Award-winning chef Michael Mina and hospitality veteran Brent Bolthouse are thrilled to expand their joint partnership in Southern and Northern California with the opening of The Bungalow Kitchen, a brand new restaurant concept. The new social dining experience and community clubhouse is set to open first in Long Beach, California at Belmont Shore (2nd & PCH) in early 2021, followed by a Tiburon (5 Main Street) location in Marin County, California, on March 4, 2020.
Bungalow Kitchen by Mina & Bolthouse Hits California Coast
Mina and Bolthouse first teamed up in 2018 to expand The Bungalow, which was conjured from Bolthouse’s rich imagination when he opened the first venue in 2012. The Bungalow’s existing lounge spaces in Santa Monica, CA and Huntington Beach, CA, have established themselves as two of Southern California’s hottest destinations. The Bungalow Kitchen Belmont Shore and Tiburon are the duo’s first collaboration in the social dining space.
The Bungalow Kitchen will bring a chic and bohemian atmosphere, California Cuisine heavily inspired by local, seasonal ingredients, a classic cocktail program, and an expansive wine list to both unbeatable waterfront destinations. Menu highlights include pristine shellfish served either ice-cold or hot charcoal-grilled; garden “punch” bowl, featuring crunchy, ice-cold garden vegetables served with Gazpacho shooters and three dipping sauces: Green Goddess, romesco and lemon-poppyseed; a comforting Short Rib ‘Pop-Tart’ topped with crispy shallots and drizzled with sauce bordelaise; signature house-made pizzas such as the Carbonara Pizza white pie with Crispy Guanciale, Yukon Gold potatoes, Pecorino Romano and drizzled with a poached farm egg; and Chef Michael Mina’s signature decadent Lobster Pot Pie featuring a whole Maine lobster, truffle-lobster bisque and root vegetables.
the bungalow kitchen by michael mina – belmont shore
“Brent is a longtime friend of mine, his incredible vision, amazing personality, and the humility he carries himself with has allowed him to be successful decade over decade in this industry,” says Mina. “We are so excited to collaborate on our first brand new restaurant concept and to utilize his deep roots in the industry with the launch of The Bungalow Kitchen. Both restaurants will highlight my version of California cuisine and emphasize the incredible bounty and purveyors of the regions in which they are located. Our goal is to bring a warm and comforting place that will feel like an extension of the living room you always wanted.”
“The original plans for Belmont Shore were to open the third Bungalow location, but Michael and I quickly shifted gears to rebrand and pivot to The Bungalow Kitchen in response to the pandemic, opting to launch our new brand concept there first,” said Bolthouse. “The Bungalow Kitchen Tiburon had been in the works for quite some time, and we’ve long wanted to re-create the striking and luxurious feel of an elegant, exclusive clubhouse on an accessible community level. It’s the most innovative restaurant project I have ever been a part of, and we can’t wait to bring this to the communities of Long Beach and Tiburon.”
About The Bungalow Kitchen Belmont Shore
The Belmont Shore location is designed by local Venice, CA-based design firm Studio Collective, who have designed some of the most coveted destinations in hospitality; from the beautifully rich hotel interiors of The Landsby Inn in Solvang and Downtown LA’s Hotel Figueroa to the charming comfort of The Bungalow at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica and the sophisticated surroundings of some of the nation’s most in-demand restaurants such as La Huella in Miami and Giada in Las Vegas. The 10,000 square foot venue will have an eclectic, residential vibe rich in custom furnishings and layered with unique artwork. Designed with the intent to create an atmosphere of attending a fabulous dinner party, The Bungalow Kitchen Belmont Shore is unlike anything loyal fans of The Bungalow brand have seen previously.
This specific venue gives the nod to the rich architectural history and the Long Beach community’s punk-rock edge. It puts a unique and utterly contemporary spin on the traditional Craftsman bungalow, maintaining certain classic structural elements (wood plank ceilings, large fireplaces, a covered porch) while simultaneously taking a sledgehammer to others and exposing what remains (wood stud and plywood walls, concrete floors, select structural members) and adds the sort of hip, eclectic furnishings one might expect to find in a local musician’s home lend this location an ambiance that is at once comforting and industrial, with a rock-and-roll twist.
Composed of various size and style rooms, the space feels as if it has evolved over time. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a warm entry lounge with an organic, plaster fireplace and adjacent, built-in plaster seating. 70’s era relics fill the walls, laying the groundwork for what awaits inside. A plywood corridor displaying a mix of black and white photographs and prints leads guests into the main dining room, where white wood planks line the walls and the vaulted ceiling above. Anchored on one side by a large fireplace and the other by a copper-topped bar, the dining room is the ideal space to celebrate either a large party or go on date night, with plush, custom sofas providing the perfect seat from which diners can relax and enjoy their meals. Just off the dining room lies the game room, where a mix of rock and roll nostalgia and rock-inspired artwork are layered over exposed wood stud walls creating the ideal space to shoot a game of pool. A little further down a small hallway, guests can make their way to the sunroom, where white oak plank walls and millwork provide a more intimate and sophisticated space to escape and enjoy an after-dinner cocktail. Both the sunroom and the dining room provide entry out to the 3,000 square foot patio where guests can enjoy authentic al fresco dining while overlooking the Marina. A retractable awning built into a red cedar wood trellis allows patrons to make use of this space year-round comfortably. A combination of potted and hanging plants adds to the patio’s outdoor feel, while a mix of seating groupings ensure everyone will be able to find their perfect seat on what is sure to be the most desired spot in town. All in total, The Bungalow Kitchen Belmont Shore looks forward to bringing inspired social dining in an equally unique space and becoming a mainstay for the Long Beach community to enjoy for years to come.
About The Bungalow Kitchen Tiburon
The Tiburon location will be designed by internationally acclaimed architect and interior designer Martin Brudnizki of Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the mastermind behind some of the most aesthetic venues around the globe, including Annabel’s (London), Park MGM (Las Vegas), The Beekman (New York), Pink Mamma (Paris), and more.
Nearly 12,000 square feet and spread across two floors, the new space’s interiors will have a relaxed residential feel with a contemporary twist and focus on art and artisanal touches. The first-floor bar and lounge area are filled with natural light thanks to a cool-toned palette of blues and pinks and a fully glazed window that opens onto a dining terrace with views across the ocean. An eclectic selection of artwork and objects reflect the bohemian homes of artists from a bygone era, while elevated finishes such as brass and marble ensure the space retains a chic edge. A billiard room and sprawling pergola-roofed terrace on the second floor provide guests with additional areas to sit back and relax while taking in the views and enjoying local cuisine. Verdant planting, rattan finishes, and patterned fabrics round out the venue’s aesthetic.
“The location really guided the design of The Bungalow Kitchen,” said Brudnizki. “The fact it sits right on the water, overlooking the bay, meant we really wanted the interior to connect to the outside. It needed to feel comfortable and be a space where guests could enjoy the views and feel at home. To help achieve this, we included a few residential accents throughout the scheme, layering in fabrics and artwork – all with a subtle nod to the area’s bohemian past.”
For more information, please visit www.bungalowkitchen.com, and for further updates, please follow along at @BungalowKitchenBelmontShore @BungalowKitchenTiburon @ChefMichaelMina & @BrentBolthouse.
ABOUT MINA GROUP
MINA Group is a San Francisco-based restaurant management company specializing in creating and operating upscale, innovative restaurant concepts. MINA Group is led by Chef/Founder Michael Mina whose accolades include James Beard Foundation “Who’s Who of Food and Beverage” inductee in 2013, Bon Appétit Chef of the Year, San Francisco Magazine Chef of the Year, and International Food and Beverage Forum’s Restauranteur of the Year. Operating since 2003, MINA Group currently manages over 40 restaurants, including BARDOT BRASSERIE in Las Vegas; BOURBON STEAK in DC, Glendale, Miami, Nashville, Orange County, Santa Clara, and Scottsdale; BOURBON PUB and MICHAEL MINA’s TAILGATE in Santa Clara; BOURBON PUB at Northstar and San Francisco International Airport; CLOCK BAR in San Francisco; INTERNATIONAL SMOKE in San Francisco, San Diego, and Las Vegas; ORNOS ESTIATORIO in Aventura; MARGEAUX BRASSERIE and PETIT MARGEAUX in Chicago; MICHAEL MINA in San Francisco and Las Vegas; MINA BRASSERIE in Dubai; MINA’S FISH HOUSE in Oahu; PABU in San Francisco and Boston; PIZZA & BURGER in Miami Beach; RN74 in Seattle; STRIPSTEAK in Las Vegas, Miami Beach, and Waikiki; THE HANDLE BAR in Jackson Hole; THE RAMEN BAR in San Francisco; and TRAILBLAZER TAVERN in San Francisco. For a complete list of restaurants, please visit http://michaelmina.net/. Follow Michael Mina on Facebook at Michael Mina, and on Instagram and Twitter at @ChefMichaelMina.
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ABOUT BRENT BOLTHOUSE
Brent Bolthouse is the founder of The Bungalow Hospitality Group, a collective with a deep history in Southern California. His portfolio includes The Bungalow flagship location in Santa Monica and its sister property in Huntington Beach. The venues’ impressive designs and widespread appeal have garnered accolades from Architectural Digest, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and many more. Bolthouse also serves as creator of Neon Carnival, the annual invite-only outdoor dance fete that continues to be recognized as one of the most coveted parties in the world. As an entrepreneur and hospitality maven, Bolthouse virtually invented today’s nightlife scene with the development and opening of some hottest nightclubs, supper clubs, restaurants, lounges, and bars across Southern California. He also evolved the art of nightclub promotion in Hollywood by pushing multiple nights a week at venues including the infamous Roxbury, The Viper Room, and The House of Blues. Before founding The Bungalow Hospitality Group, Bolthouse had a four-year partnership with SBE Entertainment Group to collaborate on high-profile nightlife venues and fine dining establishments, including Hyde Lounge, Area, Foxtail, Katsuya, Chef Michael Mina’s XIV Restaurant, and the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills. His 30 years of experience as a sought-after event producer include leading corporate events for HBO, Mercedes Benz, T-Mobile, Samsung, and Dolce & Gabbana. In addition to his current work, he supports several charitable initiatives, including the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s An Evening with Women, the Anti Recidivism Coalition, Baby2Baby, and more. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.
