Harden's survey result
Summary
“An outside table on the lovely riverside, complete with the spectacular and iconic view of Tower Bridge” is the best way to visit this D&D London venue (where the Blairs once entertained the Clintons, when both were in office). With its modern French cuisine and heavyweight wine list, there was a time when this was both the jewel in the crown of the late Sir Terence Conran’s restaurant empire and the City of London’s favourite entertaining spot. Times have moved on, though, and nowadays its middling performance gives it a dwindling reputation. For fans, it’s still “worth it for a really special treat”. Others, though, “won’t be rushing back: the interior ambience is nothing to write home about and the food is pricey for what’s served up”.
Summary
“It’s great to sit outside on a sunny day and see the beautiful London sights” – not least Tower Bridge of course – from the superb, Thames-side, heated terrace of this long-established D&D London destination on the South Bank. It can be “perfect for a quiet, professional meal”, aided by an “amazingly wide wine list”. In other respects, though, its atmosphere and classical Gallic cuisine are very “subdued” compared to yesteryear (when it was the famous flagship of Sir Terence Conran’s restaurant empire). A fair summary? – “nice to eat by the river… not really worth the journey… food OK”.
Summary
“You can’t beat the amazing views” over the Thames at this D&D stalwart near Tower Bridge, although the golden glow that made it famous, when it was launched at the heart of the late Sir Terence Conran’s 1990s ‘gastrodome’ – has somewhat dissipated nowadays. It still has real attractions – a large outside terrace, “outstanding wine”, and Gallic cuisine that’s fair-to-good – and, given its convenience to the City – it’s “especially good for entertaining overseas clients” (as Tony and Cherie Blair did Bill and Hillary Clinton back in the day).
Summary
It can be “very special, particularly on a sunny day”, at this well-known D&D London stalwart, thanks to its “lovely situation” (complete with large terrace) by the Thames near Tower Bridge; and it remains “a firm favourite” for a few folk, including for a date. Its famous heyday, when the Blairs and the Clintons supped on salmon and Bollinger at the height of Cool Britannia is well gone now, though, and – remarkably for what was once the City’s top expense-accounter destination – of the relatively limited feedback this place now inspires, none of it plugs its suitability as a business rendezvous. The straightforward French-ified menu, likewise, elicits muted enthusiasm, although its heavyweight wine list still rates mention… as do the prices.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Le Pont de la Tour?
36d Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YE
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinner | £30.00 | £35.00 |  |
|
 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £17.50 | £60.50 | £11.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £44.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 13.50% |
36d Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YE
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑3:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
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