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Ponte Modern American

4.6 (430 reviews)
Closed • 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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PONTE MODERN AMERICAN ATMOSPHERE

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Moderate noise
Trendy
Intimate
Romantic

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Recommended Reviews - Ponte Modern American

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Reviews With Photos

Birthday treat
Jenny L.

The restaurant is gorgeous.. the food is divine... sexy... elegant and overall... the best 5-star dining in Midtown!! Service was excellent.. attention to detail - need more bread, need more wine!!! Awesome 55th birthday experience!

Amy K.

Beautiful restaurant with great service. we absolutely love the array of bread they offer. The appetizers were okay. I thought the entrees were better, and the drinks were great. I do think it may not be worth the price point for us.

Beef Wellington, Makers Mark Bone-In Ribeye, mushrooms, & duck fried rice
Samantha Barton

Ponte was as amazing as I'd hoped it would be and more! Service was phenomenal (shoutout AJ), food was flavorful and delicious, and ambiance was perfect for date night! Would 10/10 recommend and will definitely be returning to see our server AJ again!

Mushroom soup
John B.

My wife and I wanted a nice, special dinner before welcoming our second baby. A last hurrah, for the time being, if you will, and chose Ponte Modern American. Our early evening dinner was fantastic. Excellent service, excellent food and everything we would expect from a fine dining experience curated by the family-owned The Ponte Group. We're big fans of On Swann and Olivia and have had Ponte Modern American on our list for a while. We arrived to Midtown and were ready for our dining experience. We received a friendly welcome into the light and airy entrance. We were escorted along white cloth covered tables to the spot where we would dine. Our server was around quick and started on drinks for us. The cocktail menu offers classic and modern versions of some of the most common drinks. I love an old fashioned and opted for the "modern" version. Instead of bourbon, it was made with Japanese whiskey, kokuto, which is considered to be the world's healthiest brown sugar and black walnut bitters. It had depth and flavor and a flair that made it stand out compared to the classic drink. My wife had a mocktail. It was light, sweet and hit the spot she said. We didn't order any starters but a man with a variety of fresh breads came around multiple times. He offered up as much as we would like, everything from sourdough to focaccia and beyond. My favorite was a black olive sourdough. The Chef also sent out a small espresso cup filled with his signature mushroom soup. At first a little confused, I eventually got bold with it and sipped this like I was sipping coffee. It was really good. Thick, rich and flavorful. The white mushrooms and earthy truffle creme made this a hit. I could have had a whole bowl of this but soup just isn't my go-to. Between the cocktail, bread and soup, this dinner was already starting out pretty fantastic. For our mains, I got the house specialty Beef Wellington. My wife got the boneless short ribs entree. Our food arrived and we were ready to dig in. Like most elegant dining experiences, you can expect top notch food, smaller portions and a focus on presentation. My Beef Wellington was served medium rare. It was wrapped in salty prosciutto, mushroom duxelles and had a little extra depth, foie gras. The duck liver added texture and a buttery flavor that melded with everything well. The earthy minced mushrooms had an array of pointed subtle flavor. I appreciated the classic take on a classic dish, that had a hint of flair that worked so well. The red wine demi glas was an excellent dipping sauce and added to the overall presentation with it's dark red smear on the plate. My wife highly enjoyed her short ribs. The tender beef was rich in flavor and paired well with pureed potatoes and an apple slaw garnish for a hint of sweet with a little spice. We also shared a side dish. The campanelle mac and cheese. This was rich, creamy and an excellent Mac and cheese side that we would definitely get again. While we didn't order dessert, they did send out three small sweets. A mini key lime custard, dark chocolate and a small chocolate chip cookie. All of them were sweet and tasty. A nice little finish. Our dinner at Ponte was great. From the service, to the food, to the ambiance and experience, all maintain that level of elegance and modern that make it what it is: a restaurant you should eat at.

Porterhouse steak, lobster Mac n cheese and creamed spinach
Amanda L.

My spouse and I celebrated our anniversary at Ponte, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. I've been following Chef Chris Ponte since his Café Ponte days in Clearwater years ago, so dining at Ponte had been on our list for a long time. It absolutely lived up to our expectations. We chose to sit in the Gramercy Lounge, which had a lively, energetic atmosphere that we thoroughly enjoyed. It felt sophisticated yet relaxed, creating the perfect setting for a special night out. The service was outstanding (Devon was wonderful!), attentive, professional, and genuinely focused on making our evening memorable. We started with the baked oysters and French onion soup, both of which were excellent. For the main course, we shared the 40 oz Porterhouse, cooked perfectly and packed with flavor. The sides were just as impressive, the lobster mac & cheese was rich and decadent, and the creamed spinach was outstanding. To celebrate our anniversary, we enjoyed glasses of Pinot Grigio and an Old Fashioned, and the restaurant even included a thoughtful anniversary toast that made the evening feel even more special. Every dish was beautifully prepared, and the quality and consistency of the food showcased why Chef Ponte has remained one of Tampa Bay's most respected culinary talents. Ponte delivered everything we were hoping for: exceptional food, impeccable service, a vibrant atmosphere, and a memorable anniversary experience. We left already looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommend Ponte for date nights, anniversaries, celebrations, or anyone looking for one of the finest dining experiences in the Tampa Bay area.

Mac and Cheese
Hannah H.

Ponte has been on my to-try list for a long time, especially because I love Olivia and Bare Naked Kitchen that are also owned by Chef Chris Ponte. For my 30th birthday, this was the only place that made sense to celebrate such a milestone birthday and they truly went above and beyond. For starters, the service is impeccable! Amazing staff all around and very knowledgeable. The Sous chef brought us mushroom soup as a table starter and it was PHENOMENAL. I've never been a mushroom lover but now I am converted and will come back just for that soup. We loved the bread service and cocktails. Not to mention the small touches of service while we took our time celebrating. The beef Wellington was worth all the hype - exceeded all our expectations and truly a dish like no other. My filet was the best steak I've ever had and for certain the best steak in Tampa. As someone that's tried them all, take my word for it and be sure to add the Demi glaze sauce or you'll be missing out big time. Dessert and caviar were also fantastic! Lastly, it truly was the small thoughtful details that took this entire dining experience to the next level. From the birthday note to the kitchen tour we were given at the end of dinner - this place is just all around fantastic. I cannot believe they did not receive a Michelin star yet, it is now my number one favorite restaurant in Tampa (and probably ever). Cannot express how much a truly lovely experience Ponte is!

Porterhouse steak
Patrice F.

My family and I came here on a Friday before Mother's Day. **Disclaimer because I didn't realize it, this place is not for kids. No kids menu, etc. i saw a few pics on Yelp of people who visited with their kids so i thought it was ok. They were trying to accommodate us and offer buttered noodles & sauce but we just loaded the kids with bread and fries. We ordered the porterhouse steak. Truffle fries. Duck fried rice. Mac and cheese and the honey butter bread for an appetizer. They gave out complimentary sourdough bread and mini mushroom soups. Everything was delicious! The drinks were strong. Definitely a great spot to eat dinner with good vibes! We love the midtown area because they have a lot of walkable foodie spots to try. We still enjoyed our dining experience. Our waitress was friendly. Just leave the kids at home! lol

Mike P.

There are several high end restaurants in Tampa and Ponte is one of the best. This was our first time there and it was to celebrate a birthday. I had made reservations well in advance since it was on a Saturday night. There was an issue with our table and the manager Jeffrey took care of things and made it right which is the sign of a top tier restaurant. Service was excellent and the atmosphere is quite impressive. Drinks were spot on and our meals were excellent. The Caesar salad was one of the best I've had. The aged non-In ribeye steak was outstanding. Overall this is an outstanding restaurant and we will certainly be back.

Charlesea S.

I've revisited multiple since this restaurant first opened (and my first review here) dinner is always amazing but within the last six months, i'd say they began BRUNCH. Service is always top tier. Ambiance and aesthetic is clean and bright, less forms on the bar/lounge side. I highly recommend getting the chicken and waffle sliders, even if it's to share. It's made with chicken thigh so it's so juicy and the waffle really doesn't need syrup but has the perfect balance or sweet and spicy and they are able to add additional sliders as it only comes with two. My family really enjoyed their ribeye and eggs. The steak sandwich, by surprise, was more like a philly- but they loved it! I had the crab cake benedict. I always love the crab cakes, you could tell they most likely pouched their egg with vinegar... as it had a slight taste to it .. nonetheless delicious. They have a small four/five drink cocktail menu. Love their version of a hugo spritz (it's lemony) but their full cocktail menu is also available.

Sample of mushroom Soup from the Chef
Ivan Q.

My bride and I enjoyed our 13th anniversary meal at Ponte. It was our first time at this Tampa Bay top restaurant. From the time we walked in and until we left, the service was absolutely the best we've experience in years and certainly the best by far in Tampa. Well done, staff!! Just awesome job! We arrived at our reservation time and were quickly seated. Katie C. our server from Chicago came over to welcome us to Ponte. She offered water and then came back to take our drink and app order. Katie provided several recommendations. We decided to start with the colossal crab cake with a pickled fennel citrus salad. The dish was very good and popping with flavor. For entrees, we chose the Chilean Sea Bass and New Bedford Scallops. The sea bass, was so good. It was served with miso, bok Choy and a lobster ginger sauce. It literally melted in your mouth. The scallops were very good, too but that sea bass!! We shared a spring pea risotto with pickled ramp, Pesto, parmesan that complimented both dishes. For dessert, we enjoyed warm carrot cake. Ponte is one of, if not the best restaurant in Tampa top to bottom.

Jasmine R.

Truly a wonderful lunch we had today. We visited for my birthday and I highly recommend this place as every dish we had was amazing. What we ordered: App: lobster and avacado 4/5 chicken and waffles 10/5 Mains: Calabrian chicken 5/5 valasso salmon 5/5 Drinks: Modern gimlet 5/5 Mocktail turned cocktail (unsure the name, I just showed a photo of what my friend got when she went) not my favorite as I added tequila but next time I will stick with Gin. Very lovely experience especially with our waitress being so kind and knowledgeable as this was our first time here. Lunch time on a Sunday is not busy at all! The vibe is fancy with people wearing sundresses and nice collard shirts and pants. Definitely dress nicer when coming here!

Amanda W.

Loved the atmosphere, you can tell very customer focused. The lavender cosmo was SO delicious and so were the truffle fries ... honestly, I'd be happy to do a "girl dinner" and just go back for those two things. I went due to Amex resy. So I had $100 to spend (or more), and opted to try their Beef Wellington, since it said House Special. Ehhh.... For $85, I think that's what got me, the price point for what it was. Good? Yes. $85 good? Not so much... Parking is valet or you can try the nearby parking lot / garage and walk over. Very friendly and helpful staff! For first timers, they let you try the famous mushroom soup, in a little espresso cup, which I thought was a nice touch - it was quite delicious, you can definitely tell why they keep serving it! Bread service was a nice touch as well.

Duck fried rice for the table
Kellie C.

Everything works here! Gorgeous room, top notch trained service with warmth, exceptional food that's also fun and creative. Our server AJ was so terrific. Satisfying portions. Complimentary bread service with a delightful choice from 6 different breads! We had the short rib, scallops, Brussels, duck fried rice, and mac and cheese. Amuse bouche of truffled mushroom soup was a dream. Ordered cheesecake and it was very creatively presented and very delicious (even for someone who's meh about cheesecake) - a flavorful and textural delight. Also served a small sample of three dessert bits at conclusion of meal. So good. Range of very quality wines by the bottle (and a good by-the-glass list). I loved the classic and modern takes on the core cocktails. See photo for examples. Will be on my regular rotation for Tampa.

Galantines Brunch  hosted at the Ponte

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the attentive and knowledgeable service, elevated food quality, and a modern upscale atmosphere.

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Ponte Modern American Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Ponte Modern American

Whats the average cost per person?

I would say 80-130

What's the parking situation?

They have a free garage valet

What is seating like at the bar?

There are at least 25 seats. It is usually pretty busy though

Does the patio have any shade or fans for hot weather?

Shaded on the patio.

Does the patio seating have any kind of heaters for cold weather?

Yes

View All 6 Questions

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Morgan’s Cove

4.3(87 reviews)
3.0 mi•Downtown Tampa

Talk about a hidden gem! This speakeasy is SO cool!…read more The drinks were delicious, and the presentation was a solid 10/10. Every drink felt like an experience, and the atmosphere was such a vibe. But what really blew me away, and what I absolutely was NOT expecting, were the chicken wings! They were seriously so good. I came for the drinks and left thinking about the wings! Such a fun spot to hang out, enjoy creative cocktails, and meet some awesome tiki people. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to!

Hands down THE MOST IMPRESSIVE TIKI BAR IVE EVER BEEN TO!!!!…read more Ive been a lot of places and been to a lot of bars. I find tiki bars to be the funnest theme of bars. Morgan's Cove is the king of all tiki bars. Its so cool, the entrance to the bar is speakeasy style hidden door. Once you walk in its mind blowing how much detail is put into this place. The theme is sea monsters. The walls have carvings of sea monsters. Theres a leviathan hanging above the bar. Theres a really cool handmade pirate ship in a glass case by the bar. Its all so badass and so well done...just a beautiful bar. Chefs kiss. The drinks are amazing too. I went for a rum event. I had 2 different drinks and tasted all of my friend's drinks. All very delicious and hard hitting. Everyone there was super nice. The crowd the staff, theyre all so nice. I would fly out here just to visit this bar again. I highly highly recommend Morgan's Cove!!!

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Union New American - Sushi and Salmon dish.

Union New American

4.1(359 reviews)
1.2 mi•Westshore
•$$$

Union New American was a vibe. The service at the bar for happy hour was top tier, we were…read moreconstantly asked if we needed anything. Happy hour is served every day from 3pm to 6pm. Parking lot is able to accommodate a mass crowd. We ordered the following: Hamachi Maki Roll consisting of Yamagobo, daikon, chili crunch $15. Very tasty roll and very fresh. Tuna crispy rice consisting of chilli mayo & scallion, we passed on the chili mayo $9. Very tasty and flavorful dish. Crispy zucchini consisting of labneh, dill & preserved lemon $9. Elite dish, yogurt based sauce. Wagyu beef skewers consisting of romesco & pickled onions $13. Loved this dish, top tier. Chili like chicken consisting of crispy chicken breast, sesame & gochujang $9. This chicken was amazing, I almost ordered another order. I got the lychee lover martini consisting of 6 O'Clock Gin, Elderflower, grapefruit, lychee & lavender $10 Good job Union New American, I'm a fan!

I've been here 3 times. Once was a casual late afternoon sitting at the bar, once was a luncheon…read moreand once was a dinner with a group of friends. My first experience was probably a year and a half ago, it wasn't terribly busy, just a happy hour timeframe, had a cocktail or 2 and some apps, shared. I wasn't terribly impressed, it seemed fine, although pretty pricey. But did enjoy the ambiance, it was slightly elevated. I thought I'd come back and give it another shot. My next visit for lunch was nice, the food was good and service was adequate. Nothing special. My last visit, which was just a couple weeks ago. We were seated at a strange table with the end of the table sharing some odd booth-like chairs that didn't seem to be a part of the same group. But we were. The music was ridiculously loud and we were unable to hear one another. Just speaking to the person directly next to me and across from me was all I could speak to and we all had to yell over the music. It seemed to get louder at some point, even, which was ridiculous. I ordered a mocktail. It was pretty good. I ordered a steak - requested "medium ++, not medium well, but above medium". I received a medium RARE steak, at best. They had to put it back on the grill to make it basically medium well. At $62 for an a la carte steak - and this is not a steakhouse - this is unacceptable. At least they remade the separate side I ordered so it would be hot with the re-cooked steak. The service was fine, it wasn't exceptional, the ambiance was still the same - yet this last time was an attempt to appear trendy with the 30-somethings. Well overpriced, the food isn't spectacular even to justify the price, although the presentation was lovely. Too loud (yeah, call me old)... But when you want to talk with your friends, this is not the place. I learned after the fact that the upstairs which has another bar and also a decent amount of dining space, has a DJ spinning beats which is fed through the sound system downstairs, the music downstairs was louder than upstairs. That's just weird. Apparently just not my scene.

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Union New American - The bar

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Union New American - Wagyu skewers, lychee martini and tartare

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TANTO

TANTO

4.7(27 reviews)
2.5 mi
Takes reservations
Fine dining

I love this place. I love it so much I ate here 4 weeks in a row. Only missed the 5th week because…read moreI was out of town. The food, the cocktails, the service and the ambiance are all excellent. My ONLY criticism is sometimes the music can be a little too loud for conversation, but this isn't always so. I'm a cocktail geek and have made multiple trips to The Aviary in Chicago. Believe me, The Aviary has nothing on the Tanto bar program. Cocktails are unique, creative, and delicious. Food was amazing, whether omakase or á la carte. Staff is attentive, fun and playful. Chuck and Nick anchor the beverage service while Tony and Ari will make you feel at home. If you are lucky you may get a visit from Chef Cody. Standout drinks: #1 is Seoul Food. Think the savoriness of a Bloody Mary but without tomatoes. Hard to describe but don't miss it! Other highlights include Opposite Day, Memory in Bloom, and Three Way. Season of Again pairs beautifully with the oysters. I hate to say I have a favorite restaurant, because I choose different places for differing needs, but Tanto has won my heart and tastebuds.

I was so excited to try Tanto after seeing Kosen earn yet another Michelin star. I absolutely loved…read morethe space and atmosphere. With seating for only 24 guests, the restaurant feels intimate, and they clearly communicate their reservation time limits in advance. For parties of 1-2, the allotted time is 90 minutes; for 3-4, it is 120 minutes; and for 5-6, it is 150 minutes. Our reservation was for 8:30 p.m., but we weren't seated until 9 p.m. the host apologized for the wait. As noted in their reservation policy, there is no bar seating, so we stood while waiting. No big deal. We ordered cocktails, and they were amazing! Unfortunately, once we were seated, the experience took a turn. It was about 20 minutes before our server came to take our order. We each ordered two to three items, but the food took an unexpectedly long time to arrive. From our vantage point, we could see part of the kitchen, which appeared to be where the sushi was prepared. I couldn't see the entire kitchen, so I can only speak to what was visible to us. At times, there appeared to be three to five people working in that area. Our nigiri arrived relatively quickly, but then we waited and waited for the rest of our order. The delay became long enough that we were offered complimentary caviar. At that point, the chef apologized and told us it would be another 10 minutes. While waiting for our hand rolls and skewers, my friend ordered a nogori sake, which simply needed to be poured. As time went on, one skewer arrived, and while we were still waiting for the rest of our food and the sake, another friend ordered a cocktail. The cocktail arrived first. We asked about the sake again and were told the server would check on it. Another skewer arrived, but the drink still hadn't, so we asked a third time. Eventually, our hand rolls arrived, but one of the rolls was incorrect, meaning my friend had to wait again for the right order. The nogori finally arrived, and by that point, I asked our server to cancel my remaining skewer. He apologized again for the delay. Guys, it was past 10:40 p.m. by then. I understand that good food takes time, and I appreciate that restaurants need to pace a meal. However, this felt unreasonable for a cocktail-and-small-bites concept, particularly given the repeated delays, the drink that required multiple follow-ups, and the incorrect item. We were consistently met with apologies, and the complimentary caviar was a kind gesture, but neither addressed the underlying issue of how long everything was taking. As for the food, it was fine. Not the best I've had, but certainly not the worst. The cocktails, however, were a highlight. They were creative, beautifully presented, and genuinely enjoyable. Ultimately, I left feeling confused by the experience. I loved the atmosphere and wanted to love Tanto, but the pacing and service left a lot to be desired. The constant waiting for small plates and drinks disrupted what should have been an intimate, enjoyable evening and ultimately took away from the vibe. I'm glad I finally tried Tanto, but based on this visit, the overall experience didn't live up to my expectations and I'm not sure if I would go back.

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TANTO
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OLIVIA - My husband's a meat lover, so he decided to order the delicious Veal Parmesan.. AMAZING Taste

OLIVIA

4.5(1.7k reviews)
1.0 mi•South Tampa
•$$$

Beautiful upscale atmosphere. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable. Amazing food and…read moredrinks, I can't wait to go back!

Olivia's in Tampa delivered an excellent dining experience, from the beautifully designed interior…read moreto the attentive service and, most importantly, the food. The decor is sophisticated without feeling pretentious, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The service was polished, attentive, and well-paced, allowing us to enjoy the evening without feeling rushed. It's lively- too loud for a first date. The highlight of the meal was the tableside chicken Parmesan, which we tried with both vodka sauce and traditional marinara. Both preparations were excellent, and the tableside presentation was a nice touch. It's refreshing to see a restaurant put this much effort into both the food and the dining experience. The only minor criticism was the lasagna, which was slightly oversalted. A little more restraint with the seasoning would have made it a much better dish. As someone who appreciates good Italian cooking, I particularly enjoyed the attention to presentation and the opportunity to experience two different preparations of a classic dish. Olivia's gets a lot of things right. Beautiful surroundings, professional service, and well-executed food made for a memorable evening. Definitely a restaurant I would return to. Lots of gf options

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OLIVIA - Ambiance

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Lara

4.7(21 reviews)
4.1 mi•Ybor City
•$$

Saw Lara on Instagram this afternoon, so we decided to check it out for dinner the same night. You…read morewalk in to the subtle smell of incense, mellow music, and a really relaxed atmosphere. It has a cozy, slightly witchy, zen vibe. The cocktails are creative, the spirits list is thoughtfully curated, and Connor provided excellent service. The drug eggs were SO FLAVORFUL! Will be ordering those every visit! Same for the fries... the banana pepper ketchup was addictive. Bonus: Wednesdays are BOGO wing night and game night.

A nice change of pace in Ybor where there isn't loud club music blasting so loud it hurts your…read moreears. Here you can walk in, sit at the bar and get yourself a real cocktail. That is what I was looking for, and that is what I got. Up first, I tried a $15 Grapefruit Moon. The bartender warned me if I don't like grapefruit, I won't like this drink. Holy smokes he wasn't joking. I was hoping the mezcal would cancel out some of the grapefruit, but it really didn't. Super duper strong grapefruit taste. Then, I tried a $15 Martini. It's a pretty standard dirty martini. I liked it, and it was fine. Good to see there is a place in Ybor with real cocktails, and not cheap awful cocktails served in a plastic cup. I didn't try any food or any other items. I'd just be a little worried that on a Saturday night during primetime there were like 10 people in here. Although, that's also why I walked in here because it was quiet and not crowded.

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Ponte Modern American - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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