As much as I loathe the need to use this phrase, I suspect Hayden Hall, at the time of this…read morewriting, is a case of wasted potential. This situation is not entirely their fault, but they can take steps to usher in the change that will stop this wasting of potential. But why? Well:
I've found there's a new BC/AC when it comes to time: Before COVID & After COVID. There are some AC changes that come with the territory, in this case I am referring to The Loop. While I've been in the city barely a year (as of this writing), I am told the Loop used to be much more vibrant BC. Now, locals come to the Loop to work, tourists come to see The Bean, and as night falls, the area becomes quiet, save for the El rumbling above.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though! While there have been some mainstays that remained, the Loop seems to be slowly rebounding! Momento Cantina, for example.
It is more gathering, eating, "third" places, if you will, that can help revitalize the area. Hayden Hall has a bar that looks like it hasn't seen a drop of liquor in five years, and there's also a deli-slicer pristine enough to be a museum piece and very unlikely to have seen a single slice of cheese. All of these are going unused, and HH closes at 3pm... People buy their food at lunch, and right back to work. Meanwhile, if the bar, deli-whatever-have-you, not to mention the hall itself were open late, people would have more incentive to not flee the Loop when the clock strikes five!
It's a situation where it seems as though everyone is waiting for the area's nightlife to come back, but also waiting for someone else to extend their opening hours. If it's everyone's responsibility, it's no one's, a story going back to Biblical times, at least.
As for the current state:
The selection of restaurants isn't great, with six-ish restaurants plus a salad bar almost hidden, tucked away in the corner (with an outdoor patio behind it, to boot). It would be immensely helpful to have some website or at least social media page with a listing, and maybe online ordering, but that is apparently asking too much in 2025.
Given the small selection, I do like how they are presented, where you can walk by in a straight line, see the menus, make a decision, loop around what your stomach or heart craves
Nothing is cheap at present day, but I find the prices are comparable, if not a little less than some of the competition in the immediate surrounding area.
My favorite part of the hall though is the vibe. I think the best way to describe it is to say it reminds me of Bioshock (without the being of underwater, decay, or splicers). Shall we say, a quirky, vintage, art deco, if that makes sense? The space is also very open, comfortable, and immaculately clean.
Final Verdict: I know I spent a long time waxing poetic about the possibilities for Hayden Hall, and the disappointment that it isn't yet living into them. At the same time, I appreciate the need to judge a place by what it is, not what it was or could be. With that said, though the selection is limited, Hayden Hall is an excellent choice for a workday lunch, especially given the beautiful scenery and how welcoming the space is to individuals or groups!
