New Bar Coming to Brookline's Coolidge Corner: Hamilton

BROOKLINE, MA — It looks Brookline may be getting a new bar and one less empty storefront.

"It's really cool," said co-owner of Hamilton Restaurant & Bar Greg Johnston of the ongoing renovation and space in Coolidge Corner across the street from where Lady Grace now sits empty.

Johnston, who loves history, and has been working to help build bars and restaurants for the past 15 years, said CKI tipped him off the space after the friendly Toast backed out and he fell in love with it. He's particularly excited about the details and design of the space, which has multiple hat tips to the history-rich New England. The restaurant's name is, yes, a reference to the Founding Father and first United States Secretary of the Treasury.

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Johnston has brought on Jessica Gooch to design the cocktail menu, and she's researched what the founding fathers used to drink and the menu will highlight those, he said. They'll also serve beer and wine.

Chef Nick Davidovich said the menu will be a reflection of his travels to Europe from Lisbon to Venice to Croatia and Greece and NYC for a mix of classic American and continental.

"I'm just trying to take my experience and make it really good. There's no reason to make things different just for the sake of making it different," he said. The menu will change with the seasons but should include steak and chicken, fish, pasta and veggie dishes.

But Davidovich (who comes by way of West Bridge, Salts, and 80 Thoreau) said his goal is to hit a high bar on all of those.

CKI design studio designed the space which features reclaimed wood and steel, and a window created circa 1780 and saved during demolition of a church in the west of Ireland. Core Construction installed in the space and knocked out a wall to replace it with a massive window facing the old Lady Grace Space.

There are three sections of the restaurant including one that's meant to feel a bit like a courtyard, complete with waterfall and iron gate.

A sign over the front door says Hamilton Restaurant & Bar, set to have 149-seat space, will be open Spring 2018. If all goes to plan, the designers were predicting an opening by the end of March. Johnston is hoping to open even earlier than that.

"I'm Irish. I gotta open by Saint Patrick's Day," he said, laughing.

According to a job posting the restaurant is focused exclusively on creating a space that is enjoyable for both the guests and the staff.

"We foster a collaborative kitchen environment and are building a team whose influences, experiences, and knowledge will help shape our culture. We are looking for individuals who have an entrepreneurial spirit, show a willingness to learn, and who are dedicated to delivering a superior experience," reads the post.

Last January the Friendly Toast was set to open in that spot and even applied for the necessary food/alcohol licenses to open at 1366 Beacon St., formerly home to Japanese and Korean BBQ spot Yasu, which has sat empty since 2016.

Check out the sneak peek Patch just got of the inside construction:

Previously on Patch

Friendly Toast Coming to Coolidge Corner