RED O, Newport Beach

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

Bullard, M. L. (2014, February 22). RED O. MartynLawrenceBullard.com. Retrieved April14,2014, from http://martynlawrencebullard.com/livelovedecorate/design/red-o.

Lauren. (2013, November 01). Rick Bayless Debuts RED O in Newport Beach This Month. OCFoodies.com. Retrieved April 14, 2014, from http://www.ocfoodies.com/profiles/blogs/rick-bayless-debuts-red-o-in-newport-beach-next-month.

(2012, November 05). Los Angeles’ RED O Restaurant Mexican Cuisine by Rick Bayless Coming to Fashion Island. Retrieved April 14, 2014, from http://www.irvinecompany.com/los-angeles%E2%80%99-red-o-restaurant-mexican-cuisine-by-rick-bayless-coming-to-fashion-island