Dig a Pony (bar)

Dig a Pony (DAP)[1] is 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 is slated to close in June 2022, following an ownership change.

Dig a Pony
The bar's exterior at night, 2022
Restaurant information
Owner(s)
  • Elizabeth Elder
  • Devon Treadwell
  • Tyler Treadwell
  • Bryan Wollen
Previous owner(s)
  • Jacob Carey
  • Aaron Hall
  • Page Finlay
Food typeAmerican
Street address736 Southeast Grand Avenue
CityPortland
CountyMultnomah
StateOregon
Postal/ZIP Code97214
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45.5174°N 122.6605°W / 45.5174; -122.6605
Websitedigaponyportland.com

Description

Dig a Pony has a 40-person horseshoe-shaped bar, as well as a century-old piano, vintage church pews, and stained glass.[4] The menu includes American cuisine[5] 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.[6] The bar began using cheese from Bandon-based Face Rock Creamery in 2015.[7] 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 griddled broccoli with green ranch and pickled peppers.[8]

History

The bar replaced longtime Greek diner Niki's Restaurant.[9] Partners Jacob Carey, Aaron Hall, and Page Finlay opened Dig a Pony with Gregory Gourdet as consulting chef.[10] The bar opened on July 28, 2011, with Josef Valoff as kitchen manager.[6] Within a few months, several interior decorations were stolen, including a taxidermy pheasant nicknamed "David Bowie".[11] The bar hosted an anniversary celebration featuring free music.[12]

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.[7] Don Salamone, owner of the food cart Burger Stevens, moved into the kitchen in 2018.[8] A walk-up window for Burger Stevens opened on the Morrison Street side of Dig a Pony in 2019.[13] 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.[14]

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.[15] Dig a Pony is slated to close in June 2022.[16]

Reception

In 2017, Tan Vinh of The Seattle Times said the bar "spins soul and has the soul of old Portland".[17]

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. DeJesus, Erin (2011-06-28). "Bar Build-outs". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
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