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Business & Tech

Black Horse Tavern Has Successful First Night

The lines were out the door as residents couldn't wait to check out their newest bar/restaurant.

The sentiment around the opening of The Black Horse Tavern from the patrons who tested out Winchester's newest bar/restaurant last night was essentially the same, "It's wonderful Winchester has a place like this."

It's been a long time since Winchester had anything in terms of a pub – but The Black Horse Tavern is just that, a quaint, pub-style restaurant and bar for people to come and relax with a few beers, a few burgers and a few friends.

Black Horse opened at 5:30 p.m. Monday night and by 6:30, there was already a mob scene inside and outside the restaurant with seating taking more than 2 ½ hours. Dozens of Winchester residents were packing the booths, bar and tables hoping to be some of the first to take it for a test run.

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For the next week, Black Horse will not be taking reservations and will be using a limited menu. Appetizers offered are a soup of the day, shrimp, calamari, fries, wings and a few other standards priced at about $7-9.

For entries, there are salads and a variety of burgers that cost roughly $10, with sirloin "Tavern Tips," baked haddock, fettuccine and pork chops priced between $13 and $17. Added to this, owner, Jim Covino, along with his wife Kim, were busy spinning different pizzas all night long at a price of $15 a pop.

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The bar is in full swing however, serving up an assortment of beers, wines and liquors at fair prices. Most notably, Black Horse has its own special brew – Black Horse Beer.

"It's a nice dark beer, similar to a harpoon IPA, it's really good," said Winchester resident Marc Archer.

The food was doted over, as well.

"The food was fantastic," said patron Amy Dugre. "I had the Tavern Tips, my family had the salad and a pizza. The food is reasonable priced and well served. It was just full of people with their families and kids and everyone was enjoying themselves."

"Full" is a good word to describe the atmosphere and general feeling after leaving Black Horse. In these hectic opening weeks, Black Horse is certainly the spot to go for Winchester residents looking to try the latest downtown has to offer.

Throughout most of last night throngs of people just kept coming in and out, young and old, groups and pairs, all kinds of customers were buzzing around the tavern hoping to snag a seat at the crowded bar or perhaps even be some of precious few who were able to get a table.

Black Horse Tavern is located at 32 Waterfield Road, on the opposite corner across from the Post Office, right under the commuter rail. Their phone number is 781-369-1620, but they aren't taking reservations this week.

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