Consistently excellent food, upscale but relaxing, comfortable atmosphere and great service by experienced wait staff!

I was here for a group brunch rather than a normal dinner so my experience is somewhat limited but what I saw, I liked. Just a few miles up 113 from Skippack it is easily found and the front of the house is an old colonial era tavern with thick stones walls, the motif keeps going inside with the dining area and entry hall maintaining the colonial image with rich wooden surfaces and settles. For larger groups there is a large room on the back, by the design it looks like it was built in the 1940's and another section that looked like a rehabbed train car. I was there on a cold day in February and it was only when looking back on it that i realized I was comfortable, neither too hot nor too cold so they have that properly set up too. - let's be honest some of these period taverns can be a bit cold. Because it was a group function we had a buffet rather than picking from the menu and i went with the chicken. OK potential kamikaze move as institutional chick like that can be more like a Dunlop tire but in this case, it was tender, moist, I loved it and had to stop myself for getting more before others had had firsts. So i was left with a good impression. How good? my wife and I want to go back sometime and try the regular menu. That's probably the best endorsement I can give. When i've had the full menu, I'll update this further. read more

Very nice ambience for cozy dining. Food was prepared and plated nicely. Their pork-chop and the sea bass were delicious. I would order the pork-chop sans the blue cheese on top (overpowering). Attentive service and lovely experience overall. read more

I got invited to a birthday dinner and I like the place and the owner was friendly and nice and cozy romantic and the food was delicious read more

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Delicious dinner from start to finish at our local Bay Pony Inn. Drinks didn't disappoint. Salmon was hot off the grill, perfectly cooked and seasoned nicely with the black bean and corn salsa. An excellent tiramisu made for a perfect end to our meal. Attention from the owner and delightful conversation with our Server, Laurie made the evening special. Grateful to enjoy this local eatery through the years. read more

We we went at 5:30 when the restaurant was not totally full, and it was such an enjoyable experience to sit outside. Both of our meals were pretty good. I had the five spice duck and the crackling, the skin was great. My partner got the Soufleed crab which was a mixture of crab and shrimp. I guess they were slices for a crab shrimp crab cake. And that was fair. I'd love to service at this earlier seating but then I saw mistakes be made another tables And the tables were crowded together read more

The food was decent along with the customer service but the waitress Deb was awful. I heard her complain the whole time when she thought we couldn't hear her. She was on her phone the whole time and I heard her yelling at the younger kids. If you must go I would request not to get Deb. read more

We had dinner tonight at this nice little restaurant in Harleysville called The Bay Pony Inn. The building was built in 1830, so there's a lot of old style charm going on with the stone walls and the wood beamed ceilings. The staff are exceptionally friendly and accommodating. Food is delicious! Portions are a good size such that even my husband took home a doggie bag (that never happens)! There was live music in the bar area, which could be heard throughout the restaurant - by two members of the Phillie Pops. It's a little bit off the beaten trail as restaurants go, but it's worth the pleasant drive. read more

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Busy Saturday night and the staff did a great job. Food was excellent and the beverages were excellent.

Rather than eat leftovers, wife and I decided last-minute to go out to dinner. Able to call for reservation on Saturday evening at near-by Bay Pony Inn. We had not been there in recent years, and were very pleased with wonderful meal and service in this historic place. Made our weekend special! The low Yelp rating totally wrong. We'll be going back- with friends. read more

The Bay Pony offers a beautiful dining atmosphere and excellent entrees. The crab cakes are one of my favorites. The service staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. read more

We were a party of 10 there to celebrate my 80th birthday. The service was bad and disorganized from the moment we were seated. From the waitress coming to take our drink orders when we hadn't yet received a menu, to 2 drinks arriving, another one 10 minutes later after asking for it again, to another cocktail arriving, after asking for it 3 times,​ while the meals were being served, to my daughter having to go to the bar to get her glass of wine she had ordered that was never brought to the table, to 2 drinks delivered to us that we had not ordered, tohaving to leave the table to ask for butter that was not sent with the rolls. Little things like this were happening and we were going to overlook them until the meals were being served and one meal never came out. We waited for it for about 10 minutes when we went to check on it. We were told that her order had never been put in!! We had all finished with our meals when hers arrived. Needless to say she did not eat it. When my son in law went to speak to the owner, all the owner said was " were all the other meals ok?" Only when my son in law insisted that we be compensated did the owner offer one. I DO NOT recommend this place and I will never go back. read more

We carefully chose this restaurant to celebrate my mom's 80th birthday.. We were seated in a train car and seated without menus... and largely completely forgotten. Our drinks came late and we were served bread without butter. We had to resort to walking up to the host stand for menus (after asking twice and still not getting them), walking to the bar for our drinks, and walking up to the front for butter as the service was so slow. My personal dinner order was not put in and arrived 20 minutes after the rest of my family. We complained and were insulted when we spoke to the manager and he refused to comp anything except for our drinks. By the time my dinner came, I was not hungry as I picked on my kids fries and I didn't eat and instead left it behind. My husband and I work hard for our money and are not able to eat out often. We were left paying for a dinner that was incredibly stressful and not relaxing at all. We had family in from out of town and were completely embarrassed. This was literally the worst dining experience I've ever had. I'm insulted and very saddened at the poor service we received for my mom. She lived a life of selflessness and this was supposed to be a celebration of her... didn't deserve this. read more

OMG this place is such a gem!!! The food is always amazing and service just as great! Thank you for making our Friday night wonderful!!!

Drinks we good. Disappointed in the crab cakes. Really was not lump crab. Service was ok. Owners were present. Did not visit the table or attempt to thank us for our visit. read more

Great restaurant, wonderful entertainment and the food was amazing. I highly recommend whether having a few drinks with friends, enjoying a meal or both. The engagement with front staff, wait staff and bartender was a wonderful experience. We plan to dine at bay pony again. read more

Sad to say 2 of the 4 meals here were disappointing. There were 4 people to our party and the waitress only took 3 of our drink orders, she seemed to be in a hurry to get to a table that appeared to be regulars. My guests loved their salmon dish, however, my husband and I didn't fair so well. His clams, mussels, and clam chowder were all sandy, so not cleaned properly, the shrimp was over cooked and the scallops were not seared as you would expect. My crab cakes looked like they were dolled out with an ice cream scoop or had been frozen, and were gummy with filler - very little crab and tasted more like a crab imperial mixture. We did not feel the food was worth the price by any stretch. The room was very hot - even my 92 year old guest, who is always cold, removed her sweater. So the Bay Pony Inn is one and done for us, we'll look elsewhere the next time we go out for a special meal. read more

The Bay Pony Inn is a historic structure situated a ways from Valley Forge. Its rustic decor features colonial furniture, period paintings, live fireplaces, whitewashed brick walls, and fresh flowers on the tables. Their ceiling is of medium height with chandeliers spaced regularly throughout. Private dining rooms are available for those seeking a more romantic dinner. We arrived 6 pm Saturday night and the place was packed. We had made a reservation so we were seated quickly. Our waitress (Carol) was welcoming and helpful. The Inn serves American-Continental cuisine. The bread, baked in-house, had a pleasing herbal taste. We started with a chicken orzo soup ($5) which was hearty, hot, and tasty. My entree was a sauteed large hunk of duck (1/2) with vegetables and an orange pepper glaze (16). The dish was moist (the skin came off easily), delicious, and fulfilling. To close, we ordered a Sacher torte (5.5), a glazed chocolate cake filled with apricot. Also made in-house, this dessert was sweet and crumbled when I pierced it with my fork. Recommended, reservations essential! Bay Pony Inn's delicious food and four-star service combine to create an "informally elegant" dining experience. It's far off from any main drag but worth a visit. read more

Enjoyed the property and is was very clean for an older building. Our entrees and dessert were very good, but the rolls were a little disappointing. The staff were trained and experienced. Not an extravagant menu (which is appreciated) but surprised there were no specials offered. read more

We went for brunch Mother's Day. Many great selections were available.They were busy but kept replacing the food at the buffet and had lots of staff working. The servers were all pleasant. We sat in the Lederach room which was very pretty. The bar area is cute and quaint as well. read more

The food was delicious. The service was relaxed and friendly. It was busy so it was a bit loud.

Went to an afternoon party and food was great, particularly the salmon. The strawberry shortcake dessert with homemade whipped cream and mini desserts all excellent. read more

We were greeted by one of the owners, who hung up all of our coats (party of 10) and quickly taken to our waiting table. In moments, our server arrived and that high level of service and attention continued right up to the time the owner helped us on with our coats. Our server was simply excellent, she kept everything perfectly organized while being wonderfully accommodating and pleasant. We ordered drinks and for those who ordered wine or beer there was not an issue, the mixed drinks were substandard in everyway. There were three Bloody Mary's which were served in highball glasses with no garnishes. The taste was flat. I have to wonder if this was not a stand-in bar tender. The food was all done very well, portions were large and few managed to eat their entire meal. Deserts were the same quality and quantity. I had the fried oyster appetizer as an entrée. They were done perfectly, the breading was crisp and the oysters were just warmed leaving them juicy and favorable. A very delightful evening, one that will be repeated here. Note: I have rated this restaurant at 5 stars, ignoring the bar issue which was inconsistent with everything else--I gave them a pass on that. read more

Bay Pony Inn is one of those places growing up that your parents would take you for a special occasion. Of course we were well behaved children. I don't think I've been here for about 20 years, but I came back just recently for a wedding rehearsal dinner. We were out in the back trolly car type room with a long table. It was cosy :P We had a few drinks at the bar before dinner. The bartender was fun and created some interesting concoctions for us to try. It wasn't busy when we were there so we were able to just hang out for a little bit until the rest of our party arrived. As for the food, I had a hard time choosing between the salmon and the chicken pot pie, but since you don't see pot pie on the menu many times, I went with that. I made a good choice. The pot pie was all kinds of wonderful. They also brought out a chocolate mousse for dessert, but I went with the chocolate cake we had brought for the occasion. I couldn't handle a sugar overload. Anyway I definitely recomend coming here whether it's for a catered type party or just for a nice dinner. read more

Had a very nice lunch in a converted Reading Railroad car. Food was solid American fare and the portions were very generous. The complete express lunch is an excellent deal at $18:95. Three courses. I enjoyed the tasty Caesar salad the had an old school plate of beef stroganoff. Really hit the spot with large chunks of tender beef. The apple crumb pie was good but would have enjoyed it more with a little less crumbs. The service was attentive and friendly. Really cool eating in the old dinning car. Beautiful rural setting. read more

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This was an extremely underwhelming buffet decision for Thanksgiving. I understand how restaurants work and what to expect because I also work in one, which I'll admit may make me more biased than others when it comes to reviews. This review is solely based on their Thanksgiving buffet which is different from what they typically serve. I had to give the Bay Pony Inn a two out of five because how unappealing the food was. The stuffing came in pie-shaped pieces. The mashed potatoes lacked any semblance of any spice or butter, and tasted more like a bowl of mashed potatoes and milk. The gravy did its jobs as a topping for the turkey and making the potatoes edible yet that shouldn't be the reason why I sadly eat potatoes. The pie probably should have been bought from Costco and the wine options at the bar looks similar to what you can buy at the gas stations in PA that now sell wine and beer. The service was fine as they mostly just took down orders for wine or coffee and took away dirty dishes but it wasn't anywhere incredible or outstanding. In the past, my Cambodian family has often gone to Chinese buffets for the holidays so I'm used to eating like I did at the Bay Pony Inn. However, had I had known that the bill was $38 per person, I would have suggested that my boyfriend and his family go elsewhere. The food was not worth that much, considering that I've had better plates of food at aforementioned Chinese buffets for $14 a person, usually less. The Bay Pony Inn's food didn't stand out to me in any way and I think that even if we paid less, it still wasn't worth spending the most delicious holiday of the year at. With how much was paid for four people and wine, I think it's in your best interest to just buy a rotisserie chicken, buy sides from restaurants, and whatever else you'd like for Thanksgiving and still have leftover change to get people stuff for their Christmas stockings. The Bay Pony Inn did a disservice to Thanksgiving and at least my boyfriend and I have agreed to just buy everything from Trader Joe's next year if no one is able to host Thanksgiving again. read more

mediocre service though my server was nice she just wasn't very attentive to my table. the food is ok at best although the desert was very good. menu has few good items but not very many look or sound appealing. this place is most definitely for older people 60-80 years old i was the only one there under the age of 60. food 3/10 appetizer and desert 8/10 ambiance 3/10 crowd 2/10- can see how people may like this place just not for a younger crowd read more

I haven't been there for years, we tried it again last week. It was a charming Inn with a friendly vibe. The owner made room for us at the bar for a drink before our dinner reservation. We got some great recommendations from a couple at the bar who were regulars. The pot roast with mashed potatoes and carrots was beyond delicious! We will be back! read more

We went there last night for a low key impromptu wedding celebration. The owner and staff went out of their way to accommodate us. We had my 90 year old mom with us complete with oxygen and walker. Every single person working there was so kind, helpful and gracious. The owner himself helped get my mom situated. The restaurant is beautiful, so much history. The staff are incredible. Our server was so nice and patient with us. The food is incredible. Fun music in the bar. I am so glad Bay Pony is still around, but not surprised because they have the key to success: great, kind people, beautiful place, fabulous food. Skip all the trendy places in Skippack and check out Bay Pony. read more

The food was fantastic! 6 of us went out for dinner last night to celebrate a birthday and the service was wonderful. All of our appetizers and entrees were terrific, from the arugula salad with figs and goat cheese, fried oysters, and chowder to the filet mignon, pork chop, pot roast, duck and chicken. All so tender and flavorful! Also loved the crème brûlée! Really enjoyable meal - we will be back! read more

Love this place for its atmosphere, and live sax, but that's it. If only the quality of the food could match. I knew about the mixed reviews but had higher hopes. To no avail. Get a new chef! Make this place special, again. Too, many other good places to go. Save the Bay. read more

Do not waste your money on this establishment. We normally cook Thanksgiving or go to a family member's house but the past two years we've had renovations going on at our house so we had to go out. We had a very bad Thanksgiving meal there this year: 2018 It was the only place where we could find a reservation 20 days out. Now I know why. As much as I complained about the Radnor Hotel last year this place was much, much worse. The drinks are watered down or else they do not pour a full shot. The dinner? Egads. - The potatoes were gummy and too highly peppered. - You had to fish the shrimp cocktail out of a bowl of ice water. Gross. - The cocktail sauce was disgusting. - The dishes for the buffet line were plates only. There was nothing to accommodate the sauce that the mussels were in. By the time you stood in line and realized they were there I only had one plate for my dinner. - The stuffing looked like a wedge of dried awfulness. I stole a bite from my husband. I was right. - The turkey skin on the breast meat was not nicely crisped with the fat rendered out of it so I got two mouthfuls of fat. Bleah! - The actual turkey was nice and tender but if you, like me, want a bite of turkey with some mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce all in your mouth at the same time you would be sorely disappointed like I was. - The cranberry sauce needed sugar and looked nothing like a freshly made sauce. - There were some horrible looking cold salads that didn't look worth the calories or worth taking up real estate on your plate. They had no garnishes. They were just in plain glass bowls with globs of potato salad, coleslaw, and something else. - The spring mix, which could have been a lovely sight was just a plain bowl of undressed lettuce with tomatoes that my daughter tells me had migrated to the bottom. There were dressings on the side. I passed. - There was a dark ugly dish of sweet potatoes that I passed on. It did not look good. I stabbed a chunk from my husband and realized I made the right decision there. - The gravy was actually good so no complaints there. - For the people who don't eat turkey there was what looked like rare roast beef. I didn't eat any but it looked good. - There was a pan of peas and corn that was uninspiring. I passed. - There was somes sort of tilapia in a white sauce. I don't eat farm raised fish. Farm raised tilapia is probably the worst fish you could possibly buy. - There was some lasagna which was surprisingly good. - There was some chicken cacciatore looking stuff that did not look appetizing so I passed. As for the desserts - LITERALLY STILL FROZEN pumpkin pie which tells me it was bought and served frozen. - Mini cheesecakes that were obviously not homemade. - Chocolate mousse that they ran out of so I wasn't able to taste it. - The blonde brownie with chocolate chips was good - this was the only decent dessert. - An apple square with some sort of globby topping. - "Strawberry Shortcake" which was comprised of store bought slices of pound cake and runny strawberry sauce. The whipped cream was decent. At our house we serve various pies for dessert for Thanksgiving: double crusted apple, apple crumb, pumpkin, pecan, and chocolate cream. Sometimes we might have a special cake but there has to be traditional desserts!!!!! The place cost a fortune. Then our waitress tried to charge full price for our two younger grandchildren. There was no ambiance in the dining room. Aside from flowers on our table there were no decorations anywhere. Comparing this to a William Penn experience the Bay Pony Inn would be the equivalent to a Bob's Big Boy. To be honest, I think Bob's Big Boy might have better food and actual decorations. No one in this kitchen is inspired by food in any way. I don't know how the place is still in business. Our daughter said we could have gone right to the source and purchased this entire dinner at Costco. I honestly wish we had just ordered a Thanksgiving dinner from Whole Foods. Even going back to the Radnor would have been better. The food at the Radnor was better and the dessert table was a child's paradise, complete with chocolate fountain. We were all disappointed by the Bay Pony Inn. read more

The food has gotten worse every time we go. Way too expensive for what is served. A real shame, years ago it was a very nice high quality restaurant. The steak is more fat and gristle than beef. Shame on you for charging so much.It seems to be an ordeal for the dinners to be served. There is much better food available for half the price. read more

After a banquet when trying to pay the bill the owner was upset to see a credit card. However, it was mentioned the night before that was the method of payment to be used. She finally agreed to use the card but then went on a rant about how much it would be costing her in the process!! From there is also complained that we waited "till the last minute" to book the banquet. We had this planned months in advance!! When I mentioned that fact she said that the front office woman left and therefore they weren't aware of the booking. Then she went on to all her issues for staffing due to COVID. I am sorry but isn't this all something to do with the cost of business? You can't tell me these costs aren't rolled into the menu prices!! Furthermore, customers don't need to hear your problems!! read more

I just returned from my first visit to the Bay Pony Inn. My sister chose this restaurant for a baby shower for her daughter-in-law. I have to say, the staff could not have been nicer. They were so accommodating with the need to get in early so we could set things up. Staffing is difficult now all over and the owners were very present and helpful, pitching in to get everything ready on time. John and Daniella took care of all the people with drinks and the food. They went above and beyond, even finding chocolate milk and apple juice for the little ones. The food was so delicious - from the soup to the dessert and all went very smoothly. I was so impressed with all they did for us to make sure the day was a beautiful celebration and I just want to extend my sincere thanks! read more

I have to agree with Jason K. Years ago, it was better and the food had more variety. Also it really does need a makeover. The owner used to manage the Wm. Penn Inn. He and the chef there left to open the Bay Pony. (The chef has since returned to Wm. Penn.) I am no spring chicken, but every time I go there, the other diners look more and more like my parents (but alive, at least for now)! read more

Stumbled upon this place out of the blue and decided to have my daughters christening / first birthday here. Everyone loved their meals! The service was great and the atmosphere was very intimate. Looking forward to coming back!!! read more

I had my wedding shower at the Bay Pony Inn. The "banquet room" is a narrow, long room that seats approximately 20-25 people. If you fill it to maximum capacity, it's a bit of a tight squeeze. My sister booked the event and said the pricing was very affordable. I did look into booking my wedding there as well and I can tell you they are about the most affordable around. A family friend just left there after many years and said the owners are huge foodies and keep up to date on international and American cooking and recipes with a passion but don't do as great of a job keeping with the changes in the marketplace. This is totally to your benefit as their wedding prices are set significantly lower and include more (all your flowers!) than other wedding reception venues in the are. Back to our meal... we went on a Sunday for brunch which was incredible. There was so much food, you barely knew where to start. Everything was fresh and delicious. The food is out in the main dining room and I was amazed at how hot the hot food was and how chilled the cold food was. Often times you go to a buffet and the food sits out- sauces and eggs get gunky pretty quickly. They really do a good job of putting out the proper amounts of things so this doesn't happen. Along with the buffet, you can also get eggs made to order and quiche. They have a large selection of sumptuous deserts to top off your meal. My husband and I went back for dinner shortly after my shower and had an equally glowing experience. We both had beef which was tender and delicious. The staff was friendly, service was good, and desert was again excellent. We had the mousse- highly recommended! We'll definitely be back! read more

I've eaten here many times over the past 15 years and the food used to always be spot on. I haven't to the Bay Pony in quite a while but our dinner last weekend was reminiscent of the last meal we had here several years years ago. Several years ago we ate here with friends and my friend's wife ordered peppercorn crusted pork tenderloin. There was such an overdose of cracked peppercorns on the pork that it made it almost inedible. I tasted the dish and suggested it be sent back because you could barely taste the pork. I've had peppercorn crusted steaks and pork before but this was over the top. She ended up scraping as much of the cracked pepper off as she could but the peppercorns had already released their flavor into the meat. It was still super peppery but it at least made it edible. On our visit last weekend my wife had scallops and mushrooms in Mornay sauce and I had sauteed medallions of veal with wild mushrooms in a Madiera wine sauce. The scallop dish was really delicious but my wife complained that the vegetables that were served with her dish were way too heavily seasoned with herbs so she didn't eat them - that's significant because my wife loves vegetables and ALWAYS eats them. My veal dish was also heavily seasoned with herbs and while the veal was cooked really nicely and I ate it all, it would have been a much tastier dish if the chef had gone a lot lighter with the seasoning. My wife tasted my veal because she almost ordered it and was so glad she hadn't after tasting it. She said that she wouldn't have been able to eat it with so many herbs in the sauce. So it seems like they continue to have a serious over-seasoning problem. As another reviewer mentioned the interior is VERY dated. It looks like the kind of place your grandparents would want to take you for a "nice meal". This follows suit since the dining room was only about 1/3 full and the majority of the diners were in the 50-70 crowd. Our server was very pleasant and attentive. The critique I have concerning the staff is that the hostess was wearing flip flops, shorts and a tacky looking Hawaiian style shirt. So basically she looked like she was ready for the beach. A very odd look for a fine dining restaurant. This place is not what it used to be but it's still a somewhat acceptable if not slightly odd dining option if you can get past the tendency to over-season some of the food, a strangely dressed hostess and an old school decor. read more

First off, let me preface this review by saying that my idea of a good meal doesn't involve prime rib or anything beginning or ending with 'au gratin'. But in the spirit of fair-mindedness, I went there for a function so the food was banquet style, which isn't most restaurant's strong suit. Locals in the area love this place, which will always remain one of life's great mysteries to me. I guess I'll never be a true local. Menu is predictable and decor is dated. Much of the food is a single color...beige. Definitely better places in the area to try. I would recommend this place to anyone with a stomach ulcer or who loves a good wine spritzer. read more