Dark Horse Coffee

Stopped in Monday (President’s Day! Yeah for holidays!) afternoon around noon with my boyfriend for brunch/​lunch. There were a few other tables but it wasn’t too busy or loud. The atmosphere in here is very nice and I could see myself coming back with a book to relax and enjoy some coffee. The service was prompt and friendly.
We both had a panini and I had the combo with a cup of soup, which was a little on the bland side, but appreciated with this cold weather. With the two sandwiches and a delicious Sweet and Salty latte (~$ 4), our bill was around 20 bucks, which I don’t think is too outrageous. My boyfriend isn’t much of a coffee drinker, who would have given a three star review but I think we would be back!

Went in for a quick lunch since I was in there area. It was very cozy and had a great atmosphere. I had a salty scarecrow coffee which was delicious and I had an apple and honey salad which was just OK. The cashier warned me that the dressing was honey mustard instead of a honey dressing which should have stopped me right there. Again, it wasn’t bad… It just tasted like it was missing something. Staff was super friendly.

I trekked to Dark Horse yesterday to get some reading done. Overall, it was a good experience. I arrived to a nearly empty café that was very spacious, but still homey with interesting artwork and mellow lighting. I asked for fresh coffee and was served «Jingle Bell Java,» a hyper-​sweet but really delicious coffee that reminded me somehow of kids’ cereal.*
My one minor quibble is that Dark Horse seemed to be having a music identity crisis… and the radio is cranked up pretty high. I was happily reading along to wordless orchestral music, but when the tunes switched to 80s rock I had a harder time focusing. If I had been trying to do more challenging work it would’ve been impossible, so I guess I’d recommend this as a meeting spot more than a work station.
(*The web actually suggests that bourbon is one of the primary flavors in Jingle Bell Java. I guess now I know why mom’s breakfasts always tasted so good in elementary school.)

Dark Horse is a favorite. Some of the best coffee around town. I am not by any means a coffee cone suer… BUT Dark Horse is by far some of the best coffee from a shop locally that I have ever had. Not to mention that the staff is super friendly and personable, it’s spacious and located right in Village Gate. I highly recommend Dark Horse if you’re in the Rochester area looking for a new spot to call your regular spot.

It’s convenient and quick! Delicious teas and coffee especially if you’re already at Village gate!

Good coffee, good food, good location, good atmosphere. I’ve enjoyed the mochas I’ve gotten here on occasion and the food has always been on point. I enjoy that they allow dogs in the coffee shop too– makes it feel very down-​to-​earth. I got the sense that the crowd on the day I was there was all regulars who frequent the shop daily, so I felt a bit out of place.
My only complaint is the limited hours. I often am in that neck of the woods on weekends and want to stop by, but Dark Horse is almost always closed. Working a normal 8am-​5pm job during the week means I can’t visit during the week since they close so early; being closed on Sundays just seems crazy to me.

Decent coffee. Mediocre food. It’s not bad, just a bit bland.
I come here almost every day for coffee because it’s close, but at lunch have started walking a bit further for the food at Starry Nights instead, which is much better.

I can only review my iced coffee and the 20 mins I sat to fire off a few emails. The iced coffee was blah. Admittedly, I am very picky about my coffee. Most places don’t do iced coffee correctly. You either cold brew it (the best method in my opinion), or if you hot brew it needs to be doubled. You can’t brew a standard pot of coffee, then throw it over ice — the result is watered down and lacking taste. Rarely places do either. I came here because I’ve heard good things about D.H. Coffee. Next time I’ll try a hot cup of coffee and see if it is any better. The place, décor and ambiance were fine.

Wonderful wraps. I particularly like the Breakfast Burrito with salsa. Staff does a great job with espresso drinks.
Regarding some negative reviews I have read: I have never seen the staff as anything but friendly and engaging, even when very busy. I drop in three times a week, so I have had a lot of time to observe.

The $ 5 minimum for card transactions can be annoying since I rarely ever carry cash any more. I’ve never felt the need to.
That said, I like the décor and the outdoor seating is really nice, far from the traffic. Last time I was there was for a meeting and the few wall outlets severely limit where you can sit if you need to keep your laptop connected.
Try their ginger ice tea. It really helps beat the afternoon heat.

Dear Bonnie,
I can only assume you just recently got a Unilocal!Account since you are replying to a review I wrote almost two years ago…
I would appreciate you not calling me a liar, for I am not trying to slander the business you represent. I’m not lying, trust me when I say I’m a very fair reviewer… if you look at my rating distribution you’ll see most places I rate 4 stars and above. I’ve visited Dark Horse numerous times and each time was worse than the last — with exception of the coffee itself.
I am not incorrect in any of my statements, and nothing was «supposedly» bad. It was. I was treated very poorly every time I set foot in that establishment.
Seeing as this was well over a year ago I don’t have the receipt to prove I was charged $ 14.
I regret nothing I wrote in my review and I stand by my statements with absolute certainty. I would never imagine bringing anything up with the owner, assuming the owner is the woman I had so much contact with, because of how rudely I had been treated.
Whether or not I would ever return to Dark Horse, I’m not sure, but after your passive aggressive, backhanded reply, I can assure you I won’t be.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to reply to my review. I hope you have a lovely rest of your evening.
P. S. editing your comment after I reply to make me look bad, actually, makes you look bad, immature, and dishonest… but I suppose it’s not my business to run.

I’ve seen a lot if good things said about this place but unfortunately I can’t seem to find much of anything to praise.
The food is below average.
Drinks are overpriced.
Staff is pleasant on a good day and rude on most.
If your an SBUX type then this place isn’t so bad. But for me when I go to a locally owned café I expect something that feels like the people care. The complacency of this café is what kills it for me.

I would really love to continue loving Dark Horse, but their staff need a serious attitude check.
I really don’t need a great deal of friendliness. Staff that are a bit surly give character to a coffee shop. And Dark Horse Coffee has some character. Dark Horse clearly has a loyal following and some regulars who hang out here. It’s a great option after you’ve had a massage at the massage school or gotten acupuncture at Rochester Community Acupuncture. There’s nothing like hyping yourself up on caffeine after calming yourself down! Coffee and pastries are great.
However, my experience on Wednesday with the middle-​aged, blond hair woman (the owner?) left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. After ordering, I attempted to pay with my credit card. The total was four something. The staff person pointed at the sign saying «$ 5 minimum,» and I told her I didn’t have any cash in my wallet. I suggested that she just ring up the order for $ 5, and put the rest in her tip jar. This has happened to me before – who carries cash everywhere anymore? – and I’ve found that rounding up to the minimum is usually a reasonable solution that works for everyone.
She told me, «I can’t legally do that. You can add a bottle of water»
Say what?
I told her I didn’t want a bottle of water.
She again proceeded to tell me that it would be illegal for her to charge me $ 5. I told her that I doubt that charging me more is illegal, but that if she wants, she can just ring me for the total, and I’ll total it out on the tip line to equal $ 5. I understand, rules are rules.
Frustrated, she rings for the four something, pushes the receipt in front of me, and says, «I’m not doing this again!»
Not to worry, love. You won’t need to.
DH needs to remember that they’re not the only show in town. I don’t need my behind kissed. I always find the fake friendliness at the chain with the green robes to be a bit much. But, figure out your credit card minimums. I’ve never understood, really, why minimums are such a major drama for some small businesses. Certainly, they impact your profit margins. So do cash-​only policies. There are a growing number of folks who won’t go out of their way to get cash for you. You’re probably losing just as much money in lost business as you are in credit card transaction fees. Talk about missing the forest for the trees!
In all, I’m happy with DH product itself, but can do without the bad attitudes. DH, you’re not running a free coffee line.

OK, so despite this joint having a superb spot in my book, they seriously need to work on their customer service. My average rating of 3 stars is solely based on the locale, coziness, aesthetics and the coffee. I have a seasonal late every visit and they are always good. It is sad that such a place has crappy hours and service. Sometimes I can’t tell when their terrace door is open or locked. Which sucks since it is the loveliest spot in The Village Gate.
Not all the staff is negligent. But I do have to share a story. Naturally, coffee or tea breaks the seal. Much like beer. So after finishing my drink and enjoying the view and coziness of the place, a girl’s gotta empty her bladder. Went to the restroom on site and it was locked… they had already been open for a few hours. It was early afternoon after all. It wasn’t busy, maybe 2 people in line. So I waited in line and advised them that the door was locked. They said they were sorry they forgot to unlock it and would open it. So I went to wait by the door. They never came. So I went to tell them again and they were surprised no one had come to unlock it… they would send someone. Still no one came. I just picked up my stuff from the booth and went to use the mall’s facility and didn’t return back. Which was too bad because I was really enjoying the atmosphere. How dare they cut my visit short! I was so ready to order another drink… so BOO!
Perfect place to read and knit apart form their love of locked doors. I just feel they need to pay more attention to detail and service.

Dark Horse Coffee is located in the cool and hip Village Gate. They have lots of seating inside and out, the baristas seem friendly, and my iced dirty chai was pretty tasty. We didn’t stick around so I’m not sure about the vibe, but it was a great place to hop in, grab a coffee, and walk around the NOTA.

This was my 2^nd time here. The 1^st time I went for lunch and had the chicken pesto panini with chips– it was ok. Nothing too exciting.
Today I was encouraged to order the bubble tea from a friend. this is my 1^st time trying bubble tea so I was curious to see what the hype was about. I ordered the coconut bubble tea. I read the ingredients (vanilla ice cream, coconut milk, tea, etc.) and figured that my taste buds could appreciate those flavors. They did! I LOVE coconut flavored food/​drinks so this was pleasing. Although I do not think it was worth $ 5 I will be back for this again. My splurge item of the day!

I’ve been there a few times.
They have good coffee and good service. I had soup from them once, it was OK. A good stop for coffee/​light lunch when walking around the Village Gate.
Especially considering how the other eating choices in the Gate tend to go for more sit-​down/​heavier meals.

Should I be surprised by how much I enjoy my visits to Dark Horse? Well, I am. It should be very clear by now that I like this place. It took several visits to prove their worth, but I’m hooked.
It’s the perfect place for a meeting or to get some work done. They have outlets for your laptop plug and comfortable booth seating for your rear. I’ve also spent some time working outdoors on their mini-​patio. Another wonderful spot for people watching and glimpses of sunlight in the Village Gate courtyard.
I’ve frequented for coffee and for lunch. I’m not blown away by their espresso drinks, but the caffeine will do. I usually opt for the regular joe anyway, which they purchase from Coffee Connection (a lovely place as well). It’s from a Peruvian cooperative. They say, good deeds don’t go unnoticed. I have also tried their homemade soups, most recently warming up with their minestrone. They rocked it — the broth was flavorful and the vegetables weren’t mush. It was delicious in its own right. Everything bagel chips were provided with the soup, which added a punch of garlic. I’ve also had a few of their paninis. A worthwhile lunch option. You can get half w/​a cup of soup or salad. I like that for some variety. If ordering a whole panini, they come with chips and pickles. I usually save the second half for leftovers as it’s quite large. My favorites are the cajun chicken and the chicken pesto. Truthfully, those are the only two I’ve ordered so I can’t yet object to anything else on the menu. I’m sure they’re all good. Fresh ingredients and prepared as you order, which often leads to a little bit of an extended wait.
The atmosphere is good here. There are many regular customers, including a man that will shake everyone’s hand when he walks in, but the staff know him by name and treat him with kindness as he purchases his coffee. The horse theme is pretty obvious — you can’t miss the giant mural of one on the front wall. A great local spot to visit, if you haven’t already.

Delicious daily coffee specials, tasty breakfast sandwiches, and friendly staff. What more could you ask for out of your local coffee shop. Did I mention that it’s literally inside my work building? How cool is that!
I look forward to coming here on a daily basis and seeing the smiles of the staff members as you are greeted like family. The community needs more places like this. Oh, and the coffee is actually delicious so that’s always a plus. Make sure to try whichever special brew they are offering.

Totally awesome coffee and sandwich shop nestled in the heart of Village Gate Mall, formerly located on Dewey Avenue. I stop by here whenever I can to get a tasty wrap and a beverage. Super fast, friendly service.
I’ve uploaded a picture of my favorite dish, the Buffalo Chicken wrap. Just the way I like it, not too saucy. They have several types of wraps and sandwiches, coffees and other drinks. One drink I haven’t tried is their «Hippie Juice.» I sincerely hope it isn’t made from fresh squeezed hippies!
That said, after Bop Shop moved from Village Gate, I’ve been here less often. I’ll still go out of my way to patronize them, though… I love their food!
Address: 274 N Goodman B120, Rochester, NY 14 607 (Village Gate)
Phone: (585) 730‑8035 Monday– Thursday: 7am-​6pm, Friday: 7am-​8pm, Saturday: 8am-​3pm, Sunday: closed