Food: 3 stars. Good food, semi-memorable. Service: 4 stars. Waiter was very professional, knowledgeable, attentive. Ambiance: 3 stars. Tables were really jammed tight close together. It certainly wasn't uncomfortable but OTOH, a bit confining. The hostess sat us in a high traffic area first and we had to ask to be re-seated. Not good, considering that there were empty tables abound. Wife had the Shrimp with Grits, which was the winning dish of the night. I had the sirloin, which was good, but certainly not memorable. Hummus was OK. Had better. Would not recommend. Go to a legit Mediterrean place. Roasted beet salad was OK. The breads were OK. Overall, a bit expensive. Decent wine list. We're into Oregon Pinots nowadays and they had a decent collection. Rounding up to 4 stars. read more

My wife and I went to the Red Pony as a special occasion dinner. The reservation was promptly ready. The food was excellent, well prepared and attractively served. The service was beyond our expectation. Our waitress was attentive but not intrusive. The dining area is limited, and the tables may seem to be a bit close, but this lends to a more intimate atmosphere,especially with muted lighting. We also would have liked the service to be just a bit slower, but this did not detract from our enjoyment Our overall experience was excellent. read more

Been here a few times now. Great atmosphere -perfect place to for a date but also to grab drinks with friends. It's low lit and has a nice vibe going. The food is very unique with things on the menu like bacon-wrapped rabbit as an example. However, I can't sway from the shrimp and grits - absolutely spectacular that will make your palette go crazy from all of the flavors in this dish. They have an expansive wine list to pair with any dish you order. Highly recommend going here but only if you have a good bit of cash in your wallet. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because I'd either like to see a bigger menu with more entrees or a changing menu from time to time. read more

Red Pony - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

I'll just have to agree with all the previous reviews about the Red Pony, this bar and restaurant is very slick and sexy. The mood and decor looks really great and the vibe has a lot of great energy. I got to spend some time at the bar sharing a drink with friends. Everyone on the staff was friendly and the drinks were good. I got my favorite Manhattan and just absorbed the vibe of the room. If you are in Franklin, you will enjoy the Red Pony. read more

Red Pony Restaurant calls itself "sophisticated Southern", and I would have to agree. It is a solid favorite on the Franklin restaurant scene, conveniently located on our town's historic Main Street. It is one of Jason McConnell's restaurants (see also: 55 South, Cork & Cow, and The McConnell House venue), and it has a seasonal menu that changes about six times a year to present the freshest fare. I love that it's right across the street from the Franklin Theatre; from where I sat on the upper floor, I had a great view of the adorable marquee! The restaurant has an eclectic and beautiful interior, lots of wood and vintage accents. I started the night with a delicious cocktail, the Ditzy Blonde, which was grapefruit vodka, pomegranate juice, aperol, and lemon. So good, I had TWO! I like "girly" cocktails that many people find a bit too sweet, but there is something for everyone on Red Pony's bar menu. To kick off the meal, we were so busy munching on appetizers, I didn't take photos! We had hummus and pita chips, chips and housemade guacamole, flatbread pizzas... holy cow. It was all I could do not to fill up before our meal. For my main couse, I chose the wood-grilled beef tenderloin, which came with mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and lemon butter. The steak was so tender, I could cut it with a regular knife! I love the entire meal; definitely one of the best steaks I have had in the Franklin area! Dessert was my absolute favorite, though. Vanilla creme brûlée, with fresh fruit. Overall, I'd have to say Red Pony is one of my favorite higher-end restaurants in the Franklin area. Its food is tasty, and the drinks are great. It is on the pricier side, so it won't be someplace I eat at frequently, but once or twice a year I think it would be worth splurging at this local gem... or during Restaurant Week! Red Pony is open daily for dinner (closed Sundays), and reservations are accepted. It's perfect for a cocktail before a show at Franklin Theatre, or for a special occasion dinner. read more

My boyfriend and I decided to go out for a date night on Saturday and opted to make our way over to Franklin to check out Red Pony. Unfortunately, we didn't have a reservation and when we got there, they said there wouldn't be any open seats in the dining room until 9:15 (it was like 6:30 at this point). Luckily, we waited for about 15-20 minutes and got a seat on the outdoor patio upstairs, which is first come, first serve seating. Parking in downtown Franklin is a pain, but we got lucky with a spot on the street like almost right in front of the restaurant. Food is a bit on the pricey side, so this is more of a "special night" kind of place. Service was impeccable throughout the whole meal. From the staff up front to our waiter, everyone was awesome. Our waiter was amazing, extremely helpful, friendly, joked with us throughout the meal, it was great. They have some specialty drinks there and I opted for one called The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. It had 100 proof root beer vodka in it and it was super good. I opted for the Bacon Wrapped Elk Medallions, which was amazing. The meat was cooked perfectly, and it had a blackberry mole sauce with it that was great. There was a potato and cheese chile relleno on the side, and it was perhaps one of the best things I've eaten lately. My boyfriend got the BLT pasta dish and really liked it, and we shared a side of the garlic cheese grits, which were perfection. If you go, definitely save room for dessert because there are some really tasty options. We got the Chocolate Bouchon, which was a rich chocolate cake with peanut butter ice cream and this toasted marshmallow fluff on the top. It was super rich and decadent and just amazing. Overall, I would absolutely recommend Red Pony to anyone that's looking for a classy place for dinner. Great service, excellent food, and just an overall great atmosphere. Would definitely come back! read more

I hope I won't catch too much flack for giving the Red Pony its first non-5 star review. It was good, don't get me wrong, and the atmosphere was good too. I would like to come back on a more happening night and see if it lives up to the hype that I imagine it will. Opening for dinner at 5 Monday through Saturday, the Red Pony is definitely a hip place that was in short supply in Franklin. I know the menu changes quite frequently, so giving you the long details of what I had to eat might be fruitless. But, let me tell you two things. 1) The food was really good. 2) Prosciutto wrapped monkfish. We're done here. read more

Took my husband here for our anniversary and WOW! The service was amazing, the food is eclectic in a very good way, drinks were fabulous (all specialty)! Definitely will come back!! You need reservations, FYI! We had tried walking in a couple times prior only to hear it was booked the whole night. read more

Had a great dinner at Red Pony. The atmosphere is modern country- very cute. The service was great! I wish he had told us his name so I could boost about him. The drinks were delicious - the Moscow mule had a bit too much lime for me but it was still good. We started with the elk in a blanket and brussel sprouts. The elk in a blanket was good and had a kick of spice the brussel sprouts were awesome! We then got the shrimps and grits and the beef tournedos. The grits were a bit too brothy for me. They had a great flavor and were so filling! The beef was very tender and the sauce was great. We took dessert home because we were too full to have it there. I highly recommend red pony. It's on the pricy side but the meal is divine! read more

This was our second visit to Red Pony and we were able to ask for the VIP appetizer, flourless gnocci in a cream sauce (really amazing and maybe the best side of the whole meal). The rest of the meal was great too - recommend having reservations. read more

Red Pony - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

The beef tenderloin on blue cheese, corn risotto was terrific. Great atmosphere. Cocktails were good. read more

Red Pony - Terrific cocktail. The smokey and the bandit with Corsair Triple Smoke Whiskey. - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

I've recently been fortunate enough to dine in 55, Cork & Cow, and now Red Pony. Outstanding food and excellent service in all. This evening it was Red Pony BLT, oysters, Pierogi, local Tomato salad, ribeye steaks, trout, fried green tomatoes, Jack Daniels (Tennessee Whisky) rocks, followed by strawberry shortcake, coconut cake and a delicious cookie ice cream sandwich. SO GOOD! We'll be back! read more

Red Pony - Upstairs bar - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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http://www.lovejustine.com/social-studies/red-pony I had dinner with my dad, his colleague, and his colleague's wife at Red Pony in Franklin, Tennessee the other night and it was quite fabulous. I'm always complaining about how there's not much food choice out here, and of the choices, the quality just does not compare to L.A. or New York. I know that may not be an unfair comparison, but c'mon, there's something not right about being served canned green beans whether you're dining at an upscale restaurant or Cracker Barrel. Anyways, back to Red Pony. First, who doesn't want to dine at a place called Red Pony. I love the color red. And I love ponies. As soon as you step through the front doors, you leave the quaint and charming Main Street of downtown Franklin, and into a chic, low light, urban atmosphere. The paintings on the wall are very cool and vibrant. They complement the restaurant's modern southern urbana feel. I think I just made that word up, but hopefully you catch my drift. I immediately had great expectations for this place, because I quite enjoyed the mini jalapeno corn muffins and the rosemary (?) bread. I can't remember exactly what the other bread was. There may have even been mini biscuits. But in any case, I quite enjoyed it, and I have a habit of judging a restaurant based on the bread they bring out. I was delightfully surprised by the fusion flavor of their menu. We started with appetizers--a most fabulous guacamole made with just the right amount of lime to give it a nice kick, and garnished with slices of jicama; and the lobster roll which was a tempura fried sushi with lobster meat on top, not a New England style lobster roll as I had assumed. I'm not a big sushi person, but I'd say it was roll to please the fusion inclined taste buds. For our second course, my dad and I split a kale salad with pickled onions, goat cheese, mushrooms, toasted almonds, and dressed with bacon dressing. I'm not a huge fan of pickled onions and I think the combination of them with the goat cheese, another strong flavor, was just a bit overpowering. However, that may be a personal preference thing. As for the main course I ordered what appeared to be a house favorite, the shrimp and grits. The cheese grits were fabulously creamy, and everything tasted wonderful. My only reservation about it though, was that it was extremely rich with the creamy grits and powerfully seasoned shrimp, plus the apple bacon and the mushrooms--true to southern cooking though. What would Paula Dean say? "You can never have enough butter!" Wrong, Paula! Wrong! You can have enough butter! My dad ordered the Red Pony B.L.T., which was bacon, lobster, and tomato served over Yukon Gold Ravioli and Truffled Corn Cream. Again, massively flavourful, but after a few bites it becomes a bit much. Of course, this is to be expected when it comes to southern cooking, so if you're not used to it, I'm giving you the heads up. Before dessert came out, they brought out a little palate cleaner of thinly sliced green apples topped with thin slices of parmesan cheese, drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette glaze. This I quite enjoyed. I think I could've done without the vinaigrette, but it looked nice and gave it a different kick. I enjoyed it. Then the most important course of the meal came--dessert. The four of us shared the crème brulee and some kind of chocolate pie sprinkled with Goo Goo Clusters. The crème brulee was perfect. I mean, I have yet to have a crème brulee that I do not like, but yeah, I thought this one was just lovely. The chocolate pie felt like it was made out of a giant chocolate bar. You have to be careful when trying to break off a piece, because it's quite hard. And as terrible as they are for you, I do love Goo Goo Clusters. It was the perfect southern touch to this chocolaty explosion. This was definitely one for the chocolate lovers. Red Pony is a great place for out of towners, a date, or just a good night out. And downtown Franklin is just so darn cute. read more

Amazing top to bottom. Start at the bar with Roland, one of the best bartenders around (ask him about music). Then get some food, order whatever you want, it will all be amazing. I don't have a favorite dish, because every time I go I find something new. Currently they have a seasonal seafood stew, which is amazingly light and fresh. 100% recommend. read more

I ordered the paella, expecting the classic dish so loved by so many for generations. Unfortunately, this chef added fennel, which was so overpowering that it ruined the entire dish. I get that a chef wants to demonstrate his creativity. There's a reason why paella has been such a favorite for so many. Instead of using his talents to recreate the authentic dish to the best of his ability, this chef added an ingredient completely foreign to the original classic which was so overpowering it basically made the dish inedible. When I told the server, he was polite and courteous; however, no offer of a substitute was made. $11 was deducted from the $32 price of this entree. Our total including tip was still almost $100. One should not be expected to leave a fine restaurant hungry at any price, especially these prices, but that's exactly what happened. I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant. While I might want to give it a second chance at some point, I simply won't tolerate an unacceptable experience from a restaurant when there are so many other high-quality options. So I likely won't be returning...and since the same chef owns Cork and Cow, 55 South, and others, that includes those establishments as well. My time is too valuable to me to waste on a bad experience. Chef, once again, classic dishes are classics for a reason. You may think you're talented and creative and all that, but you can't improve upon a classic, so don't try. You just end up ruining it. Instead, use your talents to recreate the classic to the best of your ability. You'll have fewer dissatisfied patrons. And never, ever, let a patron leave hungry after spending almost $100 because you ruined a dish. read more

Came here while on a work trip. The food was great, drinks well made, and staff enjoyable. Wish I had pictures to share; however, jumped into trying the dishes before I had a chance to snap a picture. If you are in the area, give this place a go. read more

This is a great location, and we loved the food and our server was great! Here's the BUT: This is another place in the franklin area where the locals treat it like the local sports bar, when the menu/prices/etc suggest that it is a fine dining experience. My husband and I came here for out anniversary dinner and requested to sit upstairs (where we thought it would be a little more secluded from the loud bar downstairs). We were sat right next to what seemed like a bachelorette party! We could barely hear each other over them the entire night. Then a family with very young children were sat next to us. The children were running wild everywhere. (Not Red Pony's fault, I realize) Call me old fashioned, but if we go into a place to spend $250+ on dinner we don't treat it like its TGI Fridays, and we expect the same. We will not be back. read more

I have been coming to Red Pony for three years now, we always have great service and the food is excellent. Staff is very knowledgeable on wine and cocktail menu and can easily assist with pairing options. read more

Wonderful restaurant, where I can get my beloved shrimp and grits. YUM! I love the location and the decor...the whole place is pretty dark, sexy and cool. We were there with friends, and it definitely seems like someplace social. We had fun. We spent a lot of time waiting and drinking though, due to our table not being ready for quite some time. And, once we got seated, it still was veryyyyy slowwww. They brought us a complimentary appetizer, which was nice, but I was already so buzzed I was beginning to lose my appetite, as my belly was filling with booze. Therefore, due to that, I've got to take a star off. read more

This was our first time to eat at the Red Pony. What a wonderful experience! The food was creative and delicious! The service was fabulous! We had a wonderful server named Michelle. She was so sweet, very knowledgeable of the food, personable and extremely attentive. When we come back in the fall we will definitely eat there again! I highly recommend this restaurant! Thanks Red Pony for a remarkable evening! read more

If there's one thing I love in life, it's a good martini. If there's two things I love in life, it's a good martini for $5. Enter The Red Pony. Every Wednesday they offer their artfully crafted martinis for $5. If you like St. Germain, white cranberry and the early 90s movie, The Sandlot, you MUST order the Killin' Me, Smalls. (Actually, go ahead and order two. I won't judge. Because that's what I did.) As if the drinks aren't enough reason to visit The Red Pony, the food is phenomenal. Boyfriend ordered the Hickory Fired Cowboy Ribeye with Tempura Lobster. I went out on a limb and ordered the Braised Rabbit... but not before casually leaning over to my chef friend. "What does rabbit taste like?" I inquired. "Well, it can be a bit dry..." she trailed off. On the contrary! TRP's rabbit was almost like a roast. Tender, falling off the bone. And nestled in between bourbon glazed carrots and what appeared to be a new take on dirty rice with barley and andouille. Absolutely delicious. My compliments to the chef! After all those pros, I know you're sitting there thinking "what's the catch?!" Well, the price isn't something I can shell out on a weekly basis... but if you're buying, I'm so there. read more

We have had several outstanding meals here, and a few that weren't quite as good. All in all, a Franklin gem. I believe the fall/winter menu is much better than the one we have had at other times of the year--the elk when offered is outstanding. They could use a few more Cabernets on the wine list in the $60 range. Service is always great. We are Franklin residents and are so happy they are here. Keep up the good work! read more

Everything from top to bottom, drinks to entrees was incredible. Highly recommend! Great service. No compromise on integrity or character due to COVID. Perfect place. read more

Something's changed. This has been our special occasion place for a few years, so I took my wife there for her birthday last month. The food was still creative and good, but the management and service seem to have dropped considerably. Is there new management here recently? If so, it's letting the great reputation of this restaurant down. Our server was friendly enough but never looked anyone in the eye, didn't seem to know the menu very well, wasn't at all attentive to all the dirty dishes on the table (we kept having to ask him to clear them), and was generally worse than what we've had at chain restaurants. In fact, the servers spent more time socializing with each other than interacting with customers from what I saw. I know good help is hard to find, but we've had much better service here in the past. I hope they correct the problem soon. read more

Quite good! I think this was my favorite meal in the area. It is located on a really cute stretch in Franklin and I thankfully had a reservation as the wait was about 45 minutes when we arrived. We were seated upstairs...and a few of the restaurants I visited during the week were very...red....which I would typically like, if it weren't for the really dark lighting. So, I felt almost as if I were in an underground spot, though we were not. So, for me personally, atmosphere was about a 2 (sorry folks!). The service was wonderful. Our server was really knowledgeable, talked to us about the menu and was attentive, but not annoying. We liked our palette cleanser...though what it was is escaping me currently...and does everyone get these? I haven't noticed it reviewed, but maybe I missed it. In any case, it was a nice touch. He was great - service was a 5. The food was a 3 for me, but let me explain that I think I ordered wrong...or was misguided. While I did ask about some of the options, and the BLT was recommended. Unfortunately, my lobster was insanely fishy and odd tasting. I love a good bite of lobster and this didn't do it for me. The ravioli was delicious as was the topping (roasted tomato and bacon), so this dish particularly was a 3. I know, I could have probably sent it back, but I think some of it had to do with the preparation and the other seasoning, so I just let it go. However, I stole some bites of my colleague's dinner (shrimp and grits) and that was to die for! OMG - so good. The guac was not 'the best' as it was described, but it was fresh and tasty (I'm hard to please on guac, what, with some of the most authentic as well as fancy Mexican spots in Chicago...), but this would hold up on it's own. We also had the coconut tres leches cake...wow! I had the 'on special' wine, which was a good value as well as delicious! So, my 3 goes to a 4 based upon the great other options. Just don't get the BLT.... I thought value was pretty good, though I'm probably comparing to Chicago and Boston prices. Overall, I think that portions were large enough that the prices showed some value, so I'm going 4 for value. I have to skip my bathroom category for this one, since I didn't visit.... Overall, a great spot, in a cute town, that is a definite MUST VISIT (but not when I'm there so that I can get a table...I'll have to take down this review when I'm headed back to town....) read more

Nice place in downtown Franklin, a very unique restaurant setting with couches in the bar which is in the middle of the restaurant. Food was great, had a pork chop which was pretty delicious. Service was good. read more

I wasn't sure what I wanted to order, so I ordered the only dish that I had heard about before visiting The Red Pony - Shrimp & Grits. The dish wasn't bad, but it didn't appeal to my taste buds, as I was expecting grilled shrimp. However, I'm not giving up on the place, because the staff was super nice, friendly, and went out of their way to make sure that our dining experience was great. Next time I'll ask how a dish is prepared before I order. As mentioned previously, the noise from the scooting chairs upstairs can be a little distracting, but the decor is very hip and appealing. You can make reservations online at their website. read more

So their food is great, their drinks are great, I just don't know how to feel about this place! Kidding :) It's honestly a great, Franklin-vibed iconic sort of place. You definitely feel like you're getting a unique and classy taste of Tennessee. I will say I have not had entree level foods here yet but I do plan to come back, their Clint Eastwood hit the spot along with the some guacamole and crab tempura sushi. The sushi was a little oily, but it still was delicious. Cannot wait to try some of those infamous meals! (And more custom cocktails.) read more

great atmosphere. First time I had their shrimp and grits they were completely awesome. Second time they were good, but not as good. Good service, nice breads for munching while you wait. Some of the menu items seem overly complex for the sake of being complex. In any event, it is good and I look forward to trying some of the rest of the menu. If you can sit next to the kitchen. Fun to watch the staff cook your meal. read more

SO good! I came here with a group for dinner on a weekend and we were able to be seated right away. Our waiter was awesome, super friendly and knowledgeable of everything on the menu (also, he was hilarious). We ordered duck bacon and guacamole as an appetizer (YUMM!). The duck bacon was mouthwateringly delicious. I ordered the chicken, a couple ordered elk, and someone else ordered a beef entree. We also ordered brussel sprouts + mac and cheese. We also ordered the peppermint cheesecake and creme brulee for dessert. Our bellies left the Red Pony in pain - but a good kind of pain. The pain you get from eating so many delicious things in one sitting and have every intention of returning to eat more of it. This is such a gem in Franklin! read more

We were seated promptly at our reservation time, at a table that looked into the kitchen. It was fun to watch the chefs work! However, we were next to a very large, loud table of 8-10, and it was challenging to hold a conversation. The drink menu is on point-- sampled a little bit of everything with no complaints. Had the meat & pickles appetizer, and was pleasantly surprised at the size. It was almost too much for 2, but we thoroughly enjoyed it. I ordered the scallops for my entree... I'd read previous reviews about the salt, but went for it anyways. Unfortunately, the other reviews are right. I'm hardly salt-sensitive, but the salt on these scallops 'burned' my mouth. The accompaniments on the dish were also salty, but I think had the scallops not been, the combination would have been great. Also, it was $26 for 3 overly-salted scallops. I can get almost 2 pounds of scallops for that price, so that was a bit disappointing. Negative aside, his beef was cooked perfectly, and our creme brûlée was also great. Next time, I'll try a different entree! read more

The Red Pony is one of the best restaurants in the greater Nashville area and certainly in Franklin! The menu, staff and service are top notch - it's always a pleasurable experience wining and dining here. We love sitting at the bar when Roland is working - he's funny, knowledgeable and makes a damn good drink. Try this place on a Friday night - you never know who you'll meet ;) read more

Newly returned to Nashville after 7 years living in Atlanta, I'm consistently amazed by the caliber of restaurants that have taken up shop here in my little hometown while I have been away. The Red Pony is one that from the looks of it (ambiance, etc) is super hip and just the kind of place that Nashville and especially Franklin needs more of. I've wavered back and forth between 3 and 4 stars, though, which might be because I'm used to the high caliber of restaurants in Atlanta and I thought the food at The Red Pony was lacking just a little. We had an appetizer of Crab and Tomato Stack which was good but not great. I had the Red Pony BLT which is Bacon, Lobster, and Potato Ravioli. It was good but it was SO rich that I just kept hankering for a little garnish of something fresh and green to balance out the flavors. And I think the lobster was overcooked. For dessert, we had a creme brulee that the waiter just raved over. It was good, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. So if that was all I had to report, I would be giving the place 3 stars. But it gets 4 for the lovely service and friendly atmosphere. When I arrived, the person I was meeting was late so I took a stool at the bar. I made friends with the folks sitting next to me within just a few minutes and enjoyed chatting with them and the bartender about the excellent glass of Zinfandel I was enjoying. As I was sitting there, the maitre d' came over and spoke very softly to me, letting me know that there was a tag hanging from the back of my dress (e-gads!) and discreetly carried it off after I reached back and ripped it from my collar. When I left, this same gentlemen said "nice to meet you" which is such a lovely alternative to "thanks for coming", IMO. So, I have to recommend Red Pony because it's like a little slice of chi-chi in friendly, lovely Franklin. Nice combo for a casual dinner out. read more

Never look a gift horse in the mouth. I visited the Red Pony for the first time during "Restaurant Week". For $30 (and 12 cents) you get 3 courses from a very limited menu. In this case, they had 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts to choose from. I figure the purpose of Restaurant Week is to bring new patrons in, so I suspect that these are two of their best items on the menu. Besides, this is a good chance to sample a high end establishment at a relative discount. I start with both the Duck Confit Spring Rolls, and my wife ordered the Brussel Sprout Salad. The spring rolls were fried to within an inch of their lives. They were totally unacceptable at this price point. The salad was simply ok. It had good taste with bacon vinaigrette, blue cheese, and fried (yes fried) croutons, but with three fats, a shoe box would taste good. The salad was just a vessel for the tasty calories, and I expect a fresh, light, healthy flavor from my salad, and this was not any of those. These two appetizers are the two lowest priced items on their regular menu. The entrees came, well paced after the appetizers were cleared. I hate places that give you your dinner while you are still working on your salad, so the service/kitchen coordination worked well at the Red Pony. For dinner, I had the Chicken Breast Milanese. Chicken breast is rarely impressive, and disappointments occur infrequently. Cook it correctly and add some flavor. Milanese is Italian cooking's way of saying breaded, with a simple tomato sauce. Hard to mess up this dish. Unless you're the Red Pony. The chicken and sauce were acceptable, but they topped it with Brie. I don't oppose brie, but this moldy rind cheese overpowered the subtle flavor of the chicken and the mold crushed the brightness of the tomato sauce. My wife selected the Parmesan Grilled Trout, and it was without flaws. These two entrees are also the two lowest priced entrees on their regular menu. So much for trying their best - Restaurant Week at Red Pony is just their cheapest. Dessert was a White Chocolate & Cranberry Bread Pudding, which we both had. I don't think white chocolate adds much to such a heavy dessert, but the tartness of the cranberries was brilliant, and was the first really creative moment from the chefs. In the end, this 4 star wanna-be fell far short of their goal, but because of the Restaurant Week discount, they get a 3 stars instead of 2. I may go back and try their more complete menu sometime, but I'm not in a hurry to return read more

Oh my. Food is amazing! At these prices, you would expect no less than perfection. But they were stingy on the portions. I got the steak, she got the shrimp, and we left still hungry despite getting an appetizer and wine. Still great in every other way. read more

Red Pony - My date enjoying a complimentary appetizer from the kitchen. - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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Mixed feelings about our experience. The atmosphere is amazing! Menu was enticing. Strawberry salad was great. Sweetcorn Risotto was a little bland, shrimp cream cheese sushi roll was dry and we just didn't eat it. Ordered the beef tenderloin flatbread and it arrived without the beef tenderloin - Didn't notice for a while because of all the cheese! They did bring us another one, but it took quite a while. The amount of cheese was a little overwhelming, it' s a strong flavor and it just overpowered everything else. Didn't feel our waiter was as attentive as he could have been. Still, it won't stop me from trying their food again - read more

Red Pony - Beef Tenderloin, sun-dried tomato, and gruyere cheese flatbread. - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

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So far...best meal we've had in Franklin, TN...NOT southern comfort...more like Southern Eclectic Exceptional! Ashley is an AMAZING server...was ALMOST as excited as us about the Red Pony. IF you need a great martini...or ANY kind of drink...go there...and have the pros make it. read more

Red Pony - Veal chop! - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

I loved the vibe of this place! I tried the Beef Tenderloin Pizza (Excellent), Elk in a blanket (Good), Shrimp and Grits (Wow!! Fantastic! - The brown sauce was out of this world!), Apple Tatin (Amazing!) This would be a regular spot if I lived nearby! read more

Red Pony - Apple Tatin!!! - American Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

One of the best dining experiences I've had in the Nashville area happened here, back in 2010. I still remember this place doing gnocchi at the time ... of all things... and doing it well. I dropped back by in early spring this year and it appears Chef McConnell had crew haven't lost a step. Reinvented "Southern", Southern sophisticate... whatevs it's called, I just wish there were more places in the South like this. If you've seen any of my reviews, you know the first thing I check in a southern haute menu is the... shrimp and grits (that's right). Red Pony's version stands up against some of the finest and actually distinguishes itself; I honestly thought that the garlic grits would have been too much... but here it's just right. But there's other stuff to rave about here... starting with the guac. It's actually good and has been for years. But then I've had (at least a taste) of everything from catfish (which I don't like) to elk and Ahi tuna steaks here. And most of the mains are going to range from good to delightful. For an interesting side, please try the cauliflower or the blue cheese risotto. Odd, eclectic and unforgettable. The cocktails have cute names and I didn't really get down like I normally do ; the wine list (reds anyway ) was smart and paired easily. I like 55 South, but I think I love the Red Pony. It was my favorite in Franklin years ago and still holds the title. read more

We were staying in Nashville and Found the Red Pony based off of a local friends recommendation. Franklin was a little bit of a drive from downtown, about 30 minutes with traffic. The area was very quaint and worth the drive. The Red Pony is in a beautifully restored building. The food was excellent. We had the gnocchi, hush puppies, and shrimp and grits. Great drink selection and staff. read more