Succulent smoked meats, a bourbon-based cocktail menu, and an epic, made-from-scratch pastrami sandwich are just a few of the menu items you can expect from soon-to-open Hudson Hall.
Located at the former Powerhouse Lounge at 364 Marin, the space has been under construction for the past year and a half, says general manager, Kevin Hunt. Everything from the smokers to the bar taps have been meticulously antiqued by hand.
“It’s all brand new. We’re just making it look old,” says Hunt.
Throw in some faux rusted metal and copious amounts of exposed brick and you’ve got a beer hall that looks straight out of 1800.
A pastrami sandwich unlike anything you’ve tried
“Our food isn’t barbecue,” says Hunt. “We have pastrami, we have roast beef, we’re doing cold smoked salmon — we don’t want to serve something that you can get at a million other places.”
To create that unique menu, Hudson Hall enlisted the help of five-year Dinosaur Bar-B-Que vet, chef Daniel Hoose. Hoose’s menu consists of old world charcuterie like smoked meats, pickled and fermented vegetables, and a signature made-from-scratch pastrami sandwich that’s cured, rubbed, smoked, brined, and roasted in-house. The pastrami sandwich will be Hudson Hall’s signature dish, says Hunt.
Non-meat eaters will be able to choose from a variety of vegetarian options, and Hunt says there will even be a vegan option. And while there won’t be any pretzels, you can expect to gnosh on plenty of langose, a Slovakian fry bread that’s finished with smoked garlic butter.
Bourbon, beer, & wines for every palate
The beer and cocktail program at Hudson Hall has received the same meticulous attention as the restaurant’s food menu.
Hudson Hall has 21 taps, 60% of which will be European and 40% of which will be American craft beer. Locally, you can expect to see great beer from Departed Soles, NJ Beer Company, and Asbury Park Brewery.
The bar will also offer 25 different bourbons. Those bourbons will be the base for five of Hudson Hall’s nine signature cocktails.
If beer and liquor aren’t your drink of choice, the restaurant’s wine list will offer unique wine varietals that diverge from the traditional chardonnay or cabernet.
Lunch and take-out in the back
More than just a beer hall, Hudson Hall will also house a separate deli area in the back — open Mondays through Fridays — where you’ll be able enjoy sit down or take-out lunches.
In the future, the area may even be turned into a cozy lounge on weekends.
“We want to be an old world beer hall where you can come, be communal, and congregate with friends,” says Hunt.
Hudson Hall will open in September.
