Bay Pony Inn

Had a very nice meal and overall experience here this past weekend. My date and I both had the filet as part of our meals. While it was a bit small, it was tender and tasty but a bit under cooked for «medium», albeit not so much that we didn’t enjoy it. My meal came with a crabcake. I was disappointed when it appeared to be deep fried. I think I would have enjoyed it much more if it were broiled. Mostly jumbo lump crab with little filler, and some red and green small pepper chunks. Our Apple Cobbler w/​Ice Cream dessert was excellent. The atmosphere was exactly what you’d expect for an 1800’s Inn. The old Reading rail car wasn’t available for dining that evening, but a quick tour made me think it would be a fun experience.
My biggest complaint: the vegetable selection. While ordering, our server informed us that asparagus was the vegetable of the day. My entre selection came with «baby vegetables» according to the menu. I asked what comprised the «vegetables», and was told it would be only asparagus. I abhor asparagus, so I asked if anything else was available. I settled on sautéed spinach despite having my heart set on a perceived mix of veggies. The spinach was good. but I was a bit peeved when we left and noticed an entire table’s worth of entrees all had a great looking medley as their vegetable.

Been here twice now, once for brunch and once for dinner. I have enjoyed it very much. The food has been consistently good.

Great in all respects, except for one complaint
My wife and I had a wonderful dinner last evening at the Bay Pony Inn. We enjoyed both the food and atmosphere. I had a great lamb shank, the best I have had in years.
What I did not like was that when I asked for a wine list of the wines sold by the glass, the waitress said that there was no list and that she would have to verbally tell me. I said that I would like a written menu of the wine prices and she said that there was none.
Between work and family, I eat out in restaurants a little over 125 times a year. This is the first time in several years that I encountered a restaurant not having a list of wines available by the glass and the prices thereof.
I do not respect the very few restaurants that do this (now including the Bay Pony Inn), because I want to know both the available wines and the prices, and I don’t want to have to ask for the prices. I have been told over the years that the few restaurants that do this do so to increase their wine sales because most people are too embarrassed to ask about the prices.
I do not like this business practice. When I order anything in a restaurant, I want to see the price in writing. I do not want to be billed a higher price later because «the price in the computer was changed,» as I have been told before at other restaurants. This practice is not consumer friendly. In my case, I am hearing impaired.
This business practice is unfair to people with hearing impairments like me, and the Bay Pony Inn does not seem to care.
Everything else was great.
Steve McEvoy
West Chester, PA

Went for dinner last weekend. Dress was casual dressy. Jacket and tie not required, but I would avoid jeans. Decore is nice, though dated. The food is good, but our waitress was excruciating slow. Took forever to take order. Didn’t check in much. We had to flag her down or even ask the manager (?) for drinks repeatedly.
There was a jazz/​motown/​funk band trio playing that were entertaining. Played some great dancing music. They’re presence made the experience tolerable. Otherwise we actually debated leaving after drinks because we knew the service would not be good. They were full, but the dining room was only half the size, without the turnover rate of your chain restaurants. Good waitstaff should be able to handle that, even with groups.
It is not for kids that can’t sit still and be respectful. It seems to be a mostly older crowd anyway.
We would go again, just cross our fingers that we get a different waitress.

Got engaged here. Come to this restaurant twice a year. The food is always spectacular. The service is great and the owner is a really great guy. The crabcakes are to die for.

ThIs is the second event we attended. Our first experience was very tight as we were separated in the rail car. The food is mediocre at best. Breakfast food isn’t challenging to prepare. The waffles were cold and most food needed replenishing before our table could enjoy the brunch. The desserts looked appealing but we’re not very flavorful. The chocolate cupcakes resembled the mini cupcakes you could purchase from Walmart. Not being from the area surrounding the bay pony I am wondering if there is a better alternative for catering? We arrived earlier than our event and tried to sit at the bar but felt that our presence was not welcome. We were under the assumption that this was a regular bar restaurant. Most of the people leaving when we arrived were over 60.

Decided to go to the Bay Pony for dinner one Saturday night in November on a whim. Love the atmosphere. It was as if you were having dinner over at a close friends home. Edward and Florence the owners, stopped by our table to check on us which only made our experience tres intimate. I recommend the deviled eggs filled with salmon. I’m not sure how they ended up together but I’m so glad they found each other!
Great place to take the family or your honey.

Our party of 17 went to the Bay Pony Inn for a family celebration. We booked the train car for our cocktails, appetizers and for dinner. The food was good and full of favor. I ordered the tuna and it was cooked to perfection. They serve huge proportions so be prepared to take some home.
The servers were nice and did a great job offering refills for drinks.
My only negative comment was it was a tough layout to walk around to talk to people and to reach the appetizers. With the long thin room, the appetizers were placed in a corner. People stayed near the table so it was tough to circulate around. On the positive side the room was private so we did not have to worry about bothering other patrons.
I would enjoy going back!

My wife and I have been dining at the Bay Pony Inn for 20 years. It is our favorite restaurant. We find the atmosphere cozy and relaxing. They recently updated their menu, and while they retained some of the old favorites, they have added a number of lovely items that are wonderfully prepared and beautifully presented. They also have a reasonably priced prix fixe and early dining menu, so you don’t have to wait for a special occasion to visit. Drinks and wine are also reasonably priced.

Bay Pony Inn is one of those places growing up that your parents would take you for a special occasion. Of course we were well behaved children.
I don’t think I’ve been here for about 20 years, but I came back just recently for a wedding rehearsal dinner. We were out in the back trolly car type room with a long table. It was cosy: P
We had a few drinks at the bar before dinner. The bartender was fun and created some interesting concoctions for us to try. It wasn’t busy when we were there so we were able to just hang out for a little bit until the rest of our party arrived.
As for the food, I had a hard time choosing between the salmon and the chicken pot pie, but since you don’t see pot pie on the menu many times, I went with that. I made a good choice. The pot pie was all kinds of wonderful.
They also brought out a chocolate mousse for dessert, but I went with the chocolate cake we had brought for the occasion. I couldn’t handle a sugar overload.
Anyway I definitely recomend coming here whether it’s for a catered type party or just for a nice dinner.

We have been to the Bay Pony on different occasions over the past 30 years. I’d say we’ve been there maybe 5 times. This last visit (February 19, 2011) was a little disappointing. The noise, which I didn’t remember, was quite loud. You could hardly hear your company speak across the table. I felt like I had to speak very loudly and then everyone in the adjacent tables could also hear me. The service was impeccable. Our server was very attentive and we had no problem whatsoever with her. The food on the other hand — two out of our four meals were quite disappointing for the fare. My daughter and I had two different veal dishes and they were not at all tender, as they should be. It seems the caliber of restaurant is dropping from fine dining to casual dining. Not sure if we’ll every go back.

I have to agree with Jason K. Years ago, it was better and the food had more variety. Also it really does need a makeover.
The owner used to manage the Wm. Penn Inn.
He and the chef there left to open the Bay Pony.
(The chef has since returned to Wm. Penn.)
I am no spring chicken, but every time I go there, the other diners look more and more like my parents (but alive, at least for now)!

Bay Pony Inn is the kind of place (an old country inn) that could easily be pretentious and stuffy, with ordinary food at inflated prices. So, I was very pleasantly surprised that it was none of these things. Instead, it is very comfortable and welcoming; you can dress either casual or dressy and still feel appropriate. I dined early on a Sunday evening and was pleased to find that it has a «Priority Menu,» which offers 3 courses, prix fixe, for just under $ 20 if you dine by 6:30 PM. I had sauted pork with an apple calvados sauce that was very nicely prepared. My partner had liver with carmelized onions and bacon that was also very good. The bacon was thick cut and seemed to be home-​smoked, like what you get in Ireland. Portions were ample but not excessive. The deserts (mocha crème brûlée and a signature bourbon bread pudding) were fabulous. Our waitress was attentive, efficient and friendly. I will definitely be going back when I am in the Skippack area!

I’ve eaten here many times over the past 15 years and the food used to always be spot on. I haven’t to the Bay Pony in quite a while but our dinner last weekend was reminiscent of the last meal we had here several years years ago.
Several years ago we ate here with friends and my friend’s wife ordered peppercorn crusted pork tenderloin. There was such an overdose of cracked peppercorns on the pork that it made it almost inedible. I tasted the dish and suggested it be sent back because you could barely taste the pork. I’ve had peppercorn crusted steaks and pork before but this was over the top. She ended up scraping as much of the cracked pepper off as she could but the peppercorns had already released their flavor into the meat. It was still super peppery but it at least made it edible.
On our visit last weekend my wife had scallops and mushrooms in Mornay sauce and I had sauteed medallions of veal with wild mushrooms in a Madiera wine sauce. The scallop dish was really delicious but my wife complained that the vegetables that were served with her dish were way too heavily seasoned with herbs so she didn’t eat them — that’s significant because my wife loves vegetables and ALWAYS eats them. My veal dish was also heavily seasoned with herbs and while the veal was cooked really nicely and I ate it all, it would have been a much tastier dish if the chef had gone a lot lighter with the seasoning. My wife tasted my veal because she almost ordered it and was so glad she hadn’t after tasting it. She said that she wouldn’t have been able to eat it with so many herbs in the sauce. So it seems like they continue to have a serious over-​seasoning problem.
As another reviewer mentioned the interior is VERY dated. It looks like the kind of place your grandparents would want to take you for a «nice meal». This follows suit since the dining room was only about ¹⁄₃ full and the majority of the diners were in the 50 – 70 crowd.
Our server was very pleasant and attentive. The critique I have concerning the staff is that the hostess was wearing flip flops, shorts and a tacky looking Hawaiian style shirt. So basically she looked like she was ready for the beach. A very odd look for a fine dining restaurant.
This place is not what it used to be but it’s still a somewhat acceptable if not slightly odd dining option if you can get past the tendency to over-​season some of the food, a strangely dressed hostess and an old school décor.

First off, let me preface this review by saying that my idea of a good meal doesn’t involve prime rib or anything beginning or ending with ‘au gratin’. But in the spirit of fair-​mindedness, I went there for a function so the food was banquet style, which isn’t most restaurant’s strong suit.
Locals in the area love this place, which will always remain one of life’s great mysteries to me. I guess I’ll never be a true local. Menu is predictable and décor is dated. Much of the food is a single color… beige. Definitely better places in the area to try.
I would recommend this place to anyone with a stomach ulcer or who loves a good wine spritzer.

Just the best place for Sunday brunch around. I’m not a big breakfast type person but for a special occasion this is the place at the top of my list. I usually go around the Christmas holidays and it is charming, cozy and afforable. The food is perfect and always plenty. The man that runs it is fantastic. Every person that I have brought to it has never said anything but great things. I recently went to a brunch at the Four Seasons in Philly and paid 4 times the amount I pay at the Bay Pony (true $ 200 cpmpared to $ 50 for two people) and felt I was violated. What a rip off when compared to the Bay Pony.
They also accomadate for small private parties (request the train car) and also weddings and or rehersal dinners. I had my rehersal dinner here and it was perfect.

I had my wedding shower at the Bay Pony Inn. The «banquet room» is a narrow, long room that seats approximately 20 – 25 people. If you fill it to maximum capacity, it’s a bit of a tight squeeze. My sister booked the event and said the pricing was very affordable. I did look into booking my wedding there as well and I can tell you they are about the most affordable around. A family friend just left there after many years and said the owners are huge foodies and keep up to date on international and American cooking and recipes with a passion but don’t do as great of a job keeping with the changes in the marketplace. This is totally to your benefit as their wedding prices are set significantly lower and include more (all your flowers!) than other wedding reception venues in the are.
Back to our meal… we went on a Sunday for brunch which was incredible. There was so much food, you barely knew where to start. Everything was fresh and delicious. The food is out in the main dining room and I was amazed at how hot the hot food was and how chilled the cold food was. Often times you go to a buffet and the food sits out– sauces and eggs get gunky pretty quickly. They really do a good job of putting out the proper amounts of things so this doesn’t happen. Along with the buffet, you can also get eggs made to order and quiche. They have a large selection of sumptuous deserts to top off your meal.
My husband and I went back for dinner shortly after my shower and had an equally glowing experience. We both had beef which was tender and delicious. The staff was friendly, service was good, and desert was again excellent. We had the mousse– highly recommended! We’ll definitely be back!

The Bay Pony Inn is a historic structure situated a ways from Valley Forge. Its rustic décor features colonial furniture, period paintings, live fireplaces, whitewashed brick walls, and fresh flowers on the tables. Their ceiling is of medium height with chandeliers spaced regularly throughout. Private dining rooms are available for those seeking a more romantic dinner.
We arrived 6 pm Saturday night and the place was packed. We had made a reservation so we were seated quickly. Our waitress (Carol) was welcoming and helpful.
The Inn serves American-​Continental cuisine. The bread, baked in-​house, had a pleasing herbal taste. We started with a chicken orzo soup ($ 5) which was hearty, hot, and tasty. My entrée was a sauteed large hunk of duck (½) with vegetables and an orange pepper glaze (16). The dish was moist (the skin came off easily), delicious, and fulfilling. To close, we ordered a Sacher torte (5.5), a glazed chocolate cake filled with apricot. Also made in-​house, this dessert was sweet and crumbled when I pierced it with my fork.
Recommended, reservations essential! Bay Pony Inn’s delicious food and four-​star service combine to create an «informally elegant» dining experience. It’s far off from any main drag but worth a visit.

Had a very nice lunch in a converted Reading Railroad car. Food was solid American fare and the portions were very generous. The complete express lunch is an excellent deal at $ 18:95. Three courses. I enjoyed the tasty Caesar salad the had an old school plate of beef stroganoff. Really hit the spot with large chunks of tender beef. The apple crumb pie was good but would have enjoyed it more with a little less crumbs. The service was attentive and friendly. Really cool eating in the old dinning car. Beautiful rural setting.