I heard about The Painted Pony from a few coworkers and looked at these good reviews on Yelp. I am truly dissatisfied with this place. I took my mother here for Mother's Day this year instead of the Cheesecake Factory like last year. What a mistake that was. I called and asked for reservations at 6pm. We drove 30 minutes to get there, go inside and the woman at the desk told me if who I was speaking to on the phone told me they had a limited menu for tonight, which I was not informed of. Most of the menu consisted of seafood which my mother and I really don't like. But I decided to still go in and give this place a chance. I give it a 1 star for the décor which was nice. We started off with some drinks. We both got shirley temples which were great. We were served some bread. It was very hard and dry. Yuck. I ended up ordering the eggplant, and my mother ordered the steak tips with mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were very cold, the steak tips were very dry and the sauce that came along with it was not that great. I asked for another refill which I waited patiently for. When I got my second Shirley temple, instead of it being the regular ginger ale or sprite, it was made with seltzer water instead. Tasted nothing like a Shirley temple! Be consistent with how you make your drinks! The bill came to $70. I was disappointed because I really should've gone to the Cheesecake Factory for that price.. never coming here again. I'll have to have a re-do Mother's Day for my mom who deserved so much better on her special day. The prices are overrated for what you get. read more

Ate dinner there last night. Enjoyed their Greek Augolemono soup. Still can't pronounce it but I love to eat it! It has chicken broth, rice, eggs and lemon in it and is sooo good! I chose House Steak Gorgonzola - tenderloin tips with carmelized onions, gorgonzola and grilled shrimp on top. Very good, nice and rare , as I like it. This is a very relaxed place to eat- they had their screened dining area open so we ate there. A nice, quiet Saturday night dinner. read more

Food, when we got it, was good. Service was not. Server brought us coffee and took out orders. Then disappeared. We watched as others got water and rolls, and were told about specials we weren't offered. Long wait for calamari appetizer to be brought out. When our appetizer came out, it was given to another table that didn't order it, but started eating it. They had to reorder our appetizer, which came out just before our entrees. The Server tried to take our appetizer away before we finished it. Asked for coffee refills and water, didn't get either. Didn't get a salad that was ordered either. Finally got the water after asking again. In fairness, We did speak with the manager who apologized and explained they were short handed because staff had called out sick. She did make an adjustment to our bill. But we would rather have had a better dining experience and gladly paid the menu prices. read more

The exterior threw me off a bit, and the interior didn't do much to squelch my fear that I was about to sit down in some dark, divey restaurant. However, a stroll to the porch and a bite of their hamburger changed my mind entirely! Located a short drive from March Farms, this is a nice place to stop and grab a bite to eat after an afternoon of apple picking. The interior, as I said, was dark and a little disconcerting, but their porch was outfitted in light wood accents with lots of windows and light, making for a very pleasant ambiance. I ordered a hamburger with cheddar cheese. Pretty simple, instead of plain ol' lettuce and tomato, it was served with mixed fresh greens and slices of small, thick vine-ripened tomato. It was a pretty perfect burger, and the cajan mayonnaise was quite exemplary. It was great on the burger and as a dip with my fries! My friend Colleen also got a burger, and the beau ordered a veal parm grinder which he devoured. This place is very kid friendly; Colleen's kids, a 2 and a 5 year old, were placated with place mats and crayons, and our waitress was a pro with them. It was so wonderful! My expectations were exceeded once we left, and that is definitely a good thing. Looks CAN be deceiving, I suppose! read more

Average service, expensive prices, food is mediocre to very low quality. Dined here 3 times in the last year and always hoped that the last time was a fluke. Don't think I'll be going back to The Painted Pony. read more

I have been a regular at The Pony for many years. There must be a reason since there are so many other restaurants I could go to. First - the food. Even with the change of owners, I haven't noticed a change in the quality. Even more importantly is the consistency of the quality. I'm sure Chef Mario has bad days, but as often as I eat there, I have yet to be there for one. Since I'm constantly watching my weight, I often order from the "Lite Fare" section of the menu. This is a bit misleading as the offerings are smaller portions of regular menu items instead of lower calorie options. If I were to change one thing on the menu, this is what I would do. However, I do occasionally try one of the regular-sized specials, and have yet to be disappointed. The staff is very accommodating in wrapping up what I don't eat. Since I'd just eat the salad and skip the soup, they're more than happy to put that in a to-go container if I ask when I order. However this doesn't mean I don't occasionally indulge in dessert. Their cheesecake is made on premises, and it's about the best I've had outside of NYC. That and a cup of their delicious coffee is enough to satisfy my sweet tooth and end a great meal. Next - I have yet to visit a restaurant with a friendlier staff. From the hostesses who greet you with an actual smile instead of a forced grin, the bartenders who know your name and have your beverage ready when you sit at the bar, to the floor staff who make it a point to say hello to customers, even if you're not sitting in their section. It's a joy to feel like part of a family instead of just one more face to serve before closing. Even Jeannie and Mario will make the rounds of tables, insuring that all your needs are met. With the opening of the inside patio (open year-round) they gained additional space, and it's one of the more popular places to sit. Between that and the bar is a traditional dining space with a couple of fireplaces, lit during colder weather. The bar is long and spacious, with several TVs located in strategic places. Since that's where I'll usually sit for dinner, I've never felt crowded, even when every seat is taken. There are a row of booths opposite the bar, near the windows. They are big enough for four people very comfortably. If you have more than that, you're better off at a table. There's another dining room on the other side of the entrance, which seems dark, but only in comparison to the rest of the facility since there are no windows there, and the banquet room is spacious. For larger events, they can open a slider to combine it with the other dining room and it appears to hold about 150+ people. Speaking of banquets, I have attended many here. Service is very good, and the food presented has always been of excellent quality. The Painted Pony also has bands during the week, most often on Thursday nights, but occasionally, on Saturdays. The types of music ranges from rock, to country, to folk. You may want to get there early since seats fill up fast, and bring your dancing shoes. If you are going for the first time, remember that this is a local landmark, and as such, many of the people you see are regulars. It's a meeting place and, at times, it can get loud. If you're looking for a quiet place, sit in the back dining room or out on the patio, instead of near the bar. All in all, there's a reason I keep coming back here. The great food and impeccable service are why I rate The Painted Pony so highly. read more

The Painted Pony Restaurant - The well-stocked bar - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Connecticut

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After a hard days work i went into the Pony to have a moment of relaxation. I left there extremely happy. The bartender had the best personality "Alice" . Hard to find people wbo just love theor jobs. And yes the food was spot on! Great night! read more

My friend and I were told to go to this place after horseback riding in Woodbury. Good food, great prices, prompt service. We both had burgers, and they were great! Wonderful little place in the middle of nowhere. read more

Had a wonderful meal here last night! The baked scrod literally melted in my mouth. My husband's mac-n-cheese was delicious as well. We loved the outdoor seating section, which is enclosed with screens so no worrying about mosquitoes! It also has a beautiful fire place, nice and cozy for cooler evenings. We were also happy with the craft beer selection, offered on tap with flights available. Our waitress Brittany was wonderful, she always seemed to know when we needed something, and had the sweetest personality. We will definitely be going back soon! read more

The Painted Pony Restaurant - New American Near Me - Bethlehem, Connecticut

There's no place that is perfect, but this place is the next best to eating and more importantly drinking, at home with your best friends and family around you. Fancy? no - but who needs that? And the people that serve you make you feel so at home, and welcome it makes everything that much better. Also, evenings their are regulars, just the nicest most down to earth people eating and drinking with their neighbors. next best thing to home ------ and the food is very good and not overly pricey. read more

Service was attentive and friendly. Brunch was fresh , tasty and plentiful. We came with a group on our way to the Caroline Ferriday House and this was a perfect spot to stop and eat before. Made my reservation on Yelp. read more

My mother has gluten allergy and is used to having issues at restaurants. She had googled the menu of the painted pony and saw that they offered many GF items! When she arrived last night, she was shocked when she was handed a menu with NO GF items. Turns out, you have to google The NEW Painted Pony to view the new menu. How ridiculous. So she asked if the prime rib was GF and the waitress was very helpful and asked the chef, to which he replied yes. She ordered the prime rib and reminded the waitress to let the cooks know that it was a GF dish. As she was eating, the kind waitress then saw that my moms dish had horseradish on it and said "I don't think that is GF" and went to check with the chef, and what do you know. ITS NOT GF! My mom was served a dish that was told was GF with a non GF item on the plate. Leading to a stomach issue later that evening. Considering that it is the NEW Painted Pony, you would think they would have continued the GF options. Thank you to the amazing waitress that caught the horseradish before my mom ate the whole dish. read more

If I didn't have to give it a star I wouldn't even give it one. Made reservations for tonight... seated right away, took another 20 minutes for our waitress to come over... food was ordered.. and over an hour later our subpar food arrived. Didn't see the waitress in between ever, never made aware the food was going to take well over an hour and never once was even an apology offered for the wait... overall this was the worst experience we have ever had at a restaurant and we will make sure to not only never come back but to discourage others from going. read more

Went here for my Dad's birthday and the food and service was great. The jalapeno popper pretzel dip was awesome and their chicken cutlets are huge! Definitely coming back. read more

Great huge portions. Im from Vegas this is a fantastic place and great atmosphere. They have cool bands and great drinks. Friensly staff. Great time. Thanks Mario and Jeannie read more

The food is consistently good, but so is the poor service and "hidden charges". You need to go over your bill very carefully. Forget about complaining to management, the daughter is a very unhappy person who could careless about your experience. The dinning room is a totally different resturant, where service is better than the busy, very loud bar area. read more

Took a second visit, the food is alright nothing special. The menu is much smaller than it used to be and everything went up in price. (Shouldnt draft beers be cheaper than bottled) regardless of brand no tap beer should be over 5$. Burgers were alright, the new fries are good but lack in amount. read more

I used to go to boarding school in this sleepy little town, and this place used to be where my friends and I would go every Saturday night for dinner. Their pastas aren't very good, but their focaccia bread pizza is very memorable. Hamburgers were always delicious. read more

Upon making reservations for the ThanksgivingDay brunch, I was offered the choice of being seated in the dining room or the heated patio. Sadly, I opted for the heated patio which sounded inviting but was several rooms away from where the food was located- My 85 yr-old mother had to carry her food through the bar, entryway, and another dining room before reaching her table. Other diners in the room left their dirty plates on our table every time we left the room for the next course (thinking we had gone home). Needless to say our food was cold during the long journey from one end of the restaurant to the other! read more

I love their Tuna salad! Band was ok. Hamburger delicious! Not a great selection of beers tho... read more

A nice local diner. Good food and good shakes. This place has been around for at least twenty years and is a local institution. You'll find almost everyone in town here at breakfast. read more

I've been coming here for 4 yrs. The food us good. I like certain items and usually get them when I go there. The salads, pizza and pasta are good. Wine is not bad too. We always get the lighter fare for dinner. Their regular dinners are big. read more

To be fair, all I had was soup, calamari, salad and a glass of wine. Nothing was great, nothing was bad. It was ordinary. I probably won't go back, but if it was the only place around, I'd be happy to go back. Not sure this makes sense, but there it is. I would try the burgers next time. read more

Solid, diner food in a rural setting. Some of the best poppers I've enjoyed. I was surprised to see Clean Slate on the wine list, which was a hit with the table. I tried the scrod, which was a generous serving, but a bit rich to finish. Entrees come with soup and salad, so one obtains very good value. read more

They awkwardly ask questions about your age and play awful music. That put ice in your OJ. I highly do not recommend.

The food is very good at reasonable prices. One time we waited a while for our food and my mom got a glass with someone's lipstick on it. The desserts are also very good here. I'd go back again. read more

After going to this restaurant for fifteen years and never having a complaint we went last night for my wife's birthday with our family and never had such a bad experience. Half of the entrees ordered were out of stock which is weird for a Saturday night at 5 pm. When the food started coming after a 1 hour wait one soup was fifteen minutes later than the rest, one salad never came and 6 of the 10 entrees were delivered cold. 2 were so overcooked they were inedible and took another 25 minutes to get the food back. Desert wasn't much better since 4 of the deserts on the menu were not in stock also. Overall a bad night for a nice occasion. The new owners don't seem to care or want to hear any form of complaints. Don't waste your hard earned money on this place anymore read more

All I can say is .... what a disappointment. My wife and I have been coming to the Pony for years but our last visit was the worst ever. We ordered and received an extremely over cooked, tough as nails, tasteless NY Strip steak with more fat than in a slab of pork belly. Same over-cooked veggies as usual. Our best guess would be that the change in ownership has brought the prices way way up while bringing the quality of the food way way down. What a shame. There are other wonderful options for dining in Bethlehem ... go somewhere else. read more

My husband and I went with friends on a Thursday primarily for the live music which is great. However, two of us ordered burgers and they were both over cooked. The calamari was not bad but chewy not tender. The fish and chips dinner was previously frozen and overcooked. When we mentioned the overcooked burgers to the owner she made excuses and did not apologize. She then suggested we sign up for senior card to get a discount in the future. Very insulting. The drinks and music are good but don't have high expectations for the food. read more

Very cheap and lots and lots of food. It's not gourmet, but pretty damn good for what it is.

I have always had attentive service and great food there! The wings are a don't miss and for special occasions the 40 oz prime rib! The seasonal martinis are always a hit! read more

We have been going to the Painted Pony for years. My husband and kids love the burgers. I always struggle to find a fairly healthy option. We stopped in after a soccer game with some out of town friends and were greeted by a very rude "hostess". I come to find out she is the new owner! Unbelievable. I don't know if I would go back after her rude tone and surly attitude. I have to say, the waitstaff was pleasant and helpful. read more

I've never been disappointed coming here! Everyone always greets you with a huge smile and even a hug! The owners are very down to earth and very friendly. As for the food, always always always meets my expectations and beyond! You'll regret not eating here if you already haven't. read more

We had a good meal here. Gluten Free pasta was a pleasant surprise. Friendly staff. I would return if we were in the area again

I have eaten here a dozen times over the last year or so. I first found this place looking through CT Magazine and thought I would give it try. They were voted best Prime Rib in the area and I could see why. I had a 12 oz Rib but they have sizes as big as 40 oz. I am not sure who could eat that, but I know I took some of mine home ( you get soup AND salad with the meal). My husband ordered the Veal Poseidon, which was very good and tasted fresh. And my kids were very happy to not only see a kids menu with the standard chicken fingers and spaghetti & meatballs, but they also have a Light Fair menu that has half portions of most of their menu options. My kids ordered a 10 oz rib and the chicken Alexander. The desserts are homemade and are fabulous. Prices are cheap for the portions you get read more

I love going here. The waiters/waitresses are friendly, open, and talkative. I got a salad with shrimp, and it was very good! It took a while to make, but was worth it. Great quality food! I had a blast dining here, I hope you do, too! read more

Great food great service and reasonable prices. You can see bands in the bar area or enjoy a meal on the patio....we love it here.

Today I brought my mom to the painted pony I thought it would be a great lunch for her birthday boy was I wrong! She ordered pan seared scallops that she ordered well done when she got them they were fried and raw. The waitress was so upset that she couldn't apologize enough it wasn't her fault so my mom ordered spaghetti with no cheese they bring it out covered in cheese. The owner came out yelled at my mom and said ",I can't keep cooking food for you I've already wasted 25.00 on you!!!" Really my mom is 78 years old that to me is elderly abuse and quite frankly it's not our fault they couldn't do the order as ordered!!! I felt so bad for the waitress she was so humiliated!! To top it all off the still charged me for my moms food really!! They could have replaced the pasta it's cheap!! Maybe they shouldn't just put cheese on everyone's food especially when they specify NO CHEESE!! We won't be going back! read more