Dark Horse
This upstairs-downstairs series of mini-pubs attracts single malt-sipping couples and Guinness-guzzling dart teams.
(267) 439-4688
421 S Second St
(at Pine Street)
Philadelphia,
PA
19147
39.9429
-75.1451
Neighborhoods: Center City East, Center City
Hours:
Mon 3pm-2:30am
Tue-Sun 11:30am-2am
Price:
$$
Last updated 4.30.09
What People Are Saying About Dark Horse
The Owner
Dark Horse
Owner
Located in the former Dickens Inn you will find the Dark Horse, a Society Hill restaurant and bar that pulls double duty as an old-fashioned watering hole and a fine dining destination for Philadelphians and tourists seeking culinary goodies.
The re-created three-story townhouse bursts with English atmosphere, creating mini-pubs that are accented by dark wood and vintage beer ads.
British pub grub has been skewed slightly to more modern cravings. Dishes such as hummus, grilled jerk-chicken skewers and paella are right at home next to the burgers and fries, the popular steak and mushroom and the fish and chips, battered with Guinness, of course. The Dark Horse is an old world comfort with a taste of the new.
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short
Little has changed since this bar was called Dickens Inn. The kitchen's quirky British fare has been intertwined with sophisticated American pub grub like grilled Portobello sandwiches, pulled pork barbeque and gourmet burgers. Entrees like bangers and mash definitely do justice to English cuisine, as does the large plate of fish and chips. Not hungry? Then just pop into one of the four bars upstairs and have a few pints of English or Irish suds.
User Reviews
Anonymous
December 05, 2008
My friends and I have gone to Dark Horse on numerous occasions. It is a bar and restaurant with two floors. The food is pretty good, and the bar is not too grungy, with good beer choices. It is located in head house square.
read full reviewAnonymous
November 19, 2008
Or just go for some pints and decent food. You can count on this bar. They've got pub rooms and a dining room so take you pick what kind of mood you are in. It's a dependable bar in every way.
read full review
34maude
August 25, 2008
While I love British pubs typically I don't usually have too many high expectations, but at the Dark Horse I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food, the fish and chips a standard british staples at most pubs can endup greasy, heavy and cafeteria like but here they were not. Our appetizer of calamari had a delicate cornmeal crust on it-and not greasy or heavy-actually very delicate, and the accompanying sauce was delicious. Our fish and chips had a lovely crispy batter and and the fish was moist and flaky and the tartar sauce was unique and savory. We had started our meal with a few pints, a Strongbow Cider-nicely chilled and fresh as a dewy meadow, and my hubby says his tap pint of Guiness-was served perfectly not too warm, too cold, or from a can, was one of the better ones hes had. When finished I told my husband I wanted to go get a shot at Bump some red drink I couldn't remember the name of, so I asked the waitress and she tried to think of what it could be, she said she could make it or I could look it up in her Bartender Black Book-she handed me the book...How cool is that? so needless to say we stayed there, I had a Swedish Fish and he had an Irish Carbomb and we just sat there stunned at how often the smallest but most taken for granted details are overlooked in the most typically mundane of all restaurants -the classic british pub- but The Black Horse seemingly sets a higher standard than those of its neighbors and is our new favorite wind-down restaurant, it is really a gem.
read full reviewThe Details on Dark Horse
What To Drink:
You can order beer by the yard.
Category:
European, Brew Pubs, Restaurants, Bars & Pubs, Taverns
Payment Methods:
Gift Certificate, American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Group Dining, Fireplace, Bar Scene
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
Yes
Message from Dark Horse
- Private Parties, Rooms
- Sports Events Calendar
- Bar, European & American Food
Located in the former Dickens Inn you will find the Dark Horse, a Society Hill restaurant and bar that pulls double duty as an old-fashioned watering hole and a fine dining destination for Philadelphians and tourists seeking culinary goodies.
The re-created three-story townhouse bursts with English atmosphere, creating mini-pubs that are accented by dark wood and vintage beer ads.
British pub grub has been skewed slightly to more modern cravings. Dishes such as hummus, grilled jerk-chicken skewers and paella are right at home next to the burgers and fries, the popular steak and mushroom and the fish and chips, battered with Guinness, of course. The Dark Horse is an old world comfort with a taste of the new.
