This bourbon-forward bistro in downtown Charleston has transformed dining in West Virginia with its combination of upscale comfort food and the state’s largest bourbon collection.
Hale House specializes in locally sourced American cuisine with nearly every menu item made in-house, from their famous Wagyu burger to bourbon-glazed steaks that keep diners coming back. 🥃
Owner Vicente Cruz has created more than just a restaurant—this is a destination featuring rare bourbons, craft cocktails, fine wine, and exceptional homemade dishes that celebrate regional flavors.
How Hale House won Charleston’s hearts
The restaurant’s meteoric rise stems from their unwavering commitment to quality ingredients and scratch cooking techniques that elevate classic American dishes.
Their signature bourbon glaze appears on multiple menu items, from salmon to ribeye, creating that distinctive sweet-savory flavor profile customers crave. 🔥
The hidden speakeasy downstairs has become legendary among locals and visitors alike, offering craft cocktails in an atmosphere that transports guests back to Prohibition-era glamour.
Their famous pimento cheese fries have achieved cult status as an appetizer that customers call delicious and impossible to resist ordering.
Smothered in pimento cheese, cheese blend, bacon, and jalapeños, these loaded fries create the perfect shareable starter. 🧀
The rustic-chic atmosphere with brick and wood creates an inviting environment that feels upscale yet welcoming for any occasion.
Their consistent crowds—even on Monday nights—demonstrate the restaurant’s reputation for delivering great food and excellent service every single visit since opening in 2020.
Food Highlights
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Wagyu Burger: This premium burger features handcrafted Wagyu beef with pickle, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mustard, and mayo. 🍔
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8 OZ Filet: The premium center-cut tenderloin showcases wet-aged beef at its finest—tender, flavorful, and cooked exactly to preference. 🥩
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Pork Chops: Two bone-in French center-cut pork chops served with a choice of side—prepared with the same attention to quality as their steaks.
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Angel Hair Crab Cakes: These innovative seafood starters wrap lump crab in delicate angel hair pasta, then top them with Creole honey mustard sauce for textural and flavor complexity.
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Prime Rib: Available Wednesday through Saturday only, this 12-oz hand-cut special comes with house-made au jus for dipping.
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Bourbon & Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp: A signature appetizer featuring jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon and finished with house-made bourbon glaze—sweet, savory, and smoky perfection. 🦐
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Prime Rib Sandwich: This crowd favorite layers thinly sliced prime rib on a toasted baguette with grilled onions, provolone cheese, and house-made creamy horseradish sauce.
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Drunken Ribeye: The signature steak features a well-marbled, hand-cut 12-oz ribeye coated with house-made bourbon glaze. 🥩
- Ahi Tuna: Yellowfin saku seasoned and seared rare, sliced and finished with Asian ginger sauce—a lighter appetizer that showcases the kitchen’s versatility with seafood. 🍣
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Bourbon-Glazed Salmon: This popular entrée features Norwegian Atlantic salmon coated with house-made bourbon glaze and grilled pineapple.
Atmosphere
The rustic-chic downtown location features exposed brick walls and warm wood accents that create an inviting yet sophisticated environment.
Tables fill quickly with steady streams of reservation holders, creating a lively but manageable noise level on busy nights—the energy of success. 🎶
The downstairs speakeasy offers a completely different vibe with a clubby atmosphere and dim lighting, where patrons naturally engage with each other.
Bottom Line
West Virginia’s largest bourbon collection with rare finds; scratch-made dishes using locally sourced ingredients; hidden speakeasy downstairs with craft cocktails; signature bourbon glaze elevating multiple dishes; exceptional service in rustic-chic setting. 💯
Address:
212 Hale St, Charleston, WV 25301
📞 (304) 346-8161
🕔 Mon-Sat 4:00 PM–10:00 PM (Closed Sunday)