Kardinal Hall

by Charlottesville29

k-hall

722 Preston Avenue . Charlottesville, VA . (434) 295-4255
http://kardinalhall.com/

Why Kardinal Hall? 

To make The Charlottesville 29, it helps to be one-of-the-kind. And, Kardinal Hall is just that – an American biergarten “inspired by tradition but not handcuffed to it,” as one brewer put it. Before it opened in the fall of 2015, Charlottesville had never seen anything like the massive beer hall and garden in the former Coca-Cola bottling plant on Preston Avenue.

Kardinal Hall places a premium on fun, with dozens of board games for all ages (including a weekly Chickapig night), ping pong tables, and even two bocce ball courts in the beer garden. Guests order at a kiosk or the bar and then choose a seat at a booth or picnic-style table, where servers deliver their meal. Meanwhile, walls covered with televisions make it just as good a place to watch games as to play them.

Despite the emphasis on fun, Kardinal Hall is serious about its food and drink, thanks to an ownership team that also runs Beer Run. Food is well-executed takes on traditional Alpine beer hall cuisine with modern and local twists. Beer is an expertly-chosen menu of rare bottles and two dozen draughts, available in 10 oz, 16 oz, and, best of all, Liter steins, blending German, Belgian, and domestic crafts. And, wines and cocktails are also well curated.

What to Order

While both vegetarians and carnivores can eat well at Kardinal Hall, meat is a strength, especially the ever-changing plate of house-made charcuterie and the wide selection of sausages, served on custom pretzel rolls from Albemarle Baking Company. Below is a list of our other suggestions, the chef and owners’ favorites, and appearances in Five Finds on Friday, where a local chef or personality has named a Kardinal Hall dish as one of the best in town.

Our Picks

  • Bavarian Pretzel
  • Spice Rubbed Brisket Sandwich
  • Belgian Fries
  • Pickled Vegetables
  • Waffles (Brunch)
  • Food Specials (like Smoked Butternut Squash Sandwich)
  • Cocktail Specials (like Smoked & Oaked)

Chef-Owner Picks

  • Bavarian Pretzel
  • Spice Rubbed Brisket Sandwich
  • Portobello Burger

Five Finds on Friday Picks

  • Bavarian Pretzel with Obatzda Cheese – Nate Olewine (Devils Backbone Brewing Company)
  • Spice Rubbed Brisket Sandwich with Rothaus Pils – Jerome Thalwitz (Bavarian Chef)
  • Pastrami Sandwich – Dave Warwick (Three Notch’d Brewing Company)