Cafe Ponte

Editor's pick Award winner

13505 Icot Blvd. # 214, Clearwater, FL 33760

(727) 538-5768 Reserve now

http://www.cafeponte.com/

Awards: Florida Trend Golden Spoon, Zagat rated, Wine Spectator

Categories: Restaurant

Cuisine: American upscale, Fine dining, French

Features: Banquet facility, Catering, Chef's table, Date night, Happy hour, Live music, Takeout, Wifi

Cost range: 20.01-100.0

Payment options: Credit cards accepted

Alcohol: Full bar

Cafe Ponte is still a yardstick against which the area's other fine dining restaurants may be measured. The dining room looks positively spruce, its red, sage and black color scheme crisp and stylish; linens and table appointments are top-notch. Servers are courteous and professional even when slammed, their dark trousers and sage shirts rather posh. The kitchen's focus: a New American palate with a few Mediterranean and Asian doodads: a tower of seared foie gras, the signature wild mushroom bisque and a lush entree pairing sweet seared scallops with a ragu of soft-braised shortribs, creamy corn polenta and a caramelized shallot sauce - like some crazy Jenga move, it's a towering flavor profile you can't believe works.