This was such a fun dining experience and concept. As someone who has spent time in the Midwest and is familiar with the supper club culture, I was excited to see how it would be interpreted on the west coast. The restaurant and bar are in (what I assume was) the old lobby of a motel. We made reservations and were seated promptly. The drink menu was fun -- a decent selection of wines, some cocktails, and to my delight a pickle beer! We ordered the ambrosia "salad" and the fondue for two (which is definitely enough for 3 or 4 people). Then for entrees we went with the Juicy Lucy burger, the ratatouille kabobs, and the fisherman's catch. The ratatouille was my favorite. The service was great. The food was solid. And this place is full of good vibes. read more

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Cute restaurant & fun "golden hour" menu! Tried the mini chili dogs, fries, chili tarts, and deviled eggs! All were bite sized and tasty! Staff was amazing and the drinks were delicious. Sat at the bar and it was great for meeting up with a friend or for a date night! read more

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Enjoyed the ambience here immensely. 60's tunes playing with the Jetsons on a projector over the midcentury pool set a beautiful scene. Not at all cold despite it being late December. The deviled eggs were a great starter, and my spouse loved the tuna casserole. I felt lukewarm about the stroganoff. Weirdly I almost wished it wasn't a modernized take, and would have dug a more classic flavor. I'm sure it's just an individual preference. The only large miss was the poached pear dessert. Flavor was great, but the ratio of a single half pear with a giant plate of mascarpone was really off. Oh - and oddly, during our visit they were doing minor construction/repairs on a room in the hotel, which killed the ambience a little. 6-7pm on a Saturday is a weird time for power tools. Friendly, attentive service. Will return and give it another go! read more

Ponyboy - Lounges Near Me - San Diego, California

My husband and I checked out Ponyboy for my birthday. The ambiance and service was great. We shared deviled eggs, a Cobb salad, fondue, and the grasshopper pie. We tried a few of the drinks including the Mamie Taylor, Mint Julep, Mexican Firing Squad, and Summer Vodka Collins. We enjoyed everything, especially the fondue and Summer Vodka Collins drink. It's the perfect place for a date night. read more

Ponyboy - Fondue - Lounges Near Me - San Diego, California

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So this is my second time in two weeks.Came there on an accident.The first time as I used to eat here a lot.A number of years ago and then things changed and management changed and guess what?I am so pleasantly surprised.I came back truly great food.Great drinks can't say enough.You guys have got to give this place a try.I will be back again and again.And again, thank you for taking the time to put and forth the effort to making what it used to be read more

Retro feel ... ambiance and menu. Our service was great with our waitress who was very attentive! Started with the deviled eggs so savory. My daughter enjoyed the kids beef stroganoff with homemade noodles, she loved it. My husband tried their take of chicken Kiev stuffed with melted butter... delish! I had the fresh catch fish and grits, made perfectly! read more

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I entertained and conducted business over a meal in San Diego for roughly a decade and Ponyboy is amongst my absolute favorite dining locations in all of San Diego. I regularly visit for their 4pm Happy Hour and the food and drink is absolutely on point. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance and decade (1950's) they recreate here absolutely takes you to a place where Sinatra could walk in at anytime and you're in that moment in time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Love it!! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute atmosphere, very Palm Springs vibes!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Also dollar oysters during happy hour all week! The other food specials during happy hour are also fun and a good deal! Excited to go back read more

Did not disappoint! Service was great; friendly and knowledgeable staff. Food was delicious and inspired. We started off with their take on oysters Rockefeller, loved southwest flavors and texture of corn nuts to finish. Hubby got the tuna casserole; delicious seared and crusted big eye tuna atop delicious tonnato fettuccine noodles. Chicken kiev was bomb! Cocktails made well and food came out quick. Ambiance and design; super cute! So happy we finally had dinner at Ponyboy, went home and watched The Outsiders. Perfect date night. read more

Menu was diferent but everything was amazing. Service was 10/10. Very attention to detail. read more

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Delicious Iced Cafe Cubano & Cuban sandwich! Went with a large group, stayed a long time, and the staff were very gracious. Parking is easy too! read more

I love Love LOVE this place! The meals are on point! Drinks are beautiful. The vibe is so chill, yet upscale. Service was great! We've been twice and plan on going back again soon. read more

Hidden gem!! We were in Point Loma for a bay night tour and were looking for a late night bite. Ponyboy is one of the only restaurants open past 9pm in the area. We arrived at almost exactly 9 and there were still parties eating. We were a party of 5 and were sat outside in the pool area. The ambiance is awesome! There are large screens outside and they were playing Gilligan's Island! The menu is diverse but not overwhelming. We had the stroganoff, fish and chips, burger, and fries. Everything was absolutely delicious! It was an absolute accident that we found Ponyboy but we will definitely be back! read more

Staff is very pleasant, drinks are wonderful, and the food is superb! They change the menu up every so often, plus the chefs have an amazing way of making the simplest things amazing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also, very clean and not loud to have conversation with your company.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Thank you :) read more

The food is spectacular. Although the menu descriptions are really foofy, the food is really down to earth and delicious. We had deviled eggs (yum!) and broccoli cheddar soup (beautiful in presentation but just downright delicious). Then we each had separate entrees (chicken kiev, burger, grits and catch, and sloppy joe) all delicious. The chicken kiev was stunningly good. And we had three desserts for the 4 of us. All fully polished off. Yummy! Drinks and service were also great! Parking is on street is hard to find but but the food and drinks are worth it! Small place, very friendly. Would be great on a warm evening with the patio doors open. read more

Wow!! The food here is incredible!!! Came here with friends and had an amazing time. 1st of all the $1 Happy Hour food menu is fantastic. So many choices at an incredible low cost. They are very small portions, but the chip dog is a great value. After Happy Hour at the bar we were seated at a table and enjoyed many items from the menu. Service was great, but best of all the food was fine dining. The entire evening I was complex of the location of the restaurant. Inside a retro hotel and on the patio that share a hotel pool. Inside the restaurant is a bit plain, with little to no art and blank walls with no texture. Behind the bar is just bottles of liquor. No hanging fabric, no natural wood, just painted empty walls. But maybe this is the goal? When other restaurants focus on the aesthetics and not on the food, this place dares to be different and offer an unassuming experience with escalated fine dining. I won't get into the particular dish's and theme, because it is best discovered on your own. We have already made reservations to go back. Enjoy! read more

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Btw the dollar menu during golden hour is no longer a thing. Goldrr er n hour gets you half off the short list of apps. No deviled eggs for me as no happy hour inclusion. This bar is part of The Pearl fyi. Bar name doesn't announce itself from street. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Smelled wonderful![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Happy hour cheeseburger and root beer float rewarded my 28 min walk from my hotel. Yummy! read more

Beautiful ambiance. Amazing service. Food was top notch -- the best one we've had yet! We're in love! Will definitely be back again! read more

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I booked a table for my birthday after hearing great things about Pony Boy at the Pearl. The Bartender Ian was awesome and made great cocktails!' All of the appetizers were excellent and the flavors were unique. Even the deviled eggs had a twist. The bar awaits you!! Go hungry! Make a reservation, it's a tiny space. Thanks for a wonderful birthday dinner and the rocky road ice cream was extra special. read more

We started off with a Gabacho soup and it was amazeballs - loved it! The drinks were fantastic. Our service was great and the rest of our meal could not have been more yummy. read more

Sat poolside and the food was amazing! We ordered the fisherman's catch ceviche, navy beans and bone marrow, stuffed heirloom tomato and uni, and peach's and cream. The service was very attentive. read more

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What an amazingly pleasant surprise. Went with the intention of just getting a few cocktails but the menu was so different we thought we should try a few things and boy I'm glad we did. Everything was so unique and packed with fresh flavor, will definitely be going back for the food because it's unlike anything else out there. We got the ambrosia , pineapple fritters (a MUST) and tuna casserole (inspired by 70s staples). They also had blue cheese olives for my martini which is an instant plus for me :) So excited to go back! read more

We had been to this locale's previous iteration several times and loved it at first then later not so much. So I was very excited to read about Ponyboy - my favorite dining decade was the 1970's and I was eager to see how the modern interpretation would be. I was not disappointed! First, the service, which was excellent. All service was friendly, informative, and prompt. The meal was spaced perfectly - this has been a problem for us at many area restaurants where courses are rushed or long extended periods between. Not here! Everyone was happy to chat and listen to our reminiscing about favorite restaurants in our past. Next, the ambience. So relaxing and different! Even though we kidded about our pool being bigger, sitting poolside under the lights gave us both inclusion and privacy. Finally, the food. As others have noted, the Chicken Kiev was fantastic and my favorite dish. Yummy and luscious, and my reheated leftovers were almost as good as the original, including the potato. I am looking forward to returning to have it again. And again. My Banana Daiquiri was fine; it seemed small but had a kick. I enjoyed the Pineapple Fritters; they definitely need to be shared. My husband said his Chiffonade Salad was tasty; he did mention expecting more than one piece of grapefruit in it but I said the dressing likely included grapefruit juice. The Prime Rib was well flavored, but slightly chewy and closer to medium than medium rare. All vegetable sides were perfectly al dente. We shared the Grasshopper Pie for dessert - dense and tasty but I expected perhaps a bit more minty taste. Just a thought - it would be fun to include a shot of Grasshopper cocktail with it! Our server mentioned that the menu would be changing with the seasons - hope you always have the Chicken Kiev! It might be fun to try the cheese fondue this fall/winter and maybe they'll add a chocolate fondue (hint, hint). read more

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Great service and a really nice, comfortable and extremely well run establishment. We met up with friends from out of the area and thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. Service was more fine dining attentive than casual (love that). Waters were kept full, cutlery was added as needed and even though we were caught up in convo and indecisive-staff rolled with it and we never felt rushed or anything. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor is pretty right down to the lovely amber glasses and surprisingly pleasant poolside location.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a funky in a good way re-do of an old small property that works well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Only critique was the music could have been a little less taste specific (70's rock). Pool vibe cocktail or chill would have matched the environment a bit better.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Otherwise flawless. The oysters DANG!!! Prime rib PERFECTION! The burger was bordering on obscene (all that cheese ha ha). The D eggs were fun and tasty. Our friends enjoyed the HH Bar snacks (hot dogs, sliders) and the piccata. Lots of oooooos n ahhhhs over the mashed potatoes. Everything we tried was juicy, tasty and well prepared. I think our server was Kristin? She was awesome. The other Staff also friendly and nice. Great hidden gem with comfort type food that is really elevated. Highly recommend! read more

Went here with some friends one who recommended happy hour menu. Just wow! The food was great the environment was cute and the staff toast to you all! Everyone was super friendly and made for a great night. The chicken Kiev was soooo good! read more

Ponyboy - Chicken Kiev - Lounges Near Me - San Diego, California

Had dinner with friend that came back into town. Everything was delicious! We all got different items and we were all very happy with the food. The ceviche was very interesting. I had the tuna casserole and it was really good, not what you're thinking of when you think mom's tuna casserole, that's for sure! Service was also excellent. Highly recommend and we'll be returning. The setting at the Pearl is great too. read more

Are you kidding me? Seriously! Service is topknot food is out of this world. Keep doing what you're doing. It's brilliant. I can't wait to go back. read more

I had heard wonderful things about this restaurant, so I made a reservation to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and unfortunately, my garage flooded a couple of hours before the reservation time, and we had to cancel. I immediately called but was still charged $20.00 for cancelling. You would thing a restaurant would make an acceptation in those situations. It's not like I no called, no showed. Disappointing. I was hoping to reschedule soon. read more

The Pearl and Point Loma finally have something unique. The 60's retro hotel has a equally retro 60's restaurant but with some serious culinary chops. I have to admit, I was a little hesitant towards 60's era classics but they nailed it. Quality ingredients, fine dining cooking, creative cocktail program, and a extensive wine list really sets this place apart from everything else out there in SD in this space. Too be fair, I'm not too sure how many 60's fine dining restaurants really are out there but I'm glad they exist! It's a complex offering with some serious comfort food vibes like the chicken kiev and the stroganoff. House made noodles for the stroganoff and deep rich flavors in the kiev will have me coming back to try other items. Cheers read more

Reservations for 4 inside at the Ponyboy restaurant. We came here because of good reviews from a friend. We're always open to trying new places. It was a Sunday evening at 5:45. It's not a large place, there are a few table outside near the pool and a few inside just feet away from the bar with customer seating. As is common for many restaurants these days for the music to be played too loud and when mixing in the communal chatter from the bar area, it was hard to hear each other at our table. We started with the deviled egg appetizer, it was good and refreshing. We then ordered the Barbacoa Beef Stroganoff (x2), the special which was pot roast and the Fishermans catch and grits. The meals were just okay, nothing great especially if they are broadcasting Michelin chefs. For dessert we split the Pineapple Upside Down cake. This was totally disappointing from the plating to the flavor. Once we left, each of us asked each other what we thought of the food experience. All of us agreed that it was just okay and we would probably not come back. Sorry for the sad review, we were really hoping for a better eating experience. read more

Ponyboy: you may have heard of it. It replaced the Charles & Dinorah restaurant a while back. The proprietors know what they're doing - they used to be at Addison in Del Mar. If you don't know Addison, look it up. Ponyboy is nothing short of EXCELLENT. The service is second to none. The ambience is quirky, that's for sure. Do you dine anywhere else with a swimming pool within ten or fifteen feet from your table? I didn't think so. But quirky is good! Let's talk about the food, though. Retro take on Beef Stroganoff? Yep! Shells and Cheese (with pickled peppers)! Specials daily, ranging from prime rib to fried chicken to fish and chips. The prime rib is FANTASTIC and very reasonably priced too - Thursday's special! Secret tip: Ponyboy's gazpacho is the best on the planet. Earth, that is. And no, nobody from Ponyboy asked me to write that. But ya gotta trust me, it's amazing. A full bar with fancy wines is there, but you owe it to yourself to try a couple of Ponyboy"s cocktails. Pretty darn tasty. I'm ready to go back again! You should go too! read more

Great meal at the new Ponyboy restaurant at the Pearl! The ceviche is phenomenal, as are the grilled oysters and tuna casserole (def not the tuna casserole you're thinking of). Really modern takes on classic dishes that feel new while still being comforting. Drinks were delicious and well balanced, very attentive service. Sip a martini poolside and feel like you're transported back to to the 60s at this wonderfully classic SD hotel! read more

Love this place. Great food and awesome service with a very funky vibe. Love the 'classics' on the menu.

Like many people "of a certain age" I have fond memories of 1950s-'60s comfort food and restaurant mainstays. Although I adopted somewhat healthier, more gastronomic (and yes, more expensive) eating habits as I matured, I always wondered what it would be like if a daring restaurateur with an expert culinary staff reimagined many of those old-school dishes and drinks with quality ingredients and a chef's touch. Apparently, the pros behind Ponyboy were on a similar wavelength. When I heard in mid-2024 about their plans to open such a place in the Pearl Hotel on Rosecrans, I knew I had to check it out. Recently, my wife took me to Ponyboy for my birthday and it was everything I'd hoped it would be. Rather than default to the lame, Disney-fied props that make many "retro" eateries garishly kitschy, the Ponyboy team has created a comfortable, authentic mid-century ambiance with a subtle autumnal tonal palette and simple decor. Where too many attempts at "retro" restaurants look like mashups of the sets of "Happy Days" and "Grease", entering Ponyboy is like time-traveling to an actual '60s chowhouse. We started with cocktails and Grilled Oysters a la Rockefeller. I love oysters and always order them raw on the half shell to fully appreciate their briny succulence and to appreciate the differences among the regional varieties. But this seemed like the perfect place to enjoy a bygone preparation, and it was -- the oysters (prepared with poblano rajas con crema, spinach, lemon, and crispy leek) were delicious. For our mains, my wife got the Barbacoa Beef Stroganoff and I opted for the "Wednesday TV Dinner" -- Chicken à la King. The Iberian take on Stroganoff (chanterelle mushrooms, Ponyboy pasta, pearl onions, Madeira wine, cotija, cilantro, lime) was rich and filling, and my Chicken à la King was savory and satisfying. It also was surprising, in a good way, in keeping with the Ponyboy approach. The Chicken à la King of my youth featured diced chicken in a cream sauce, usually incorporating vegetables, mushrooms, and sherry, and served over rice, egg noodles, even bread. Ponyboy's Chicken à la King is a generous chicken half (thigh and breast) bathed in a mahogany mushroom gravy and served over rice. When I saw the plate-dominating brown mound, my first thought was "doggy bag," but it was so good that any pretense at "portion control" evaporated and I cleaned my plate (hey, this is retro food, and in the 1950s, "cleaning your plate" was the accepted mandate for kids). Our drinks were reverse-engineered versions of cocktails from our parents' era -- a "Super Friends" Old Fashioned, a "Pumpkin" Brandy Alexander, a "Spiced" French 75. My "Apple Cinnamon" Whiskey Sour, aside from being tasty, provided some unintended entertainment. Floating on the concoction (whiskey, apple, lemon, and egg white) was a mixologist's answer to a barista's "Latte Art" -- an apple-shaped raft of ground cinnamon so perfect that I was reluctant to disturb it. When I finally took a sip, I inadvertently inhaled some of the brown powder and had a sneezing fit, much to my wife's amusement. We exited wondering which delectables we'd try next time, but we took a printout of Ponyboy's "Golden Hour" menu, so we'll also be returning for inexpensive late-afternoon delights. Can't wait. read more

If you offer people comfort food and a nostalgic setting, how much can you mess with the familiar and the comforting? I was so excited to try this place. But there is an awful chasm between the concept and the food. Fondue! Pineapple upside-down cake! Alphabet soup! If you ever really ate fondue at home, the happiness you feel will peak when the server brings you a long fondue fork and rests it on an object like a toy jack. It will plummet when you realize a plate for two ($39) is a pot of cheese sauce, three slices of apple, five grapes, four Brussels sprouts, a few green beans and carrots, and a lot of stale brown bread chunks. For those whose mothers did not make bernaise sauce from scratch and serve raw beef with sizzling fondue pots of oil (which are probably too dangerous for our era) AND bread chunks and cheese and vegetables, maybe this is just fine for you. (The menu doesn't promise any meat, but it does say "FOR TWO.") If you try to cheer yourself up (and sate your lingering hunger) with pineapple upside down cake, you will be presented with a deconstructed thing that has pineapple in it, but not in a nice way. Why not serve a really good made-from-scratch pineapple upside down cake? If you're not going to do that, call it what it is: pineapple-guava-coconut dessert. Do not make me think of the past and then give me the future or the present. That's all. read more

The food was amazing, we had the jidori chicken kiev. There is a reason that they don't have the wine prices on the website - way too expensive for a glass at $19 read more