Subscribe for a FREE Daily Dose of greer's OC
FacebookTwitterRSSYouTubeFollow Me on Pinterest

Blog



RJB Restaurant Group Expands Parlor and Olea Footprints

06.08.25

Orange County restaurateur Russ Bendel continues to grow his collection of popular dining destinations, recently expanding two of his standout restaurants: Parlor Woodfire Kitchen & Cocktails in San Clemente and Olea, Cellar. Craft. Cook in Newport Beach. Each gained more than 1,200 square feet of new space, the result of creative thinking and impeccable timing.

Parlor’s Lower Level

When Parlor opened in San Clemente last July, the building’s underused lower level served only as storage. But as the restaurant quickly gained a loyal following—and increasing demand for more bar and private dining space—Bendel and his team saw an opportunity to transform the downstairs into a vibrant new area.

Now called the Lower Level, the space features two distinct rooms: El Camino Lounge, a cozy private space with an eight-seat bar and vintage décor, and Mae Mae’s Den, a 14-seat private dining room. The Lower Level offers complimentary arcade games, darts, a billiards table, and multiple large-screen TVs. Mae Mae’s Den also features a custom table cover that allows guests to enjoy a meal before converting the space back into a game room. Since opening in mid-May, the Lower Level has been a popular venue for private events and helps accommodate weekend overflow.

Olea 2.0

Bendel’s Olea, a Newport Beach favorite for seven years, has also seen an expansion driven by customer demand. Frequent requests for private dining and weekend wait times made it clear that additional space was needed. When a neighboring retail space became available, Bendel took action.

The newly added 1,200-square-foot space seats 54 for dining and 65 for cocktails and blends seamlessly with the existing restaurant. A motorized screen can close off the area for private events, and a baby grand piano provides either live music or automated background entertainment.

At the heart of the addition is the Mariner’s Room, an intimate private dining room that accommodates up to 16 guests and features its own restroom. A 65-inch flat screen offers an elegant solution for business presentations or entertainment, doubling as wall art when not in use.

With these two expansions, RJB Restaurant Group continues to deliver new experiences for its loyal guests, proving once again that opportunity favors those who are ready to innovate.

Parlor, Woodfire Kitchen & Cocktails is at 216 N El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.503.1509.

Olea is at 2001 Westcliff Dr Suite 100, Newport Beach. 949.287.6807

Pin It

Blog



Father’s Day Weekend at The Ranch: Steak, Lobster, Bourbon

06.08.25

Celebrate Dad with steak, lobster and bourbon at The Ranch Restaurant, Friday, June 13 through Sunday, June 15.

For a special surf and turf experience, diners can add a 6.5-ounce South African lobster tail for $75 to signature steaks such as the 58-ounce Prime Angus cowboy rib-eye, 40-ounce Hyplains Heritage Farms 28-day dry-aged bone-in New York Delmonico or 50-ounce Hyplains Heritage Farms porterhouse.

Bourbon and whiskey fans can pair dinner with The Ranch Private Selection flight of bourbon for $40. The flight includes four 0.75-ounce pours from their Private Selection Barrels, handpicked by the restaurant’s exclusive fine wine and spirits program: Woodford Reserve Double Oak 2024, Four Roses 2023, Buffalo Trace 2023 and Old Forester 100 Proof 2024.

The full restaurant menu will also be available. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling 714-817-4200 or visiting www.theranch.com.

1025 E. Ball Road Anaheim.

Pin It

 1 2 3 >  Last ›

Follow Greer on Pinterest

Subscribe to Greer's OC

from the blog

More Daily Doses