Unassuming spot with surprisingly great food and drinks. You can make reservations ahead online and they've a free lot out front. Indoor outdoor bar seating, easy access and restrooms available. Good variety in the menu that seems modern American cuisine/european influences. There's a veg entrée so we got that one and baramundi dish. Cauliflower starter and bread pudding to end. We also tried some of their beverages. Everything was good quality and service, infallible. read more

What a wonderful place! The ambience is impeccable, and the bartender made me a delicious mocktail. I came with a friend to celebrate her birthday and they gave her a delicious piece of olive oil cake. We had the special oysters, zucchini blossom and shrimp pasta! All were fantastic! We came on a Wednesday which was kind of slow but they had $10 cocktails and a fried chicken special. I will be back and can't wait to try more of their menu! read more

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We just kind of stumbled upon Pony Kitchen but what a happy accident, I think this was my favorite meal of our trip We were seated at a cozy outdoor table and service was personal and attentive. My husband and I both got the three course, prix fixe menu and were very pleased with our decision. The meal started with a hearts of romaine salad that was a perfect medley of tastes and textures and just the right size. Next up was steak frites - the best steak I've had in a long time and the shoestring fries were perfectly cooked and savory delicious. The meal ended with a slice of olive oil cake topped with mascarpone crema and blueberry compote. Outstanding meal from start to finish. read more

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Went here for breakfast because the blueberry pancakes looked awesome. Got them and they were good but also very rich. Would have been nice to have some maple syrup but apparently they don't have any? Thinking back now they have French toast so why wouldn't they have syrup on the premises? Oh well still tasty. Asked if their OJ was fresh and they said no. That was disappointing as I love some fresh OJ and a place like Pony that prides itself on their special drinks should have it. They serve mimosas with lousy OJ?! Hard pass! Got the breakfast burrito as well and it was good. Not that big and a bit rich but solid. Service was ok. Could have been a bit better especially saying they had no syrup. This is a breakfast only review. Nice outdoor seating area. read more

Pony Cocktails Kitchen - These pancakes were excellent. Quite rich though. Only ate one. Asked for syrup and they said they don't have any?! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

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Outstanding!!!!! We found Pony Kitchen while searching for a dinner place. What a wonderful experience. We had the prefix dinner special and it was amazing!!! Best French fries I have ever had. And the steak was amazing. Highly recommend!!! read more

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Cute space, delicious latte, and such good atmosphere. We really enjoyed breakfast, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. Definitely a lovely spot to start the day! read more

* ** *** **** ***** 10:30am July 5th ***** A worthwhile Adventure trip. A destination restaurant for me today and it was worth every single motorcycle mile. Greeted warmly by " Fernando" (geez I hope I got his name right) I enjoyed "simply the best" steak and eggs - completely exceeded my expectations in every single way. Atmosphere inside and outside is terrific !!! Will visit for dinner next week - looking forward to it. Wished I lived in the area, it would truly become my "go to" spot... The kind of place where you aspire to become a regular like "Norm". * read more

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The inside of this restaurant was super cute and felt like an upscale restaurant. There were quite a few seats and plenty of light. It looks like they also have a full bar which on a Sunday morning after a night out might be much needed. The waitstaff was friendly and welcoming. The cold brew coffee was good and strong and they use frozen coffee rather than ice which was a nice twist. The hash was so good and lots of flavor. There were veggies mixed in with potatoes and just the whole thing was tasty. The breakfast sandwich was good although simple. Overall a wonderful breakfast spot. read more

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This spot is a definite must visit!!! If it's not too hot... sit on the patio. The inside has a cool vibe. The food is outstanding. Especially the Smash Burger!!! The service couldn't be any better. Never wanted for anything. read more

The crab cake and the crudo can't be missed! This place has a wonderful atmosphere and the food is delicious.

Pony Cocktail's Kitchen - A Star in the Making There are restaurants that feel like they've been here forever, and then there are those that arrive like a spark--fresh, surprising, and still figuring out exactly how to burn the brightest. Pony Cocktail's Kitchen is one of those sparks, and after a recent visit, I'm convinced it's destined to become one of the jewels of the Santa Ynez Valley. Let's start with the people. Jasmine, our server, carried the entire front of house on her shoulders the afternoon I visited, and she did it with grace under pressure. The bartender had called out sick, leaving her solo in the spotlight. You could feel the strain in the air, but you could also feel her determination not to let it dim the experience. There's a certain kind of beauty in that effort--the human side of hospitality. A quick smile here, a thoughtful refill there. The sort of dedication that makes you root for the place itself. Now, the food. I'll admit, I came in with my skeptic's fork ready. But the BLT stopped me in my tracks. Not your average greasy spoon affair, this was a BLT with a twist: balsamic in the mayo, heirloom tomatoes that tasted like sunshine bottled, and organic sourdough bread that crunched with just the right resistance. It was both comfort food and statement piece. The avocado toast--with ricotta and pepitas--was another pleasant surprise: creamy, nutty, balanced. And the salmon? Fresh, clean, and cooked just right. Each dish quietly announced: "Yes, we care about ingredients." But here's where Pony truly shines: its design. The dining room is sleek and modern, with clean lines and upscale touches that make you forget you're in a sleepy stretch of wine country. The dark exterior has a cinematic draw, while the breezy, shaded pergola outside whispers, "stay a while." Inside, it feels less like a café trying to be a restaurant and more like a restaurant dreaming of being a destination. And that's the magic word here: destination. Pony Cocktail's Kitchen has the bones to become not just a place you stumble into, but the place you plan around. The dinner menu hints at that ambition--it's thoughtful, it's extensive, it's clearly where the chef's heart lives. Which is why I think Pony's next act isn't about becoming better, but about becoming bolder. See, the name says it all: cocktails. And cocktails, as everyone knows, aren't really morning creatures. They belong to the twilight, to the clink of glasses at 9:30, to the laughter spilling past midnight. Right now, Pony sometimes feels caught in a love triangle between "coffee shop," "lunch stop," and "restaurant." But it doesn't need to be. Its destiny is clear: be the late-night cocktail haven this valley is missing. Imagine it: after a date at the casino, after dinner in Solvang, after a long week--where do you go? Not home, not yet. You want a place that feels alive, modern, sexy even. A place where the cocktails are worth staying out for, and the servers get rewarded with a full room buzzing deep into the night. That's Pony's lane. And if it leaned fully into that--later hours, stronger focus on its already-excellent bar program--it could own the late-night niche no one else has claimed here. Because the truth is, everything else is already there. The food's on point. The décor's on point. The vision is shimmering just beneath the surface. What's left is positioning: lean into the dinner-and-drinks identity, step boldly past the espresso machine, and invite the night owls of Santa Ynez, Solvang, and beyond to call this place their own. So here's my verdict: five stars, no hesitation. Not because Pony Cocktail's Kitchen is perfect, but because it's perfectly poised. It's the kind of spot you want to see succeed, the kind you recommend to friends with a grin: "Go now, and watch--it's only going to get better." read more

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The food was incredibly fresh & delicious, especially the crispy cauliflower! Our waiter, Alex, was so sweet & attentive, giving us great recommendations! The restaurant was really cool inside, great bar scene! read more

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Two words. Porcini Donuts. One of the best things I have ever tasted. I ate it too fast to take a picture. So unexpected, so delicious as an appetizer. With a melted fontina cheese to dip in...yum. I also went on Tuesday which is their locals night. They had a truly amazing smashburger with shoestring fries(not sure if it's on the regular menu but it should be if not) and great drinks. Wonderful service and lovely environment. So happy to have another nice, cool place to come visit in the SYV! read more

Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Smashburger, baby. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

This restaurant served us undercooked chicken on Valentine's Day. This was a serious health violation; instead of comping our meal, they replaced the chicken with another (more expensive dish) that they charged us for in full. The salmon and steak that they served us were also slightly undercooked (but chicken has a salmonella risk so we could not risk that). The restaurant did waive our wine corkage fee ($25) and gave us limoncellos on the house (which we did not ask for, or end up drinking). read more

Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Raw, undercooked chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

What I had: - B.E.C.A ($14) - Mr. Rooster ($16) - Berto's BLTA ($21) How it tasted: - Everything ordered came out delicious and refreshing. The star was the BLTA overall and I'd go back just for that. Why did I give it a five? - Solid service, food came out promptly, outdoor seating for a pup, and overall wonderful experience. Verdict? - Give it a shot if you're in the downtown Santa Ynez area. read more

This place is super cute and not far from the casino if you are looking for a place outside of it. We are from out of town visiting our son and came here before we head back home the $15 B.E.C.A is filling breakfast sandwich. Indoor and outdoor seating read more

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They were understaffed for bunch this morning. They didn't have the ingredients for the cocktails we wanted from the menu which was disappointing. We ordered the burrito and shrimp tacos but the order got lost so we waited a long time. The server realized the glitch and corrected it as quickly as possible but it was good we had ordered mimosas for the table because we needed them. The food when it arrived was fine but not amazing. We waited a while after finishing everything at the table and ultimately went inside to try to pay the bill. The place is cute and sounded promising but I don't think we'd go again. read more

Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Menu #2 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

Went with my fiancée for Valentine's Day. We both had the truffle tasting menu. The food was fine, nothing to write home about. But there was one glaring problem. My fiancée ordered her steak well-done. I get it--an unpopular choice. But she doesn't order her steak well-done because she thinks it tastes better; she orders her steak well-done because she's squeamish and the red color freaks her out. When the steaks arrived, they were both medium rare. I called our waitress over and asked if they could cook my fiancée's steak a little more. She was apologetic and took the steak back. A few minutes later, my fiancée's steak returned...still medium rare. The kitchen had not cooked the steak more. My fiancée tried her best to eat it, but it made her feel pretty bad. While she was in the restroom, I asked our waitress what happened. She said she was very sorry, but the kitchen doesn't really "do" well-done steaks. Uh....why not? The thought that the kitchen was unwilling to cook my fiancée's steak more is utterly ludicrous. The restaurant business is a SERVICE industry. The object is making your diners happy, not maintaining your sense of dignity by refusing to cook my fiancée's steak to a temperature she's comfortable with. So, thanks to the kitchen's high-and-mighty attitude, my fiancée went home hungry. Unbelievable. read more

Food is a HIT not a single miss, all delicious and well prepared it was a hit. Service is great, warm and very friendly. I always check out bathrooms at restaurants and there's a saying by a renowned restauranteur that "if a bathroom smells good and is clean, you are in the right restaurant", Pony proved that. The ambience is nice and quiet. We sat outdoor during the heavy Christmas rain while visiting San Ynez 2025, they had multiple heaters to keep us warm and cozy. Our server Alex was super amazing and he explained every single dish to us and gave us some great recommendations. Parking right in-front of the restaurant. This was a well made choice to dine here and I'm definitely returning . Go here if you are in town, try to get a reservation it's a pretty busy place, not surprising when the food is great. Love it. read more

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Everything was wonderful. The staff were friendly and welcoming, the restaurant interior was very nice but most of all, the food was delicious. We ordered the Rooster chicken sandwich and the BECA. read more

Decent food, great drinks. We went for restaurant week to try this place out for the first time. The crab cakes were awesome and so were the arancini. Cooked perfectly and served with amazing sauces. The staff was great and super friendly. I had the pork chop that was on special and it was ok, but a little dry. My boyfriend had the duck fat chicken which was really good. Our friend had the halibut and that was amazing! The cocktails were refreshing and innovative. We might go back just for those. Dessert was disappointing. We had the pistachio tiramisu that was just...weird. The plating was not appetizing and the lady fingers were dry and crispy. The pistachio mousse topping was ok though. Overall we'll likely go back for cocktails and appetizers. read more

I rarely write negative reviews, but this experience was truly disappointing. We are locals and come here during the week because we enjoy supporting neighborhood spots. When we arrived, the restaurant was completely empty, so we expected a quick, easy breakfast. Unfortunately, the service was unbelievably slow for what should have been a very simple meal. It took far too long just to place our order, and even longer for the food to arrive. During that time, there was little to no communication from the staff, no updates, no check-ins, no acknowledgment of the delay. Breakfast shouldn't take this long, especially when the dining room is empty. When the food finally came out, it was fine, but not worth the hour plus wait or frustration. As locals who genuinely want to continue supporting this place, this was disappointing. Time is valuable, and this experience felt like ours wasn't respected. I hope management takes a closer look at service flow and attentiveness, because the fundamentals really do matter. read more

We stopped in today for coffee. The service and atmosphere was fantastic. Our server, Addison was the best. I can't wait to come back and try more items on the menu. Thanks Pony Cocktails. read more

The servers are good but always too busy and seem understaffed. We have been here 4-5 times now. The smash burger is excellent and why we come back. I have had breakfast 3 times and each time I ask for my eggs scrambled soft and each time they come out hard and burnt. The water is also gross and tastes straight out of the tap. Every other restaurant filters there's, at this price point it's a no brainer. This place is so close to being good but misses the mark severely and consistently. We kept coming back hoping it would change but no dice. read more

Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

Sooo good ! the cocktails are so delicious and the food is outstanding. so gallop on over and enjoy being spoiled !!! read more

Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

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I just went back this week and had the best oysters I have had in the Santa Ynez Valley!

Be forewarned, their "Chop Wedge" salad is all chop, and no wedge - unless their idea of a wedge is distancing their customers from understanding their menu. They did right by us but the portions were modest and service a bit slow. read more

Disappointing and misleading experience. I was able to make a reservation by phone, but when I tried calling back to confirm menu items, the phone line never worked. I even showed the hostess by calling the number in front of her--still not working. We came specifically for the smash burgers, which are prominently featured in their Yelp photos (even the main Yelp cover photo shows the burger) . When we arrived at 5:40 PM, we were told burgers were available until 6:00 PM and would be made for us. Minutes later, we were told they were completely out. Soup was listed as available, but they only had enough for four people total, leaving the rest of our party of 10 without that option. The dinner menu was extremely limited--only 3-4 items, plus a few off-menu options, all priced around $38-$40+. Given the broken phone line, unavailable items before stated cutoff times, misleading Yelp photos, and high prices, the overall experience fell well short of expectations. read more

Would give this place 10 stars if I could. Outstanding breakfast, dinner and drinks. Amazing staff, friendly and welcoming. So accommodating with kids in tow, and a fantastic fresh menu for them. Will definitely be back - it was truly a trip highlight to dine here. read more

Absolutely loved my visit there last Saturday!! Food was yummy , I had be Smashburger ! Old fashion Cokes in glass bottles , patio view , so much rustic charm ! This town is like an Old West vibe meets Restoration Hardware. Cowboy but not hokey ! Loved it ! read more

This restaurant resides in the quaint town of Santa Inez. A location that doesn't have much to offer in the way of lunch options but we chose Pony as the ratings seemed pretty good. Let me start by saying that the restaurant is really nice looking with both inside and outside seating. The wait staff was friendly and helpful. As to the food, we were there for lunch and the pickings were slim. We ordered shrimp tacos and a steak salad. There were no trimmings for the tacos and well the salad was just arugula and a small portion of steak. You don't get much for what you pay. Also, no dessert during the day. I'm torn as to the rating as the wait staff was nice and lunch was pleasant but they need to offer more for lunch, especially during weekends. They are about 3 miles from Solvang which doesn't offer much in the way of lunch either so they could really do a killing if they were more thoughtful about what they are offering for lunch. Oh and better advertising would be helpful. I come to Solvang quite often and had never heard of Santa Inez (which is a very quaint town). read more

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The mexican latte is absolutely delicious. Quaint little place with a delicious lox bagel and lemon ricotta pancakes. read more

Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

My family was visiting the Buellton area during the Holidays and we decided to go to Santa Ynez. A friend of ours who was with us, recommended Pony Cocktails Kitchen. They are located on Edison and Sagunto St., next to the USPS Office. Something to note on Sagunto St is that this has a western feel, because of its history. Some of the buildings are from the old west and some have been recreated. There is plenty of public parking in my opinion, but depending on the time of day it could be a challenge. Upon arriving, we noticed that Pony Cocktails Kitchen has a really nice rustic decor (Blue and Copper Accents) and great seating outside. If the weather is a bit chilly, they have heat lamps installed above; so we opted for outside seating. Our server, Casandra arrived and she was really nice and she very helpful. We looked at their brunch menu and there were good selections to choose from in my opinion. We decided to order: Sunrise Burrito, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and the Classic Breakfast. The Sunrise Burrito comes with: egg, potato, nduja, cheese blend, red bell pepper salsa, avocado, flour tortilla. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes comes with: lemon zest, vanilla butter & blueberry compote. The Classic Breakfast comes with: two eggs anystyle, bacon or sausage, roasted potato, toast & ketchup. After we placed our order, we were enjoying the scenery outside, waiting for our order to be ready. When our order arrived, I could tell that it was prepared fresh and the portions were good in my opinion. For the Classic Breakfast I really enjoyed the thick cut bacon, the potatoes were perfectly seasoned and the rustic bread was perfect; had crunch on each bite. I tried a little bit of the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and it was very good. Had the right amount of sweetness and zest and not too sweet in my personal opinion. As for the Sunrise Burrito, it was very filling and the ingredients combined was very good. Our overall experience was great and the Customer Service we received from Casandra, made it very pleasant and worthwhile. She would often check up on our table outside if we needed anything. In my personal open, I would recommend Pony Cocktails Kitchen if you are in the Santa Ynez area, looking for Brunch option. Next time are visiting the area, we definitely want to try their other items on the menu. read more

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Tried Pony for dinner tonight and was very impressed! Delicious drinks, excellent food, and Fernando provided great service at the bar. We started with the porcini donuts which are amazing - savory mushroom donuts with an addictive cheesy fondue dipping sauce. Duck breast special was great - crispy skin without overcooking the breast. Duck is my favorite protein and this tough critic was not disappointed. Smash burger (available Tuesdays) was delish - rich in a good way and came with a mountain of fries. We will definitely be back! read more

Hands down one of the best dinners I've had in a long time. Was up here for a wedding--not expecting anything special, just hoping to eat decent. Instead, I got mind-blown. Service? Super friendly and dialed in. Cocktails? On another level. Vibe? Let's just say if you're into Rufus du Sol, Bob Moses, or Empire of the Sun, you'll feel right at home. Unexpected gem. Will absolutely be back! read more

I live here in this beautiful Valley. I've visited ALL and frequent EVERY Restaurant, PONY is the BEST of them ALL!! Breakfast & Dinner hands down, can't beat it!! Best in The Valley!! 5 read more

Awesome breakfast in the area. Real homade ice tea. Great place for those want to sleep in. Breakfast before 230pm is a awsome concept. Lets face it we want to stay are hotel as late as possible enjoying the area. So now people can get the best of both worlds sleeping in and enjoying a great breakfast without rushing. In addition enjoying great food and service. Cool resteraunt building as well. read more

The food here is excellent! Highly recommend hamachi crudo to start. The brick chicken was soooo good and the salmon was also delicious and perfectly cooked. The cocktails were also excellent. They have happy hour $10 cocktail from Tues-Thursday 4pm to close. The cucumber martini, yuzu margarita, and watermelon basil margaritas were excellent. Very cute covered outdoor seating. The service was very friendly and attentive. Highly recommend this place! read more

This restaurant is incredible and the cocktails and the food is Michelin level. It's a gem, this is the best restaurant in the area for sure and it's not even a question. read more

Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

Great food and service. Overall wonderful experience. Welcomed my little dog for lunch on the patio.