Great Food, Coffee And Company Brewing At Westfield's Perch & Parlor

WESTFIELD, NJ — A new eatery, Perch & Parlor, designed as a casual, all-day spot with brunch, lunch, dinner options, specialty coffee and more, is coming to Westfield.

Owner Sinead O'Brien shared with Patch her vision for the cozy spot opening at 102 E Broad St. in Westfield, in the former Hummus Republic location.

"My inspiration for Perch & Parlor really came from my love of dining out, great food, great coffee, and enjoying it all with good company," said O'Brien to Patch. "I’m not much of a cook myself, so I’m always looking for places that feel casual but still cute and special, without feeling like you have to get dressed up just to go."

She has always loved finding a good coffee shop where she can sit, get some work done, and actually enjoy the space.

"The vibe is definitely important to me, but the coffee and food are what keep me coming back. I wanted Perch & Parlor to bring all of those things together and be the kind of place I would want to go to myself," O'Brien said.

O'Brien grew up in Manchester, England, but has been in New Jersey for the past 14 years.

She has also worked in and around Westfield for the past six years, helping local businesses with marketing. That experience, she said, gave her time to get to know the town, its businesses and the wider community.

Familiar with Westfield, it was only natural for O'Brien to want to open her eatery in town.

"Westfield has such a lovely downtown and the community is incredibly supportive of small businesses," O'Brien said.

She also said she likes that the town supports businesses and creates community events that bring people into the area.

"Whenever I walk around Westfield, there is always people out and about, which gives the town such a buzz," said O'Brien.

Perch & Parlor's menu will include brunch favorites such as pancakes, French toast and omelets, along with sandwiches, wraps, burgers and salads.

The business will also focus on specialty coffee, drinks and fresh juices.

O'Brien said she wants the menu to work for customers stopping in for coffee, meeting friends for brunch, grabbing lunch or picking up something quick for dinner.

Perch & Parlor will also offer catering for corporate or office orders and family parties.

Beyond food service, she said she wants the space used for events, including pop-ups with other local small businesses and private rentals.

"We want Perch & Parlor to feel like a place where people can come together, not just somewhere you stop in for coffee or a meal," O'Brien said.

Looking ahead, O'Brien said she hopes the business becomes an easy part of customers' routines.

She said the restaurant will use counter service rather than full service while still aiming to create a space where people will want to spend time.

O'Brien is hoping to open Perch & Parlor around the holidays in mid-November.

For more information on Perch & Parlor, visit perchandparlor.com or to follow instagram.com/perchandparlor.

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