Ponty Bistro second Year Anniversary!

Ponty Bistro celebrated its second year anniversary in its Harlem location on August 4, 2016. They held a special happy hour to honor the occasion. The owners are Chefs Elhadji Cisse and Ali Cisse.  Both are Executive Chefs.  They are cousins, from Senegal, who worked their way up in the culinary world and are now owners of the famed restaurant Ponty Bistro located at 144 Adam Clayton Powel Boulevard in Harlem New York.

I was invited  to the anniversary and was impressed by what I saw.  The décor can be described as a cross between a sophisticated French bistro and a mid century modern dining room. The space was warm and cozy.  There was a lot of comfortable seating in the spacious restaurant.  The lighting was intimate which can give the space an adult vibe. You can see and feel the electricity in the room as the crowd relaxes with cocktails and tasty appetizers.  It’s a happy noisy crowd enjoying the ambiance, their dinner companions, and the music.  It’s kind of an African jazz compilation.  I saw everybody moving to the gentle African rhythms.  I talked to some of the diners who spoke in excited terms. They exclaimed their delight with the food.  Most were repeat customers.  I had to admit, it felt like you were at a big family reunion.  Both Chefs greeted patrons warmly.  I pulled the Chefs aside to get their thoughts on their success in the restaurant business. We talked about how they got their start.  They worked for a few famous Chefs like Chef Daniel and Jean George to name a few.  Chef Cisse stated that their previous experience helped to prepare them for the opportunity to make their dreams come true.  He also stated that when they came to America, they came with the desire to create a good life for their family.  Chef Cisse told me that the best way to do that is to “work hard and keep dreaming until it happens for you.”   They both emphasized that they will always have a big vision of their goals.  I asked Chef Ali what he saw for the future of the Bistro.  He said he could see Ponty Bistro all across the country.  I believe him.  Even I was swept up into the vibe, meeting people and enjoying the food and the conversations.  The Bistro attracts an international crowd. I talked to people, literally, from every continent.  The menu is a combination of French and African food.  I enjoyed the drinks and appetizers.  The sangria was fruity and just sweet enough.  The appetizers were hot and tasty.  I had the three cheese gougeres and the crispy tuna.  All the food was fresh and spicy – to perfection.  Between the attentive service, the delicious food, and the friendly crowd; I must say that Ponty Bistro is a great place to unwind and have a great meal.