2004 - 2005 this was our favourite pub and we ate there weekly. Don't know what caused the change but the food quality and portion sizes took a serious dive. We returned a few times the past three years hoping for improvement but were disappointed. Won't be back any time soon. Friends have told us they have abandoned the Dark Horse for the same reason. This pub can count on its great patio only for so long. Show your customers you appreciate them by reinstating the quality you used to serve before it is too late.
This place used to be great and had fantastic staff back around 2003 - 2004. I don't know what changed (besides the menu and the staff) but the whole spirit of the place is just not the same at all. I miss the old waitresses also (but good for them, they have mostly pursued other careers.) Some of the food is okay but as these other reviews can attest, the service is pretty surly and attention to customers is pretty low on the priority list. Sad, really. I don't even know if the owners of these restaurants even visit this site. They should.
I too had a bad experience at A Dark Horse last Sat. during the festival. I sat on the patio ready to enjoy a drink and lunch and be part of the community. At least 3 waitresses and the hostess walked back and forth many times and never once acknowledged me. To add insult to injury, at one point the hostess came to pick up the glasses on my table from the previous customer and didn't even look at me then. I almost (and wish I had) said to her "excuse me, am I invisible?" I accept that they were busy, but all they had to do was say "be right with you" as any good hostess or waitress does. Three people arrived after I had been sitting there for 10-15mins. and the hostess was with them in about a minute; the waitress servicing that area thanked her in passing, presumably she was picking up the slack at a busy time. I finally left - never to return; and took my business elsewhere. I have also written a letter to the manager.
Rude waitress - not quite the service you would expect...
You’d think bars and restaurants try their best in impressing new customers during a busy weekend such as the one that is taking place right now due to the wonderful Ukrainian festival which will soon be coming to an end. However I was quite shocked at the rude service which my friends and I experienced while having a drink at A Dark Horse. As if having to sit on dirty tables and having coasters thrown at you was not bad enough… the waitress removed any doubts about her bad manners and lack of social skills by her unacceptable attitude towards the tables she was waiting on. Unfortunately I’d have to say that I would not recommend this location to anyone that is reading this review. I live close to Bloor West Village and will definitely be taking Dark Horse off of my list. There are plenty more bars and restaurants which have offered me friendlier service than what I saw yesterday evening.
This is my husband and my "local," we're there almost every week. We've always had good food and good service, although their servers seem to change so often I don't think any of them ever know us.
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