Orange County restaurants starring in ‘Real Housewives’ enjoy the spotlight

The restaurant industry is notoriously challenging, with countless eateries vying for the limelight and dining dollars. While factors such as press coverage and word-of-mouth buzz can bolster a restaurant’s success, there’s a less conventional avenue for OC eateries to gain exposure through Bravo’s reality TV series, “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”

The 18th season of “RHOC,” considered by die-hard fans to be its best yet, showcased more than 20 restaurants across Orange County. From upscale establishments like Edge Bar at the VEA Newport Beach and Benny & Mary’s in Irvine to more casual joints like Cook’s Corner in Trabuco Canyon and Whoop Axe Throwing in Lake Forest, the show provided a glimpse into the dining habits and culinary adventures of a handful of rarified O.C. denizens.

While “RHOC” is undoubtedly an idealized portrayal of our region, it still offers viewers a true taste of Orange County’s dining scene. For restaurants fortunate enough to be featured, the show can provide yet another platform for reaching a wider audience.

“I noticed a big jump in web traffic, and people searching us on Yelp or Open Table after our episode aired,” said Damian Orozco, owner of the Tea House on Los Rios, which set the scene for the series standout star Shannon Beador’s 60th birthday party.

Orozco notes that this was the third time his San Juan Capistrano tea house, a family-owned business for 28 years, appeared on the series, making previous cameos in 2019 and 2022.

Alicia Cox, owner of Sahara SandBar in Huntington Beach, where the housewives played a round of flag football on the beach, echoes Orozco’s sentiments. Cox also noticed a surge in business after appearing on the show.

ALSO SEE: Map: Every OC restaurant featured in ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’ season 18

”I definitely see an uptick in business and on social media,” she said. “I get around a hundred phone calls and people tagging me when our episode airs.”

Having appeared on the show herself a few seasons ago, she says that people still recognize her. “The time I was briefly on ‘Housewives’, I got stopped at the grocery store. I mean, I was also on ‘The Profit’ and no one recognized me, but when you appear on ‘Housewives,’ people always do,” Cox noted.

Another venue making an encore this season was Lola’s Cafe. Noted for its avocado toast and breakfast burritos, Ava and Matthew Surrena’s Ladera Ranch spot set the stage for a coffee date-slash-brouhaha between Gina Kirschenheiter and Jenn Pedranti this season.

Although Lola’s appearance this season didn’t result in a wave of new patrons, “both my wife and I noticed more people mentioning that they saw us on the show,” Matthew said .

Despite naysayers often (and incorrectly) arguing that the series is entirely scripted, most of the restaurants featured on the show are spots that the housewives frequent on the regular.

“The first thing we do at the beginning of each season is ask them where they normally go, because we like to keep it as close to their real lives as possible,” said Luke Neslage, the series’ executive producer and showrunner. “It’s nice to have that built-in personal connection.”

Many of the housewives, according to Orozco, frequent his tea room even when cameras aren’t rolling. “Emily Simpson is actually a great guest of ours, and she’s super friendly,” he said. “She’ll often bring in her family. She has had a couple birthdays here.”

ALSO SEE: You’ve seen the Quiet Woman on RHOC: What the Corona del Mar restaurant is really like

Such reality peeked through this season with one spot in particular: Breaking free from the seaside eateries with oceanic views and dirty martinis, “Housewives” went inland again to Cook’s Corner. The bar, one of Orange County’s oldest restaurants, was the scene of a mass shooting in 2023 wherein a retired police sergeant opened fire, killing three people and injuring four. The circa-1926 restaurant made an appearance on the show since castmate Tamra Judge and her husband, Eddie, frequent the Trabuco Canyon venue.

Rhonda Palmeri, general manager of Cook’s Corner, said that while she didn’t see a major boom in business following their appearance this season (Cook’s Corner first appeared on the series in 2007), she did hear from friends back home. “We did get some hits on social media and word of mouth,” she said. “Even people from Illinois, where I’m originally from, commented on it.”

Palmeri went to give props to the production crew, noting, ““This is not their first rodeo.”

“Tamra and Eddie do go there, they do ride motorbikes and that is the area they ride there, so they felt a connection and a part of that community, including knowing very well all about the shooting,” said Neslage. “It was important for [Tamra] to go there.”

While the titular housewives’ preferences are major considerations, space and flexibility are also key to casting a camera-ready restaurant.

“Not every place fits what we need,” said Nesalge. “So, for example, if Heather Dubrow always goes to one place, but it’s very small and kind of nondescript inside, it won’t be ideal for us. … it needs to be large enough that we’re not fully taking over the restaurant owner’s whole place.”

And the eateries should reflect Orange County — at least in tonier South County, where the bulk of the show takes place. While our region is admittedly rife with cookie-cutter chain restaurants, it does benefit from a stellar dining scene. A combination of good buzz, aspirational vibes and good luck can help land an eatery in front of “Housewives” cameras.

“We’re also always on the lookout for things that look cool or that are different that we haven’t shot at before,” he explained. “I could be driving just down the road to get a Big Gulp and I’ll see a restaurant on a cool cliff, and I’m, like, ‘Oh my gosh, have we reached out to that place before?’ Then I or my team will reach out.”

Neslage goes on to say that flexibility is also a good component for appearing on the series. Sometimes the housewives have a falling out and need to debrief with the others on the fly. A venue that can grant sudden accommodations are ideal for production to have in its pocket.

“One of the producers just texted me asking if they could film again,” said Matthew Surrena. “They gave me a short premise of what it was going to be about and how many people they expected.”

Most often, filming takes place on weekdays during off-hours so as not to disturb a restaurant’s peak flow.

“If we have two to four ladies going to lunch or dinner, we usually ask the restaurant for an hour to set up, and then we usually ask for a two-hour block to film the scene, and then around 20 minutes to clear out afterwards,” said Neslage.

Patrons who appear in the background of scenes, sometimes reacting to a dust-up, are asked to sign releases.

“There’s a general release saying that they consent to be nondescript in the background, not featured,” explained Neslage. For the most part, you’d never be able to make out who they are … and for people who are very close to the camera, or if we feature anyone, then we have them sign an individual release.”

Although scenes seem chaotic when they air, with housewives sometimes storming off in dramatic and irresistible fashion, each restaurateur noted how professional and gracious the women and the production crew act.

“They’re always a well-oiled machine when they come in,” said Orozco. “The ladies are nice and cordial, and the production is very nice as well. They’re always respectful of our time constraints.”

Also of note, contrary to online chatter, restaurants do not pay to be on “Housewives” franchises.

Appearing on the longstanding series, chided by some as drivel yet beloved by many as peak TV, ultimately is a boon for any restaurant. Take, for example, the Quiet Women in Corona del Mar cemented into TV history and the hears of many after Beador threw a dinner plate at former castmate Kelli Dodd, tossing in a side order of f-bombs. While no other restaurant has been lucky enough to achieve such solemnity and reverence among “Housewives” viewers, eateries and cocktail lounges benefit from appearing on the series.

“Every time I get a call from producers, I get so excited,” said Cox. “It’s the most incredible commercial you could ever have — and I’m grateful they continue to call me.”