Mendocino Farms – Brea

Brian Walthour

  

            The newly built Mendocino Farms restaurant in Brea, California opened April 7, 2016 in the La Floresta shopping center. It’s a gourmet sandwich spot that uses organic and locally grown ingredients. This location boasts a clean and unique aesthetic that blends materials such as white marble surfaces and artificial turf on the walls and ceiling. The exterior of the building features a simple and contemporary design complemented by off white and powder blue paint framed with detailed exterior trim, stainless steel accents, and reclaimed wood above the door. The outdoor seating area is well lit with festive string lights and a turf area to play games. The tables and chairs on the patio have an eclectic farmhouse style finished in a bright cerulean color.

            On the inside, you are greeted with reclaimed wood walls as well as bright white geometric floor to ceiling tile walls behind the counter. A tile floor mimicking wood adds durability for the heavy use of a restaurant atmosphere. The grey undertones in the flooring complement the grey streaks in the white marble counters and tables. Grey tufted leather benches and powder blue farmhouse chairs draw attention to the black, intricate cast iron table legs. Near the kitchen, the white marble bar seating with waterfall edges along with the solid wood tables with raw edges are grounded by a detailed blue and white mosaic floor tile. Tufted leather stools in a powder blue color tie the materials in the bar area together.

           

            A nook in a corner of the restaurant is home to a more intimate seating area that is disconnected from the rest of the seating. Green artificial turf covers the walls and ceiling. Large, modern windows throughout the building let in ample natural light to create a bright, cheery ambiance. The vivid blue paint combined with the reclaimed wood on the walls ties in the flooring and outdoor furniture to create a cohesive space. Exposed wiring, ventilation and structural details create depth and give height to the ceiling. A drop-down reclaimed wood ceiling centerpiece creates a dramatic frame for the two glass bulb chandeliers.

            The white marble surfaces seemed to be holding up well to the food spills. I would’ve expected some staining with darker color food, so we’ll see how they hold up in the future. The floors were just dark enough to hide the constant dirt from shoes, yet light enough to keep the space bright. The leather seating may become an issue in the future because of constant use and the ability of leather to scratch. Other than that, the restaurant was designed very nicely and looks extremely put together. With upkeep, this Mendocino Farms has the ability to maintain the farmhouse chic styling and provide an upscale environment to the residents of South Orange County.