Delicious, inexpensive cuisine in a casual atmosphere
By Shauna Shepler
Maybe you're in the mood for some down-home country cooking. Or maybe you'd rather have a salad, a hearty sandwich, or a good old fashioned cheeseburger. Or perhaps you'd like a nice juicy steak. Or maybe you prefer Italian or Mexican cuisine. Whatever your taste, the Dark Horse Restaurant offers a plethora of inexpensive breakfast, lunch and dinner options in a casual sports bar-like atmosphere.
Formerly Oler's North, the Dark Horse Restaurant is owned by Bob Oler, owner of Oler's Bar and Grill. For more than 40 years, the Dark Horse has successfully maintained a solid reputation for offering its customers exceptional service and meals that are inexpensive, but don't taste that way.
Originally established in 1966, the Dark Horse specializes in barbeque ribs, chicken, spaghetti, and pizza. In 1978, Oler helped expand that menu to include steak and seafood. Most of the restaurant's recipes were created by Oler's mother, Ruth, who worked there for more than 25 years. On the breakfast menu, for example, is Grandma Oler's Country Scramble ($4.25), which consists of eggs, potatoes, onions, and your choice of meat.
Of course, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner specials are offered, some of which include one egg, two hotcakes, sausage or bacon ($3.50); two eggs, home fries, toast, tortilla, or biscuits ($3.75); two eggs, choice of meat, home fries, toast, tortilla, or biscuits ($4.25); three eggs, choice of meat, home fries, toast, tortilla, or biscuits ($5.25); various lunch plate specials ($5.50; served Monday-Friday); daily soup/sandwich specials ($5.50); barbeque chicken ($8.95); a stack of baby back ribs ($10.95 for a half rack, $16.95 for a full rack, or on Friday and Saturday night only, $17.95 for a large portion, $14.95 for a small)); and Cobb salad ($6.95 for the lunch portion, $8.95 for the dinner), classic chef salad ($5.95 for the lunch portion, $7.95 for the dinner), grilled chicken salad ($6.95 for the lunch portion, $7.95 for the dinner), and blackened chicken salad ($6.95 for the lunch portion, $8.95 for the dinner). Exclusive only to the Dark Horse is gondola, a unique specialty sandwich with sliced meatballs, Provolone cheese, hard salami, and homemade meat sauce on a home baked bun ($5.95, for lunch or dinner).
I tried the giant five-cheese ravioli ($9.95), stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, Asiago, parmesan, and Romano cheese, and smothered in meat sauce on top. From the first bite to the last, my mouth was flooded with cheese, firm pasta, and a variety of Italian herbs and spices. This dish tasted no different than if it had been served in an upscale Italian restaurant. However, the chef should go a little easy on the meat sauce next time. The entrée was served with a house salad consisting of only lettuce, red cabbage, tiny croutons, and one carrot stick. Though the salad and Italian dressing I had on it tasted okay, it wasn't anything special, unfortunately. It needed to be dressed up a little more, maybe with some kind of peppers, black olives, and feta cheese.
The service at the Dark Horse is exceptional. The staff is very friendly, helpful and prompt. I had my check within about an hour.
In addition to its in-restaurant breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, the Dark Horse offers carry-out orders and experienced, reliable catering services. The Dark Horse is located at 4136 North Main Street in Findlay. The phone number is (419) 424-9201.
