Dig a Pony (bar)

Last updated
Dig a Pony
Dig a Pony logo.png
Dig a Pony, Portland, Oregon (2022) - 1.jpg
The bar's exterior at night, 2022
Dig a Pony (bar)
Restaurant information
EstablishedJuly 28, 2011 (2011-07-28)
ClosedJune 2022 (2022-06)
Owner(s)
  • Elizabeth Elder
  • Devon Treadwell
  • Tyler Treadwell
  • Bryan Wollen
Previous owner(s)
  • Jacob Carey
  • Aaron Hall
  • Page Finlay
Food type American
Street address736 Southeast Grand Avenue
City Portland
County Multnomah
State Oregon
Postal/ZIP Code97214
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 45°31′03″N122°39′38″W / 45.5174°N 122.6605°W / 45.5174; -122.6605
Website digaponyportland.com

Dig a Pony (DAP) [1] was a bar and restaurant in Portland, Oregon. [2] Named after the Beatles' song of the same name, [3] the business opened in mid 2011. Dig a Pony closed in June 2022, following an ownership change.

Contents

Description

Dig a Pony was a popular bar on Grand Avenue, at the intersection with Morrison, [4] in southeast Portland. [5] Named after the Beatles' 1970 song of the same name, Dig a Pony had a 40-person horseshoe-shaped bar, as well as a century-old piano, vintage church pews, and stained glass. [6] According to The Oregonian , the walls were "decorated with vintage pictures, animal skulls, color-coded books and a two-tiered bar lined with glittering bottles". [7]

The menu included American cuisine [8] such as sautéed mushrooms with soft egg and French fries, chicken thighs with stewed tomatoes and almonds, and a barbecue tempeh sandwich served with avocado and citrus coleslaw. [9] The drink menu included a Bloody Mary called Blood on the Bayou, [10] and the Lomo (bourbon, ginger drinking vinegar, yellow chartreuse, orange bitters, soda water). [11] The bar began using cheese from Bandon-based Face Rock Creamery in 2015. [12] The business has served pie and Montel Spinozza for Thanksgiving. [13]

When Burger Stevens moved into the kitchen, the menu included hamburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, a Cuban-inspired sandwich with barbecue pork, ham and pickles, and broccoli with green ranch and pickled peppers. [14]

History

The bar replaced longtime Greek diner Niki's Restaurant. [15] Partners Jacob Carey, Aaron Hall, and Page Finlay opened Dig a Pony with Gregory Gourdet as consulting chef. [16] The bar opened on July 28, 2011, with Josef Valoff as kitchen manager. [9] Within a few months, several interior decorations were stolen, including a taxidermy pheasant nicknamed "David Bowie". [17] The bar hosted an anniversary celebration featuring free music. [18]

In 2015, the bar and Face Rock Creamery's president Greg Drobot hosted Mongers' Lodge Night featuring cheese samples, cocktails, music, and happy hour specials. [12] Don Salamone, owner of the food cart Burger Stevens, moved into the kitchen in 2018. [14] A walk-up window for Burger Stevens opened on the Morrison Street side of Dig a Pony in 2019. [19] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Salamone served takeout Italian meals as Stevens Italiano; the meals included chicken cacciatore, rigatoni in tomato sauce, Caesar salad, and garlic bread. [20]

In 2022, the business was sold to Elizabeth Elder and Bryan Wollen of Lose Yr Mind Fest, as well as Devon and Tyler Treadwell of the Tulip Shop Tavern in north Portland. [21] It closed in June 2022. [22]

Reception

The bar's exterior at night in 2022 Dig a Pony, Portland, Oregon (2022) - 2.jpg
The bar's exterior at night in 2022

Michael Russell included Dig a Pony in The Oregonian's 2014 list of Portland's 100 best bars. [7] The business was also included in Samantha Bakall's 2016 list of the city's 10 best "high dives (aka the hipster bars)", [23] and Lizzy Acker's 2017 list of "23 places to go dancing in Portland". [24] 101 Places to Get F*cked Up Before You Die (2014) said the bar's staff were "easy on the eyes". [25]

Pete Cottell included Dig a Pony in Thrillist's 2015 list of "10 Portland Bars You Should Avoid Once You're 30" and wrote: "The idea of 'bridge and tunnel bars' has caught on in Portland, and with this place being packed out with neon-clad bros from Beaverton aggressively doing laps and Tinder-ing rather than actually talking to humans of the female variety here, Dig A Pony is the terminally hip Eastside's primary offender. Good food if you show up early enough to get a table, though!" [26] In 2017, Tan Vinh of The Seattle Times said the bar "spins soul and has the soul of old Portland". [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanich's</span> Defunct restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Stanich's was a restaurant in Portland, Oregon's Cully neighborhood, established in 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ox (Portland restaurant)</span> Steakhouse in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Ox is an Argentine steakhouse in Portland, Oregon's Eliot neighborhood, in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ate-Oh-Ate</span> Hawaiian restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Ate-Oh-Ate is a Hawaiian restaurant with two locations in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. Named after the area code 808 in Hawaii, the restaurant's logo depicts a "happy, well-fed" pig. Ben Dyer, David Kreifels, and Jason Owens are co-chefs and co-owners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shift Drinks</span> Defunct cocktail bar in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Shift Drinks was a cocktail bar in Portland, Oregon. The bar opened in 2015 and closed in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick's Kitchen</span> Defunct restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Dick's Kitchen was a "paleo-friendly" restaurant with multiple locations in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackknife Bar</span> Bar in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Jackknife Bar, or simply Jackknife, was a bar in Portland, Oregon. The 4,000-square-foot cocktail bar was housed in the Sentinel Hotel, before closing in May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilt (restaurant)</span> Defunct restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Tilt was a hamburger restaurant with multiple locations in Portland, Oregon, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SuperDeluxe (restaurant)</span> Restaurant chain based in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

SuperDeluxe is a restaurant chain based in Portland, Oregon. There are three restaurants in the Portland metropolitan area, including the original in southeast Portland, another in northwest Portland's Pearl District, and a third in Sherwood, Oregon. In 2022, a fourth location opened in Bend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice (restaurant)</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Maurice is a restaurant in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Jack</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

St. Jack is a "Northwest French" restaurant in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canard (restaurant)</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Canard is a French restaurant with two locations in the U.S. state of Oregon. The original restaurant opened in Portland. A second location opened in Oregon City in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jojo (restaurant)</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Jojo is a restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Established by Justin Hintze in 2018, the business operates in southeast Portland's Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood and northwest Portland's Pearl District.

Paragon Restaurant & Bar, or simply Paragon, was a restaurant with two locations in the United States. The San Francisco restaurant closed in 2017, and the Portland, Oregon location closed in 2018. The restaurants were owned by Moana Restaurant Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PaaDee</span> Thai restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

PaaDee is a Thai restaurant in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RingSide Fish House</span> Defunct seafood restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

RingSide Fish House was a seafood restaurant in Portland, Oregon. The business operated in southwest Portland's Fox Tower from 2011 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NOLA Doughnuts</span> Defunct doughnut shop in the U.S. state of Oregon

NOLA Doughnuts was a doughnut shop with three locations in the Portland metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The original shop opened in Lake Oswego in 2015, and a second opened in northwest Portland's Pearl District in 2018. A third location opened in Beaverton in 2022. All locations closed in January 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuvrei</span> Bakery in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Nuvrei is a bakery in Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burger Stevens</span> Restaurant in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, U.S.

Burger Stevens is a hamburger restaurant with multiple locations in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">StormBreaker Brewing</span> Brewery in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

StormBreaker Brewing is a brewery based in Portland, Oregon. Rob Lutz and Dan Malech established the company in 2014. The original restaurant is located on North Mississippi Avenue in the Boise neighborhood, and a second opened in the St. Johns neighborhood in 2018.

Aviary was a restaurant on Alberta Street in northeast Portland, Oregon's Vernon neighborhood, in the United States. Sarah Pliner was a co-owner and head chef.

References

  1. ↑ Network, Matador (7 January 2014). 101 Places to Get F*cked Up Before You Die: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Partying Around the World. Macmillan. ISBN   9781250035585 . Retrieved 8 April 2021– via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Horton, Jay (2017-05-23). "Dig a Pony is Portland's Late-Night Clearing House". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  3. ↑ Russell, Michael (2011-09-24). "Portland Happy Hour: Dig a Pony". The Oregonian . Archived from the original on 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  4. ↑ Bakall, Samantha (2014-10-21). "Lutz Tavern owners taking over 36-year-old East Bank Saloon in Southeast Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-12-25. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  5. ↑ Peterson, Lucas (2017-09-08). "The Cheap Charms, Altered and Otherwise, of Portland, Ore". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  6. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (2011-06-28). "Bar Build-outs". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  7. 1 2 Russell, Michael (2014-10-29). "Portland's 100 best bars". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  8. ↑ Delaplaine, Andrew (11 September 2020). "Portland (Ore.) - The Delaplaine 2021 Long Weekend Guide". Gramercy Park Press. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021– via Google Books.
  9. 1 2 DeJesus, Erin (2011-07-28). "Dig A Pony to Debut in Central SE; Pink Rose Blooms in Pearl". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  10. ↑ Powers, Colin (2016-05-03). "Bloody Mary battle ends with victory for Dig a Pony: The Cocktail Hour". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  11. ↑ Mayhew, Lance (2021-11-02). Whiskey Made Me Do It: 60 Wonderful Whiskey and Bourbon Cocktails. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN   978-1-5248-7604-3.
  12. 1 2 Centoni, Danielle (2015-04-27). "The Portland Kitchen's Cookoff; Dig A Pony Dives Into Cheese". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  13. ↑ Russell, Michael (2015-11-06). "Where to eat Thanksgiving dinner in Portland (updated)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  14. 1 2 Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2018-07-27). "All-American Cart Burger Stevens Is Moving into Dig A Pony". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2018-07-28. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  15. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (2010-11-29). "Niki's Restaurant Closes After 38 Years as Neighborhood Diner". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  16. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (2011-03-14). "Greg Gourdet Joins Team Creating New Bar in Niki's Space". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  17. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (2012-01-24). "Taxidermy Pheasant Plucked from Dig A Pony's Piano". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  18. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (2012-07-27). "Soccer Bar Slated for Mississippi; Two Anniversary Parties". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  19. ↑ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2019-08-09). "Portland Restaurateur Troy MacLarty Is Raising Money to Fight Gun Violence". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  20. ↑ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2020-04-07). "Gado Gado Will Start Serving 'Stoner Food' Takeout Thursday Night". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  21. ↑ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (2022-03-29). "The People Behind Lose Yr Mind Fest and Tulip Shop Tavern Are Taking Over Dig a Pony". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  22. ↑ Moore, Jenni (April 1, 2022). "Beloved Bar Dig A Pony Is Closing; Could Its New Music-Loving Owners Make It Even Better?". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  23. ↑ Russell, Michael (2014-10-21). "Portland's 10 best high dives (aka the hipster bars): Bar Tab". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-12-25. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  24. ↑ Acker, Lizzy (2017-05-24). "23 places to go dancing in Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  25. ↑ 101 Places to Get F*cked Up Before You Die: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Partying Around the World. Macmillan. 2014-01-07. ISBN   978-1-250-03558-5.
  26. ↑ "10 Portland Bars You Should Avoid Once You're 30". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  27. ↑ Vinh, Tan (2017-03-02). "Where to go for dining and drinks in Portland? It's rocking across the Willamette". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.