Cafes
Dark Horse Espresso Bar (Chinatown)
Dark Horse Espresso Bar has expanded where space is concerned, centralized where location is concerned, and is the opposite of dark (...where light is concerned). The new home of this Queen East original sits just north of Queen on Spadina, where it has carved itself out a commanding presence on this busy strip.
Presently, some scaffolding obstructs what appears to be a lovely facade, and it also led me to underestimate the actual size of the place. Once inside, it's a different story. Hardwood as far as the eye can see, and high, beamed ceilings soaked up the uber-sunny day and projected it everywhere. The floors gleamed, the windows radiated and rainbows literally danced on the walls. Magical.
The communal tables that I have heard about, and seen around, are here in a big way. Two huge specimens flank the bar and were filled to capacity. We headed up the stairs, to an elevated and somewhat secluded sitting area, where there are some smaller versions of the same deal.Tables that can accommodate like, five people but can and will also seat one. Until guys like us come along and do what we must do: sit across from a stranger. I'm not gonna lie, it does make things more interesting.
In light of their grand-scale interior, Dark Horse keeps things relatively simple as far as treats go, offering the usual coffee delights and a nice variety of baked goods. The Circles and Squares Bakery makes a second consecutive appearance in my life, being the providers of scones (including the one I've been dreaming about since last week), brownies, and muffins that are wrapped like delicious little dough bouquets.
I carefully chose a butter tart, mostly because those geniuses- lo and behold!- thought to make them sans raisins. This is what my raisin-hating life has been waiting for all these years, so we thank you graciously. The butteriest butter tart I have ever tasted, meaning the filling was smooth and melt-y as hell (and so was the shell). I washed it down with a rich Americano ($2) that more than lived up to its namesake (Dark), with a hypnotizing swirl of crema on top.
We made ourselves rather comfy, hidden up in the back for a good two hours. The aforementioned table style can lead one's conversation to alternate between self-consciously low tones or attempts at entertaining the person sitting across from you. About an hour in, our duo became a trio (the addition of a non-stranger, I'm afraid) and the conversation moved somewhat into the latter territory. Subconsciously, of course, and to little avail.
By this time, I was in dire need of lemonade ($3), and my friend was on his second iced latte ($3.75). The lower the sun dropped, the emptier the tables grew, the more I was unable to ignore the uncanny resemblance of this place to the dance studios of my distant past. The appearance of one Mr. Jonathan Richman over the speakers, and I found myself snapping photos in some kind of ecstatic but dignified dance. Lemonade that is (finally!) just sour enough will do that to ya.
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Very welcome addition to Chinatown, especially that part of Spadina, which has no cafes.
There seems to be a lot of people holding meetings and laptoppers there when I go.
Thanks for the well written review.
The pictures really show off the space well, too.
Wondering if this place has wifi? Would be awesome to work in.
Wondering if this place has wifi? Would be awesome to work in.
Wondering if this place has wifi? Would be awesome to work in.
Nice review, I'll check it out.
fortunately, dark horse really is excellent.
I love the espressos too. Dark Horse is one of the goodies for sure.
Marcus on June 20, 2009 at 12:41 PM
It's an espresso people! As long as the beans being used are good then your drink will be good. Its a simple process that even a monkey can be trained to do. The whole pretentious "Barrista" stuff is a simple marketing tactic."
while looking up the correct spelling of "barrista", you should also look up the definition of "off point".
yes, yes, I know it's an "espresso bar", but c'mon, it's not like we're in Italy.
If I remember correctly as well, they also sell a great selection of beans, including fair trade & organic - but then you can taste the brew of all these beans!
An espresso's great when I'm running 30 mins late for work - however a nice, long cup of drip coffee is for my lazy stroll back home after work.
Also, Dark Horse on Queen East doesn't accept debit, and yes, I'm a cheap bastard and never have more than a twenty in my pocket, but they lost a sale of several pounds of coffee for my office place!
***best espresso drink in the city by far: Ovalatté at "Ella's Uncle"
Even making coffee well in a french press requires proper knowledge and experience.
It's unfortunate a good barrista does not receive adequate appreciation here in this city and I don't think it is pretentious at all.
Also espresso in italian means "to press a drink" so inorder to have "good" espresso wouldnt the barista need to have the knowledge and the technique to "press" the beans at the right weight to produce this goood drink?
Too bad I dont know the first thing about roasting beans... like most of the roasters in Toronto.
As for how the coffee can be fresh if its from Vancouver? It starts with an 'F' and ends with an EDEX!
Idiot.
ps. espresso needs a degassing period of at 2 or 3 days before use. Some recommend up to 7 or 8 days depending on the blend.
Maybe YOU should "BE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT COFFEE"
2nd - i highly doubt they use fedex to ship the beans and even if they do they would want to buy a shit load to over ride on other costs
3rd - I was talking about a cup of joe ie brewed coffee, nothing from the espresso.
so why wont you start reading things before you start attacking and actually make sense of what you are saying.
dickshit.
Cool place...really good vibe.
Overrated.
2.They do use Fedex, I order every week for my espresso bar.
3."quality of good espresso is the quality of the beans, the experience of the barista and the machine"
Sounds like you are talking about espresso to me.
4. Youre out of your element.
If your battery (like mine) doesn't last long, make this a drink stop, but not a work stop.
Hope they continue with Parallel 49 espresso - it's my fav.
Loved their espresso and cappucino, and the friendly staff.
Unfortunately, after a 3wk hiatus, I finally came back to DH only to find that all of their power outlets have been replaced by metal shields.
Although I understand the fine balance between attracting a crowd that provides revenue and detracting a crowd more suitable for a library, I'm the type of person who always needs a cup of something next to me while I work.
DH, I've provided you with good business since you opened, but it looks like I have to settle for a Starbucks/Second Cup while I wait to find the next perfect coffee shop.
Have to try that coffee shop when I make it to Toronto.
Just did an interview with Carlo Odello of Italian Tasters titled <a href="http://www.sergetheconcierge.com/2010/06/espresso-italiano-talking-coffee-the-italian-way-with-carlo-odello.html";>Espresso Italiano, Talking Coffee the Italian Way with Carlo Odello</a> on 'Serge the Concierge'
Serge
'The French Guy from New Jersey'