Ponty Bistro

Specialties

Conveniently located adjacent to Manhattan’s Gramercy Park, Ponty Bistro is a culinary experience that combines West African, French, and Mediterranean cuisine. The bistro opened in November 2008 by cousins A. Cisse and Chekh Cisse. The two cousins have been in the restaurant business for over fourteen years, working for and alongside internationally renowned chefs including Daniel Boulud, Vong, and Jean-​Georges Vongerichten, among others. The restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, is the best choice for affordable gourmet meals in Manhattan.

The chefs take great pride in guaranteeing the freshest ingredients for every dish. Their menu offers a unique combination of Senegalese and West African cooking traditions, with the added benefit of contemporary culinary practices. The result is incredible dishes which reflect the chefs’ culinary traditions — with a modern twist. The combination of the elements of modernity, cooking experience, and rich culinary heritage makes Ponty Bistro’s cuisine some of the most enticing and memorable fare in New York City.

The bistro also offers catering services, special events, and daily delivery from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The cozy, festive space in the heart of Manhattan is perfect for every occasion. Catering from Ponty Bistro will turn every off-​site function into a culinary event to remember…

History

Established in 2008.

African family tradition calls on the women of each household to handle all things food. So when young Cisse and his brothers had no sisters to rely on, they had no choice but to take on cooking and cleaning jobs at home. Lucky for us the young Cisse ended up in the kitchen and not laundry duty!

Born and raised in Senegal, Chef Cisse grew up cooking with a wide range of meats and fish, which are plentiful in the coastal country on the northern west tip. Following his love for food and his dream of bringing the food of his homeland to America, Cisse immigrated to New York over 15 years ago with $ 150 in his pocket. He has since worked his way up through the New York hospitality scene by way of over 12 different restaurants

Meet the Business Owner

Elhadji C.

Business Owner

Working with the likes of Jean Georges (Mercer Kitchen), David Boulud, and Renaud Le Rasele (Russian Tea Room) and Richard Farnabe, Chef Cisse has developed a classic French technique, but has never lost the taste of the food he grew up eating. Chef Cisse has now fulfilled the dream of a young immigrant dishwasher by opening Ponty Bistro.