We decided to have lunch at the Dark Horse Café being local to where we live in Smiths Gully. It was a lunch with our future daughter in law's parents. Well big mistake. We ordered 3 x Calamari's, 1 x super salad, 1 x Parma & 1 x minute steak. Also drinks. The waitress advised there would be a 20 min wait for food.. no problem. We ordered at 12.45. Got to 1.50 and still no food, so much for 20 minutes. Oh and they forgot one of the drinks. I went to speak to someone who told me that our food was coming now. I mentioned that people who arrived at least 30 minutes after we ordered had got their food before us. She denied it ... straight away trying to duck for cover. I go back to table and my wife's salad arrived. Then the waitress came and told us that our meals will be another 40 minutes because the chef said the delay was the Minute Steak. We said no way as I had just been told our meals were ready. I said this is not good enough and went to the counter and told the lady what the waitress said. She said no they are coming now. I went back to our table and the Chef came out with our meals and apologized saying that the steak took 30 minutes to cook. Now any chef would know that a Minute Steak takes approx 2-3 minutes or up to 7 minutes maximum depending on rareness to cook. So again trying to blame something else instead of their incompetence. Just like one of the drinks being forgotten they also forgot one of the calamari orders, so again another wait. The Calamari was under cooked and not seasoned, chips over cooked and the salad was drowning in dressing, NOT A NICE MEAL. Again any chef would know how long to cook food for.. After I paid (Over $200) one of the ladies came up and apologized and returned $30 for the inconvenience of the forgotten meal. Our whole experience and day was ruined by the total incompetence, lack of communication, non existence of customer service, under & over cooked food. No one took responsibility for their incompetence and actions. This place was recommended to us... Well I certainly would not be recommending it to anyone and would not be returning. You are lucky I even gave you one star.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40

Again…allowing another Melbourne café screwed me over; that is, we end up paying top dollar for food that is only passable, and arrives 75mins after it was ordered; with zero service. Let’s start…we arrived 11:30 seated, no one came to take drinks order until 12:12, no water arrived either.  The wait person had a face like Easter Island totem…not a smile or any pleasantries to be seen. We decided to go to this establishment for the situation as its open air covered deck….you guessed it they closed the plastic blinds, and now we are all cooking(only us it turns out!) as the airflow is GONE… Many table ordered and had almost finished their meals before ours arrived; I said to be companion, it’s because you ordered a steak…LOL, yes I did it was a minuet steak; well apparently they take an hour to prepare in 2023! I said. We asked what was happening and was advised, sorry we are one “cook” down…..yeah sure!  It would not have killed someone to come over to our table and advise the situation before we had to track someone down……my perception is they could not have been that busy as the owner was two tables up having a drink with some dude, he look very relaxed!!!! , if the place was under the pump he would have been in doing what he could, well you would think – yes? The wait staff did exhibit any urgency in their movements, perhaps that’s just living in the back hills. Also most akin to man-yana on reflection…. Meals arrive, no sorry; a round of drinks on us, not even a smile….the steak was tough, all other plates I would say acceptable.  By time we finished the mains it was near enough to 3 hours, yes you read that correctly three  >>>>>>  Hours.  As you’d expect we did not order dessert of coffee, we all need to get home before dark!! Back again.....no change!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 3
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 4

Booked online about an hour before we wanted to go, and received a confirmation email, so we set out on a sunny Sunday afternoon for a cruisey lunch, and they were HECTIC. They hadn’t checked phone or online bookings since they started and so hadn’t technically received our booking. They had empty tables/seats, but kitchen was struggling to deliver all orders before a 1:30pm group of 40!! They gave us the last table they could manage, we noticed others after us were turned away. In spite of all this, the staff were LOVELY. They were run off their feet, but no one lost their composure, they were friendly, patient and helpful - all the ladies front of house were AMAZING. There was even an older man who came out from the kitchen to see if we were being looked after as we were waiting to be seated. It was all hands on deck, all the staff helped each other and despite how busy and under pressure they must have all felt, they delivered excellent customer service. We were worried that with the frenzy, something would go wrong with our order, and we were also told there would be a wait for our food as the kitchen was still catching up. Well, our food arrived in about 10mins, and coffees not long after. All arrived exactly as we ordered, food was hot and delicious, and delivered with a smile. I have nothing but admiration and thanks for the amazing staff doing a stellar job on a crazy day! We went there on a whim, wanting to enjoy a meal in the sunshine on a lazy Sunday, and they delivered. Will definitely be back to try other things on their delicious menu, and hopefully enjoy their excellent hospitality on a less hectic day. 100% recommend, and recommend booking a few days in advance to avoid disappointment!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$60–80

I had to leave a Google review to express how much I love The Dark Horse Cafe! As a regular visitor, I can assure you that this is a gem that you don't want to miss. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and inviting, and each time I visit I feel like I am coming home. And being able to bring my Cane Corso Storm just makes it an even better place to visit. My furry friend is always so thrilled to come with me and is treated with equal attention, which is truly wonderful. And don't even get me started on the food! Every dish is made to perfection, and even the simplest of menu items are infused with a delicious unique flavour that keeps me coming back for more. I am always impressed with the level of detail and care that the staff puts into each dish. Now, the staff at The Dark Horse Cafe are what truly make it a perfect retreat. They are warm, friendly, and very welcoming. From the moment I walked in I felt the rapport they have with the regulars and making new customers welcome too. You can tell they love what they do and want to make sure their customers have a great experience. Lastly, the vintage cars that visit by the dozen are an extra bonus! They would catch your eyes and provide an extra perk for those who adore cars. Overall, The Dark Horse Cafe is a place you simply must visit if you're in the area. The team has truly created something special here, and I'm so grateful for all the hard work that goes into making this place what it is. Thank you for creating something so amazing! So close to home
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Mother’s Day. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the best experience at this café. We booked ahead, calling to confirm our final booking numbers, twice. We arrived to find our booking was ‘lost/forgotten’, although one of the workers recalled our confirmation calls. Amongst the disarray, a table was literally thrown together for us and we were squeezed in. The table had only 2 glasses and one jug of water between 7 of us. We had to request extra glasses, twice. Two members of our party ordered burgers for lunch. However, about 10 minutes after ordering we were told that the kitchen had run out of beef burgers. A coffee order was delivered incorrectly and took 30 minutes to be rectified and redelivered. Another drink ordered throughout the service was forgotten entirely. Upon requesting the bill at the end of the sitting, the order list was wrong. I was told that the front of house staff needed to confer with the kitchen to verify the discrepancies between what we ordered and what was actually delivered. The staff were noticeably scattered and stressed and the entire venue seemed quite unprepared for a busy Mother’s Day. We were offered a bowl of chips at no cost as an apology for the booking debacle. Unfortunately, this just didn’t seem enough to wash the bad taste out of our mouths considering the continued disappointments that followed. On the plus, the food was of decent quality and the ambience (despite noisy, granted) had a nice country warmth to it. I would be tempted to try this café on a less busy day but I’m skeptical.

On our way through to Sugarloaf Reservoir, we stopped for an ale and a wine then added some hot chips to line the belly. Never can be too careful with alcohol and driving these days. Dark Horse has reincarnated an old establishment into a must visit place for the country culinary diner. The lovely drive from the east out through the long, leisurely gentle windy roads to this ‘one off’ cafe/store starts when you enter and greeted by the staff. They’ve been trained well or perhaps recruited well. Friendly, helpful and nothing too much trouble. We decided to sit up at a barrel on stools as we knew we’d only be an hour however, there is a variety of places to eat within Dark Horse. Indoors, outdoors, covered, uncovered, on large dining tables for 10 or at a couple of comfy couches indoors. Menu is simple but interesting and there is something for everyone including the kids. As well as somewhere to eat and drink, Dark Horse has an array of local produce for sale and I’d recommend you check out what’s on offer. The wine selection on display is certainly worth a look. This place reminded me of Merricks Cafe on the Mornington Peninsula - without the expensive price tag and snobbery. There also was a lovely young woman playing live music for patrons - good sound and not intrusive on our conversation. Note: wheelchair friendly. Kid friendly. Good parking. Network on Telstra was 1 bar and no bars for Optus however, you can ask for the wifi password.

Stopped for a quick takeaway coffee and it took 15 minutes for the order to get taken. There were only 2 people ahead of me. The social distancing stickers on the floor are a mess, people line up left and right and cut each other's queue. Staff don't seem to know what they're doing and just wandering around aimlessly. I could hear someone at one table asking for some sauce they were asking 20 minutes earlier. Please note, at the time of visit (Sunday late morning at 11.30), there were only 2x tables of 6 people occupied, 2x tables of 2 people and an outdoor table of 4 people occupied. The rest of tables were free. Enough to say it's quiet. I didn't even want to drink the coffee anymore. Come back again we won't. Updated: took the coffees to the car, put them in the cup holder between the front seats, drove away, picked up the cup and the lid came flying off splashing boiling hot coffee all over the console, lap, chest. Maybe try not to use cheap quality cups next time??

I can deal with poor service, poor quality meals, unsafe playgrounds and even wait times - attitude from the manager who dosnt care and you have lost me. We were served the wrong meals after an extravagant wait for our food and drinks. The manager did not only NOT apologise, but did not offer to replace our food so one of our party went without lunch. She then wanted to enter into an argument about the food, could not understand why we would not pay for a meal we did not order and then demanded I villify the staff over it "as it wasnt her fault". I refused to do this as the waiting staff we had were quite lovely, and it was besides the point. It could have all been rectified with a simple apology and a lot less drama from this inexperienced manager. I will never step foot in this establishment again. The review makes me give a star rating but its most definitely a zero star situation over at the Dark Horse.

We came in for breakfast on 16.06.2023. The moment we walked in, our day was made by the the smiles and genuine positive greeting we received from Catrina. Catrina was extremely attentive and did really well to remember our order even with the modifications we made. The food came to us quickly and was made with super fresh ingredients. The white hot chocolate was to die for! Overall, Catrina gave us the best customer service experience both of us have ever had and we look forward to coming back again when we're in the area.
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Dietary restrictions
Allowed for adjustments to drinks for lactose intolerance.
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot
Parking
Spots off the street in front of building and around side/behind building

disinterested and unfriendly staff. bad tasting food update re the restaurant's reply: your reply is completely in keeping with your service. Rude and inconsiderate. Now you are accusing me of writing a bad review without having even dined at your restautant? I can update a screenshot from my bank app where the receipt for my payment to your restaurant can be viewed. Instead of accusing your customers of lying improve the horrible quality of food at your restaurant and train your staff to at least "smile" at the customers. I never lie in my reviews or write a review without having used a service. My other reviews where I have given 5 stars to most places I have been to can attest to this claim. I gave you a two because you desreved 2 stars. We were a party of 5 people and every single one of us was displeased with the food AND the service.

Staff were amazing. Got served pretty quickly. The only reason I can’t give 5 stars is because my boyfriend and I both ended up with extremely sore stomachs after eating here. I got poached eggs on toast with hollandaise and my partner ordered the dark horse big breakfast. Whilst the food was good, I think the hollandaise sauce was off, didn’t taste right, maybe it is not made fresh every time and is in a big batch, understandable. But we both thought the hollandaise sauce tasted a bit funny. Both had sore stomachs all day afterwards. Service was amazing though, and I would dine here again, just maybe staff/chef should know that something wasn’t quite right with the breakfast food yesterday.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Food: 3
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Wanting a nice Sunday lunch out, at a my partner and I decided to make the drive out the Dark Horse. Place looked beautiful and well frequented. After being given the option of 2 different tables, the young lady told us to head to our table and sh'd be along in a minute with our menus. A young man was clearing up our table, gave us a bottle of chilled water and left us to enjoy the view. Thats all we did. We were ignored by numerous waiters, watched the table next to us arrive, be seated and place their order. After 30 mins we gave up waiting to be served and left, hungry. Would love to have given a great review but we could only review the lovely view. We won't be going back and have already advised friends not to waste their time.

Lovely friendly waiters. Food was delicious and didn't wait too long. I gave it 2 stars is because it would be fine if you didn't have any allergies. I am a coeliac and chose the vegie burger with avocado. I double checked with waitress it was gf & she said yes and noted Coeliac on the order. I also checked again with another waitress when meal came out that it was gf. 2hours later I was extremely sick vomiting for 2 hours and in a lot of tummy pain. Clearly there was something in the meal that wasn't gluten free. My partner rang the owner & to her credit she was very apologetic. After some discussion she reluctantly agreed to send out a voucher. That was 3weeks or so ago & nothing has arrived in the post. Quite disappointed.

Lovely views, fantastic hot chocolate good eggs Benedict! been coming here since ages their is amazing consistency. edit* the consistency has definitely changed with the eggs Benedict. As they did not poach my eggs correctly, and felt like they reused the same bread as well as the hollandaise, added the new eggs on top, when I ate it it was just subpar and not as hot and toasty as my previous experience. I still love this place a lot and have been here a 100 times and it’s the first instance where I had a subpar experienice.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$40–60
Food: 3
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

Lovely spot, sad about the rest. Served by 2 separate waiters who appear to have a clear idea of who was serving whom. Ordered 2 scones to share, we saw them in the cabinet. We later saw others eating these, who had arrived and were seated after we ordered. 10 mins after ordering we were told there was only 1 scone left not 2. Then 10 mins further on were told none, just as we saw one served to someone else! Ok we said, will get a bowl of chips instead. 25 mins later when we had finished all our drinks that hadn’t arrive either! One waiter was friendly and apologetic, the younger woman not so much and both unsure what we had actually got. Won’t be going back.

The Dark Horse- what a perfect venue to celebrate our mum’s 91st birthday last Sunday. We all thoroughly enjoyed eating delicious food while sitting on the deck at the front of this cosy, rustic and welcoming cafe. Where we were sitting felt like our own private party. But what stands out at the Dark Horse is the excellent service by the staff. You can tell they have a passion for hospitality. Everyone was happy, friendly and attentive. You all made the day so special for mum and our family. Thanks for looking after us.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Delicious food with very generous portion sizes. Breaky burger is a must (if they have it as a special). Parma for lunch is another brilliant suggestion - sooo many chips. Nice scenery, and really friendly staff - good with kids.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40
Parking
About 20 spots? Maybe more.
Kid-friendliness
Mr Teen asked if they do thickshakes (not on the menu). Staff member just winked and whispered "I'll put in extra ice-cream". I assume we paid a few dollars extra, but the smile on his face was worth it.

Late afternoon snack only but the chicken and avocado toastie was EPIC. Can't say I had any preconceived expectations but whatever they were, this exceeded it. And the staff... just genuine lovely people. Served us super quick, even though they were running tight on a busy day... the chef even took the time being the food to our table... and check on whether they had missed anything for my wife (she wasn't eating). Honestly, I had no idea a humble toastie was going to lift my mood so much!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–20

It is the closest cafe restaurant (from Eltham or Melbourne side) to Sugarloaf Reservoir where one can hike the 18km round the reservoir or just part of it! It serves all day breakfast and drinks. Set in the shady part of the woods, it provides a welcoming break in the journey. I rate the environment 4/5, food choice is 4/5, food quality 3.5/5, Parking 3.5/5, friendliness of staff 4/5, staff alertness 3.5/5. Should ask For the specials every time. They are hidden in a little corner and the staff didn't mention each time we went there! Hope it helps.

The staff are super friendly. We had a gluten free eater, a vegan, a meat eater and a baby, we were all super happy. We stopped in for a Saturday lunch and we managed to grab a table inside and were served super quickly despite the cafe being quite full (if going during peak times it may pay to book your spot). Setting is awesome, next to a couple of farms and the bush. Food and coffee was great but the service was perfect. Great selection of local Gin and next time a nice little gallery (follow signs to the antique store and you'll find the cafe).

Have been seated at the table for over 30 minutes. No water. No offer of drinks. Staff seem lovely, but you could have had 5 drinks and 3 entrees ready and served by now. We have for young kids in a party of 12. Still waiting... Served after 35 minutes only to find the menu provided was incorrect. Up to 55 minutes now, drinks have arrived, still no water. 60 minutes, kids meals arrive. Had to go and get water ourselves. 75 minutes, meals begin to arrive Reasonable price, average food. Poor service. Overall, very nice staff, but not worth the drive.

Beautiful atmosphere, really nice staff and nice food. Great for a quick coffee and dessert or allday breakfast and main meals. A wood fire with surrounding plastic windows allow for a comfortable and warm environment with a place to sit outdoors if you wish to do so. Amazing selection of local wines, ciders and other produce. Overall, an enjoyable experience that can be enjoyed by couples and families alike. Small things that I did not enjoy was the quality of the toilets and seating but that can be easily overlooked.

I can't comment about the food as I arrived after the kitchen closed, but the pastries looked fresh and inviting. The cafe has plenty of outdoor seating, which is perfect during the warmer months as the indoor seating is very limited. The building and furniture are a bit on the poor site, but this adds to the more authentic country feeling that the Dark Horse radiates and the friendliness of the staff reflects this perfectly.
Service
Dine in
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

This great cafe is conveniently located about 1 ½ hours into my regular cycle training ride, so I am usually here twice a week for the great service and coffee. Others rave over the massive homemade scones and vanilla slices. As at 10 Dec 22 Dawson Road access has been restored after rebuilding of road and culvert destroyed by storm water flooding. Access now by Dawson Rd, Kangaroo Ground – Yarra Glen Rd or Alma Rd.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–20

Very lovely place and lovely staff. Simple and convinient. Walked in as it was on my way. However will definitely go again. If you love dried tomatoes, consider buying a jar from there. Expensive but worth the money paid
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot
Parking
Enough parking available and extra in the back

Tried this cafe for the first time with a Scoopon voucher. The atmosphere and music was great but service was terrible. We waited an hour for our food with no follow up from our waitress until we asked. No cutlery and napkins on the table and we needed to get them from another table. There was also blood spilled on the floor in the only toilet available as the other one was locked. A shame to waste a lovely venue and good live music with such poor service - clearly under staffed.

Enjoyed brunch here today with my motorbike club. Pancakes; eggs on toast ; smashed avo; calamari &salad all ordered very nice meals very enjoyable. Coffee was nice too. Thank you we will be back! Sheri-Ulysses MC Yarra Ranges.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$20–40
Vegetarian options
Several dishes can be made Veg friendly.
Parking
Limited parking. If coming on nice weather weekend get there early as parking is limited!!

Nice rustic setting. I wouldn't say i felt welcome. The staff have patience but no smiles, no conversation, no encouragement and lack lustre. Maybe it was a bad morning. Was told there are no tables but there are 4 or 5 empty tables that remained empty for our visit. No fires but it was chilly. I think the staff could extend themselves a bit further. Menu limited but acceptable. Nice coffee!! Great location for a drive. Not suitable for disabled or wheel chairs.

An impromptu stop off at the Dark Horse Cafe for breakfast. Situated in the most glorious setting with wildlife close by. The staff were super friendly and the food exceptional. Would definitely go back if in the area again.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot

I am a taxi driver and from the airport to on the way to Yarra Glen ,I saw this cafe and decided to stop while returning to airport.I had a small cappuccino in a cup .service was really really quick .It was an amazing and one of the best coffee I have had so far in Melbourne region. Staff is super friendly and respectful. I will come back with family again in few days .I am so impressed.I wish I could give this cafe 10 stars out of 5 ☺️.well done guys .

This used to be an antiques/coffee place but now is a great full service Cafe with great food and wine. It's got indoor and outdoor eating areas with great views of the bush. We discovered it's popular with the locals too. We'll be back. Being gluten intolerant, there was enough GF or GFO variety there to meet my needs.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$40–60
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Old style country venue with good views of bushland. Meals were reasonably priced and of good quality. Friendly service and patient when crowds gather. Family atmosphere and child friendly and of course can get a little loud at times. A few drinks with good quality wines usually muffle the sounds. Overall a pleasant breakfast, afternoon lunch will not disappoint especially on a lovely Sat or Sun drive. Suggest bookings to avoid disappointment.

Such a lovely place along the way to Yarra valley. So many handmade soaps, wines and gin available as well. The staff are really friendly, and the coffee is good! Nothing more you can ask for. Would definitely go again ✨
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$1–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot

This Sunday we plan to head off somewhere and want to have a simple lunch here( one bowl of chips, 3 burgers and a kids waffle), however we using almost 2 hours to waiting our food with our hungry kids, from 12:50pm to 2:20pm just a bowl of chips comes up. Other dishes comes at 2:45pm! Will not come back again. Overall this is a lovely little cafe, nice food and friendly staffs. But just take too too too long to wait.

All day breakfast is amazing, staff are super helpful and friendly and great coffee. Don't miss their vanilla slice.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
House-Made Scone with Yarra Valley Raspberry Jam & Double Whipped Cream, Slices, Smashed Avo with Slow Roasted Tomatoes & Feta on Sourdough Toast

Great place, cozy space, Loved the live music. It was busy, our food took almost 1 hour to arrive and We noticed few tables got their foods before us even though they arrived much later then us. however I was disappointed with the sauté veggies as it seems to be from frozen packs and the chicken from the burger was a bit dry. we enjoyed the hospitality but unfortunately the food didn't satisfy our personal liking.

A great place for lunch. Dog friendly. Lovely staff. Made us feel welcome and our poodle Stan. Great food and service. We will be back.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$60–80
Vegetarian options
Great vegetarian option. I enjoyed the Dark Horse Salad.
Dietary restrictions
Caters for Vegos, vegans and those who need gluten free.
Parking
Plenty of parking.

The best breakfast ever! The staff are so friendly and the food delicious! Sweet tomatoes and mushrooms to die for, lovely deep orange yolks on the free range eggs, cooked perfectly to order and the sourdough was so moreish! It was so yummy, we bought lamb shanks, mash and greens to takeaway for dinner and a delicious raspberry and white chocolate meringue for dessert. Yum! Can’t wait to come back! 5 stars++!

our new favourite place to stop after walks and rides in the forests nearby. first class friendly and attentive service, perfect coffee, and a variety of tasty cakes and pastries. sitting out on the deck. voila.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$40–60
Recommended dishes
House-Made Scone with Yarra Valley Raspberry Jam & Double Whipped Cream

Family favourite. The food is simply excellent, the staff friendly and courteous. Would recommend to anyone looking for a nibble
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40
Recommended dishes
Homemade Scones, Salt N Pepper Calamari, Battered Onion Rings, Belgian Waffle, House-Made Scone with Yarra Valley Raspberry Jam & Double Whipped Cream

A truly outstanding dining experience while immersed in the almost surreal surroundings. The staffs excellent service was complemented by their warm smiles and welcoming nature. Thank you Dark Horse Cafe.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Parking space
Plenty of parking

Had corn fritters from the brekkie menu which came with poached eggs and a small rocket salad with dressing and it was delicious.The fritters also came with a home made chutney which was marvellous…the coffee was great and the staff and owners were lovely…what’s not to like..???…also had a nice vibe to the place..
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5

Fantastic cafe. Had lunch on Sunday the meals were of great quality and size. Amazing value!! Wines were very reasonable and good too. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. Atmosphere was just right for a relaxed Sunday afternoon. Highly recommended. It's a lovely drive from Melbourne inner suburbs. Lots of lovely walks and Hikes are also available around the area.

We made a quick stop off for coffee but we also ended up getting cakes as well. Friendly staff, very cheerful and nice inviting environment.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
House-Made Scone with Yarra Valley Raspberry Jam & Double Whipped Cream

Google say this place is now closed and that's partly correct. It's now reopened under different owners and there are no longer any Antiques. The staff are really friendly and the food, coffee, hot chocolate and cakes were fantastic. Quaint inside, really pretty view and landscape outside. Great place to go for lunch or just to pull into for a rest if driving by.

We came with the $30 Groupon deal for two, and we couldn't have been more surprised. We had a shared fried calamari appetizer, 2 awesome main meals (see pictures below), with a crown lager and ice chocolate! What! Even when the Groupon ends, definitely will be coming back! But couldn't recommend this place more, especially while the Groupon deal exists!

Great spot to relax and enjoy some good food. The portion size was generous. The service was also excellent! The waiters are very friendly.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot

Food was super tasty! Staff went out of their way to be welcoming and assist in any way they could. Also is kid friendly with a small playground and a colouring corner.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot

We spent a beautiful afternoon with family and friends at this cute cafe with delicious food, a good selection of local wines and live music. The staff were friendly and attentive, the views were magnificent and there is a playground and cubby house that enticed and entertained the children for lengthy periods. Definitely worth a visit.

Brilliant location, brilliant food, brilliant service! What more could you ask for? Just a 40 min drive from Melbourne, nestled among the hills and lush greenery, this place offers sole great food options with super friendly staff. Highly recommended on its own or even as a pit stop enroute to some of the other destinations further on.

Bliss! This place is such an oasis and the food is not only delicious but also very affordable. The cafe sits on a lovely property which makes you feel completely relaxed. The eggs Benedict was incredible simple yet scrumptious, not to mention filling! I will definitely be back if only to soak up the atmosphere

Wow, what a great little place.. Super Friendly Staff, Great Food and the “Best” Vanilla slice and Sweets on offer. Owners are fantastic and showcase lots of local produce which is awesome. We will definitely be back as local regulars..
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$1–20

Good coffee... And homemade scones. Stopped by to have a quick coffee before heading to Yarra Valley. Live music in the Cafe and nice view surrounding. Definitely a good place for relax and chill out from the daily busyness. Good place for family and friends gathering. Will definitely recommend this place.

Had an amazing time here! Friendly staff, good vibes and generous settings. Felt right at home. Recommend for a cosy catch up over a meal or just tea and scones.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

A great cafe that is well worth the drive out. It can get quite busy depending on the time of day and it is easy to see why. The location is wonderful placing you in a tranquil bush setting. The food is great, tasty and fresh. The staff are warm and friendly. One of our favourite spots.

We were a group of 18 and had a fantastic time. The staff were fantastic, relaxed country atmosphere, food was delicious and generous serves. For all you sweet lovers there's a beautiful selection of cakes we really enjoyed the vanilla slice. Thanks for having us can't wait to go back.

Would thoroughly recommend Dark Horse Cafe. The staff were super friendly and the owners took time to talk to every table. Great customer service and great food. I’ll be telling friends and going back.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$40–60

Friendliest staff I ever been served by. Coffee was okay. Tea was really good. Bought some food items that are great. Had a vanilla slice that was ridiculously good. The slice itself was worth more than 5 stars. If they get a better coffee bean, that would be great as well.

Great location, Smashed avo and Fries was amazing. Vegetarian Burger was yum never had that good vegetarian Burger ever.Excellent service, Super friendly staff, great coffee & Vegan Brownie . Thank you girls for making my unplanned & first visit marvellous. …

This place is excellent! Great location, great food, great staff and great vanilla slices! We have bee here several times and the place is always welcoming. Incidentally, the vanilla slices weigh in at 500 grams!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Very friendly and good old fashion service,great food,good coffee ,this place is worth a visit with the biggest home made scones ever, served with jam and cream ,a great place to relax,
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$1–20

Had a wonderful, relaxed lunch on busy Sunday afternoon. Accommodated our group of 5 despite us being late for our booking. Had a great spot by the wood fire. Enjoyed the food, drinks and friendly wait staff. Definitely worth a return visit to this beautiful spot!!

Such a beautiful place! Generous and lovely staff, amazing food! Atmosphere is amazing, definitely a 10/10 place. Not mention the great local produce. One of my favourite cafe’s to visit.
Service
Take out
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$1–20

Lovely spot for lunch. Waitress were polite an efficient. Kids love it for outside space in between meals. Go for lunch, have a coffee or wine out the back near the pond. I would like owners to just fix up the outside cubby house, coat of paint, new flooring.

What a FANTASTIC experience: Friendly new owners chatted to us, food has improved and close to fine dining, all staff smiling and genuinely looked happy, affordable - we’ll be back.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40

Love this little rustic cafe. Been here a few times since change of name. Always nice here no matter the weather but the autumn sun makes it something special. 7 of us had lunch and drinks. Not one complaint about the food and a lovely afternoon was had.

What a fantastic experience! The platters are huge and such great value (we'd used a Scoopon voucher so the prices were incredible, but even the menu prices are decent). The wine was delicious, friendly service and great views. I'll definitely be back!

Really lovely setting for this cafe. Staff were amazing, friendly and helpful. Food was delicious and we will be back for the vanilla slices.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

We had a work brunch at this beautiful cafe, the staff were lovely, the food was generous... and delicious! With a variety for all the group to enjoy. We ran them off their feet but they served with a smile. Thanks for a wonderful experience!

This isolated place is a comfortable eatery with lots of uncrowded seating including covered and uncovered outside seating. Plenty of parking usually. Cheery waitress forgot my order but that was Okay because she was very pleasant to look at.

The vanilla slices are amazing. The vegetable frittata was one of the best I've had.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes

This is a fabulous cafe, lots of choices, and had the biggest vanilla slices I've ever seen didn't get one tho. Coffee was good, food exceptional. Also had option to purchase other goods like jam, candles, diffusers etc Can highly recommed.

This is a great place to visit for breakfast or lunch. This was previously the Watson's Creek cafe. The address is shown as Kangaroo Ground but is actually about 5km away in Watson's Creek. Really good food and value for money prices.

Excellent food , service and beautiful views complete with a kookaburra. I had visited this place shortly after it changed hands and was disappointed but I am glad we gave it another try today. The open steak sandwich was perfection.

Excellent coffee. Good food, too, but nothing extraordinary on that front. The setting is great - large outdoor seating area looks down into bushland and a nicely landscaped pond area. Interesting wine selection and good breakfast.

Really loved this cafe, in beautiful country setting. Food was delicious and great service. Highly recommend. I ordered beef burger and chips, hubby ordered big brekky and it did not disappoint. Coffee was excellent, great flavour.

Menu is basic, but food is top quality. Berries on waffles were 12/10 Smashed avo was great.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

A sweet rustic cafe, food was excellent, I had the big breakfast, everything was well cooked with very wholesome ingredients, very satisfied overall. The staff were very friendly and efficient. Did not have to wait long at all!

Used to be a favourite cafe but gone downhill so much. Pricey very average food with limited menu. No Seniors menu anymore which is a shame for the locals. They need to get a proper chef. Wont be back in a hurry - such a shame.

The staff is really friendly, the food is good and it's in a lovely location. All-round a lovely stop, but the friendliness of the staff makes this an amazing experience.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great location and charming little cafe with delicious food matched with wonderful service.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

great service, food was amazing and very caring staff. We would definitely get back here more regularly and strongly recommend darkhorse cafe.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$20–40

This place definitely has that welcoming at home feeling and to top it off, the food is fantastic! It's a must for anyone wanting a great lunch and excellent service. Not far from town either... Worth the little drive out.

Great little jewel where you least expect. Stop in everyone drives past to somewhere else.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Ordered the antipasto platter based on the menu description, but when it arrived it had more than was advertised; a lovely surprise from lovely staff. We've already recommended this cafe to family and friends. …

We sat out in the beautiful sunlit courtyard out the back with our dog. The staff were super accommodating and friendly but the eggs bennie is THE BEST!! Definitely worth a stop off on your way out to the Yarra Valley.

A unique spot to dine out, love the courtyard area especially sitting beside the lake/dam with my dog. Great menu, friendly service and has good cocktails! Would be perfect for a romantic date or brunch with the girls

Had a birthday lunch today at the Dark Horse Cafe for my wife. The service and food was excellent. Their generosity was quite impressive, turning a small problem into a lovely time together. Well done! We'll be back!

A family business, the whole family members are very friendly and nice. The food is nice too. Been there few times and they've always been very welcoming.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Had a lovely time. Friendly staff, good food, comfortable furniture, great to see local produce featured.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

One of the best breakfast I've ever had. Excellent customer service and great atmosphere. Thank you to all the staff for making my experience, one that I will never forget. I highly recommend this cafe!

Lovely staff, greeted so well upon entering and received us well. The location of the Cafe and the backyard set up is all top notch. Wonderful place and would visit again.
Price per person
$1–20

Lovely staff and great service. Outside seating was enclosed and heated. I had the halloumi salad and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40

First time there and had a great lunch. Calamari was beautiful and tender, open steak sandwich was big, polpette were beautiful. Staff were very friendly What a great find and will definitely be back.

Our party of six enjoyed a delightful breakfast. Excellent service with our meal promptly served and of a high quality. A most comfortable ambience in a lovely rural setting. Thoroughly recommended.

Antipasto platter for 2 was delicious with more than enough food. The staff and owners are very friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Hi, this is guest from Indonesia. Beautiful resto to enjoy the food and times with family.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Super friendly staff and amazing food highly recommended. We were down there as a car club and really enjoyed the hospitality thank you.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Random breakfast stopover turned out to be delightful. Great views, lovely atmosphere and friendly staff.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$20–40

Good food, friendly staff, reasonably priced, ample parking calm relaxed atmosphere highly recomended
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–40