Bungalow celebrates a decade of fine dining

CORONA DEL MAR — Wine glasses clinked together Monday evening as Jim Walker, proprietor of The Bungalow in Corona del Mar, blew out the candles in celebration of the restaurant’s 10th birthday.

About 200 guests filtered in and out of the outdoor patio, feasting on dishes prepared by executive chef Tracey Harter, including roasted rack of lamb, a whole poached salmon, caviar and various cheeses to accompany their red and white wine.

Walker took over the restaurant formerly called the Mezzaluna in 1999. The former restaurant had been plagued with operational issues, including the lack of a head chef and a solid management team.

“Once we accomplished that, we started to build and gain more momentum and a much better reputation, I think,” Walker said. “Also, for a while there we had the housing boom, with Newport Coast coming on the line and more and more people were moving in.”

The restaurant was one of the long-standing restaurants redefining Newport Beach dining, Walker said.

In the last few years, many other fine-dining establishments have entered the arena, including Roy’s, Gulf Stream, the Landmark Steakhouse and Blue Coral, making life for a restaurateur more competitive.

“Fortunately, The Bungalow has really held in there, and I’d like to say the primary reason for our success has been my staff, which has been with me for quite a while, and because of that we’re consistent,” Walker said. “When people come to The Bungalow, they can rely on having a good experience.”

The Newport Conference and Visitors Bureau is certainly glad restaurants like The Bungalow, which specializes in lobster, steak and its extensive wine list, exist to boost Newport’s dining reputation.

“We’re excited and proud that Newport Beach has a variety of unique restaurants,” said Jessica Roswell, Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman. “Restaurants like The Bungalow promote Newport Beach as a dining destination.”

Laurel Zaeske, Dorothy Larson and Helen Frazer have frequented the restaurant for the last 10 years. The three women mingled at The Bungalow’s soiree, reflecting what kept them coming back to The Bungalow.

“This patio is one of the most comfortable and fabulous areas around,” Larson said. “And the staff is incredibly friendly; they’re great.”

Business from such regular customers keeps the restaurant thriving. Only recently has Walker begun to focus more on advertising and marketing. Otherwise, he said, the food and community atmosphere speaks for itself.

“I think we really tend to be a more personalized … neighborhood restaurant,” Walker said.

To show his commitment to being a good neighbor, Walker won’t even park cars on the street in the hopes of making sure his Corona del Mar neighbors have plenty of parking when they get home — something that is certainly an issue in the neighborhood. He’s struck up deals with neighboring businesses to ensure there’s enough parking.

He also promotes community business activism as a member of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Newport Beach Restaurant Assn.

Walker plans to extend the celebration. On Nov. 6, he’ll be hosting a dinner to benefit the Free Wheelchair Mission, which makes wheelchairs from lawn chairs to give people in developing countries who would be unable to get one otherwise. The $150 three-course meal will include a wine pairing with each dish.

From Nov. 7 through 13, Walker will remind customers what it was like to eat at The Bungalow 10 years ago. He’s going to roll back the menu prices to what they were when the restaurant first opened.

“We just think it’s a good way to thank the community and say ‘let’s have some fun,’ ” Walker said.