Hudson Hall Opening Saturday, 9/23

Hudson Hall is scheduled to open to the public this Saturday, 9/23.

Owned and operated by some of the partners behind Pilsner Haus & Biergarten in Hoboken and Asbury Festhalle, Hudson Hall is a beer hall and smoke house at 364 Marin Boulevard, the site of the former Powerhouse Lounge. After more than a year of work, extensive renovations, and lots of care and attention to detail  (the owners hand-dug out the basement, created the mirrors themselves and much more), little remains of Powerhouse and instead, a spacious and beautiful but intimate hall evocative of 1920s Europe has been put in its place.

The hall itself seats over 200 people with a large bar, a deli counter, a small stage that also works as a quieter dining area (and is one of my personal favorite spaces, seen above), two large smokers and one cold smoker, and an open kitchen. The tables are made from the century-old floorboards, the walls have some of the original paint and brickwork exposed, and there's handcrafted ironwork as well as handpainted murals.

When it came to the food, the team wanted to keep it to Eastern European flavors and favorites with some adjustments for modern American tastes. Expect a heavy focus on fermentation, smoking, and pickling with everything from smoked meat to smoked cheese and pickled vegetables. Dishes like bratwurst with potato and cheese pierogies and smoked garlic and pork belly as well as some traditional Czech and Eastern European dishes will be on the menu. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available including a veggie hash and a roasted eggplant sandwich with pickled vegetables. They'll also have smoked meats, seafoods, and sides available by the pound to be packaged to go. Based off what I saw of the menu and heard about from the kitchen, there's a lot here to be excited about and it's something that isn't currently found anywhere else in Jersey City.

The bar, and particularly the beer, will remain true to the European feel, with about 60% of the beers being imported directly from Europe. There will be 22 tap lines and a wide variety of bottled beers including local favorite Departed Soles. One of the most interesting features of their taps is their ability to pour Pilsner Urquell in several traditional styles including the Mlíko, a mostly foam pour meant to be drunk quickly to enjoy the sweet creamy foam, almost milkshake-like in flavor and mouthfeel. They've also crafted some cocktails based around the beer along with having a strong selection of bourbons to taste, bourbon-based drinks, and some traditional gin and vodka cocktails. 

Overall, Hudson Hall is one of the more exciting and unique restaurants to open in Jersey City this year. There's a great laid-back vibe, an interesting and varied menu in both drinks and food, actual space, and with a group of dedicated and detail-oriented partners, Hudson Hall is poised to be a transportive experience. 

While initial opening hours haven't been definitively set, Hudson Hall will most likely be open from 11am-2am once they get past the initial soft opening phase with take-out hours from 11am-9pm.