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Ponysaurus Brewing debuts third iteration at Raleigh Iron Works.
Rawr. Galloping into Raleigh Iron Works, Ponysaurus Brewing’s third iteration is slinging bevs and 14-inch pizzas (compliments of a collab with Oakwood Pizza Box’s Anthony Guerra), plus a fleet of chef-driven droolworthy bar fare.
Leaning into a more museumesque ambiance, the watering hole/grub hub is set to stand out from its Wilmington– and Durham-based sister spots. Case in point: the one-of-a-kind lifesize ponysaurus statue shipped from Denmark and assembled by an archeologist from the Duke Lemur Center.
“We didn’t want to make a cookie-cutter repeat,” says owner Nick Hawthorne-Johnson of the recently debuted Raleigh locale. “There is a sour- and barrel-aging facility and the production space is
very viewable.”
Beyond its curated environs, two-story barrel room and pizza program, the outpost touts a restaurant helmed by chef de cuisine Roxy Garza of Lily’s Pizza and Fiction Kitchen, and renowned executive chef Jeff Seizer of Royale fame (NTM his stint at NYC’s Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Park Hotel).
DINOMITE: Wondering what a “ponysaurus” even is? When the idea of opening a brewery was still simmering in the conceptual phase, Hawthorne-Johnson and his then-partner thought they’d be tasked with creating the brand art themselves. Armed only with the knowledge of how to draw a dino or a pony, they opted to merge the two—eventually bringing on third partner David Baldwin, formerly of Baldwin&, who created the branding for the biz. (Photo courtesy of Ponysaurus)
“We’ve gotten together over the years to celebrate and cry over beers,” reflects Hawthorne-Johnson of his longtime friendship with Seizer. “We always talked about how fun it would be to work together—and he’s done a great job of bringing the menu to life and putting his stamp on it.” Positioned to complement the ’za, the grub is, as the owner puts it, “awesome”—(s/o to the brewery’s Pilsner beer-braised mussels!).
As for its setup in Iron Works, Hawthorne-Johnson notes the mixed-use development calls to mind bustling big-city hubs such as New York’s Chelsea Market and Atlanta’s Ponce City Market. “I was impressed with the thoughtful curation of the retail space [in Iron Works],” he says.
The eatery/drinkery is already gaining popularity as a gathering space for Raleighites to grab a bite or a pint, catch a game, or simply kick their feet back and relax. “People can come to a place they think is cool and share it with others—and it’s exciting to be part of the food scene [at Raleigh Iron Works] and the city,” he says. Cheers to its T-rexcellent oasis! ponysaurusbrewing.com
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