Dark Horse Tavern Opens in Former The Avenue Space
The Dark Horse is now open at 2354 Frankfort Ave. Photos by Kevin Gibson
The owner of what recently was The Avenue, a pub and eatery on Frankfort Avenue, has rebranded the space the Dark Horse Tavern. Part of the transition is a focus shift to feature live music.
The main bar area hasn’t changed dramatically, apart from the notable removal of all the tables previously used as part of the dining feature. Instead, seating is located at the main bar and along a shelf bar on the opposite wall, with a small stage overlooking the room. Along wall bar are phone chargers aplenty, and in between is empty floor for standing or dancing when a performance is happening. The main bar features a variety of spirits, bottled and draft beer and a menu of house cocktails.
And while The Avenue offered a full menu of fare prepared in-house, Dark Horse features an on-site food truck called Jo Yo’s, which offers panini sandwiches and salads. There’s a veggie panini, a caprese version, a three-cheese panini, one called the KeYo, which features turkey, pesto, tomato and provolone and a side of lemon vinaigrette and the Johnny5.
The Johnny5, which was an opening-night best-seller, is made with chicken, bacon, sauteed red onions, smoked gouda, candied jalapenos and barbecue sauce. Five sides are available, as are five different salads, from a Cobb to a Caesar, as well as the JoYo, made with romaine lettuce, egg, bacon, tomato, cucumber and shaved carrots with peppery buttermilk dressing. Paninis and salads are priced at $7 for small versions and $12 for large.
Out behind the building, where Jo Yo’s operates, is a small patio with seating. Where the kitchen used to exist is now a second stage for performances. Dark Horse owner Andrew Prewitt said the mix of music he brings in will be eclectic, mentioning styles like rock, jam, latin, folk, bluegrass and funk. Other features of the new bar will be Bluegrass brunches, open-mic nights, live bluegrass jams and trivia on Wednesday nights.
As for the re-brand, Prewitt said it was simply too difficult to keep the kitchen running, in part due to staffing issues. He created the menu himself and the turnover in staff made it difficult for the food to stay consistent.
“I didn’t want to train anybody else,” he confessed.
Dark Horse is located at 2354 Frankfort Ave. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/darkhorselouisville.
