Food has been bad. , never had a good meal there. Always badly overcooked fish, pasta ok at best . We give up never going back. We should have sent meal back. Service been ok at best and poor to horrible, no being given drinks ordered , food order wrong. Ambiance is nice. read more

Wow, this place blew my family and I away. My dad said it was one of the best salmon dinners he's ever had (he actually said that). My wife and mother had the shrimp tacos, and they were off the charts delicious. My black bean burger was good. The portions are HUGE. My son gobbled up the lava cake and ice-cream n no time at all. The service was great. When I walked into the restaurant, I expected it to be ok, but had no idea it would turn out to be a gem. read more

The Pond Restaurant - Menu - American Near Me - Ancramdale, New York

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The Pond is our go-to restaurant for reliable, delicious food and excellent service. We love the ambiance...rustic and cozy. We have never been disappointed with the food preparations. Calamari, prime rib, hamburgers, seafood...all excellent. Waitresses are friendly and well trained. Did I mention the generous pouring of their wines? You get all this when you come to the pond...delightful ambiance, excellent food and exceptional service. My husband and our friends have been here many, many times and we all feel the same about this place. read more

Was consistently good. Now often out of posted meals or does not provide the advertised sides. Too bad

Went to The Pond restaurant in Ancram, NY off of County Route 3. Sat outside with beautiful surroundings. I ordered the big pretzel for appetizer with cheese dip. It was piping hot out of the oven. So yummy. I shared the candied walnut cranberry goat cheese salad with my brother. He ordered the T-Bone steak and I ordered the prime ribs. Both were on the specials menu. They were done just right and plenty to pack up for doggy bag. read more

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James was a great waiter on his 8th day! We were not rushed and the food was really great! I had the duck, steamers, calamari, lemon cake and two healthy martinis. Wings were awesome and so was the prime rib. Haven't gone in a number of years, but boy can't wait to go back. Well Done! read more

Got Easter dinner to go ! It was amazing. Prime rib was very tender and HUGE. For 25 dollars it's absolutely worth it. Everything was tasty. The meat it's self was bland but was prepared with dipping sauce on the side. We will deff take a trip to the restaurant when things it better in the summer! I also want to add that they took our order last night (The night before Easter) with out hesitation and happily. They delivered it to our car. Happy customer read more

The Pond Restaurant - American Near Me - Ancramdale, New York

My son found this while returning from copake camping... thought we would try it... wow very nice.. food was outstanding, wait staff perfect, busing on time... sat in the front room with book shelves.. nice country atmosphere.... read more

Last night I revisited The Pond after a two year hiatus. I was so pleasantly surprised! I love the decor and the rustic country charm of the restaurant. Our waitress was very busy but was so informed and really nice. The atmosphere was peaceful and very relaxing. Having a conversation was very easy! My drink a Cosmopolitan was made with expertise and was wonderful. The varied menu had so many choices. The special last night...Panko crusted salmon. With salad and Brussel sprouts was really beautifully presented and well prepared. I would order it again as it was wonderful. My friend had sirloin that was cooked to perfection and beyond tasty ! What a totally positive experience. And the prices are so beyond fair. I cannot wait to return read more

Yes: This is a beautiful spot to relax with a beer and friends in a clean, cozy, inviting, friendly, restaurant with attentive and warm staff. However, as for the food: I'm afraid we must have come on a very "off" night and I would never come here to eat again. I really struggled with whether or not to write this review but after much deliberation, I feel like others should know so they can make a more informed decision if they are not familiar with this area. We are from out of town, drove up specifically to visit Bish Bash Falls and were looking for a place to have lunch afterward. We narrowed it down to The Pond, and Dad's Diner in Copake. We love a good diner but thought it would be nice to experience something with a more local feel. We decided to check out the menu first before making a decision. When we arrived at about 2:30 and there was a handful of cars in the parking lot. I popped in to have look at the menu. Inside was very clean and cozy, and comfortable. There was a large party in the back celebrating a birthday and one other table occupied and it felt very home-y. I asked to look at the menu and took a few pictures of it to bring back to the car. A friendly server explained about the buffet items, and the menu had a variety options but nothing for my kids who only like the basics as I explained. She said the cook could make anything for the kids (she showed me the kids menu) and said they could even make a burger too but the clincher is always: Do the French fries have skin? The server assured me that the cook makes everything to order and of course, she could make French fries without skin, no problem. I was shocked as I've never heard of fries being made to order so I asked her "Really? She'll make them without skin?" and I was assured that it was no problem at all. So, I went back to the car and updated my family; the steaks were tempting and if they could make skinless fries--sold! Everything seemed to be falling into place and we were looking forward to a good meal. Since they were out of Ribeye, we ordered Prime rib--medium rare--with salad, baked potato; chicken tenders with fries; burger with fries; and the Chicken Carbanaro. The kids' meals arrived and we immediately notice there is skin on the fries. We don't like to complain in restaurants due to fear of retribution from the kitchen staff (ya never know!) so we did our best to get the kids to eat them (the older one wouldn't touch them, the younger one had no problem). Unfortunately, the chicken tenders, which looked like they might be good, tasted like something out of a box, and were really dry which no amount of ketchup could fix. My kid tried his best to eat them but was completely put off his appetite after a few bites. The burger was so black and char-grilled that it was impossible to tell where the char ended and the burger began. It was so thin and so overcooked (charred black on the outside and gray on the inside) and totally dry. Our salads arrived along with the kids' meals and after a few bites I realized there was dirt still on the romaine lettuce. Not just a speck of dirt, but more than a bit of dirt as though the lettuce hadn't been washed. The lettuce was very fresh and crunchy and hey, dirt is natural, so I tried my best to eat around it. We tried our best to salvage the kids' meals and promised they could have some of ours. Unfortunately, when the Prime Rib arrived it was completely over cooked. It wasn't even medium, it was completely well done, and brownish gray through and through. The Chicken Carbonaro was not that bad and the portion was huge. The sauce was creamy and tasty and the bacon and peas were plentiful; the chicken was a bit dry but the sauce helped a lot. We started strategizing how to manage something edible for the kids but we were out of luck. So, we ate as quickly as we could, and as much as we could to be polite, and got the check $73+12 tip=85.00. A lot of money for such an unsatisfying meal which honestly felt like cobbled together reheated leftovers. Afterwards, we drove to the nearest McDonald's (another $10) so the kids could eat something before the three-hour ride home. So, in summary: A really cute spot and probably a great place for a beer and relaxing with company. The cakes looked good too and perhaps if dinner had been less distressing, we would have been tempted to try them. I'm really hoping we came on an off afternoon, but there's no way to know for sure unless we go again which I am not willing to risk. I'm posting this review not to be mean, just to potentially help those passing through make a more informed decision. read more

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My husband and I had dinner at the Pond on a Friday night recently, after not having gone there since before Covid hit. It was one of our favorite spots when Larry and Linda were the proprietors. It it under relatively new ownership and we have nothing but praise for this restaurant! For appetizers we shared the tempura battered scallops and the stuffed squash blossoms. The scallops were huge, delicately deep fried and nicely seasoned, with a tartar sauce for dipping. The squash blossoms were stuffed with mozzarella cheese, also served with tempura batter and had a blush sauce(a creamy tomato sauce) surrounding them on the plate. As an entree I had the fillet mignon,topped with lobster claw meat in a hollandaise sauce, carmelized Brussels sprouts and delicious mashed potatoes. The portion was so large that I had to take it home for lunch the next day. The steak was perfectly tender with no visible fat . My husband had the prime rib , carmelized Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes.It was cooked to perfection medium rare. The only negative was the included popover that was slightly over cooked. I had a local draft beer and my husband had a very generous scotch that he couldn't even finish . The waitresses and busboys were professional and attentive. We can't wait until our next night out at the Pond! read more

we had the best meal last night! Started with the Philly cheesesteak eggrolls, filet mignon and lobster tails, ended with the light and fluffy pumpkin cheesecake! Service was excellent as was the atmosphere! Highly recommended!! read more

The Pond Restaurant - a man entering the front door - American Near Me - Ancramdale, New York

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One of my favorite spots in the area. Good food, generous portions, good service and a good atmosphere. I am always happy to go there. Serene setting - casual and comfortable Just an update- returned this weekend and there are new owners. A great job of creating outdoor seating. Very pleasant and the new owners (met one who was the waitress) are hard working and lovely. The big pretzel with cheese sauce is seriously great though it will fill you. New menu has some nice modern changes and the food was plentiful and very good. Never knew they have a banquet room! Totally recommend! read more

Wanted give 5 stars bcs food was outstanding as was wait staff! I droped one star hoping you'll take some constructive criticism. The Penne ala Vodka was very good love amount Ricotta but the portion was soooo large both my wife and daughter could only eat about 1/5 of the meal. It is a bit disgraceful how much went in the garbage. Maybe should alert customer that its family size portion for sharing or PLEASE cut back the amount of waste. Nobody could eat that much. Also cuts down on possibility of having desert. For that reason we probably would not come back read more

If your looking to be treated with disrespect and down right nastiness...then this is your place. I made reservations for a time that was convenient FOR the restaurant. When we arrived they led us to a dark back room that was already occupied with a very large family gathering and a small table for 4. I told them that I was not comfortable with the location as it was way too close in proximity to the large gathering and asked for a table in the front of the restaurant. I noticed that there were several booths that we not occupied. The server tried to move us until she was confronted with a very nasty waitress who insisted that we could not be moved. They began bickering as I was standing right besides them stating that although these tables were not occupied right now they might be by regular customers. I was baffled with his response. How does that sound right? I had my parents with me 81 and 82 years of age witness this craziness. The best that they could come up with is to "seat us outside". FYI...we were in the middle of a three day heatwave and the temperature at 6pm was 90 degrees. Needless to say we felt so unwelcome that we left. This is after wasting 15 minutes of my time which I will never get back. I WILL NEVER RETURN TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT OR WILL EVER RECOMMEND IT. Such poor customer service. Shame on you!!!! read more

Great burger night. $15 for what ever you want on your farm fresh burger With a glass of wine or beer. Great accommodating staff.

disappointed experience tonight at the pond. the onion soup was so salty it was inedible and had to be returned. walnut cranberry salad was good but the homemade balsamic dressing was so thick i had to spoon it onto the salad. my husband ordered the shrimp and scallops dish and not very good. the dish was overwhelmed with a very thick sauce enough for 2-3 portions of sauce. shrimp tacos were good. on top of that the restaurant was on the warm side for a 90 degree day. read more

Excellent food and excellent service. Clean, rustic, pleasant atmosphere. Good for both locals and visitors. Reasonably priced. Very attentive and polite wait staff. Had group of 4 tonight and we all loved our meals. We had shrimp tacos, Jaegerschnitzel, and cranberry walnut salad with chicken. We would all happily order the meals again! Will definitely go back. Nice enough to take company as well as the family. So pleased to have a great restaurant like this in beautiful Ancramdale. Have seen great blue herons in surrounding ponds. What more can you ask for?! Looking forward to going back and enjoying another great meal. read more

Very pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was at the pond. Great service even though they were slammed, they accommodated our large party of 8 at the last minute. We loved the fried scallops, mozzarella sticks were very fresh/not frozen, loved linguine with clams, salmon with polenta, fried chicken sandwich, Mac n cheese. The portions were huge (2 meals at least) and very reasonably priced. Excited to go back. read more

A gem out in the country. We wondered into the Pond Restaurant 1-1/2 hours before normal opening time (2:00 PM) on a Sunday. Instead of turning us away, the owner seated us and personally waited on us for a most excellent lunch. Very fresh bread and salad. My wife had the garlic steak and I had broiled scrod, both first rate and huge portions. All that while they were starting a catered event for 75! Gracious accommodation and great food - we'll be back! read more

Yummy Italian country comfort food with tons of heart! Whenever we come to visit this area, this is the restaurant we visit first. It is literally in the middle of the most beautiful natural setting ever (hills, pond, vistas, stream) and has tons of country charm when you walk in. The husband-wife owners/chefs prepare at least 5-8 specials every night on top of their solid menu. This restaurant IS their life and they put their hearts into it. The food is not fancy, but it is fresh and large serving as a yummy portion for lunch the next day. Their wine pours are extremely generous. The staff is down to earth and very friendly. You can come in your jeans or a dress. Its perfect for a date or family. They have booths and tables! Definitely a secret wonderful place that we hope lives on for many years - thank you Pond! read more

The Pond Restaurant - Delicious comfort chicken parm (I asked for light on cheese) - all dinners come with soup or salad! House dressings is delicious! - American Near Me - Ancramdale, New York

Saturday night is never the best time to judge a restaurant's merits, so take what follows with that in mind. Service especially falters on Sat eve, and our experience was slightly marred by the time it took for our drink and dinner orders to be taken. Our harried server was very good at her job; she just had too many tables, so you have to fault management for that lapse. Food was very good, and worth a visit. We'll likely return but not with a "we gotta go back very soon" attitude. There was nothing bad or poor that was served, but nothing that was especially memorable either. The ambiance is very pleasant, and it is added to by the tableside visits by the owner/chef, Linda, and her husband, Larry. Both are charming and friendly . They also adjusted the entrees to fit dietary requirements of our companions. The Pond is a bit out of the way but it certainly fills a gap in this particular neck of the Columbia County woods. We are all better off with it staying in business for many years. read more

The owner is very nice and I believe she cooked our meal. The bar area is very nice. It looks like it's been renovated in the past few years. The waitress was lovely and made sure we were all doing fine. This was the first time I've ever been here so I'll have to go again to get a real taste of things. It's worth trying out. read more

Terrific chef/owner; food is varied-enormous menu-and well prepared. Linda's duck (we order in advance) is crisp and delicious. Various cuts of steak excellent. Nice atmosphere with very cordial owners. read more

Our favorite place to eat. Food is always excellent. Service is great. Our waitress Taylor is great. Very warm and friendly. She knows the dishes, always gets the orders right. Love the country decor, very warm, cozy and homey. If you haven't been there yet, you must try it out. You will not be disappointed. Way to go The Pond. read more

Love the friendly atmosphere. Food is always great. Seafood chowder is fantastic. Staff is experienced

The Pond opened under new management in November. Linda, from the Hearthstone Inn, is the chef and owner. Larry, her husband is the host with the most! The food is better than ever and the atmosphere is exceptional! Try it! read more

The Prime Rib is out of the World Delicious Been here Six times never had a bad meal. This is a country Restaurant and it's not Manhattan service But noting unusual Owners are very Friendly and staff always tries hard to please This place is a hidden little gem I look forward to going back read more

The owner bought the place about a year ago. The meals are reasonably priced with nice sized portions. You won't feel hungry after leaving. The staff is friendly.I ordered the dinner salad and my wife had a very tasty soup.. I had the Veal Saltinbocca and my wife had the Hanger Steak. Both were delicious. This place is a little off the main road but well worth the trip. read more

The food was very good, the onion soup we found very tasty, however slightly over salted for our taste. The portions were generous, and the price reasonable, most dishes between $18-$20. Service friendly and attentive. We would return. read more

I have eaten at The Pond several times. Usually the service is good. The meals have been inconsistent. For example, at my last time there recently, the salad was skimpy....but while you don't want a huge salad to start your meal, my salad barely covered the small plate. My 12 oz sirloin was perfectly done but the peas (in lieu of the honey carrots) came from a can, I suspect, and had no flavor at all. The were topped with 3 old sauteed mushrooms. I would like this restaurant to succeed and I will try it again........only one more time. read more

We went to the "Pond" this evening and had a wonderful meal with absolutely great service. The music this evening made the evening a totally fun evening for us. We were here as past locals with locals as our guests and an evening that was FUN, fun, fun, with great food and service. Friday evening with a really good talented musician made the evening a real enjoyment. read more

nice local restaurant. Very reasonably priced. Plain good cooking

I've also, had driven out of the way to this restaurant. My children and I were never told, or shown a "kids menu". We waited 20-25 minutes after being seated,to receive our soda. Almost two hours later, I paid a $70 bill, brought my children home, and had to give them snacks, because they weren't crazy about their meal. My chicken was very nicely cooked, I think that The Pond needs a bit of help on the servers training, and speed. I am not sure, if we will go back. read more

Have been going to The Pond for years, and have always loved it. Recently there's been a change of owners...the restaurant itself, the lovely ambiance, friendly service & staff have remained constant, and the new owners are very warm & welcoming, but the food is unfortunately not of the same fine caliber. Our meal & appetizers were very disappointing taste-wise, and there were lukewarm items on the dinner plates. Even the cocktails were not up to par. We'd heard from other locals that The Pond's former glorious food had "gone downhill", but decided to reserve judgment for ourselves. We are beyond sad that it appears to be true. read more

The Pond is a wonderful restaurant in an area where you usually have to travel quite far to find one. The menu is very extensive, with something for everyone's liking. The food is made to order, and every entree I've tried has been delicious. The owners and servers are friendly and hospitable, and the atmosphere is lovely without being pretentious. I would highly recommend it, although I would also recommend a reservation because as the last reviewer pointed out, it's popularity can mean a long wait. read more

Went with family and was there next to all night for one appetizer and dinner...a couple came in about 15 minutes after we got there and left about an hour before we did. Seriously we had chicken tenders as an app nothing difficult and simple meals. No one came to refill the water glasses - 2 of us only drank water only gave us the small glass on the table and had to beg to get a refill. One of us had a drink and he asked for another one - waitress asked what he was drinking - a GOOD waitress would have said sure and looked at her ticket for that table and got the drink. My meal was ok but kept me on the toilet most of the night soooo take that for what its worth. By the way pay attention to the amount you are signing for and what your bank account or credit card gets charged - ours was 2 different amounts they took more out of the bank than we agreed to. BEWARE! read more

The atmosphere is absolutely wonderful. It is very cozy and beautifully decorated. We have been there three times and each time both the service and the food were excellent. The only negative is that I wish they had some vegetarian/vegan choices. read more

Couldn't be better! Service was fast and friendly (but not too fast) and, as always, the food was fabulous. I always recommend The Pond to anyone looking for a great place to eat. As a matter of fact, I'm going there today to buy a gift certificate for a birthday gift! read more

Went with my husband to celebrate his birthday and our anniversary. Horrible experience. Ordered asparagus soup and was served seafood chowder ( my husband is allergic to clams and could have been a very bad experience if he had eaten it), ordered med rare prime rib which was grey and looked like it had been cooked the nite before and had been microwaved to heat it up for us, no sign of pink anywhere. I have been there many times and had never had this experience with Linda's cooking before. This will be my last time since no discount on bill. read more