There’s a new restaurant in town, and you may recognize its name from the musical soundtrack blasting from every teen’s iPhone. Hamilton Restaurant and Bar, at 1366 Brookline Street in Coolidge Corner, is named after the founding father, not his rapping, musical alter ego. But you can bet this establishment has all the pizazz Lin Manuel Miranda intended for the stage.
Owner Greg Johnston put care into every detail of this passion project. The interior features a large, lively bar area with a selection of founding-father themed cocktails. Each cocktail is based on the historical figure’s preferences. For example, Alexander Hamilton wasn’t a big drinker, but he loved hot chocolate. The resulting Alexander Hamilton cocktail blends American Prairie bourbon, dark chocolate liqueur, and chocolate bitters with a cherry garnish.
Adjacent to the bar area is a long, communal table built with wood from the USS Constitution. There are several booths in this area as well as two separate, private dining areas away from the hustle and bustle of the bar. One of these spaces, with also serves as a rentable event room, boasts a 1700s-era stained glass window from Ireland, an immigrant to the U.S. just like Hamilton.
Chef Paul Alphonse also had the founding fathers in mind when he crafted the menu. The classic, American comfort food is just what Paul Revere would have wanted to chow down on after that rigorous midnight ride. For fall the list will be touting a 12oz porterhouse pork chop, butchered in-house and doused with a homemade bourbon sauce. The timeless burger is also popular, complete with bacon, cheese, and a tangy house-made sauce.
Chef Alphonse’s background is in fine dining, and it comes through in his elevated take on bar food. Visitors can snack on deviled eggs pickled in beets and fried buffalo cauliflower florets or try mussels in a Downeast Cider sauce. The menu also has a distinctly local tie. Hamilton partners with many local businesses, like Clear Flour Bakery for sandwich bread, and Party Favors Bakery for desserts. They also source much of their produce from the Brookline Farmers Market just around the corner.
In addition to bar eats, lunch, and dinner, Hamilton is now launching breakfast every day and a Brady Brunch on the weekends celebrating our founding father of football. Above all, Johnston and Alphonse want this to become a gathering place for the community. Whether it’s for date night, Sunday night football, or a family meal, Hamilton wants to serve you delicious food, an innovative cocktail, and a healthy dose of history.
