Step Into Little Italy’s Soaring New Beer Hall

Handsomely filling its India Street corner is newcomer Nolita Hall, which opens to the public this Wednesday in Little Italy. It’s the first restaurant venture for Black Swan Hospitality, co-founded by Creative House’s Douglas Hamm with partner and director of operations Anthony Viveros (True Food Kitchen), which extends Hamm’s commercial real estate endeavors by installing well-designed projects at select properties that he owns. Next up for Black Swan is a large restaurant and bar further south on India Street will likely start construction later this summer.

Though Nolita Hall marks the group’s debut, its key hospitality team includes experienced members of the local industry including executive chef/culinary director Nathan Coulon (Modus, True Food Kitchen) and bartender/cocktail consultant Brian Prugalidad (Campfire, Polite Provisions). Accomplished design firm Tecture (The Patio on Goldfinch, Kettner Exchange) adds to the lift of the 6,000-square-foot venue with floor-to-ceiling windows and a 10-by-60-foot skylight.

With a shuffleboard court and large screens for Xbox play or the broadcast of important sports events, including the FIFA World Cup, Nolita Hall is positioning itself as a neighborhood hangout offering elevated food and drink. The menu ranges from cheese and charcuterie to salads and pizzas, including the Old School with proscuitto, arugula, reggiano, and charred lemon and the Eat Your Veggies with green olive tapenade and roasted seasonal vegetables. The kitchen’s wood-fired oven will also cook up seasonal specials. Featured at the bar are 24 beer taps, a selection of natural wine, and craft cocktails that highlight Italian liqueurs.

Operating initially from 5 p.m. to midnight on weekdays from 11 a.m. to midnight on weekends, the restaurant will eventually launch a separate weekend brunch; reservations can be made for its larger booths, otherwise it’s open seating at its communal and bar height tables.