Michael's review of Le Pont De La Tour

The bar and grill at the Pont has been part of my life for at least 20 years, and the place to celebrate the kids successes – “Surf and turf, please Pop”; entertain the more amusing clients and celebrate colleagues hi days and departures, often sending an advance guard to occupy a stretch of red blanquette in the days when bookings in the grill were not taken. Well, that problem has certainly gone – on a dry if cold lunch time in late May only two tables were occupied inside and five on the terrace. A warning perhaps of what was to come.

The Salmon rillette was tasty and well seasoned but the plate of charcuterie was pretty dismal with a few slivers of salami and a decent piece of Parma ham. The bread though was excellent, warm crisp – perfect. I though was there for the shellfish and so went for the langoustines. Is it fair to judge a restaurant on just one course? You decide.

The langoustines arrived stacked like logs – a base of three with two on top of that. Yes, that's it – five. I would have thought that a sixth would have provided a pleasing symmetry but it was five. I then noticed that they all each had one claw. How perverse – my companion sugested that there might be some sponsorship tie up with the London Paralympic Games but it wasn't mentioned on the menu.

And then to pick one of the little fellows up: when I broke the head from the body there was no snap and when I pressed the sides together to break the cartilege it was soft. They weren't off, but they were stale.

Did I complain? Nope – I'm English. But that kitchen would have known when those langoustines left them that they were sub standard and for a restaurant which is supposed to pride itself on its shellfish that is not acceptable.

My guess – some time very soon the Pont, or at least the grill, will be closing for a major refurbishment and until then I wont be going back – not with standing all those happy memories and one of the best views in London. Such a shame.