Desirable Real Estate at The Cork Street Tavern

During the Civil War, the town of Winchester changed hands over 70 times. One of the oldest streets in the historic town, Cork Street, was named by Lord Fairfax in 1759 and is home to one of the oldest taverns in the area. Known for its hearty sandwiches and barbequed ribs, The Cork Street Tavern was a perfect choice for lunch on the day I explored the area.

I started with the rib appetizer, and as promised, the ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender and perfectly seasoned. I had a few friends with me for lunch, so we all ordered different sandwiches so I could get a good sampling of the tavern fare. The crab cake sandwich passed the Eastern Shore test—more crab than breading—and the bacon burger with a healthy helping of fries was as good as any I’ve had. The only disappointment was the pulled pork BBQ sandwich, which was not nearly as good as the ribs and was drowning in sauce. Less is always more when it comes to barbeque, I think.

The tavern is old, full of wood and the requisite animal heads, and definitely has the ambiance of a place that has been around for quite some time. It’s located on the edge of the pedestrian-only shopping area in the center of town, which is filled with boutiques and local shops. (8 West Cork Street, Winchester, VA (540) 667-3777) www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?attrID=29632