Dark Horse Espresso Bar — Restaurant in Toronto

I was hesitant to stop here after my brunch at Souk Tabule as I heard the service can be spotty but it definitely seemed more affordable than the Fuel+ across the street plus we were looking to buy some locally roasted beans.

This spot is really big ... much bigger than most other spots in Toronto. With it's huge windows and tall ceilings, you get a really nice airy feel that most Toronto places won't have. Usually the coffee places are in a historic or older Toronto store /house and it's cramped. Here you get a nice rustic industrial chic space that has a lot more modern advantages. Love the fact that it had a lot of different types of seating... tiny coffee tables, big tables for work by the window, or comfy padded ones.

One bonus thing that we werent planning on... if you buy a bag of beans, you get an espresso based drink for free! Yes! The barista was helpful in getting us to select the right one... we ended up getting the one they were using for their espressos right there! So for us, we didnt encounter any of the issues that other people experienced. Maybe it's luck... maybe its Your Mileage May Vary but there were 3 people managing the place.

Flat White - Nice rich flavour that balanced well with the almond milk. I would say it's not as robust or as bold as I like it but for someone who is dipping their toes into espresso based drink, this would be a good one to start. It was not bitter at all and low acidity... which is exactly what we wanted in beans. 4/5

Overall, I think our service here was quite different than the other reviewers. Maybe they staff better on the weekends? Well, if you see more than one person, maybe you're in luck... the flat white we got was pretty good and if I'm in the area, I'll give them...

At first glance, I’ve never been here before, love the open concept, bright and surrounded with windows. Decor is very relaxing with old style school chairs, wooded table and stools. Has an outdoor patio with small round table with two chairs per table; can probably for three for drinks comfortably. There are areas set with electrical outlets for laptops. It was very obvious the inside was not cleaned from at least the day before. The bench cushion I sat on still had bits of food on it and floors were not swept well or washed. The cushion definitely needs a good steam cleaning or completely replaced as the amount of stains on it is disgusting. The tables on either side of me, still had bits of food on it. Free wifi. “Ritual” app, mobile order available here. My Americano was perfect! Great tasting and perfect temperature! They offer pasteurized honey for sweeting too. My egg and ham croissant was cold, not heated enough, I didn’t bother to ask for a reheat. Taste was good, it’s nothing special as it’s egg , ham and a buttery croissant just as expected but there’s nothing close to The George resident; 80 Cooperage st Toronto, so they almost have a monopoly in the area. Soft music fills the air, which compliments the relaxing atmosphere.

I would return for the Americano and croissant (I would ask it to be heated to hot) but i would not sit on the cushions. Nice cafe place but...

Latte Series I'm going around town to review lattes. That's all. I've been trying to be inclusive and include baked goods, but all baked goods are good. Unfortunately, not all lattes are good, and in an attempt to improve the lattes of Toronto, I'm here to give them a star rating. The "food" star rating is for the coffee. Dark Horse coffee is okay. It only gets a three out of five stars. Temperature: hot (good) Froth: well done Espresso flavor: not good, not bad. It has a bitter flavor that overtook my tasebuds and left a bad taste in my mouth. However, it goes in smoothly and gives your the jilt your are looking for. Service is not so good because a table I wanted to use was not cleaned up, and it still has a couple of empty mugs as I type this. They did, however, get my coffee to me quickly, though it was in a take-out mug. Atmosphere is nice and friendly, but the tables and chairs are too close to one-another. I'm listening to a not-so-exciting conversation about summer camp, though there was a juicy bit I'm not going to share. Unexpectedly, Dark Horse has a small store that offers posh kitsch for the non-discerning gen x-er who, including some wine, coffees, jams, and kitchen goods such as stylish bowls. It has a great place to pull out a laptop, and there is even a couch if you need a place for a nap (well, that's what I use coffee-shop...