Cantina del Ponte

Our most recent visit is always “not long ago”. We've been eating here 15-20 times per year for many years.

The food is of a very good Italian trattoria standard, rather than of a formal up market restaurant (ie they're not competing with Zafferano or Locatelli). Very dependable, comfort style food. Nothing too sophisticated or to get excited about, just decent quality traditional dishes. Perfect for a relaxing end of weekend Sunday evening meal.

Like any very well run trattoria, the dining room tends to have a very pleasant and very buzzy atmosphere, and the staff are normally very pleasant, friendly and efficient, despite being busy. Its very much run as a friendly family local, even though it’s a part of D&D, with regulars being acknowledged and recognised by staff. Very nice given the volume of covers, and a lot better than many owner managed restaurants I've been to !

The wine list is sufficient for most meals, and includes some very reasonable less expensive bottles at £25 level. We normally spend £30-£35.

The menu is relatively short, which is fine. We normally have spicy chicken or tuna, or the very popular seafood linguine. Over the last 6 months we've paid on average £47 for 2 for 2 courses, inc service, ex drinks. Total bills tend to be about £90. Seems fair value given the quality of food, service and the prime riverside location (with outside tables, with heaters and a waterproof canopy !!).

One of the best of the ex Conran restaurants in Shad Thames. We like the combination of the casual and informal environment, with friendly staff, plus the very reliable comfort type food.

All the features of an upmarket Trat. We shall be back, very soon …

The best value meals have to be the ones that you couldn't prepare yourself with the same budget, even if you had equivalent culinary ability and could be bothered to invest the time. Tuesday evening at 7pm was not the time and having not visited Cantina since it's refurb in 2007 and lured by the £15.75 set menu offer an emergency table was booked. It was even on my way home.

I have often fallen for the set menu con. Those small slips of paper inside the menu that are as limited and uninteresting as they are as inexpensive as then gone a la carte to avoid boring myself to death. I am pleased to report that Cantina's set menu broke this format. I didn't feel I was sitting in economy here even after studying the first class menu. It was an excellent meal, my Salmon was cooked with skill far beyond my capabilities and I don't even know how to cook Polenta. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere, is less austere than it's more corporate neighbours and I definitely couldn't cook it at home for a shade over fifteen quid even without the free glass of Wine. Great value and choice for a casual lunch / dinner. Will go first class next time.

If your in the area and hungry than its by no means a no-no but if you have options try and look elsewhere. Service was lacking in general, never mind politeness and flair and we had to keep asking our waiter (who couldn't really speak english making it altogether more difficult) to top up our wine glasses as the bottle was kept out of our reach – something I thought uneccesary for a restaurant such as this. Several items advertised on the website were not on the current menu in the restaurant – something I brought up with our less than diligent waiter who didn't seem to acknowledge my comments – perhaps he just didn't understand. This level of service was not an isolated case but all over the restaurant with diners getting wrong dishes as well as several diners with wondering waiting looks. When food arrived it was nothing special and on par with your standard pizza express, so how they feel they can over price it to the amount they have, is beyond me. Overall typical of a D&D London restaurant which seems to be going downhill each time I visit one of its unfortunate restaurants. There seems to be some sort of problem with internal comms within the business. A recent example is with staff at Sauterelle (@ Royal Exchange, Bank), who were not even able to tell me any details about their recent Mojito night, as they were unaware of it. This is despite it being postered outside the restaurant!