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Business & Tech

Black Horse Tavern to Open by Month's End

New establishment to offer a variety of food, along with a full-service bar in Winchester Center.

The much-anticipated completion of the Black Horse Tavern in Winchester Center will be open for business by the end of July, said co-owner and Winchester resident Kim Covino.

"My family has always wanted to open a restaurant," Covino said.  

Covino works as a real estate agent in the area and her husband, James Covino, is a police officer in town. The couple wanted to find a location to foster their dream and would then work with the town for a license.

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The couple purchased the building located on 32-38 Waterfield Road last April. Prior to construction, the property housed four small businesses including a hair salon, barber shop, jewelry store and The Black Horse Bootery.

According to Kim Covino, all four businesses have relocated. Construction began in early January and nears its end, as the 84-seat restaurant complete with large booths and a 17-sear bar, will open its doors to the public in the coming weeks.

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"We spent a lot of time and effort on designing the interior of the tavern," said Covino, who explained that the aesthetic of the dining space takes a modern variation on the atmosphere of an old tavern. In addition, the space is complete with a substantial floor to ceiling stone fireplace that will be utilized during the winter months. 

Covino emphasized that the derivation of the "Black Horse Tavern" title was chosen based on a 16th century photograph of an old meeting place, which is said to have been located on the corner of Main Street and Black Horse Terrace. The relic will be hung up on a wall in the tavern to serve as reminder to the historical implication of the name. 

Covino is confident in the staff she and her husband have hired. The kitchen staff will be managed by a chef and an assistant chef, who have worked extensively with the owners in developing inventive and fresh dishes to serve.

"Their ideas have blended with our own family recipes," Covino said.

In addition to Covino and her husband, two full-time managers with extensive experience will help manage the waitstaff.

Specials will be changed daily, as Covino hopes to provide unique and surprising options to customers. Marinated steak tips, fresh seafood from Gloucester and local vendors, hand-tossed pizzas, and a signature gourmet burger convinced Covino that business will flourish; not to mention an extensive children's menu. Covino hopes the tavern will appeal to a vast profile.

"Being in the real estate business, people are always asking me where to get a burger," said Covino, who believes that the location will draw in crowds after the evening commute looking for a place to relax. Conveniently, the tavern is located just below the Winchester Center Train Station.

Head bartender Peter Walsh is just as confident regarding the proximity of the tavern to a major commuter line.  

Walsh has worked for many years at the Temple Bar in Cambridge and will be taking over at the Black Horse Tavern in a few weeks. With a staff of bartenders with 15 years of experience as well as a mix of younger members, Walsh is sure that the bar will be popular.

"When you walk in, you can tell that the owners put a lot of time into the details. It's such a warm atmosphere, and you really do feel like you're in a tavern, but it's definitely upscale," Walsh said.

The 17-seat bar will be open every day and will be promoting signature drinks. Walsh names a few including a Mango Bellini, a champagne cocktail with a mango puree; the Caipirinha, the Brazilian national drink served with Cachaca; and finally a new flavor of Absolute vodka called Acia, a melody of blueberry and pomegranate.

Desserts will be homemade, said Covino, who mentioned the White Chocolate Bread Pudding, as a predicted favorite.

Covino and her husband are very excited for the opening of the tavern. With the next few weeks to prep and practice, the couple will train their young, as well as, experienced staff to prove that the tavern will be a place for relaxation, fine dining and family.

"We are very grateful to have the support of the town," said Covino, "Every day, I run into people, some of whom I don't even know, who tell me how excited they are about the restaurant. It's a good thing."

Inspired by a historical commonplace, echoed through a modern lens, the Black Horse Tavern will open in the coming weeks.

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