occinteriordesign

Greenleaf Chopshop

October 29, 2013

 

By: Brittany Behr

 

If you haven’t already been, you should check out this beautifully crafted, green eatery right in our own backyard. With two restaurants up and running in Hollywood and Century City, Greenleaf has come to Costa Mesa in a 4,200 square foot space that is reflective of the “modern farm stand” atmosphere. 

Owner Jonathan Rollo took cues from his healthy and eco friendly lifestyle to create this warm, inviting space; fit with a market, wine bar, indoor and outdoor dining and on-site chef’s garden. This restaurant is a designer’s favorite place to eat, serving delicious food all while enjoying it’s unique style elements. This office turned restaurant has kept the integrity of the building, inheriting beautifully crafted windows, concrete floors and a quaint courtyard that seems made for the restaurant. They’ve taken these wonderful existing elements and added many of their own personal touches. The exterior is simple but well thought-out to create an earthy, natural look. As you walk up you notice the beautiful landscaping that adds to the design. From their abundance of succulents to their wine barreled lemon trees that line the walkway to the market, every detail is noted.

The building is completely surrounded with gardens. The impressive quantity of trees, flowers, herbs, fruits, vegetables, and even drought-resistant succulents don’t just add beauty but a “green look” to the design. They are also used in the menu! They are literally out there every day clipping herbs and picking fresh Meyer lemons for their daily menu creations. Talk about sustainability! This totally eliminates the need to import many of the greens they use in the restaurant, which helps to save money and also helps to save the environment from unnecessary transporting emissions. As you enter the restaurant you notice many of the reclaimed elements. Throughout the dining room you will see reclaimed wood beams running across the ceilings. This architectural element adds interest and character to its reclaimed theme.

You will also notice the old, antique dining tables and décor.  Much of the furniture and décor components are family heirlooms or from antique stores. They even use the owner’s grandmother’s table as one of their family dining tables.

Many of the design elements incorporate reclaimed, recycled and compostable materials. The knick-knacks and accessories that have been gathered by the owner and handed down through generations are actually for sale, for the right price! So, if you decide you can’t live without his grandmother’s colorful painting of farm pastures, make an offer! The owner himself designed decals that are adhered to the concrete floors. The decals are made to look like vintage produce labels, and are inspired by, and designed for his staff! The decals against the cracked and worn concrete floors add authenticity to the overall feeling of the space. Owner Jonathan Rollo gets his hands into every aspect of his growing chain of restaurants. His desire to create a sustainable and eco-friendly restaurant extends even into the kitchen’s ventilation system. Greenleaf uses something called a vent-less hood system. It is basically a self-contained system that filters out pollutants, grease, and other emissions first and recycles them, rather than just sending it out the side of the building. As you proceed throughout the space you will notice the beautiful white marble countertops at the kitchen counter where patrons can dine and watch on as chefs prepare their meals in the exhibition kitchen; another design feature that adds to the restaurant.










One of the nicest features of Greenleaf are the rays of light shining through the double hung windows and large casement window, creating natural light and stunning views of the gardens and courtyard .

So, are you excited to check it out yet? Choose your seat! There are so many great options to choose from: There’s the 40 foot custom built farm table inside, the white marble bar from where you can watch your meal being prepared, or outside at a repurposed breakfast table or school desk from Chef Rollo’s own childhood home. Or, if it’s a very special occasion, the private dining courtyard on the back side of the building. You will love the bright, airy space, the welcoming and unpretentious design, and the heritage and “back home” feeling of the accessories, just as much as you will enjoy their delicious menu of fresh California cuisine!

-Brittany Behr & Kelly Haslund

Resources: 

-Greenleaf.com

-Manager at Greenleaf Laurie Koss

-Dailypilot.com

-Greer'soc.com

-Ocregister.com