‘Winchester’s living room’ revamps, reopens with new owners, new pizzas, same comfort
Chad T. Walker and his wife, Jill, have a combination of affection and memories tied up in their new downtown Winchester dining spot, The Engine House Pub and Pizza Parlour.
Jill worked at the location as a server in high school and college. And being the site of Winchester’s longest-running restaurant, the 135-year-old property and former firehouse has a special place in each of their hearts.
When the couple purchased the property in Jan. 2020, they found out other people felt the same way.
“People are coming in saying, ‘when I was 12 years old and I ate in that back booth,’” Chad said. “It’s funny how many people come in. It’s like a ‘Field of Dreams’ scenario.”
When the Walkers think back, they remember the restaurant most fondly when it was the Engine House Deli, owned by Bob Tabor. The restaurant has been through several owners and incarnations in its history as a go-to eating spot, eventually switching to pizza but never switching off its charm with diners.
“It was kind of a passion project and we didn’t want to see it torn down or turned into a law firm or something,” said Chad, who also works in real estate with his wife.
The Walkers’ version of the Engine House would keep the emphasis on hand-tossed, made-to-order pizzas with fresh ingredients. Since they opened July 11, diners have reacted positively with an average online review of 4.5 stars.
“All the pizzas are like a snowflake. Each one is individual,” Chad said. “This is Lexington or Cincinnati quality but it’s Winchester prices.”
While the restaurant has best-selling speciality pizzas like The Winchester (Bacio mozzarella, pepperoni, ham, Italian sausage, onion, mushrooms and black olives) or other interesting offerings named after the couple’s pet goats like The Tater (think a loaded baked potato, but it’s pizza) and The Mater (a margherita-style pizza with tons of tomatoes and a balsamic glaze).
They also brought back staples from the property’s Engine House Deli days like the Pizza Pun (a mini pizza sandwich) or the The Original Hot Ham Hoagie, which has the Bob Tabor seal of approval.
“He said this one is so similar, the burp tastes the same,” Chad joked.
After the Walkers purchased the property at the beginning of the year, it wasn’t long before they had to delay the grand-openinguntil summer due to COVID-19 shutdowns. This allowed them more time to improve the space, revamping the kitchen and adding a marble bar top. From here they serve a curated cocktail menu and beer list featuring selections from many Kentucky breweries on tap.
Chad said in addition to hosting live music, the Engine House will also have themed nights, like the “Golden Girls” day they hosted last month in honor of actress Estelle Getty’s birthday and a Dolly Parton night celebrating the singers birthday. The celebration will coincide with the Kentucky Derby and feature a Dolly look-a-like contest.
“We’re limited (on space) but it also gives us a whole lot of freedom to do some funky stuff,” Chad said. “We tried to put our own spin on it without getting in the way of the history of it.”
Chad admits that running a restaurant for the first time has been a “baptism by fire,” especially in the wake of COVID-19 creating so many challenges in the restaurant industry. But he said the enthusiasm people have for Engine House isn’t in danger of being put out.
“It’s kind of an indefinable quality. It’s just cozy and it feels comfortable,” he said. “We kind of joke all the time that the Engine House is Winchester’s living room.”
The Engine House Pub and Pizza Parlour
Where: 9 Lexington Ave., Winchester, Ky.
Hours: Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday; Noon to 10 p.m. Thursday - Saturday; Closed Sunday
Contact: 859-737-0560 or facebook.com/enginehousepizzapub
Order online: toasttab.com/the-engine-house/v3