I guess it's tricky when you build a bar emulating the Austin patio experience in the northwest, where sunny days are pretty limited. Sunny days arrive and spots like Pono look ideal. Beer, bar food, sunshine etc. Like most sunny patio spots in Seattle, everyone has the same idea at once on those nice days. Most of the other spots expect to be busy then, Pono does not. During the 2/3 of the year when the weather is grey, Pono is a sleepy spot and can get away with 1-2 people on staff. On those magical sunny Seattle days, Pono ranch does not have enough people on hand to deal with the crowds. Expect long waits, bad service, messed up orders and other issues that come with understaffing. Not the fault of the employees. This place has potential, but management needs to learn how to read a weather forecast and anticipate the busy days. read more

We decided to stop here to eat after taking a run and seeing how gorgeous the patio looked. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to enjoy the space as the waiter for our section did not even bother to walk over after we had been waiting 10-15 minutes, but somehow managed to visit the table 1 foot away from ours twice in the same time. After going inside to ask for menus, we continued to be ignored and ended up walking out without ordering anything. TIp - Don't waste your time on this place. read more

This place isn't known for their food. Or their service. Or their music. If you absolutely love colored umbrellas and manny's or Coors light then this is the place for you. We came here for a friend's birthday because it supposedly had a nice patio and was supposed to be nice outside. It ended up being cloudy but when we got there we found our group at a nice long picnic like table. No one had food yet but most had their first drink. A while later our friends gave us menus because we didn't see the waitress. Finally she came and took our drink order. They had pretty much only IPAs and manny's on draft. I opted for the manny's. I narrowed my food choice to two options and asked the waitress her opinion. Amazing that I chose her two favorite options. She explained how amazing the pineapple salsa was on the chicken burger so I went with that. A while later they brought out nachos. Well some stale chips with some microwaved cheese and beans on it. $13 for microwaved nachos without any meat on it. I ate them because I was starving. Five years later my chicken burger came out with some fries. I literally had to use three different condiments on the fries to make them palatable. The chicken burger tasted like any chicken sandwich you have ever had at a 4th of July picnic along with some canned pineapple turned into some meager "salsa". Cue the music. This band obviously can't hear themselves which is a miracle because it's literally blowing my eardrums out. Our party had to relocate in order to hold a conversation. Stevie Wonder is all she knows and it is cringe worthy. The music guy looked like a punk they pulled out of the gutter who was picking his nose the whole time with fingers that looked like they haven't been washed in three years. They have a corn hole set which I was excited about because I'm the regional corn hole champion (not really) but they were missing half the bags and the other half didn't have beans in them. This place is a candidate for a reality show. Do yourself a favor and go to hot cakes. Two stars because I didn't choke on the food. read more

I really wanted to like this place. It has a great outdoor space in thriving Ballard and the menu looked interesting. Well. Um. I can't think of anything good to say about my experience here. The service was awful. Like, beyond awful. Slow. Rude. Bad. Bad. Bad. I think they may be under staffed because everyone was asking "how do you get a drink here?" I had the fish tacos which were cold. My husband has sliders which were also cold. It was just a negative experience in a cool space. read more

I'm surprised the reviewers are so rough on this place. I wonder if they are sort of expecting a traditional restaurant. People often come here and spend hours at a time so the servers are not going to give you constant attention like a normal restaurant. We've had part of our crew stick around while the rest of us grab E bikes and cruise around for a little bit, then come back. It's an odd, but really fun place if you know what you're getting into. I agree there are some small adjustments they could make, but then again maybe it's a way of thinning out the crowd. read more

I wish I could leave a good review because the place is fun, nice for gathering, and a lot of potential. BUT, my experience was tainted by the horrible service we received from a particular female bartender. It just didn't seem like she wanted to be there at all. After the first round of drinks I went to order food. The bartender sighed in disgust to the fact that I even order food. That was followed up with "anything else?" And I said I wanted a couple drinks which was followed with another sigh and "well let's go what do you want" with plenty of attitude. The drinks were terrible...honestly I could've gotten a better drink at a frat party. I'm sure I wasn't the only guest to feel this because when I left I could hear the same piss pore attitude to the person behind me... Additionally, it seemed like the staff didn't do anything about cleaning up from the night before. Straws littered the ground, tables were sticky, broken glass on the ground (had to be cleaned up because a guests dog was walking in it), and even the Jenga blocks were just littered all over the ground. The food was typical for a bar. Anyways, this place has a lot of potential and I'd love to return because of the fun atmosphere but the service has got to be better. That's all. read more

Haven't posted a review in a long time but felt the need to after experiencing pono ranch. This place had the potential to be such a great place to come hang out but unfortunately it is poorly run. They ran out of drinks and food, only had two waitresses on staff with a packed patio, and the waitress forgot to give us our tab after waiting 20 min. Would love to come back and give this place another shot if they get act together read more

Ordered nachos at the bar upon recommendation, paid for it, and was told they'd be taken out to me since my party was seated outside. After 30 minutes of waiting while everyone else got their food and seeing the kitchen had closed down, I finally went back in to ask about it. Apparently the nachos had been sitting on the kitchen counter for a while, with the server's full knowledge of it, so by the time I got them, they were cold, soggy and the meat was overcooked. not happy. read more

Bad service. I have so much time to wait for my server and then food that I can write this review. I've gone up to the bar twice just to get a drink. The two stars is only because the space is pretty cool. Only come here if you just want to hang out and serve yourself! Hopefully they will figure out the business and hire more people. UPDATE: Our entire meal got comped - we were a table of 10 people, wow! Our food was fine, drinks were decent and the space is cool, if only they would hire more people to serve the guests! read more

I just don't get it but there is no such thing as an outdoor bar in Seattle with good service or food. Came here tonight and won't come back. Servers treat you like dicks. I get it. It's shitty management that doesn't get how to actually run a good business they banked on having an awesome location with tons of open outdoor seating for the hot days in Seattle. But guess what? It doesn't give you the excuse to treat your customers like dick heads! We know it's crap management but don't be rude, don't make excuses, and quit it with the attitude. Save yourself the horrible evening and go basically anywhere else in Ballard. read more

Been trying SO hard not to write a review of this place given all the predictable one star reviews - "great outdoor space, lots of potential, awful food, terrible service.." It's all true. I've been here three times and each time was reassured by the manager that they've stepped up their game, hired new staff, fixed the kitchen. It's still the same. Something is just so wrong about this place and it's incredible to see how something so simple to execute would fail so miserably. They just have no idea how to run a restaurant in so many ways. I hope someone who knows what they're doing takes over this place soon. Kind of a groovy western industrial junkyard outdoor space. But that's it. Don't eat here and don't plan on getting a semblance of attentive service. read more

Great concept, occasionally crave the food, but the front bar is so bad, it suuuuucks. Unless you know someone, you will be treated like you are unimportant. My feeling is that owner knows what they are doing, and are happy with steady income from drunk college kids, so don't care if the place is good or not; they don't serve those nights. Tried to make some connections with staff on off nights, but when the kids are drinking, get treated like trash. Again, love the concept. Wish it was better. Tried 5 or 6 times, won't be back. Do better. read more

First of all, the waitress was fine. The kitchen was slow and the bar tender was nowhere to be found most of the time. We ordered a $14 burger and a $12 mac & cheese. When they finally brought our food, the fries were cold, the burger patty was the size and quality of fast food, and the pork on the mac and cheese was burned on the bottom. The waitress was super apologetic and did her best to make it right. We left a good tip but will not be returning until they get their act together. Total scam for the quality of food they are currently serving. read more

Super fun place to hang out with friends or watch a game or warm up by the fires. Some great food items as well. The Huli huli chicken is fire! I'll be back. read more

Nice patio. Awful, terrible, sad, and depressing food. I could make better food in a dirty microwave. Cheap Rainier on happy hour. Other beers are 2 to 3 dollars overpriced. Not a good experience at all. Enjoy! read more

Let me preface this by saying that I have never written a review for anything, at all, ever, and I have created this account to tell you my tale. I hope you will enjoy it in a way that I wish I had enjoyed my meal. This was the worst dining experience I've ever had. That includes the time I went to Applebee's when I was 8 and drank their chocolate milk before throwing it up all over myself at the table. Myself, my boyfriend, and my friend arrived at Pono at about 7 PM today; A sunny, unassuming Tuesday. After waiting an incredible half hour to order from seemingly the only working bartender in the establishment, my boyfriend gets fish tacos, friend gets a Corona, and I get a lemonade and order* their beef skewers. *You will notice that I said that I "ordered" the beef skewers. This is important to the story. My party of three sits down with the number "18" for our table and within twenty minutes my boyfriend receives his fish tacos, which pleases him, but sadly gave us a very unrealistic expectation of ever receiving my food within this century. An hour goes by, and no food arrives for me. My boyfriend goes back to the bartender and inquires about my meal. We're told there might have been a number "18" out there, though he's very sure it as a number "11", but either way he'll punch it in now. Shouldn't take too long! "OK," I foolishly think. "I get that. It is periodically busy and there is just the one bartender." So I wait. And wait. Another half hour goes by and we still have the plastic sign on the table numbered "7", letting me know what hour we showed up at in case I forget as time passes. It's around this time that a new gentlemen comes to the table with our old number "18" sign, and asks us if we're waiting for food. I answer in the affirmative, and he says there has been a mix up and he will go put the order in now. I'm unsure of how this can be as there are surely at least two orders in for the same dish now. As he leaves, he places the original number "18" on our table as well. We are now starting a collection of depressing plastic numerals and are once again assured that the order has been put in. Another half an hour goes by and it is now 9 PM when I am approached by the nice busser who smiled at me when I first entered Pono two hours prior. I was younger and full of hope, then. I don't like to think about that time. "Excuse me," he says as he looks over my plastic numbered trophies to failure. "Are you waiting for food?" It is at this moment that the light has gone from my eyes. Any thoughts of having a relaxing evening with loved ones is scattered to the wind. My only real friends are the plastic numbered signs who have been with me since the beginning and who will be with me until the end. We're bonded by tragedy, now. I am lucky enough to have a saint of a partner who offered to cash me out so that we could leave. This way I would not have to approach the bartender, as surely seeing my face would fill him with indescribable shame. However, it is another long stretch of time before the bartender chooses to acknowledge his existence. When he does, he has an answer for the inexorable wait for my meal, "Sorry, man. The kitchen is slammed." Ah, yes, the kitchen must be slammed with the same three orders of beef skewers we requested over the span of two hours. I wonder how anyone else in the establishment ate anything at all. I must have been dining with skeletons. I write this to you after rushing through a fast food drive through for a mediocre burger and fries in an attempt to fill my stomach with anything other than the sour taste of disappointment, which I have yet to snuff out. The fish tacos were also too salty, which I really should have taken as foreshadowing as I am also of that same disposition. read more

Location and atmosphere is goo. The food was bad with slow, confused and generally odd service. I don't blame the lovely servers but they certainly need much more management and training. read more

Pono Ranch - Well charred tiny piece of chicken on top of a deflated waffle. - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We stopped by here on a bike ride on a Sunday for the "brunch". The food was less than mediocre and severely overpriced. $9.95 for a BLT that comes with ONLY fruit, are you kidding me? And by fruit I mean cantaloupe and honeydew with so many seeds you are constantly biting down on something hard. My boyfriend ordered the burger cooked medium. When it came out, he cut into it to see it if it was cooked OK. You could practically hear the MOO from the cow it was so raw. We sent that back. The only reason I am giving them 2 stars is because I have to admit they have a really nice outdoor area perfect for bikers along the Burke Gilman Trail. However, with so many breweries in the area that cater to bike riders there is no reason to stop here. read more

Awesome space. Possibly the worst service I've ever had at any restaurant. 2+ hour wait for food on a slow afternoon. read more

Prices are way out of line. I was a bit shell shocked to get a $76 bill for 2 pitchers of beer, and three additional pints. The bar tender was kind of a jerk when I questioned the price. Reviewing the receipt I noticed a pitcher of beer/cider cost 5.5 times what a pint cost even though there is only 4 times the amount of drinks. I understand having an automatic gratuity on large parties, but not when they have to go to the bar to order. I felt like the music was blaring loud in the entire place, which is fine for a night spot, but seems out of place for a restaurant and mid day Saturday when almost no one is there. read more

This place is amazing. More people need to know about it. Those who gave it low ratings don't know how to relax. read more

Came in after a game to celebrate a win on a Sunday afternoon. The place is pretty cool. Junkyard feel with a fun atmosphere. There was a reggae band on stage so we sat outdoor since it was nice out. We ordered cocktails and some nachos while we played bean bag toss with a few other guests we met. The atmosphere here promotes a lot of mingling and meeting people so if this is your thing, this is a great place hang out. Staff are friendly and we got great service. Oh, we enjoyed our nachos - loaded with cheese just as we like it! read more

Pono Ranch - Beautiful Olive Tree - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This place is awesome! The fish tacos were inventive and delicious, the atmosphere wonderful, the outdoor patio off the charts and the staff charming and helpful! I will definitely come back!! read more

Pono Ranch - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Atmosphere 11/10. Food 6/10. Drinks 6/10. They've only been open 2 months, and on a sunny Sunday, I cannot complain. Tons of room to seat yourself outside with the nostalgic crane, hand-carved wooden tables and overall cool surroundings. The owner has even rigged up sails that can be pulled over for shade. The inside is also really cute- nice and cozy for cold days. Food, eh. We could have made the Pono salad and breakfast burrito at home. I appreciate that they are not going for the "whisky bar southern food" thing that tons of restaurants do, but the food needs to be a little more special, especially at $12 for a salad. Nothing was wrong with the food, just not anything I would go back for, and also, it did take awhile for simple food- the waiter apologized twice. The bloody mary's were pretty good, but I was surprised they didn't have clamato to make a bloody caesar. The beer is also pricey! $5.93 for a pint of draft IPA, and they weren't even sure where the keg came from. I'll go back to see if the food/drink situation has improved, otherwise it might have to just be a drink spot if we can afford it! They are building a music stage, which will be a nice touch to the outdoor space. This is a must-try joint for the atmosphere, especially with friends on a sunny day in Ballard. read more

I was really excited about this place because of the outdoor space, but it took our server over 20 minutes to take our order for drinks. She finally took our food order and it took an hour for food to come out. Further, the food isn't great and the checks were all messed up. Come and enjoy the outdoor space but beware, you'll be disappointed with the food and service. read more

The trick to enjoying Pono Ranch is to know the do's and don't's. DON'T order any food here - not even chips. You'll be wasting your money. I cannot emphasize this enough! The. Food. Is. Awful. (Management: Please get new chefs/recipes. I would love for Pono Ranch to have good food!) However, DO come here for a decent beer selection and excellent outdoor space with a casual, unpretentious vibe. Pro-tip - there are REAL bathrooms inside. read more

Welp...I really wanted to give it 2 stars, but I didn't think it was quite fair as we didn't give the place much of a chance. As with several other people in these comments, my gf and I found the staff (all but one guy anyway) pretty much terrible. I was left aimlessly wandering around the patio for about 10min before I actually found an employee and ask for seating/a drink/menu. It was around this time that I realized-- he didn't care. Like, at all. My gf found a different guy who seemed to be working harder than the other two combined, but he was so overwhelmed by the crowd (it was a nice day and they have a great patio), he wasn't able to seat us or estimate a time when we may be able to get service. Without waiting around to grow aggravated, we left. The food/drinks/prices/atmosphere may be great, but we'll never go back. This city has too many great options to waste time with a place so disorganized. read more

Aw - so many bad reviews on this place, but I'm glad I didn't read them before I went in. We went for a leisurely brunch a few weeks ago, and it was DEAD on a Sunday morning. There appeared to only be one server, but since there were only 3 tables seated, it was no big deal. And we liked it! The outdoor space is rad and HUGE. Coffee was good, food was decent/good, service was nice (but yes, a little slow). We will certainly be going back, and hopefully will get to enjoy the patio in peace a few more times before it becomes another hoppin', jam-packed Ballard brunch spot. Note to the ownership: What's with no dogs on the patio? Pono Ranch would be my go-to if my doggie could be on the patio - even if it is the section on the gravel. read more

So... much... potential. I LOVE the space. The food is decent, if not exceptional. The beer list is good. But their service, as others have mentioned, continues to need work. Servers don't show up for huge chunks of time; food is forgotten; orders are mixed up. I wonder if they should just give up on the whole patio service thing, and instead make everyone order from the bar. Might be a lot more efficient, since they can't seem to figure out how to keep staff moving outside. I'll be back. The outdoor space is really fantastic. Hoping that next time I am, what should be a simple process of ordering drinks and food is a bit smoother! read more

I finally went to Pono Ranch for the first time last Friday night. Pono nachos for the win! And live music on the weekends -- double win. Although be warned of the dreaded cover... upside they take card for the cover. I can't wait to visit Pono in the spring/summer time when we can sit in the outside area but huge bonus that they have an indoor area to keep it comfortable year round. read more

Pono Ranch - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

So disappointed in this place! Went on a Saturday night. Paid a $5 cover for a reggae band, which was fine. BUT waited in line at the one single bar inside, attempted to order the Pono Punch drink special that was advertised, but the man behind the bar that took our order said only the other guy Bartending could make that. He was slammed making drinks at the other end. So annoyed therefore we left. Didn't want to spend another $ there! This place has potential for sure and a very cool atmosphere, but the management and staff need to figure it out. It's been open for a year now. Get it together. read more

4 stars for potential. However... Understaffed and mismanaged. Half of their beers on tap were gone by noon, and they ran out of food. They had to revert to happy hour menu only at noon on a beautiful sunny Sunday the first week of spring. The servers were so busy, customers were having to take away full menus from people coming in and explain to them that it was happy hour menu only. The bar tender had to serve 3 tables outside, those siting at the bar, and hordes of people coming in from outside to get service. I watched many potential customers turn and walk away. The servers were great, however they were way over their heads. I don't think the owner expected this kind of business this early in the game. The ambiance and patio are amazing! I've been twice and the food I've had is very good. They have a lot of business coming in from drive-by/walk by's and many are leaving disappointed. Strike while the fire is hot Pono! Over staff and over supply. You're losing more in walkaways and frustrated customers then you would in playing it safe. read more

Pono Ranch - American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The service here is truly bad. But the ambience is so good! Love the open air and the funky industrial decor. Come here for a beer, and be prepared to go up and get it yourself. Also GREAT for drinking with babies, as long as you're chill enough (or they're old enough) not to impale themselves on something rusty. read more

We stumbled on this place one sunny Seattle day when my parents were in town. The outdoor space is cool with plenty of seating. What wasn't cool, was the incredibly long wait for food even though we were one of three tables of people in the entire place. They waited 30 minutes to tell my mother that they were out if biscuits for her biscuit breakfast sandwich. I am giving this place 3 stars only because I hope they get it together soon and take full advantage of the cool space. read more

Came by for brunch today. Had to marvel at the outdoor space which appears to have been a major investment and undertaking - looks to be a wonderful place to hang out when summer comes around. They also have an interesting setup with a walk up window and drive through for those coming along the Burke-Gilman trail. Place was fairly empty. Waitress was quite nice and explained that the menu was in evolution. Both entrees were tasty and the quality of the food is definitely worth a return visit, although one arrived somewhat cold. Coffee was locally sourced and delicious. read more

Tiki bar chic on fleek. There weren't many people here so we had Jeremy and Holly's undivided attention. We sat outside under a covered area by the fire pit. Caribbean beach vibes even in Seattle winter yuck. read more

Thank you for a wonderful event for SWAT Systems! We held our Quarterly All-hands Meeting at Pono and have been overwhelmed by the level of attention and service. The staff is stress-free and willing to help in anyway possible. Outdoor presentation went off without a hitch. Food and drink was right on time. The layout for this venue is thankfully unconventional - nautical theme with an open floor plan to accommodate any group size. Sit at the bar, or a huge table, or picnic style, or adirondack chairs, or sit on a gigantic anchor, or stand and play "Bags" AKA "Cornhole". They have tents to keep out the sun too! Perfect outdoor venue with a building to squeeze in if the weather turns :-) So happy to have Pono in the hood! read more

Great outdoor space with outstanding bartenders. Highly recommend, especially in the summer time

Came here to catch the new weekly Wednesday night jazz jam. Super chill vibe, had a great time hanging back and chatting with the bartender. The beer was good, the Mac & Cheese was WONDERFUL. The food's definitely on the spendy side, but I sure enjoyed it. I had no issues with the service whatsoever. Overall, seems like a very laid back spot to listen to tunes and have a drink. My opinion might change if I come by when it's really busy (according to other reviews), but as of now, I definitely plan on returning. read more

Amazing potential but impossible to get more than 1-2 drinks in a night. Jon needs to hire more bar tenders who serve drinks quickly and know how to tend a bar. Do not come here on a Friday or Saturday night! read more