Painted Pony Restaurant

Perhaps it’s St. George’s proximity to Zion National Park, Kolob Canyon, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, and North Rim of the Grand Canyon, but many a traveler has found themselves looking for a delicious meal in this town.

Located in Ancestor Square in the heart of St. George, Utah, the Painted Pony, affectionately known as “The Pony,” gets rave reviews by all, as evidenced by its 4.5-star Trip Advisor rating. The Painted Pony is self-described as a “culinary island in St. George.” A “touch of Southwestern class and intriguing flavors” in an intimate atmosphere with patio dining, contemporary regional artwork, and fresh ingredients. Customers rave about generous serving sizes, good service, and reasonable pricing.

From seared ahi tuna and grilled tenderloin to a rack of New Zealand lamb and hanger steak, pretty much everything on the menu is a proven classic, topping out at $34 for the rosemary-spiked ribeye. Dinner is served daily at 4 p.m., and features hormone- and antibiotic-free beef and free-range chicken. You’ll definitely want to try the mac & cheese and the broccolini, but don’t miss the blue cheese walnut stuffed pear, either (maybe bring a friend or two on this southwestern Utah adventure so you can share). There’s an array of all-time favorite salads for dinner and lunch as well, that are available year-round.

While dinner is delicious, lunch may just be the most extravagant meal of the day. Served Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., all sandwiches are served with your choice of fries or house salad, and are available as a wrap or on gluten-free bread. Options are robust yet reasonably priced during lunch time, with choices ranging from a classic Reuben sandwich to a brisket panini or linguine and clams. There are also some small plate options, like sage smoked quail, tequila cured salmon tacos, and bacon-wrapped almond-stuffed dates.

What about dessert, you ask? Again, it will be hard to choose just one, with dishes like coconut key lime pie, house-made sorbets, the white chocolate cheesecake tower, and white chocolate banana nut bread pudding.

The Painted Pony Restaurant is located at 2 W. St. George Blvd. A new addition is “No corkage Mondays,” where you can bring in your own Utah-purchased bottle of wine to enjoy at your table with no corkage fee.

GPS Coordinates: 37.1105045,-113.5861671