We had such a great experience at Ponderosa House. Joe was our server and was fantastic. He took the time to tell us some of the history of the property and was attentive without ever being overbearing. What really stood out, though, was how much of a team effort the service felt like. Even though Joe was our server, everyone we interacted with throughout the restaurant was incredibly friendly, helpful, and welcoming.
The food was excellent. We started with the Bellas & Bread, which was rich, cheesy, and really good. I had the Pastrami Señor with the 48-hour fries, and the fries were one of the highlights for me. They were super crispy on the outside but soft and almost mashed-potato-like on the inside. The pastrami was also great and packed with flavor.
My partner had the El Puerco Pasta, and he loved it. I tried some too, and it was delicious. The pork was really flavorful, and the whole dish had a lot of depth.
The drinks were great too. I had the Harken Chardonnay, which I really enjoyed, and my partner had a couple of cocktails that were both very good.
I also really loved the atmosphere. We sat in the back portion of the property, and the whole space had such a cool, relaxed feel. The warm lighting, big windows, exposed wood and brick, and the courtyard between the spaces gave it a lot of character. We were there around sunset, which made it even better. It felt unique and elevated without being stuffy.
Overall, it was just a really good time. Great food, great drinks, a really cool atmosphere, and genuinely excellent service. Joe was wonderful, but the entire staff made us feel welcome. We’ll definitely be back.
