Ponte Vecchio — Restaurant in Old Bridge Township

We just got back from an absolutely amazing dinner at this place, but at the end of this dinner, we left extremely embarrassed and humiliated by the staff and management there. We had a party of four, ordered a lot of food and had a bill of 239.40 when it was all said and done. The waitress was excellent and the food was amazing so we gave the waitress a 30.00 tip. It was little more than double the tax and we thought it was fair and a great tip. A while after we paid, a young lady came up to our table and was asking if everything was ok and asked if we were happy with the meal and service. I said it was amazing and she actually, had the absolute audacity and nerve in front of the restaurant and in front of all of the other guests to say, "Well, you only left a 12% tip and we usually require 18% or more." We were shocked and puzzled and I said "What are you talking about." She said that they were concerned that the tip was low and wanted to see if the service was good, food etc. I absolutely couldn't believe it as I have NEVER EVER EVER had someone come to my table with almost 40 years of dining experience and question me and my guests in public about the amount of the tip we left. We were all looking at each other, shocked and humiliated and didn't know what to do or respond. I was getting upset and my husband was getting upset and we then told the girl that this wasn't right and we were ok and just wanted this experience to end. I told the girl that no one ever did this to me before and we were truly embarrassed. She actually just stood there and I feel she was literally waiting for us to give her more money and we refused. Mind you this wasn't the waitress, but we think a hostess that did this nonsense. We got up in a hurry, left and it absolutely ruined the entire night. I went back inside and complained to the manager, who was very nice and apologetic, but feel he truly didn't understand just how wrong it was and how terrible of a feeling it was to be lectured and questioned on the tip we left. Mind you, it doesn't state at all on their receipts that 18% or more is the minimum so I have no idea why they would say that. We truly didn't mean any disrespect to the waitress and truly thought it was a really fair tip since we more than doubled the tax, but to actually come to our table, lecture us and openly question us on our tip was humiliating. It made us feel cheap and low. The manager stated that they never meant to embarrass us, but offered no refund or anything but an apology to me. I'm in the customer service business and when you do something like this, you're supposed to go above and beyond and this was just terrible. I don't recommend going to this place and we will never go back there. You don't ever, ever lecture people like that. Who do you people think you are!!!!!!???? Shame on you and you just lost good paying customers because you didn't know how to properly approach a situation. I feel this was done as the waitress and staff thought we were deliberately leaving a low tip and purposely came over to humiliate us and it was just so unprofessional and wrong. This should have and could have been handled better. I just can't believe we were offered nothing in return, but simple apologies and it's...

So my wife and I I have been here probably about a dozen times with some friends with some family by ourselves etc. my best impression of this place is a hit or miss the food either really good or really bad. Our most recent visit was February 16, 2019 Walking into the restaurant itself was kind of a turn off because they had menus stacked up on chairs right by the front door. The manager that was at the podium just seem to have a bit of an attitude even when we walked in to till the time we left. So my wife and i ordered some of the basics the hot anti-pasta for two I believe it comes with shrimp clams muscles and fried zucchini and eggplant. The dish itself was very good but I do have to say between the clams and the muscles they were kind of greedy which means that they were not properly purge. Next we ordered for our Main course two of the specials of the day one was a steak with stop shrimp My wife actually sent it back because the steak had no flavor no taste whatsoever and it was over cook the manager got an attitude about it did offer another dish I will say but when he was taken off the bill you can see him at the podium shaking his head. I ordered the scallops with the risotto the scallops were spot on the risotto was horrible it was mushy kind of like a rice putting and really had no flavor to it whatsoever I didn’t send it back as I’m not a person to send back a dish but I would not get it again.. we did order desserts and their desserts were actually very good so two thumbs up for that. My overall review of the place when you walk in The decor is really nice. Bathrooms are usually very clean and kept up with so good job to the staff parking and it’s not the restaurants that is very hard at times because the parking lot is just horrible but again it’s not the restaurant but it’s self . The waiters and waitresses again I would say it’s kind a like the restaurant itself a hit or miss you get a really good one or you get one that’s not so good and we’ve had a mix of them over the years going to the restaurant. Price of the food I would say it’s on the high but not completely on reasonable. One of the things I do really like about the restaurant is it is bring your own which does save you some money so you can bring wine and beers etc. and they do have glasses that they do provide for you so that would be something good but I do you like about the restaurant overall I would recommend trying it for yourself but again he cautious what you order it is...

I usually love this restaurant, my wife and I would frequent there at least once a week, but tonight was not so good. We took the whole family for my sons birthday, we were both craving the tomahawk steak. It's been great before when we've had it but it came out overcooked tonight. Steak is best when cooked medium rare, this came out closer to well done, so disappointing. The owner came over and said he could cook us another one but it would be a while. Mind you service was extremely slow tonight and we were already there 2hrs or that would have been the ideal choice. The other choice was just eat the 2 center pieces, they were cooked slightly less than well, and enjoy the sides, and he would discount the steak half off. And the last choice was just send it back and call it a wash, that's what I should have done. But I decided to eat a little bit of the steak discounted at half price. My wife and I spend a lot of money there and it would have been nice if he comped the steak. I won't be going back for a while. Maybe time to try the sister resteraunts. Owner not very friendly.

Against my better judgement I went back to ponte, never again. I hate complaining or sending back food but the steak was as tough as leather. I didn't even eat half and I became disgusted. The waitress came over and asked if I wanted it wrapped and I told her how bad it was. She said she'd tell the chef and then came back with the check. The useless fool who stand up by the hostess check in had nothing to say. Not sure if he's the owner or manager but he's horrible. I told him on my way out that usually when there's complaint about food that someone usually comes to the table. After he saw I was pissed he offered me money off. It's about customer relations and that guy sux. Definitely never going back. Texas roadhouse puts them to shame. Over priced poor excuse for...