{"id":892241,"date":"2026-06-25T17:30:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T17:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/892241\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T17:30:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T17:30:23","slug":"new-downtown-phoenix-mariscos-restaurant-takes-us-to-the-beach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/892241\/","title":{"rendered":"New downtown Phoenix mariscos restaurant takes us to the beach"},"content":{"rendered":"

When a new spot opens in town, we\u2019re eager to check it out, let you know our initial impressions, share photos and dish about menu items. First Taste,<\/a> as the name implies, is not a full-blown review but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened \u2013 an occasion to sample a few items and satisfy curiosities (both yours and ours).<\/p>\n

PoNy\u2019s Miches Michelada Bar & Grill<\/a> is unassuming from Portland Street. There\u2019s still too much daylight left on this hot, sunny evening to see the restaurant\u2019s sign glowing in its signature aqua. But one step through the doors immerses us in cheerful ocean blue and beach club vibes. Behind the host stand, a neon sign proclaims, \u201cPoNy\u2019s made me do it!\u201d Do what exactly? We hoped to find out.<\/p>\n

Jose \u201cPony\u201d Flores and his wife, Analiz Gonzalez, founded the company in 2020, selling michelada mix and shrimp ceviche from the tailgate of their truck, which evolved into a food truck and then a restaurant. They partnered with Sergio Escamilla, an attorney and entrepreneur, to open a fast-casual eatery in Goodyear in 2024. Their first full-service restaurant opened in downtown Phoenix on April 30<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We settle into a booth next to a vibrant mural featuring a Mayan goddess in front of a step pyramid and rolling crystal-blue waves, while bouncy Spanish music softly pulses through the restaurant. Solo patrons and couples spread out at seats pulled around the bar, while the dining room starts to fill up with families.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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CLOSE\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The history of the building and its owners sparked plenty of interest since PoNy\u2019s announced it would move in last year. When the revered FEZ on Central closed in September, the PoNy\u2019s team jumped at the opportunity to bring their concept to downtown. <\/p>\n

The crew made a name for themselves in the West Valley by serving mariscos and booze-free micheladas. Now with a much larger space and a full bar, PoNy\u2019s has evolved once again, adding plenty of new options to its mission of bringing aguachiles to the masses. <\/p>\n