Le Pont De La Tour London

2 1 Reviews

Other Restaurants in London - Bermondsey
36D Shad Thames, Butlers Wharf , Bermondsey, London, SE1 2YE
+44 (0) 20 7403 8403
http://www.conran.co.uk

La Pont de la Tour is part of the Conran Empire and is located in Butler's Wharf near Tower Bridge. Open all day, it offers views of the Thames and serves French cuisine from a classic and reliable menu. They also have an extensive wine list. Catering for private parties of up to 20 guests is available upon request and there is seating on the terrace.

Tags: bar, docklands, fine dining, french, private parties: up to 20 guests, restaurant, riverside, seafood, shad thames, Terence Conran, terrace, vegetarian dishes

Le Pont De La Tour London Reviews

andrew w.

26 reviews

Faded glory - The Pont De La Tour was a big deal back in the 1990’s. It’s the flagship of Terence Conran’s trio of Shad Thames eateries, alongside the down-to-earth Chop House and the Mediterranean themed Cantina Del Ponte. The Pont has played host to presidents, film stars and all manner of celebs over the years and has a sense of occasion about it. It consists of a haute cuisine French restaurant on one side, a lively seafood bar & brasserie on the other, a chic bar, delicatessen and fine wine shop. From the moment you arrive at the stylish Shad Thames warehouse venue, it promises to deliver a great dining experience in a vibrant, authentic atmosphere. But it doesn't deliver. The menu rarely changes, I first went there ten years ago and it’s pretty much the same now which makes it seem a bit old fashioned and samey. It’s expensive too and if you include wine and a drink at the bar you’ll be parting with at least £70 per person… so watch out. The food is good, I’ve seen people really enjoy the Dover sole, fois gras, chicken, truffle risotto, crab, game and the excellent deserts (the Tarte au Citron is to die for). The wine list is similarly accomplished, with an excellent selection of regional French wines but they are expensive.

It’s definitely a typical Conran restaurant like No.1 Poultry or Quaglinos - it’s pricey, a bit old hat and sought out by wealthy tourists and businessmen. The staff are typical Conran too. I don’t know why, but there’s a tendency for these places to keep you hanging about in the foyer for five or ten minutes without explaining why. When finally seat you it’s another ten minute wait before anyone approaches you with menus or takes an aperitif order. The last time I went I asked for a glass of Sauternes as an aperitif (a sweet wine from Bordeaux) and the waiter raised an eyebrow and said “you do realise this is a sweet wine don’t you?”. Feeling irked that the waiter was an eyebrow-raising smart-arse, we waited another ten minutes for him to return and take our order. Then the Sommelier came over and took the wine order. Then we waited about twenty minutes for the first course and wine to arrive, and so on. The service was lethargic. By the end of the evening, after pudding and coffee, three hours have passed. I realise this is because they want you to feel relaxed and take as much time over dinner as you want – but actually it just feels like they’ll take as much time as they want to serve you.

It’s a good restaurant and sitting by the river on a warm Sunday afternoon getting gently drunk on a nice bottle of Mersault and eating some fruits de mer is lovely. But it’s too expensive, too old fashioned and the service is too slow to guarantee you’ll have a night to remember - and at those prices with that reputation a night to remember should be guaranteed. 02-10-07

Tags: docklands, fine dining, french, restaurant, riverside, seafood, Shad Thames, Terence Conran

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Le Pont De La Tour London

Le Pont De La Tour London Reviews

andrew w.