Pony Island Restaurant — Restaurant in Ocracoke

Pony Island is our favorite breakfast restaurant. Clean, simple, inexpensive food with good service. Nothing to complain about so breakfast receives 5 stars. However, run, sprint, gallop away from Pony Island Restaurant at night! We though we would give it a try because breakfast was so good, but it was horrible! When we arrived the place was empty except for one other table. We were not expecting fancy but a paper table clothe, dim the light a bit, maybe a little evening music would not cost much, but not make you think you were coming to a breakfast restaurant. We were seated, and decided to try the calamari appetizer. Unfortunately, it was right out of a bag, and also under fried. That set the tone. My wife ordered the crab meat dinner, potato and side salad. I had the "ribeye", butter beans (nights vegetable) and side salad. The crab was clean (no shells) but nothing added other than butter. No garlic, herbs or anything else. The salads were mainly iceberg lettuce. My ribeye was basically a 1/2" thick breakfast steak cooked to well done, when I order medium rare. Butter beans were canned, and the rolls were right out of the twelve packs next to the Wonder bread. The total bill was over $50. Argh... Spend a little more and go to "Flying Mellon" but be prepared for a wait that is...

I arrived on a 10:00 ferry and rushed to get to Pony island before it closed at 11:00. I was there before 10:30.

The food was good but not notable, just basic, bacon, eggs and pancakes. The coffee WAS notable, it was excellent.

Unfortunately, the staff had already started cleaning, sweeping around me while I was eating and trying to enjoy a little peace with my breakfast and coffee.

The staff kept checking on me ostensibly to make sure my meal was good but I got the feeling they were checking on me to see if they could clear my dishes and to see how far along I was with my meal.

The restaurant was clean, well decorated and the staff was polite. It isn’t McDonald’s however and the rush to get me out of there so they could clean up was a meal killer.

I was out by 11:00 and my bill was $34. (The price wasn’t the issue had the meal been pleasant)

I’m sure my experience would have been better had I arrived earlier. If your open til 11:00 then be open. Don’t try to clean up and close up while people are still dining before your closing time.

$34 is high for breakfast but I understand, Ocracoke is remote and this restaurant is pretty much a monopoly, at least for breakfast. The experience should be commensurate however with the price. Nice place but...

NOT A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION OF OCRACOKE ISLAND! I asked for an egg white, tomato and spinach omelet. I can’t have green peppers and they put green peppers in the omelet. I understood mistakes happen and the waitress offered me a refund once I spoke with the owner. The owner wouldn’t do so and said I should have said something earlier. I did eat about half of it but didn’t see any peppers til that point. Poor customer service by the owner. I really do feel bad for her staff if that’s how she treats her customers! In response to the owners reply, I am flabbergasted at the fact that she decided to be on the defense instead of appreciating a customers satisfaction in the matter. I would think a reply of accountability would be a better business move for her customers rather than being on the defense in the matter. It’s about the principle. If I was allergic to peppers and was rushed to the hospital we would definitely be having a different conversation. I suggest you think of that for a future reference because people have allergies and they matter. It’s not about being right but about supporting your community and the health of people...