This was our "splurge" dinner on a trip to Franklin, TN. My friend we were visiting had been before and had raved about it, but even she agreed this visit just wasn't up to snuff. The place is beautiful, but we were seated in the least interesting area. My friend said it used to be an open patio and was renovated for more indoor seating, which makes sense, but it lacked any real atmosphere. When I am spending this kind of money I want a slow, leisurly pace, and this felt rushed. Yes, we probably could have asked the waiter to slow things down, but we didn't. I ordered a specialty cocktail - the Midnight Sun that was delish - it was layered and around $16. The waiter then brought out what ended up being the highlight of the meal, a little treat from the chef. It was a creamy gnocchi dish to share, about three pieces each, super rich and honestly I could have eaten 20 more. We also spilt the bread flight. The bread was good but I wasn't a fan of the spreads, I'm a BUTTER person, these were more like bean spreads. The brussels sprouts with pork were also really good. Hubby and I split a mixed green salad that was pretty mediocre, and the croutons were almost too hard to chew. Then came the pork, which was a dissapointment. It was so tough it actually got caught in my throat a couple times despite chewing it well. We didn't even finish it. For the price, it should have been tender and full of flavor, and it was neither. My friend ordered the duck pasta and said it had "weird pieces of meat" in it. Her husband got the filet and loved it, so at least someone at the table was happy. We skipped dessert after most of us had disappointing entrees. I guess the good news is they rotate the menu every few months, so maybe it would be a totally different experience next time. read more

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Very nice restaurant! We had reservations at 7:45, checked in early and were seated on arrival. Upon entering the restaurant it seemed swamped but the staff was well prepared for the guests. Our server, was amazing! (I'm ashamed we didn't remember his name, Paul maybe). Nonetheless, he knew the menu, the specials, the drinks, and suggestions! We loved each and everyone of the suggestions and choices we made. Our dining experience started with the signature old fashion followed by a bottle of Heitz Cellars Cabernet! We ordered the lamb and brisket buns. Both were savory, delicious and well prepared. Followed by their Sushi Roll. It was described as "if you love sushi, you've never had anything like this." (I've had a ton of Sushi all over the world, and this was a spectacular Hamachi Roll.) we rounded out our meal with the Butternut Burrata and bread basket and a Beef Tenderloin. It was cooked to perfection and able to be cut with a fork. (I am salivating thinking about how perfectly it was prepared.) Just when we thought it couldn't be any better our server suggested we look at the dessert menu. He tempted me with a blood orange sorbet followed by a peanut butter chocolate pie. AMAZING! The fun thing was, I consumed the Heitz Cabernet throughout my entire meal - all the way through dessert. My high remarks to the chef and the staff because this team knows how to please and perform flawlessly! read more

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Amazing food, top‑notch service, and a wonderful low‑key upscale atmosphere! Red Pony had great reviews, but I was torn between it and another spot after the Haunted Franklin Tour and the Dickens Festival. After walking by a few times and peeking in, I finally decided to give it a try, and it did not disappoint. The food was amazing; the lamb and Brussels sprouts were outstanding! Sarah, Chris, John, and Austin were all phenomenal. As a non‑local, I felt genuinely welcomed. It was clear how much they enjoy and take pride in their work, and their camaraderie made the experience even better. Coming from the service industry myself, I understand high standards, and it's rare to encounter individuals and an establishment operating at this level. I'll definitely be returning on my next trip and will be recommending Red Pony to friends and coworkers visiting the area. Red Pony is a must‑do experience, one I look forward to repeating! read more

It's not a Donkey Bar! :( It is a neat restaurant in downtown Franklin that's probably more of a hangout than a good dining establishment. The vibe is cool downstairs and there's a quaint dining room upstairs. We had a really good Washington Cab (Greenwing) and I may look for that one at the local liquor store when I go on a quest. The waiter was awesome and attentive which was a plus. Food wise... let's just say they are trying. They had some great sounding dish be execution was lacking. The salmon was dry AF and there were way too many things on the plate where it got lost. We also shared some appetizers and they were just lacking something. Nobody hated their dinners but I don't think anyone was impressed either. read more

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As I was first getting to know A Guy (we'll call him "Mr."), I talked a lot about writing Yelp reviews (it's something I'm somewhat ~known for~). Conversation naturally turned to the restaurant scene in Franklin, and he was baffled to find out I hadn't been to Red Pony, as it is the first suggestion on just about everyone's lips for an elegant night out downtown. With the pretext of Yelp research, Mr. took it upon himself to wine and dine me at Red Pony. Up the stairs and tucked away, we sat at a low-lit table in a mahogany toned room. The atmosphere is classy without being stuffy, as was the service. I tried the "Hot to Trot" cocktail because it was the closest thing to a margarita available. It was sweet and citrusy, the perfect accompaniment to my main of choice, the grilled verlasso salmon. Tender, flakey fish with an Asian flavors, my plate was texturally exciting, bursting with color, and good to the last bite. We ended on a sweet note, with the creme brûlée and an espresso martini. It was an indulgent, rich ending to a beautiful meal - one certainly worth Yelping about. read more

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Word on the street is this restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Franklin, and rightfully so. All of our food from starters, to 2nd course, to entrees, sides, and dessert was all phenomenal. The Carnitas and Lamb Chops were to DIE for and who doesn't love a good crème brûlée. The restaurant has a ton of nooks and crannies so this place is great for friends, family, or even business. Our waitress Ali was fantastic and we will absolutely be back the next time we're in town. read more

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This place is a staple in Franklin! We have lived in TN our entire lives and have never been to this restaurant and we have been missing out. We went here for my husband's birthday and it did not disappoint. They brought us complimentary gnocchi to start that was delicious (I wanted a whole bowl!). We started with some Italian cheese sticks and yummy bread to begin. Our mains were a lamb ravioli and shrimp & grits (both fantastic choices!). They also treated us with a complimentary dessert of our choosing for his birthday. The food was amazing as you can see, but the service was even better if that is possible. Our waiter was so attentive in all the right ways and took care of our every need. He was knowledgeable and personable. The ambiance was also a treat. The dim lights and hunting regalia made for a warm, greeting environment. If you're in Franklin, you have to check this place out! read more

Red Pony - Menu and wine - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Location: DT Franklin Parking: street parking super convenient - free after 5PM during the week. Service: Fantastic! The gentleman who served us was so attentive, provided great recommendations and was just on it! Food: Delicious We started off with the dip and the tuna avocado potato appz so fresh and delicious. The tuna is very unique because of the potato but strongly recommend it. For our meals we had the special which was a Seabass with boi choy and mushrooms 10/10 for the steak we ordered a rib eye and it came with broccolini and roasted potatoes also 10/10 For dessert I had the most delicious French press coffee with the apple crisp dessert which comes with vanilla ice cream and it's to die for This was a great experience' will definitely be back read more

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Creative versions of classic southern dishes. I especially enjoyed my shrimp dish - delicious. Service was very good in a nice but not stuffy dining room. This is a great date night restaurant. read more

Red Pony - Green Chile Mashed Potatoes - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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Attended an event and came in close to the close of the restaurant. The hostess and server were incredibly kind and attentive. Environment was swanky with dim lighting and unique features. Since it was our first visit we received a complimentary starter. It was a delicious cheesy potato dish. Then we ordered the stuffed poblano, which was a Mexican inspired dish. Very yummy! My partner and I ordered the beef tenderloin and the salmon, both cooked medium. The tenderloin was juicy and melted in your mouth. The salmon was flavorful with a little spicy at the end. Our drinks were also great! Fall inspired and were a great way to end the night. Overall, highly recommend for a date night out or event a place to get a high quality drink in downtown Franklin! read more

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Wow! What a find!! Great ambiance and one of the best meals ever. The seasonal Old-Fashioned was top notch. Restaurants with servers who know their menu, know their customers, and know how to serve are a rare commodity. Red Pony has it dialed-in! Damn! Writing this makes me hungry to return and it's just now breakfast time. read more

I have to say I was a bit disappointed that our anniversary wasn't acknowledged more-so. At most fine dining restaurants, they make a bigger deal out of it (especially when we chose here for our 30th.) I had noted on the reservations (bc they ask for details on special occasions) and to our waiter. We simply got a Congrats. Suppose I need to be excited about that, bc they sure didn't seem to care otherwise. All that aside, the food was good. It was pricey, so you need to plan to fork out the cash. Won't be my first pick to dine here again. It's a place I may want to go to twice a year, but that's all. Too many high end restaurants in the area that are much more pleasing to my palate. It's a shame bc this restaurant is located in a prime spot in Franklin. I will say the presentation of food is quite impressive, and the desert was the best part of our meal (homemade ice cream.) Oh, the creamed corn was delicious. So, I would order it again. read more

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One is my all time favorite restaurants always! The 2025 fall menu special is a bison short rib ... don't question- just order- everyone in my party regretted not ordering it after tasting mine (they ordered shrimp and grits and redfish). The fall short rib is gluten free and at least half of the apps and entrees are gluten free or can be made gluten free - for food sensitivity. They said "very slight" cross contamination could occur - which sounded to me that it was not an option for anyone who was celiac- based on the waiters comments (i did not ask if that was a possibility). read more

Red Pony - Bison Short Rib Fall 2025 - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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To be clear, we typically LOVE this place, everything about it. We're locals and have been here many, many times, just not for the price fix NYE menu. Have to say, while the service and ambience were solid as usual, the food was not. Felt like the kitchen staff was overwhelmed with the night and that we were at the end of an assembly line with all pre cooked food to get ahead of the rush. The starter and first - the beet salad were good. However, the halibut was very dry and overcooked. Prime Strip was tough and also overcooked. The chocolate sticky toffee pudding and pots de crème were sadly disappointing. Drinks, just meh, particularly after having just come from the new and amazing Leiper's fork place down the street. Completely understand the need to have a price fix menu on NYE, however if you're going to do that, you'd better knock it out of the park - didn't work this time. Will we come back? Likely, everyone has a bad night. However, will certainly make us think twice unfortunately. :( read more

Red Pony - NYE Price Fix Menu - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

It was a drinks and appetizers kind of night that my wife and I were looking for, and the Red Pony in Franklin was a great choice! Our bartender, Griffin, was very friendly and helpful. We mentioned it was our first time here and he ordered a complimentary gnocchi appetizer, which was delicious. On his recommendation, we ordered lamb chops and a bread basket. The food had fantastic flavors, we really enjoyed it! We sat at the bar downstairs, but there's also another bar on the 2nd floor with more seating. This is a spot that we'll definitely come back to for dinner! read more

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I have no words... this place is incredible. The kind of places you will dream about! I literally went here 3 nights in a row with various friends/ clients. Everything is great, the service is wonderful, and it's so cute! The decor and interior is awesome! You must go if you're looking to eat in downtown Franklin! read more

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Made reservations, got dressed up, drove 90 minutes and arrived on time thinking this would be a quiet romantic evening to celebrate a special occasion like all of the other times we've visited before. That did not happen. A group of nine of the loudest people in Franklin arrived and they put them 3 feet from us. Then our server became their server and that was the end of our service. They could have put them upstairs but chose not to. Loud place with poor service. A lot of effort for a disappointing evening. read more

Red Pony - Receipt - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Celebrated our wedding anniversary over dinner at Red Pony last night. Everything about our experience was 10/10. Not a single bite was less than phenomenal. Our server John was so attentive, knowledgeable, and pleasant. We were seated by the window upstairs where we got to enjoy the views of downtown Franklin. We cannot wait to come back! I enthusiastically recommend each course I ordered: bread service, mixed greens salad, hickory grilled bone-in ribeye, chocolate crémeux. My main paired well with the Perluva Toscana. It could bring tears to my eyes how delicious everything was. The menu is a culinary masterpiece. read more

Red Pony - Hickory Grilled Bone-In Ribeye - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

The food is super tasty and very inventive. We had the snapper which was cooked perfectly. Flaky and a nice mild flavor. Filet was tender and the polenta it was served on was major yum. Everything we ate was fantastic. Service was attentive but not overbearing. Highly recommend. read more

My husband and I were in Franklin for a few days and i made a dinner reservation at the Red Pony. Totally random but we were celebrating 28 years since we started dating again. Life's short, right? Let's celebrate! Well this dinner was absolutely incredible! My husband had the "surf and turf" - a beef tenderloin over shrimp and grits and he was in love. I had the red snapper over creamed corn, crispy potatoes, cornbread and some other amazing things. Amazing combination!!!! Before our meal, we both had cocktails that were creative & lovely. The chef brought out a gnocchi to try and it was divine. (gnocchi is a fav of mine) We also had the Brie appetizer and it was incredible. We left stuffed! Service was very good (altho we did feel a little rushed but we could've managed that a little better as well). Lovely atmosphere - very cool vibe in the restaurant. read more

Red Pony - Grilled Red snapper Seasonal Fish - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Two story rustic Yosemite themed restaurant in mid block old Franklin under Jason McConnell doesn't live up to its potential for fine dining. We really enjoyed the Smoke Salmon Tabbouleh and the Grilled Flatbread, both with hints of fruit, mix of textures and flavors. The Hamachi Crudo was too fishy, even for Hamachi. The Sancerre from a fair wine list was not served sufficiently chilled. The waitstaff hustled to keep up with service changes. read more

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We had an amazing experience at Red Pony this evening!!! From start to finish, everything was perfect! The restaurant itself is beautiful in a cozy way with soft lighting. We were seated upstairs and it wasn't noisy at all. Our server was incredible.... Friendly, knowledgeable, kind and efficient. She even gave us a complimentary starter. She was interested in where we are from, and why we were visiting the city. The food itself was delicious!! My husband had the quail dish and he loved it. I had the salmon and it was the best I've ever had. I was return there in a hot minute! read more

Great ambiance Loved the menu selections Very friendly service Had an issue with one dish which they quickly, easily, and GRACIOUSLY rectified (the real test of customer service commitment by an establishment). Highly recommend the Red Pony. Look forward to going back. read more

In town for work and a local recommended this place. Didn't have a reservation on a weekday night. They seated 5 of us no problem. The restaurant is beautiful. It's on the darker side which I liked. The bourbon selection is large. I can't remember seeing so many options. Table ordered Eagle Rare and all very happy. We also had the pork ribs (lollipops) appetizer which we shared. It contained a hint of mint which was nice. Very juicy and easy to eat with the bone-in. I decided to try the Elk. They suggested medium rare. I never eat meat medium rare. Against the suggestion, I went medium. Well, it tasted wonderful, but I should have listened. If it was slightly more rare, it would have tasted even better. Listen to the waitstaff! Speaking of waitstaff - He was attentive and organized. This is a very nice establishment and will remember for a long time. read more

Red Pony - bourbon - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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Delicious food, excellent service in the heart of historic Franklin. Never disappoints!

Great food, lovely ambiance and stellar service by Randy. Lucked up on a weekday night for dinner. Left a special pen behind and Jenny coordinated shipping it to us. read more

A fine dining experience with excellent service and food. The downside, with the cacophony, it made it more than a chore to converse with someone just 2.5 feet from you. For this pricing, my experience had been more reserved, with this being a rowdy bar-level of sound. This literally is my only gripe. The service and chef selections are top notch. I'm not sure if the second floor would have made for a better experience, but I hope you'll enjoy your time there if you choose. read more

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Went here for anniversary dinner, it was great! It's rare that a restaurant does everything right. Red Pony did that! Food was great, well seasoned and very tasty. Appetizers and main course were equally delicious. Wife had the special short ribs and she loved it. The smoked salmon dip was great as well. Dessert was a hit as well, the apple crumble was awesome. And the cocktails were spot on, unique and tasty without crossing over into strange or over-thought. Service was very good, personal friendly and helpful. Ambiance is awesome, we were sat next to a window to the kitchen, nice touch! Will be back!! read more

Such a great place for a fun night with friends! We enjoyed our drinks and appetizers. The lemon drop martini was fantastic and the lamb chop appetizer is so so good! The beef tar tar was just okay - skip it and get the lamb. We got the ribeye for our main meal and it was delicious! Our waiter was fantastic and the ambiance is cool and calm. Love this place! read more

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Meh...the valentines special (15oz steak and fried lobster tail) was not good. Over done. Dull flavors. Charred and not med rare. Worst $200 dinner for two I've had. Service was very good, sweet and polite. App of ceviche was actually very good but so small. Probably last visit. read more

Another amazing dinner at Red Pony! We had a great birthday celebration, Randy our server made some great recommendations. The food and drinks were exceptional! read more

Red Pony - Barbacoa beef cheek - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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Great Experience. Yummy Food. Spectacular Service by Josh@the Bar. Food: small plates Calamari Steak 4/4 Harissa Carrots 4/4 Grilled Romaine 4/4 Beet Salad 3/4 Wine: by the glass Tiberio Cerasuolo D' Abruzzo 4/4 Kobal Bajta Belo Orange 4/4 *Gnocchi Dish is Amazing!! Umami Bomb* read more

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Great restaurant. The service was great and the food was yummy. The steak was tender but came with a lot of other things that were just ok. Next time I would order something different. Drinks were good. Instead of the chocolate dessert I would order the ice cream instead. Overall it was a nice night out. read more

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Wonderful meal from start to finish! Very aware of my gluten sensitivity and kept me in the loop of each dish.

Went to Red Pony for the first time in a year. Once again, outstanding food and outstanding service. I had the buffalo chicken meatloaf. Amazing! Rest of the group loved their tenderloins. Oh, and the verde hummus is incredible. read more

If the quality of the food reflected how amazing the atmosphere is they would be onto something here. Our server Jesus was very informative and presentable. I ordered the surf and turf special. The steak was perfect and was the only saving grace to the dish. The cheesy grits were overloaded with bacon and swimming in so much sauce it was like soup. It was also VERY salty. Would expect better execution for a $70 entree. read more

Red Pony - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Great food, amazing taste, very unique. I ordered tenderloin, it was a bit on the dry side, but I think I should've got it cooked medium instead of medium well. But appetizers and the dessert was delicious. The service definitely was 5 star, and the restaurant was very romantic and nice. We will go back for sure. read more

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One of my goto dinner places when I'm in town on business travel. Friendly staff ... I usually grab a table in bar area.. otherwise make a rez in advance. I enjoy their chef creations and menu offers tasty food American(new) delights. read more

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Amazing food. Amazing service. Will definitely be back. Shrimp and grits was one of the best I've had.

I have never once had bad service, food, drinks, at all at Red Pony. Solid choice and one of my favorites.