Sunny Buena Park has been enjoying a renaissance of tourism and vitality over the past decade with a resurgence in development. Along Beach Boulevard, the main thoroughfare that has served as an artery from the Golden State Freeway to the coastline, bright, Vegas-like signs now sparkle, declaring your arrival to this little patch of tourism that could. With what could be considered low-tide hitting in the late 90’s to early 2000’s and the departure of the iconic Movieland Wax Museum in 2005, the tide, is finally coming back in.
The change began when Knott’s Berry Farm executed a multi-year plan to revitalized the crown jewels of the park, the Timber Mountain Log Ride and Calico Mine Ride. Soon thereafter a 3D shooter ride followed. Outside the park, Beach Boulevard began its own change. After years of hosting “traveling” exhibits, the Movieland Wax Museum building was demolished to make way for a Butterfly Palladium. Next door the cathedral-like Rock n Brews lit up the long darkened section of the street, while Cuban eatery Porto’s exploded to life sporting a pristine, white kitchen and remarkably delicious food.
Then the sign for The Cauldron appeared and the magic began to happen. An intimate, themed gastropub, The Cauldron Spirits and Brews is a 17th-century witch-themed restaurant and lounge poised to officially open January 31st, casting a spell on Buena Park. French-casual bites with a wicked twist, local craft beer, themed cocktails and a wine from various regions in California populate the ever-changing menu.
Entering the dark and intimate eatery, the eyes slowly adjust revealing a sea of spooky detail. To the left, beyond the hostess stand, a bank of velvet booths bank the walls. The dining floor is populated with a hodgepodge of dining tables in dark wood and upholstered chairs. Across the room, a magical hearth houses a bubbling cauldron, above that, a magical mirror in which visions appear.
If the idea feels a little bit “theme-parky” there is a reason. Executive chef and former Creative Director for Knott’s Berry Farm, Lara Hanneman, is the mastermind behind the uniquely themed establishment that is attempting to bring a fiendish mix of immersive theme, eclectic cuisine, and a touch of sophistication to her spot on the corner of Beach and La Palma. To be specific, there are 271 books, 25 witches, 6 cats, 5 brooms, 1 hidden private room.
But why now? “Why not? So many people have told me what not to do…yet there’s a beloved handful that said ‘We support you.’ It was a long haul to get here and I’ve worked so hard to realize my vision it seems surreal. ” says Hanneman
A plan that has been brewing since her departure from Knott’s Berry Farm in 2016, the goal was to “Create an environment that everyone felt comfortable, but was me. I want to welcome people to my home, and have a place to talk, meet people, and just relax.”
Some of the more daring dishes that are on hand are Escargot, Beef Bourguignon, and Gougeres. So far, guests who have dined during the soft openings have loved it. “Where else in Buena Park or Orange County are you going to get escargot and not feel like you needed to have it before? This is not a pretentious menu, it’s just food I love…and I want people to try. Ultimately it’s about encouraging people to adventure beyond the mundane and love it.”
We will return with a full review of the food and drink Wednesday morning too but we can tell you that, from what we have experienced thus far, we are over the moon with excitement. Being a horror site, having a horror-themed restaurant and bar here in Buena Park, right across the street from Knott’s Scary Farm, is pretty much a prayer answered by Cthulu himself.
