Bluestone Lane opens first OC location in Old Towne Orange

Bluestone Lane, an Australian-inspired coffee and dining concept, opened its first Orange County location on Wednesday, July 20 in Old Towne Orange.

The Olive Street restaurant is part of a growing trend of dining concepts revitalizing downtown. Bosscat Kitchen & Libations owners took over the longtime Byblos Cafe, while BLK Dot Coffee and Ojai Burger opened new locations on West Chapman Avenue.

The New York-born Australian hotel brand has expanded to more than 60 locations since opening in 2013. Bluestone Lane has spaces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston and Houston, but this is the brand’s first foray into the OK market.

The Bluestone Lane space in Old Towne Orange is chic and inviting. It features a terrace with blue and white umbrellas. (There are plans to install a shade cover for added protection from the sun.) The restaurant’s interior is an open concept with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams painted white. The vibe is relaxed and coastal with azure photographs of Australia’s beaches.

“It looks like Laguna,” said one diner while eating a breakfast burrito during soft opening on Tuesday, July 19. The menu is accessible: avocado toast, fried chicken sandwiches and burgers. But breakfast and coffee are the big draw of Bluestone Lane.

“The dishes to order are the avocado smash or the breakfast burrito and the flat white on tap with oat milk,” says the manager.

The specialty coffee roastery’s signature coffees include the Australian Style Flat White and the Aussie Iced Latte. The menu offers healthy breakfast bowls of roasted Brussels sprouts and spelt, and seasonal offerings like a summery green goddess with avocado.

The company is fully committed to the grab-and-go lifestyle that will endear it to the Chapman community when school resumes in the fall. The Bluestone Lane app offers pickup, dine-in or delivery options and guests can earn loyalty rewards. Tables have QR codes, but the restaurant still offers printed menus upon request. Adding to the café vibe is a front counter where guests can purchase pastries, croissants, and coffee.

“Bluestone Lane took root in Southern California because our focus on a healthy, vibrant lifestyle aligns perfectly with the local culture,” said Nick Stone, founder and CEO of Bluestone Lane, in a statement. “We are excited to offer our Orange locals a full-service coffee shop where they can meet, work or recharge in the heart of downtown.”

Originally published in Orange County Register
Written by: Jennifer Tanaka | [email protected] | Orange County Register

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