Berkeley Square is the home of a local senior living campus, but it also serves as a unique location for the Coach House, an upscale casual restaurant.
From hosting a five-course gourmet wine dinner every other month to mixology classes, and themed holiday buffets, Coach House has a variety of special events and offerings. They change their menu seasonally, giving returning customers a one-of-a-kind dining experience.
“We always try to think of what other restaurants in Hamilton aren't doing, and then we try that. For example, prime rib is one of our specials on the last weekend of every month because it is unique and people enjoy it,” said General Manager Leesa Cassell.
Executive Chef Phil Wong is the mastermind behind the food selection, known for his famous Chicken Berry Salad, which I had the pleasure of trying (trust me, it’s hyped up for a reason).
Along with indoor dining, they also have a gorgeous dog-friendly patio that is open during the spring and summer months and a diverse selection of gourmet wines and craft cocktails. They have been awarded Best in Butler County for Bar, Patio, Bartender, and many other categories for several years in a row.
The roots of the Coach House grew from the long-running Hamilton City Club, an establishment that closed in the late 1990’s. After it closed, Berkeley Square opened Coach House and welcomed Hamiltonians who had enjoyed the exclusive community aspect to a membership only restaurant in 2002. In 2015, Coach House changed its members-only philosophy and are now fully open to the public.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic affected thousands of small businesses and establishments across the United States including Coach House, causing them to close until they reopened in October 2023.
For a lot of businesses, this could’ve been detrimental - for Coach House, they saw the closure as an opportunity to re-imagine the restaurant. During this time they took the opportunity to fully re-build the restaurant – with a new team, new concept and a fully renovated establishment. They maintained some of the cool and unique original features like the wood bar and 3 gorgeous fireplaces, but with a focus on modernizing these traditional features to make a space that appeals to all ages. Today Coach House has an art deco/speakeasy vibe - featuring black ceilings, all new flooring and lighting, and styled by local designer Sarah Vallingham of Sarah’s House.
Along with these additions came another important one: Executive Chef Wong. Formerly of High Street Cafe, Chef Wong brought two of his team members along with him to create an experienced, adaptable, and dedicated back-of-house staff for the Coach House.
“Something that makes Coach House really special, especially in a restaurant environment, is that most of the team has been here since we re-opened, so our servers are tenured and have grown so much together,” said Cassell.
Coach House takes pride in their connection with the community and is a member of the Hamilton Amusement and Hospitality Association. According to Community First Vice President of Sales and Marketing Danielle Webb, Coach House supports local businesses as much as possible, such as using T.A.K.E. mushrooms on their menu sourced from local farmers.
Their wide variety of dining experiences allows Coach House to not only welcome Berkeley Square residents, but also local diners, which makes up around 70% of their customer base.
Coach House also offers exceptional private dining spaces ideal for rehearsal dinners, company parties, baby showers, and a variety of other celebrations. In addition to the inviting atmosphere, their front- and back-of-house teams are highly experienced in planning and executing private events of all sizes. As they continue to grow, Coach House aims to expand this side of their business while maintaining the outstanding service guests have come to expect in their bar and dining areas
Coach House is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday - Saturday, only specially opening on Sundays for their annual Holly Jolly Brunch, Mother’s Day Brunch and Easter Brunch all-inclusive buffets.
