CHECKING IN WITH ... MARIO MAROVIC:

Mario Marovic is a busy man these days. Not only is he the recent founder of the Newport Beach Bar and Tavern Assn., a support group for bar owners across the city, but Landmark Steakhouse, the restaurant he owns in Corona del Mar, is preparing to reopen May 1 after months of renovation. The new Landmark will feature a more sophisticated interior, added menu items and even live piano music. As the construction crews bustled Wednesday at the restaurant at 3520 E. Coast Hwy., Marovic talked about his hopes for Landmark and his efforts to make Newport Beach the best watering hole in Orange County.

How long have you been a bar owner?

Since 1995.

What’s your favorite drink?

Scotch on the rocks.

Do you serve that at Landmark?

Yes. We have a lot of really nice scotches.

What’s your favorite city in the world to drink?

London. It’s the best. Bartending in London is actually a really formal skill. They hand-puree drinks there. If you ask for a martini, they have 20 different kinds of berries and fruits. You ask for a couple, they hand-puree it and drop it in the cocktail strainers.

How about the best drinking city in Southern California?

Newport Beach.

Silly question!

It really is. There’s a lot of people, very respectful, feels like home, a really good demographic. Corona del Mar, in my opinion, is the best city in the world to live in.

You call yourself a second-generation bar owner. Did your parents own one?

They owned two bars in Orange, a bar in Fullerton, a bar in Placentia, a bar in Anaheim.

Were they just bars, or restaurants as well?

They were mostly restaurants with bars.

What’s the most fun part of the bar atmosphere?

Let me tell you something. I grew up in the business, and I vowed I would never be in the business. After I got my MBA from USC, I packed up, moved to Silicon Valley and got in the banking business.

And then, they say, you don’t know what you have till it’s gone. I really missed it. I really missed the people interaction. It makes me feel good when my customers are satisfied and happy.

That’s probably why I have a strong following. People always know when they come into my place, we’ll do our best to give them what they want.

Tell me more about the renovation you’re doing.

It’s a major renovation. I bought out my partner. I wanted to go in a more sophisticated dining direction, and for that, I wanted the customers and the people of Newport Beach to be able to see the change. So now it’s more of a sophisticated, casual dining environment.

Is the piano new?

It is new. We’re having a piano bar during the week. On the weekend, we’ll probably do late-night entertainment as well. Pretty much, our goal is to be more food-focused. I want it to be more of a sophisticated restaurant where people can go in, meet friends and enjoy a nice meal in a friendly environment.

I want people to say, “What do you want to do tonight?” “Let’s go to Landmark.”

Have you lined up a piano player?

I’m interviewing a guy today at 4, but Tuesdays, we’re going to have Ed Waters. He’s the former pianist from Mistral and the current pianist from the Ocean Club.

As far as Thursday night, we’re still looking for someone who can be a good background pianist during dinner, but also be kind of the star attraction — someone who can sing and play piano at the same time, kind of like the Billy Joel character in “Piano Man.” That’s a hard guy to find, a guy who can be the center of attention.

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at michael.miller@latimes.com.