our water glasses were always full, and our waiter was extremely helpful. All too often, I'm accustomed to hearing "I dunno" or "I don't eat [some food]" when asking for advice on what to order, so it's a delight to have a waiter who goes into detail about what kind of people like certain entrees, his personal recommendations, etc. I was leaning towards it anyway, but when the waiter stressed that the sturgeon was really fresh and the accompanying sweet potato gnocchi was to die for, I decided to order that dish, and I wasn't disappointed. The fish was wonderful and cooked well, and I loved the gnocchi. The only downside was the greens on the plate. I forget what they were, but the ends were smoked and tasted like ash, which isn't pleasant at all. We had sorbet for dessert, which was unmemorable, but the crunchy toffee-like bowl that came with it was very good. We were in a bit of a hurry to get out, and the waiter was willing to help out by getting our check quickly. In summary, the food was good, though nothing I ate made me feel like I HAD to come back. However, the pleasant decor/atmosphere and stellar service we received makes the idea of return trip appealing.

    (4)

  • George G.

    Another story about bad service in the bar. Judy and I stop in for happy hour, to be served by a stuffed shirt who was more than anxious to let us know that we were a distraction. The happy hour wine menu doesn't say what variety of wine, so when I asked Judy which variety she would like, his exasperated comment was that there is only one available. Wouldn't it have been more professional for him to explain that fact when she ordered? This same attitude continues during the entire visit, culminating with him giving us the bill for the table next to us. I've followed Richard Mahlia to all his restaurants ... great food at this one ... but a pompous and inattentive wait staff spoils a great experience. I would not feel comfortable taking a guest there.

    (2)

  • Katya L.

    I had an absolutely lovely time here for a leisurely Sunday dinner. Although we were late for our reservation, we were still seated immediately and without trouble, snagging the last table on the patio at my request. Overlooking the ship canal, it was absolutely lovely watching the yachts and barges go by and the Fremont bridge be raised and lowered, all through a green curtain of leaves and vines that surrounded the patio. It would make for an amazing summer late-night happy hour setting, and I'd definitely return for that. The service was great, friendly without being overbearing, yet proper and just formal enough for the setting. There's a wine steward on staff (I commented that "that's when you really know a place is good") who pointed us towards an awesome local wine made on Capitol Hill by a friend of his when I'd requested a recommendation for a well-balanced red that was on the lower end of the price scale. I'm so glad he did, because I'll definitely be looking up the wine (and the winery) in the future! (For the curious, it's called The Warrior.) Who drank an entire bottle throughout the evening? This couple. I had the special - Copper River salmon (mmm, early summer salmon, yum) over a delicately-flavored, spring-green risotto with peas and a few cherry tomatoes. I love tomatoes and wished there were more of them! They were tender and sweet and complemented the salmon perfectly. The risotto was cooked to al-dente perfection, but the real star of the dish was the salmon (as it should be)! Prepared simply with just a few herbs and olive oil, grilled medium-rare with the grill marks making perfect Xs over the tender flesh... this was salmon at its finest. I was full after 2/3s of the dish but slowly cleaned up the plate over the dinner hour(s) because I couldn't bear to leave any of it behind. The boy had prawn linguine, and it was equally lovely, with a light, fresh tomato sauce and giant grilled prawns, the pasta clearly handmade. We were there for nearly two hours and we were never hurried. We enjoyed the wine, the food and the warm evening on the canal and left with our wallets significantly lighter but our bellies full and content. Oh, and the bread? Served warm, on a heated plate. It's such a small thing, but it makes all the difference.

    (4)

  • Becky R.

    Oh my God. Wow. Holy shit. Now thy was a bacon burger. Best. Burger. Ever. And I didn't even order it, my man did and offered me a bite. Damn. I loved the crispness of the bacon and bun, the lightness of the bun, the flavors all together. *wiping slobber off sides of mouth* Ok, I'm gluten, soy and dairy free, allergic to shellfish; it was challenging choosing from the menu. I wanted halibut and chips, but they are fried with other stuff and coated in panko, the salmon had soy sauce in the marinade, the other stuff had bread or shellfish. That didn't stop em from making me something special and satiating my desire to eat yummy food my first time at Ponti. I ordered the salmon off the plenty for $20 menu and they made is sans soy and it was the best salmon I've ever had. Slightly crisped top, large portion, served over spinach, grape tomatoes, and garlic mashed potatoes. Delicious. Came with an organic garden salad, too. They served bread with olive oil and balsamic with pepper as a free snack. Beer at HH for $3 and 14 Hands Cabernet for $5. Several food choices for half off. Happy hour til 6:30 make it a great deal, the view of the canal and Fremont bridge top it off. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Lisa C.

    The alderwood smoked black cod was a beautifully rendered fish - incredibly moist and distinctly flavored; a memorable meal. The service was lovely and attentive, and every aspect of the evening memorable.

    (5)

  • Michaela M.

    The food here is really excellent but I'm not going to lie over priced the only reason they can charge that much is because of the beautiful location. The servers are hit and miss. Some are very helpful some are very stuck up. I love the scallop curry pasta but you could get the rest somewhere else much cheaper.

    (3)

  • Carla S.

    My husband and I enjoyed a delicious, elegant dinner at Ponti's recently. The service was perfect, the cocktails were interesting and delicious, and the ambiance is somewhere between romantic and modern comfort (i.e., quiet and dimly lit, but in a modern setting). We had a perfectly prepared halibut with risotto and a dish that we returned to Ponti's especially for -- their untouchable, incomparable, mind-blowingly amazing Thai curry penne with scallops and Dungeness topped with an Indian ginger-tomato chutney. The flavor combination in that dish (thai, italian, and indian together!!!) are indescribable - you just have to experience it for yourself!

    (5)

  • E L.

    Great Seattle restaurant in a nice setting. Valet parking is handy. We have eaten there many times and have never really been disappointed except by the speed of service. Slower service is pretty consistent. The drinks are good, and their wine selection is respectable. Sitting on the deck in nice weather is a treat. I don't find their food to be stellar, thus the three stars. We will certainly return their for a casual dinner after work.

    (3)

  • Alex H.

    I went here on a Wednesday night with my mom when both of us were too tired to cook. We got in around 7:45 pm and immediately got seating in the little portion of the restaurant that looks out over the ship canal. First off I must say that I've been here twice before and never had a bad experience, food or service-wise, thus, this favorable review, long since overdue. In the past I have really enjoyed the bronzed sockeye salmon quesadilla as a starter and though tempting this time, simply went for the Shrimp tempura and the soup of the day(a crimini mushroom soup w/ a cream base) at the suggestion of our server. The tempura was as expected, tempura, I didn't order it to be wowed and it served it's purpose as a starter, that, and the soup stole the show. First off I ordered a cup to split and the server was kind enough to upgrade it to a bowl with two spoons so we could share. It was rich and creamy and had all the musky, earthiness of the mushroom without being overpowering. Though simply a soup, it stole the evening, and would not have graced the table had the server not steered us in the right direction initially. Before I go into the entree I must confess I am not a fan of Seafood the majority of the time. Notice my orders thus far, I like Salmon coated in cheese, salsa and tortilla; Prawns deep-fried in Panko; and a soup of the turf in a restaurant of surf. Therefore I ordered what I had ordered last visit. The Prawn Linguine with Tomato and Basil(though last time I requested Chicken in substitution and they were unable to accommodate). Overall it was as expected, I did comment to my mom, however, that the prawns were a bit on the fishy side of flavor; Later, after I was halfway through with my meal, much to my horror, she vocalized this to the server. I don't ever complain or send back unless something is extremely wrong. And neither does she, so imagine my surprise. The server immediately offered to replace it with something more to my liking and after a bit of back and forth I assured her it was fine(which it really was). My mom ordered Salmon off the two for $20 menu, and though I do not remember the specifics of that dish, I DO remember that salmon. She offered a bite and I refused but as usual she insisted and I obliged. It was wonderful. Grilled and not fishy whatsoever despite not being layered in cheese or deep fried. It only makes sense that in a Seafood restaurant the seafood is where the restaurant shines. I was jealous and disappointed that once again my fear of seafood had allowed me to miss out on something like that. The sorbet trio was good, but the flavor that really caught my attention was the cranberry spice, it was tart and pumped full of ginger, surprising and really the only sorbet I will remember from the dish But I have rambled long enough. Location- Superb views right along an intimate stretch of water, very romantic for those so inclined Service- I do no remember my last two servers, but the young woman who served us two nights ago was a perfect mix of professional, personal, bubbly, unobtrusive, and knowledgeable...and she sold the food and wine with her attitude, it was an exceptionally wonderful experience in large part due to her service Food- The goods have have always been exceptional and everything else is good but not exceptional, and that is a very high praise coming from myself, I have never had anything that I sincerely disliked I plan to go back for happy hour some time.

    (4)

  • Aaron H.

    I took my girlfriend to Ponti for her birthday dinner knowing that she loves seafood, and hearing nothing but great things about the quality of food and service provided by the team at Ponti. Being a younger couple (30 and 27), we've noticed that at many nicer restaurants, younger patrons aren't treated as well as older customers, but this wasn't the case at Ponti. We had an excellent time. We started with a cheese plate to start the night. Great variety and excellent cheeses. My girlfriend ordered the Shrimp Linguini which she loved every bite, and I had the Pan Seared Scallops which were the best I've ever had! All paired with an excellent Pinto Gris made for a wonderful dining experience. We will definitely be return customers!!! Can't wait to try the rest of the menu!!!

    (5)

  • Jill L.

    Good happy hour. My husband & I stopped in to the bar at 4 on a Saturday. It was dead for an hour but picked up by the time we left. Great wine, very nice waitstaff and tasty apps!

    (4)

  • thomas s.

    The grilled calamari is outstanding. The Alaskan black cod was also excellent. The tuna was fresh but not exceptional. This restaurant is beautiful, has a water view, and very good service.

    (4)

  • J M.

    Very Red Lobster... Very average... Very expensive.. Not a good combo. At least you get a bib at Red Lobster.

    (2)

  • Tommy K.

    This place really feels like a faded star. There's just something very old about this place. Not old in the sense that it's run down and needs to be updated but old in the sense of, "this seems like a place my parents would like." Maybe it's all the beige. It's a nice quiet location right off the Fremont bridge so you get a nice view of the canal. As for the food ... I'd have to say that it's just ok. I don't really have any complaints but at about $30/entree the food should definitely be more than "just ok." The service was also a bit shaky. The waiter always seemed like he was in a hurry and rather than laying down the silverware, for example, it felt as if he just threw it on the table.

    (3)

  • Kevin B.

    Very nice restaurant with good views and nice atmosphere. The crab spring rolls were delicious as was the seafood stew. Service very good, if a bit stiff and pretentious. Don't like the $3 bread policy...seems a bit cheap to add a surcharge for a staple.

    (4)

  • Michelle E.

    1 star: Ambiance makes you feel like you have to dress sort of fancy for this place. It is a pricey place so its a regular only for the above average people. It was OK for us because we went there last weekend for vacation so we did one fancy dinner for the weekend 2 stars: For the beautiful view through the windows you can see like a lake or something. There are trees and lights everywhere outside so you can have an intimate romantic dinner outside on the patio if you like with the portable heaters. It is quite lovely. 3 stars: For the food...super yummy. Lamb shank is not too gamey and has lots of meat that it will definitely fill you up for the price. The potatoes or yam or whatever it is that comes with it is a great compliment. The beef medallion is good, but not my preference. Their shrimp linguini is good and real buttery. Their roasted chicken has an awesome breaded outside that is crispy, and the sauce drizzled all over it is good and lemony. The yukon potatoes are tasty too. We had the calamari for an appetizer and it is SUPER good. Oysters are $3 a shot and are the size of quarter. They're good, but is it worth it? Not sure. Maybe if it was $2 a shot, it would be better. 4th star: Dessert...we had the chocolate cake....SOOOOO GOOD! mm hmmm... Lacks the 5th star because the food was real good, but not as orgasmic as the first experience I had 2 years ago when I first came here...or maybe it was because the waiters seem a little snooty, and the service is hella slow even though there weren't many people there. I would have liked better customer service as well, like some courtesy maybe. That must have ruined my experience. Good thing food is good!

    (4)

  • Danielle H.

    Love Ponti. Consistently delicious! Friendly, welcoming, and great service. Oh and the food is great too!. Delicious seafood with a great view of the the ship canal. Cheap valet parking a plus as well. excellent value for money. Great cocktail and wine list and did I mention the food is awesome.

    (4)

  • Tana B.

    The food was amazing and so was our waiter, I believe his name was Bryan. We had a view of the Fremont bridge and the lighting is very romantic. Was a great place to spend a little extra for a special birthday dinner.

    (5)

  • Heather J.

    This seafood grill has a great patio that makes for a perfect romantic evening out. Ponti is located in Fremont and overlooks both the Fremont and Aurora bridges, its right on the water and feels great on a hot summer evening with a cool breeze. Go for sunset and enjoy some drinks with some great views. Happy hour is early and allows you to get some of the pricier food for cheaper prices. I don't even like seafood but can't wait to go back to this restuarant just to be able to relax by the water and watch the boats go by. Might be a good place for a special occasion dinner.

    (4)

  • Traci J.

    It's been here forever, but how have I never been here? Ahhh, because my car does not normally drive north. Invited for a birthday dinner midweek at 7:30. Traffic basically sucks at this intersection, but at least there was free or valet parking readily available. Ponti is a very pretty, "old school", nice restaurant. Not being a huge seafood fan, I had scoped out the menu beforehand. Dungeness Crab spring rolls - good thing we ordered a large for the four of us because it was basically two spring rolls, cut in half. They were served piping hot and with the standard Thai Sweet Chili Sauce. I probably could have eaten all four pieces if given the chance. Not wanting to wrestle with the half chicken, my daughter and I ordered the New York steaks with the black pepper chimichurri on the side. Steaks were perfectly cooked and came with a cute little twice-baked Yukon Gold. Again, I could have eaten another potato. A few string beans and a slice of (acorn?) squash finished off the plate. Mom and sister ordered the chicken and it was nicely boned out, airplane style, in very manageable pieces. Two of the three custards in the trio were good - like, who really eats flan? The lemon tart was just that - tart. Perfect, and not too sweet. It's not cheap and probably a special occasion, Groupon or Dine Around Seattle venue choice for us regular folk.

    (3)

  • Sasha K.

    The food is what makes this place great bu the service is a little lacking. I went to Ponti for a birthday and was seated with a beautiful view of the bridge and water. However, outside all of the tables are situated very closely to each other so it was very easy to overhear everyone else's conversations. When the food arrived it was simply amazing. I had the ahi tuna with coconut rice which was to die for. Honestly, that was the second best dish I have ever tasted. For dessert we had delicious creme brulee. Overall the waitress did not come very often but for this occasion it was fine.

    (4)

  • Michel B.

    If there's a quintessential Seattle summer eating experience, it has to be dinner at Ponti on their deck on a sunny day. Wow! Just be sure to make it an early dinner to guarantee a seat outside. By the time we finished ( around 7PM), the deck was full, and that was a Monday evening when you'd expect things to be quiet. The food was outstanding, although the Caesar salad was a bit small for the money. And, in spite of the word 'Seafood" in their name, I had a brick chicken and it rivaled any brick chicken I've ever eaten in Seattle (Chicago's Rose Bud holds the world title for that dish!). Tender, juicy and enough garlic to make me smile. My wife and daughter focused on seafood and couldn't stop raving. Service was good, not over-the-top. Could have been a rookie. Seemed a little nervous and quiet for a fine dining place. Seattle is opening a new restaurant every 20 minutes these days, so I'm not surprised when I see service that's a little off. Again, it was good enough to keep my rating at 5 stars.

    (5)

  • J R.

    This place deserves 5 stars for the overall experience. If I were to judge the Thai penne it would get 2 stars and here is why : the "Thai" sauce tasted like it was cooked by someone who either never tried or hates Thai food. I would guess the ingredients were coconut milk, a LOT of sugar and a tiny amount of curry powder. Add to that a little basil and some crushed tomatoes and you get the most boring, unedible sauce. There was generous amount of crab in the sauce but it tasted so sugary it was hard to enjoy it. The only thing I liked about the dish were the scallops. They were a decent size, 5 of them, they could have used some seasoning though. Overall the dish was not worth price. Everything else we had was amazing, the Caesar Salad perfect, and the anchovies you get for the extra buck are the good kind, not to salty, fresh looking and tasty. The crab spring rolls - spectacular. The Cod was the winner of the night, perfect blend of spices, served on a bed of potatoes and veggies, and the sauce that covered the veggies was truly memorable. Their wine and beer selection is great as well. Kudos to the owners for the way they run this place. Everyone looks and acts impecable. The place is perfectly lit and the bathroom is super clean, extra kudos points for the box of tissues by the door. Everyone hates touching the door after they wash their hands :) This place is definitely a winner, reasonably prices, and very romantic. I didn't hear any background music, the place was somewhat lound but still a hint of music would have been nice.

    (5)

  • Peg O.

    Great appetizers and an even better wait staff get there dark Ly for a good seat

    (5)

  • Alina M.

    Great service and even greater food. Gourmet dishes that melt in your mouth. The ambiance is really intimate--dim lighting and beautifully lit balcony. The seafood is incredible--prawns, halibut, cod, scallops--all locally caught from fisherman nearby. It was hard not to fall in love with this place. Everything was perfect. Came here for dinner while on vacation with my family and I am sad I am not a local so that I may return more frequently!

    (5)

  • Lynn K.

    We decided to try this restaurant after looking for something outside of the waterfront where we'd been spending most of our trip. The food was very good but the view was the best part. Watching the boats, kayaks, crew teams, draw bridge, etc kept our 8 year old's interest the entire meal. The patio seating is great, kids menu decent and fish terrific. I definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • Nick K.

    Delicious , Unforgettable , perfect , immaculate , 1st Class ! These are just a few words that sum up my dinner at Ponti . Our host was friendly, courteous and welcoming. She gave us plenty of time to order we asked for more time to overlook the menu she didn't hesitate. She didn't make us feel rushed which was nice. Dinner was delicious and perfect was not overcooked or under / over seasoned at all. I will be back on more than one occasion . Thank you Ponti for rememberable dinner!

    (5)

  • Crissey Y.

    We had happy hour here. The food wasn't bad. The presentation was even better! I really liked the salmon quesadilla. Too bad the waitress was really rude and snotty. She acted like she was having a really bad day and taking it out on us. There was 7 of us there! I didn't even want to tip her at, it was that bad! She acted like she was doing us a favor by getting our orders. She said they don't typically split bills or accept split payment either. Then woman, you should have said that upfront!

    (2)

  • Alan F.

    A pleasant spot a few miles north of downtown, with a covered outdoor patio overlooking the ship channel and Fremont Bridge. We arrived by cab, but noted that valet parking is available. On our early Thursday-evening visit we were seated immediately on the patio. A small loaf of French bread with balsamic olive oil and garlic came to the table at once. The server made helpful suggestions, and, for an extra half-star, whoever wrote the menu knew that "sauternes," though a singular, ends in an "s." Our entrees: -Thai Curry Penne. Alaska weathervane scallops, Dungeness crab, basil chiffonade garnish, mild yellow curry sauce, tomato-ginger chutney. A signature dish of the house. Five perfect seared scallops, three pieces of crab-leg meat. - Grilled Wild Sockeye Salmon Basmati. Served with green beans, carrots, small tomatoes, and of course basmati rice. Simple sauce of butter and a touch of cilantro. And dessert: - Yakima Peach Pie a la Mode. An individual tart-like pie in a thick, sugar-sprinkled crust, brought to the table hot, topped with a rich vanilla ice cream. Well-selected craft beer list; I tried Georgetown Brewing Company's Manny's Pale Ale, reviewed under the Georgetown listing.

    (4)

  • Nausheen K.

    Absolutely loved this place today. Went there for dinner with my husband and the spectacular view and flavourful food made a simple Sunday dinner extremely romantic and fabulous. We tried the Sriracha lemon prawns and it was delicious - sweet, spicy, tangy and beautiful. My husband however loved the lobster spring rolls which was pretty tasty as well. I didn't enjoy the prawn fettuccine as much but my husband loved the cod. To top it all up the toffee caramel chocolate dessert was absolutely divine! Our bill was $85 and we thought it was absolutely worth it. The service was flawless as well

    (5)

  • Mimi N.

    This place was definitely a let down, especially during Seattle Restaurant Week. Just had a dinner here with a friend and we both left feeling disappointed in the quality of the food as well as the lack of good service. Pros of the place: Easy to find, valet/self service parking available, interior of the place is nice. For SRW (Seattle Restaurant Week), you get the option of selecting your 3 course dinner from the "entire" menu vs just a list of selected items. The only decent things I had from this entire dinner, were the nice constantly filled ice water and the lukewarm pomme frites. The frites were definitely a promising and tasty side, but due to how limp and wet the frites were, and how it felt slightly cold, all of this outweigh the taste of it. I do however, admire how the food was nicely presented, despite the disappointing taste. Cons of the place: Service, dirty glasses, and cold food were mainly the downside of my experience at this restaurant. When we got our water glasses, mine was dirty and smudged on the side. I asked politely to our server if I could get a new glass, but instead of apologizing or acknowledging what was wrong with the glass, all I received from him was a dirty look. Um, ok. Next was the food. My friend and I ordered different dishes and first up were the appetizers. The clams we ordered was alright, nothing too memorable. The calamari was terrible. With no real distinct flavor defined, the calamari was very lacking and on top of that, it was super cold. We had to ask our server to reheat the calamari, and again, we were presented with an incredulous look from him. Entrees: Both of us ordered fish and for an extra $10 each, we upgraded our entree to the grilled king sized salmon and the alderwood black cod. Sadly, this was definitely not worth the upgrade. The salmon was completely bland, with not even a hint of flavor. The cod was slightly better, however, the sides (rice, veggies) that went with it were pretty dry. It made my foodie heart sad to taste these entrees....But at least the pomme frites help boost up some of the taste! Desserts: Cheesecake was the typical, nothing too spectacular. The chocolate lava cake was so so. Overall, this place wasn't the best to experience SRW. Perhaps the quality has degraded because of SRW? I guess I won't know since I do not intend to revisit this place again.

    (2)

  • Larissa W.

    I was here for dinner during dine around Seattle on a Tuesday night. The servers here were super friendly and helpful, but I think the restaurant would have benefited from hiring another server or runner; the restaurant was quite full, and we had to wait so long for our meals to come out. The server kept telling us that food was ready, but we kept waiting and waiting. Also, by the time my fries came out, they were so soggy. For dinner we had calamari, soup of the day, organic willie greens salad, side of fries, pan roasted Alaska cod, brick roasted Washington chicken, and the moelleux au chocolat. What stood out the most were the chicken and cod. The cod was beautifully presented, well cooked, and seasoned. The oyster mushrooms that came with it were nice, and I also thought that it was a nice portion of fish. The flavor of the lemon shallot sauce on the chicken was a little too strong for my taste, but I thought that the chicken was tender and juicy. The fries were horrendous though; it was greasy, soggy and too salty. Everything aside from that was pretty alright, but not special. I'm glad I came here for Dine Around Seattle; I don't think I would like to pay the regular price for soggy fries and slow food.

    (3)

  • Wendy P.

    This meal was exceptional from start to finish. The table on the fence on the patio over the river was comfy and entertaining watching boats and the Fremont drawbridge. JJ was a wonderful attentive server. We enjoyed a cocktail with the Dungeness crab spring rolls. Then ordered a bottle of Pahlmeyer Jayson and started with tomato/burrata salad for hubby and just heirloom tomatoes (not a menu item but they accommodated me!). Wild King Salmon and Halibut for entrees perfectly prepared. We needed a sweet ending and JJ. shared the dessert and after dinner beverages. He recommended the peach pie which we chose and asked to delay until our wine was done. When the pie arrived it was not what we expected! It was more like a pot pie/tart with a scoop of vanilla nestled in it! Local peaches in a wonderful flaky crust. Followed by a small portion of a single malt scotch for hubby and Taylor 20 year tawny for me. Over 2 hours and NEVER pressured to hurry our experience! An epic dining experience with an epic server in an epic unique setting. Thank you JJ and Chef Ponti!

    (5)

  • Mojdeh S.

    How I heard of this place: It was a decade or more ago, perhaps during Seattle's original Dine Around month; I have been on their birthday mailing list ever since. Type of cuisine: Seattle's only wild fish only restaurant serves up the most delicate, delectable seafood around. "Executive Chef Alvin Binuya showcases his talent with an ever changing and seasonally focused seafood menu. Chef Binuya has forged relationships with local farmers and fisherman so guests will continue to enjoy the new and unexpected flavors from the freshest local ingredients." "Since 1990 Ponti has delighted the palates of our guests with a menu* that offers an array of eclectic flavors ranging from pan-Asian, Mediterranean, classic European and Pacific Northwest fusion" Ambiance: "When Richard and Sharon Malia opened the doors of Ponti Seafood Grill to Seattle in 1990, they revealed a modern mosaic seafood restaurant. Ponti, meaning "bridge" in Italian is built in the style of a Mediterranean villa featuring warm Tuscan inspired colors and waterside patios. Located on Seattle's Ship Canal, four private dining rooms and two outdoor patios showcase vistas of the water and the Fremont and Aurora bridges." What I ordered: On this visit, we started with a basket of warm bread and herbed balsamic olive oil for dipping, my husband unable to turn down the Char Grilled Octopus ($13) served over roasted pepper coulis, sweet corn, wild mushrooms. For our main entrees, our dining companions favorite and highly recommended Alderwood Smoked Alaska Black Cod ($32) with a five-spice cure, lemon-ginger emulsion, squash, green beans and a side of turmeric basmati rice. My husband chose the Pan-Roasted Alaska Cod ($22) with a smoked paprika dry rub, served atop rosemary roasted fingerling potatoes, oyster mushrooms, arugula, tomato and beurre blanc. For me, the Grilled Wild King Salmon ($35) served with fennel tzatziki, green beans, squash, and a side of mushroom couscous. Our desserts included a Lemon Tart ($7) with fresh whipped cream and a berry coulis, the Moelleux au Chocolat ($7) caramel sauce, hazelnut toffee crunch and fresh whipped cream, and the Lemon Cheesecake ($7) with Tuaca Gala Apple compote. What I loved: The Alderwood Smoked Alaskan Black Cod and the melt-in-your-mouth octopus over sweet corn and mushroom relish. The molten chocolate cake...what? Why I loved it: A beautiful, waterfront setting, where reflections of the bee-lights play across the minute ripples in the water, indoor seating is warm and cozy and the food nothing short of excellent. Cost: High ($22 - $36 per dinner entrée)

    (4)

  • Thomas Y.

    Busy but the staff worked with us. Good drinks and a very nice candle lit dinner on the patio. Had the cod and my wife had the salmon. Delicious! Unique and original. Great food and great atmosphere! Nice finale for our twenty year anniversary trip! Oh and I left my back pack. JJ found it, securely stored it, then sent it back to me on his DAY OFF! Wow! Excellent customer service! We were told to try Ivars salmon house, but will make Ponti our choice for Seattle seafood!

    (5)

  • Katherine Jo G.

    I had my wedding here. It was an AM wedding, simple ceremony, then lunch, cake, some more photos and yay, everyone went home. I wanted simple, easy and beautiful. That is hard to do sometimes, as it seems like everyone wants to conspire to make things as difficult as possible. Not Ponti. They made my simple, easy wedding beautiful AND tasty. The main dining room was gorgeous- we had our ceremony there, with the windows overlooking the canal behind us. Then we had delicious appetizers, with the friendliest wait and bar staff I have encountered. I was offered at least three drinks by different staff during that time. They had ordered special cider for our wedding, at our request. The head bartender was very kind to the children we had at the wedding as well. They pulled out a kids menu for them and gave them french fries, making the kids super-happy. I didn't ask them to do that by the way- it had just slipped my mind- but they saw that need and filled it. Then we had lunch. One of our priories for the wedding was making our guests happy- meaning good food, good drinks and relaxing atmosphere. Again Ponti delivered. We gave guests the choice of salmon, steak or chicken. I had the salmon and loved it. My now-husband had steak and said it was excellent. Everyone said the food was amazing. Everyone glasses were re-filled regularly, always important to a nice function. They served our cake and offered guests coffee- not something I'd thought of, but such a nice detail. We had a start time of 11am and managed to get out before they opened at 4. They didn't rush us though, which was lovely. I have to compliment the entire staff of Ponti- cooks, valet, event planner, wait staff, bar staff and anyone else who was involved. They made our wedding special. I didn't get stressed, because they made things easy for me and my husband. Thank you Ponti! We will be back to have your amazing food. I'd highly recommend this restaurant as a wedding venue.

    (5)

  • Ken M.

    We went here for Restaurant Week 2015. The ambiance was very nice; we sat near the glass doors overlooking the drawbridge and the outdoor dining area. The food we had was delicious, the cocktails were well made, and the wine was tasty. It was a Wednesday night, so it wasn't busy or crowded, and the noise level was nice and comfortable. If you like small bars with great selections this place has a nice one to belly up to for a nice drink after work. Service was good. Our server was very friendly and prompt upon our being sat, but fell off the radar a couple times, which, for a slow night, was a little odd. Aside from that, he wasn't pressing with getting us in and out, allowed us time to make up our minds, and had great feedback with questions. All in all, go here and enjoy!

    (4)

  • Donna H.

    My friends and I love this restaurant for their Happy Hour and their 2 for $25. I always order their salad and salmon. It's absolutely delicious!

    (5)

  • Erica M.

    Beautiful location. Came here for Seattle Restaurant Week with a friend and will definitely come again! The view was beautiful and their cocktails were great as well! For the appetizer, I tried their Steamed Penn Cove Clams, Entree- Lemongrass and Star Anise braised Oregon lamb shank served with Beecher's jack cheese with scalloped Yukon gold potatoes, summer squash, and broccolini, and for Dessert-the Duo of Custards. Although the clams were oh so slightly on the saltier side, the mussels my friend had ordered complemented the broth they came in. The lamb shank was so flavorful and tender- I will definitely order again! The Duo of Custards was a pleasant surprise in regards to presentation- the chocolate pot de creme and the creme caramel balanced each other and was smooth and perfectly made. I tried my friend's Moelleux au Chocolat and it was decadent as well. The inside was nice and gooey- as she took the first bite, the molten chocolatey goodness oozed out. The chocolate flavor wasn't overpowering and actually just what I was looking for! We saw other dishes go by, and I can't wait to come back to try some more of their dishes!

    (4)

  • Grace S.

    This place was nice dining at and sitting outside at the patio seating. I had come here with a group of four and it the patio was beautifully lit with a view to the river. Even though it was close to the bridge, I didn't really hear the traffic from the bridge. I really enjoyed the atmosphere here. When it came to the food, I was pleased. Not super blown away, but I was definitely full from all that I ate. My husband and I had ordered the Sriracha-Lime White Gulf Prawns, and I LOVED them. It was super delicious. I was, however, disappointed with the other appetizer that I ordered, the Hawaiian Albacore Tartare. This appetizer was way too salty for me, and I'm a person who loves to put salt on things. I would avoid ordering the tartare, but maybe it was just that batch. My entree was definitely delicious as I had ordered the Grilled Wild Sockeye Salmon. I opted to get the garlic mashed potatoes instead of the veggies and I felt that I made a smart decision there as I was deeply satisfied. The salmon was a great taste and texture. I had tried my husband's entree, which was the Grilled Wild Sockeye Salmon. Sadly, we were disappointed with that as there was an alright flavor, but his piece was definitely too dry. I did enjoy this restaurant and felt like it was a hit or miss with us. If you decided to try this place out, I highly recommend to opt for the outdoor patio seating.

    (3)

  • Lidia S.

    Starters: By far the best Char Grilled Octopud we had in U.S. Wow, soft and not rubbery and grilled to perfection! Hawaiian Ahi Tartare - yum yum perfect! Main plates: Grilled King Salmon was okay but Halibut was amazing.

    (5)

  • Brandon K.

    Great location warm atmosphere, I'm a huge seafood happy hour buff. Food was good but not good enough for the outrageous happy hour prices, the attractive waitress was a dud! Ordered everything on the HH menu, Kingcrab ran goon was delicious. If you want to drop 300 plus for happy hour this is the place to go;-)

    (2)

  • Gianna A.

    We were a group of 30 that celebrated my son's college graduation at Ponti. I picked Ponti initially for the convenience in parking. I searched Yelp for a restaurant that offered valet parking. Amber, my private dining coordinator, is a gem. She upgraded me from a smaller room to a bigger one (the Tapestry Room), when the opportunity arose. I was disappointed when she wasn't there on the day of the event, but she had a good reason. She is such a joy to work with! It started off rocky at first with the main waiter, Chad, but we sorted things out. He needs to learn how to speak to customers in a more respectful tone of voice. He actually is a very nice guy once you get to know him. The food was divine! For appetizers, we had the artisan cheese and crackers, crab spring rolls and the tempura prawns. For the main entree, my guests had to choose between (1) grilled wild king salmon, (2) Thai curry penne pasta with seafood, (3) brick roasted Washington chicken and (4) ranch New York steak. Let me tell you...all my guests were raving about how delicious the food was. My only complaint is that it took too long (more than one hour) for the main entree to be served. When it did come out, the food was totally worth the wait.

    (4)

  • Joni G.

    I've been wanting to check this place out. It's been here forever. The outside is a little run down but the inside is nice. Not too fancy but not casual. It was perfect. The water view isn't the greatest. They also have an outdoor deck where you can eat when it's sunny. I would prefer to snuggle and sit next the fire though. Great happy hour! Affordable and yummy! The customer service is attentive and friendly. Looking forward to going back for dinner to try the rest of the menu.

    (4)

  • John M.

    We visited Ponti late on Monday of Memorial Day and were the only ones in the restaurant. Maybe they were using up the leftovers, maybe the crew was burned out after a busy weekend, or . . . whatever. I don't know how to explain the rubbery papadums with the ahi tartare or the watery texture of the smoked black cod which should be luscious and oily rich. We actually called them later to ask if they use frozen black cod (they said they don't). But neither of those problems had anything to do with the small portions of ahi and vegetables and rice portions accompanying the fish. What's with 1/4 c. of rice and three stems of asparagus? Curiously, the fish portion - the really expensive ingredient of the dinner - was generous. Go figure. You should be getting better quality and decent portions sizes for an appetizer, an entree (with a $4 side of mashed potatoes), and a beer that with tax came to over $65 (not counting tip). I guess I'm spoiled by the other Seattle restaurants that I've been frequenting.

    (3)

  • Sarah W.

    Always superb service and wonderful food at Ponti Seafood Grill. The patio is a great option when the weather is nice. My husband and I often go here for special occasions and/or when we have guests in town. Very fresh seafood and a variety of menu options. Do not skip dessert. Ponti never disappoints. Side note: The bar is a great spot if you want to slip in for a cocktail and a snack.

    (5)

  • Diane S.

    I went here with my family for restaurant week, and I am so happy this is where we choose. The service is excellent, and the views at the restaurant (even on a rainy day) are beautiful. I really want to go back on a sunny day when it warm out. I had the siracha prawns (right siracha and prawns why didn't i think of this earlier!?) to start. Which were amazing. I think every one at the table were very happy with their appetizers. Most of my family got the steam clams which they were very happy with. Then I got the Sea Scallops for my main course. Which were excellent. I think every one at the table were happy with there choices. My mom got the cod, which beautiful. We got 4 different desserts, the sorbe, chocolate cake, cheesecake and lemon tart. My favor was the sorbe, probably nice to have after such a rich and wonderful meal. But the cheesecake was yummy, but tastes more like a holiday dessert. Very happy, and cant wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Jim R.

    My wife and I went yesterday with no reservations at around 6pm and had our choice of outside seating or window seats with a view of the water on a warm, sunny afternoon. But I would recommend reservations because it filled up shortly after we arrived. We both had fish (Halibut and Salmon) and they were superbly cooked with spices and garnishes. The house Chablis went perfectly with our dishes and we enjoyed some Rangoon grab appetizers as well. Casual, yet classy. Loved it!

    (5)

  • Elias A.

    We made a reservation on one of the best days weather-wise, and sat outside by the channel. Gorgeous, pleasant and comfortable setting, first-rate service, and the food was the best I've ever had. Thai curry scallops and crab was so good I can't stop thinking about it. My partner had halibut and she said it was wonderful. I wish we lived in Seattle so we could go to Ponti every weekend.

    (5)

  • Courtney C.

    Ponti is such a special place - not only has this restaurant been a great place to go to for a delicious bite to eat or an amazing happy hour, but they also offer really amazing packages for businesses. This will be our third year at Cooper Jacobs Real Estate of having our holiday luncheon at Ponti and we are all excited to go again! Not only is the scenery beautiful, and the setting spectacular, but the service is extremely wonderful, and the food is of course delicious. We also have a lot of dietary restrictions - and they are able to offer us vegetarian and gluten free options as well as their fresh and amazing seafood. We love Ponti!

    (5)

  • Matt M.

    my partner and I ate here last night for the Seattle Restaurant thing. it was great! shane and stacy were amazing and made the experience really enjoyable. definitely recommend the calamari - especially to dip your bread into the remaining sauce! delicious! always driven past the huge sign but had never dined there before- glad we did. great wine selection and great suggestions from the servers. really like that the manager came by to see how everything was. lovely experience all around. we will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Nina H.

    My bf and I have been here twice now and I'm sure we'll be back again soon too. They're good about sending us $20 coupons and so they get us with those marketing tactics. We really love their clams, they are simply a delicacy and must order every time we visit Ponti. During our recent visit, I ordered a mango mint martini and that was splendid! I loved the mint kick towards the end and it was just so refreshing and fitting for the beautiful weather we've been experiencing lately. My bf had the pinot gris with his halibut and for my main entree, I ordered the Thai curry penne, which was OK. I ordered it because I saw scallops and dungeness crab and was totally sold. I wasn't a huge fan of the chutney sauce though, way too sweet for me. Last time we were there, we ordered the swordfish and the black cod. Those were REALLY tasty! My bf was sad that the swordfish wasn't on the menu last time, but we'll be back so hopefully they'll have another version of it soon because for some reason, I can't really cook swordfish right. Service is great and the restaurant has an interesting layout. They have an outdoor patio area which overlooks the canal which is kind of nice on a sunny day.

    (4)

  • Dennis M.

    Went for dinner on Oct. 20th for my birthday dinner with my girlfriend. Luckily for us their restaurant week deal included the whole menu. For appetizers we got the calamari and crab rangoon. The sauce for the calamari was amazing. Very rich greek, spanish fusion going on with it. The calamari was slightly overcooked, unfortunately. The crab rangoon was... decent. The filling was glorified tuna salad and the sauce just tasted like every other sweet chili sauce I've ever had in life. Entrees were the thai curry penne and lamb shank. The scalloped potato that came with the lamb shank was perfect--best I've ever had. And the tomato ragu thing on the pasta was terrific; however, the main parts of the dishes were lackluster. For dessert I had the lemon tart. The filling was very tart, which both of us liked. The rhubarb sauce was also tasty. But, the crust was doughy. My girlfriend with the lava cake with hazelnut toffee and caramel sauce. The cake and lava were good. The caramel sauce was undercooked and flavorless. The toffee wad more of a brown sugar crumble. Drinks were a Manhatten and the cucumber Gimlet. The Manhatten was surprisingly good, considering most places just butcher them. The Gimlet had way too much sugar. Service was average for the type of restaurant. Everyone was friendly, but you could feel they were busy and not really happy about it. The also have a nice patio with water view. In conclusion, lack of execution was a major factor in the dishes. A few great parts don't make an amazing dinner.

    (3)

  • Jolene R.

    This was a great dinner spot. Found there was a reservation Saturday at 7 and we went right in and sat down. Service was great and the food was awesome. Appetizer, we had mussels. They had a great coconut milk soak, that absorbed the bread well. I had the Hawaiian Albacore and my husband had the halibut and risotto. Chocolate for dessert. The decor was romantic, dark with candlelight. It looks like there is outdoor seating in the summer with a incredible view of the canal. This is a new favorite for.

    (5)

  • A C.

    Great location with a view. We came here for Seattle Restaurant Week- which was 3 courses for $30. We had tried their Thai Curry Penne at another event, and figured this was a good time to come and get the whole dish, instead of just a sample. Let me tell you, the Thai Curry Penne (with scallops and dungeness crab) is AMAZING. By far one of the best dishes I've ever had. I didn't think it was spicy- but I love spicy and it doesn't faze me. So for others, it might be a little. The sauce was just perfect! It has a slight sweetness to it and it just makes it SO good. I highly recommend this dish. The waitress was great. No problems with service, food or the ambiance. I highly recommend this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Laura P.

    I was sort of confused on how many stars to give this place... I didn't have a bad experience here, but I definitely didn't have a memorable experience here. I guess I was just surprised at how fancy they were trying to be. It was a bit "old school dining" feel. If that makes sense. The food wasn't bad, actually the seafood stew was quite delicious.. it just felt a bit stuffy to me. Maybe on a night where I am dressed up and with the grandparents it would feel more appropriate. :-/

    (3)

  • Denise W.

    The Thair Curry Penne is the dish we traveled from Santa Fe, New Mexico to eat. My husband lived in Seattle for over 20 years and Ponti was far and away his favorite restaurant. We were vacationing in the Pacific NW last week and it was top of the list. Stacie W was our waitress and provided outstanding service. A perfect meal AND Dine Around month was an added bonus.

    (5)

  • Pete S.

    Always liked this place but had a bad service experience. The food was decent but not excellent given the prices. Our server rushed us through dinner, didn't explain the different custards for dessert and then brought the check without offering coffee or any additional dessert drinks. Disappointing experience from a service standpoint.

    (3)

  • Susan S.

    Priced right and delicious-the seafood stew is one of the best thing I have ever had-including cuisine in Italy. Great atmosphere -delightful servers-overlooking the Fremont canal-lovely walk after a delicious dinner. We have never been disappointed there/consistently yummy! Susan Samuelson-mercer island

    (4)

  • Lee h.

    My number one favorite for happy hour and dinner in Seattle. Delicious food--I get the shrimp on skewers and pasta side. Fun atmosphere. You can watch the boats and the Freemont bridge. I've had good conversations with strangers here and made a friend or two along the way. It's very chill....

    (5)

  • Rebecca F.

    The first time I went to Ponti was 2 years ago for the Dine Around Seattle event. The food was very good and we talked about going back, but never made it again until last night. And, last night was even better than our first experience there! This time, we didn't go for the event and it was a lot more calm at the restaurant. The first time it just felt like happy hour and just really busy, not a nice relaxing atmosphere I was hoping for. But, without all the extra fuss, hustle and bustle, it actually was a place I'd recommend for a nice special occasion date especially if you get to be in one of the private rooms (we were seated in the Tapestry room) and by a window with the lovely waterfront views! The service was attentive and efficient, and the food actually arrived surprisingly fast too! I was surprised to learn that not all of the seafood there was 'fresh' and some was frozen, but luckily we ordered items that were fresh. My halibut dish was very tasty, but felt a little under-seasoned to me; a little bit of salt would have really helped enhance the flavor. The portion size was very good in my opinion though, and the accompanying sides went nicely with the fish. My sweet tooth must have been in overdrive, because we decided to try two desserts (to share at least! ha!). The lemon tart was wonderful: it had a nice lemony tartness and the berry coulis paired beautifully with it. We also had the moelleux au chocolate (molten lava cake) which arrived warm and oozed beautiful rich chocolate - yum. The desserts really were excellent. Going to Ponti is definitely a great experience and I'd recommend asking the waiter what is fresh to make sure you're getting a great seasonal dish. If you prefer a more intimate, relaxing meal, I'd also recommend planning to go when one of the yearly food events is not in full-swing but, if you prefer more energy while dining, by all means head here for some good food and service any time of the year!

    (4)

  • Tim H.

    Let's begin with the fact that five stars is a perfect experience for me. That said, Ponti is a good restaurant with plenty going for it. We arrived on a fairly busy Friday evening, and were promptly seated. I believe Nadia was taking care of us for the evening and she was very attentive and caring, so five stars goes to her. When it comes to the food, the quality, presentation, and taste is very good. I had the king salmon, while the rest of my party had ordered a clam starter, seafood stew, penne pasta, and black cod. Again, all tasty selections with good quality ingredients. Where perfection is lacking is the fact that the food seemed to take forever to come out. I'm not too picky about it since I had company and a glass of wine, but when the wife brings it up, it's something to mention. Along with that, value was also lacking. I'm not asking for McD's pricing for a five star experience, but give me something that will fill me up. Portion size was not too small, but for the price, a similar entree at a similar restaurant would warrant a take out box. Again, these are minor points that don't take away from the fact that you're going to get the taste, quality, and service you expect for a nice evening out.

    (4)

  • Kenneth B.

    I went here last week, and I am extremely happy with the service and the food. I had made a reservation for 7pm, and when I arrived my table was ready. The outdoor seating was great, with great views (especially so since it was a bright/warm day!). I had the pan roasted Alaskan cod, and not only did it look amazing, it tasted outstanding. If you feel like having dessert, I recommend the Moulleux au Chocolat.. looks as good as it tastes! Great food, great atmosphere, and outstanding service! I will be returning, to try some more of the amazing food at Ponti Seafood Grill!

    (5)

  • Kaia D.

    One word... Perfection! I eat out all the time. This place has mastered it! Romantic ambience. Warm, friendly, attentive service. Mouth wateringly delicious food... And a great wine selection. The view is magical. My husband and I walked in and felt at home right away. This is our new "happy place." Well done, Ponti!

    (5)

  • Kandi B.

    Great happy hour - $5 apps salmon quesedillas, calamari, spicy oysters (my fave), etc. Yum Yum, gimme some. There's a lovely fireplace somewhere (can't remember if it's in the lounge or the restaurant). In the summer they've got a great deck that's perched above the canal between QA and Fremont. There's enough foliage so it doesn't get sweltering hot, but you can still enjoy the wind blowing through your hair.

    (4)

  • Bye Y.

    We were 40 minutes late to Ponti's. I felt bad since our friends were waiting there the entire time. Apparently, they had gotten on the waiter's bad side by returning drinks they didn't like the taste of. Whatever, the customer's always right. I was in a good mood, so I was working the waiter's good side so he wouldn't spit in our vinagrette. However, bad bartending struck again. Jason ordered a Cape Cod and it was the most watered down shit he'd ever had. He walked over to the bartender for a pow wow. This time, he ordered a double and it *still* tasted like water. WTF? Yeah, this and the whole being out of Pinot Grigio puts Ponti's on my shit list. The food wasn't too bad. I had the Cajun Prawns in a nice sauce. Too bad the bread was fricken $2 (happy hour price too, hello!) else it would've been a nice light meal. Jason had the salmon quesadillas which were decent. Not amazingly awesome, but the flavors were what I expected them to be. Then he and I split a bacon cheeseburger and fries (they had no ranch dressing, wtf?! Plus they had the audacity to use a condescending tone when we asked for it). Frankly, McDevil' s has a better baco-cheeseburger but their fries were good. Overall, Ponti's can suck my balls. The servers were total dicks and didn't hide their contempt for us that well. I was a total sweetheart to them and they looked down their snooty noses at me. To top it off, the drinks sukd and the food was overrated.

    (2)

  • Andrea H.

    Happy hour was great and the waitress too. It was quiet when I came but perfect for a relaxing summer evening when you sit outside.

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    Ponti is a lovely seafood restaurant that is located near the freemont bridge. It has great views, wonderful atmosphere, and a great menu (the salmon, lamb, and paella). They also have a wonderful happy hour that runs from 9pm-11pm and features drink specials and a half off appetizer list. All in all a great place to take a date or just kick back and enjoy a wonderful meal. Note - parking is pretty much valet only so be sure to bring some ones for the tip.

    (4)

  • Kerry G.

    I visited Ponti as part of a large group to celebrate my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary, so my experience was presumably atypical, but at least I can vouch for the food! The evening began with drinks and appetizers on the back patio, which overlooked the water. The appetizers, which included mushrooms in filo, fried shrimp, and crab stuffed spring rolls, were all delicious and the staff was extremely good about refilling drinks - arguably too good, as some people quickly lost track of how much they'd had! Their efficiency at refilling drinks continued throughout the evening, and there were definitely some dark glasses in evidence when the family gathered for the next morning's events! As a large group, we had a limited menu - a choice of four entrees. I selected the vegetarian Penne Pomodoro, which included a perfectly grilled Portobello mushroom on a bed of vegetables and penne in a delicious, zingy sauce. My husband's Thai Curry Penne with grilled scallops was also delicious, but I did not try the chicken or salmon options. We provided our own dessert (one of my aunts is an award-winning cake decorator) and I really wish I could put in a good word for her, but I've just realized I don't know the name of her business!

    (5)

  • patricia r.

    Oh Ponti how i miss thee........I will be back soon for the yummy HH and bring a Ponti virgin with me at that. I used to go to the George and Dragon to visit and then go to your HH right afterwards on m way home. I raved and raved about you to everyone and then they started to go to the HH with me. We would go 3-4 times a week. We liked to sit by the fireplace and order all these wonderful things along with drinks, how fun. Can't wait to come back.

    (5)

  • Liv L.

    Yum. Ponti is good. Convenient with their doorstep valet. Pretty view. Quiet. Private rooms are fab. Nice owner too - happy to show you around.

    (5)

  • Eileen D.

    Happy Hour is 4 to 6:30. We arrived Thursday before 5 and were told that they were not serving Happy Hour that day. Apparently they had a private event coming in a 6, so they would not be serving Happy Hour. We could order appetizers, but, we would pay regular prices. Seriously... Who does that? It was so misleading and disappointing that I am not sure when or if I will come back.

    (3)

  • Kenneth S.

    We really liked the ambience in the dining room. Service was as good as we have experienced. The spicy fried oysters were so good that I almost decided to order two more plates, just for me. These oysters were small and fried to a spicy batter, served with a Tarter-like sauce and reduced balsamic vinegar. Wow! My entrée was a leg if lamb, braised with a rich sauce. It was very tasty, but on my next trip I'd order a seafood dish. My wife had Manila clams, and crab spring roll. Both were excellent appetizers, she did not order an entree. The broth for the clams was delicious although she thought it was too salty to drink. For dessert we shared a lemon tart, very good. While the food was very good, what made it special was the understated classy ambience And the superb service. My wife had two glasses of champagne and I had a well drink. In all we got out of there for under $100 which I thought was a good value. I will definitely go back and recommend it to my friends.

    (4)

  • Megan R.

    I get that this is a place that primarily the older crowd enjoys... but I must admit this 20 something does too. I had been there previously with my mom for the 30 for 30 in November and when they were on the March 30 for 30 I jumped on the chance to my mom back for her birthday. We had a great experience the first time! I made reservations on open table and told them it was my moms birthday and when we arrived the table was strewn with rose petals and there was a nice card left on the table! The 30 for 30 menu was better than the last one - and had 4 entree choices instead of the usual three. I also love that they always have a Theo chocolate dessert! I chose the peppered albacore - which was cooked perfectly. Nice and rare in the middle with a delicious pickled salad of onions, jicima, carrots, beans and asparagus. YUM! The main course was a curried lamb shank. It wasn't overly curried and it came with a nice bed of pilaf. It wasn't my favorite dish, the flavor combinations weren't quite on and the dish didn't fit together very well. The meat was tender and flavorful however. The dessert (which I could barely finish) was a light but somehow dense tasting chocolate cake with creme fresh and mashed berries. It was light and a great way to end the meal. The other nice thing about the 30 for 30 is that they also have select bottles of wine for 30% off and they offer wine flights. Our waiter was very friendly and knew a lot about the menu and the wines. I hesitate to give it 3 stars because I want to give it 4 - but the service was slightly slow and the main dish a bit off. I like it enough to come back the dining out promotion again though!

    (3)

  • Amanda K.

    not impressed. went here for 30 for 30, and I am glad i did not order from the main menu. This place would have been even more disappointing at full price. I wanted to celebrate my bf's promotion, and he has been wanting to eat here for awhile. both our appetizers were okay, but nothing too impressive. My boyfriend enjoyed his entree (the veal), and I thought that my tuna was okay. It was not bad, but again nothing special. just okay. The dessert was awful. The apple dessert that I ordered had almost a bacon aftertaste or something. I do not eat bacon, and it grossed me out. I could not make myself eat the dessert. My boyfriend ordered the chocolate torte and I ate that torte, but it had a burnt after taste. It seemed like this dessert was overcooked. The service was pretty good, but otherwise I would probably not come back to this restaurant. Basically this place was a waste of my time.

    (2)

  • Geoff N.

    Ponti is like Pointy, but different. I visited Ponti for the first time tonight for my birthday meal with my family. The dining room is small with an intimate atmosphere and a wonderful view of the ship canal. The fare is high-end Northwest standard (i.e. fresh seafood and meats often prepared with an Asian fusion influence.) We ordered the Dungeness crab spring rolls and calamari to start. The spring rolls were flaky and tasty. The dish comes with six pieces, which was ideal for our party of six... AMAZING, I know! The calamari was also quite good, while the dish was small in size, it had an excellent spiciness to it. I started with a Caesar salad which, although very delicious, violated my rule of function over presentation. The salad consisted of several whole romaine leaves, which I was required to cut with a knife before eating. Furthermore, croutons had been replaced by a single piece of garlic bread, which also had to be sliced. I will never understand why fancier restaurants are able to charge more for food that is less prepared than at a lower end place. Fortunately, Ponti saved themselves my presentation over functionality scorn with their crab legs... or leg, to be more precise. My sister's boyfriend chose the Alaskan king crab, which consists of a single leg containing 12 oz. of meat. I commend Ponti for its presentation of this dish because, while many high end restaurants might find it amusing to just cook one leg and leave it attached to a live crab, forcing you to chase its gimpy scuttling carapace about the restaurant to "earn your meal". Ponti is gracious enough to, not only sever the leg from the crab, but they also split the shell providing easy access to the meat with a standard utensil (No arthropodoscopic surgery required.) This sort of functionality is a rare virtue in fine dining establishments and I applaud it. Aside from the crab, however, half of our party felt their main course was overcooked. My $42 medium fillet had no pink inside at all. Granted, the meat was still very tender and quite good, but while most fancy restaurants tend to err to the rare, so to speak, at Ponti you may wish to request your meal a half-step underdone. Aside from the slightly overdone meat, the rest of my meal was excellent. My side of asparagus was roasted as opposed to sauteed or blanched or steamed. The slight charring from the roaster added a wonderfully manly grilled essence to the flavor. The final bit of unusuality we experienced during our meal came when my mother's fiance ordered an iced tea with dessert. When the waiter informed us that their iced tea machine had broken that morning, but then asked if he would like hot tea, everyone at the table did little mental double takes. For the record, I have often found that hot tea, plus ice, eventually leads to iced tea. Over all, the meal was quite pleasant. If you have some money to spend ($25 - $42) per entree, and are looking for a place to have a romantic dinner, Ponti is a good choice. Just remember to order meats rarer than usual and be prepared for random snafus.

    (3)

  • Nina N.

    just horrible.. food... service.. everything.. just garbage... what a waste of time to go here..

    (1)

  • Virginia C.

    beautiful local dining. service was genuine and authentic. restaurant has a formal but still relaxed and friendly feel to it. beautiful place settings, architecture....and view. each level of service from the valet to the hostess to the waiter was detailed and personal and personable. food was well cooked and I was happy the dinner serving was just right. I was concerned it would be delicious but not enough food. *not the crab wraps are delicious but the half serving is one wrap cut in two. appetizer. The restaurant is locally owned and at the end of our dinner the owner passed by and stopped and introduced himself and shook both my hand and my husband's hand. They are also doing monthly specials.. as well. We don't eat out at this level of restaurant but the ponti grill makes you want to become a regular and we will definitely try to go more. It would normally be pretty much out of our league but we had been given a gift certificate and the whole night was just a good time. It's the kind of place we'd like to go more regularly but really would never be able to. 4 drinks, 1 appetizer, the meals, valet... $75 really not that bad! Yeah Ponti! Thank you. We noticed they also had a great happy hour.

    (4)

  • lois p.

    the happy hour gets 4****.. in the bar or on the terrace..its a great deal...... the food is good and ambiance as well...

    (4)

  • Amikam R.

    Ponti has good food, a good wine list (even by the glass) and a good location. We have been going there several times a year for many years. They change their menu every few months. Their short seafood menu is almost eclectic (that's a plus). So why only three stars? The service is slow, especially on busy nights. Last time we were there on a Wednesday with not quite a full room. While we were waiting 35 minutes between entrees ans dessert, the owner came by and apologized for the delay. It didn't occur to him to offer a freebie to make up for the long wait. But, in fact every time we go there we have to wait for one course or another. Until they streamline the operation we'll look for perfection elsewhere (did I mention Nell?) but still come for the halibut and salmon.

    (3)

  • Blah B.

    My husband and I just came home from Pontis which we have been to in the past and enjoyed. However, tonight the food and service were TERRIBLE, and that's an understatement. I asked the server twice for a straw which she said she would bring but never did, but even worse I ordered the wild king salmon and it was served to me raw, not rare, but raw. I asked the server to send it back to the kitchen and that it was raw and he took it away. My husband and I then decided that as we eat in shifts at home, and we were finally having a night out away from the kids to eat together, that he was going to send his back too and then they could serve us our meal which we could eat at the same time. A few minutes later they brought back my reheated fish, not a fresh piece which was what I was expecting. To make it even worse the fish was still partially raw and the server started arguing with me when I pointed this out. I sent it back again, and a few minutes later again, they brought it back - the same piece of fish which I'd cut up to see if it was still raw previously - but they'd flipped it over and put the pieces back together. I was absolutely stunned that a restaurant of this standard and price could serve this food and think it was acceptable. Furthermore, not once did anyone actually apologize for this nor did the manager come over. My husband and I had had enough by this point and just asked for the bill, paid for our drinks and starters and left. We will NOT be returning to this restaurant again.

    (1)

  • jil r.

    If you're looking for a trendy restaurant with lots of babes and wanting to be seen, you'll be disappointed. If you want a great view, attentive waiters, and good food, come here. My lamb fell off the bone, my friend ordered scallops and they melted in the mouth, and my other friend wouldn't let me touch his seafood bouillabaise! It's a lovely space with lots of windows, outdoor seating right on the water. The trio of custards was fabulous, and like Rick James, I'm a superfreak for creme caramel! The waiters know their wines. What they do, they do well.

    (5)

  • Bernadette E.

    happy hour happy hour!! :) great prices for food and drinks here at this fancy-shmancy place that i felt horribly under-dressed for, but oh well... :) i only drank a beer and had a cheeseburger... yum yum for 8 bucks total!! unfortunately i'm not a fan of seafood and didn't really get to fully enjoy the menu and my lovely company was not very well treated so it wasn't the best of times, but i would come back again to give it another try :)

    (4)

  • mike d.

    Went there recently to check out their happy hour. Beautiful, dim, rustic interior. The happy hour, which was 9-cl was a great deal! $5 plate of Tempura Prawns, or Calamari, Bacon Cheeseburger on an Artisan roll....and a couple other items. Drinks were somewhat steep, but I believe I missed the $3.50 wells they were serving. If I were to choose a restaurant that served $40 entrees (which they do), I dont know if it would be here, but it was an enjoyable experience, and Im sure Ill do Happy Hour again. And to comment on the sucky bartender comments below, my friend ordered a cape cod, and I noticed that it was REAL cranberry juice, not the bar kind that pours out Kool-aid red and is chalked full of sugar. I thought that it spoke volumes to the quality they put out since a cosmo with REAL cranberry juice is almost unbeatable when made correctly.

    (4)

  • Jaime H.

    Over two years ago I had sampled this restaurant's menu and I fell in love with the service and the calamari appetizer. Last week, we finally made time to go back for dinner which I have been wanting to do forever. The service was great, we have not had a waitress in a long time that was as friendly and professional as this one. The calamari appetizer is still my favorite calamari in Seattle - it's grilled, not batter fried. You have to try it! The dinner unfortunately was a disappointment. We went on a Monday night, so maybe the regular chef had the night off.... I had the Seared Scallops which were yummy but came cool in temperature and the side risotto was tasteless and dry. My boyfriend had the Lamb Shank, and he was not impressed either. We sat near a window with a lovely view of the canal. Great atmosphere and the outside looks like it would be awesome for the summer time! Again, service rocked and I would recommend for an appetizers only evening. I may even try dinner again on a Fri or Sat night. PS. Valet was only $3!!

    (4)

  • Angie B.

    Don't go here if you aren't a 50 year old white person. We came here on the late end of happy hour on a beautiful Sunday evening because we knew they had an awesome little deck. The owner told us he was only seating people on the deck if they were having dinner, and that if we wanted just appetizers, we should sit inside. We were planning on, if not catching happy hour, just ordering oysters and a few cocktails to enjoy the weather. As he was giving us the once over and we were contemplating on finding another deck, the hostess came back. She told us that we could have dinner or just appetizers on the deck if we'd like, no problem. The owner then mumbled something about doing whatever we pleased and the hostess seated us on the deck. Then a sweet younger, (probably new) woman came out and seated us. We sat at a table that had a dinner and a bar menu (with the happy hour specials that still applied for around 15 more minutes) sitting on the table. She made sure to tell us that we could still sneak in a happy hour order if we hurried and she left. Then the hostess/our new waitress came back (the one that said we could have appetizers on the patio), asked if we wanted a drink menu, and yoinked the happy hour menu/bar menu (before it had ended). We ordered drinks, oysters, and calamari. Got the drinks mixed up and received only 1/2 dozen oysters when we ordered 12, which is really beside the point. No problem, didn't say anything. Then the owner came out and shook our hands and introduced himself, asked us how our night was going, if we'd been there before. Which just confused us and made us feel less welcome, like being singled out for being the only couple that looked like we didn't just come back from an Eddie Bauer corporate retreat. The thing that made us laugh the most was that not once while we were out on the deck was it entirely full. Also, an older couple that sat next to us was asked if they were having dinner, or just appetizers, sans the 3rd-degree shakedown that we received before we were seated. Good times. The food was good. The help was nice, especially the younger waitress who was trying to hook us up with the happy hour prices, and the deck is awesome. But the whole experience made us feel really uneasy and we won't we back. By the attitude of the owner and the look of his clientele, it's no coincidence that Bleitz Funeral Home is right next door. R.I.P. Ponti Seafood Grill 9/9/07-9/907

    (1)

  • Beth Ann H.

    I was looking for a fancy-pants place that served soft-shell crab to treat my boyfriend for our big 1 year anniversary, and I found this joint. It was very elegant & definitely what I was looking for. When making the reservation I had asked for a nice spot by the window, and they offered the patio (if it was available). Sadly it wasn't, but we did get a nice window spot overlooking all the richies who were lucky enough to get a patio spot. Parking is free if you're too cheap to pay the $2 valet. My clove-strawberry martini was tits, but the appetizers were strange. The calamari isn't breaded or fried, which threw us off, & it wasn't very good. The cold asparagus soup was interesting, but not exactly tasty. The service was OUTSTANDING- really spot on. The server helped me pick out both my drinks & my dinner, very knowledgable, intuitive, & attentive. The main dishes were realllllly good- I had some sort of Thai Curry Penne with crab meat & big fat scallops. Good for a special occasion.

    (4)

  • H K.

    The salmon was over cooked and salty, for being a seafood restaurant in the PNW salmon is one fish you should have perfected. The apple crisp was soggy and tasteless. The service was great, too bad the food didn't stack up.

    (2)

  • Karen M.

    The kind of restaurant where you identify the things they do really well, and avoid everything else. The back patio is gorgeous, especially at night. The crab spring rolls were excellent despite lacking depth. The scallops are a must. The Halibut was inedible; clumsy, and over salted. Our server was unobtrusive but to an extreme. Good wine. Reasonably priced.

    (3)

  • Ted O.

    Average but good food. Weak wine list. Reasonable prices and friendly staff. Wonderful if you want to sit outside by the canal.

    (3)

  • Greg W.

    I love Ponti. The food is incredible, the service is great and I love the atmosphere and location.

    (5)

  • Ashley D.

    When your boyfriend asks you "do we seriously have to pay for that crap?" at the end of a meal, you know that dinner wasn't exactly a success. I don't think it was the worst meal ever, but probably the worst for the price range. We started with the calamari and fried oysters. Oysters were okay, but nothing special. The calamari we couldn't even finish. It was boring, tasted kind of fishy, and the texture was on the rubbery side. For the main, we had the halibut and the smoked cod. The halibut was okay, but didn't really have much flavor. There were some stalky green things on the top that I assumed were edible, but I couldn't actually separate them into small enough bites to get them in my mouth, so they were shunted to the side. Boring. The cod was interesting. My boyfriend's description was that it had the texture of fish, but tasted like a hot dog. It needed more sauce, and the carrots that came with it were tiny and shriveled. Overall, our order came to $119, with drinks. We had a Groupon, which saved us $30, but I still managed to feel like I severely overpaid for my meal. The sad part was that I had come here in 2009 and absolutely loved it. I think I even had the offensive calamari, and remember it being pleasant. At least the waitstaff was pleasant, and the ambiance was decent. The food and value just aren't there any more.

    (2)

  • CarolAnn S.

    I went to Ponti's last weekend on one of the first sunny days this year. I loved it! Our group opted for the Restaurant Week Special where we could all get a 3 course meal for only $28! I got the Kale salad, Alaskan Halibut and Lemon Tart, and all three were great! Looking out on the water was what made this whole experience delightful. I was able to get nibbles of the Chocolate cake, what a great time! I highly encourage the Restaurant Week special. $3 Valet parking made for a stress free time. Can't wait to come back! CarolAnn Sinclair Realtor/Broker Nostalgic Homes, Keller Williams Greater Seattle

    (5)

  • Tammy Y.

    Fresh locally sourced food. I don't know why it's not ever packed here because it should be! Highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Gary H.

    Wow! We started with a terrific grilled octopus (very tender), then had a thick, luxurious halibut (with what seemed like a deep-fried gnocchi) and a grilled Alaskan cod (lightly browned on the surface) with terrific mushrooms and fingerlings. Both sauces were perfect for the dishes. We added a side of green beans and baby summer squash cooked exactly right. We finished with a type of molten chocolate cake and lightly salted whipped cream that was as good as any we've ever had and excellent decaf (Lavazza?). The service (led by Avel) was everything we did need, nothing we didn't. A true 5 star meal. The prices were appropriate for the quality of the food and service. And as a bonus, the interior and views were very pretty.

    (5)

  • Nancy H.

    (Note: I'm rounding up stars, but would love to assign 4.5 stars). Brought family here this week for hubby's birthday. They had reserved a lovely table by the window and had rose petals scattered on the table and a birthday card for hubby signed by the staff. Nice, nice touch! After being seated, the waitress welcomed us and left to help other tables. She didn't return for nearly 15 minutes; meanwhile, we were starving and hoping for at least some bread, or to give our drink orders. Hubby thought she forgot about us. After she returned, thankfully, things went smoother; we ordered everything at once and, I must say, everything we ordered was wonderful! I had a pear martini, and wine afterwards. We shared the crab spring rolls to start (delicious), and the complimentary bread with garlic-and-herb infused oil was great. Hubby and kid 1 had the organic greens salad, which they loved, but I had the beets and goat cheese salad. I must say, this was probably the best salad I ever had in my life. It was divine. And beautifully plated, too. For entrees, I had the halibut (delicious and perfectly cooked, but perhaps a tad bland); hubby and kid 1 had the chicken (moist and flavorful); and, kid 2 had the paprika-rubbed cod (perhaps the best dish of the lot. Wow, that fish had amazing flavor!). For dessert, we shared the molten chocolate cake and the lemon cheesecake (I had a bit of the latter, and it was light and tasty. I love lemons!). After the initial bumpy start, the service for the rest of the evening was swell. I hadn't noticed, but one of the kids commented on the "older crowd" there (and, sure enough, all the diners were in their late 30's and up). Not sure if this is the norm. There's no dedicated parking at this restaurant, which is a bummer, but valet parking is just $2, so not terrible. And the ambiance inside, with the Freemont bridge and the canal view, is just lovely. We will definately be back!

    (5)

  • Sam R.

    Wow what a great restaurant! The food is very tasty. The brick roasted chicken is some of the best chicken I have ever had. And the fish- forget about it! So tasty! MMMMM! And the service is very legit. What a great staff! I can't wait for summer to start so I can enjoy the lovely patio. PS Get the side of risotto for $6! Its a steal. ;)

    (5)

  • Jan L.

    I used to live in Seattle and would dine here on a regular basis. It's been over 10 years since I've been back and I doubt I'll be back again soon. The restaurant was 1/3 full when we walked into the restaurant. We were greeted by a hostess who said, "I'll be right with you." and she went away to seat a couple ahead of us. When she left, an elderly female in her 70's walked in with her husband. We all waited patiently and a "Manager" came up; instead of asking which one of us came in first, he immediately looked at the elderly couple and said, "Party for two?" Before I had a chance to open my mouth, the elderly lady said, "Yes! Reservation under XXXX" and walked past us. I was baffled! Really?! Did that just happen?! I didn't want to make a big deal since we were NOT starving or anything but his lack of "service training" in a fancy restaurant is uncalled for. So, when he came back to seat us, I couldn't keep my mouth shut and told him that he skipped us. He looked at me and acted shocked,... "Oh, I did? Sorry" (Okay -- mistakes happen, no big deal, just don't do it again!) :-) We ordered grill calamari for appetizer, King Salmon, Sock-eyed salmon, and the seafood stew as entrees. All the dishes were amazingly delicious; however, I was the only one out of the three who got really sick that night. (I ate the seafood stew and maybe there were bad mussels or something. Okay -- stuff like this happen, no big deal, I just won't be back again.) The ambiance is nice -- and yes, this place is a little "snooty" but if you're into that kind of scene, then this place is for you! :-)

    (2)

  • Stef M.

    This is a great place. You can't go wrong with any of their seafood dishes. Happy hour in the bar is great, too - try the Dungeness crab Rangoon that's on the menu now. They are killer! Strong drinks, massive wine selection, and perfectly-cooked veggies to accompany most dishes. I wasn't too impressed with the mashed potatoes that came with my crab (kind of gluey) but the carrots and brocolini were perfectly crisp-tender. Great salads and soups, too - and when the weather is nice, try to get a seat on the patio overlooking the ship canal!

    (4)

  • Julia W.

    My husband and I came here during "Dine around Seattle" which was during the month of March and had the most enjoyable meal. My husband was so blown away by the cheesecake that he kept raving about it to family & friends and so we went back during restaurant week. The food was still solid although they changed the dessert menu up and so he wasn't able to get the food that he wanted. Our server the 2nd go around was much improved over our previous one although we did notice that there were tons of casual dressed folks even though the restaurant is more 'dressy'. Not a big deal but guess they don't enforce the dress code too much.

    (3)

  • Jenny K.

    My friends and I came here for dine around Seattle. I got the calamari while my friends got the ahi tuna. For the main entree, we got the seafood stew which was cooked in a Thai curry sauce. There wasn't as much seafood in the stew as I thought there would be. It was a good deal for the promotion but I wouldn't come back and pay $30+ for the dish. Service was good!

    (3)

  • Mary N.

    We arrived on time and was immediately seated. The host spread flower pedals on the table and gave a nice birthday card, The environment is nice. We had a candlelight dinner looking into at the water and the Fremont bridge. We were greeted by the server. I thought this would be a nice birthday dinner for my wife. Little did I know that the service to follow would not be a pleasant as our initial. Server came back 15 minutes later to take our order. We were busy looking out so we did not mind waiting to order. He stated he would be right back with bread. Again, we waited some time for bread to arrive. We waited again for our salad and apps. Server was too busy. There were 5 other tables filled in the restaurant, almost half filled on a Monday at 7pm. Our food was served by runner. I enjoyed the beet salad and mussels. I had some of my wife's fish dish and tartar. The fish was bland and not properly deboned. Ended up swallowing a bone, which scratched at my throat all night. We were finished and asked for the dessert menu. Again, the wait. We order dessert and a latte. The trio custard was so good. The latte was a cap and we flagged down the busser for sugar. Best service came from the busser, server was way below par. When it came time to pay, we waited for the server to run the credit card but after dropping off the credit card, our server became more attentive as I was filling out their review. I would not return. I think Seattle has so many better dining experiences. I am very disappointed at the food and server. Food was not worth the moderate price tag.

    (2)

  • Dan B.

    Service was amazing!

    (5)

  • Erica J.

    My husband and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Ponti last night! It was our first time at the restaurant and we were impressed by the location and interior. We came because we had gotten a Groupon - and although the food was stellar, I'm not sure if we would return often unless we had some sort of discount, because all entrees are around $30 and we both like to get drinks with dinner as well. However, I was so happy after our meal that I promptly went back to Groupon and purchased another deal...so we will be back soon! I had the seafood stew, which was stuffed with scallops, clams, mussels, prawns, and swordfish. The broth was amazing - I literally could've licked the bowl. My husband ordered the clams off of the appetizer menu and also had a salad. He had probably 40 clams in the appetizer portion - he left feeling completely full. We had bread service as well, and although it was yummy, I am always of the opinion that nice restaurants shouldn't charge for bread when patrons are spending lots on the food. The desserts looked great, but we were just too full. My stomach felt happy all night! As far as drinks...I had a glass of pinot gris and my husband had a beer. My glass of wine seemed to be pretty small for $9, but then again I am used to pouring myself large glasses at home. It was good wine, but next time we may see if they have a corkage fee and bring some of our wine in from home to enjoy with the meal. I saw lots of Walla Walla/Columbia Valley wines by the bottle on their menu which is always a good sign at a local restaurant. We will be back!

    (4)

  • johnny D.

    I would give the food 4 plus stars , Service- pretty poor , things went well with our party of 8 until a similiar size group arrived that were apparently regulars that suddenly had all of our server Stacy's attention along with the wine steward and the owner Rich. needless to say we have been there several times in the last few months and this treatment will make me think twice before going back . Rich perhaps you should pay attention to all of your customers to some degree to insure your future success.

    (2)

  • Aprameya R.

    The food here is good. The service is decent. The ambience and décor are really nice. The cocktails are most mediocre. I had the Thai Curry Penne which I loved. My friend had the Salmon with the yogurt/agave based sauce (I don't remember which) and it was okay. The desserts were good - the trio of custards and the Chocolate Moulasse. I had the Dungeness crabs with sriracha. Very very yumm. My friend had the crab spring rolls which he liked and I thought were mediocre. All in all, a decent place. Expensive. And yes, we went on a Seattle Restaurant week ...

    (3)

  • Louie P.

    Nice tucked away location by the Ship Canal and Fremont Bridge. Surprisingly a bit of a dress up place (which for me is nice since NO place seems to be even a bit dressy any more). Been here twice now and the food and service both times very good. For Appetizers have had the Alaska King Crab Ragoons, which have nice pieces of flavorful crab, the Cheese Plate was nice size with local cheeses and fruits. The cheese was good quality and 4 different types. The Organic Willie Greens Salad was also good. Now the entrees really were worth the price. The star was Chef Alvin's Pan Pacific Seafood Stew! Broth was so good I just wanted to order some on the side. Asian influenced with the coconut/ginger based broth and TONS of seafood, prawns, scallops, clams, swordfish and mussels. The Lamb Swank was fall off the bone tender and good sauce. The Pan Roasted Alaskan Cod was cooked perfectly and nicely spiced. The Brick Roasted Washington Chicken had a 1/2 a chicken with a zesty lemon sauce. All in all excellent food, good service and if you want to be a bit dresser for a change in a nice atmosphere I highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Stephanie M.

    From 4:00-6:30pm and 9:00pm-close, Ponti has great happy hour specials in their bar area. Drink Specials: Signature Cocktails for $6.00 (instead of $9.00) $5 Glasses of Wine $4.50 Wells $3 Draught Beer Food Specials: $4 Caesar $4 Green Salad $4 Salmon Quesadilla $5.00 Calamari***Favorite $5.50 Tempura Prawns***Favorite $6.50 Bacon Cheese Burger ***Favorite $6.50 Panko Crusted Fish and Chips ***Favorite On each happy hour occasion here, I've been impressed with their great customer service, quality of food (especially for the cheap HH prices), and the bartender is fabulous! It's an intimate dining space so I wouldn't suggest Ponti for a HUGE group, but it's great for a cocktail after a long day at work. Although I haven't had dinner here, I wouldn't be surprised if it was amazing!

    (4)

  • Mimi H.

    My boyfriend decided to take me here for my 21st birthday. We finished our day plans early and called to move our reservation up. The girl on the phone was really nice and was able to fit us in at the time we wanted. We arrived a little early and went to the bar. The bartender was really helpful and great for letting us sample the few varieties. After about 10 minutes our table was ready. We sat outside and had a beautiful view of the canal and bridge. The waitress was very attentive and nice about answering our questions regarding the menu. We ordered the Chef's Salmon special and Seafood Boullinaise. I thought the food was pretty good but not something I would go back and pay for again. However, the desserts were delicious! We ordered a trio of custards and a cheesecake. The cheesecake was nothing compared to the custards. Location is great and romantic but it's a shame that the food is only alright for it's worth.

    (3)

  • Samuel E.

    I love the food here

    (5)

  • Briget P.

    Great scenic views, romantic ambiance for dinner. They have great deals on the prix fixe meals, seafood was very fresh. Still I would give it 3 stars because it wasn't that flavorful and my steak was overcooked than what I requested. Management and service was superb.

    (3)

  • Zuck L.

    Great place with good food.

    (4)

  • Sonia C.

    The food here was ok, but I don't think I will be a repeat customer. I started with their signature crab spring rolls which were really just like regular spring rolls (but 4x the price). I also ordered some extra rare halibut which was cooked well but there were no special flavors to distinguish it from any other halibut at any other Seattle restaurant. The only thing I really enjoyed about this place was the relaxing, uncrowded environment and the the unlimited bread.

    (3)

  • Susan C.

    Ponti's is a great and classy place for HH or for dinner. Their food and drinks are top notch; you will not be disappointed with any cocktails off of the menu. Been to Ponti's many a time but didn't realize how *great* this restaurant really is, till last week, when I mistakenly thought I was supposed to meet a friend at Ponti's (while he ended up at Ray's - it was supposed to be Ray's). I'd told my waiter that I was waiting for a friend who may or may not be showing up (I was dressed for a major night out, so the waiter probably thought this was some blind date and the guy had stood me up). After waiting for almost 40 minutes (friend was on the way), the waiter very politely and innocuously asked whether I'd contacted my friend. I thought he handled an otherwise embarrassing situation really well and never once made me feel I had to order something or leave (granted, the restaurant wasn't full). The only reason I didn't rate this place 5 stars is because not all the food is consistently 5-star. The Grilled King Salmon with spring veggies I had was great, but on another occasion I had a Curry Penne, which was ordinary. The fried oysters are also pretty awesome.

    (4)

  • Andrea H.

    When I want the best fish and chips I go to Ponti! They've got a great happy hour and we love cuddling up to the bar. Panko fish and chips, Caesar salad and the crab spring rolls make for an excellent meal. Mike behind the bar always takes great care of us! When we want a more formal dinner we sit in the restaurant. Our last meal in the dining room was for Valentine's Day and my partner said it was one of the best meals he's ever had. We find most of the patrons are on the older side but we don't mind. The atmosphere and view is great and the service is always excellent. Thanks Ponti! Prepare to valet as parking can be scarce.

    (5)

  • H C.

    This place was good - I loved the oysters!!

    (4)

  • Nichole M.

    I will start by saying the crab spring rolls are delicious, and the dinners had potential. But, I had the pan seared cod and my husband had the coho salmon, both were horribly overcooked. When we told the server this, he replied that people complain when fish isn't overcooked so they do that on purpose. Wow. And no offer to replace it or anything- so I was stuck with rubber for dinner. Mmmmm (enter sarcasm). Also a Clear case of horrible management - we sat at the bar, and the manger himself was crushing drinks in front of my face while I was eating my (very dry) dinner- after he sprayed ice in my face and I said something he told me to move rather than move himself!! Then he continued to crush drinks while we moved ourselves and left our food - not one offer to help us move or to accommodate us by him moving. This is right down the road from us, so we will probably give it another shot- hopefully at that time I can update with more stars. But my goodness what a disappointing experience!

    (2)

  • Stacy T.

    Very nice place with excellent food and great service. Try to get seated in the main dining area though, we were seated in the back, which has limited views of the water.

    (4)

  • Sameer K.

    This restaurant was good, but not great. The place is much smaller than I thought it would be, but not difficult to get in on a weeknight. Parking is a little challenging on the street unless you go with their $2 valet deal (quite a deal). The food was all good, nothing to complain about. The seafood was a little more cooked than most upscale places would do, but I don't have any problems with that. The beet salad was by far the best part with lots of good flavors interacting. The thai curry penne and grilled salmon were both 4/5 stars. The desserts were excellent. The food ranges from $20-30 per entree. Desserts ~$7-8. Appetizers and salads just under $10. The staff was very pleasant, the view of the water was great and they have a nice, relaxed atmosphere with decor and candles. The place is not overly fancy, but it is not really a jeans and t-shirt kind of place. We were very comfortable in casual clothes. I would consider coming back here if it was closer, but it is not worth a long drive for.

    (4)

  • Sydney G.

    I went here for the first time a couple years ago with a groupon and had a wonderful dining experience, so when a groupon option showed up again this year, I bought one again. The food has definitely gone downhill, our black cod chowder appetizier was good (even though it had a scant few pieces of black cod in the creamy soup mix), but my scallops were overcooked, plus they were a tiny portion and overpriced. If you're a seafood restaurant, your seafood better be good, and I could have cooked better scallops than this. I tried my boyfriend's curry seafood stew, and it was similarly mediocre. This is the review I wrote to Groupon, since I was extremely frustrated with my experience: Our server was incredibly rude to us from the moment we told her that we had a Groupon. She managed to ignore us most of the meal, and be extremely condescending. For example-when my boyfriend and I told her we wanted to share one appetizer, she acted appalled and as if we were being extremely cheap, not that we could possibly just want a small amount of appetizer food to share. And, at the end of the meal, despite the fact that the bill shows the original price of the meal before the Groupon discount, she wrote in all capital letters, "ORIGINALLY $XX.xx," so us trashy people would know to tip on the original amount, even though this is an obvious tenet of a Groupon. We will not be back.

    (1)

  • K P.

    Incredible food, not jam packed, great atmosphere, nice views, exceptional service... very pleased!

    (5)

  • Opal D.

    We came here for happy hour and as soon as I walked inside, I realised it was a mistake! The only way to describe it is... stale... once it may have been lovely, but now, it's boring and depressing... the opposite of vivacious... All the customers in the bar were at least 30-years older than me. The decor can only be described as "safe". The service was good. Food was good but nothing to write home about. Unless Ponti gets a facelift, I will not be coming back!

    (2)

  • Megan T.

    We went to Ponti for dinner last night and had a great experience. Service was top notch and the food was great and brought to us in a timely manner. We ordered the New York steak, king salmon, and mussels. We were bummed that we were too full to try their chocolate lava cake for dessert, next time!

    (5)

  • Patricia E.

    Thai curry penne alone is worth 5 stars. There's a reason this place has been around for 20+ years! I am kicking myself for not having visited Ponti until last night. Great service all around - hostess, cocktail waitress, waiter in the dining room - all were excellent. I'm already planning my next visit to make up for all those lost years!

    (5)

  • Mark T.

    People should be fighting for a seat at this place! The $30 Dine Around Seattle meal was fantastic. Three of us had Bruce Gore Coho salmon, Alaska Black Cod, and King salmon. All were perfectly cooked! Please try the Coho! It was outstanding! Great service, great food, lovely dining room!

    (5)

  • Julia R.

    Hit this spot with a friend on a Tuesday evening last month after dropping visitors at the airport, Groupon in hand. Ponti is a pretty cool place! Kind of a weird feel up front... really awkward parking but you can valet park for $2 (we opted to park at the Book Bindery down the street and take a short scenic walk along the river). Their sign is on a divider or something across from the actual restaurant; that should tell you something about the ease of negotiating the parking. I also had trouble finding the entrance (I promise I don't usually have that issue haha). Turns out you have to walk past the valet to enter- that's a strange set up in such a small entrance in my opinion, but so be it. After entering, we were greeted immediately and seated, no reservations needed. The interior of the restaurant is very garden fresh... you can hear the river in the background, and see greenery everywhere. Lots of older groups and couples; this place on Tuesday evening seems to be popular with seniors. We were given an awesome table in the fairly full restaurant, overlooking the river. After checking yelp, we ordered the crab cake spring rolls to share, Thai curry penne for my friend and pan roasted cod/ organic willie greens salad for myself. Really liked everything I tried, the spring rolls and salad were definitely a highlight! The only thing less than perfect the entire meal would be my pear martini... not a fan of that drink. Wish I would have checked yelp or foursquare, which suggested the limoncello sparkler or the mango mint martini. Service was great, and at $20-30 an entree this place is in line with other mid-range restaurants in the area. You can get a $30 for 60 groupon for this spot any day of the week, and I recommend doing so!

    (4)

  • Loralee V.

    Although I haven't dined here for years, the ambiance still captures the elegant/refined/ classy & contemporary yet comfortable-casual. The large windows overlooking the bucolic ship canal and the Freemont bridge (hence the name Ponti) afford lovely intimate views of nature and eclectic boat traffic. Good for business dinners or a nice place to meet friends or your significant other... It is quiet enough for good conversation but still lively enough for an enjoyable evening. The service was very good; Informative, efficient, attentive & friendly yet not overbearing. The extensive Northwest menu offered delicious flavors and great seafood combinations. I sipped on a delicious pear martini while we shared the Penn Cove mussels. The mussels were steamed in ginger, lemongrass, coconut sake broth miso butter, green onion, and fresh basil. Dinner was delicious! We ordered the Halibut special (served over quinoa) and the pan roasted Alaska cod, trading bites with one another. This was one of those melt - in - your - mouth experiences! The cod was made with a smoked paprika dry rub and served with rosemary roasted fingerling potatoes, yellowfoot chanterelles, arugula, tomato, beurre blanc. Yum & more yum! For dessert we shared the decadent Moelleux au Chocolate with frangelico caramel sauce and a hazelnut toffee crunch. I need to come back here more often!

    (4)

  • Lucy S.

    Great ambience. We met for a business dinner and were not rushed at all. Halibut was a bit overcooked but the out-of-towners loved it nonetheless.

    (4)

  • Ninette C.

    The reviews don't lie in this case. I would give this a 3.5 stars, just like the average consensus. I wanted so badly to like this place as I am a very enthusiastic pescatarian and the Dine Around Seattle menu was awesome. (Almost) anything for $30!? Heck yeah! My best friend and I were so excited we arrived on time. Then we waited...and waited for a hostess. Despite being on time, our other friends almost called us by the time we sat down. After the waiter arrived to rush through drinks, we waited and waited. Delicious bread came and finally 30 minutes after our arrival, its time to order! My girlfriends and I ordered: Appetizer: -Penn Cove clams -2 orders of crab spring rolls -Ahi tuna tartare Entrees: -2 orders of bouillabaisse -pan seared Alaska weathervane scallops -alderwood smoked Alaska black cod (+$5 surcharge) Dessert: -2 orders of molleaux au chocolate -trio of custards -trio of sorbets The Penn Cove dish arrived in the form of mussels...but the sauce was very good. I wasn't as crazy for the crab spring rolls as everyone else. They didn't seem very...crabby...in texture or taste, but they were definitely fresh. Ahi tuna tartare was ok...decent , but forgettable. My friend's scallops seemed good from my one bite. They weren't as seared as I would have preferred them and Palisade does it better. The bouillabaisse was uninspired. It wasn't bad and it was a large portion, but I prefer ciopinno. Now the black cod, oh, the black cod! The buttery smooth fish melted in my mouth. The lemon dill sauce complemented it perfectly and the sushi rice actually did remind me of the Japanese rice I love so much. My friend says I'm biased towards black cod, but I don't think that's true! I was just saying that I'm usually hesitant to order Asian-inspired dishes at American restaurants but this proved me so so wrong. This might be some of the best black cod I've ever had. The black cod is pretty much what saved this review from falling completely into the 3-star hole of average. All the desserts were nice, but nothing special. The staff at the restaurant is nice but the waiter was SO SLOW. We arrived at 7 and left at 9:45ish. I know it was busy, but it got to the point where I'd try to put off going to the restroom to order my next course and then I just gave up and told my friend to order for me multiple times as I dashed off to the restroom. The place is nice enough. We didn't sit by the window. It's loud and there are more romantic restaurants in Seattle. I think I'm a little harder on fancy restaurants, but hey, you pay a lot and it's usually for a special occasion right? I'd give the black cod 5 big gold stars and everything else 3.

    (3)

  • Deborah J.

    This place has a very romantic ambiance, too bad I was with my Mom. Okay love you mom (no hard feelings). This is the restaurant she chose for her belated birthday celebration. Made a reservation for 7:30 PM last night, seated promptly although for some reason they assumed we wanted to sit outside when we arrived--not the case, so we ended up inside. There really wasn't any open parking nearby so we paid the $2 (cheap) for valet parking. This place was nicely decorated and a little fancy schmancy. Luckily I was still wearing dressy work clothes although Mom had been there before and was more on the casual side which didn't warrant any dirty looks from anyone. We split the organic greens salad which was a perfect amount for two. Would have been too much for one person who wanted to have an entree as well. I chose the brick chicken over mashed potatoes and it was heavenly. Mom had the halibut which was mouthwatering. Our server was delightful and humorous which made our experience that much better. I'd definitely go back here for sure--I just don't have cash overflowing from my pockets so not sure when that will be.

    (4)

  • Malvina S.

    We all seven of us enjoyed our meal. Our out of town guests are enjoy seafood so this was a perfect place to go. A small, unimposing place great presentation. There was no waiting and were seated promptly. When we were not sure what to order, the waiter recommend dishes that hit the spot. Three of us had black cod and three of us thought it was delicious-moist with unique seasoning. It could have been a larger portion. For desert you can't go wrong with their lemon tart. The only observation I have which took away from the evening meal was the "bread service". Which if you are not familiar with that term means that you are charged for bread. I could understand if some special breads were involved, but this was thin slices of a very generic bread served with olive oil. This was somewhat surprising and annoying for a restaurant which is by no means inexpensive. But overall a wonderful experience-just bring your own bread! After reading my review about the bread service they actually wrote back that they would no longer be charging for the bread. Nice that they take comments into consideration.

    (5)

  • Kyoni R.

    Small intimate group setting. A private room had everyone talking up a storm. I loved the food, the company, and the setting. Service was excellent. I'm going to this place again. This was one of my favorite nights for SRW.

    (4)

  • Autumn F.

    We have been here for a few years now. Great atomsphere, good service, and decent food. As mentioned in the other reviews, the speed of the service is a bit inconsistent. There are times when we waited around and times when service was prompt. Appetizers and entrees are good and delicious. What keep us coming back is their chocolate lava cake. Pure heaven. It's literally the one thing that my husband and I will crave and we each get our own order. Every so often we say to ourselves, "You know what would be good right now? Ponti's lava cake." It's not overly sweet. Poke into the cake and you are greeted with a warm oozing chocolate goodness. Take a little bit of the cake, a little bit of the lava along with the fresh whipped cream. SO good! Yup, we are going there next week.

    (4)

  • Rachel V.

    You can't go wrong with the Alderwood Smoked Alaska Black Cod. It's amazing. Hands down. I've gone back at least three times. Just order it, you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Laura L.

    After 25 years in the resort business and having enjoyed meals all over the world with my family this was a major disappointment. Recommended by our hotel we arrived and were welcomed (on the 4th July around 7P) by a snotty hostess. She looked our party of 3 up and down (we were dressed very nice resort-casual) and said do you have a reservation? We did not. We've been booked solid for months she said. I looked over her shoulder and the place was empty with no one waiting. (By the time we left the restaurant was still empty). We were flexible and would sit anywhere. She sat us outside, very nice. Then the wait staff...once the first waiter found out we didn't want to order alcohol he dropped us like a hot potato and we were given another waiter. I'm not joking folks! I was internally chuckling thinking wow do they need a massive training session with their employees. I could help them with that) We ordered appetizers, crab, filets, dessert...in other words we were not cheap. It was the most uncomfortable, unpleasant dining experience we've had in a long time. Certain it's a great spot for locals and people who order alcohol with dinner. We just didn't want any that night! Food was good but service was less than the worse experience we've ever had. Don't know how else to say it.

    (2)

  • John M.

    Going with average on this one. Though we got there late, I can tell that during the day the place has a great view and the ambiance is quite nice. Great settings, and the experience isn't rushed. On the less good side, the food was overall pretty lackluster. The Organic greens salad with Apple was very spartan. Maybe this is a minimalist approach to clarify taste, but it didn't resonate much with me. The fish which I had was well prepared, but the sides delivered weren't as requested. Brocollini isn't green beans. The desert was a real highlight. I had the three custards- all of which were delish. So on balance a bit of a mixed bag. Perhaps try them on a busier night than mid-week late.

    (3)

  • Deepika J.

    I had a Groupon so thought of checking it out. We were seated on the deck right away. The restaurant was reasonably packed. It has a nice ambience. Something of an old world charm. The deck was nice, overlooking the canal. It was lovely for a warm day. The menu looked good, but the food tasted average. I ordered the salmon with the soy-lime sauce. We also ordered the jumbo shrimp linguini. Both dishes lacked in flavor and creativity. The presentation was below average. We ordered the trio custard for dessert and that was awesome. The service was good. I expected more from a restaurant that looks this fancy and was this pricey. The food at Ray's boathouse is WAYYY better. I don't think I'll go there again

    (2)

  • Nancy K.

    We waited close to 10 minutes for water (no, they were not busy) and the slow and lack luster service continued from there. Ordered drinks, waited another several minutes to have the waitress come back and ask if we wanted to order drinks (wait, déjà vu again?). The food was ok. Would rather go to Ray's or Chinook's (or...) though for the superior customer service and food. This is not the first time we visited Ponti in pretty casual attire and been treated like 3rd class customers. This time we sat in the bar, hoping to be less "offensive". Snobbish is the word I would use to describe the vibe of the place. I won't be going back. For the pretty price they charge I can get a MUCH more delicious meal elsewhere!

    (2)

  • Kathy A.

    3.5-4 stars This is a lovely restaurant tucked back off Nickerson. It has amazing view of the Ballard Canal and looks back onto Lake Union. Aside from having to ask to see the cocktail menu four times to two different waiters we received great service throughout the night. The entire staff is really kind. They have a nice patio area for outdoor seating and lots of space indoors including the bar area. As far as food goes, it was pretty darn good. We started with the dungeness crab spring rolls. Um... YUM! The sweet chili sauce that they come with is awesome and the spring rolls themselves are light and very tasty. We also had the mixed green salad with almonds, blue cheese, and champagne vinaigrette. Nothing spectacular here, but a decent salad. For entrees we had the salmon and the thai curry penne with scallops and crab. The pasta was great, although compared to entree size portions seemed a bit small. But the scallops were perfectly cooked and the crab was succulent. I really enjoyed the sauce as well. The salmon was decent. Just looking at it, it looked like it was cooked perfectly, but it was a bit overdone and dry. Still tasty, just not the best. Finally desserts... we had the molten chocolate cake and the lemon tart. Molten chocolate cake= divine...nuff said. The lemon tart was really good as well, especially the berry coulis it came with. Oh and they bring a nice plate of bread with your meal and the dipping oil with balsamic and garlic and herbs is a nice accompaniment.

    (3)

  • Jgirl S.

    I have been coming to Ponti for many many years. There is only ONE dish I always come back for, their Thai Curry Penne. Service: Overall, great service. We never felt the need to get anyone's attention and all the staff was friendly. The only negative was our reservations. We had 6:30pm reservations and requested to be seated outside. We did not get seated till close to 7:30, which normally would be irritating, but was ok this evening because we were not in a hurry. We just sat at the bar and enjoyed a couple drinks. Ambience: If it is summertime, sit outside. The patio is great being located just below the Fremont Bridge, watching all the boaters go by. If it is wintertime, sit in the bar by the window or fireplace. I find the main dining area to not be enjoyable. It is hard to pinpoint why exactly...is it too open, the lighting, or ?...I am just not sure... The customer base seems to be pretty "clean cut". There was a table of lawyers sitting next to us. I think we were the only couple with tattoos and piercings. Food & Prices: We started with the grilled calamari and Dungeness crab spring rolls. Totally delicious...YUM! I have not had spring rolls that enjoyable in a long time. My favorite entree is the Thai Curry Penne. I started coming to Ponti's when the dish was, $14. It is now up to $26. WOW. I have to say it tastes the exact same, but just less crab. Wait....$12 more and less crab....that's unfortunate. Hubby had the pan-seared scallops and loved every bit. It, too, was expensive at $29. Everything tasted absolutely wonderful, but expect on paying $200+ for dinner that includes 2 appetizers, drinks and 2 entrees. I love the location, food, drinks, service, and outdoor seating here and will continue going. I would definitely have rated Ponti a 5 star if the prices were not so high. With the prices being as high as they are, we usually only visit now about once a year.

    (4)

  • Richard T.

    Came here for a pre-mother's day dinner for the different mom's in our family. It was nice inside the restaurant with how everything is setup. The only regret is that it is small inside with not much room to move around. It almost felt like a sardine can in our seating area with all the tables close around. The food wasn't bad, but I didn't think it was terrific for the price you pay. I mean for $25 I only had a seafood pasta dish that I could have made myself. Not worth it. Also there is no view of the ship canal from where we were sitting so another downer. I'm not sure if I would come here again.

    (3)

  • Jim R.

    Pan seared Alaskan cod... And prawn fettuccine...excellent... great portion... perfectly cooked.... great service

    (5)

  • Donald L.

    First, I should say the young and fairly inexperienced waiter worked hard. He didn't remember a couple things, but his earnestness and hustle more than made up for it. That said, we were actually served mostly by bussers and runners. Wow, this restaurant has seen better days. My wife ordered their signature scallops and curry pasta. It was a gloppy mess. It's as if they made it with what was left in the bottom of the pot. I had the brick chicken which was so over salted and garliced, yech. The desert was delicious, though it was not the one we ordered. What was frustrating was the owner, Rich Malia, spent the whole night loudly bragging about his travels to two tables in the restaurant, though had no interest in the rest of his customers.

    (2)

  • Trip C.

    Overall, three stars. Food: OK, but nothing amazing. View/setting/atmosphere on the back patio overlooking the canal: now that rates five stars. Service: two stars. Interesting currents at play here. Today was a nice, sunny day here in Seattle so when we made a reservation, we requested a table on the back patio. When we were initially seated, I lost myself in looking at the boats floating by on the canal, the lovely strip of herb garden just on the other side of the fence, and the overall relaxed yet upscale outdoor atmosphere. When we were seated with drinks in hand, our server called out the specials and one of them was Copper River king salmon for $48. Unfortunately, they also had Copper River sockeye salmon on the regular menu for $21, so it cannibalized the special a bit. The server explained away the HUGE price difference, saying that the sockeye was frozen (which kind of detracts from their menu overall, to my mind). Our server was perfectly lovely, however the service timing was pretty slow. When I started to pay attention mid-meal, I made sure to time dessert and it was about a half-hour from when desert menus hit the table to when we actually placed our dessert order. Great if you're having a leisurely dinner with compatriots, but drags on if you have somewhere to be after your meal. We started with the Dungeness Crab Spring Rolls with sweet chili sauce. Absolutely the standout of the meal. I would go and get a full order of these for dinner next time. Next up, I ordered the Grilled Alaska Halibut (English pea risotto, grilled Yakima asparagus, piquillo pepper relish). I requested the halibut done well, and while it had a nice flavor the texture was not quite what I would consider well-done - more like medium. It indeed came with asparagus. One thick stalk. One. Huh. The portion of asparagus was dwarfed by the generous piece of halibut and put the aesthetics of the dish all out of sorts (if you're into that kind of thing). The risotto, while a bit buried by the slab 'o' halibut, was really nicely done. Creamy, flavorful and the slight pop of the fresh Spring peas studding it was a great complement. Finally, the long-awaited dessert. We decided to split the Moelleux au Chocolate (Frangelico caramel sauce, Hazelnut toffee crunch). When it arrived, we determined that Moelleux must either be French or a high-falutin'-made-up-dining-experience term for molten chocolate. It was quite good, rich, and the hazelnut toffee crunch set is off nicely. The caramel was good, but no detectable flavor of Frangelico. Another nice touch: the small scoop of freshly whipped cream, unsweetened. It cut the high-powered sweet of the dish perfectly. Overall, a great place to come on a nice evening in Seattle. However, if food alone is your determinant, there are many other places who do it better.

    (3)

  • Kellie C.

    Came here with a large party (6 adults, 4 kids) for happy hour and the staff was very accomodating. The prices are a little steep for happy hour, but I loved the laid back feel in the lounge/bar area.

    (4)

  • Charles F.

    I went with my girlfriend and had a very good and attentive server named Stacie (sp?). She provided great service and her support staff's attentiveness to refilling and our water and bussing the table after we had finished our dishes. We also had a wonderful meal with one exception. We had the dungeness crab spring rolls and sriracha lime white gulf prawn appetizers. Both of them were delicious. We then ordered the alderwood smoked Alaska black cod and the tempura nori wrapped ahi tuna as our entree's. The tempura tuna was also very tasty. The desserts we had, the moelleux au chocolate and the trio of custards were delicious. Sadly, the black cod left something to be desired. The piece appeared to be a larger than normal portion from when I have ordered black cod at other restaurants so we were very appreciative for the portion size. The first problem with it was that it came out undercooked. The second problem was that it had between 10 and 15 bones in the piece of fish. The third problem was it appeared to have some of the blood line in it which never cooked all of the way even after returning it to the kitchen. It was a dark color near the center of the serving of the fish which was almost gray in color. This was surprising since black cod in my experience has always been white throughout. The piece did seem to be the tail portion of the filet which would account for the dark center line and the amount of bones. We found some of the bones before getting to the raw parts of the cod. Black cod should flake away when properly cooked and it did not when we got towards the middle of the piece. We moved the bones to the side hoping that we did not find anymore, but by that time had at least 5 bones. We then got closer to the center of the piece of fish to find it raw. By this time, we had eaten about a quarter of the piece of fish we were originally served. We pointed this out to Stacie, who was very apologetic and took it back immediately to have it cooked. She brought back, shortly thereafter, the same piece of fish that we had been given originally. Ironically, someone had wiped the pile of bones we had set to the side entirely off the plate before sending it back. This was somewhat troubling that someone would wipe the bones off the plate and then serve the same piece of fish with the bones. It is also possible she could have seen the bones on the plate and just ignored them as well, but I am going to guess it was someone in the kitchen. However, not wanting to continue to complain, we did not say anything to Stacie about it. In hindsight, we should have just asked for a new piece of fish and that was our mistake. Ultimately, we did not and continued to eat the rest of what was returned to us. In eating the rest of the piece of fish, we encountered another 8 or so bones in the piece. We were hoping to not find any more bones in it. In my experience, a restaurant would not resend out a piece of fish cooked again after it was sent back as undercooked. They would have sent out a whole new dish especially after seeing a pile of bones on the plate. As an aside, the one whole baby squash on the plate was almost entirely uncooked and extremely crunchy to eat. It was a very small baby squash, about the size of a golf ball, which means it should be pretty easy to cook. It would have been easier if it had been cut in half, but it was left whole. Maybe the chef's intention is to leave it raw and whole on the plate and if so, forgive me. The broccolini was cooked perfectly with a little crunch left to it. The quality control of the kitchen on this particular dish was more than suspect. The other dishes we had would speak to that level of quality that the restaurant achieves. And I do not think serving a dish in this condition has earned you the positive ratings and the kudos the restaurant has received. The seasoning and the flavor of the cod was very good despite the bones and it being undercooked which is why it is a shame. After we paid for our bill, we informed Stacie of our concerns and she was apologetic. She requested we fill out the comment card or emailing our comments to make sure that they made it to management. I die email them in February with basically the above comments in the email and still have yet to hear back. I was looking for was an apology. So, I will not be back and will steer all of my friends away from there.

    (1)

  • Chris C.

    I had the anchovy Caesar and Bouillabaisse, my wife had the some other salad and thai curry penne. Everything was delicious. Our 2yo daughter had a prawn add-on and fries. We used our Groupon on the last day. The food came out very quickly. Our server was very attentive and great. I'd eat here again for sure, but it's not a regular-basis restaurant, at least not for us, not with these prices.

    (4)

  • Chelsea J.

    Ponti is one of my favorite places for dinner considering the quality of the food and the beautiful location on the canal. During the Christmas season is especially pretty because many of the boats coming by are lit up with Christmas lights. I am surprised Ponti has several low reviews because I have not have a negative experience there. Yes, the service could use a little work sometimes but for the most part the servers are gracious and attentive. Last night I went for a company party and the experience was great. I had the organic green salad with almonds and blue cheese (good, pretty standard), the medium rare filet of beef tenderloin with garlic mashed potatoes (very very good) and the molten chocolate cake for dessert. I couldn't finish the cake because I was so full but it was rich and extremely decadent! Maybe not quite as good as the molten cake at Metropolitan Grill but still amazing. Having the dinner bill footed by the company was a plus, but normally the prices are on the higher side. Ponti is a special occasion restaurant, at least for me. Another aspect that impressed me about the catering was that the entree portions were quite big. My filet had to be around 8 oz. and the salmon filets served as another option were about twice as big as I would have expected. Very nice surprise! Tip: get valet parking. Parking around the Fremont Bridge is not worth the hassle and valet is only $2+ tip!

    (4)

  • Alfred F.

    From beginning to end, nothing failed to impress us at Ponti. We were out to Seattle for vacation, and our first meal was here. Our cabbie got us here after I showed him the route on my smart phone LOL! We were seated promptly, but nothing else that evening was rushed. The wait-staff took our drink order, returned in a few minutes, and told us of his specials. I narrowed my choice ahead of time to a veal dish and a pasta, then asked his recommendation. he said the freshly caught King Salmon was fantastic. At $8 more than Sockeye (yes, 2 different salmon on the menu...how cooshy!) I looked at him, and he did not flinch. King Salmon it was. I have always considered salmon an every-day kind of fish. Fine, but nothing special. ponti's grilled King Salmon is, without question, the best fish I have ever eaten. grilled to absolute perfection. Moist, just firm enough, and the mild flavor was an experience. My wife had a shrimp and pasta dish - sorry, I was too enraptured with my salmon to recall the details - but her comments echoed mine. Not only was the food special, but the service staff, from the waiters to the bus persons, were complete professionals. At no time did we feel either rushed, or neglected. We were allowed to enjoy the evening at our pace. This is a skill that, unfortunately the vast majority of eateries fail to embody. Good, experienced service can, and often does, make the difference between a dinner out, and an evening. The coup de grace was that I'd asked the hostess if she knew how I could get a cab, and she said she would call one when it appeared we were done...which she did, and was there within two minutes of our departure. Anyone can cook fish. Ponti made us feel like we were appreciated. Thank you!

    (5)

  • jeff g.

    I ordered the Alderwood Smoked Alaska Black Cod and it was delicious: texture, complexity, presentation---everything made each bite a delight! My cousin also ordered it and with each bite, we'd glance to each other with "wow!" in our eyes. Atmosphere by the canal was lovely, even the sound of the train added to the magical experience. The waitstaff was very congenial and quick to provide. Thanks to Bryan the local who took us east coast visitors!

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :4:00 pm - 11:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet, Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Dressy
    Ambience : Classy
    Noise Level : Average
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : Yes
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes

Ponti Seafood Grill

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