A Dark Horse — Restaurant in Toronto

TL;DR — Sat for about an hour on the patio on a Tuesday evening during a hot day. The water I repeatedly requested never came. My server was inattentive and easily distracted — she walked away mid-sentence without explanation when another staff member interrupted her from serving me…but maybe you’ll get one of the other servers who was attentive.

The long — Spotted a few empty tables, so I stopped here (on a Tuesday evening around 7:30 pm) to enjoy some solo patio time. It was busy and the host warned me there was about a 15 min wait for the kitchen — which was okay with me ‘cuz I really only wanted to enjoy a drink or two after having walked around and shopped on a hot day. I patiently waited for my server (totally understood that they were busy, so I didn’t mind a bit of extra waiting). I decided to order the easiest drink possible (1 oz, single malt, neat) and some water. So much time went by after giving my server my order that another server checked in with me to see if I’d been served (I thanked her for checking). When my actual server finally arrived with my drink, she’d forgotten the water and said she’d get me some. She never did. Even when she came by a long time later to ask if I wanted another drink: still no water. I ordered another drink and kindly asked if she could also bring me water (she promised to bring water this time — keep in mind it was a HOT day…literally a heat warning was in effect). She came back a long time later — no water — to tell me that the second drink I ordered wasn’t available. She was cut off mid-sentence, though, by another staff member who told her something that made her laugh and she literally walked away from table and followed him inside the pub (?!).

That is the point where my patience ran out. I noticed that another table that she had been serving near me (they arrived well after me) had received their drinks and water. I’m not sure I could have been any more polite or well-mannered — I don’t think my server was being malicious, but she was absolutely inattentive despite my very simple drink and water request. My first drink was a single malt scotch, neat ($15 for 1 oz — this was their most expensive single malt scotch), and I was hoping to order a second between $12-15 to make waiting on me at least somewhat worthwhile given that I wasn’t ordering any food.

When my server returned from wherever she’d disappeared to (still no water), I was already putting cash on the table and getting ready to leave ‘cuz I had no idea when she’d be back again and I’d already spent about an hour on the patio.

She asked, “Where did we leave off?” And I said, “Just let me know how much I owe.” So she left (I assumed to get the bill), but she came back (still no water) and apologized and compensated me my drink (no charge).

If it wasn’t for the drink compensation (and the other server who attentively checked in on me while I awaited my first drink), I’d have given fewer stars. My server apologized profusely but was blaming my experience on how busy it was (“it’s not usually like this…” etc). I don’t see how that excuses walking away from me mid-sentence and not — at some point in the approx. one hour that I’d sat there — prioritizing bringing me a glass of water during a literal heat wave.

I’m so disappointed. I’m still relatively new to the area and had had high hopes that this place might be a convenient spot to relax at the end of the day. Hopefully my experience isn’t a common one. Hopefully all staff understand that walking away from a patron mid-sentence to laugh with another staff member makes that patron feel worthless. Hopefully all staff will understand to prioritize water — especially with the upcoming hot weather. I felt like an afterthought who wasn’t worth my server’s time — despite my intention to order a couple of quick drinks in the higher...

EDIT: August 2022

My original 4 star rating has been downgraded to a 2. Sadly, they have reverted back to their old ways. Having gone through multiple chefs since my original post (most recently having their chef take his entire team with him - according to staff) A Dark Horse continues to have issues with keeping inventory with multiple items and drinks not available. Some servers are still absolutely amazing and others don't even seem to want to be there floating around aimlessly as people on the patio desperately seek a re-fill on a hot day.

Our time here is done, there are many other options in BWV including Shakeys. Even a corporately run Firkin is better... and THAT is saying a lot.

My wife and I have been going to A Dark Horse for years. We've seen the ups and the downs. New ownership, new kitchen staff, new menus, new clientele.

We've always wanted to support our local businesses but too often we were so disappointed with the food. THAT IS UNTIL NOW!!!!

With the recent introduction of their new chef and a total revamp on presentation and menu creation, A Dark Horse is finally winning the race.

It's so refreshing when you not only see high quality food at a pub BUT you can tell the chef cares and that's evident in the flavours on your plate.

Their new Israeli Hummus is perfect for sharing and is so light and fresh. Their wings are once again my favourite in the city, finished on the grill and cooked to perfection!

Now, the staff... Rockstars! Jessica, Danielle our newest friend Sir William and the rest of the crew are friendly, professional and courteous.

This past weekend they introduced a new brunch menu (available until 3PM Sat/Sun) The brunch items looked delicious ~ breakfast burger - What the what the?!? Bring a few friends to finish THAT puppy :D

Regarding their COVID-19 response: I am very pleased at their level of care and commitment to a safe and enjoyable patio experience. Contact tracing is MANDATORY, tables are spread out at more than comfortable distance and as soon as a patron leaves the patio, a staff member thoroughly cleans the table and chairs from top to bottom. We haven't dined in as of yet but tables are more than 6 feet apart with plenty of room to walk through.

Keep up the great work (and food) guys! Cya soon.

J&D

One suggestion: QR codes for menus...

TL:DR 12$ for 3 shrimp's is unacceptable. The Dark Horse has become a disappointment for me. Only reason to eat there is for the ambience.

I ordered smoked pork belly tacos last Friday on June 2, only to be told that was not available after waiting for 15 minutes. I ended up ordering some kind of unpronounceable soba noodles dish mainly made with pickled veggies and tofu and upgraded it to have shrimp thinking it would be easy to throw together and not hold up the rest of the tables food that much longer. I ended up paying 25~$ for this meal 13$ for the soba and 12$ for the shrimps. The problem is I only got three shrimp. They literally used them like you would a garnish.

I ended up requesting that the shrimp be removed from the bill and the waitress was kind enough to agree, but the fact that their were so many hiccups with the order* is ridiculous and it not the first time this kind of thing has happened when I have eaten there.

*Our table also had problems ordering drinks because some of the beers that we ordered had been swapped on tap.

This was a very common and understandable situation back during the height of the lockdowns, it was so bad some times that when you'd show up there you'd only be able to order a couple types of beer and some burgers.

It was understandable then, but why are there still problems now? How come literally half the menu is now just appetizers and salads? How come almost every time I go, there is a new menu put together by a new chef spinning off their version of what a hamburger is. By the time I figure out what I like off the new menu it soon is replaced.

I'm just feed up, and tired of dealing with all this anymore. I use to love to dine out here but now it just brings...