Pontevecchio Italian Bistro

I've been to Pontevecchio with my husband. I've been with my husband and small child. I've been with my husband, small child, and in-laws. They have always been incredibly friendly and accommodating--and of course, the food is unbelievable. Although it's a good date place, it's also a fine place to take well-behaved children. On a recent Saturday night, we took our daughter and she ended up sitting at a little table with the owner's children, drawing pictures and eating some yummy little tidbit. The thing that sets Pontevecchio apart from every other Italian restaurant is that they treat you like friends. more

What a great date place! This Italian restaurant recently (2005/2006) expanded from its mini size, but is still small enough to feel intimate, especially with its tasteful décor, styled after an Italian courtyard. The owner also makes you feel right at home. About 2/3-way through dinnertime, he replaced the opera singer on the little stage in the middle of the place and gave an animated and entertaining speech about the development of the restaurant, upcoming events, etc., making everyone feel like part of the Pontevecchio family (not sure if this is a nightly event, but likely frequent enough). His staff provided a great service, and the food was excellent, especially the mushroom ravioli. It wasn’t cheap, but it wasn’t out of proportion with the level of service, food quality, and entertainment. Ah, the entertainment: they bring in members of the Seattle opera to perform classical arias. The lady that sang on our night there was fabulous, accompanied by a pianist. Note that this is really a date place rather than anything else. Most customers were couples, and 4 is probably the max they could seat around a table. It is possible that they can arrange for a group if you call them in advance, but it would probably be a bad place to bring a large loud group, or kids for that matter. But they do have “Bolero happy hours” when they bring in flamenco dancers and it sounds like the place gets a little more rowdy. Probably worth exploring. more

Although I've never seen the TV show 'The Closer', it is an apt description of Pontevecchio. The restaurant is a perfect place to bring someone on a third date, or to take your significant other for a special night. Pontevecchio is upscale Italian (Sicilian) nestled in a an unlikely location off 34th in Fremont. Nearly all of the tables are set for 2, and all of the other diners were couples some out for a special night. The owner is warm and friendly and makes every guest feel right at home. His pride in the restaurant, their staff and the food they serve is very endearing. The service is appropriately relaxed (takes time), as you savor the Italian wines, the food and the very romantic atmosphere. Our food was extraordinarily good. They regularly feature singers from the Seattle Opera, jazz trios, and Flamenco dancers. The night we were there, the restaurant was occasionally serenaded by a Soprano. Parking can be found next door to the restaurant - a huge plus in Fremont. more