Ponti's Italian Kitchen

Ponti’s 50th Anniversary food bloggers event

Ponti's Italian Kitchen is a family run Italian restaurant just off Oxford Circus station, it has been trading for over 50 years now serving traditional Italian food from the Emilia-Romagna region. I was invited to attend Ponti’s 50th Anniversary food bloggers event to try their new menu as well as to understand a bit more about the concepts and story with regard to the restaurant.

the dining room

part of the kitchen

We were given a selection of dishes off their new menu followed by a "pizza school" workshop. Out of the lot, I found the roasted butternut squash, buffalo mozzarella with wilted greens exciting me the most, the three ingredients worked wonders together with a touch of creaminess, bitterness and sweetness. 

Olives from Emilia Romagna

Roasted butternut squash, mozzarella di Buffalo,
wilted greens, crispy parmesan & breadcrumbs

Scallops wrapped in Parma ham in garlic butter with warm focaccia

Pollo Rosmarino: chargrilled chicken marinated in rosemary, with chargrilled vegetables, wilted spinach & pesto was the weak link of the evening, the chicken was a little dry and lacked flavours within, however the seasoning on the surface and the vegetables were great, it was such a shame as the the dish was let down by the main ingredient.

Chargrilled chicken marinated in rosemary,
with chargrilled vegetables, wilted spinach & pesto

Salame Piacentino, coppa, Parma ham, vine ripened
roasted cherry tomatoes, Parmigiano Reggiano

Smoked Scamorza cheese wrapped in Parma ham
with sage butter & warm focaccia

Spezzatino di pesce: salmon, whiting, prawns and clams cooked in a light saffron and tomato sauce was the best dish on the night, lovely rich flavours from the tomato which didn't over power the seafood, while the saffron really opened up the lovely aroma from the salmon. The raviolis was also cooked well, not too soft with a nice tender surface and texture, great balance of spinach and ricotta within.

 Salmon, whiting, prawns and clams cooked in a
light saffron & tomato sauce

Spinach and ricotta raviolini

Pizza school!

All in all it was a very enjoyable event with great food and lovely hospitality. Ponti's Italian Kitchen is all about simple down to earth Italian cooking, Pizza here is also excellent, far superior to the like of Jamie's Italian. To sum it up, while the food is not exceptional compared to the like of Bocca Di Lupo and Murano, I personally think for the price (around £20 per person for dinner) what you're are getting is excellent value for your money. 


Josaron House, 5-7 John Prince's St, London W1G 0JN

http://www.pontis.co.uk