Painted Pony Restaurant — Restaurant in Saint George

We were staying nearby and wanted a nice meal for a birthday celebration. Luckily, we found the Painted Pony and enjoyed a terrific meal in a very pleasant atmosphere with great staff. Everything from the greeters to the service to the food was top notch. We started with cocktails, the stilton fritters, and the local heirloom tomato and mozzarella special. For dinner, we ordered french onion soup, Ahi tuna with Asian noodles, and the pork chop with charred tomato relish. All of it was good and some of it was great! We will return anytime we are in the area again.

Overall/TLDR: Excellent in all aspects - would recommend to the most picky foodies without hesitation.

The good: The décor of the restaurant was well appointed with muted colors and pleasant lighting that made our dinner pleasant before the food was ever served. Our server, John, was attentive and very helpful in describing the dishes. Unlike the normal “everything is good here” response we often hear, he went into detail about the dishes and made helpful suggestions that we appreciated having never been here before. The support staff were also polite and unobtrusive while still making sure we had everything we needed. Their bar is not extensive in different bottles they offer. Instead they focus on making one or two specialty drinks with one example of each type of liquor and the bourbon (Bulleit) and Rye (high west double rye) drinks we tried were very good. I glanced over the wine list which had several bottles I recognized with reasonable pricing, but we brought our own bottle for the evening. The stilton fritters (pictured) were like fine ground hush puppies filled with blue cheese. They are normally a side dish, but we ordered them as an appy because they just sounded too good. Flavor was a great mix of fried crunch with a salty, funky taste. The only thing I would say is that they would have benefited from a sweet counter flavor as a sauce or maybe even in the fritter with the cheese. The other appetizer we had was the locally-sourced heirloom tomato with mozzarella (pictured.) Visually this dish was stunning. The favors of all the ingredients were very harmonious and complementary and the white balsamic gelee cubes were a brilliant and unexpected treat. It only fell short in one aspect, but more about that in another section. The french onion soup (pictured) was beautifully presented in a hollowed out onion supported by a bed of course salt. The flavor was as good as any version I have tasted without being overly sweet. Our entrees were wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed the juniper brined, bone-in pork chop with blue cheese walnut stuffed pear, sweet corn bread pudding, and smoked tomato relish (pictured.) Perfectly cooked to medium and juicy with a sweet, smoky, salty relish that complemented the meat in every way possible. This is not you're mom's pork chops and applesauce! The pear was a wonderful balance of texture and sweet/salty/unctuous that played wonderfully with the pork as well. The savory bread pudding reminded me of a more substantial yorkshire pudding with occasional satisfying pops of sweet with the incorporated sweet corn – so much more interesting than the standard potatoes gratin I often see with this poke chops. Highly recommended. We also found the seared ahi tuna with pan-fried noodles, wasabi aioli, edamame, and orange mango sauce appealing both visually and in flavor. The tuna tasted very fresh and was seared perfectly. The accompanying noodles were satisfying and well prepared – also recommended. The prices are also what I would consider reasonable based on the level of service and the artistry that went into the meals.

The Bad: nothing

The Mediocre: The tomato in the appy was not very flavorful. I still think it was a good dish prepared well and with great technique. The tomato flavor just fell a little flat. Also the lime flavor in the Key Lime pie with coconut/cracker crust was a little subdued for my tastes. Just constructive criticism of an...

WARNING ⚠️ very long review below. If you prefer the short answer: 5 stars all around! 🙌

This restaurant WOWED me! It truly deserves more than 5 stars! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+ So, a few years back I had a photoshoot directly above the Painted Pony. My photographer (she was local) recommended it to me, but sadly I never got to try it. I made it my goal to come back and to redeem my lost opportunity; this goal was the sort of thing you just have to do in your life. This restaurant was worth the wait! ❤️ The Painted Pony has so much flair for crafting an unforgettable experience! I live for a good restaurant, and on my endless journey to seek out delicious food I’ve found that little details are what makes or breaks a restaurant. It’s the little things that really set a place apart from the rest. Details, details, details… From the entrance, the location, the decor, and finally to the food I was in absolute heaven!

As you cross the asphalt and approach the Painted Pony from the west parking lot, take a moment to notice the splendors to both your right and left. To the right, one can spy a vibrantly green fig tree; its large pronged leaves seem to take the shape of hands, and give the impression of open arms inviting visitors to the merit within. And to the left, is the sweetest little historical home accented in vintage green, and complemented by a quaint picket fence. The house is so beautiful that even the most non-religious of folk (me) can appreciate its charm. Or to the curious outsider, the house allows them a peek into Utah’s culture. At some point, you’ll encounter the restaurant’s symbol and handsome sentinel: the mechanical stallion. This gorgeous work of art is an eclectic assembly of both rusty and antique metal pieces that seem to match the auburn color of the warehouse perfectly! The mastermind behind this design leaves me very impressed!

As one steps inside the industrial building, a sense of calm can be felt from the airy, open space and abundant natural light from the countless windows. The zigzag stairs and red florescent sign of the restaurant can also be appreciated for its architectural aesthetic.

Once you’re actually within the restaurant, you’ll be taken past a row of massive windows dressed with twinkling lights; these windows overlook the breathtaking courtyard of ancestor square; this small area boasts exposed brick, a waterfall, and plenty of green foliage. This courtyard is a very special place because it highlights key elements of Utah’s uniqueness: sandstone and pioneers. Sandstone is the soul of Southern Utah’s vast natural beauty; it has created countless arches, areas of hiking, places to enjoy sand dunes, and has enabled the splendor of dinosaurs in the state. While pioneers really put this area on the map. So, this window and this courtyard gives visitors a glimpse into what Utah is really about. Past the long hall of windows, one can lay eyes on a massive stained glass window of a pony, and a refined dining area. The tables are all dressed with neutral white table cloths that contrast beautifully with the warm decor and rustic/imperfect wood elements. One can also find elegant leather menus, petite salt and pepper shakers, ornate vinegar and oil bottles, and large metal goblets that make your water super cold.

The orange hues of the courtyard, mixed with the fairy lights and real candles create a perfect place for a romantic evening with some delicious food. I’d recommend the earthy beet salad: soft, tangy goat cheese sandwiched between soft yet firm beets, with a bit of bite, finished with crunchy twists and sweet nuts. Or perhaps a smoky, charred pork chop elevated with sweet corn pudding, and yet another tangy dollop of goat cheese. For a sweet end to a perfect evening, the Painted Pony also offers a whole menu of...

This place used to be okay but now it is awful. I had such horrible service which is not a surprise for the past three years especially.

Can people not speak proper English or have some semblance of accountability, professionalism or common decent manners anymore? “I’m new”, “she’s new”, “you can’t”, “we don’t got”, etc. I heard within just two minutes of being there like everywhere lately as well.

Then the not busy server lied about the drink I asked about because I have allergies and ordered, then he insulted me saying, “you’ve cost us this drink if you don’t drink it” and he walked off.

I thought I was getting a fresh “local” eggnog and it looked and smelled like it was from a can, like two drops for $10 in a large glass. I had explained my allergies already which is why I asked and wanted the local eggnog only not even the alcohol and by then evidently HE was offended. I had already waited and ordered my food too. I asked what container the drink was from because he had told me it was “local” eggnog repeatedly so many times but it looked gross and processed. He would not say or show me the container the alcohol came in and I had already said I am allergic to those weird new canned hard alcohol things and they are dangerous and disgusting. I then asked about the holiday $14 martini and he would not even describe or show me what it was like saying in a condescending tone, “What do you want me to pour water in a martini glass and show you?!”.

I got up to talk to someone and say I needed to leave after that, and I saw him talking to a woman at the hostess stand.

Too many weird other things also happened in total of a few minutes that I was there that it would take very long to try to explain. I ended up meeting the “new owner” as I was leaving, the server man was talking to her about me I think (she said she didn’t own it five years ago when I asked if she owned it five years ago) who evidently doesn’t know what she’s doing, she was on the surface polite yet very vague, very unprofessional attire as usual lately, just like every so-called company or business now that’s been co opted by a chaotic so called new world order or whatever it is, it is embarrassing to watch, it’s hidden or covert, and it feels, looks and acts disgusting.

All that I wanted a quiet lunch and drink. I am polite, I pay and tip well, and just want to enjoy my life and in no way did I that I am aware of ask for that unnecessary negative...