Patina is coming to Downtown Disney

PATINA GROUP TO OPEN RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN DISNEY
The Cuisine of the Mediterranean with an Outdoor Wine and Tapas Bar

ANAHEIM (August 9, 1999)--Joachim Splichal, renowned chef/owner of the Patina Group, will launch a new restaurant concept at Downtown Disney, scheduled to open in early 2001. Downtown Disney is the retail, dining and entertainment center at the crossroads of the major expansion of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Splichal is one of a select group of restaurateurs invited by Disney to participate in this new venue.

The two-story restaurant, designed by Sausalito-based Backen Gillam Architects, will offer full-service dining in a casual, eclectic environment, and will also feature a large out- door wine and tapas bar.

"Downtown Disney is a fantastic project and we're proud to be part of it," said Splichal. "Our new restaurant will be remarkable in design and concept~specially the wine bar, which I see as the ultimate gathering spot--a place to hang out and taste a variety of great wines and appetizers."

The 2,500-square-foot ground floor, which includes a bar, will seat 50 inside and 120 to 160 outside at the tapas bar. The second-level dining room, an 8,500-square-foot area, will seat approximately 220 guests, with additional seating on a balcony. The design provides flexibility for private dining areas to accommodate special events and private parties. The flavors of the Mediterranean will dominate the menu with grilled seafood, poultry and vegetables; crisp, inventive salads; and flavorful pastas. Dishes will be infused with the fragrant herbs and olive oil that characterize the cuisine of the Mediterranean rim, including southern France, Greece, Italy and Spain. The design and interior of the restaurant will also reflect a Mediterranean influence, with light colors, a dining balcony and cheerful color accents.

One of the hubs of Downtown Disney will be the wine bar, located adjacent to the restaurant on a beautifully landscaped plaza, During morning hours, it will operate as a coffee bar, offering a variety of coffees and pastries, fresh from the Patina kitchens. Tapas and "coupes," small appetizer dishes, will also be served throughout the day. Similar to European cafes, the color of the dish on which the appetizer is served will indicate the price. With its fanciful design, echoing the Art Nouveau entrances to Paris metro stations, the wine bar will serve as a place to mingle, relax, and sample a wide array of beverages and appetizers in a comfortable, casual environment.

Splichal's flagship restaurant, Patina, has won raves since its establishment in 1989, and has been rated No. 1 by the Zagat Survey for the past eight years. Its tremendous success allowed owners Joachim and Christine Splichal to launch a group of bistros and cafes. These include Pinot Bistro in Studio City, Pinot Hollywood in the heart of Hollywood's studio district, Cafe Pinot in downtown Los Angeles, Pinot Restaurant and Martini Bar in Pasadena, Pinot Provence in Costa Mesa, Pinot Blanc in St. Helena, and most recently, Pinot Brasserie in the Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas. In the early fall, The Patina Group will open a steakhouse in downtown Los Angeles.

The Patina group also operates four museum cafes in Southern California: Pentimento and the Plaza Cafe at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Patinette at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Curator's Cafe at the Natural History Museum. Located at the heart the Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney will be an entertainment mecca of themed shopping, dining, nightclubs and other entertainment venues, all within walking distance for guests, conventioneers and local residents. Downtown Disney will become a unique gathering place, connecting two theme parks - the all-new Disney's California Adventure and Disneyland - -along with The Disneyland Resort Hotels.