La Pont de la Tour is a modern French restaurant with a perfect location on the Thames.

The Venue
It has a great location on Shad Thames with seats outside, perfect for alfresco dining. The decor is very simple and modern, the bar and grill is more of a brassiere style with slightly uncomfortable chairs and an open airy feel. The restaurant, on the other hand, is much more formal with white tablecloths and a smart setting. Views of the river make it quite special although seating outside is on a first come, first served basis so it is a good idea to get there early.

The Atmosphere
There’s a typical French atmosphere and the crowd seems slightly arrogant, although the service is still very good. The bar and grill is really relaxed, whereas the restaurant is indeed the opposite with a feeling of a slightly pretentious staff and a snooty air.

The Food
There are two different menus, one for the bar and grill and one for the restaurant. The restaurant menu includes starters such as amazingly juicy langoustines with mayonnaise as well as a smoked eel, beetroot and bacon salad that’s a really great combination - the oily fish, sweet beetroot and the salty bacon match perfectly with a fiery horseradish cream.

Main courses feature items such as a grilled wild halibut with a brioche crust and a champagne veloute, a fairly rich and creamy sauce with a moist well cooked fish topped with a herbed and slightly doughy crust. The Sardinian fish stew has a strong saffron flavour, but barely any fish.

Desserts include an unbelievable vanilla creme brulee with a perfectly crisp topping and a light, airy and sweet raspberry souffle with a hole in the middle filled with raspberry coulis.

The Drink
The wine list is huge and features many from all over the world. It does take a while to get through, so it might be a good idea to get some guidance from the friendly sommelier. Special food and drink matches include oysters and a Bloody Mary, a chocolate martini with a chocolate pot and a pina colada with pineapple carpaccio – this makes the drinks list quite fun and extremely indulging. A special arrangement of teas such as lemon grass and ginger and chocolate is interesting and a nice end to the meal.

The Last Word
Although portions are slightly small compared to the high prices, location is the name of the game here. La Pont de la Tour is a nice treat on a sunny day.

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