I finally got to their current Pearlridge location, where they have been since 2020. They started as a small spot near the Cookie Corner in a different part of the Uptown (Phase 1) area, then as the COVID pandemic hit, Beer Lab moved to the larger current spot later in 2020, previously occupied by Applebee's, and rebranded itself as The Hall.
In early 2022, Beer Lab did some renovations that temporarily closed the dining hall for about 6 weeks.
I bought two of my friends in town from the mainland here because they love good food and beer just like me.
Unlike the University and Waipio spots that only serve snacks, the Pearlridge spot has a full kitchen with an impressive food menu. As usual, the beers are all rotating, so what you might see one week might not be there the next time you go.
The Hall has open seating, with bar seating, individual tables, and communal tables. Even on a Friday night, there should be spots open before 5 PM.
I started with the Rinnegan Hazy Double IPA (7.2% ABV), which has Vic Secret, El Dorado, Galaxy, Rakau, and exp 158 hops. Very delicious, mostly fruity citrus with complementing dank and good hop presence.
I then had the Kimchee Fried Rice ($17): bacon, kimchee, rice, topped with green onion and a local Waialua farm egg. Excellent flavor and mild heat on the back end. It looks greasy, but definitely a lovely guilty pleasure.
Not pictured (because my friends and I tackled it pretty quickly) was the Banana Lumpia ($9). Three house-made lumpia with generous amounts of banana inside and served with vanilla ice cream. Crispy lumpia on the outside, fresh out of the fryer. The ice cream was still a little frozen, but obviously better than if it came to us a melted mess.
Their breakfast menu, available from 8 AM to 11 AM daily, offers dishes such as French toast, various benedicts, and pancakes.
While I love the Beer Lab on University Ave, I think The Hall here is much better for the delicious food. At some point, I plan to go back for the breakfast. 9/10
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