RED
O
By: Nicole Richards and Rhina Chou
Where once was just a parking lot, now
lays the vibrant, RED O restaurant in Newport Beach, which opened during the
summer of 2013. RED O at Fashion Island
is the restaurant’s second location, and features Mexican Cuisine by Rick Bayless
with menu items exclusive to Orange County.
According to an Irvine Company Press Room Article, the first California
RED O restaurant, located off Melrose in West Hollywood, which opened in 2010,
was noted as one of the “Best New Restaurants” in America with “Best Design” by
Esquire magazine.
Drama
is heightened upon entering through a grand wooden and metal nail head accented
door, to indulge in the 7,000 square foot free standing restaurant building at
Fashion Island, “inspired by the historic villas of Mexico’s breathtaking San
Miguel de Allende.”
Instantaneously
the palette is stimulated by exciting red accents and decor, paired with an
authentic, rusticated vibe. The dining
patio alone consists of 1,500 square feet, polished with painted sleek, steel
structured beams. Martyn Lawrence
Bullard, an award-winning Los Angeles based interior designer, is responsible
for the restaurant’s “Mediterranean floor plan” and design which is made to,
“evoke a feel of a lavish Mexican resort.” In an OC Foodies article, Bullard
also notes on the look of the restaurant by calling it a, “modern and luxurious
space that mingles with old world textures to create a beautiful and inviting
space that is perfect to experience Chef Rick Bayless’ modern Mexican fare.”
You
cannot help but be in awe of RED O’s decorative and colorful stone mosaic
flooring in the entryway, which according to the restaurant’s website, has been
imported. The ornate mosaic flooring
utilized throughout the restaurant for continuity, flows beautifully into the
open floor plan’s transition of porcelain wooden planks, which are a wise
specification when it comes to maintenance in the main dining area where
spillage can be prominent. The porcelain
wooden planks appear so natural and authentic that it was initially difficult
to distinguish if they were porcelain or real hardwood.
While
eating, no coasters are necessary for the texturized, faux wooden tables also
provide proper maintenance for drinks and spills. Even the presentation of food was reflective
of the restaurant’s materials and design, with rich colors contrasted on crisp,
white plates. A variety of unique
furniture, noted to be custom and described as “exotic,” is covered in upholstery
that is thick to the touch for commercial grade durability. The upholstery features everything from
softened stripes to floral patterns and “distressed leather,” all tying in with
the restaurant’s eclectic, yet harmonious theme. No matter where you look, every angle of Red
O has been decorated with careful consideration. The ceilings are lined with faux wooden beams
for authentic visual appeal and also with red, upholstered acoustic panels to
assist with proper sound maintenance on busy nights. Twinkling light shines through the dangling,
pierced brass lanterns which Bullard reports were his own design and made in
Fez, Morocco. Walls come to life, as
Bullard quotes they are filled with, “Moorish tiles mixed with distressed
mirrored glass mosaics, designed exclusively by me, adding an unbelievable
texture and depth to the space.”
In
addition, the walls are “dressed in deep red stained tobacco papers reminiscent
of cordovan leather seen in the noble residences of Seville and Madrid, studded
with bronze nail heads.” The restaurant
also provides plenty of reflection with its “Taj Majal mirrors” placed
strategically throughout the interior.
The
specifications of materials and products for the RED O Newport Beach restaurant
are thoughtful and logical displays of durability, relating back to the origins
of Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s inspiration from around the world. The distressed leather upholstery may be of
concern for feeling a bit cold to the touch when being seated during the winter
months; however, the selections overall were appropriate for commercial grade
maintenance, yet creative to still
aesthetically reflect the appeal of real hardwood floors and tables mixed with
the authenticity of European tiles. I
would highly recommend RED O restaurant in Newport Beach to anyone looking to
enjoy great Mexican Cuisine while experiencing an exciting escape from reality
where they are immersed into a fusion of cultures.
Resources
1:47 PM
Unknown
Posts
