The Harlequin's Proper Restaurant

Location and AreaPonti's Ristorante is the only place which looks like a proper restaurant with waiter service and some attempt at decor inside the Harlequin shopping centre. Best place for Saturday or Sunday lunch.It's at the end of an indoor side alley. You have a choice of round tables or square ones with banquettes at the right hand side. The unisex toilet is at the back. A toddlers' play area is at the front. A mirror on the left makes it look even bigger. I liked the paining at the back and the attempt to make it look like a rustic restaurant. (Yes, I know all the big chains do that. But it's one up on all the coffee bars and cafeterias here.)I enthused, 'It's the only decent restaurant in the shopping centre.' My companion retorted, 'You mean the only decent restaurant in the whole of Watford.' Actually there are several restaurants upstairs and outside in the high street. But if it's raining or you are spending time in the shopping centre - or waiting for your shoes to be mended - this is the nearest.FoodStartersThe soup of the day was Pumpkin. It wasn't mentioned anywhere on a chalk board and by the time I thought of asking I'd already ordered and started eating my main course. They are losing business by not sticking up a sign. (Cafe Rouge does.)One of our group ordered the listed soup which was full of vegetables and accompanied by white bread and butter. She said it was the best soup she'd ever tasted.I was a bit disappointed in the menu choice. I was expecting chicken or veal and saute or baked potatoes - only chips and I'm on a diet - with a family minder. But the restaurant seems to be big on pizzas - which I hate - after years of offspring eating nothing but burgers or pizzas don't mind if I never see one again. I ordered salmon and salad. It was surprisingly good. Even the thin string noodles seemed to be coated in something tasty. I could not finish the salad. The pizza with extra vegetables also met with approval. DessertsTiramisu looked amusing. The chocolate cake was liked. My carrot cake was fine, too.DrinksThey asked what we thought and we told them. The most expensive of the four glasses of red wine did not appeal. the freshly squeezed orange was okay. The mocha (chocolate flavour coffee) was just passable. I did not finish it.The bottled water had the company name Ponti. It's a family name. the Pontis, father and son. I think it means bridge.Yes, we'll be going back. Sorry to hear they have no other branches nearby - except the cafe at the lower end of the shopping centre. They have several other branches in central London.The menus were falling apart. But keen the cleaning of tables went down well with me.

A User - 06/01/2009 | report this review