RJB Restaurant Group, owned by Russ Bendel Jr. and partners, is opening a new restaurant called Creekside in Mission Viejo this October, marking the group’s eighth business in Orange County.
The new concept will serve “every day American fare” comfort food at the Sendero Marketplace in Mission Viejo, opening at 4 p.m. daily. The name Creekside was inspired by the San Juan Creek that runs directly behind the restaurant
“Between our new spot and Bloom in San Juan Capistrano, it will be fun to have two great restaurants as bookends of the historic Ortega Highway in OC,” Bendel said in a statement.
He and his partners, which include Executive Chef Jared Cook, Beverage Directors Gabe Whorley and Mike Alvarez and Operations Vice President Kyle Simpson, also own and operate Vine and Parlor Pizzeria in San Clemente, Bloom in San Juan Capistrano, Sapphire and The Pantry in Laguna Beach, Ironwood in Laguna Hills and Olea in Newport Beach.
Bendel was named the Business Journal’s Restaurateur of the Year in 2018, and Cook was the Journal’s Chef of the Year for 2024.
