Dark Horse Tavern Gives Tarzana a New Home For Craft Beer and Barrel-Aged Bourbon

After nearly two decades as a casual (if somewhat nondescript) pub for Valley locals, Tarzana’s Little Rock has closed. In its place comes Dark Horse Tavern, a similarly styled gastropub, but with elevated dinner fare and a long happy hour.

Dark Horse Tavern’s interior is an eclectic mix of bartops and casual two-top seating, with a brightly colored accent wall and hanging pendant bulbs for lighting. The wraparound bar is lined below with corrugated steel, while remaining walls take on a reclaimed wood look. The open ceiling is painted black to add a sense of height to the space.

The menu comes by way of chef Ian Bambic, and features a relatively straightforward mix of burgers, flatbreads, and appetizers, plus the ubiquitous bowl of brussels sprouts and even a kale quinoa salad. Desserts like cheesecake-stuffed strawberries and reimagined s’mores are also on offer. There are more than a dozen craft beer options on draft at the bar, most for around $7, along with cocktails and lots of bourbon, including a cask of aged bourbon on hand from Seven Troughs Distillery out of northern Nevada.

Dark Horse Tavern is currently open daily from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., with plans to open for lunch in the future. Happy hour runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and dinner service goes until midnight.