With inspiration pulled from pubs from all over Europe, Park Lane Tavern is opening its third location.
After the success of the Fredericksburg and Hampton’s Peninsula Town Center locations, owners Greg Knox and Jeff Anderson plan on opening the Virginia Beach tavern doors on June 7 at KempsRiver Crossing.
Unique dining
“Our European inspired tavern is unique,” Knox said. “Most pubs are dark, with dark wood and low ceilings. We’re different.”
Indeed, the space is open, with tall ceilings, white checkered flooring in the bar, lights brought over from France and England, and a bar created after spying one similar in Scotland.
Park Lane’s furniture will be in place next week, in time for the opening, and will add to the European style of the tavern.
“The furniture is handcrafted, chunky pieces out of Northern Ireland,” Knox said. “We are also having seating on our fire pit patio.”
Comfort food classics
The menu at Park Lane Tavern features European comfort classics infused with an American feel.
“All of the food is made from scratch and done in a non-traditional, chefy way,” Knox said.
Park Lanes’s fish and chips are a big seller, as well as the shepherd’s pie, London broil, and the corned beef entree and sandwich.
“The corned beef is slow cooked in a cider for hours,” Knox said, ” and our bourbon chicken is made with Maker’s Mark bourbon glaze.”
European craft beer
The Scottish inspired bar area is stocked with 24 taps that are 80 percent European beers. Park Lane’s Beverage Bible is placed on every table and includes an extensive tour of beer, bourbons, Irish whiskey, cocktails, wine and desserts offerings.
The Beverage Bible also includes a glimpse into the Tavern’s extensive draft system that provides for taps to be cleaned weekly and a glass washing practice with filtered water at 35 degrees for a perfectly clean glass.
“Our draft system is more elaborate than typical restaurants,” Knox said. “Our glass washers spout water out with such force that they are perfectly clean. Beer tastes better when the glass is cleaner.”
Most beers are poured in the brewer’s glasses, some of which can be taken home during one of Park Lane’s ‘Steal the Glass’ nights.
“When you buy the featured beer, you can take the glass,” Knox shared.
Cask beer
The beer engine sitting behind the bar promises to serve beer the way you’d enjoy it in Europe; a hand pumped, non-carbonated, flavorful cask beer.
“Our cask beer kegs come from breweries that make them just for us,” Knox said. “It’s beer before additives, and served at cellar temp.”
Set apart
From the furnishing to the offerings, Park Lane Tavern aims to be a place that doesn’t look or feel like many others in the Southside.
“We are a unique, quality, European-style facility,” Knox said. “Customers will try one of the beers from France or England, love it, and know that this is where they have to come back to get it.”
Park Lane Tavern will be open Monday through Sunday, with brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an extensive Bloody Mary bar.
To learn more about Park Lane Tavern, click here.
