The Dark Horse Social Club

4.8 (132)

$31 to $50

Gastro Pub

651 Clinton St, Defiance, OH 43512-2654

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Charming
Good for special occasions

The "warmest" vibe in NW Ohio meets Farm-to-Table at The Dark Horse Social Club. We are consistently in the top 5 of Open Table's Overall Best Restaurants in NW Ohio and Toledo. Our 1868, National Register structure has been completely transformed; warm and romantic, perfect for quiet dinners and heartfelt conversation while savoring fresh, thoughtfully prepared dishes in a setting that feels both intimate and special.

We offer fresh food focused on local sourcing and home-made recipees. Much of our beef is raised in Holgate, OH and processed locally. The cheese on our boards is made from local, whole milk in Hicksville, OH. We use 100% California olive oil in our oil based dressings - it is NOT cut with canola/soy/vegetable oils. Our flatbreads come in at less than 30 carbs each. We are known for our cocktails, particularly our Old Fashioneds and our Seasonal Speicialty Drinks.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

There’s more to explore

Discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Scan the QR code to discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Open app

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Gastro Pub, Cocktail Bar, Farm-to-table
Hours of operation
Happy Hour Thu–Sat 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Thu–Sat 3:00 pm–8:30 pm Bar Thu–Sat 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(419) 782-9307
Website
http://www.thedarkhorsesocialclub.net/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Catering
We do have a catering menu for small events under 35 people.
Private party facilities
We are happy to host private events in our front dining room year round Monday - Wednesday. We also offer our bar and Cocktail Lawn for events Monday - Wednesday during warm weather months.

Location
651 Clinton St, Defiance, OH 43512-2654
Neighborhood
Defiance
Cross street
We are on the Clinton Extension just north of Arabella St.
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at The Dark Horse Social Club.

4.8

(132)

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

132 Reviews

D
Dennis AND Marcia Gold
Toledo69 reviews
5.0
Dined on December 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
IF IN DOUBT TO TAKE THE DRIVE TO DARK HORSE, THEN GO. IT IS WORTH THE DRIVE. ALL THE STAFF ARE DELIGHTFUL AND THE OWNERS COME AROUND AND TALK TO THEIR GUESTS WHEN THEY ARE IN HOUSE. YOU CAN MAKE RESERVATIONS TOO. TELL THEM MARCI SENT YOU :)
Is this helpful?
P
Philip Gold
New Orleans47 reviews
5.0
Dined on December 18, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Warm greeting from hostess and seated in elegant dining room. Waitress friendly and informative. Menu featured new items, specials and favorites. Cocktails excellent. Prime Rib wonderful as was soup special. Brownie ice cream Desert closed a memorable evening. Owners always greet you and make sure everything is perfect. Neighborhood jem.
Is this helpful?
P
Peter
Toledo7 reviews
4.0
Dined on December 12, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
THE fRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL OF SWISS STEAK WAS DELICIOUS, THE VEGETABLES WERE A BIT UNDERCOOKED. THE DRINKS ( MAPLE OLD FASHIONED AND THE REVOLVER ) AND SERVICE WAS TOP NOTCH,
Is this helpful?
D
Dennis AND Marcia Gold
Toledo69 reviews
5.0
Dined on December 6, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
MY HUSBAND AND I LOVE DARK HORSE! THE STAFF ARE SO WONDERFUL AND THE OWNERS COME AROUND AND TALK TO EVERYONE WHEN THEY ARE THERE. I DO WISH THEY HAD A FEW EXTRA VEGETARIAN DISHES, BUT OVERALL, JUST LOVE IT.
Is this helpful?
D
Dan
Toledo1 review
5.0
Dined on November 21, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We love coming here for dinner. Friends from out of town joined us last night and the restaurant didn’t disappoint! Food was well prepared and fresh. We had a wonderful evening.
Is this helpful?
A
Andrea
San Francisco7 reviews
5.0
Dined on November 20, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A lovely date night to celebrate a birthday. The staff are always welcoming, kind and attentive. Food cooked perfectly. Local farm to table with a focus on quality in both the food and service. After dinner in the dining room we stayed for a drink at the bar. We love the social atmosphere of the small bar area.
Is this helpful?
L
Linda
Toledo10 reviews
5.0
Dined on November 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had someone with special needs this visit and they were very accommodating and kind. The food was excellent as always.
Is this helpful?
S
Stephanie Gold
Indiana13 reviews
5.0
Dined on November 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We always enjoy dining here. No other place like it in the area. It's a gem.
Is this helpful?
M
Meghan
Toledo1 review
5.0
Dined on October 31, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Dark Horse is a true local gem. The shrimp and grits are exceptional — perfectly seasoned and beautifully prepared. The ham and bean soup is hearty and flavorful, and the crab cakes are among the best I’ve had anywhere. The feta dip is a must-try — rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced. Excellent food, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere make The Dark Horse a standout dining experience every time.
Is this helpful?
t
tim
Indiana13 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 24, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Mark and Trish did an amazing job! They are very gracious hosts and spent time with customers answering questions and talking about their adventure with the Dark Horse! The food and drinks were delicious and the service was excellent!
Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Gastro Pub, Cocktail Bar, Farm-to-table
Hours of operation
Happy Hour Thu–Sat 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Thu–Sat 3:00 pm–8:30 pm Bar Thu–Sat 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(419) 782-9307
Website
http://www.thedarkhorsesocialclub.net/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Catering
We do have a catering menu for small events under 35 people.
Private party facilities
We are happy to host private events in our front dining room year round Monday - Wednesday. We also offer our bar and Cocktail Lawn for events Monday - Wednesday during warm weather months.

Location
651 Clinton St, Defiance, OH 43512-2654
Neighborhood
Defiance
Cross street
We are on the Clinton Extension just north of Arabella St.
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.