Dear Jane’s Restaurant
Minarc designed Dear Jane’s, a seafood destination in Marina Del Rey inspired by the 1920s “Rat Pack” era, featuring dark, masculine rooms, contrasting bar area, and sunny dining space with nautical decor.
Nestled along the water in Marina Del Rey, California, Dear Jane’s offers an unforgettable fine dining experience, steeped in a moody ambiance expertly juxtaposed against invigorating waterfront views. Husband and wife duo Hans and Patti Rockenwagner alongside Michelin-rated chef Josiah Citrin enlisted Los Angeles-based design firm Minarc and ERLA Construction to bring their 1920s-inspired vision for the seafood destination to life. The pair envisioned an F&B hotspot that would evoke the “Rat pack” era, replete with dark, heavy rooms that exude a vibrant sense of masculinity throughout the space. Just imagine this: Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin crooning to an audience shrouded in dark rooms in land-locked Las Vegas. That is the essence of Dear Jane’s.
The restaurant’s menu boasts classic American seafood dishes, thoughtfully prepared with the highest-quality ingredients by seasoned chefs. From Oysters Rockefeller and Shrimp Louie to Surf ‘N Turf and Trout Amandine, the menu pays homage to some of the most legendary seafood restaurants in American history. The service style heavily influenced Minarc’s architectural layout for the restaurant, accommodating Dear Jane’s most notable offerings: tableside Shrimp Louie Salad, hand-mixed tartare, classic caviar service and professional fileted whole fish. The split-level layout required thoughtfully-planned spacing between booths and tables for optimal dining service.
The restaurant marries the best of both worlds –– the casual dining room opens out with large windows, bringing in the easy ocean air and unfiltered sunshine. A backdrop of lighthearted sailboats calls to the teak deck flooring, setting the stage for familiar dining booths in happy yellow and retro blues, clad in custom upholstery branded with Dear Jane’s signature fish. A colorful wall of recycled nautical floats extend the space’s playful buoyancy. The bar area exhibits a darker, yet equally alluring atmosphere through intimate candle-lit tables, red bar stools and drapery complemented by thought-provoking artwork from Santa Monica’s Robert Bermans Gallery.
While the restaurant’s design exudes a deep sense of nostalgia, The Rockenwagners and Citrin also desired a celebration of femininity. As a result, Minarc leaned further into the design concept through a roaring, Gatsby-like elegance that prioritizes unburdened movement throughout the floorplan. The team pulled from the era’s beloved fashion, when skirts were short and full of flapper shag that would twist and snap with every Charleston step. Every interaction centered around electrical connectivity and shared experiences. To appropriately mirror this atmosphere within the dining space, Minarc incorporated a multitude of rich velvets that are softly illuminated by the warm glow of intimate lights. The moodiness is again balanced by the clink of cocktail glasses and laughter, sure to keep things light and airy. The color palette includes a vast range from the roaring 20’s all the way through to today, creating a cohesive bridge that spans a century—taking the best of the best and harmonizing these elements into a sophisticated aesthetic.
Whether planning a birthday celebration, corporate gathering or intimate date night, Dear Jane’s provides a versatile venue for all, offering stunning semi-private and private dining options for any occasion. A proud Minarc collaboration, Dear Jane’s gives patrons a memorable experience full of the character and charm of a bygone era, with delectable seafood cuisine to match.
