Bites Nearby: The Walk Street Tavern

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, New Hyde Park Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here's this week's choice:

Renamed the Walk Street Tavern by owners Jimmy Tubbs and Robert Kloepfer in 2008, the large corner house on Jericho Turnpike, formerly known for many years as Henry’s Inn, is a familiar sight for locals. As one of the oldest in the , the building itself is a New Hyde Park landmark.

Within its recognized walls, the Walk Street Tavern is a friendly, spacious spot that boasts better-than-average pub food, live music on the weekends and a longstanding reputation for great hamburgers.

Tubbs sums it up as, “A family neighborhood tavern that also has the ability to throw big events.”

The comfortable setting is as fit a gathering space for having a drink with friends as it is to bring the family out for dinner. Catering is also available, with several dining/party rooms and an outdoor patio and tiki bar that can accommodate all different sized parties, from charity events to special occasions.

As a graduate of the Culinary Institute, Kloepfer has constructed a menu of pub fare standards with a touch of sophistication. Items such as the crab cake with Cajun remoulade and the much-raved about mussels in white wine garlic sauce are what Tubbs describes as, “exceptional for pub food.”

Made up of mainly wraps, salads and sandwiches, all selections come within a reasonable price range. Of course, you can’t forget the tavern’s legendary burgers of which the location has been synonymous with since its days as Henry’s Inn. Their 10 ounce hamburger comes served on a Kaiser roll with your choice of topping and fries.

“Traditionally it’s always been the burgers here that have been the number one staple,” says Tubbs.

Specials from the bar include happy hour every day from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and up until 7:00 p.m. on Fridays. During the summer, enjoy specialty blended drinks outside at the tiki bar. And as football season approaches, guests are invited to watch the games with drink and wing specials.

Fridays at 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:00 p.m. there is live music. On Fridays there is usually a full band, while Saturdays are a little lighter, with a duo or trio typically performing. Traditionally, it is a lot of cover bands, playing the hits that you are used to.

Tubbs says that Fridays are “usually a fantastic night,” with an active and upbeat atmosphere that sometimes prompts the crowd to get up and dance. For a schedule of upcoming bands, visit the Walk Street Tavern’s Facebook page.

Takeout and delivery are available.

The Walk Street Tavern, 1218 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park, (516) 354-9732. Monday-Sunday, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.