Orange County Register

By Elysse James, staff writer

The Bluewater Grill opened quietly at The District on Monday, serving about 300 customers for lunch and dinner on its first day.

Co-founders Jim Ulcickas and Richard Staunton modeled the restaurant after their Newport Beach and Redondo Beach eateries. The menu for the restaurant changes daily based on the fresh fish available.

The entryway flooring is paneled to look like the wood floor of a ship, and the barrel ceiling evokes a nautical feeling as well. Photos around the restaurant feature local sea-faring folks, many the owners know personally, and others feature local celebrities, such as John Wayne. Art featured on the back wall was created from a picture taken by underwater photographer Beverly Factor.

The District restaurant is different from the others, said Ulcickas, a Tustin resident, because it’s planned for the everyday diner, aiming for an “upscale casual niche.” He compared the Bluewater Grill to Yardhouse or Opah.

Ulcickas said he and Staunton chose The District because of the nearby homes and “tremendous amount of business here.” He said the shopping center was well-designed and that “if you want to grow you can’t focus only on the beach,” citing hard-to-find beachfront property.

The restaurant also has a bar with eight beers on tap and wine by the glass. The bar seats 23 people, has 15 booths and a patio area. The bar is decorated with plaques given to fishermen by the Balboa Angling Club.

The District is at Jamboree and Barranca in Tustin, just over the Irvine border. Bluewater Grill’s address is 2409 Park Ave.  The restaurant’s phone number is 714-258-3474.

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