New Restaurant Opens In Coolidge Corner

BROOKLINE, MA — Some nine months after the Regal Beagle closed a new restaurant, with a few familiar faces has opened in its place. Parlour opened to cheers Friday night as the new restaurant owners Meghan Murphy and Luke Hayden, who both worked at Regal Beagle, cut the ribbon to signal their new establishment was open for business.

Murphy and Hayden made the aesthetic changes themselves, brightening the room with mirrors and light and festive wall paper. They're going for a different vibe here with their new venture, doing things they weren't in the position to do when they weren't the boss.

"We are very much chef driven, and we want to bring it back to three course meals and really enjoying food and drink and brightening it up," said Murphy.

In addition to Murphy and Hayden, chef Stacy Cogswell is staying put, too.

Cogswell, a graduate of Johnson & Wales' Culinary School is also known for her appearance on “Top Chef,” during season 12. Cogswell will be sourcing food locally and will be planning the seasonal menu.

The Regal Beagle closed in the fall after about a decade in the spot at 308 Harvard Street. Two days before the neighborhood bar closed, Murphy and Hayden who both worked there learned they were going to be out a job. While they were taking a beat outside after learning the news, they looked at each other and decided they wanted to try to buy the spot and make it their own. Two days after Regal Beagle closed, the couple who lives together in Allston about 15 minutes away on foot, started talking to investors. After some ups and downs, they did it.

"We could have opened a restaurant in another space probably for a lot cheaper, but it wouldn't be home,"Murphy told Patch Friday night. "We want to work with the theater and the Booksmith we just wanna further ingratiate ourselves into the community. We love being here," said Murphy.

You can find bar snacks like Buffalo Broccoli with celery and blue cheese for $9 and small plates like Nantucket Blood Clams for $14. Murphy said the plan is to source as locally as possible and to stay seasonal. Right now you can find an entree of Grass Fed Bavette Steak Frietes or Veal Milanese or BBQ Chicken or a tofu dish with Sweet and Sour Summer Carrots in the range of $20 to $32. Oh, and there's something on the menu called "Nashville Hot Chicken Donuts" with house pickle and herb yogurt for $10.

"We want it to be a place where you can sit down and have a Highlife and a burger and also have your first anniversary dinner and everything in between," said Murphy.

There's no specific demographic, she said. And the name Parlour? It comes from a desire to entertain Brookline, as in welcome someone into the parlor.

The plan is to be open from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dinner starts at 5 p.m. but you can grab snacks at the bar before. Look for brunch to start up once they get their feet under them.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).