I had one of the most memorable dates at Ponyboy inside The Pearl, and I honestly can't imagine a better place for a special evening. Before we arrived, I mentioned that I was taking out someone special, and the staff went above and beyond to make the night unforgettable. From the moment we walked in, they treated us with such genuine kindness and attention that we felt like celebrities. Every detail made us feel welcome and cared for. My date looked absolutely beautiful, and the atmosphere couldn't have been more perfect. We enjoyed fresh oysters, amazing cocktails, and spent the evening watching vintage movies by the pool. It felt like stepping into another era--relaxed, romantic, and effortlessly cool. Our servers were attentive without ever being intrusive, and their warmth elevated an already incredible night. It's rare to find a place where the service, food, drinks, and atmosphere all come together so perfectly. This is a night I'll never forget, and I'm already hoping this becomes the place where we celebrate future moments together. Thank you to everyone at Ponyboy for helping create a special evening. read more

Ponyboy is one of the funnest little retro bars/restsurants that I've ever found. We were staying across the street and saw great reviews on Yelp. The bar is associated with an adorable vintage hotel, the Pearl.The bar surrounds the hotel pool filled with pink flamingo floats. Retro music fills the air. Servers wear retro uniforms with their names embroidered. Seating is upscale and comfortable with indoor and outdoor options. Krysten, our server, was super attentive, friendly. She kept drinks filled and food coming. We ordered cocktails and appetizers. The BaHa oysters were juicy and smooth. The corn bread with guava butter stole the show. The guava butter is sweet and savory with a unique blend of delicious flavors. The roasted Brussels sprouts were fresh, cooked to perfection and tasty topped with parm. Easy 5 star experience! I recommend highly and will definitely return. read more

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Love it here! Wonderful, well thought out appetizers! Cannot say enough about the pickle dip and Brussels sprouts! The staff was warm and knowledgeable and an absolute joy to interact with! We had an absolute ideal spot in the dinning room...right in front of the bar, but still only feet away from the pool! Full view of the throw back marinate theater on the large screen above the pool as well as on the tv over the bar. Absolutely a gem of a spot and we will for sure return next time we are in SD read more

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We didn't like it. Ended up giving our food away to some people on the street. Staff was screwing around and we eventually just left. We won't be back. read more

Appropriate "Dad" joke to begin this review (but you need to read to the end to find out the answer): Q: Why wouldn't the oyster give up her pearl? ____________________________________________________ Situated in the lobby and pool deck of The Pearl Hotel, and easy to locate, Ponyboy is a gently retro, 60s comfort lounge/restaurant with tasty food and a charming atmosphere. A mid-century modern aesthetic abounds. There is a large screen set up over the pool, and several monitors in the dining area so patrons can watch the various 60s films and TV shows that are projected. Tonight, I believe they were featuring "Stingray" which is a tv series from 1964 featuring puppets and exciting underwater adventures. Heh. It's a little corny, but it fit the vibe of the place. We decided to come here tonight to celebrate the end of a fairly challenging week, and Ponyboy delivered. We sat in the pool area at a two-top along the wall. As a libation, I decided to indulge a dirty shirley (alcoholic shirley temple), and made short work of it. For the purpose of noshing, we ordered the oysters Rockefeller, ahi tuna casserole, and the fisherman's catch and grits. The oysters were small and doused in a tasty, buttery, and herbaceous sauce. While they weren't prepared in the traditional Rockefeller style, we enjoyed them. I was a little confused about why they were served on a bed of unpopped popcorn kernels, and I thought that if they're reused... that's a little weird, and if they're just thrown away or composted, that's a bit of a waste. The Fisherman's catch was California Sheephead and it was delicious, and so fresh! The grits were also very good. M. indicated that he would've loved a larger portion of grits because he enjoyed them that much! I really liked my deconstructed, modern take on Tuna Casserole. It consisted of local Ahi tuna with a potato crust, house-made thick egg noodles resembling fettuccine, peas, parmesan soubise, and maitake mushrooms. I loved it all! So scrumptious. Honestly, I would've been happy if this didn't even have the tuna. It was also a decent portion and I felt comfortably full after eating it. The motel has a few dedicated parking spaces in front for motel guests. There's street parking on nearby cross streets. There also are comfortable bathrooms available in the lobby with Aesop amenities. Rooms are in the $225 range (+/- depending on season) for those that might be interested in staying at this property. Ponyboy also offers "golden hour" from 4-5pm Wednesday - Sunday where they have various food and drink specials such as $1 deviled eggs & oysters and $10 cocktails/ wine specials. Service is friendly and welcoming. We did not feel rushed at all. We were a little too full for dessert after dinner though, so maybe we'll try it next time! "Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren't so different. We saw the same sunset." -- Ponyboy A: ...because she was a little shellfish!! (haha) read more

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What a surprising little spot! Ponyboy is located inside of the Pearl hotel, and is an indoor outdoor concept connected directly to their pool. I was completely taken away by the fact that the burgers were so good and the drinks were so inventive. They have Dr. Pepper sangria, and bubble gum margaritas! Who would have thought. You need to check out their Instagram to see all of the cool events and pop-ups that they do. There are Tiki nights, movies on the water... You absolutely need to check this place out. read more

adding another review...brought the husband back to experience Ponyboy at golden hour. we literally got almost everything on the golden hour menu. here's the list food (half off during happy hour) brussels sliders chips w/ pickle dip cornbread w/ butter Birthday (comp treat) birthday banana split drinks...(not on happy hour) bubblegum margarita root beer flip each and every item was over the top amazing! we started with the chips and pickle dip...i had to force myself to stop eating so i wouldn't fill up brussels and sliders came next then the cornbread. the sliders have sliced beef and horseradish...so yum!!! brussels were flavorful and not too wet (love!) cornbread...oh that cornbread! so delicious served in a cast iron dish with butter in the shape of corn on the cob. the butter was drizzled with honey ...so damn good! i had the bubble gum marg previously and loved it...i know it sounds odd but try it! then there is the root beer flip...it tasted just like a rootbeer float...its the best drink ever!!! looking forward to a return visit ASAP read more

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It's located inside the Pearl Hotel I came on a Wednesday afternoon with a friend. Service was great. Ordered happy hour! (1600-1700) Cheeseburger Pickle Dip Cornbread Opted for well done for my burger. They can't provide any ranch but they did offer an Alabama type of sauce that looked like a white sauce. I didn't think it paired well with my burger as it tasted too dairy for my liking. My favorite out of the order would be the cornbread and the pickle dip. I normally don't go for pickle dip but I kept going back for more. Cornbread was very moist and warm. I thought the corn shaped butter looked cute. I don't think I would order the cheeseburger again but it was nice to try once for happy hour. Note: they do put a projector out and have a movie playing inside the hotel and also outside where the pool read more

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Came here for Happy Hour (4-5pm) for their drinks and food specials. As for drinks we started off with two cocktails: the Root Beer Float (bourbon, absinthe, egg white, cream, and vanilla - very sweet and highly recommend as it truly tasted like a root beer float), and their Toronto (rye whiskey - kinda their version of an old fashioned). As mentioned, sweet lovers have to try the Root Beer Float and the tried and true old fashioned lovers will enjoy the Toronto. Started off with their Cornbread and Butter for an appetizer. Man this was divine. It has the hint of jalapeño in it and their butter (shaped like corn!) was so creamy with salt on top. Then we had the happy hour cheeseburger. Damn. May be one of my favorite burgers I've had. It's a smash burger and the mayo butter was something you can bury me in. If this were at a backyard bbq I would eat 5 of them. We also had the Shaved Prime Rib Sandwich. The malt fries that it comes with were classic diner fries. Adored. The prime rib had a horseradish bite but the melted cheese perfectly balanced it out. The night was going so well we got dessert. Tried their Pears and Cream. Think a deconstructed cobbler. Light. Tasty. Perfect. Not only was the food delicious but the service here was top notch. Special shout out to our waitress Tawny. She made sure we were taken care of. But special SPECIAL shout out to Thomas who was also ensuring we had a fantastic experience. Just an absolutely lovely human who went above and beyond to make sure we were having a good time. There are three seating areas (the outdoor heated pool deck, the main standard seating [which was still kind of outside inside], the bar, and the lobby). The area is rather small and compact but charming. They did a good job with the space. We sat in the lobby area as it was more quiet. Honestly no negatives here but the price point. Kind of on the expensive side but the quality is worth it. Happy hour is a must! As the night winds down they play retro cartoons on projectors. On Wednesdays they do movies by the pool. Parking is limited as it's only for guests. We got lucky and found street parking. I could foresee that taking a hot second when they are busy but overall wasn't too bad. read more

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Happy Hour (starts at 4) had an amazing selection These were by far the freshest Oysters I've had EVER in any restaurant, no grit no odd aftertaste was pleasantly surprised Another noteworthy dish was the pickle dip was trying not to eat it by the spoonful lol The Service was great everyone made us feel at home The vintage decor was classic and lovely..the ambience reminded me of a diner scene in a Quentin Tarantino movie and I friggin loved that ! I also observed that there were alot of reserved signs placed on the tables pool-side so this would be a cool date night/ girls night out place .. I also saw there was a large projector screen so I'd love to do more research about that since it peaked my curiosity.. The only thing that would worry me next time around is parking but if you leave early enough to make happy hour on time/plan it out I'm sure things would run smoothly We willl definitely be back!! read more

The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma offers a retro yet chic mid-century modern stay. While it may have originally been built as a motel, this boutique hotel is fully renovated and upgraded, providing a luxe experience including dining! Ponyboy is the hotel's restaurant. While they primarily are open for dinner from Wednesday-Sunday, they were also hosting Marigold Bagels weekend pick-up and pop-up for a time between their transition from Civita farmers market to storefront. This provided the perfect opportunity to check out the restaurant! On a weekend afternoon, parking in the area wasn't too difficult to find. There were some available spots in the neighborhood. The location is near the water, so it's an easy walk to see the boats. The restaurant itself has a great view though. The open concept includes a long bar and seating that surrounds the pool. We enjoyed a breakfast bagels including the egg, bacon and cheese and the egg salad. The collab resulted in the most delicious breakfast! But what really stood out was the service and ambiance. The staff at the restaurant was super attentive and kind. The vibes were good and I can see why this is such a popular spot. Curious to come back to try their dinner! read more

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PonyBoy Restaurant is located in an authentic 1960's Mid-Century motel named "The Pearl" in Point Loma. The Pearl is situated at the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Fenelon Street. That location places this business right in the very heart of the esteemed San Diego Portuguese community. There is one handicapped parking place set right at the entrance. You enter into the bar and lounge area and then wind out to the coveted tables ringing the motel swimming pool. The wines by the bottle are excessively priced. However, the wines by the glass and the cocktails or mocktails are the best way to go at PonyBoy. On the retro-style menu, there is a good ceviche that is beautifully served. The French Fries are coated with an addictive vinegar sauce and salt. read more

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Loved this little diner situated inside the Pearl Hotel, which is more of a gentrified modern, hip, local motel. Stayed the weekend there and loved the staff, the room, but most importantly the vibe of the diner. Sat at the bar and had $1 oysters during HH and enjoyed the "recession special" which was a delicious fried bologna sandwich, then moved on to a PHENOMENAL Ahi Tuna Casserole, finished off with a classic banana split. Will absolutely stay again. read more

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Ponyboy is the restaurant inside of The Pearl Hotel, an old apartment building renovated into a hip hotel. Parking can be tough in this area so give yourself time to hoof it a few blocks. Thankfully, street parking is free. The restaurant is kitschy in a really good way. The decor, food, and drinks are all throwbacks to the 1960s and the attention to detail is fantastic. Most people reading this probably don't remember the space-age cartoon, "The Jetsons," but it appeared to be playing on an endless loop both in the bar and around the pool. Dining is both inside and outside, next to the pool. There's even a nod here to the "The Outsiders," if you are familiar with that flick. The food and drinks are really good. The service we received was spectacular. Our water glasses never dipped below two-thirds down (seriously) and the staff knew the menu inside and out, and made very helpful recommendations. The shrimp cocktail appetizer is fantastic but s also very pricey at $19. You get six wonderfully-seasoned shrimp with lime wedges and a terrific housemade cocktail sauce that is delicious but which you probably do not need because the shrimp is so good as delivered. The Juicy Lucy burger, with very good fries, is incredibly popular here, for good reason. The burger is perfectly cooked and comes with melted cheese both inside the patty and on top of the burger. This is a truly excellent burger and should be in the conversation of best burgers in all of San Diego. The cocktail, beer, and wine offerings are strong. I tried a cocktail with a bit of pickle juice in it (I cannot recall the name of the drink, for the life of me) and it was perfect. Pickle juice, like many ingredients, can be easily overdone, but this one was excellent. They also have good mocktails. This is one of those restaurants that delivers in a big way. The menu and cooking are so strong that I want to come back to try different things. Stay strong, Ponyboy. read more

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Such an adorable spot. My fiance and I came here about six years ago for one of our first dates before their remodel. They renovated the space and I've been excited to go back since. I'm not drinking at the moment so I ordered the cherry cola mocktail and fiance got a beer. We ordered the fondue for two, and the prime rib sandwich. The fondue ended up being mostly mine and he took down the sandwich haha. The fondue comes in the owners vintage fondue pots from the 50s, an assortment of delightfully flavored roasted vegetables, pears, rye bread cubes, along with other little things to dip. The service was wonderful. The only thing I would recommend to them is implementing a heating system indoors as we go into winter- we had to switch tables and I shivered through the meal but c'est la vie! Will be back for a movie night in the summer! read more

Ponyboy - Lounges Near Me - San Diego, California

This place was so cool! I loved everything about this place from the atmosphere, to the staff, the food and the vibe! This 60s themed diner definitely is worth the try. Located in Point Loma, on Rosecrans, it's kinda easy to pass by this joint. The restaurant itself is connected to the Pearl Hotel, which is a small hotel. Parking is all street parking if you're not a hotel guest. There's plenty of residential and side streets to choose from, but I can envision some days you'll have to be patient looking for parking. The restaurant is a 60s themed restaurant named after Ponyboy from the Outsiders. The staff is dressed to match the theme. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant is opened up to the pool of the Pearl Hotel. The place is dog friendly and they even play movies from a screen for hotel guests and restaurant visitors. Service was great! I felt like the staff was trying to get to know their customers. It was also really nice to hear how knowledgeable the staff was on the items sold. Our waitress was pretty well informed about the wines sold. They were constantly checking up on us, starting conversations and made sure we had everything we needed. I thought they did a great job! The food was really good! It is definitely on the pricier end, but I do think you get what you pay for. The Brussels sprouts were yummy and huge! The pickled chips were my favorite appetizers! They satisfied my salty craving! We also had the fondue and that was so much fun and yummy! The tuna casserole was huge and had a good amount of tuna on it. The Wagyu burger melted in my mouth! The strawberry shortcake is probably my new top strawberry shortcake! Their rocky road is homemade and I enjoyed it so much! I really really enjoyed this spot! Is it a little pricey! Sure, but you really are getting what you pay for. I thought it was worth it. I can definitely see myself coming back and I'll be telling a lot of my friends and family to try this place as well! read more

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If you're in the area, go here! The food is excellent and the service is even better. Really fun trivia on Thursday at 7. We were visiting from NH and happened to catch it. If you're in the category of pickle-lovers, the pickle dip dish is a delight!!! Party in your mouth. Cool retro vibe. Everything about this place is just great. read more

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Chicken Jidori Kiev was mind blowing. Definitely coming back for that. Our server was very accommodating and got me a drink which was removed from the menu. read more

Such a cute restaurant! We were seated outside by the pool, which I didn't mind as a diner, but I couldn't imagine if you were a guest at the hotel, that might be annoying. But I digress... We started with the fondue and it was really good! Although $40 for melted cheese, some bread and veggies, it should be. It was a good size portion though and we were actually pretty full by the time our main entrees came. We shared the juicy lucy and the fisherman's catch with grits. The burger was nice and juicy - could've used a little more cheese, but overall seasoned well. The fish was ok, it needed more salt. I would've thought that the chorizo would add more flavor, but it was kind of bland which was odd. We finished with the grasshopper pie, which was just ok. I was expecting a lot more mint flavor. But we both liked the texture and cookie crust. Drinks were good and service was attentive and prompt! Overall, lovely experience and would return for those burgers again! read more

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What a relaxing and interesting place to eat dinner in the Point Loma area. Located inside The Pearl hotel, much of the seating is surrounding a pool and garden area in an inner atrium. The restaurant has a nice bar and the staff are all very friendly and knowledgeable on their offered cuisine. I came here once before with a friend from the area and this time decided to take my wife. We split a few appetizers and Tuna Noodle Casserole as an entree. This restaurant has a knack for taking old classics and putting a wonderful and picturesque new spin on them. Everything was delicious and we felt satisfied and full as we left. The one bummer was that their website is seriously out of date, so the offered menu items on the web did not reflect what was offered now. There were still plenty of great choices as seen by the photos I uploaded, but I was seriously bummed they quit serving the pineapple upside down cake. That is one of my all time favorites and after seeing it on their website and getting hyped to have it, was pretty disappointed when we were told they haven't made it for a long time and don't currently offer it. If worried about a particular item being served, you may want to call in advance. Also, parking is non-existent. Plan on extra time to find on street parking, lot parking a couple of blocks away near Point Loma Seafood or just Uber over. read more

A bait and switch is not cool. I went to the Ponyboy restaurant tonight for the supposedly "prime rib deal". 2 years ago it was 25 dollars and recently it was 29. I went today expecting it to be 29. Hell no, it was 55 bucks The server told me after seeing my shocked face that it was a really big plate of prime rib essentially saying that is a deal at 55 bucks. Well the dollar oysters were decent but not great but yes a deal at a buck apiece. The prime rib dinner in no way shape or form was worth 55 dollars whatsoever. The prime rib was very thin and an average size. The brussels sprouts were just a few and grilled but overcooked and burned. The potatoes were a few slices nothing more. The prime rib at the bullpen bar on Clairemont Mesa Blvd is 4 times as thick and way way way better deal at 24.99. I did not care for this bait and switch at all It was pathetic at best. The server though was good and did a good job but the meal was a major disappointment as I was looking forward to coming here for the first time I can get a much better meal for 80 bucks almost a where in town. No way I will ever return read more

My husband and I had the chance to try Ponyboy at last week's Dockside night market. I did not know much about this restaurant and was very surprised by their food sample choice. It is a potato Style in a black ice cream cone. They even added some sprinkles to give a little more fun and ice cream feel on the top. This was one of our favorite items we tried on the night market. I definitely look forward to trying these restaurant in their near future for their full menu! read more

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What a wonderful experience last night. I was craving Prime Rib and wanted to try something new. I called before I went and they happily confirmed that the Prime Rib was gluten-free. As soon as I was seated the wait staff also asked about food allergies. When I got served my meal she reconfirm everything was safe to eat. I felt listened to and cared for. On to my Prime rib. It was cooked to perfection and was seasoned perfectly. The Brussels Sprouts need their own side order. I could have kept eating them. I loved the atmosphere at Ponyboy. It was the right kind of dark and the old black and white movies were fun to watch while I ate. I can't say enough nice things about the food and the entire staff. I will for sure be back soon. read more

If you're in Point Loma, you absolutely cannot miss Ponyboy! We recently visited and indulged in their cornbread with butter, and let me tell you, it was heavenly. The shaved beef sliders were a hit too--perfectly cooked and full of flavor. But the real star of the show? The pickle dip! It was freaking amazing--definitely a must-try. Make sure to order the espresso martini; it pairs perfectly with the grasshopper pie, which was the cherry on top of our experience. They have a fantastic golden hour from 4 to 5 PM, offering all appetizers at half off--perfect for trying more delicious options! A huge shoutout to our fantastic waitress, Yzabel, who made our visit even more enjoyable with her attentive service and great recommendations. We will definitely be coming back to Ponyboy! All of Point Loma should know about this gem! read more

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The service was great, staff super friendly. The food was good. Had a great meal. We plan on coming back. read more

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Ponyboy was fantastic--probably the best service I've ever had at a restaurant. The staff was attentive without being overbearing, and the gentleman who kept refilling our water was on top of it; I felt hydrated throughout the entire meal. The food was excellent and the portions generous. My friend and I split the "Fondue for Two," and it was more than enough! We sat outside by the pool in a relaxed atmosphere; although there were outdoor heaters, the evening was so pleasant that we didn't need them. read more

Ponyboy - Fondue for two (plus fries) - Lounges Near Me - San Diego, California

Was staying at The Pearl for a night and had the pleasure of enjoying Ponyboy's happy hour. $1 oysters can't be beat! They were absolutely delicious. Don't sleep on their french fries either. The most flavorful and delicious french fries ever, and truly a surprising treat! They have a small menu for discounted food and drinks during happy hour, but there's something for everyone. The service is friendly and quick, but keep in mind that the bar top does fill up rather quickly! Since we were staying at the hotel we did not have an issue with parking, but it seems like street parking might be limited otherwise. The food and drinks were delicious that we will definitely be back on future visits to San Diego! Truly can't recommend this little hidden gem enough! read more

Ponyboy - Lounges Near Me - San Diego, California

I found this really cool spot via IG as I am new to the area of San Diego. I lived and worked closer to LA for years!!! And recently transitioned and have found myself exploring SD. This place matches my personality and for my 40th I wanted to make the drive over to Point Loma. The night I chose to go they were showing Starwars: The Last Jedi and open for night swim. I just knew it would be a great time! Unfortunately my excitement got the best of me forgetting it gets chilly at night and swimming would actually not be a good idea lol *bummer* Parking was easy..street parking wasn't hard to find at all. Ponyboy is located inside The Pearl Hotel. Its aesthetic theme is the 60s with a little bit of the movie Outsiders hence "Stay Gold Ponyboy" when you walk in ..it just looks and feels cool. Different. We opted for outside seating. They offer indoors, mid and outdoor. I don't drink anymore and opted for mocktails which was so GREAT that they offer non alcoholic drinks! Thank you!!!!!! Food: we had Brussels sprouts 7/10, pickle dip 10/10 and deviled eggs 7/10...the shared the "Juicy Lucy" and unfortunately guys ...I was so excited for this one but I just couldn't eat it. It was soooo raw...it looked like I had just pulled it out the freezer. So I can't even tell you how it tasted. Our hostess though was sooo kind and took it off our bill and also apologized. Thank you. We just tipped her for her gesture what we would have paid for the burger. U love great customer service and you will get that here. We ended it with the "grasshopper" pie ..8/10. They have heaters outdoors ..our wasn't working so it did get super chilly outside..so didn't get to finish the movie. Overall cool spot I would recommend and their customer service was 10/10. read more

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I had to try this new restaurant that just opened a few weeks ago! This restaurant is situated in the boutique hotel, The Pearl. I love the meld of both retro and modern with both the aesthetics and entree offerings! Recommendations Banana daiquiri - Love the banana chip in this refreshing spirit forward cocktail. Jidori Chicken Kiev - Love this classic dish! Chicken was both juicy and crisp. Loved the creamy mashed potatoes with the veggies. Juicy Lucy - Definitely was juicy and full of flavor. The table next to us ordered two of this dish! Pandan Cheesecake - Highly recommended by the table next us. Definitely recommend to finish your meal. Love the other items on their menu with TV dinner offerings and homemade Wonder bread! Watched The Jetsons on several TVs and the movie screen above the pool. Love the nostalgic feel of this one place. Definitely will return to try other dishes. read more

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I have already dined at this new flagship restaurant inside the Pearl Hotel in Point Loma twice during its first week of operation. The crew that runs Ponyboy has honed its chops from working at Addison which speaks of the pedigree and experience they bring. The mid-century vibe of this legacy property has remained unchanged. A bar with a dozen (or 13) seats was available along with a few tables in the lounge area adjacent to it. Most of the seating was outside along the perimeter of the swimming pool. Reservations can be made on OpenTable which I used to get a seat for my first visit. Valet parking cost $5 which might be the most efficient way because finding curbside parking in this neighborhood took me a while. Dinner was served from 5 to 10 pm on Wednesday to Sunday with a Golden Hour from 4 to 5 pm. That experience will be described later as it encompassed my second visit. The menu had a retro flair ranging from playful concepts like "TV Dinners" that featured daily specials (e.g. prime rib) to modern takes on classic entrees from the 60s and 70s like Barbacoa Beef Stroganoff and Jidori Chicken Kiev. All of the seafood was sourced from the nearby Tunaville Market and Grocery along the harbor. I stuck with that theme and ordered the Fisherman's Catch Ceviche from the list of six starters and the Fisherman's Catch & Grits from the six hot plates. The ceviche was made up of a gelatinous clamato aspic in the middle of the dish with cucumber, avocado aioli, and pickled onion mixed with the diced fish. Fennel tortilla chips were provided on the side to scoop up the ceviche that had a light tartness. The presentation was very colorful with edible flowers added as garnishment. Vermilion rockfish was the daily catch used in my main dish which contained parmesan grits, tomatillo-gooseberry salsa fresca, rancho gordo hominy 'corn nuts', and chorizo iberico. The cheesy grits were a perfect bed for the two fillets. As a bonus, the kitchen provided a complimentary serving of the Tomato Gazpacho. It turned out to be my favorite item of the evening. Three types of grapes, olive oil sorbet, garlic crouton, and basil oil were added to the cold tomato soup. The grapes and the sorbet made the gazpacho into a sweet treat as normally a savory tomato flavor reigns supreme. I would easily order this again. For dessert, I picked the Vanilla Raisin Ice Cream. Caramel was drizzled on top along with rum soaked raisins. Fast forward to the first weekend of business... I showed up a few minutes before the 4 pm opening time of Golden Hour. It's first come first served as the food and drink specials were only offered at the bar and lounge. Cocktails were $11 each which featured a Daiquiri, an Old Fashioned, a Margarita, and a Moscow Mule. The real deal (steal) was the discounted food which was the following at $1 apiece... * Raw Oyster * Deviled Egg * Swedish Meatball * Mini Chili Dog * Ratatouille Tartlette * Tuna Melt Tartlette * Five Alarm Chili Tartlette I ordered two each of the first three choices, one mini chili dog, and one of each of the tartlettes. Before the clock reached 5 pm, I got a second round of oysters and deviled eggs. One dollar oysters are not as frequent as they used to be prior to the pandemic. The size of the bi-valve mollusks were large. Lemon and tabasco sauce were provided to liven up the raw taste. Even though the deviled eggs were basic with paprika sprinkled on top compared to the fancier version served as a shareable plate on the regular menu, the cheap price was too much of a draw for me. The service I received at the table and at the bar was fantastic. The staff was well-trained and answered all of my questions without hesitation. For the quality of the food at Ponyboy, the menu prices were very reasonable. Overall, I was impressed with the debut of this restaurant and gave it a five star rating. read more

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Fabulous wagyu cheeseburger and fries!!! I lived across the street from the Pearl Hotel from 2020 to 2024 and never ate here but while I was in town I stayed at the hotel and had dinner at Ponyboy. There were a half dozen items on the menu I wanted to order!!! I couldn't decide, especially on that cheesy potato soup! Oh well....next time. read more

Review for Golden Hour Only! While visiting with my friends, we decided to pop into the Pearl hotel to visit the Ponyboy restaurant in Point Loma for their Golden Hour. The golden hour is offered daily from 4-5pm at the bar and lounge area only. On a Friday afternoon the bar filled up within 15 minutes of opening time-only 13 or so seats at the bar with a few lounge seats. The Golden hour features a one dollar food menu that consist of raw oysters, deviled egg, Swedish meatball, mini chili dog, and tartelettes ( ratatouille, tuna melt and five alarm chili). The Golden hour also features discounts on select cocktails for 11 dollars (Daiquiri, old fashion, margarita, and a moscow mule), wine by the glass for 8 dollars and beer for 6 dollars. The highlights of our golden hour were the following: 1. Oysters- oysters for a dollar is a great deal. Plus most of the oysters were quite plump. And the oysters were from Baja area- so rather local. 2. Drinks- we tried a couple of drinks on the golden hour, including the daiquiri. The drink were perfectly made! Very well balanced! 3. As we sat at the bar- we had great service from the bartenders. They were super busy, but still very attentive. Also they put a lot of care in their drinks! 4. The environment- how can you go wrong with siting in a cool mid century hotel/bar. Misses: Besides the oysters, I was not too keen on the dollar menu. The food was just ok, nothing to write home about. The food seemed premade and not fresh except for the yummy oysters that seemed very fresh. As we enjoyed the vibe, oysters and great service- we will be back! read more

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I LOVE Ponyboy! The atmosphere and nostalgic theme make for a special night out. Every staff member is very nice and helpful! The deviled eggs are a must have! read more

Ponyboy - Deviled Eggs! - Lounges Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stopped in for the last 30 min of happy hour (recommended for hot dog and dill lovers!) and stayed for the Chicken Kiev. Love the concept (refined old school tv dinners). If you know The Pearl, you know the setting. Service was as expected. read more

Step into Ponyboy and boom -- you're in the 70s, baby. Think groovy vibes, and the kind of décor that makes you wonder if you accidentally time-traveled -- in the best way possible. Service? 10/10. The staff treated us like we were the coolest people at the party (even though I was just vibing in my sneakers and hoodie). We kicked things off with cocktails and every single one hit. The sangria was refreshing without being a cavity in a glass finally, someone gets it. And the banana Sazerac? Wild. Weird. Weirdly good. It's like your tastebuds went to Studio 54 and didn't come back till 4 AM. Got some Brussels sprouts to snack on too because... balance. They were crispy, tasty, and made me feel slightly better about inhaling two cocktails in 30 minutes. No regrets. Ponyboy is definitely the move when you want something chill, different, and just a little bit cooler than your average night out. Already planning my next trip back bell bottoms optional read more

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Had golden hour at Ponyboy yesterday! The mood here is so cool and food centric! The crafted cocktails are some of the best we have had anywhere! Sun was out and poolside tables were dressed in crisp white linens waiting for locals to fill. We had caviar deviled eggs, fresh oysters, mini hot dogs and a Greek salad! So good to be regulars here! Service is friendly and professional. Owners keep tweaking the menu to inspire. This staff is killing it! Led by Josh Reynolds, the executive chef, this is definitely one to watch in 2025!! Parking on the street is free! read more

Ponyboy - Greek salad with avocado! - Lounges Near Me - San Diego, California

Made a reservation for a Friday night. It was pretty busy and it looked pretty similar to what it was before. We sat outside near the pool. I will say our server was cordial and polite though I tend to like warm and friendly. The menu is comfort food elevated which really pairs well with the retro vibe at The Pearl. Also the menu isn't huge which is great. I put our order below. Ceviche- fresh with nice pieces of seafood. The Clamato aspic was interesting and fun. Stroganoff- creamy and delicious. This is one of my favorite dishes and this one was pretty good. Tuna casserole- tasty and elevated with some big pieces of tuna on top. I added pics - sorry but we started eating before I took them, oops. We will be back! read more

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I'm visiting San Diego and had dinner at Ponyboy last night. It was excellent. Drinks (gin martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives), appetizers (home made potato crisps with a pickle juice and cream cheese dip), to the weekly prime rib dinner, all were out of the world. Service from both Isabelle my server and the owner/bartender was friendly and timely. Tables around an old time late '50s swimming pool were well spaced and comfortable. My only regret was not knowing about The Pearl Hotel which houses Ponyboy. A motel built in 1959 with modern rooms, but '50s decor outside around the pool would have been the type of place where I'd have loved to stay. Oh well, maybe next time I'm I Sandyeggo. Check this place out... read more

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Food is good. Wine/Booze are better. Service is great. Ambience is fantastic. This is better than before when it was Charles & Dinorah. The menu changes every now and then. The happy hour is great. The vibes are great. If you're local to Pt Loma, do not skip for a great happy hour. I forgot to take photos. Just trust. read more

Please don't go to Ponyboy at The Pearl because my friends and I want to keep it for ourselves! There is no place cooler than this spot in Point Loma. You are transported back in time upon entry to a much more hip and vibey place than I can recall going to anytime recently. Decor is delightful. Service is impeccable. Even the servers unis are fabulous (I'm sure they get tired of wearing the same thing for work but they all look like approachable super models in awesome vintage outfits). Every person we interacted with was so nice and helpful. The food is plentiful and delicious. We had a variety of dishes (see pics) that were all fantastic. Cocktails are unique and beautifully presented. My GFs and I had such a GREAT time at Ponyboy and if you all don't take up every reservation (which you should), we'll be back soon. read more

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