Ponza Italian Kitchen & Pizza — Restaurant in Norwalk

Do not go to Sunday brunch. As reference, this is my first impression of the restaurant since this was the first time I had been here. I arrived with my girlfriend after being excited to enjoy the Brunch buffet and Jazz advertised across their website and several social media platforms.

I have never liked the way the front of the restaurant looks. Everytime I pass it on Connecticut Ave, it always seems cluttered. This was the case when we arrived and were greeted by some rusty canister of I assume some type of gas, a Home Goods shopping cart sitting near the front door from its store location next door, and just a strange outdoor style altogether. Not really a dealbreaker in any way, but don't expect it to be nice.

We walked in, sat down and were handed Dinner menus (this was Sunday at 11:45 AM) and I was confused. After waiting 10 minutes for the waitress (who seemed like the only person staffed in the dining area AND bar) came back, we were informed that they do not have a brunch buffet and have not since before COVID. Attached in a screenshot of their menu straight from their website on the day I am writing this.If that is true, they have not updated their menu in 5 YEARS. We were both disappointed.

But not as disappointed as finding out that the live Jazz which they usually have was canceled. This is basically the only reason we came and instead of any type of jazz over the speakers they played pop music that comprised songs used on TikTok (we are both 26, we know what we are talking about with this). The music selection seemed very lazy and not anything you would expect for an Italian restaurant which took itself seriously.

The waitress then needed to check if brunch was still a thing and to find a single menu (we literally did not get our own brunch menu each). This menu was very short and very disappointing. Some of it seemed like it should belong on a children's menu like the Nutella Pizza (which we ordered, but I will get to that) which ended up being very plain and did not seem quite high quality. It could barely be considered a meal and it did not excite either of us. I got the steak and eggs which was fine. Not great, just fine.

When my girlfriend ordered a mimosa, the waitress came back and said they were out of orange juice. Out of orange juice... during a brunch... when we were one of two parties (the only other people in the restaurant was a small family). Then we overheard the waitress say, as she handed a patron at the other table a lemonade, that that was the last glass of lemonade... what is going on? Why doesn't the kitchen have ingredients? My girlfriend ordered a different drink and one of the chefs went to get orange juice so she eventually got it, and it was again, just fine. The other drink was good according to her.

The Nutella pizza, which my girlfriend ordered with bananas, had a sough that was very chewy and really hard to bite through. And it was cold which we were not exactly expecting. Not room temperature, slightly cold. The bananas also somehow tasted like artificial banana flavoring. I don't know if they were just too ripe, but it was not good. I tried a bite and I did not and will not eat more of it.

The whole vibe of the restaurant seemed weird and off. It was not good. I probably will not be going back, especially for brunch, until I am confident that the atmosphere, food, service, and just how put together the restaurant is, is better. Suffice it to say, we were excited, and very...

In all my hospitality career- I have never seen this many customer unfriendly Rules & Regulations on a Menu before. First- the Specials menu was stained. Then they pair pasta items with particular sauces- none of which I preferred, and have a Rule that you have to pay $4.00 if you want a menu substitution or recipe change: so Penalty is assesed if I prefer traditional red/ marinara/tomatoe sauce with Angel Hair pasta- $4.00 penalty; If I want red sauce with Gnocchi instead of their listed " gargonzola" it's a $4.00 penalty! Then if I want angel hair with meatballs-Nope- you can't do that because the menu offers "Spaghetti" and meatballs...have to pay the penalty $4.00 to switch the pasta! Gnocchi comes with Gargonzola. Rigatoni comes with Vodka sauce. It's almost like they pair unusual sauces just to force customers to have to pay the $4.00 penalty.

Then, it also says I have to ask to speak to a Veronica before I order my meal choices because the printed prices on the menu can change due to economic constraints....if costs fluctuations is the case ( which is truly a good reason and understandlable ) you might consider providing your customers with low- cost daily/ or weekly menu sheet reprints with revised prices from a computer printer? Many restaurants pull it off so it would avoid unpleasant Final Bill shock upon presentation of the final bill for those customers who missed reading that Rule on the menu and fail to ask to have Veronica come to the table, while your server is there, before they place their dinner order for the price increase. Sorry, not trying to be rude, but " hospitality" amd relaxed dining experiences should favor the consumer a bit more. Since I would have had to pay some penalty fees for traditional Italian favorites- Angel Hair with red sauce, or Angel Hair with meatballs, or Rigatoni with a red meat sauce, or Gnocchi with red sauce, etc.....I decided to leave Ponza before what could have been a very uncomfortable or stressful ordering of my dinner. I left a few dollars for the water and let my server know I...

NEVER going back!! Dirty and unhygienic!!! Gave Ponza a few tries...hoping for an improvement. The food was ok, service ...just ok. If the owner does not know already...(hmmmm)... they should be alerted that the tables and chairs are dirty and unhygienic (very unpleasant to feel the need to wash your hands just after sitting down) and that the kitchen staff must not be using soap in their dishwashers. Don't believe me? Just take a look at all the utensils and glassware on the table when you are there (dirty)! I had gotten up myself & grabbed new glassware to replace the repulsive looking ones on our table...they were just as dirty. (Also, when we were seated, I almost sat on a small piece of cake from the previous guests, which I cleaned myself). We got up from our table & walked out. Went to Papa Joes in Darien....NOW THAT IS A RESTUARANT THAT RESPECTS THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH SPOTLESS/PRISTINE SILVERWARE/GLASSWARE NO STICKY CHAIRS & BEAUTIFUL LINENS SO NO STICKY TABLES in addition to terrific food/service/prices, ! The public pays good money to dine out with their families and friends, restaurants should not offer sub-par...