Black Horse Tavern
32 Waterfield Rd, Winchester, MA, 01890
Black Horse Tavern Menu
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Address :
32 Waterfield Rd
Winchester, MA, 01890 - Phone (781) 369-1620
- Website https://www.blackhorsetavernwinchester.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:30 pm - 12:00pm
- Mon : 4:30 pm - 12:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Very Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Eric K.
I used to really like the Black Horse but it's standards are definitely slipping. The menu has been the same for at least two years, specials are uninspiring. I suspect business is still very good as its really the only bar/pub in Winchester. A day of reckoning will come however when more options come on the scene in town. Last meal was steak tips and Pizza. Food tasted OK but presentation was on par with a cafeteria. Food and menu really in need of a refresh. Unfortunately I'm not rushing back.
(3)Kevin J.
A drink ok place for drink bartender to make you any drink you want price was ok place the wasn't very clean and it took a long time to make drinks decors ok not many people in this establishment spent $250 for 3 people this was only for drinks we also order about for appetizers its okay and if you need something where to go I guess so
(3)Adriana G.
Great bar food with fun live entertainment (at least on Friday nights). Kept my husband and I entertained while testing each other what movies each song was in. Would definitely come back.
(5)Mike L.
Food is phenomenal, anything we get is delicious. We seem to be stuck on the flatbread pizza and burger selection most visits. Sometimes we just order a selection of appetizers for the night. The specials are always interesting and very good. Only reason for 4/5 stars is the wait is usually 30-45 minutes for party of 2 on weekends and even some weeknights. Also, restaurant is very loud due to the bar, "lounge" and dining area all in the same physical space. The dividers do little to mute the noise. Otherwise and awesome place!
(4)Dennis D.
Three stars is about right. Been going there for yrs. food is decent. Drinks are nice. Service is avg. last experience trying to grab a quick pizza on tues at 4 pm with my newborn when the place was empty left a sour taste in my mouth. Was told by the host that the carriage had to stay outside. If the owner were around i am sure that they would recognize the ridiculousness of them turning us away at such an odd hr. At a busy time, i totally understand. Looking forward to first pub opening this fall.
(3)Tab G.
Second try thinking maybe my first time was a fluke. The service was incredably slow. I will give them that the atmosphere im the resturaunt is very inviting, but the service was awful. Our waitress must have either been new to customer service or just hiding out back, we asked for some bread.. Never received it.. Our appatizers came out with our meal.. By appatizer i mean tinted water. I had heard great things but have been completly disapointed with the second try here. I don't recomend anyone waste your money or time.
(1)David O.
Overpriced, but food is decent. This was my third visit and will be my last. Went in for lunch and sat at the bar with my folks. Took over an hour to get our meals. 3 other couples at the bar got there food before us and they came after we ordered. When I asked the bar tender what was going on he told me that we were three or four tickets behind these other people. All of which had sat down after we ordered. No apology at all. Even after he went to check on our order he didn't even come back and give us an update. Who trained this kid? He was very defensive and not accommodating. Will never return.
(2)Henry G.
There was talk that this might not be very good, but we had a great time here with old friends and the food and drinks were above average!! Winchester really needed a local quality place like this. It was cozy, lively and had the perfect tavern vibe. I highly recommend this place as a solid choice for downtown, great for all types.
(4)Lisa C.
All of the reviews that focus on the poor service here have it right. From the moment you walk in the door, you feel unwelcome, especially if you try to bring in a stroller. One waiter tried to tell me that it was against the fire code to bring a stroller in. No other business in town seems to have that rule... I don't understand the hostility (yes, hostility) toward families when families seem to be the bulk of the business. I get the sense that the staff don't have any incentive to be friendly because the think they are the only option in town. And that may be true, but Woburn, Medford and Arlington are only a short drive away and have many superior options to the BHT. Would love to see another casual pubby option open its doors in town and show the BHT what hospitality is...
(1)john k.
Not sure why this place gets such bad reviews. My wife and I recently moved not far from the restaurant and have been a few times over the past month. Every time we go our food is excellent and our drinks are superior to most other places. Their specials are fresh (just had a delicious spicy salmon burger) and constantly change, thus offering great changes to their menu. The wait staff and bartenders have always been courteous, talkative and helpful. The drinks alone are worth going for. They make some fantastic martinis, so good they remind me of the old Gargoyles in Davis Sq. The place can get busy on Friday and Saturday nights, so to avoid the rush just go a little later. After 7:15-30 it seems to calm down. I highly recommend everyone give this place a try, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I know we will be back very soon!
(4)James v.
This place is a joke. First of all staff, I'm sure you must be treated terribly and you're paying it forward. But we're doing YOU a favor by showing up, you're not doing US a favor by paying snotty attention every once in a while We ate here once and tried to go back (even though the food was as meh as the service, it was close and should have been easy) but couldn't get a seat. The front of house seemed delighted to inform people that there were no tables. I understand a liquor license is a big deal in Winchester. But there's no reason to try to spend your money here. There are GREAT restaurants in Boston, Cambride, Somerville that don't give you attitude even though their great food and service might have inspired them to.
(1)Ribblet N.
This is my second time there. Went there for a late lunch after getting my hair cut. Actually, the appetizers were great and once they changed from the red neck music to the doors, was even better. The main course... Well, I had the swordfish and it didn't go well together. It came with artichoke hearts - but not the deep fried ones, but the ones out of a can. It was served over mashed potatoes, but they put cheese on it? The flavors clashed. Oh and the appetizers were the pulled pork chips and an order of mussels. They were perfectly cooked and very yummy!
(4)P C.
The food is generally good if somewhat predictable pub fare. The kitchen should work on a more modernized menu while retaining familiar items. The atmosphere is generally ok but sometimes it is too loud given the relatively small space and hard surfaces. During times when most patrons are there to eat (and not watch TV at the bar area), they need to TURN IT DOWN. In the last few months, service has gotten worse. Although mildly pleasant, the hostess and waiters seem to not communicate. In a span of 2 minutes, 3 separate people tried to seat us but then couldn't. In the end, it wasn't even clear who was the host. Then after expressing that we wanted a booth to one person, a different person tried to take us to a table.
(3)Mark R.
Great place to grab a beer at the bar after work. There's usually enough on tap to keep most satisfied, a few IPA's, light beers, Guinness and more. Dinner tables are usually a 30 minute wait as there's not much seating. The food is good not great. Don't go here to watch a sporting event like March Madness Basketball, customers do not come first here. You will have to negotiate with the bar staff and plead with them to change a TV channel. It's all about them not you the customer. Casey, the shift manager is particularly rude. She is the remote control TV Queen and won't get off her throne to service a customer request. Too bad. The owner Jim and his customers deserve better. Bring your own universal remote!!! Most of the other staff are great people! You can do better Black Horse.
(2)Carol M.
Our local neighborhood joint, a bit upscale. Food is good. Small place, often a wait, when there is we go elsewhere. Pizzas, burgers, humous, steak tips, salmon salads all good. Winchester doesn't really have a bar license, but if you sit at the bar "with the intention of ordering food" you can get a drink. Nice to have as an alternative to the chain places.
(3)Nan A.
The food is very good here. Had a Gorgonzola burger that was juicy and delicious with golden onion rings. Atmosphere is both relaxing and vibrant in a good way. Always a positive sign when the food does not come out in five minutes. Means it is being cooked with TLC. Despite the Winchester location prices are rather moderate.
(4)Victoria T.
When the Black Horse Tavern first opened I was excited to have a new restaurant in Winchester. At first the restaurant was great! The food was delicious and the staff was kind and helpful. However, recently the restaurant has been disappointing. The staff is always different and they don't seem to know how to run a restaurant. The hostess usually struggles to give an accurate wait time, and it seems I am always waiting a long time. Can't say I will be returning to Black Horse anytime soon.
(2)Michael C.
I've come to this local watering hole of Winchester Center a few times now. Mostly to grab the excellent steak tips they have to go. They have always been cooked to order and have been seasoned well. Besides the stand out steak tips the restaurant is pretty average in terms of selection and food quality. Mostly unmemorable but convenient if you live close by.
(3)John M.
Good place to take the family or grab a beer. The location right downtown is great. They have good burgers. Always have a vegetable risotto on the menu and frequently have risotto specials that are usually good. There is a weekend lunch menu with some good additions to an already solid menu. The only issue with the food is they always burn the fries. Great burger with burnt fries makes for just a good meal. The space is a little small but comfortable. The size does make it hard to get a table. The service is good once you are seated. The hostesses at the door seem a little clueless and can be off about the wait time. I have no problems with the waiters they are always polite and helpful, they just need to replace the hostesses.
(4)Sarah F.
Really enjoy the ambiance of this place! A nice spot in the middle of Winchester. I had the steak tips and my husband had the steak tips/blue cheese flatbread pizza. Both were delicious! The service was good and, because it was a weeknight, we didn't have a wait. Wish the spot were a little larger though. I could see how it would get packed if we came later or on a weekend. Its the perfect spot for a weeknight date night though!
(4)Julia L.
Attempted to call many times to inquire about hours but received terrible service and were hung up on the phone many times. I would not recommend buying alcohol from this location because of the horrible and rude service.
(1)Tiffany R.
No amount of free anything could get me to walk through those doors. I have walked past this place a countless amount of times and have always seen people pissed off. Being in the hospitality business myself I would be concerned if people left my establishment feeling so jaded.
(1)Mark T.
Overpriced and overcooked. Nice ambience and decent service but we overpaid for two people and a kid for lunch (over $50). Not that bad if the food was good, but it wasn't. My scallop BLT promised "Lightly fried" scallops and I got deep-fried, rubbery, inedible ones. My wife's $12 grilled cheese and tomato was nothing special and her onion rings were undercooked. My daughter had an $8 fish and chips which was mediocre. At least the chips were decent. I informed the server of the inedible scallops and got an apology, but nothing else. We won't likely be back.
(2)julesmary p.
Bring back the black horse bootery. I understand a kitchen can have an off night but this is hospitality. You gotta hire people who smile and want to take care of guests. If you make their food wrong, fix it. If there are paying customers who want to order drinks or food at the bar, don't be a dick; stop talking to your buddy and do your job. Serioisly. Dags needs seating and a liquor license. Then all would be good in Chesterville.
(1)Rosie K.
Black Horse is super convenient for people living close to the Winchester area. The food, for the most part, is pretty decent and so are the drinks. I have not experienced terrible service at this place. I was there a few weeks ago and the waitress was extremely kind and attentive, despite an issue I had with the food. This place gets crowded very quickly and unfortunately they do not take reservations for smaller parties so be prepared to wait a while. Luckily the hostess slightly over quoted our wait time so I was pleasantly surprised that we only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table when she had previously estimated 40 mins.
(3)Roxanne C.
Why was my review of this place written on 9/29/14 taken down? Didn't like the complaints about the unprofessional staff?
(5)Jodi H.
Would not recommend this restaurant! I was told the wait was 45 min and I am still sitting here 1 1/2 hours later waiting to be seated. The hostess has been very rude to us and at this point I wish we could just leave but I don't have time to go anywhere else. I will write be fair and write a follow-up and let you know how the food and waitress/waiter service is.
(1)Johnny B.
Really was excited about this place. The food was actually good and nice atmosphere except for the unpleasant waitress and ever nastier hostess. Earth to nimwit, you get customers to come back by being pleasant and putting down your cell phone. Text on your time, not mine. Never go back again, China Sky is so much better and they love your business and treat your like thery are happy to see you.
(2)Joseph I.
I was surprised here in light of the very plain location on the corner of a boring street! My wife and I had spent the afternoon in Winchester at the lake and were just feeling like a burger and a beer! We waited for the Tavern to open, and got a table. The place was nicely decorated with dark wood with nice lighting from the sunny day we were having. I forget the name of our server but she was friendly and knowledgeable about the beer selection they had to offer and she pointed me to a great beer, though I wish I remembered the name of it now.... She also recommended the great burger I had, my wife had it too. It was the "Black Horse Original", Italian sausage, beef patty, caramelized onions, mushrooms cheddar cheese, soooo good! We had the half n half side option, fries and O'rings, those were done right too. To wrap it up we shared a lemon, mascarpone and berry cake for dessert which brought our restaurant experience to an end. We shall return!
(4)Steve X.
Great food, awesome drinks. This place is Rocks!!! The best burger in the area. Excellent flat bread pizza! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. And if you like Espresso Martinis, this one is the BEST I've ever had.
(5)Sue R.
First-time diner a couple of weeks ago. Went on a Friday night around 5:30 and the place was already packed! We only had to wait 10 minutes; parking can get interesting, but we found a spot across the street at the train depot lot. Some reviewers mention it being loud, but we didn't find it as loud as some places! Waitress was awesome; very attentive and when asked, gave good suggestions on cocktails and specialities. The artichoke dip with pita chips was one of the best I've had; very fresh and not the oily-glue you can get in some pubs. Three of us had the baked haddock, I had the sirloin pot pie (huge serving size), which was tender and filling. My friends were mostly beer and wine drinkers; my Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic was perfect; We didn't have dessert (I would have if I had the room!). Looking forward to going back. Go early...when we left, there was a line out the door!
(4)Dana S.
have been here for drinks. I have also been here for lunch with a friend. Drinks for fine very busy the day that we went but staff was attentive.. The day we went for lunch is a different story. I got a really good salad that had pecans in it and added steak tips to it. I thought the price is a little high, but the food tasted very good. a salad with steak it was $19. We both ordered sangria. 1 white, 1 red, the afternoon bartender was fabulous and it had amazing bits of fruit and taste to it. So good that I decided to come back at a later time with my bf to have same. When we arrived in the early evening one night and asked for sangria, it was not anywhere close or the same. No fruits in it, and it tasted like rum. It still tasted good, but not amazing like the afternoon bartender had. Will be back because it's close, and the food is good, but was surprised at the drinks change.
(3)Marjorie T.
The Black Horse Tavern is a small restaurant in Winchester center. The food is good, especially the steak tips. I would give it 4 stars if not for a few things. First off it is a small restaurant so if you go at prime time be ready to wait. I really don't mind a little wait but the Hostess needs to really be honest with the wait times. A 30 minute wait is usually a 45 min wait or more. Patrons can also plan on being ignored by the hostess unless you speak up. Lastly, a smile can go a long way.
(2)Becca S.
Don't ever order the veggie burger. They charge you $12 for a frozen veggie patty. For one of the priciest burgers on the menu, I expected it to be home made.
(2)Karen B.
We found this place by looking at yelp we were not disappointed. My husband got the black tavern brew amber ale and loved it and thought the New England clam chowder was 5 stars. The blue cheese dressing was delish and homemade. I loved my burger cooked perfect and the hand it fries were hearty and great. My husband had the pork chop with mashed potato and found it very flavorful. Overall we loved it loved the open windows and atmosphere. We will come back!
(4)Christine D.
Great food, consistent product only downfall is everynight there is like a 40min wait, which is a nice reflection of the restaurant but annoying bc of the limited seating
(4)Gina P.
So, I've been back to the BHT and its really not much better. They have hours, but close early when they have a slow night, which being one of the few customers in the place, is uncomfortable when the staff makes it very clear they want to leave for home two hours early. Why posted hours? Why not just say 11:30 am to -whenever our staff doenst think its worth their time to be here anymore? I was getting the bums-rush through my dinner, and a *sigh* when my guest ordered another drink from the bar they were already closing up. If you have your hours posted, dont get annoyed when your customers actually believes you, and has an expectation that those are really your hours. Having said that my burger was good, but the food is still all overpriced for what it really is. The staff needs some attitude adjustments, but that comes from the top down. Unless someone really wants to go there, I wont make a big effort to go back and because there were still customer service issues and the fact that they still dont really know how to treat people and the prices are too marked up for what the food really is, I'm sticking with my two star rating.
(2)Briana B.
My family and I absolutely love this place. The arugula pizza and chicken piccata are particularly good but we haven't had anything yet that we haven't liked. The chicken piccata has a nice truly lemony taste plus the addition of artichoke hearts makes it a wonderful dish.
(5)Alex M.
Inattentive and unsmiling hostess, inattentive bartenders, boring beer list. Food is OK. Small place and can very crowded and loud at night. My wife and I went there last night (a Monday night) at 8pm for a quick burger and beer. There were women next to the hostess desk when we walked in, but neither one acknowledged us and they quickly both walked away. One woman kept walking back and forth past us to wipe down tables, but continued not to acknowledge us. Waiters kept walking past, but still nothing. After about 5 minutes of waiting and trying to get someone's attention, we finally were successful flagging down the woman wiping tables and asked her if the hostess was coming back soon. She answered that she was the hostess, and told us that there was a 15 minute wait for a table. She didn't tell us we could sit at the bar (many open seats) and wait there for a table to open up, or tell us we could order dinner at the bar. At no point did she smile or say anything pleasant to us -- it seemed like she wasn't having a good night. My wife and I agreed that until this woman learned how to be pleasant and attentive, she was in the wrong job. We gave the hostess our name and took two seats at the bar. There were two bartenders nearby chatting with each other -- it took 3-4 minutes for one to acknowledge us and come over to ask us what we would like. While we were deciding, the hostess came by and (without a smile) said abruptly "your table is available". The young male waiter was much more pleasant and attentive. Our hamburgers were good. But the onion rings were huge, doughy, not crispy and not worth eating. We were very disappointed by the beer list -- it was one of the most limited and boring beer lists we have seen in many years around the Boston area, especially for a place calling itself a "tavern". The beer list included a bunch of macro beers (Bud, etc), only 5-6 draft beers, and about 10 bottled micro beers. I've gotten used to beer lists which include 10-20 draft micro beers and 20-30 bottled micro beers. The beer list at the Menotomy Grille in Arlington is MUCH better. Overall, there are so many better places in Arlington and Somerville, I doubt that we'll go back again.
(2)Aaron L.
We have eaten here in the past - Food is good - above average pub fare. This time the service was just - meh. I will expound. Showed up - alone - asked for a table. Could see that a couple were available. Was told by the girl up front that I should find a seat in the bar. Looking over to the bar and seeing it was packed, I asked her if I could have a table since the bar was full. She pointed out one empty stool - in the service area - and said "That is open." I confirmed - you won't seat me? No - we don't have tables for 1 person. So after cramming into the armpit of the big sweaty guy next to the only empty stool, I ordered beer and food. Beer was good. Shipyard Pumpkinhead, nice and cold. Food I had a Caesar side salad with Anchovies and an order of Honey Barbecue wings. Good fresh salad, dressing, crisp croutons. Honey buffalo wings. Good flavor, sweet, crispy with just a touch of heat. Could be hotter - but good. I offered to pay a little extra for 12 wings instead of 8 (seriously who serves 8 friggin wings) and got told ok by bartender. 2 seconds later he comes back and said - "No - they only come in orders of 8." I guess the mental rigor of figuring out how much to charge me for an extra 1/2 order of wings (I'm going with $4.50 based on a loose calculation) was just too much for the kitchen staff. So they get 4 stars for the food and the general facilities - minus one star for making the customer feel not so welcome.
(3)G P.
I liked the atmosphere of this place. A dimly lit pub with a coziness about it. Maybe it was the fireplace. I was worried from reading some of the bad reviews regarding service but I had no problems at all with service. The hostess was friendly and the waitress was attentive, always refilling waters and sodas. The food was real good. I got the Mediterranean Lamb Burger. Wow, delicious! The others in my group ordered steak tips (he said they were just ok), salad with salmon on top (yum), and a burger with a friend egg and bacon on it (also yum). The only thing negative I can say is the place is really loud which some people might not like and the seats could have used a wipe down.
(4)Julie B.
Great little neighborhood spot for an easy weeknight meal after work.
(5)David B.
Unspeakably loud. The interior, which is quiet attractive, is made of acousticly reflective surfaces. So management plays loud music ... you cannot hear the people at your own table! The beer list offers a wide selection of boring mass market brands. The staff is nice though.
(2)K R.
Still love this place just wish they'd add a salad dressing without a mustard base for those of us that don't do mustard !!! :-)
(5)Maria S.
I really wanted to like this place, but it's just not a pleasant atmosphere due to the owners and their attitudes. I've been several times, hoping it would get better, and, most recently, I saw the owner (or the wife of the owner) walk into the kitchen with her tiny dog in her arms. This turned my stomach a little for the food I was about to eat. I have waited to post in the hopes they'd improve, but every time I've been there, there has been an issue, largely related to service, ambience, and hygiene. I do NOT recommend this establishment, as much as I wish I could.
(1)Amanda L.
What a great little spot!! Had a fun time, great food, and great service! Our waitress, Cassie, was very friendly, fast, and on top of everything. I had a big salad with pecans and gorgonzola. The chicken was moist and nicely seasoned. Sis had a turkey burger which she loved. Very clean and the rest of the staff was friendly, chatted up the bartender, an older guy who was very funny and friendly. Will def go back when I'm in town!!
(4)gabriella s.
Food was ok- it's unfortunate, menu is descent, atmosphere is nice and busy, quaint, but place is small and crowded, the food needs an upgrade. Quality is ok. However I've had their burgers there and they are quite good, but the rest of the menu is a miss.
(3)Andy B.
I really really really want to like this place. We were very excited when it opened up, but the wait was always really long and service really bad. We chalked that up to being new -- but it's been long enough now and this place has not gotten any better -- it could possibly be worse. Every single time we go, we say never again, yet always seem to forget and go again since it's the only place in town like it. The service couldn't be any worse. You name it -- they seating is some randomly assigned priority (which we all know is friends), they waitresses leave you waiting forever. Once I timed 40 minutes. Wrong food, missing orders, disappearing waitresses, 1/2 hour wait for the check. Rudeness. No silverware. You name it. And the kitchen is no better. They're actually probably why the wait is so long since they are ridiculously slow and messed up. The food is inconsistent. Good enough sometimes to make you think the place might be worth it, but always over-priced. And don't even think about to-go. An hour wait is not unusual, but your chances are greater than not that something will be wrong or missing entirely. And then they will make you wait another hour to fix it. One highlight -- the place LOOKS great and is in a great location. But it's really small and really loud too. Please be better Black Horse. Please?
(1)H S.
Honest opinion is that this place is way overpriced for what is average food in an average restaurant. Not to mention we were yelling at each other during dinner since it is insanely noisy in here.
(2)Irwin F.
Have to downgrade this place. Went in today for burger and fries. They burger was OK, but nothing to write home about for $12 (and these burgers can get as high as $14 if you want cheese and bacon). The fries were horrible. The were mostly 1-inch or less and burnt to a crisp. This tells me that there is no quality control going on in there, as no chef would ever let fries like that leave the kitchen. I'm also not too happy about the small soda sizes (filled mostly with ice and not cheap) and no option for a free refill. Even though it wasn't too busy, service was still slow. I'm on the fence about this place. It's cool to eat downtown, but there are plenty of other places in neighboring towns where you can get a good burger, fresh fries, and a bottomless drink for less than $10 and friendly service.
(3)Tracy T.
First late night bar in my hometown of Winchester and you can imagine the cheer that erupted from our booze driven town. I ventured over quite a bit after they opened on a weeknight for some grub (I don't normally say that) and a beer (I normally drink that). I ordered their Grilled cesar salad which sounded extremely interesting. When it arrived, it was literally two large leafs of romaine in a pooly cesar-esque dressing in a cone shaped dish. Quite appetizing, no? They were somewhat warm, not at all grilled, and all kinds of soaked. That filled my wet leaf appetite. I came here on a separate occasion for some mixed drinks and they weren't too bad, probably would never come back unless this became a Bon Chon.
(2)Trish C.
Got drinks with friends here. One friend described her mojito as "not terribly bad". There was an entire garden worth of mint in it, not muddled. The garden was large enough to house a fly in it, which was found after a few unfortunate sips. Stick to the beers. Try the chicken fingers...they nailed it
(2)Karl R.
Good food, but way too loud (not just one time, but every time I go to the Tavern). Very difficult to have a conversation here. Love the steak tips, but due to the loudness, I'm more likely to get take-out, than to eat them in the Tavern.
(3)Summer L.
Nice menu, would love to see a better selection of ciders though. Was happy to see Original Sin on the menu, so extra star for that. Food is a bit overpriced for what it is. Service is nice. Food came out very quickly, we came around 6 pm on a Saturday night and received our food within 15-20 minutes.
(4)Evan T.
Absolutley adore this place! The food is consistently good - yes, it may be a little pricier than other places, but if you don't want to pay, go to Chili's! The atmosphere is phenomenal! True, it gets packed - 7pm is about the worst time you can go, but what do you expect? It's a small place - they can only accomodate so many and I think they do a pretty good job at turning over tables. The waitresses have been nothing but sweet and helpful (except one looney one - very sweet, but woah), but I prefer the bar. They consistenly have one female who works there - awesome! And an "older" gentlemen (if you're reading this Sir, 'older' was used to set you apart from the other male bartenders) - and he is amazing! So friendly and so attentive! I actually get disappointed when he's not behind the bar. Great live music (I want to say on Thursday nights). There were two guys who preformed a couple of mons ago and they were great and hysterical. Love, love, love this place - in fact, I haven't been in awhile, maybe I'll go tonight!
(4)Boston Italian Girl O.
Loved this place! Met my mother-in-law there as a halfway point and the service was great, restaurant was very clean, food was delicious and parking was easy (sometimes can be hard in Winchester). I had a chicken pesto panini, my mother in law had a BBQ chicken sandwich. Both fries and rings were yummy too! Looking forward to going back again soon!
(5)Ali K.
Black Horse is a solid pub. On every visit I've made the staff has been friendly, attentive and seem to be having fun talking to customers and enjoy their jobs. Black Horse has a menu that has clearly had some thought and passion for food put into it. The crowd tends to be local. Age is mixed from 60 somethings through twenty somethings in the bar area and it seems like kids and families are very welcome in general. It can get pretty loud in the bar area when they are full, but no worse then any other busy spot. The prices are a little steep for my budget, but it hasn't stopped me from going every once in awhile.
(4)Jenna H.
I love heading over for some lunch at the Black Horse Tavern whenever I drive to Winchester to get my rings cleaned at winchester Jewlers (see previous review). My favorite dish is the baked haddock with asparagus and mashed potatoes. The fish is always fresh and cooked to perfection, as are the sides. I was equally impressed with their beer menu. The atmosphere of the pub was great, and service was good.
(4)Andrew C.
Not worth the time or the effort. A 30 minute wait for a table(on a Monday night, in the summer) and excruciatingly slow service and pedestrian food did not leave a good taste in my mouth. Did I mention that it was over priced? TV's tuned to ESPN (x) Decent air conditioning (x) Music a little too loud (x) More than just domestic beer on tap (x) Generic "Tavern" experience (x) Nothing special here, regret that neither I or my wife had the Yelp app on our phones. What were we thinking? Won't be heading back or recommending the place.
(1)Janet J.
This place is ok to meet someone for drinks, but hope you have strong lungs. The noise level is way too high. Also, don't bother with the food. It's mediocre at best. The food is not worth the $$, especially the long wait. Make reservations to eat else where. Better yet, have a drink here, then walk to Imari for a great meal.
(1)John D.
This palce is an amazing renovation and the only tavern in town. I was extremely disappointed not only was the service less than poor but the food was equally low quality. My wife and only ordered 2 things: a Ceasar Salad and a Buffalo Chicken Pizza. The salad was ok but I found several stems from the romain lettuce stalks. The anchovies that were served on the were old, dark and over the top fishy. The pizza had a great crust but the the only sauce on the pizza was franks red hot and and what tasted like pure salt. There was a lack of toppingsl; almost no chicken and blue cheese. To top this all off it seemed our waitress did not want to be there. She never came back to the table for drink refils or to check on our meal. All of the items came out at the same time. I know it takes atleast 6 min to cook a pizza and it came out with the salad. I will give it another try but it will take a little bit of time before I go back. Shame I live in town and could walk here.
(2)Kathleen M.
I walk past the pub every night on my way home and it's very beautiful, all wood and glass. A nice English/Irish pub feel. Also in the nice weather the flower are very pretty. The big down side (other that the OK but plebian food) is that it's not possible to hold a conversation with your mates without bellowing over the reflections from the glass walls. Drinks are big with a big price. OK if you want one drink to last the evening. I think that the 5 TVs are a bit overkill; but, if you don't like talking to your in-laws consider going here for a meal. Also, quite a few of the customers look like they are on the edge of the BIG discussion on going separate ways and the TVs seem to be a plus for them. The coffee is extra meh, but you probably wouldn't be going here for coffee. Ironically I seldom see single people eating here.
(3)Donna D.
I have only managed to actually eat here once. The food was OK. The reason I have only managed to eat here once is because I keep walking out over the poor hospitality from the hostesses, their overly-optimistic estimates of how long the wait will be, their inconsistent stories of whether or not they take reservations, and the fact that they seem to play favorites with the waiting list. Today (a Wednesday) my husband called on my behalf and was told that they don't take reservations, but tonight when we saw people arriving after us seated before us my friend and I were told that those people had reservations. Was it because we were two women? Not only that, but I saw a group of three walk in and they were seated immediately without even giving their names. When I was a waitress we were taught to smile and greet every arrival even if we could not help them right away. I know this is a busy restaurant and they probably have enough friends in town that they don't need any more business, but really, would it hurt them to smile and look as though they were happy for our business?
(2)Jonelle w.
I live within walking distance to the Black Horse and was so stoked when it opened. Finally! A place in Winchester to grab a drink! Ever since it's opening, I've enjoyed popping in for drinks, or for something to eat. The food is always good and I like the environment and feel of the place. During the summer, you can't beat the open windows. It's been the same bartender every time I've been there, and he's friendly and remembers your drink order. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because of two things. 1) there is usually a really long wait. This place should be bigger..there are only a few chairs for waiting. And they don't have the best system of letting you know that your table is ready. 2) the wait staff has a bad habit of being either clueless or a bit flighty. But the service is never TERRIBLE, just not exceptional. Any time I'm stumped for a place for dinner or drinks, the Black Horse is always my go-to. Have to love the killer proximity :)
(4)W.j. R.
have returned a numbers of times since my first visit and still love the vibe in this tavern....good energy
(5)Dan M.
From start to finish this was a great experience. The service was attentive and friendly, the food was outstanding. We started with the honey glazed wings. I would go back to this place for the wings alone. BRAVO !! GF had the Clam Chowder which rivaled the best chowders in Boston, I had the Chili which was home made and delicious. (could have used a little more seasoning or salt) GF had the chicken marsala which she thought was perfect, I had the steak tips and rice. I know rice isn't a difficult thing but BHT rice was outstanding. Steak Tips were really good, but still not the best marinade I've had. (see previous reviews). Also a nice suprise seeing an old friend at the bar. Long Story Short, this place is a home run. I would go back in a minute.
(4)Ken F.
This is currently the hottest place in Winchester. Even on a Wednesday night, there will be a wait for tables. You can call ahead, though. Winchester really needed an upscale tavern, so it's great to have the Black Horse Tavern. That said, there are some problems. The kitchen is slow. Unbearably slow. 40 minutes for salmon to appear. Called in a take-out order once of burgers and salads, it took 50 minutes (despite being told it would be 20). I suspect a big reason the place is always packed as to do with the slow service. A "quick bite" here takes an hour, minimum. They're stiff with the drinks. Maybe I'm spoiled, but to me an upscale tavern in an upscale area needs not to be measuring out its liquor by the precise milliliter. If you don't want to feel robbed, stick with the draught. The menu is also a little boring. If you like spicy, hot food, there's nothing here for you. To me, a tavern should have lots of salty and spicy foods. For example, buffalo wings! BHT has chicken tenders, but they can only manage a honey "buffalo" sauce that tastes like honey BBQ. My wife and I like to visit. She leaves happy, because she's just happy to have the place in town. I leave somewhat disappointed, because I feel it could and should be so much better.
(3)L J.
First, check this place out once the overwhelming swarm of townies dies down. This place is packed tight right at 5:30 when they open. You'll see a lot of old couples, young families, WHS graduates hanging around the bar waiting for seats. But the wait is well worth it. The drinks are cheap, $4 pints is cheap in my book. And the full bar won't disappoint: lots of beers, wines and hard stuff for days. I went with my mom (cool?) and I must say burgers and the pizza are both very well put together, I got the Pizza with Onion and Pepperoncini which was amazing and I'll definitely go back to try some other pies. Mama-dukes got the Black Horse Burger which was a regular burger but had sausages piled up among the veggies. Very good choices. I give this less than 5 because I only save 5 star ratings for places I would go over and over and over again. This place is worth more than one trip, but I'm a little freaked out about the thought of having some place to go in downtown Winchester. Anybody want to kick it with me at the golf course with a 30 rack?
(4)James J.
Good beer, good food, but kinda pricey. I have to admit the the Black Horse Brew, an amber bock that the bartender says is brewed just for them is actually high on my list as one of my favorite beers. I have been back a few time just to stop in a get a pint while watching whatever is on one of the many TVs. My first go at the food here was a bowl of their clam chowder. Being my favorite kind of soup, figured it was a good one to try. I was not so happy with it. I like my chowder thick and hearty. This was nether. It seemed like warm milk with a few clams and some parsley in it. My return trip for another beer, I figured I would give a burger a try. I figured the Black Horse Brew was tasty, so I gave the Black Horse Burger(medium rare) a go. It was a burger with a sweet Italian sausage on it. The burger was cooked perfectly. Nice and juicy, and the sausage really gave it some character. The bun was unremarkable, but kept everything together. The fries were quite tasty as well. Going back for more beer, I decided to try a new dish. They had steamed clams as an appetizer. I had never tried them before, but they sounded pretty good, cooked in white wine and garlic. My buddy showed me how to eat them, and I was very pleased. This trip, I went with the jalapeno burger(medium rare, again). Cooked to perfection again, the patty was covered with a generous portion of fresh jalapenos, and cheese. Other than the chowder, I haven't had any meals I didn't enjoy, and I have been back quite a few times. Despite always being busy, the service seems good, and the food comes out quickly and hot (FYI, let the pizza cool a bit, it may look so tempting, but that cheese keeps that sauce hot enough to have you peeling the roof of your mouth). Were the prices a bit better, I would be back more often. as it stands, this place makes for a nice treat.
(4)Brenna R.
I have been living in Winchester for one year now. I was excited to hear that there was a tavern/restaurant in the town. I feel bad because I never really have explored the town nor went to any shops or other restaurants. My boyfriend and I decided to go to the tavern tonight. The food was amazing, the drinks were good, and the service was friendly and accommodating! I got thebeer battered fish &chips which was served with huge onion rings, a delicious coleslaw - I'm really picky about coleslaws! It was SOOO GOOD!!! My boyfriend ordered the Cheggy Burger - It was a burger with all the fix-ins including bacon AND a fried egg on top! He said it was like "heaven". I think he was in a food coma after that!! I would definitely go back...and recommend The Black Horse Tavern to anyone.
(4)Mark R.
This is my 6th time at the BHT so I obviously like the place. The steak tips are the best I have had and paired with excellent onion rings and a tall beer in a frosted glass while watching the Red Sox game on their big screens=great experience.
(4)Gary G.
..tried this place again though i didnt think i'd go back. woops, i took guests to this place when patriots game was going to be on. nice and quiet lunch turned into loud sports bar. refused to turn down volume, no doubt to appease bar patrons. its not a decent restaurant when you cant talk across the table. never again. just too raucus and noisy to eat.
(1)Karen M.
After great anticipation for the opening of The Black Horse Tavern, I regret to write that there is only one word to describe my experience - disappointment. The service was not only slow, but I found the bar tenders to be unfriendly and the waitresses to be apathetic to customers. The menu lacked any imagination and was poorly prepared. The wine list was limited to the same lack of imagination as the menu. The calamari was served having been cooked in old oil and was dark brown and greasy. The hummus appetizer was served not with fresh pita, but broken pita chips and a pile of plain hummus right out of the grocery store. The caesar salad with grilled shrimp was served with shrimp burned so badly that I couldn't even separate the fish from the shell and the dressing was bland and had no attributes of what you would expect from a freshly made dressing. It was clear that the kitchen was staffed with rookies and the owners are betting on the good looks of the restaurant finishes to get by. A few final comments. Get a new chef. Get a new menu. Train your staff. You may be the only game in town, but Winchester residents will only put-up with mediocrity for so long before they say so long to the The Black Horse.
(1)N G.
Whatever you do, don't order a mixed drink at the bar. The Draught beer selection is decent and definitely a better choice than either of the three drinks we tried at the bar. The clam chowder had a hint of clam but more potatoes than anything else. I had the baked haddock which was surprisingly fresh, moist, and flavorful, although the mashed potatoes left something to be desired. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their food although the menu was a strange mix of items, not at all resembling what I would expect for an Irish pub. I guess that wouldn't fly in old anglo/waspy winchester. Other reviews referring to inexperienced wait staff and less than perfect service are accurate, although this is what I would expect from a new place in a small town in the suburbs. I expect with time this will improve (as long as they stay open). I like to eat at a place where I want to stay for coffee or dessert. Unfortunately at Black Horse, I was anxiously awaiting the bill.
(2)Allie A.
I've been meaning to try this place for a while. But am never in Winchester, so was quite pleased to finally find myself in the vicinity. We went on a busy Sunday night. We were sat right away (party of 3), but it appeared that many of the larger groups had a bit of a wait. The food was very good, better than expected for a Tavern. The side salads were very generous portions, particularly considering they were only $4.95. The shallot dressing was delicious. I got the pepperoncini and onion pizza. At $16.95 it was enormous-definitely enough to feed 4 people, let alone me. It was well cooked, and the crust was just right. The only downside was the sauce-a bit too much oregano, but definitely not a jar sauce. My sister got the garden fettucini. Yummy! The fettucini noodles appeared homemade, the sauce was light, and the vegetables were all fresh. Many people were ordering the burgers. If I only I was a beef eater because they looked amazing. Big and juicy with a healthy portion of onion rings on the side. The servers were friendly, but young and seemingly a little on the inexperienced side. That said our waitress was quick to bring me a refill on my drink without me even asking. Will definitely be back.
(4)Christine P.
I went here last week on Wed. on a first date and thought the place was pretty decent. Crowd was mixed, a few couples, few old people and a few families. We sat at the bar which was a decent size. They had live music later on (it was a Wed. night) which I'm indifferent about, but it wasn't too obnoxious. I went on the recommendation of steak tips which were good. The entrée was $18 which I guess is the price for tips these days? Seemed high but maybe I'm cheap? I got the sweet potato fries which were awesome! Those were great. I also enjoyed the selection of draft beers. (To me) they seemed different, not just your basic Sam Adams which I do like but... they had a decent selection I thought. Would definitely go again, maybe check out the scene on a weekend night.
(3)Jack M.
The novelty is wearing thin on me. - Went here for dinner last night, and it's STILL a long wait for a table, and there's no real room to wait, so you always feel like you're in the way. This place is TINY. Seriously - take a look - one of the tables is RIGHT THERE as you are standing around waiting for your table. How utterly awkward. I'd hate to get that table. - After a long wait, we were told there were two seats at the bar and so we sat there. Cute bartender lady. Bartenderess? Anyhow she was nice. - Ordered our food, which seemed to take a long time to show up. The place was busy but it's not that big - so really I would have expected the food a bit quicker. But my guest was quite happy with their dish - the fish n chips. I had this pasta dish which I don't recommend: it had sun-dried tomatoes in it and that flavor - that pickled flavor is utterly overwhelming to me in pasta dishes. Thumbs down. The fish and chips had changed from when I had it last - now it's your typical beer-battered fried thing. Not that lovely crisp dish I had when they first opened. Sigh. - I mean overall, I still like it. But it's ALWAYS packed and ALWAYS a tight squeeze and I'm tired of it.
(3)Nicole S.
DO NOT GO HERE! I was very excited to visit this place last Saturday evening. I had called ahead of time and asked if they took reservations. I was informed no. When we arrived, we were told the wait would be 25 minutes. After 1 HOUR, and countless parties walking in and being seated, I asked the hostess what the issue was. She explained those people had called ahead, while rolling her eyes and being just plan rude. I told her about my previous phone call and she said that reservations are different. We left. I am outraged. Even though they believe that calling ahead and reservations are different(I do not), I could have been told this when I called. It seemed the people being seated before us knew the hostess personally. Don't waste your money here.
(1)Sarajane M.
I work at a theater nearby and we often frequent the Blackhorse. We highly recommend their steak tips which we have had several times and are very good. The caesar salad is very good but if you order the it, make sure to ask for light dressing because otherwise it's covered. It's nice that they keep pizza AND salads available for their late night menu so it's easier to eat healthier even if you are there late.
(4)Jodi K.
We showed up one weeknight for dinner around 6:30. It is surprisingly small inside, so we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table since I didn't know we could call ahead. The hostess was pleasant and got my daughter a glass of water while we waited - she thought ahead and put it in a covered glass with a straw (thanks!). When we got to our table I was a little surprised they didn't tell me it was a high table in the bar area (after all, I have a young child and my clearly older mother with me, and these very very high, even for high tables). Our server was average - friendly enough but just not great. I asked if the Black Horse beer was filtered or not and she didn't know what I meant (I would expect servers to know that at least for the establishment's signature beer; FYI, it is filtered). On the other hand, I asked for a different dressing on my salad and she got that right. Steak tips were wonderful, pizzas are solid (and generously sized for the price), and my salad was filling as a main meal. The only part of the meal that was disappointing was the kid's meal (pasta). It didn't come out first with our appetizers as I usually see, so my daughter had to wait a long time for food (and there was no bread or crayons supplied to keep her busy). When it did arrive, I was surprised to see spaghetti (the menu just said pasta and it never occurred to me to ask since we have never gotten spaghetti from a kid's menu before). Spaghetti is hard to eat if you have still-developing motor skills and can't twirl your fork, and it was super-buttery so I really didn't want my daughter to eat with her fingers. I had to help her eat, which means I didn't really get to focus on my meal. We will be back - this is a comfortable establishment with solid food, relaxed atmosphere, and a varied menu at fair prices. But next time we will call ahead and maybe lower our expectations a little bit.
(4)Zoe P.
The food tastes like your best option at the airport. It's unbelievably loud, and it's not the patrons, it's the space. And the people who work there are watching the clock. Not that I blame them . . .
(2)Debbie C.
The steak tips are amazing! It's the only meal I've ordered, so I can't really comment on any other food. Mixed drinks are good... raspberry martini is a personal favorite. A fun place to hang out later in the evening, I've gone several times after local meetings or events, bartenders are nice, wait staff can be a little slow.
(4)Bryant S.
this place is awesome!!!! got the nachos to start, they were amazing and filling. my girlfriend loved her salad and I loved my cheggy burger as well! If you got to wait to be seated, its worth it! We will definitely be back! Oh and our server was great too!
(4)B G.
As I know this restaurant can get very busy, I was very disappointed two Sundays ago. I placed a take out order late afternoon and was told 20-25 minutes. I arrived to learn my order had not been placed and saw two other women had experienced the same. I talked to the on site manager, who was waitressing at the time. She did apologize but, the fact that three orders were taken and never placed, on an afternoon that was not busy with patrons waiting to eat, is unacceptable. If you have two indiviuals, who seemed to be overwhelmed, working as hostesses, something like this should never happen.
(2)Gabe L.
I've been here a number of times. A number of times for dinner and one time for drinks. I'm happy to say I've found the food isn't that bad (although I usually get the fish and chips - I have enough self preservation not to keep a fryolator at home). The first few time or two we went the onion rings were sadly tasteless, but I kept forgetting and ordering them again. The third time my forgetfulness paid off - they changed the batter and it was good. My fiance has ordered a soup twice (once pumpkin and once carrot IIRC) and they were both tasty. She ordered a risotto once which was okay, but she said the taste and consistency wasn't a risotto. The kids have ordered chicken fingers and pasta before which were fine. Chicken was moist and tender enough that they didn't complain. One of them ordered a fish once which tasted good but was so heavy with butter that he only ate a very small portion. I thought he was being difficult until I started eating his leftovers (because I'm a fish loving pig) and I only got halfway through when the heaviness set in. Yeh, we took the rest home. The decor itself is nice - it's clean, and in the summer you can open the large windows for a nice airy feel. It's a nice pub environment, although a bit hard to travel through on weekend nights. We discovered this once, when we decided to check out what seems to be the only nightlife in Winchester. It's like those shows on Discovery Channel when the water dries up and all the animals have to drink from the same shrinking watering hole. Everyone's packed in just wanting a lil something to drink. But the bartender's friendly, and since we were content to find our own little personal space and not wait for a seat it was fine. Actually, in all our times going the wait staff was always nice, if not always good at checking back consistently. Not to say they were awful, just not exemplary. We give that 3 stars. They have always been friendly to the kids when we brought them, and scavenged up some blank paper and crayons for the kids to draw. Overall not going to wow the foodie in me but I'm pretty spoiled in that department, and it's a decent place to hit with the kids or a drink. In a land devoid of pubs, the bar is low and yet this place is still pretty good. I'm looking forward to going again when it's nice out.
(4)Tom G.
Went there Friday .service was slow and the food was boring. Overpriced
(1)K G.
The food is pretty good and they have a decent alcohol selection. My favorite drink has become the Black Horse Brew, which is not brewed by them, but it's very smooth and it's very easy to drink several. My favorite app is the Calamari. The sweet red pepper dipping sauce is delicious. The fish and chips is solid, but my favorite meal has become the Gorgonzola Burger. It's gigantic and not the healthiest choice, but it is among the best burgers in the area. I prefer their slower times over the packed nights because although it's a beautiful remodel, it's still smaller than I would like.
(3)G P.
I really REALLY hope the owner of this place reads this. I'm honestly disgusted with the Black Horse. We went a few times before and received mediocre service at best, and the wrong order in house. Tonight my boyfriend and I were tired, wanted something quick and apparently forgot how terrible this place really was so we decided to give it one last shot. We headed down there for a drink and some take out. I'm not going to go into the rant I have about the total d!ck that we encountered standing behind us with his daughter who kept kicking my chair and the disgusting response we got from him when we asked her to please stop (daughter was at least 21, not a 2 year old, she should have known better). He was chums with the bartender so thought he could try to intimidate me by being an a-hole. Sorry buddy, better luck next time. Regardless, all of the reviews about this place that say it's a man cave that was set up by by the owner for him and his friends are dead on. Skip ahead, we finally received our order. Bartender tells us to check the receipt to make sure we got the correct order. We did and it was, or so we thought. I ordered a Sachem burger, rare, with swiss cheese and mushrooms. We got all the way home, opened our food and I received a hockey puck with no cheese, no mushrooms, no nothing. I honestly do NOT understand what is so hard about reading a slip. It didn't say "with nothing on it". The slip explicitly stated "swiss cheese and mushrooms" but it was naked as naked can be. My boyfriend is now going back there to change the order (after calling and receiving a "oh, sorry"). I'm sure by the time he gets home HIS food will be cold. This place is really just a poorly run, poorly executed, sorry excuse for a pub. It pretends to be "upscale" just because it's in Winchester but the fact is it caters to every ignorant, pompous, rude, high falutin, jack hat who thinks money can buy you class. No thanks Black Horse. This is my last and final visit. The owner really needs to read his reviews and rethink this....fine establishment and the way his wicked awesome friends treat his paying customers and reevaluate the credentials of his staff who can't even read an order correctly about 95% of the time according to the reviews. I'd be way happier if a '99 opened up in this location. I guess I'm just not high class.
(1)Barney w.
Great place for a fast meal. Hamburgers are great. I had steak tips at first visit, great taste also had the Salmon it had great taste. I love the food, great taste. We also tried the pizza - good but hard to eat. The pizza is almost the size of the table, made it hard for other person to eat their dinner( Salad and couple of apps.) in comfort. Tables to small and to close together. The problem last nite - it was freezing in the restaurant - so it was very uncomfortable. We just ordered, eat and left (fastest meal we have had in a long time. We will go back in the spring. I think they need to keep in mind that people need room when eating. I overheard a couple comments about size of tables and how cold it was in the restaurant. Barn
(4)Pier S.
Every time I went by this place and wanted to stop, I changed my mind - too crowded with the Townies and their offspring. I finally stopped and had dinner. Went with the special, baked scallops, asparagus and rice pilaf (impossible sides to screw up, right?) and a glass of mediocre wine ($33). The meal showed up after 25 minutes and without being told, it had a mound of sautéed spinach, heavy on the garlic, and lukewarm, dry rice. The scallop plate was just out of the oven but the waitress didn't warn me, ouch! The wine list barely qualifies as a wine list and the noise is so loud you have to yell across the table and then music came blaring out of the ceiling - forget about a conversation. The waitress was confused by my request for a glass of water and she provided minimal service. There is a silver lining - the scallops were perfect. Would I go there again? Sorry, unless they pass out ear trumpets, don't think so.
(2)Elizabeth B.
My husband and I recently moved to Winchester. It was Sunday afternoon and the Pats were on and we were not getting cable installed until Monday. We decided to go get an early dinner at the Black Horse Tavern so we could at least catch some of the game. Overall the place is fantastic. The atmosphere is very cozy. The food was amazing. We started with the fried mozzarella, which was not like your average mozzarella sticks. It was real mozzarella fried in a sort of patty, with marinara sauce and a balsamic glaze that was awesome. I got a pork chop and potatoes that were fantastic. My husband got the Cheggy Burger which has bacon and a fried egg. Then we got the brownie sundae which was to die for. My husband had the beer of the month, a Shock Top Pumpkin and I had a Magners Cider. Everything was just great. There were a lot of people there to watch the game and it was great. The Black Horse is a tad pricey, but I think it was worth every penny. Not someplace we will go often, but definitely great for a special night out.
(4)Bobby B.
I have been here 6 or 7 times and have always enjoyed it. I have always gotten a great meal and great service. The only downside is that it is always busy and it is relatively small inside. Great place for a beer with my wife or some friends. Try the wings and the steak tips!!
(4)Matthew D.
The "Jalapeno" burger turned out to be a Green Pepper burger, but you'll still get charged for the jalapenos. Apparently the kitchen and management don't know the difference between the two. I thought there was something not quite right when I tried it for the first time about 6 months ago. Tried it again tonight and they apparently don't care about correcting their mistakes.
(2)kaye f.
Food was fair. Fish and chips were dry and either were over done or the oil needed changing. Service was slow.
(2)Ellen S.
What the other reviewers have said about arriving early is right on the money...so glad be followed the suggestion and arrived around 5:45...we got the last available table and the bar was essentially full too. We had some honey buffalo wings and the homemade hummus for appetizers. My husband had steak tips and I had the summer salad with steak tips on top. The tips were DELICIOUS!!! Our server, Maia, was excellent - attentive but not in an annoying/intrusive way at all. We will go back for sure.
(4)Sven A.
The black horse has been a nice enhancement to the towns landscape. It is a great place to eat I had the haddock it was great. Beer selection was good. We tried to go one other night but was over 1 hr but like anything if it is good it is worth the wait and it was...
(4)Sunil D.
Nice bar/restaurant. We showed up at 8:30pm on a Wednesday and the entire place was jam-packed. The hostess gave us the standard 30 minute wait time but then kindly found a spot for us at one of the bar tables, which actually fit 6 without major elbowage. I rate their draft beer selection excellent and reasonably priced, which is good because a margarita is $9. Despite the crowd, the waitstaff was responsive, the food and drinks came quickly, and the fare was fresh and a bit better than average - worth the price, I think. Oh yeah, there was live music as well - some kind of folk band that played covers of 80s music. Odd, a bit loud, but not off-putting and pretty fun. If I'm in the area, I'll be back.
(4)Joe F.
We had been waiting months for this place to open and finally got a chance to try it. We arrived just as they opened for dinner so we were seated right away. We started with a couple of their own brewed beers, which was A+ and a ceasar salad. The greens on the salad were good, the dressing light (which is how I like it) but the croutons were so hard they were impossible to eat without breaking a tooth. We placed our order (2 burgers and chicken tenders for my 3 year old) and then waited nearly an hour for it to arrive. When it finally reached our table all 3 meals were not only over cooked but the burgers/fries/onion rings were ice cold. I mean stone cold! My daughter's chicken tenders were so over cooked it was ridiculous. We told our server that we were unhappy and she sent the general manager over who was anything but interested in our feedback. He simply stated that it was very busy and that there were 16 tables in the place. He seemed very overwhelmed and annoyed with us and offered nothing as far as sympathy or apology for us. Had he taken the time to listen to us and maybe, you know, apologize, maybe we would have thought to go back another time. The waitress on the other hand did seem genuinely sorry for the experience we had with both the food and manager. We ate the food, cold and over cooked of course because we simply could not sit for another hour for replacements, which was good. I had the jalapeno burger which was nothing more than a burger with 3 tiny slices of jalapeno on top. (the burger costs $2.00 more for those 3 little jalapenos). I'm a resisdent of Winchester and was really looking forward to this place opening. I'm so very dissapointed.
(2)kathy r.
Oh, Winchester, you really do have trouble with your restaurants. In the case of Black Horse Tavern, the food is super tasty, but the waaaaaaaaiiiiiiitttttttt, holy cow. Went at 5PM on a Sunday, the wait for a table was an hour and we ordered right away, but the wait for the food after that was an hour and fifteen. Ended up needing to get it to go as our little one had to go to bed. Boo hoo indeed. Black Horse, please speed up the service and we'd love to return and give you more stars for the food. Until then, Yelpers, DON'T BRING A HUNGRY OR TIRED CHILD.
(2)Paul M.
Winchester's best restaurant, great food in a really nice upscale tavern setting. The staff is always smiling and working at making you feel as comfortable as possible. if you get off the train and don't feel like cooking, it's the place.
(4)Kristen K.
I went to the Black Horse tavern last night with a friend and enjoyed it. It's nice that Winchester finally has a place where you can get a drink! I think many people agree- It was early on a Friday night and the wait was pretty long. I'd advise calling ahead. We ended up sitting at the bar for dinner and some mixed drinks. The bartender was very nice. The drink service was a little slow initially, but the place is packed and I thought the bartender was going as fast as he could without being sloppy. I ordered steak tips and a Cape Codder and my friend ordered a burger and a cosmo. Both entrees were good and came out of the kitchen quickly. The drinks were tasty as well. As an aside, I thought the staff was very professional and personable. An individual came up to the bar and informed the bartender that he believed he had over tipped him during the last round and wanted one dollar back. Pretty ridiculous. The bartender was pleasant and handed back a dollar. If I were him, I would have had a very hard time withholding a large eye roll, but he was classier than I. We spent about two and a half hours and did not feel rushed at all even though the restaurant was mobbed. It was a very good experience overall- I will definitely be back.
(4)Doctor D.
Okay I'm redoing my review. This place has grown tremendously in the food is how should I say, excellent excellent excellent
(5)Susan K.
Salad was wilted, onion rings were greasy and waitress was rude. When this place opened everyone had high hopes because it's the only tavern in town. However, the quality just isn't there. We will not be back.
(1)Andrea O.
Have been here a few times and the food has always been yummy. The reason for the two stars is a recent trip in on a Saturday for some drinks with some girlfriends. At quarter of 12 the waitress came by and took our second drink order...two minutes after the drinks were dropped off the lights came on and they are telling us we need to leave. I understand the bar closes at 12 but don't kick out customers at 11:50 right after they order their drinks...not cool
(2)Just S.
If it is busy and you are not a cop don't come here you will wait forever. They told us 30 minutes it has now been 50 and people coming in after us are bring seated. Ordered a beer and tasted like water and the rolls were as chewy as taffy. The food however was above average and probably the only good thing about this place which is why it got a two from me.
(2)Mark O.
I had a good meal -- an entree salad with excellent grilled chicken -- and a beer. Good meal, mediocre beer.
(3)Ryan L.
Walked over to the new bar in town down the street from me and was pleasantly surprised. The decor of the Black Horse was not the run of the mill townie bar and it definitely had some classy touches to it with some purple accent lighting by the bar, the 3 flat screen televisions, and some retro Winchester photos hanging on the walls. Not only that but it was 10:30 PM and the place was still crowded and packed at both the bar and tables. Not sure if it's due to the opening day buzz or if my town just has a lot of alcoholic residents but the place was hopping. I would say it was a very successful grand opening if people were still eating and drinking at 11PM. Now down to the nitty gritty. Service was prompt and friendly which it should be especially on opening day. I ordered the Black Horse Tavern burger and it was a solid burger. The best burger I've ever had? No but it was a pretty good burger nonetheless. It was a half pound angus cheeseburger with sweet italian sausage and mushrooms. I asked for medium and it came medium in all its pink glory with a nice chargrilled flavor to it. As for the fries they tasted fine but they were those thin cut shoestring fries and not the big fat steak fries that I enjoy more. Oh well beggars can't be choosers. Another thing that I found nice was that each table came with a full set of condiments - salt, pepper, ketchup, and the all important A1 steak sauce which is a must for any burger. Pricewise, it's a Winchester bar so it reflects the neighborhood but they did offer a variety of burgers ranging from $7-$11 and entrees in the $17 range. One thing that would be nice though would be a free refill on sodas as the glasses were not that large and mostly filled with ice so it is not hard to ring up more than $5 in soda beverages if you're thirsty. Overall a pleasant experience. As for parking, there's tons of street parking everywhere.
(4)tim g.
I'm glad this place opened, Winchester could use the night life. It has a great decor and is always very busy. Despite the reviews I think the food is pretty good. The menu is simple and limited but that is OK. The biggest drawback is the service is SLOW. I suspect the kitchen can't handle it.
(3)Tanya G.
First time there but not the last time. I had a great time. Fun, lively atmosphere!!! I recommend!
(4)Barry W.
This place is great if you are a screamer and a yeller. First of all the food is not bad. However, you can not hear yourself think between the loud conversations and the music trying to beat over it. The place needs some soft additions to it. The ceilings are tall and made of tin. The walls are mostly glass with no drapes or energy consevring protection. The floors are wood. The walls where there are no windows are either wood or plaster. The bar occupies most of the floor area. Place just too noisy to enjoy a dining experience. Definitely a place for locals that feel like they are at a tailgaiting party. There is a waiting line with call ahead seating. However, the line quickly disappears at 7 P.M.
(2)Mary C.
I went to the Black Horse Tavern last night with my husband and friend. We have been wanting to go since it opened but were waiting for the crowds to die down. We arrived at 10:00 pm after going to the movies. Our timing was perfect as we easily got a table in the bar area. What a great place! The decor is very well done and beautiful. Even the restrooms are gorgeous. And how exciting to see a lively bar scene in Winchester! This is just what this town has been waiting for. The food was good. We had the calamari appetizer. It was the right size for three people but would have been too small for four people. Perhaps they size it by party size? My husband ordered the burger medium but it came well done which was disappointing. My friend and I had the Mediterranean salad which was quite large and good. My big complaint and the reason for only three stars is the inferior wine list. I ordered the Renwood 2008 Zinfandel and it was sour. I should have sent it back. Before ordering a second glass, I requested a sample of an unknown Malbec. It was also sour. I then tried a sample of an unheard of Cabernet and that was sour as well. The only Chardonnay on the menu by the glass was Kendall Jackson - a serviceable brand but not one I would order in a restaurant. I gave up on the wine and settled on a Harpoon IPA which very good. This restaurant needs to step up the wine list to include wines that are drinkable. I'm not asking for hugely expensive wines, just ones that taste good. As the saying goes, "life is too short to drink bad wine", and I would add "when you are paying for it in a nice bar"! If The Black Horse Tavern improves their wine list, I will be back on a regular basis. I love the place other than that.
(3)Linda T.
We've dined at the Black Horse several times. Food and service usually good on a Sunday afternoon when not crowded. At night it can be very crowded. Not sure we'll be returning though because of a lack of response from the owner to a letter we sent. The last visit we had an inexperienced server. We ordered drinks and meal salads for lunch and it seems bread was an issue. On previous visits we received rolls with the salad. Not anymore. We were told emphatically there was no rolls or bread inhouse until after 3. What are the sandwiches on we asked? Foccia we were told, but it was too big to serve. Then we see a sandwich on bread go by. Huh? We just finished our salad and left. That night I politely wrote to the owner, explained the situation and asked why we were told there was no bread when there was. We would have paid if there was an extra charge. Well guess what, they don't need our business because we didn't even get a response. We were not looking for a comp, just that the next time we came in rolls or bread would be available. If the owners don't care about customers, we don't need to eat there.
(2)John R.
I added a star I wish I could add a half star 3 1/2 would be my real rating. The Black Horse I have to say the food has been pretty good the last couple times but all I have had is the Pizza and Chicken fingers since my first review. The service much better but not as good as it could be, the wait for food is still a little long, the mixed drinks are still fairly small and expensive for the size IMO. Wednesday night they have a live acoustic thing going on in the corner of the bar he's pretty good. The only problem I see is the entertainment sets up in the corner near the bar and the bar only seats about 15 to 20 people so it gets really crowded. Maybe they could put the entertainment in the corner of the restaurant and turn the vol down a bit. I will still go here, I like the location and the atmosphere but I hope they can improve on a few things. I would like to see this place make it and that is a hard thing these days.
(4)