The Pony

773-596-1943

1638 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL 60657

www.theponychicago.com

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Categories:

Bars & Clubs, Bars & Pubs, Neighborhood Bars, Sports Bars, Traditional American Restaurants

Details:

21 & Over, After Work, Bar Menu, Brunch, Cheap Eats

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Mon - Fri 4pm to 2am Sat. 10am to 3am Sun. 10am to 2am

Message from The Pony

The old Gunther Murphy's has been gutted and transformed into a sleek neighborhood bar, from the exterior now covered in panels of Brazilian wood to the slate entryway to the 2,500-square-foot first floor decked out in hickory wood accents. Pony up to the 38-foot copper-plated bar, sink into a bucket barstool and fix your eyes on one of our Flat Screen TVs for your favorite Sports Event. On the menu, expect choices such as a sharable grilled cheese sandwich with tomato basil dip, Buffalo chicken sliders and a half-pound Cowboy burger with giardiniera and jalapeno-jack cheese. For Brunch, we're serving up a Southern Favorite, Chicken and Waffles. Book Your Next Private Party with Us!

Editorial by Citysearch

In Short
Wood-in panels, planks, butcher-block tables and just about everywhere else-is the word in decor here. The effect is north woods cabin meets downtown decorator. Some of the heaviness is broken up by flat screens showing sports, amber pendant lighting and vintage-looking tin tiles along a wall of upholstered banquettes. A strong beer list is dotted with regional gems, and the food is all comfort: Mac-n-cheese, meatloaf, four-person grilled cheese. Individual booths feature personal plasmas for taking in sports action up close-a favorite feature during college ball season.

Photo by Jasmin Shah

Key Points

  • Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
  • More than 20 Flat Screen TVs
  • Private Party Room

The Inside Scoop

  1. Know Before You Go - The kitchen doesn't do lunch during the week--only on the weekends--and closes well before last call.
  2. When to Go - Blustery weeknights for rustic cabin charm and good service. Weekends are much busier and things tend to slow down, but the crowd is more fun and the energy good.
  3. Parking - Not too difficult, although it might take a few passes to snatch something nearby on Belmont. Avoid Lincoln though and opt for Ashland--the former can be a bottleneck whereas the latter offers spaces and chances to turn around.
  4. Where to Sit - If the weather is pleasant snatch a highboy up front, where bay-style windows open to the street. With 30 TVs, there isn't a bad seat in the house for the game, but the individual sets can be a little close for comfortable watching.
  5. The Extras - A bright marquee is almost outdone by the slick, wood-clad facade--a real eye-catcher on the otherwise ho-hum block.

Editorial and merchant content by Citysearch

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Latest reviews from Citysearch.

Ratings_icons

cool atmosphere/expensive for a bar

by Rihl

It is a uniquely decorated bar. Kind of reminded me of a sushi bar at first. Been there 2 times and both times the bartender offered us shots, poured what they were making, and then when we got the bill they charged us for them. That is bad business. It must be what they teach them to do there because this happened 2 times by 2 different bartenders. I have no probIem paying a bill for something I ordered. I won't ever go back.

Pros: unique interior

Cons: bartender over charged us

Posted 03/25/09

Ratings_icons

Great time!

by colyn

Went here on a Saturday night, and had a great time. We were lucky to get a table, because about 30 minutes later it was so packed you could barely move! Even though it was crowded, the service was still decent. The music was so fun, it was hard after a while to stay seated because we wanted to get up and dance. Great for the girls, because it was a sausage fest (lots of boys)!!

Posted 08/15/08