HALL
Cocktail bar · Flatiron District ·
Japanese-inspired burgers, cocktails, and wine in a cozy bar
Japanese-inspired burgers, cocktails, and wine in a cozy bar
"I thought it would be nice to make a hamburger that mixed New York and Japan," says chef Hiroki Odo — actually, he made six. The limited menu features a selection of wagyu burgers, from a simple single cheeseburger to one topped with A5 wagyu steak. Step by step, general manager Brian Saito walks through crafting the burgers: he starts with a blend of Sakura Wagyu chuck and A5 wagyu, finely grinding them and controlling just how much fat is in each patty. Then there’s the sauce, a combination of sansho peppercorns, "a perfect complement for the fattiness of the wagyu," reduced in sake and tamari; Saito says it’s a sauce they also use at chef Odo’s titular kaiseki restaurant next door. All of it gets piled on buns made from the chef’s own recipe, "so their key point is a sense of unity." The entire menu is in service of wanting to bring a variety of experiences to New York diners, says chef Odo, and to showcase all the cuisines Japan has to offer, though he admits multiple concepts in one space "isn’t the kind of restaurant you could open in Japan." A cocktail and burger bar, in front of a chef’s counter, next to a kaiseki restaurant? That’s New York." - Jaya Saxena
"If you’re in the mood for sushi, you should know that Hall in Chelsea has a few different options that you usually can’t get for delivery, like a 10-piece sushi set for $23 and a chef’s omakase that costs $98 and comes with 20 pieces of nigiri. There are also some burgers to choose from, as well as wine and beer available for delivery and pick-up online." - Hannah Albertine
"A wood-filled Flatiron cafe serving small but flavorful Japanese-ish burgers (wagyu, prawn, short rib, fried chicken, vegetable) at low prices (under $12 at lunch) in a serene setting with a full bar." - Eater Staff
"A West Village comfort-food spot with a Depression-speakeasy vibe, refurbished booths, and a warmly private atmosphere that attracted artists and actors in the 1990s and became the site of small celebrity encounters handled with discretion." - The Editors
