Lantern Hall, credit Eater
New beer spots are always welcome! Looking forward to trying some British suds soon:
A new beer bar called Lantern Hall is slated to open in early December at 52 Harrison Place., right by the Morgan Avenue L stop. A British expat with fine dining experience is running the bar, while a New Orleans-taught chef is running the kitchen. Will Sperling, 29, used to be a manager at Craft Beer Co. in London and came to the U.S. to work in the hospitality industry — ultimately in the front of house at Gramercy Tavern and then The Clocktower. And chef Philip Immekus, also 29, takes inspiration for the American bar food menu from growing up in Southern Missouri and working in New Orleans.
That means a few of Lantern Hall’s 14 taps and can/bottle selections will be lesser-known craft beers from across the pond, and the menu will offer dishes like charbroiled oysters and fried chicken sandwiches with a little bit of Cajun spice. Bar food like tater tots will be made from scratch, and bread for sandwiches will come from popular Williamsburg spot Northside Bakery. “Everything is going to be packed with flavor,” Immekus says.
Despite Sperling’s background in fine dining, Lantern Hall seeks to be a neighborhood place — just with better service. Lantern Hall owner Jeff Wong, 28, grew up in Flushing, Queens and came back from a stint as an investment banker in Hong Kong partly to open the place in the neighborhood where his family used to work. “There are too many neighborhood spots where service is indifferent,” Sperling says. “We want to introduce you to new, exciting things that you’ll talk about and tell your friends about.” Check out some shots of the interior below.